Microwave energy interactive food package

• US 20070251942A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Bing, Cole, Lorin R., Lai, Laurence M.C., Keefe, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3456 Means for holding the contents at a distance from the base of the package, e.g. raised islands or protrusions B65D2581/3459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3466 Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3477 Iron or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3479 Other metallic compounds, e.g. silver, gold, copper, nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3489 Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3461 Flexible containers, e.g. bags, pouches, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3893 formed with double walls, i.e. hollow

Abstract

A microwave heating package comprises a dimensionally stable first component for supporting a food item and a flexible second component dimensioned to receive the dimensionally stable first component. Each of the first component and the second component may include a microwave energy interactive element for altering the effect of microwave energy on a food item within the package.

Claims

1. A microwave heating package comprising:

a dimensionally stable first component for supporting a food item, the dimensionally stable first component including a first microwave energy interactive element; and

a flexible second component dimensioned to receive the dimensionally stable first component, the flexible second component including a second microwave energy interactive element.

2. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a card, a tray, a platform, a sleeve, or any combination thereof, and

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a segmented metal foil, or any combination thereof.

3. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a substantially planar card, and

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a segmented metal foil, or any combination thereof overlying at least a portion of the card.

4. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a tray including a base and a plurality of upstanding walls, and

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a segmented metal foil, or any combination thereof overlying at least a portion of the base.

5. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a platform including a base and a pair of opposed, upstanding walls, and

the first microwave energy interactive element overlies at least a portion of the base.

6. The microwave heating package of claim 5, wherein the first microwave energy interactive element further overlies at least a portion of the pair of opposed, upstanding walls.

7. The microwave heating package of claim 5, wherein

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, and

the microwave heating package further comprises a segmented metal foil overlying at least a portion of the base.

8. The microwave heating package of claim 5, wherein

the first microwave energy interactive element further overlies at least a portion of the pair of opposed, upstanding walls,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, and

the microwave heating package further comprises a segmented metal foil superposed with at least a portion of the susceptor overlying the base.

9. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein the dimensionally stable first component comprises a sleeve including

a pair of opposed major panels, each having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, and

a pair of opposed minor panels joined to the major panels along lines of disruption extending in the longitudinal direction, each minor panel having a longitudinal dimension extending in the longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in the transverse direction,

wherein the pair of opposed major panels and the pair of opposed minor panels define an interior surface of the microwave heating package, and

wherein the first microwave energy interactive element overlies at least a portion of the interior surface.

10. The microwave heating package of claim 9, wherein the sleeve further includes a tear line extending in the transverse direction across each of the opposed major panels and the opposed minor panels.

11. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein the tear line substantially bisects the sleeve in the longitudinal direction.

12. The microwave heating package of claim 9, wherein the sleeve further includes a plurality of support elements extending downwardly from the minor panels.

13. The microwave heating package of claim 12, wherein each of the support elements are defined by a slit that initiates and terminates along one of the lines of disruption extending in the longitudinal direction.

14. The microwave heating package of claim 9, wherein the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor.

15. The microwave heating package of claim 9, further comprising a segmented metal foil superposed with at least a portion of the susceptor overlying one of the major panels.

16. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the flexible second component comprises a pouch, a wrapper, or any combination thereof, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor.

17. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the flexible second component comprises a pouch, a wrapper, or any combination thereof, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor having a grid pattern.

18. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the flexible second component comprises a microwave energy interactive insulating material, and

the microwave energy interactive insulating material includes the second microwave energy interactive element.

19. The microwave heating package of claim 18, wherein the microwave energy interactive insulating material includes

a susceptor film comprising a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film,

a moisture-containing layer superposed with the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and

a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming a plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film,

wherein the moisture-containing layer is positioned between the microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film, and

wherein the layer of microwave energy interactive material is the second microwave energy interactive element.

20. The microwave heating package of claim 19, wherein the moisture-containing layer releases water vapor when the microwave heating package is exposed to microwave energy.

21. The microwave heating package of claim 19, wherein at least some of the expandable insulating cells inflate when the microwave heating package is exposed to microwave energy.

22. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a substantially planar card,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the card,

the flexible second component comprises a pouch having an interior surface, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the interior surface of the pouch.

