Package for Combined Steam and Microwave Heating of Food

• US 20140348989A1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sloat, Jeffrey T., Resurreccion, Fermin P. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/234
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/13 using water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/15 using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/04 for cooking food in steam; Devices for extracting fruit juice by means of steam ; Vacuum cooking vessels steam-heated vessels for hotels, restaurants or canteens A47J27/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/05 Tier steam-cookers, i.e. with steam-tight joints between cooking-vessels stacked while in use
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3435 Package specially adapted for defrosting the contents by microwave heating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3441 3-D geometry or shape factors, e.g. depth-wise
• 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 2581/3489 Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3491 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3497 attached to the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A package for combined steam and microwave heating of food, wherein the package may include microwave energy interactive materials (“MEIMs”) configured for providing rapid, simultaneous microwave and steam cooking in a domestic microwave oven. The MEIMs may be configured for controlling the heating pattern within the package and to control volumetric heating of food in the package. The MEIMs may include one or more of a susceptor, shield, and/or resonating patch antenna. The package may be paper-based, or it may be manufactured of any other suitable material. One or more of the different sections of the package may comprise separate chambers respectively for the steam source and the food to be steamed, so that the steam source and the food to be steamed are separated from one another during manufacturing, storage, and cooking.

Claims

1. A package for heating a food product, the package comprising paperboard material and a microwave energy interactive material, the package comprising:

a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to form a first interior space;

a second container received in the first interior space, the second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space, the second interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space,

the second bottom wall being spaced apart from the first bottom wall to at least partially define a first compartment below the second bottom wall for receiving a first product and an second compartment above the second bottom wall for receiving a second product, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is for receiving a source of steam to be heated in the package that is supported by the first bottom wall and the second compartment is for receiving a food product to be heated in the package that is supported by the second bottom wall.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the second container comprises a locating feature for locating the second container in the first interior space.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the locating feature comprises a flange at the top of the second sidewall for engaging a feature on the first container.

6. The package of claim 5, wherein the feature on the first container comprises an indentation in the first sidewall.

7. The package of claim 5, wherein the feature on the first container is a flange located at the top of the first sidewall.

8. The package of claim 4, wherein the locating feature comprises a lower portion of the second sidewall that extends below the second bottom wall.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the second sidewall is in contact with the first bottom wall of the first container.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein the lower portion of the second sidewall is in contact with a support on the first bottom wall of the first container.

11. The package of claim 1, further comprising a third container received in the first interior space, the third container having a third sidewall and a third bottom wall, the third sidewall and the third bottom wall cooperating to form a third interior space, the third interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space,

the third bottom wall being spaced apart from the second bottom wall to at least partially define a third compartment above the third bottom wall for receiving a third product.

12. The package of claim 11, further comprising a fourth container received in the first interior space, the fourth container having a fourth sidewall and a fourth bottom wall, the fourth sidewall and the fourth bottom wall cooperating to form a fourth interior space, the fourth interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space,

the fourth bottom wall being spaced apart from the third bottom wall to at least partially define a third upper compartment above the fourth bottom wall for receiving a fourth product.

13. The package of claim 1, wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a susceptor on the first bottom wall for absorbing microwave energy and providing heat to the first product to create steam in the package.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the microwave interactive material comprises an antenna pattern on the first bottom wall for directing microwave energy to the first product to create steam in the package.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the microwave interactive material comprises a shield on the first bottom wall for deflecting microwave energy to prevent burning of the paperboard material of the first container.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the shield comprises an annular-shaped portion with a central opening.

17. The package of claim 16, wherein the antenna pattern is located in the central opening.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the susceptor is located in the central opening in the space between the antenna patter and the shield.

19. The package of claim 15, wherein the shield is a lower shield, the microwave interactive material further comprises an upper shield on the first sidewall, the upper shield is configured for directing microwave energy to the first bottom wall.

20. The package of claim 1, wherein the second bottom wall comprises at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment.

21. The package of claim 1, further comprising a cover closing the first interior space, the lid being at least partially transparent to microwave energy.

22. The package of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises at least one ameliorator for controlling the amount of microwave energy that penetrates the cover.

