Microwave heating construct

• US 20080023469A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,183,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• 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 2581/3491 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/366 Pizza
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A blank for a construct comprises a main panel including a removable panel at least partially defined by a line of disruption, a plurality of side panels extending from the main panel along respective fold lines, and a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of the main panel. The blank may be used to form a construct capable of heating, browning, and/or crisping upper and lower surfaces of a food item.

Claims

1. A blank for forming a construct, comprising:

a main panel including a removable panel at least partially defined by a line of disruption;

a plurality of side panels extending from the main panel along respective fold lines; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of the main panel.

2. The blank of claim 1, wherein the main panel includes a peripheral portion that circumscribes the removable panel.

3. The blank of claim 1, further comprising a tab defined by a line of disruption that initiates and terminates proximate the removable panel.

4. The blank of claim 1, wherein

the main panel is substantially square in shape, and

the plurality of side panels includes

a first pair of opposed side panels that are substantially rectangular in shape, and

a second pair of opposed side panels that are substantially trapezoidal in shape.

5. The blank of claim 4, further comprising a pair of end panels extending from opposed ends of each side panel of the first pair of side panels.

6. The blank of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side panels includes

a first side panel including a pair of locking tabs extending from opposed ends of the first side panel, and

a second side panel including a pair of receiving slits, each receiving slit being adapted to receive one locking tab of the pair of locking tabs.

7. The blank of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of panels includes a first set of side panels and a second set of side panels extending from the main panel in an alternating relationship,

each side panel of the first set of side panels includes a pair of locking tabs, and

each side panel of the second set of side panels includes a pair of receiving slits adapted to receive the respective adjacent locking tabs.

8. The blank of claim 7, wherein

the main panel is substantially octagonal in shape,

the first set of side panels includes four side panels, and

the second set of side panels includes four side panels.

9. The blank of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor.

10. The blank of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive element circumscribes a plurality of microwave energy transparent areas.

11. A construct for containing, heating, browning, and/or a crisping a food item, comprising:

a base and a plurality of walls defining an interior space; and

a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the base proximate the interior space,

wherein the base includes

a removable panel defined at least partially by a line of disruption, and

a peripheral area circumscribing the removable panel.

12. The construct of claim 11, wherein the construct is adapted to receive a food item seated on the base within the interior space.

13. The construct of claim 11, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material overlies at least a portion of the removable panel,

the removable panel is adapted to be separated from the construct, and

with the removable panel separated from the construct, the removable panel is adapted to receive at least a portion of the food item intended to be browned and/or crisped.

14. The construct of claim 11, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material overlies at least a portion of the peripheral area of the base,

the food item includes a peripheral area intended to be browned and/or crisped, and

in a configuration with the walls extending downwardly from the base, the construct is adapted to receive the food item within the interior space with the microwave energy interactive material overlying the peripheral area of the food item.

15. The construct of claim 11, wherein

the base is substantially square in shape, and

the plurality of walls includes

a first pair of opposed walls that are substantially rectangular in shape, and

a second pair of opposed walls that are substantially trapezoidal in shape.

16. The construct of claim 15, further comprising a pair of end panels extending from opposed ends of each wall of the first pair of walls.

17. The construct of claim 11, wherein

the plurality of walls includes a first set of walls and a second set of walls in an alternating relationship extending from the main panel,

each wall of the first set of walls includes a pair of locking tabs, and

each wall of the second set of walls includes a pair of receiving slits adapted to receive the respective adjacent locking tabs.

18. A multi-use construct comprising:

a base and a plurality of walls defining an interior space, the base including a removable panel defined by a line of disruption; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of the base and defining at least a portion of an interior surface,

wherein the construct is adapted to be transitioned between

a first configuration with the walls extending upwardly from the base, such that the construct is adapted to contain a food item within the interior space,

a second configuration with the removable panel separated from the base, such that the removable panel is adapted to receive at least a portion of the food item, and

a third configuration with the removable panel separated from the base to form a remaining portion of the construct, in which the remaining portion of the construct is adapted to be inverted relative to the first configuration and positioned over the food item.

19. The construct of claim 18, wherein

the removable panel has a first side at least partially comprising at least a portion of the microwave energy interactive element,

the food item has a surface intended to be browned and/or crisped, and

in the second configuration, the surface of the food item intended to be browned and/or crisped is in a superposed, facing relationship with the first side of the removable panel.

20. The construct of claim 18, wherein

the base includes a peripheral area circumscribing the removable panel,

the microwave energy interactive element overlies at least a portion of the peripheral area, and

in the third configuration, the peripheral area overlies a portion of the food item intended to be browned and/or crisped.

21. The construct of claim 18, wherein

the removable panel separated from the base forms an opening in the base, and

in the third configuration, the opening overlies a portion of the food item not intended to be browned and/or crisped.

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

providing a container having a base including a removable portion defined at least partially by a line of disruption, wherein the removable portion includes a microwave energy interactive material;

separating the removable portion from the base to form a remaining portion; and

placing the food item on the removable portion.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein

the remaining portion comprises a microwave energy interactive material, and

the method further comprises positioning the remaining portion over the food item, such that the food item is disposed between the removable portion and the remaining portion.

24. A method of heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

providing a container including a base and a plurality of substantially upstanding walls that define a cavity for receiving a food item,

wherein

the base includes a removable portion and a peripheral portion circumscribing the removable portion, and

a microwave energy interactive material overlies at least a portion of the removable portion and at least a portion of the peripheral portion;

separating the removable portion from the peripheral portion, thereby forming a remainder of the construct;

placing the food item on the removable portion; and

inverting the remainder of the construct and placing it over the food item, such that the food item is disposed between the removable portion and the remainder of the construct.