Easy open microwave susceptor sleeve for pizza and the like

• US 5,077,455 A
• Filed: 08/13/1990
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Stouffer Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Stouffer Corporation
• Inventors: Payne, David S., Sears, Gregory A., Peleg, Yigal
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US07/565,701
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.55 E, 219/10.55 F, 426/107, 426/111, 426/113, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243, 229/903, 229/126, 229/127, 99/DIG. 14
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/903 Ovenable, i.e. disclosed to be placed in an oven
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 99/14 Induction heating

Abstract

An improved sleeve receptacle for microwave browning and crisping of a generally flat food article, such as pizza, in a microwave oven is provided. The receptacle is constructed from a sheet of microwave susceptor stock which preferably includes an outwardly exposed dielectric support layer and an inwardly facing heating layer of microwave interactive material allowing passage of microwave energy as it is heated thereby. The sleeve is initially provided as a flat sheet which can be easily fitted within the frozen food package. The consumer folds the flat sheet into its sleeve configuration by joining the top portions of the sleeve together in a manner whereby the top portions of the sleeve can be later pulled apart to permit easy removal of the heated foodstuff.

Claims

1. An open ended sleeve receptacle for receiving a frozen food article to be heated in a microwave oven and which is assembled, from a flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock which defines its initial configuration, by the consumer into its assembled sleeve configuration;

said sleeve receptacle comprising;

an initially flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock having a rectilinear configuration defined by a pair of generally parallel longitudinally extending edges and a pair of generally parallel laterally extending edges orthogonal to said longitudinal edges and defining the open ends of said receptacle in its sleeve configuration;

first and second longitudinally extending fold lines defining a base portion of said sleeve therebetween;

a third longitudinally extending fold line laterally spaced between one of said longitudinal edges and said first fold line to define a first sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said first and third fold lines and a first top portion of said sleeve extending between said third fold line and said one of said longitudinal edges;

a fourth fold line laterally spaced between said second fold line and the other longitudinal edge to define a second sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said second and fourth fold lines and a second top portion of said sleeve extending between said fourth fold line and said other one of said longitudinal edges; and

attachment means associated with one of said longitudinal edges for releasably securing said first and second top portions together to form said sleeve configuration for heating said food article while permitting said first and second top portions to be separated after heating for food removal, said sleeve cut on cut lines extending laterally into said base portion from interruptions in said first fold line for a discrete distance and connected by cut lines in said base portion parallel to said first fold line to define two first leg portions extending from said first sidewall portion, and said sleeve having cut lines extending laterally into said base portion from interruptions in said second fold line for a discrete distance and connected by cut lines in said base portion parallel to said second fold line to define two second leg portions extending from said second sidewall portion whereby said leg portions underlie said sidewall portions and support said base portion spaced away from the floor of said oven.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said susceptor sheet stock includes a dielectric paperboard support layer and a layer of microwave interactive material affixed to one side thereof allowing passage of microwave energy while being heated thereby;

said microwave interactive layer affixed to that side of said paperboard which forms the interior of said receptacle when assembled into said sleeve configuration.

3. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein an additional layer of microwave interactive material is applied to the exterior surface of said stock over one of the said sleeve portions thereof.

4. The receptacle of claim 3 wherein a microwave reflective layer is provided on one side of said sleeve over one of its said portions.

5. An open ended sleeve receptacle for receiving a frozen food article to be heated in a microwave oven and which is assembled, from a flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock which defines its initial configuration, by the consumer into its assembled sleeve configuration;

said sleeve receptacle comprising;

an initially flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock having a rectilinear configuration defined by a pair of generally parallel longitudinally extending edges and a pair of generally parallel laterally extending edges orthogonal to said longitudinal edges and defining the open ends of said receptacle in its sleeve configuration;

first and second longitudinally extending fold lines defining a base portion of said sleeve therebetween;

a third longitudinally extending fold line laterally spaced between one of said longitudinal edges and said first fold line to define a first sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said first and third fold lines and a first top portion of said sleeve extending between said third fold line and said one of said longitudinal edges;

a fourth fold line laterally spaced between said second fold line and the other longitudinal edge to define a second sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said second and fourth fold lines and a second top portion of said sleeve extending between said fourth fold line and said other one of said longitudinal edges; and

attachment means associated with one of said longitudinal edges for releasably securing said first and second top portions together to form said sleeve configuration for heating said food article while permitting said first and second top portions to be separated after heating for food removal, said attachment means comprised solely of a tab fold line diagonally extending across one of the corners of one of said top portions;

a first tab cut line extending from said longitudinal edge of said one top portion to said tab fold line and a second tab cut line extending from the adjacent lateral edge of said one top portion to said tab fold line to define an interlocking tab portion extending between said cut lines whereby said tab portion is bent over the other one of said top portions when the longitudinal edge of said other top portion is slipped into said cut lines and contacts said tab fold line to retain both of said top portions together.

