Ergonomic Pastry Scooping and Serving Device

Abstract

A pastry serving utensil for lifting large pastry sections, including half-pie or pastry portions, cleanly and efficiently from a standard pastry pan is disclosed. The utensil comprises a scoop member with a generally semi-circular bottom surface conforming to half the diameter of a standard circular pie or pastry. A sharpened or beveled terminal lip along the front edge of the scoop functions as a cutting edge to separate a curved pastry portion from the pan. A continuous curved side wall extends upwardly from the perimeter of the scoop, positioned opposite the front edge, and is configured to cradle and stabilize the semi-circular or curved pastry portion during lifting. An ergonomic handle is affixed at a central rearward position adjacent to the curved side wall and extends rearwardly orthogonal to the front edge. The handle is comprised of a friction-enhancing material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pastry serving utensil comprising:
 a pastry scooper device having a scoop member and a handle member;   wherein said scoop member having a semi-circular bottom surface configured to conform to a shape of a portion of a pastry pan;   wherein said scoop member having a planar front edge extending between opposing radial ends of said scoop member;   wherein said planar front edge is a cutting edge having a sharpened terminal lip which functions as said cutting edge to separate a curved pastry portion from an interior of the pastry pan;   wherein said scoop member having a continuous curved side wall extending upwardly and perpendicularly from at least a portion of a perimeter of said semi-circular bottom surface;   wherein said continuous curved side wall forming an upward contour to support the curved pastry portion during lifting;   wherein said handle member affixed to said scoop member at a rearward position opposing said planar front edge; and   further wherein said handle member extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to an axis formed between said opposing radial ends.   
     
     
         2 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said handle member having a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material and a rubber-coated material. 
     
     
         3 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 2 , wherein said continuous curved side wall positioned opposite said planar front edge. 
     
     
         4 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 3 , wherein said semi-circular bottom surface having a radius from 3 inches to 5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 4 , wherein said continuous curved side wall having a height from 2 inches to 4 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 5 , wherein said handle member having a length from 3 inches to 12 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 1 , wherein said scoop member having a shape conforming to one-half of the interior of the pastry pan. 
     
     
         8 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 7 , wherein said continuous curved side wall follows an inner contour of the pastry pan. 
     
     
         9 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 8 , wherein said semi-circular bottom surface and said continuous curved side wall cradles the curved pastry portion during lifting. 
     
     
         10 . A pastry serving utensil comprising:
 a pastry scooper device having a scoop member and a handle member;   wherein said scoop member having a semi-circular bottom surface configured to conform to a shape of a portion of a pastry pan;   wherein said scoop member having a planar front edge extending between opposing radial ends of said scoop member;   wherein said planar front edge is a cutting edge having a sharpened terminal lip which functions as said cutting edge to separate a curved pastry portion from an interior of the pastry pan;   wherein said scoop member having a continuous curved side wall extending upwardly and perpendicularly from at least a portion of a perimeter of said semi-circular bottom surface;   wherein said continuous curved side wall forming an upward contour to support the curved pastry portion during lifting;   wherein said handle member affixed to said scoop member at a rearward position opposing said planar front edge;   wherein said handle member extending rearwardly along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to an axis formed between said opposing radial ends;   wherein said continuous curved side wall follows an inner contour of the pastry pan; and   further wherein said semi-circular bottom surface and said continuous curved side wall cradles the curved pastry portion during lifting.   
     
     
         11 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 10 , wherein said handle member having a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material and a rubber-coated material. 
     
     
         12 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 11 , wherein said continuous curved side wall positioned opposite said planar front edge. 
     
     
         13 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 12 , wherein said semi-circular bottom surface having a radius from 3 inches to 5 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 13 , wherein said continuous curved side wall having a height from 2 inches to 4 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 14 , wherein said handle member having a length from 3 inches to 12 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The pastry serving utensil of  claim 10 , wherein said scoop member having a shape conforming to one-half of the interior of the pastry pan. 
     
     
         17 . A method of serving a pastry, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a pastry scooper device having a scoop member and a handle member, wherein said scoop member having a semi-circular bottom surface configured to conform to a shape of a portion of a pastry pan, wherein said scoop member having a planar front edge extending between opposing radial ends of said scoop member, wherein said planar front edge is a cutting edge having a sharpened terminal lip which functions as said cutting edge to separate a curved pastry portion from an interior of the pastry pan;   extending upwardly and perpendicularly a continuous curved side wall from at least a portion of a perimeter of said semi-circular bottom surface;   forming an upward contour with said continuous curved side wall to support the curved pastry portion during lifting, wherein said continuous curved side wall follows an inner contour of the pastry pan;   affixing said handle to said scoop member at a rearward position opposing said planar front edge;   extending said handle member rearwardly along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to an axis formed between said opposing radial ends; and   cradling the curved pastry portion, wherein said semi-circular bottom surface and said continuous curved side wall cradles the curved pastry portion during lifting of the curved pastry portion from the pastry pan.   
     
     
         18 . The method of serving a pastry of  claim 17 , wherein said handle member having a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material and a rubber-coated material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of serving a pastry of  claim 17 , wherein said continuous curved side wall positioned opposite said planar front edge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of serving a pastry of  claim 17 , wherein said scoop member having a shape conforming to one-half of the interior of the pastry pan.