Barbie Table

Reader Bob Saldeen wrote in to let me know that the round thing that keeps the top of the pizza box off the pizza is called a Barbie Table, a name Bob thought up himself. Cute name Bob, however, it is unlikely that you ever played with Barbie Dolls or you would know that Barbie (invented by Ruth Handler in 1959) is 11 inches tall, and that "round thing" is only 1.5 inches tall. That's not a good ergonomic design for Barbie, the table would only by as high as her ankles. Besides, that round thing already has a name, it's a package saver invented by Carmela Vitale of Dix Hills, NY, who filed for US patent #4,498,586 on February 10, 1983. Loved your photos of France Bob, thanks for writing.