6. The receptacle of claim 5 wherein said attachment means includes a said interlocking tab portion formed across each of the two corners of one of said top portions of said sleeve.

7. An open ended sleeve receptacle for receiving a frozen food article to be heated in a microwave oven and which is assembled, from a flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock which defines its initial configuration, by the consumer into its assembled sleeve configuration;

said sleeve receptacle comprising;

an initially flat sheet of microwave susceptor sheet stock having a rectilinear configuration defined by a pair of generally parallel longitudinally extending edges and a pair of generally parallel laterally extending edges orthogonal to said longitudinal edges and defining the open ends of said receptacle in its sleeve configuration;

first and second longitudinally extending fold lines defining a base portion of said sleeve therebetween;

a third longitudinally extending fold line laterally spaced between one of said longitudinal edges and said first fold line to define a first sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said first and third fold lines and a first top portion of said sleeve extending between said third fold line and said one of said longitudinal edges;

a fourth fold line laterally spaced between said second fold line and the other longitudinal edge to define a second sidewall portion of said sleeve extending between said second and fourth fold lines and a second top portion of said sleeve extending between said fourth fold line and said other one of said longitudinal edges; and

attachment means associated with one of said longitudinal edges for releasably securing said first and second top portions together to form said sleeve configuration for heating said food article while permitting said first and second top portions to be separated after heating for food removal, said attachment means comprised solely of a tab extending laterally from said longitudinal edge of said first top portion and a slit cut in said second top portion aligned with said tab whereby said tab slips and locks into said slit when said sleeve is folded on said fold lines to releasably lock said first and second top portions together.

8. The open ended receptacle for receiving a frozen food article to be heated in a microwave oven and which is assembled from a flat sheet of susceptor stock material defining an initial configuration of said receptacle to its assembled sleeve configuration, said susceptor sheet in its initial configuration having a rectilinear configuration defined by a pair of generally parallel longitudinally extending edges and a pair of generally parallel laterally extending edges orthogonal to said longitudinal edges and defining the open ends of said receptacle in its sleeve configuration, first and second longitudinally extending fold lines defining a base portion of said stock therebetween;

a third longitudinally extending fold line laterally spaced between one of said longitudinal edges and said first fold line to define a first sidewall portion of said stock and a fourth fold line laterally spaced between said second fold line and the other longitudinal edge to define a second sidewall portion of said stock;

said susceptor sheet stock includes a dielectric paperboard support layer and a layer of microwave interactive material affixed to one side thereof allowing passage of microwave energy while being heated thereby, said microwave interactive layer affixed to that side of said paperboard which forms the interior of said receptacle when assembled into said sleeve configuration;

said receptacle including an additional layer of interactive material applied to the exterior surface of said stock only over said base portion thereof;

said receptacle including a microwave reflective layer provided on one side of said stock over the base portion for crisping and browning the surface of said food article in contact therewith;

said stock cut on cut lines extending laterally at a 45°

angle into said base portion from said first fold line for a discrete distance and connected by cut lines parallel to said first fold line to define two first leg portions and said stock cut on cut lines extending laterally into said base portion from said second fold line for a discrete distance and connected by cut lines parallel to said second fold line to define two second leg portions; and

attachment means associated with one of said longitudinal edges for securing that portion of said stock extending from said fourth fold line to said longitudinal edge closest thereto with the portion of said stock extending from said third fold line to said longitudinal edge closest thereto when said stock is folded on said fold lines when assembling said receptacle to its sleeve configuration in which said leg portions underlie said sidewall portions and support said base portion spaced away from the floor of said oven.

9. The receptacle of claim 8 wherein said attachment means includes mechanical connector means for releasably attaching said longitudinal edges to form said receptacle.

10. The receptacle of claim 8 wherein said attachment means includes an adhesive strip along the length of one of said longitudinal edges for attachment to the other longitudinal edge to form said receptacle.

11. The receptacle of claim 8 wherein said attachment means includes laterally extending tabs extending from one of said longitudinal edges and matching slits cut in said stock between the opposite longitudinal edge and its nearest fold line, said tabs insertable into said slits to form said receptacle.