23. A method of forming a package for heating a food product, the package comprising paperboard material and microwave interactive material, the method comprising:

obtaining a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to from a first interior space;

obtaining a second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space;

positioning the second container in the first container so that the second interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space, the second bottom wall is spaced apart from the first bottom wall to at least partially define a first compartment below the second bottom wall for receiving a first product and a second compartment above the second bottom wall for receiving a second product, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising placing a source of steam to be heated in the first compartment and placing a food product to be heated in the second compartment.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the second container comprises a locating feature and the positioning the second container comprises engaging the locating feature to locate the second container in the first interior space.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the locating feature comprises a flange at the top of the second sidewall and the engaging the locating feature comprises engaging the flange in an indentation in the first sidewall.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the locating feature comprises a flange at the top of the second sidewall and the engaging the locating feature comprises engaging the flange of the second container with a flange of the first container located at the top of the first sidewall.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the locating feature comprises a lower portion of the second sidewall that extends below the second bottom wall, and the positioning the second container in the first container comprises contacting the lower portion with the first bottom wall of the first container.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the locating feature comprises a lower portion of the second sidewall that extends below the second bottom wall, and the positioning the second container in the first container comprises contacting the lower portion with a flange on the first bottom wall of the first container.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

obtaining a third container having a third sidewall and a third bottom wall, the third sidewall and the third bottom wall cooperating to form a third interior space; and

positioning the third container in the first container so that the third interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space and the third bottom wall is spaced apart from the second bottom wall to at least partially define a third compartment above the third bottom wall for receiving a third product.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

obtaining a fourth container having fourth sidewall and a fourth bottom wall, the fourth sidewall and the fourth bottom wall cooperating to form a fourth interior space; and

positioning the fourth container in the first container so that the fourth interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space and the fourth bottom wall is spaced apart from the third bottom wall to at least partially define a fourth compartment above the fourth bottom wall for receiving a fourth product.

32. A package for heating a food product, the package comprising paperboard material and a microwave energy interactive material, the package comprising:

a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to form a first interior space;

a second container received in the first interior space, the second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space, the second interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space, the second side wall having a bottom portion that is in contact with the first bottom wall and the second bottom wall is spaced above the bottom portion,

the second bottom wall being spaced apart from the first bottom wall to at least partially define a first compartment below the second bottom wall for receiving a first product and a second compartment above the second bottom wall for receiving a second product, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment.

33. The package of claim 32, wherein the first compartment is for receiving a source of steam to be heated in the package that is supported by the first bottom wall and the second compartment is for receiving a food product to be heated in the package that is supported by the second bottom wall.

34. The package of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of the second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall.

35. The package of claim 32, wherein the first container comprises a first flange at the top of the first sidewall and an indentation in the first sidewall below the first flange, the second container comprises a second flange at the top of the second sidewall, the second flange engages the indentation for locating the second container.

36. The package of claim 35, wherein at least one of the second bottom wall, second sidewall, and second flange have at least one vent opening for allowing steam to circulate in the package.

37. The package of claim 35, further comprising a cover in contact with the first flange to at least partially close the first interior space.

38. A package for heating a food product, the package comprising paperboard material and a microwave energy interactive material, the package comprising:

a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to form a first interior space;

a second container received in the first interior space, the second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space, the second interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space;

a third container received in the first interior space, the third container having a third sidewall and a third bottom wall, the third sidewall and the third bottom wall cooperating to form a third interior space, the third interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space,

the second bottom wall being spaced apart from the first bottom wall to at least partially define a first compartment below the second bottom wall for receiving a first product and a second compartment above the second bottom wall for receiving a second product, the third bottom wall being spaced apart from the second bottom wall to at least partially define a third compartment above the third bottom wall for receiving a third product, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment and the third bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the second compartment to the third compartment.

39. The package of claim 38, wherein the first compartment is for receiving a source of steam to be heated in the package that is supported by the first bottom wall, the second compartment is for receiving a first food product to be heated in the package that is supported by the second bottom wall, and the third compartment is for receiving a second food product to be heated in the package that is supported by the third bottom wall.

40. The package of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of the second sidewall is in face-to-face contact with the first sidewall.

41. The package of claim 40, wherein at least a portion of the third sidewall is in face-to-face contact with the second sidewall.

42. The package of claim 38, wherein the first container comprises a first flange at the top of the first sidewall, the second container comprises a second flange at the top of the second sidewall, the second flange is in face-to-face contact with the first flange to locate the second container in the first container.

43. The package of claim 42, wherein the third container comprises a third flange at the top of the third sidewall, the third flange being in face-to-face contact with the second flange to locate the third container in the second container.

44. The package of claim 42, further comprising a cover in contact with the third flange to at least partially close the first interior space.

