Food products having handheld holders, food holders, and methods of serving foods

Abstract

A chilled food product comprising a generally flat holder, a foldable food supported on the holder which food comprises a generally flat dough-based material supporting at least one edible filling or topping, and a removal wrap containing the holder and the food. The holder comprises a base, first and second sides adjacent the base, and a pair of lines of weakness between the base and the first and second sides, respectively, wherein the lines of weakness facilitate folding of the sides of the holder and the foldable food into a folded food product after cooking the unwrapped chilled product. The cooked folded food can be handheld in a comfortable manner via the holder. The holder also can incorporate means to aid increasing the exposure or repositioning of the cooked folded food while contained in the holder for eating convenience. Holders having flaps or slots to improve access to held foods also are provided. A method of serving packaged chilled food products incorporating the holder also is provided.

1 . Chilled food product comprising a generally flat holder, a foldable food comprising a generally flat dough-based material supporting at least one edible filling or topping wherein the foldable food is supported on said holder, and a removal wrap containing the holder and the food, wherein said holder comprises a base, first and second sides adjacent the base, and a pair of lines of weakness between the base and the first and second sides, respectively, and wherein the lines of weakness facilitate folding of the sides of the holder and the foldable food into a folded food product after cooking the unwrapped chilled product.  
     
     
         2 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a foldable paperboard blank having a peripheral shape selected from the group consisting of circular, semi-circular, oval, and polygonal, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The chilled food product of  claim 2 , wherein said holder comprises a sheet material selected from the group consisting of cardboard and paperboard.  
     
     
         4 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said holder has at least one pair of parallel lines of weakness formed therein, said pair of parallel lines of weakness extending adjacent a given diametrical axis of said holder, and wherein said pair of parallel lines of weakness comprise a first line of weakness arranged on one lateral side of the diametrical axis and a second line of weakness arranged on the opposite lateral side of the diametrical axis.  
     
     
         5 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides are foldable via the pair of lines of weakness sufficient to make absolute angles greater than about 45° with the base.  
     
     
         6 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein the lines of weakness are selected from the group consisting of crease scored lines, cut scored lines, and intermittent perforated lines.  
     
     
         7 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said holder has at least two pair of parallel lines of weakness formed therein, said two pair of parallel lines of weakness defining non-congruent diametrical axes of said holder to facilitate folding of said holder and said food in at least two different modes.  
     
     
         8 . The chilled food product of  claim 4 , said holder comprises a first food holding portion and integral arched flap portion at one end thereof, which portions merge at an additional line of weakness which is arranged in an orientation generally perpendicular to and intersecting said parallel lines of weakness, whereby the arched flap portion is manually foldable allowing a food item contained in the holder to be manually pushable towards an opposite end of the holder to expose more of the food item held in the holder.  
     
     
         9 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said holder further comprises at least one perforated line arranged in an orientation generally perpendicular to and intersecting the parallel lines of weakness, said perforated line adapted to be manually rupturable to allow displacement of at least one flap portion of the holder sufficient to expose more of a folded food item held in the holder.  
     
     
         10 . The chilled food product of  claim 4 , wherein said holder further includes a pair of parallel fold lines extending parallel to and further distanced from the diametrical axis than said pair of parallel lines of weakness, wherein at least one of said fold lines is adapted to allow an outer portion of a side of the holder to be bent in a direction away from the folded food to expose more of the food held in the holder.  
     
     
         11 . The chilled food product of  claim 4 , wherein the lines of weakness comprise perforated lines adapted to be manually rupturable, whereby a holder portion located between the pair of lines of weakness is adapted to be manually curled towards a folded food item contained in the holder allowing the food item to be manually pushable towards an opposite end of the holder to expose more of the sandwich held in the holder.  
     
     
         12 . The chilled food product of  claim 4 , wherein the food holder further comprises at least one slot opening in the blank which extends substantially parallel to the diametrical axis which is adapted to allow insertion of a finger to push a food item held in the container in a direction parallel to the diametrical axis.  
     
     
         13 . The chilled food product of  claim 12 , wherein the slot is formed in a base portion of the blank located between the pair of lines of weakness.  
     
     
         14 . The chilled food product of  claim 12 , wherein at least one side of the holder includes a slot opening which extends substantially parallel to the diametrical axis is adapted to allow insertion of a finger to push a food item held in the holder in a direction parallel to the diametrical axis to expose more of the food item held in the holder.  
     
     
         15 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said foldable food comprises a frozen food.  
     
     
         16 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said food is selected from the group consisting of a sandwich and a pizza.  
     
     
         17 . The chilled food product of  claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a microwave suscepting layer.  
     
     
         18 . Food holder comprising a generally flat paperboard blank having at least one pair of parallel lines of weakness formed therein extending adjacent a given diametrical axis of said holder to define a base and first and second sides adjacent the base, wherein the sides are foldable via the pair of lines of weakness, and further including a pair of parallel fold lines extending parallel to and further distanced from the diametrical axis than said pair of parallel lines of weakness, wherein at least one of said fold lines is adapted to allow an outer portion of a side of the holder to be bent in a direction away from the folded food to expose more of a food when held in the holder.  
     
     
         19 . Food holder comprising a generally flat paperboard blank having at least one pair of parallel lines of weakness formed therein extending adjacent a given diametrical axis of said holder to define a base and first and second sides adjacent the base, wherein the sides are foldable via the pair of lines of weakness, and further including at least one slot opening in the blank which extends substantially parallel to the diametrical axis which is adapted to allow insertion of a finger to push a food item held in the container in a direction parallel to the diametrical axis.  
     
     
         20 . A method for serving food products, comprising: 
 preparing food products comprising a generally flat, foldable corrugated paperboard holder and a foldable food supported on said holder, said foldable food comprising a generally flat dough-based material supporting at least one edible filling or topping, wherein said holder comprises a base, first and second sides adjacent the base, and a pair of lines of weakness between the base and the first and second sides, respectively, wherein the lines of weakness facilitate folding of the sides of the holder and the foldable food;    packaging the food products in removal wrapping material, providing wrapped food products;    chilling the wrapped food products to provide a plurality of chilled food products;    removing the wrap from at least one said chilled food products to provide an unwrapped holder and chilled food;    cooking the unwrapped holder and chilled food in an oven; and    folding the holder along said plurality of lines of weakness sufficient to fold the holder and food into a folded food product from which the food is consumable.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the chilling comprises freezing the foldable foods.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cooking comprises heating the unwrapped holder and chilled food in a microwave oven.