Food Serving Dispenser and Protected Food Serving, and Method of Use Thereof

Abstract

A food serving dispenser and protected food servings dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a cylindrical container having a central stem that extends upward from the base of the container. The stem and container walls are dimensioned to receive a cylindrical protected food serving that comprises a food serving, such as a slice of cream cheese, that is sandwiched between two layers of film, preferably a plastic film such as cellophane or similar. The plastic film layers have tabs that are staggered within the cylindrical container to allow removal of a single protected food slice by grasping the tabs and pulling the protected food slice from the cylindrical container. The food servings are sealed within the plastic film, which is separable at perforations by pulling the tabs apart.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food package containing a food product, said food package comprising:
 a plurality of food product servings each sealed within a pair of protective layers to form a protected food serving; and   a container comprising a base, a cover, a cylindrical wall and a central stem disposed within said container, wherein said central stem is substantially the height of the cylindrical wall.   
     
     
         2 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of protective layers comprises at least one separable seal. 
     
     
         3 . The food package of  claim 2 , wherein each of said protective layers comprises a grasping tab. 
     
     
         4 . The food package of  claim 2 , wherein said separable seal comprises an outer peripheral seal and an inner peripheral seal. 
     
     
         5 . The food package of  claim 2 , wherein said separable seal comprises relieved separation lines. 
     
     
         6 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein said food product servings comprise cream cheese slices. 
     
     
         7 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein said cylindrical wall is substantially the same diameter but slightly greater than the outside diameter of the protected food servings. 
     
     
         8 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein said central stem comprises substantially the same diameter but slightly less than the inner hole diameter of the protected food servings. 
     
     
         9 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of food product servings is dimensioned to fit a bagel. 
     
     
         10 . The food package of  claim 3 , wherein when each of said plurality of food servings is disposed within said container, and wherein said grasping tabs of said protective layers are staggered, thereby preventing more than one food serving being pulled out of said container when a topmost food serving is removed. 
     
     
         11 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein said central stem is secured to said base at a joint, and wherein said joint comprises a fairing between said base and said central stem. 
     
     
         12 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein said food product serving comprises:
 a cream cheese slice having an outer diameter and an inner diameter of substantially the same diameters as the outside diameter and inner hole diameter respectively of a bagel.   
     
     
         13 . A method of dispensing food, said method comprising the steps of:
 disposing a plurality of servings of a food product within paired protective sheets to form protected food servings, wherein each pair of said paired protective sheets is sealed together via a separable joint, and wherein each sheet of said paired protective sheets comprises a grasping tab;   disposing said protected food servings within a container, wherein said container comprises a cylinder with a central stem therewithin and a base; and   covering said cylinder with a cover.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing said cover;   gripping one of said plurality of protected food servings via said grasping tabs;   removing said one of said plurality of protected food servings from said container by pulling said grasping tabs; and   pulling said grasping tabs of said paired protective sheets apart at said separable joint, thereby exposing said food product.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 separating said paired protective sheets; and   removing said food product from said paired protective sheets.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , said method further comprising the step of:
 disposing said food product on a food item.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said protected food serving comprises a cheese slice, said method further comprising the step of:
 disposing said food product on a bagel.   
     
     
         18 . A protected food serving comprising:
 a generally circular food slice;   a generally circular top protective sheet; and   a generally circular bottom protective sheet, wherein said protective sheets are sealed together at an outer seal and an inner seal.   
     
     
         19 . The protected food serving of  claim 18 , wherein said generally circular top protective sheet and said generally circular bottom protective sheet each comprise an inner relieved separation line and an outer relieved separation line. 
     
     
         20 . The protective food serving of  claim 18 , wherein said protective food serving is disposed within a container for dispensing said food serving, said container comprising a base, a cover, a cylindrical wall and a central stem disposed within said cylindrical wall, wherein said central stem is substantially the height of said cylindrical wall.