45. A package for heating a food product, the package comprising paperboard material and a microwave energy interactive material, the package comprising:

a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to form a first interior space, the first bottom wall comprising a first support on the first bottom wall;

a second container received in the first interior space, the second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space, the second interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space, the second side wall having a bottom portion that is in contact with the first support and the second bottom wall is spaced above the bottom portion,

the second bottom wall being spaced apart from the first bottom wall to at least partially define a first compartment below the second bottom wall for receiving a first product and a second compartment above the second bottom wall for receiving a second product, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening for allowing steam to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment.

46. The package of claim 45, wherein the first compartment is for receiving a source of steam to be heated in the package that is supported by the first bottom wall, and the second compartment is for receiving a first food product to be heated in the package that is supported by the second bottom wall,

47. The package of claim 45, wherein the second container comprises a second support and the package further comprises a third container received in the first interior space, the third container having a third sidewall and a third bottom wall, the third sidewall and the third bottom all cooperating to form a third interior space, the third interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space, the third bottom wall being spaced apart from the second bottom wall to at least partially define a third compartment.

48. The package of claim 47, wherein the third container comprises a third support and the third sidewall comprises a bottom portion, the third support engages the second support and the bottom portion of the third sidewall engages the second sidewall of the second container to locate the third container in the first interior space.

49. The package of claim 48, further comprising a fourth container, the fourth container having a fourth sidewall and a fourth bottom wall, the fourth sidewall and the fourth bottom wall cooperating to form a fourth interior space, the fourth interior space comprising a portion of the first interior space, the fourth bottom wall being spaced apart from the third bottom wall to at least partially define the fourth compartment.

50. The package of claim 49, wherein the fourth container comprises a fourth support and the fourth sidewall comprises a bottom portion, the fourth support engages the third support and the bottom portion of the fourth sidewall engages the third sidewall of the third container to locate the fourth container in the first interior space.

51. The package of claim 50, further comprising a cover in contact with the fourth sidewall to at least partially close the first interior space.

52. The package of claim 50, wherein at least one of the second bottom wall, third bottom wall, fourth bottom wall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall comprises vent openings for allowing steam to circulate in the package.

53. A method of heating a food product in a package in a microwave oven, the method comprising:

obtaining a first container having a first sidewall and a first bottom wall, the first sidewall and the first bottom wall cooperating to form a first interior space;

obtaining a second container having a second sidewall and a second bottom wall, the second sidewall and the second bottom wall cooperating to form a second interior space, the second bottom wall having at least one vent opening;

positioning the second container in the first interior space so that the second interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space and the second bottom wall is spaced apart from the first bottom wall to form a first compartment below the second bottom wall and a second compartment above the second bottom wall;

placing a source of steam in the first compartment so that the source of steam is supported by the first bottom wall;

placing a food product in the second compartment so that the food product is supported by the second bottom wall; and

heating the package in a microwave oven so that steam is created in the first compartment and circulates to the second compartment through the vent openings in the second bottom wall so that the food product is heated by the steam and microwave energy.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the positioning the second container in the first interior space comprises engaging a flange of the second container with an indentation in the first sidewall to locate the second container.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the positioning the second container in the first container comprises engaging a flange of the second container with a flange of the first container to locate the second container.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the positioning the second container in the first container comprises engaging the second sidewall with a support on the first bottom wall.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising obtaining a third container having a third sidewall and a third bottom wall, the third sidewall and the third bottom wall cooperating to form a third interior space, and positioning the third container so that the third interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space and the third bottom wall is spaced apart from the second bottom wall to at least partially define a third compartment above the third bottom wall.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising placing a food product in the third compartment.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising obtaining a fourth container having a fourth sidewall and a fourth bottom wall, the fourth sidewall and the fourth bottom wall cooperating to form a fourth interior space, and positioning the fourth container so that the fourth interior space comprises a portion of the first interior space and the fourth bottom wall is spaced apart from the third bottom wall to at least partially define a fourth compartment above the fourth bottom wall.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising placing a food product in the fourth compartment.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein the first container comprises a susceptor on the first bottom wall for absorbing microwave energy and wherein the heating the package comprises providing heat from the susceptor to the first product to create steam in the package.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the first container comprises an antenna pattern on the first bottom wall, and the heating the package comprises directing microwave energy from the first antenna pattern to the first product to create steam in the package.

63. The method of claim 53, wherein the second bottom wall comprises microwave interactive material and the heating the package comprises heating the food product by way of the microwave interactive material.