Microwave food heating package with removable portion

• US 7,982,167 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Van; Quang T
• Application Number:
  US11/567,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 219725-735, 219/759, 219/762, 99D/IG.14, 426/107, 426/109, 426/113, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243, 229/101.1, 229/242, 229/128, 229/903, 229/938
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/001 Holders or wrappers as eating aids for fast food, e.g. hamburgers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3471 Microwave reactive substances present in the packaging material
• 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 2581/3481 Silicon or oxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3489 Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3494 Microwave susceptor B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0209 the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/04 the tubular body having no end closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/54 Lines of weakness to facilitate opening of container or dividing it into separate parts by cutting or tearing B65D5/06, B65D5/5233, B65D5/5253 take precedence ; break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings B65D5/70
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5888 Tear-lines for removing successive sections of a package for separating package into individual packages B65D75/527
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3446 specially adapted to be heated by microwaves
• 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

Various blanks are provided for forming sleeves, containers, and other constructs for heating, browning, and/or crisping of a food item in a microwave oven, and for holding and/or transporting the food item after heating. The various blanks, sleeves, containers, and other constructs include a removable portion defined by one or more lines of disruption that enable the removable portion to be separated from the remainder of the blank, sleeve, container, or other construct.

Claims

1. A blank for forming a construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels defining a peripheral edge of the blank, each adjoined panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of adjoined panels including

a main panel,

a first minor panel joined to the main panel, and

a second minor panel joined to the main panel,

the main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel being joined respectively to one another along respective fold lines extending in the first direction, wherein

the first dimension of the first minor panel is greater than the first dimension of the second minor panel, such that the first dimension of the fold line joining the main panel to the first minor panel is greater than the first dimension of the fold line joining the main panel to the second minor panel, and

the main panel has a first portion directly adjacent to the first minor panel and a second portion directly adjacent to the second minor panel, the second portion of the main panel having a first dimension substantially equal to the first dimension of the second minor panel, and the first portion of the main panel having a first dimension greater than the first dimension of the second portion of the main panel; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of at least one panel of the plurality of adjoined panels,

wherein

the peripheral edge includes a plurality of peripheral edge portions including

a first peripheral edge portion extending in the first direction,

a second peripheral edge portion extending in the first direction opposite the first peripheral edge portion, and

a third peripheral edge portion extending between the first peripheral edge portion and the second peripheral edge portion, and

the blank includes a plurality of removable portions defined by a plurality of tear lines independently extending obliquely across at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of adjoined panels, wherein

each tear line of the plurality of tear lines defining the removable portions substantially abuts the first peripheral edge portion or the second peripheral edge portion of the blank, and

at least one tear line of the plurality of tear lines defining the removable portions substantially abuts the third peripheral edge portion of the blank.

2. The blank of claim 1, wherein each tear line of the plurality of tear lines is substantially parallel to each other tear line of the plurality of tear lines.

3. The blank of claim 2, wherein

the plurality of tear lines includes at least a first tear line, a second tear line, and a third tear line, and

the first tear line is spaced from the second tear line a distance that is approximately equal to a distance between the second tear line and the third tear line.

4. The blank of claim 1, wherein at least one tear line of the plurality of tear lines extends substantially between the first peripheral edge portion and the second peripheral edge portion.

5. The blank of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjoined panels further includes

a first major panel joined to the first minor panel, and

a second major panel joined to the second minor panel,

the first major panel and the second major panel being joined to the respective first minor panel and second minor panel along respective fold lines extending in the first direction.

6. The blank of claim 5, further comprising a tab at least partially defining the third peripheral edge portion of the blank adjacent to the second major panel.

7. The blank of claim 5, wherein

the first major panel has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the first major panel being adjacent to the first minor panel, and

the first dimension of the first portion of the first major panel is less than the first dimension of the second portion of the first major panel.

8. The blank of claim 5, wherein the second major panel has a first dimension that is substantially equal to the first dimension of the second minor panel.

9. The blank of claim 5, wherein the plurality of adjoined panels further includes a substantially lentiform end panel joined to the main panel along a substantially arcuate fold line.

10. The blank of claim 5, wherein the plurality of adjoined panels further includes

a first partial end panel joined to the first major panel along a first curved fold line, and

a second partial end panel joined to the second major panel along a second curved fold line.

11. The blank of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a foil, a segmented foil, or any combination thereof.

12. The blank of claim 11, wherein the microwave energy interactive element is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy to thermal energy.

13. The blank of claim 1, formed into a construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven.

14. The blank of claim 1, wherein the blank is in an unerected, substantially planar configuration.

25. The blank of claim 1, wherein for at least one pair of adjacent tear lines, a first end of one tear line of the pair of adjacent tear lines is positioned along the first edge, and a second end of the other tear line of the pair of adjacent tear lines is positioned along the second edge, such that the first end of the one tear line is aligned in the second direction with the second end of the other tear line.

15. A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item, comprising:

a first main panel and a second main panel in an opposed configuration;

a first minor panel and a second minor panel in an opposed configuration, the first minor panel and the second minor panel being joined to the first main panel and the second main panel along respective fold lines to at least partially define an interior space, wherein the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel each have

a first end including a first end edge, the first end edges of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel defining an opening,

a second end opposite the first end, and

a length extending between the first end and the second end, wherein

the length of the first minor panel is greater than the length of the second minor panel, and

the first main panel and second main panel each have a first portion adjacent to the first minor panel and a second portion adjacent to the second minor panel, the respective second portions of the first main panel and the second main panel each having a length substantially equal to the length of the second minor panel, and the respective first portions of the first main panel and the second main panel each having a length greater than the length of the respective second portions of the first main panel and the second main panel; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel on a side of the respective panel facing the interior space,

wherein the construct includes a removable portion defined at least partially by a line of disruption extending obliquely across the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel, the line of disruption initiating at the opening and terminating at the second end of one of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, or the second minor panel.

