Holder for pita pockets, tacos and the like

Abstract

A holder for pita pockets, tacos and like shaped items, to support a minimum of one to multiple items upright during heating, filling, transporting, or consuming. The new and improved holder has a curvilinear outer surface with a stable base and is stackable, and equipped with carrying handle means. The holder may incorporate stiffening means. The holder may also incorporate additional components added to handles for grip and heat insulation as well as components added to opposing base edges for grip and attachment to serving surfaces. The holder's versatile geometry lends itself to be economically fabricated by diverse manufacturing methods.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A holder for supporting pita pockets, tacos, and any likewise shaped item in an upright position comprising: 
 a) an outer surface wherein a portion of said outer surface and related inner surface is a segment of a substantially thin walled cylinder having a curvilinear geometry about an axis, and    b) a stable base, established by contact points that lie on a common base plane wherein said contact points are positioned on opposing edge portions of said outer surface, and    c) item receptacle means positioned within said outer surface sized slightly wider than said item to provide side support and also provides bottom support of said item orientating the length of said item generally transverse to said axis, and    d) handle means to carry said holder with said item installed, and also    e) an interior volume accessible from an underside open expanse between said opposing edge portions, allowing multiple said holders to be stacked one upon the other.    
     
     
         2 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said receptacle means comprises a single or plurality of receptacles positioned in said outer surface for supporting multiples of said item.  
     
     
         3 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said receptacle means comprises a single or plurality of apertures penetrating the said outer surface.  
     
     
         4 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said receptacle means comprises a single or plurality of substantially thin walled impressions formed to contour to said item, wherein downward facing sidewalls are sufficiently tapered for stacking multiple said holders one on the other.  
     
     
         5 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said handle means comprises a minimum of one extension from the topside of said outer surface.  
     
     
         6 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said handle means comprises a minimum of one opening within said outer surface.  
     
     
         7 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said handle means incorporates added materials to improve gripping properties, and heat insulating properties.  
     
     
         8 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein stiffening means are formed into said holder.  
     
     
         9 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said stable base incorporates added material to improve friction and gripping properties, and heat insulating properties.  
     
     
         10 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein multiple devices are formed from multiple sheets of material stacked together and formed in a sequential forming process.  
     
     
         11 . The holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said stable base incorporates attachment means to secure said holder to serving surfaces.  
     
     
         12 . A holder for supporting pita pockets, tacos, and any likewise shaped item in an upright position comprising: 
 a) an outer surface wherein a portion of said outer surface and related inner surface is a segment of a substantially thin walled cylinder having a curvilinear geometry about an axis, and    b) a stable base, established by contact points that lie on a common base plane wherein said contact points are positioned on opposing edge portions of said outer surface, and    c) item receptacle means positioned within said outer surface sized slightly wider than said item to provide side support and also provides bottom support of said item orientating the length of said item generally transverse to said axis, and    d) handle means to carry said holder with said item installed, and also    e) an open interior volume accessible from an underside open expanse between said opposing edge portions, allowing multiple said holders to be stacked one upon the other, and    f) stiffening means formed into said holder.    
     
     
         13 . The holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein said receptacle means comprises a single or plurality of receptacles positioned in said outer surface for supporting multiples of said item.  
     
     
         14 . The holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein said stiffening means comprises areas of raised or indented geometric features in said outer surface.  
     
     
         15 . The holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein said stiffening means comprises edge features formed on said outer surface.  
     
     
         16 . The holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein said stable base incorporates attachment means to serving surfaces.  
     
     
         17 . The holder as recited in  claim 15  wherein said edge features comprises extended downward facing tapered sidewall of said outer surface on one or both ends of said holder positioned transverse to said axis.  
     
     
         18 . The holder as recited in  claim 17  wherein said handle means comprises an opening in said extended tapered sidewall.  
     
     
         19 . The holder as recited in  claim 12  wherein said holder has environmental resistance to cooking ovens.  
     
     
         20 . A holder for supporting pita pockets, tacos, and any likewise shaped item in an upright position comprising: 
 a) an outer surface wherein a portion of said outer surface and related inner surface is a segment of a substantially thin walled cylinder having a curvilinear geometry about an axis, and    b) a stable base, established by contact points that lie on a common base plane wherein said contact points are positioned on opposing edge portions of said outer surface, and    c) item receptacle means, positioned within said outer surface sized slightly wider than said item to provide side support and also provides bottom support of said item orientating the length of said item generally transverse to said axis, and    d) handle means to carry said holder with said item installed, and    e) an open interior volume accessible from an underside open expanse between said opposing edge portions, allowing multiple said holders to be stacked one upon the other, and    f) stiffening means formed into said holder, and    g) attachment means on said stable base to secure said holder to a serving surface.