Microwave cooking packages and methods of making thereof

• US 7,541,562 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wnek, Patrick H., Robison, Richard G., O'Hagan, Brian R., Middleton, Scott W., Bohrer, Timothy H., Lafferty, Terrence P., Cole, Lorin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US11/906,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20080047958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 219/730, 219/731, 219/634, 219/759, 219/727, 426/109, 426/107, 426/118, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3477 Iron or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3479 Other metallic compounds, e.g. silver, gold, copper, nickel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/14 with areas coated with adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/03 Wrappers or envelopes with shock-absorbing properties, e.g. bubble films for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3888
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3461 Flexible containers, e.g. bags, pouches, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3893 formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/065 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6408 Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6494 for cooking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1303 Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1359 Three or more layers [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article

Abstract

A microwave insulating material includes a dimensionally stable support, a patterned adhesive layer overlying at least a portion of the support, a polymer film layer overlying the patterned adhesive layer, and a plurality of expandable cells disposed between the support and the polymer film layer and defined by the patterned adhesive layer, wherein the expandable cells vary in size. A self-sealing microwave package includes a sheet of insulating material including a first surface, and a thermally activatable adhesive applied to at least a portion of the first surface.

Claims

1. A self-sealing microwave package comprising:

a flexible sheet having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the sheet having an activatable adhesive region on at least one of the first side and the second side of the sheet, wherein the sheet includes

a susceptor film comprising a microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film layer,

a moisture-containing layer superposed with the microwave energy interactive material, and

a second polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer, wherein the moisture-containing layer is positioned between the microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film layer.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein

the first polymer film layer at least partially defines the first side of the sheet,

the second polymer film layer at least partially defines the second side of the sheet, and

the activatable adhesive region is on the first side of the sheet.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein

the first polymer film layer at least partially defines the first side of the sheet,

the second polymer film layer at least partially defines the second side of the sheet, and

the activatable adhesive region is on the second side of the sheet.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the activatable adhesive region comprises an adhesive that becomes tacky in response to thermal energy, microwave energy, or any combination thereof.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein

the second polymer film comprises coextruded layers of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate, and

the activatable adhesive region comprises at least a portion of the layer of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein

the activatable adhesive region comprises an adhesive that is substantially non-tacky prior to heating the package in a microwave oven,

the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with at least a portion of the activatable adhesive region in a substantially contacting relationship with another portion of the sheet, and

upon heating the package in a microwave oven, the adhesive adheres to the other portion of the sheet.

7. The package of claim 1, wherein

the sheet includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a central portion between the first side portion and the second side portion,

the activatable adhesive region lies on the first side portion proximate an edge of the sheet,

the second side portion is adapted to be folded over the central portion, and

the first side portion is adapted to be folded over the second side portion to form a sleeve.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein

the activatable adhesive region is a first activatable adhesive region,

the sheet includes a first side portion including a first edge, a second side portion including a second edge opposite the first edge, a central portion between the first side portion and the second side portion, and a third edge extending across at least a portion of each of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the central portion,

the first activatable adhesive region lies on the first side portion proximate the first edge,

the sheet has a second activatable adhesive region on at least one of the first side portion, second side portion, and the central portion proximate the third edge,

the second side portion is adapted to be folded over the central portion, and

the first side portion is adapted to be folded over the second side portion to form a pouch including a substantially closed end proximate the third edge of the sheet.

9. The package of claim 8, wherein

the substantially closed end of the pouch is a first substantially closed end,

the sheet further includes a fourth edge extending across at least a portion of each of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the central portion opposite the third edge,

the sheet has a third activatable adhesive region on at least one of the first side portion, second side portion, and the central portion proximate the third edge, and

the pouch includes a second substantially closed end proximate the fourth edge of the sheet.

10. A self-sealing microwave package comprising:

a flexible sheet including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of peripheral edges including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;

an activatable adhesive overlying at least a portion of the first surface proximate the first edge, the activatable adhesive becoming tacky in response to heat,

wherein the sheet includes

a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film layer,

a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and

a second polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned arrangement that defines a plurality of closed cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer, wherein the moisture-containing layer is positioned between the microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film layer.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein the first polymer film layer at least partially defines the first surface of the sheet.

