Cookware with liquid microwave energy moderator

• US 4,316,070 A
• Filed: 08/21/1979
• Issued: 02/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Algis S. Leveckis, Charles L. Gunn, Robert L. Prosise
• Original Assignee: Algis S. Leveckis, Charles L. Gunn, Robert L. Prosise
• Inventors: Gunn, Charles L., Prosise, Robert L., Leveckis, Algis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Application Number:
  US06/068,357
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.55 E, 219/10.55 M, 219/10.55 R, 219/10.55 F, 426/107, 426/118, 426/127, 426/237, 426/241, 426/243, 427/401, 427/384, 428/500
• US Class Current: 219/728
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3447 Heat attenuators, blocking agents or heat insulators for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3485 Other unusual non-metallic substances, e.g. ivory, wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3487 Reflection, Absorption and Transmission [RAT] properties of the microwave reactive package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3461 Flexible containers, e.g. bags, pouches, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

A moderator for cooking foods evenly in a microwave oven is described. The moderator is in the form of an enclosure having a fluid impervious outer layer. Attached to the inside surfaces of the outer layer is a liquid film forming layer which converts a dielectric fluid placed in contact with the layer into a thin liquid film which surrounds the cooking comestible.

Claims

1. Cookware for cooking foods evenly in a microwave oven comprising a vented enclosure transmissive of microwave energy, being microwave oven compatible up to at least 150°

C., said enclosure having an inner layer of liquid of from 4 to 120 mg./cm.², retained by a liquid film forming layer held within said enclosure, said enclosure having an adjusted technical evenness of greater than zero for 10 minutes and a technical evenness rating above 0.3.

2. The cookware of claim 1 wherein the moderated power is above 80%.

3. The cookware of claim 1 wherein said film forming layer is an absorptive layer.

4. The cookware of claim 3 wherein said enclosure including an outer layer of polymeric film.

5. The cookware of claim 4 wherein said absorptive layer is attached to said outer film layer.

6. The cookware of claim 4 wherein said film and said absorptive layer being integral.

7. The cookware of claim 4 wherein said film layer is a plastic bag.

8. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said absorptive layer is from 0.08 to 1.4 millimeters thick.

9. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said absorbent layer retains an aqueous solution of from 30 to 60 mg./cm.².

10. The cookware of claim 9 wherein said aqueous solution is water.

11. The cookware of claim 9 wherein said aqueous solution is electrolyte and water.

12. The cookware of claim 11 wherein said aqueous solution has from 3 to 25% salt by weight.

13. The cookware of claim 12 wherein said salt solution has 3% salt by weight.

14. The cookware of claim 9 wherein the absorptive capacity of said absorptive layer is from 30 to 60 mg./cm.².

15. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said absorbent layer retains a layer of vegetable oil.

16. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said cookware includes an inner plastic layer internal of said absorbent layer, said absorbent layer being sandwiched between said bag and said inner plastic layer.

17. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said bag has a flap and strap closure.

18. The cookware of claim 7 having an opening for the addition of liquid.

19. The cookware of claim 7 wherein said enclosure having a reflectivity greater than 0.5% and an absorptivity greater than 4%.

20. The cookware of claim 1 and wherein said liquid is a continuous liquid film.

21. The cookware of claim 1 and wherein said film forming layer being a water soluble wetting agent coated on the inner surface of the enclosure, said liquid layer collecting on said inner surface.

22. The cookware of claim 21 wherein said cookware has a reflectivity of at least 0.2%.

23. The cookware of claim 22 being a plastic bag.

24. The cookware of claim 23 wherein said bag has a flap and strap closure.

25. The cookware of claim 23 wherein said film forming layer is in fluid communication with the interior of the bag.

26. The cookware of claim 21 wherein said cookware has an absorptivity of from 0.6 to 5%.

27. The cookware of claim 1 having a technical evenness rating of greater than 0.35.

28. The cookware of claim 27 having a technical evenness rating greater than 0.4.

29. The cookware of claim 28 having a technical evenness rating greater than 0.5.

30. The cookware of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is made of polypropylene.

31. The cookware of claim 1 wherein said liquid is maintained on both sides of said cooking food.

32. The cookware of claim 1 wherein said liquid is arranged in a pattern of spaced microwave interactive moderating regions having a technical evenness rating of at least 0.3.

33. Cookware for cooking foods evenly in a microwave oven comprising a vented enclosure transmissive of microwave energy, being microwave oven compatible above 150°

C., said enclosure having an inner layer of liquid of from 4 to 120 mg./cm.², retained by an absorptive liquid film forming layer held within said enclosure, said enclosure having an adjusted technical evenness of greater than zero for 10 minutes and a technical evenness rating above 0.3.

34. The cookware of claim 33 wherein the moderated power is above 80%.

35. The cookware of claim 33 wherein said enclosure including an outer layer of polymeric film.

36. The cookware of claim 35 wherein said absorptive layer is attached to said outer film layer.

37. The cookware of claim 35 wherein said film and said absorptive layer being integral.

38. The cookware of claim 35 wherein said film layer is a plastic bag.

39. The cookware of claim 38 wherein said absorptive layer is from 0.08 to 1.4 millimeters thick.

40. The cookware of claim 38 wherein said absorbent layer retains an aqueous solution of from 30 to 60 mg./cm.².

41. The cookware of claim 40 wherein said aqueous solution is water.

42. The cookware of claim 40 wherein the absorptive capacity of said absorptive layer is from 30 to 60 mg./cm.².

43. The cookware of claim 38 having an opening for the addition of liquid.

44. The cookware of claim 33 having a technical evenness rating of greater than 0.35.

45. The cookware of claim 33 wherein said enclosure is made of polypropylene.

46. The cookware of claim 33 wherein said liquid is maintained on both sides of said cooking food.

47. The cookware of claim 33 wherein said liquid is arranged in a pattern of spaced microwave interactive moderating regions having a technical evenness rating of at least 0.3.