Apparatus for docking dough
AssigneePizza Hut, Inc.
InventorsTodd W. Craig, Stephen D. Voels, Maria V. Brister
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for docking dough includes a base member, a plurality of protrusions extending from a lower surface of the base member, and a handle secured to an upper surface of the base member. The base member is not flat, but rather has a curvature that enables the apparatus to be rocked from side to side when placed on a surface. Thus, in use, the apparatus is first placed on and manually pressed into a dough, such as an uncooked pizza dough. Then, the apparatus is rocked from side to side by the user to dock the dough, ensuring that dimples or divots are made throughout the dough.
Claims13
An apparatus for docking dough, comprising:
- a base member defining an upper surface and a lower surface, said base member further having a curvature;
- a plurality of protrusions extending from the lower surface of said base member for engaging the dough, wherein each of the protrusions has a substantially frustoconical shape;
- and
- a handle extending from the upper surface of said base member;
- wherein the protrusions extending from the lower surface of the apparatus can be pressed into the dough, with the curvature of said base member allowing the apparatus to be rocked from side to side such that said plurality of protrusions dock the dough;
- and
- wherein said base member has a diameter, and said base member curves upwardly with a radius of curvature of approximately twice the diameter of the base member.
An apparatus for docking dough, comprising:
- a base member defining an upper surface and a lower surface, said base member further having a curvature;
- a plurality of integral protrusions extending from the lower surface of said base member for engaging the dough, wherein each of the protrusions has a substantially frustoconical shape;
- and
- an integral handle extending from the upper surface of said base member;
- wherein said integral handle can be grasped by a user for manipulating the protrusions into engagement with the dough, with the curvature of said base member then allowing the user to rock the apparatus from side to side such that said plurality of protrusions dock the dough;
- and
- wherein said base member has a diameter, and said base member curves upwardly with a radius of curvature of approximately twice the diameter of the base member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.