Apparatus and methods for reheating wedge shaped food products, such as one or more pizza slices

Abstract

Apparatus for heating a wedge-shaped food product, such as one or more slices of pizza, includes an assembly and a handle mechanically connected with the assembly. The assembly includes a first arm including a side wall and a floor, and a second arm including a side wall and a floor. The second arm is pivotably connected with the first arm such that the wedge-shaped food product can be held between the first arm and the second arm with the wedge-shaped food product being supported by the floors of the first and second arms and abutting the side walls of the first and second arms. Additional supports may be provided between the arms. The handle may be removeably connected with the assembly, for example, via a riser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for heating a wedge-shaped food product using an apparatus including (a) an assembly having ( 1 ) a first arm including a side wall and a floor, and ( 2 ) a second arm including a side wall and a floor, the second arm being pivotably connected with the first arm, and (b) a removable handle, the method comprising:
 a) placing the wedge-shaped food product into the assembly and adjusting an angle defined by the first arm and the second arm, as necessary, such that the wedge-shaped food product is supported by the floors of the first and second arms and such that the wedge-shaped food product abuts the side walls of the first and second arms;   b) inserting the assembly into an oven;   c) when the wedge-shaped food product is heated to a desired extent, removing the assembly from the oven.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing the handle after act (b) and reattaching the handle before act (c). 
     
     
         3 . A method for heating a wedge-shaped food product using an apparatus including (a) an assembly having ( 1 ) a first arm including a side wall and a floor, and ( 2 ) a second arm including a side wall and a floor, the second arm being pivotably connected with the first arm, and (b) a handle, the method comprising:
 a) pivoting the first arm with respect to the second arm to define an angle between the first and second arms corresponding to, or larger than, an angle formed by the wedge-shaped food product;   b) placing the wedge-shaped food product into the assembly;   c) inserting the assembly into an oven;   d) when the wedge-shaped food product is heated to a desired extent, removing the assembly from the oven.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising removing the handle after act (c) and reattaching the handle before act (d). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein is the angle created by the act of pivoting is larger than an angle formed by the wedge-shaped food product, the method further comprising:
 b′) after placing the wedge-shaped food product into the assembly, adjusting the angle created by the first arm and the second arm such that the wedge-shaped food product is supported by the floors of the first and second arms and such that it abuts the side walls of the first and second arms. 
 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus comprising:
 a) an assembly including
 1) a first arm including a side wall and a floor, and 
 2) a second arm including a side wall and a floor, the second arm being pivotably connected with the first arm such that a wedge-shaped food product can be held between the first arm and the second arm with the wedge-shaped food product being supported by the floors of the first and second arms and abutting the side walls of the first and second arms,
 wherein the first arm and the second arm are each 4-10 inches in length; and 
 
   b) a handle, mechanically connected with the assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first arm and the second arm are each approximately 8 inches in length. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein a floor of at least one of the first arm and the second arm includes a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein a floor of at least one of the first arm and the second arm includes at least one of an elevation, a channel, or a recess to direct and/or hold fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the handle is removeably connected with the assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the assembly further includes (3) a riser, and wherein the handle is removeably connected with the assembly via the riser. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the handle includes a pivotable clamp for grasping a portion of the riser. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the handle includes a magnet for magnetically attracting a portion of the riser. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the magnet is slideable within the handle such that the magnetically attracted portion of the riser can be released. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotably connected at points on the first and second arms that permit the first arm to be folded completely against the second arm. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotably and slideably connected such that the first arm can be folded completely against the second arm.