Microwave package and support tray with features for uniform crust heating

• US 6,359,272 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SFC Global Supply Chain, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schwan's Sales Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Ingelin, Mark Elliot, Sadek, Nagwa Zaki, Roy, Kathleen Gail, Ebeling, Alan Carl, LaBarge, Erica Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,065
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 219/732, 219/730, 219/734, 219/735, 219/762, 99D/IG.14, 426/107, 426/114, 426/113, 426/115, 426/118, 426/234, 426/243
• US Class Current: 219/732
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/346 integral to the package, e.g. the package is transformed into a stand
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3481 Silicon or oxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3483 Carbon, carbon black, or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3495 attached to the lid
• 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 5/2033 polygonal having more than four sides, e.g. hexagonal, octogonal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6494 for cooking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 99/14 Induction heating

Abstract

Disclosed is a microwave cooking package and tray suitable for cooking food. The package and tray comprise a laminate structure comprising a lid, susceptor layer upon a backing material, and a plurality of apertures through said laminate structure. This permits uniform cooking and browning of dough enrobed food items and venting of excess moisture to help to control heat generation under the food being cooked, as the apertures remove a portion of the susceptor material.

Claims

1. A package suitable for cooking a food item in a microwave oven having an oven floor, the package comprising:

(a) a laminate structure comprising a tray having a base providing a food contact surface, a plurality of wall segments disposed on the base forming a wall surface defining a cavity and a lid free of apertures hingedly connected to one segment of the wall surface wherein the lid provides a closure for the cavity and wherein the laminate structure comprises a susceptor layer upon a backing material;

(b) a support shoulder hingedly connected to a segment of the wall surface other than the segment to which the lid is connected wherein the support shoulder is shaped and configured to provide a rest surface for the lid;

(c) a plurality of apertures formed in the base wherein the apertures are sufficient to permit venting water vapor through the food contact surface; and

(d) a support means for the base that separates the base from the oven floor providing a space to dissipate vented water vapor.

2. A package of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a locking tab shaped and configured to interlock with a locking slot in the tray.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the locking slot is formed in the hinge between the support shoulder and wall segment.

4. The package of claim 2 wherein the locking slot is formed in a segment of the wall surface.

5. A package of claim 1 wherein the food item comprises a dough enrobed item.

6. A package of claim 5 wherein all surfaces of the food item contained in the package are exposed to a susceptor surface when the lid is in a closed position.

7. A package suitable for cooking a food item in a microwave oven having an oven floor, the package comprising:

(a) a laminate structure comprising a tray having a base providing a food contact surface, a plurality of wall segments disposed on the base forming a wall surface defining a cavity for receiving a food item;

(b) a lid having a plurality of locking tabs shaped and configured to interlock with locking slots in the tray;

(c) a plurality of support shoulders hingedly connected to wall segments configured to receive the lid;

(d) a plurality of apertures formed in the base wherein the apertures are sufficient to permit venting water vapor through the food contact surface; and

(e) a support means for the base that separates the base from the oven floor providing a space to dissipate vented water vapor.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the locking slots are formed in hinges between support shoulders and wall segments and are positioned to receive the locking tabs of the lid.