Methods and apparatuses for isolating and/or adding dough crust within the outside perimeter of pizza crust

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for producing and consuming baked goods. More specifically, the methods and apparatuses enable producing isolated and/or added dough crust to the inside area, i.e., within the perimeter, of pizza and other baked goods, such that each piece cut from the pizza or other baked good has an edge having at least a partial crust thereon.

1 . An apparatus for forming a dough strip comprising:
 a dough cutting housing comprising first and second longitudinal walls and third and fourth lateral walls, the first, second, third, and fourth walls each having a dough cutting element on a bottom thereof, the first, second, third, and fourth walls forming a dough strip forming space, the dough cutting housing configured to cut a dough strip from a sheet of dough; and   a handle press configured to fit within the dough strip forming space, the handle press configured to push the dough strip formed within the dough strip forming space.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle press comprises a bottom element for forming a shape into the dough strip when the handle press pushes the dough strip within the dough strip forming space. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom element of the handle press is configured to press a depression into the dough strip. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom element of the handle press is configured to press a depression longitudinally into the dough strip from a first end of the dough strip to the second end of the dough strip. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle press is attached to the dough cutting housing. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the handle press is attached to at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth walls of the dough cutting housing. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the handle press is attached to the dough cutting housing via a living hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the handle press is attached to the dough cutting housing via a flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the handle press is spring-loaded within the dough cutting housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first arm extending from a first end of the dough cutting housing; and 
 a second arm extending from a second end of the dough cutting housing, 
 wherein the length of the first arm, the dough cutting housing, and the second arm roughly corresponds to a width of a pizza. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first arm and the second arm telescope relative to each other so that the length of the first arm, the dough cutting housing, and the second arm is changeable to correspond to pizzas having different widths. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for forming a dough strip comprising:
 a roller wheel press comprising a first circumferential dough cutting edge on a first side of the roller wheel and a second circumferential dough cutting edge on a second side of the roller wheel, and a concave shape between the first and second circumferential dough cutting edges; and   a handle for holding the roller wheel press, configured to allow the roller wheel press to roll along a sheet of dough wherein the first and second circumferential cutting edges cut the sheet of dough into a strip.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a circumferential dough pressing element disposed between the first and second circumferential dough cutting edges, wherein the circumferential dough pressing element is configured to form a depression in the strip of dough formed by rolling the roller wheel press along the sheet of dough. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the handle extends from an axle extending from the center of the roller wheel press. 
     
     
         15 . A dough strip package comprising:
 a shell having a length and a width and an open space running the length thereof;   a strip of dough disposed within the shell; and   a film disposed over the open space enclosing the strip of dough within the shell.   
     
     
         16 . The dough strip package of  claim 15  wherein the film comprises a tab configured to be grasped and pulled to remove the film from the open space. 
     
     
         17  –  28 . (canceled)