16. The construct of claim 15, further comprising:

a first end panel foldably joined to the second end of the first main panel; and

a second end panel foldably joined to the second end of the second main panel,

wherein the first end panel and the second end panel are in a substantially opposed, facing relationship.

17. The construct of claim 16, wherein the first end panel and the second panel are foldably joined to the first main panel and the second main panel along respective arcuate fold lines.

18. The construct of claim 16, wherein the first end panel and the second end panel are adapted to be folded toward the interior space in a superposed configuration.

19. The construct of claim 15, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a foil, a segmented foil, or any combination thereof.

20. The construct of claim 15, wherein

the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, and

the susceptor overlies substantially all of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel on the side of each respective panel facing the interior space.

21. The construct of claim 15, wherein the line of disruption that defines the removable portion is a single line of disruption that extends substantially around the construct.

22. The construct of claim 15, wherein the removable portion of the construct substantially defines the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel.

23. The construct of claim 15, wherein the removable portion includes a plurality of substantially contiguous sections disposed within a panel selected from the group consisting of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel, with the substantially contiguous sections being separated from one another by the line of disruption.

24. The construct of claim 15, wherein the removable portion includes a plurality of sections disposed within a panel selected from the group consisting of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel, with the sections being directly adjacent to one another along the line of disruption.

26. A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels that define an interior space, each of the adjoined panels having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end, the first end of each of the adjoined panels having a first end edge defining an opening, the plurality of adjoined panels including

a first panel and a second panel in a substantially opposed, facing relationship with one another, and

a third panel and a fourth panel in a substantially opposed, facing relationship with one another, wherein

the length of the first panel is greater than the length of the second panel, and

the third panel and the fourth panel each have a first portion adjacent to the first panel, and a second portion adjacent to the second panel, the respective second portions of the third panel and the fourth panel each having a length substantially equal to the length of the second panel, and the respective first portions of the third panel and the fourth panel each having a length greater than the length of the respective second portions of the third panel and the fourth panel; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of at least one of the adjoined panels on a side of the respective panel facing the interior space; and

an oblique tear line extending from the opening around the plurality of adjoined panels towards the second end of one of the adjoined panels.

27. The construct of claim 26, further comprising:

a first end panel foldably joined to the second end of the third panel; and

a second end panel foldably joined to second end of the fourth panel.

28. The construct of claim 27, wherein the first end panel and the second panel are foldably joined to the third panel and the fourth panel along respective arcuate fold lines.

29. The construct of claim 27, wherein the first end panel and the second end panel are adapted to be folded toward the interior space in a superposed configuration.

30. The construct of claim 26, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a foil, a segmented foil, or any combination thereof.

31. The construct of claim 26, wherein

the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, and

the susceptor overlies substantially all of the first panel, second panel, third panel, and fourth panel on the side of each respective panel facing the interior space.

32. A blank for forming a construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels, each panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of adjoined panels including

a main panel,

a first minor panel joined to the main panel along a first fold line extending in the first direction, and

a second minor panel joined to the main panel along a second fold line extending in the first direction,

wherein the first fold line and the second fold line each have a first dimension extending in the first direction, the first dimension of the first fold line being greater than the first dimension of the second fold line,

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of at least one panel of the plurality of adjoined panels; and

a plurality of tear lines extending obliquely across at least a portion of the blank, at least one tear line of the plurality of tear lines extending obliquely between a pair of opposite peripheral edges of the blank.

33. The blank of claim 32, wherein the first dimension of the first minor panel directly adjacent to the first fold line is greater than the first dimension of the second minor panel directly adjacent to the second fold line.

34. The blank of claim 32, wherein the first dimension of a first portion of the main panel directly adjacent to the first fold line is greater than the first dimension of a second portion of the main panel directly adjacent to the second fold line.

35. The blank of claim 32, wherein the plurality of tear lines are substantially parallel to one another.

36. The blank of claim 32, wherein the plurality of adjoined panels further includes

a first major panel joined to the first minor panel along a third fold line extending in the first direction, and

a second major panel joined to the second minor panel along a fourth fold line extending in the first direction,

wherein the third fold line and the fourth fold line each have a first dimension extending in the first direction, the first dimension of the third fold line being greater than the first dimension of the fourth fold line.

37. The blank of claim 36, wherein

the first major panel has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the first major panel being adjacent to the first minor panel, and

the first dimension of the first portion of the first major panel is less than the first dimension of the second portion of the first major panel.

38. A blank for forming a construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels, each panel having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of adjoined panels including

a main panel, and

a first minor panel and a second minor panel joined to the main panel along respective fold lines extending in the first direction, the first minor panel and the second minor panel each including a fold line extending in the first direction along the respective first dimension of the first minor panel and the second minor panel, wherein the first dimension of the fold line extending along the first dimension of the first minor panel is greater than the first dimension of the fold line extending along the first dimension of the second minor panel;

microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of at least one panel of the plurality of adjoined panels; and

a plurality tear lines extending obliquely across at least a portion of the blank, at least one tear line of the plurality of tear lines extending obliquely between a pair of opposite peripheral edges of the blank.