Microwave Heating Sleeve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sleeve for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:
- a base panel including a pair of opposite edges;
a first side panel and a second side panel, each respectively extending upwardly from the opposite edges of the base panel;
an inner top panel foldably joined to the first side panel;
an outer top panel foldably joined to the second side panel, the outer top panel extending substantially between the side panels, wherein the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and at least one of the inner top panel and the outer top panel define an interior space;
a locking feature foldably joined to the outer top panel, the locking feature being received within a receptacle proximate to the first side panel; and
a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least one of the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the inner top panel, and the outer top panel on a side of the respective panel facing the interior space.
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Abstract
A microwave energy interactive sleeve, a blank for forming the sleeve, and a method of packaging a food item to be heated, browned, and/or crisped is provided. The food item may be enwrapped in the sleeve as the sleeve is being erected such that a frozen or unfrozen food item may be loaded into the sleeve without significantly damaging the food item.
99 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A sleeve for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:
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a base panel including a pair of opposite edges; a first side panel and a second side panel, each respectively extending upwardly from the opposite edges of the base panel; an inner top panel foldably joined to the first side panel; an outer top panel foldably joined to the second side panel, the outer top panel extending substantially between the side panels, wherein the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and at least one of the inner top panel and the outer top panel define an interior space; a locking feature foldably joined to the outer top panel, the locking feature being received within a receptacle proximate to the first side panel; and a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least one of the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the inner top panel, and the outer top panel on a side of the respective panel facing the interior space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A blank for forming a microwave heating, browning, and/or crisping sleeve, comprising:
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a plurality of adjoined panels, each panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of panels including; a base panel, a first side panel and a second side panel, each being foldably joined to the base panel, a first top panel joined to the first side panel along a fold line extending in the first direction, the fold line being interrupted by a slit, a second top panel foldably joined to the second side panel, a locking feature foldably joined to the second top panel, the locking feature being substantially aligned in the second direction with the slit; and a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least one of the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first top panel, and the second top panel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of packaging a food item to be heated, browned, and/or crisped in a microwave oven, comprising:
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providing a blank including a plurality of panels, each panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of panels including a base panel, a first side panel and a second side panel foldably joined to opposite edges of the base panel, a first top panel joined to the first side panel along a fold line extending in the first direction, the blank including a receptacle proximate to the fold line, a second top panel foldably joined to the second side panel, a locking feature foldably joined to the second top panel, the locking feature being substantially aligned in the second direction with the receptacle, and a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of at least one of the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, the first top panel, the second top panel, and the locking feature; placing a food item on the base panel; folding the first side panel and the second panel upwardly towards the food item; folding the first top panel and the second panel over the food item, such that the first top panel and the second top panel are in an overlapping relationship; and inserting the locking feature into the receptacle to form a sleeve containing the food item. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification