Microwave heating package with thermoset coating

• US 20080000897A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Robbins, David William, Middleton, Scott W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3462 separate from the package, e.g. separate stands
• 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 2581/3495 attached to the lid
• 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

Abstract

A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprises a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first surface, wherein the microwave energy interactive material generates heat when exposed to microwave energy, and a thermally stable coating overlying at least a portion of the second surface.

Claims

1. A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first surface, wherein the microwave energy interactive material generates heat when exposed to microwave energy; and

a heat-resistant coating overlying at least a portion of the second surface, such that the panel is disposed between the microwave energy interactive material and the heat-resistant coating.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating comprises a thermoset polymer.

3. The construct of claim 2, wherein the thermoset polymer is an acrylate polymer.

4. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating has a coating weight of from about 0.5 to about 5 grams/square meter.

5. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating has a coating weight of from about 1 to about 2 grams/square meter.

6. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating overlies printed graphics, text, or any combination thereof.

7. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises a susceptor.

8. The construct of claim 1, wherein the first panel is intended to be seated on the floor of the microwave oven.

9. The construct of claim 1, wherein the first panel is a bottom panel, and the construct further comprises

a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the bottom panel;

and

a top panel having an interior surface comprising a microwave energy interactive element.

10. The construct of claim 9, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor.

11. A coated microwave heating package with enhanced thermal stability, comprising:

a plurality of panels including a first panel having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein

the interior surface is a food-bearing surface,

the exterior surface is a printed surface,

a susceptor film at least partially defines the interior surface, and

a thermoset coating at least partially defines the exterior surface.

12. The microwave heating package of claim 11, wherein the thermoset coating comprises an acrylate polymer.

13. The microwave heating package of claim 11, wherein the thermoset coating has a coating weight of from about 0.5 to about 5 grams/square meter.

14. The microwave heating package of claim 11, wherein the thermoset coating has a coating weight of from about 1 to about 2 grams/square meter.

15. The microwave heating package of claim 11, wherein upon exposure to microwave energy,

the susceptor generates thermal energy,

at least a portion of the thermal energy is transferred to the thermoset coating, and

the thermoset coating does not soften or flow when exposed to the thermal energy.

16. The microwave heating package of claim 11, wherein the thermoset coating resists softening up to a temperature of about 450°

F.

17. A carton for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven comprising:

a first panel and a second panel in an opposed configuration; and

a plurality of substantially upstanding walls extending between the first panel and the second panel, wherein

the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of walls define an interior space for receiving a food item,

the first panel includes a printed exterior surface comprising a thermoset polymer coating and an interior surface comprising a susceptor film, and

the second panel includes a removable portion and an interior surface comprising a susceptor film.

18. The carton of claim 17, wherein

the thermoset polymer coating comprises an acrylate polymer, and

the thermoset polymer coating has a coat weight of from about 0.5 to about 5 grams/square meter.

19. The carton of claim 17, wherein

the interior surface of the first panel is intended to receive the food item thereon, and

the exterior surface of the first panel is intended to be seated on a floor of a microwave oven.

20. The carton of claim 17, wherein the interior surface of the second panel is intended to overlie the food item.

21. The carton of claim 17, wherein

the first panel is a top panel of the carton prior to heating, and

the first panel is a bottom panel of the carton during heating.

22. A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first surface; and

a thermally stable coating overlying at least a portion of the second surface.