12. The package of claim 10, wherein the second polymer film layer at least partially defines the first surface of the sheet.

13. The package of claim 10, wherein the activatable adhesive comprises amorphous polyethylene terephthalate.

14. The package of claim 10, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with the activatable adhesive in an overlapping relationship with the second surface of the sheet.

15. The package of claim 10, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with the activatable adhesive in an overlapping relationship with a portion of the second surface of the sheet proximate the second edge.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the overlapping relationship defines a sleeve with a pair of open ends.

17. The package of claim 10, wherein

the plurality of peripheral edges includes a third edge extending between the first edge and the second edge, and

the activatable adhesive further overlies at least a portion of the first surface proximate the third edge.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with the activatable adhesive in an overlapping relationship with the second surface of the sheet.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein the overlapping relationship defines a pouch with a substantially closed end proximate the third edge of the sheet.

20. The package of claim 17, wherein

the plurality of peripheral edges includes a fourth edge extending between the first edge and the second edge opposite the third edge, and

the activatable adhesive further overlies at least a portion of the first surface proximate the fourth edge.

21. The package of claim 20, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with the activatable adhesive in an overlapping relationship with the second surface of the sheet.

22. The package of claim 21, wherein the overlapping relationship defines a pouch with a pair of substantially opposed, closed ends proximate the third edge and the fourth edge of the sheet.

23. A self-sealing microwave package comprising, in a layered configuration:

a first polymer film layer;

a layer of microwave energy interactive material;

a substantially continuous adhesive layer;

a moisture-containing layer;

a patterned adhesive layer; and

a second polymer film layer,

wherein

the patterned adhesive layer adjoins the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer and defines a plurality of substantially vapor-impermeable closed cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer,

at least some of the closed cells expand upon sufficient exposure of the package to microwave energy,

the first polymer film layer and the second polymer film layer respectively define a first surface and a second surface of the package,

an activatable adhesive overlies at least a portion of at least one of the first surface and the second surface, and

the tackiness of the activatable adhesive increases in response to heat.

24. The package of claim 23, wherein the activatable adhesive comprises amorphous polyethylene terephthalate.

25. The package of claim 23, wherein

the first surface is a food-contacting surface,

the activatable adhesive overlies at least a portion of the second surface, and

the package is adapted to enwrap a food item with the activatable adhesive in an overlapping relationship with the first surface.

26. A self-sealing microwave packaging material comprising:

a flexible sheet having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the sheet including a layer of microwave energy interactive material that converts at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy; and

an activatable adhesive region on at least one of the first side and the second side of the sheet, the activatable adhesive region comprising an adhesive material that is substantially nontacky prior to being heated in a microwave oven,

wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap a food item with at least a portion of the activatable adhesive region in a substantially contacting relationship with another portion of the sheet, such that upon sufficient heating in a microwave oven, the adhesive material adheres to the other portion of the sheet and maintains the microwave energy interactive material in proximity to the food item.

27. The packaging material of claim 26, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material is supported on a first polymer film layer, and

the sheet further includes

a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material, and

a second polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.

28. The packaging material of claim 27, wherein

the first polymer film layer at least partially defines the first side of the sheet,

the second polymer film layer at least partially defines the second side of the sheet, and

the activatable adhesive region is on the first side of the sheet.

29. The packaging material of claim 28, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap the food item with the activatable adhesive region in an overlapping relationship with the second side of the sheet.

30. The packaging material of claim 27, wherein

the first polymer film layer at least partially defines the first side of the sheet,

the second polymer film layer at least partially defines the second side of the sheet, and

the activatable adhesive region is on the second side of the sheet.

31. The packaging material of claim 30, wherein the sheet is adapted to enwrap the food item with the activatable adhesive region in an overlapping relationship with the first surface of the sheet.

32. The packaging material of claim 27, wherein

the second polymer film comprises coextruded layers of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate, and

the activatable adhesive region comprises at least a portion of the layer of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate.

33. The packaging material of claim 26, wherein

the sheet includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a central portion between the first side portion and the second side portion,

the activatable adhesive region is on the first side portion proximate an edge of the sheet,

the second side portion is adapted to be folded over the central portion, and

the first side portion is adapted to be folded over the second side portion to form a sleeve.