23. The microwave heating package of claim 22, further comprising a segmented metal foil superposed with at least a portion of the susceptor overlying the card.

24. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a substantially planar card,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the card,

the flexible second component comprises a pouch having an interior surface, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor having a grid pattern overlying at least a portion of the interior surface of the pouch.

25. The microwave heating package of claim 24, further comprising a segmented metal foil superposed with at least a portion of the susceptor overlying the card.

26. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a tray including a base and a plurality of upstanding walls,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the base,

the flexible second component comprises a pouch having an interior surface, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the interior surface of the pouch.

27. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a substantially planar card,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the card,

the flexible second component comprises a microwave energy interactive insulating structure including a plurality of expandable cells, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor layer within the microwave energy interactive insulating structure.

28. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a platform including a base and a pair of opposed, upstanding walls,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the base,

the flexible second component comprises a pouch having an interior surface, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the interior surface of the pouch.

29. The microwave heating package of claim 24, further comprising a segmented metal foil overlying at least a portion of the base of the dimensionally stable first component.

30. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein

the dimensionally stable first component comprises a sleeve including

a pair of opposed major panels, each having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, and

a pair of opposed minor panels joined to the major panels along lines of disruption extending in the longitudinal direction, each minor panel having a longitudinal dimension extending in the longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in the transverse direction,

the pair of opposed major panels and the pair of opposed minor panels define an interior surface of the microwave heating package,

the first microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the interior surface,

the flexible second component comprises a pouch having an interior surface, and

the second microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the interior surface of the pouch.

31. A microwave heating package comprising:

a flexible component including at least a first panel and a second panel in an opposed relation and at least partially defining a cavity therebetween; and

a dimensionally stable component sized to be received with the cavity and seated on the first panel,

wherein a microwave energy interactive material overlies at least a portion of the second panel and at least a portion of the dimensionally stable component.

32. The microwave heating package of claim 31, wherein

the dimensionally stable component includes a surface for supporting a food item having a bottom surface and a top surface, each intended to be browned and/or crisped, and

the microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the dimensionally stable component promotes browning and/or crisping of the bottom surface of the food item.

33. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material further overlies at least a portion of the first panel of the flexible component, and

the microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first panel promotes further browning and/or crisping of the bottom surface of the food item.

34. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the second panel of the flexible component promotes browning and/or crisping of the top surface of the food item.

35. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein

the food item further has at least one side surface intended to be browned and/or crisped,

the flexible component further includes a pair of opposed side panels joined to the first panel and the second panel to define the cavity, and

the microwave energy interactive material further overlies at least a portion of each of the side panels.

36. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein

the food item further has a plurality of side surfaces intended to be browned and/or crisped,

the dimensionally stable component includes a base and a pair of upstanding walls, and

the microwave energy interactive material further overlies at least a portion of each of the upstanding walls.

37. A blank for forming a dimensionally stable construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a base panel;

a pair of opposed side panels joined to the base panel along respective lines of disruption; and

a susceptor overlying at least a portion of the base panel and side panels.

38. The blank of claim 37, further comprising a plurality of cut lines initiating and terminating along the lines of disruption.

39. The blank of claim 37, further comprising a segmented metal foil overlying at least a portion of the base panel.

40. A blank for forming a dimensionally stable construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a first panel having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, the first panel including a first segment and a second segment joined along a transverse tear line;

a pair of opposed side panels joined to the first panel along respective longitudinal fold lines, the side panels each including a transverse tear line substantially aligned with the transverse tear line in the first panel;

a pair of opposed end panels joined to the side panels along respective longitudinal fold lines, the side panels each including a transverse tear line substantially aligned with the transverse tear lines in the first panel and the side panels; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least one the first panel, the side panels, and the end panels.

41. The blank of claim 40, further comprising a plurality of cut lines initiating and terminating along the longitudinal fold line joining each side panel to the respective end panel.

42. The blank of claim 40, further comprising a glue flap extending from at least one of the opposed end panels.

43. The blank of claim 40, further comprising at least one aperture extending though at least one of the side panels.

44. The blank of claim 40, wherein each of the opposed side panels includes a longitudinal fold line substantially centered in the transverse direction.

45. The blank of claim 40, wherein the first segment and second segment are each substantially octagonal in shape.