Microwave heating structure
First Claim
1. A multiple layer article of manufacture, for formation into a packaging structure for heating a foodstuff by microwave energy to an edible condition comprising:
- a layer of flexible electroconductive material supported on a substrate layer,said layer of flexible electroconductive material having a thickness which is normally substantially opaque to microwave radiation and having a plurality of apertures extending wholly through the thickness of said electroconductive material layer and effective to generate thermal energy in said plurality of apertures when said article is exposed to microwave energy and the foodstuff is in contact with or proximate to said plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures comprising;
a first plurality of elongate discrete closed-endapertures, anda second plurality of continuous apertures, each ofwhich encloses a discrete rectangular island ofsaid electroconductive material,said plurality of apertures being sized and arranged in said layer of flexible electroconductive material to generate sufficient thermal energy to effect a desired surface browning of the foodstuff while permitting sufficient microwave energy to penetrate said layer of flexible electroconductive material into the foodstuff to effect a desired degree of heating of the foodstuff, whereby the foodstuff may be provided in an edible condition,said substrate layer being formed of microwave energy transparent material and being in adhered structural supporting relationship with said flexible layer of electroconductive material to permit a package structure be formed from said article in which the foodstuff is positioned.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The structure includes a layer of flexible electroconductive material normally opaque to microwave radiation and having a plurality of apertures therethrough dimensioned to permit microwave energy to pass through to the interior of the foodstuff and to produce thermal energy at the surface of the foodstuff. Both a microwave shielding effect and a combined microwave energy heating and thermal energy heating effect are obtained, enabling close control of the manner and extent of microwave cooking of the foodstuff to be obtained. The plurality of apertures comprises a first plurality of elongate discrete closed-end apertures and a second plurality of continuous apertures, each of which encloses a discrete rectangular island of the electroconductive material. The layer of flexible electroconductive material is supported by and adhered to a substrate layer of microwave energy transparent material in a multiple layer article of manufacture adapted to be formed into a packaging structure in which a foodstuff may be heated by microwave energy to an edible condition.
253 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multiple layer article of manufacture, for formation into a packaging structure for heating a foodstuff by microwave energy to an edible condition comprising:
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a layer of flexible electroconductive material supported on a substrate layer, said layer of flexible electroconductive material having a thickness which is normally substantially opaque to microwave radiation and having a plurality of apertures extending wholly through the thickness of said electroconductive material layer and effective to generate thermal energy in said plurality of apertures when said article is exposed to microwave energy and the foodstuff is in contact with or proximate to said plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures comprising; a first plurality of elongate discrete closed-end apertures, and a second plurality of continuous apertures, each of which encloses a discrete rectangular island of said electroconductive material, said plurality of apertures being sized and arranged in said layer of flexible electroconductive material to generate sufficient thermal energy to effect a desired surface browning of the foodstuff while permitting sufficient microwave energy to penetrate said layer of flexible electroconductive material into the foodstuff to effect a desired degree of heating of the foodstuff, whereby the foodstuff may be provided in an edible condition, said substrate layer being formed of microwave energy transparent material and being in adhered structural supporting relationship with said flexible layer of electroconductive material to permit a package structure be formed from said article in which the foodstuff is positioned. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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2. The article of claim wherein said layer of flexible electroconductive material has a thickness of at least about 1 micron.
Specification