Stackable pizza pan

Abstract

A stackable pizza pan is provided that includes a bottom that round in shape and flat; a sidewall integrally formed with the bottom, wherein the sidewall completely surrounds the bottom, wherein the bottom and the sidewall define an interior region having a vertical axis therethrough, and wherein the sidewall includes: a first or lower section tapered outward and away from the interior region and the vertical axis; a second or middle section extending outward from the interior region and away from the vertical axis; and a third or upper section tapered inward and toward the interior region and the vertical axis; and an elongated rim integrally formed with the sidewall, wherein the rim extends outward and away from the interior region, and wherein the rim includes: a curled section, wherein the curled section extends downward toward the bottom and then inward toward the third or upper section of the sidewall.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 ) A pan, comprising:
 (a) a bottom, wherein the bottom is flat or substantially flat;   (b) a sidewall integrally formed with the bottom, wherein the sidewall completely surrounds the bottom, wherein the bottom and the sidewall define an interior region having a vertical axis therethrough, and wherein the sidewall includes:
 (i) a first or lower section, wherein the first or lower section is tapered outward and away from the interior region and the vertical axis; 
 (ii) a second or middle section, wherein the second or middle section extends outward from the interior region and away from the vertical axis; and 
 (iii) a third or upper section, wherein the third or upper section is tapered inward and toward the interior region and the vertical axis; and 
   (c) an elongated rim integrally formed with the sidewall, wherein the rim extends outward and away from the interior region, and wherein the rim includes:
 (i) a curled section, wherein the curled section extends downward toward the bottom and then inward toward the third or upper section of the sidewall. 
   
     
     
         2 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom is circular in shape. 
     
     
         3 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the outward taper of the first or lower section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the inward taper of the third or upper section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the pan is monolithic, and wherein the bottom, sidewall, and rim are formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         7 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the pan is made from aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         8 ) The pan of  claim 1 , wherein aluminum alloy is hard anodized and darkened. 
     
     
         9 ) A pan, comprising:
 (a) a bottom, wherein the bottom is circular in shape, and wherein the bottom is flat or substantially flat;   (b) a sidewall integrally formed with the bottom, wherein the sidewall completely surrounds the bottom, wherein the bottom and the sidewall define an interior region having a vertical axis therethrough, and wherein the sidewall includes:
 (i) a first or lower section, wherein the first or lower section is tapered outward and away from the interior region and the vertical axis; 
 (ii) a second or middle section, wherein the second or middle section extends outward from the interior region and away from the vertical axis; and 
 (iii) a third or upper section, wherein the third or upper section is tapered inward and toward the interior region and the vertical axis; and 
   (c) an elongated rim integrally formed with the sidewall, wherein the rim extends outward and away from the interior region, and wherein the rim includes:
 (i) a curled section, wherein the curled section extends downward toward the bottom and then inward toward the third or upper section of the sidewall. 
   
     
     
         10 ) The pan of  claim 9 , wherein the outward taper of the first or lower section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         11 ) The pan of  claim 9 , wherein the inward taper of the third or upper section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         12 ) The pan of  claim 9 , wherein the pan is monolithic, and wherein the bottom, sidewall, and rim are formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         13 ) The pan of  claim 9 , wherein the pan is made from aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         14 ) The pan of  claim 9 , wherein aluminum alloy is hard anodized and darkened. 
     
     
         15 ) A method for making a pan, comprising:
 (a) forming a bottom, wherein the bottom is circular in shape, and wherein the bottom is flat or substantially flat;   (b) forming a sidewall integrally with the bottom, wherein the sidewall completely surrounds the bottom, wherein the bottom and the sidewall define an interior region having a vertical axis therethrough, and wherein the sidewall includes:
 (i) a first or lower section, wherein the first or lower section is tapered outward and away from the interior region and the vertical axis; 
 (ii) a second or middle section, wherein the second or middle section extends outward from the interior region and away from the vertical axis; and 
 (iii) a third or upper section, wherein the third or upper section is tapered inward and toward the interior region and the vertical axis; and 
   (c) forming an elongated rim integrally the sidewall, wherein the rim extends outward and away from the interior region, and wherein the rim includes:
 (i) a curled section, wherein the curled section extends downward toward the bottom and then inward toward the third or upper section of the sidewall. 
   
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outward taper of the first or lower section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inward taper of the third or upper section is about 2° to about 5° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pan is monolithic, and wherein the bottom, sidewall, and rim are formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pan is made from aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 15 , wherein aluminum alloy is hard anodized and darkened.