Microwave energy interactive food package

• US 8,063,344 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Bing, Cole, Lorin R., Lai, Laurence M. C., Keefe, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VAN, QUANG T
• Application Number:
  US11/789,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 219/730, 219/728, 219/759, 426/107, 426/109, 426/111, 426/113, 426/241, 426/243, 426/234, 99D/IG.14
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3456 Means for holding the contents at a distance from the base of the package, e.g. raised islands or protrusions B65D2581/3459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3466 Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition
• 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 2581/3489 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 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• 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

Abstract

A microwave heating package includes a dimensionally stable first component for supporting a food item and a flexible second component dimensioned to receive the dimensionally stable first component. Each of the first component and the second component may include a microwave energy interactive element for altering the effect of microwave energy on a food item within the package.

Claims

1. A microwave heating package comprising:

a dimensionally stable sleeve including a pair of major panels and a pair of minor panels defining an interior space for receiving a food item, the major panels and the minor panels each having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, the minor panels being joined to the major panels along fold lines extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the sleeve includes a tear line extending in the transverse direction across each of the major panels and the minor panels, the tear line substantially bisecting the sleeve in the longitudinal direction into a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment each being substantially octagonal in shape; and

a flexible component adapted to receive the sleeve,

wherein the sleeve and the flexible component each include microwave energy interactive material, the microwave energy interactive material being operative as a susceptor.

2. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment are adapted to be separated from one another along the tear line.

3. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the sleeve further comprises a segmented metal foil overlying at least a portion of at least one of the major panels of the sleeve.

4. The microwave heating package of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support elements extending downwardly from the minor panels.

5. The microwave heating package of claim 4, wherein each of the support elements is defined by a slit that initiates and terminates along one of the fold lines extending in the longitudinal direction.

6. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is arranged in a grid-like configuration.

7. The microwave heating package of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component circumscribes a plurality of microwave energy transparent areas.

8. A blank for forming a dimensionally stable construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a first panel having a longitudinal dimension extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse dimension extending in a transverse direction, the first panel including a first segment and a second segment joined along a transverse tear line, the first segment and second segment each being substantially octagonal in shape;

a pair of opposed side panels joined to the first panel along respective longitudinal fold lines, the side panels each including a transverse tear line substantially aligned with the transverse tear line in the first panel;

a pair of opposed end panels joined to the side panels along respective longitudinal fold lines, the side panels each including a transverse tear line substantially aligned with the transverse tear lines in the first panel and the side panels; and

a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least one the first panel, the side panels, and the end panels.

9. The blank of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of cut lines initiating and terminating along the longitudinal fold line joining each side panel to the respective end panel.

10. The blank of claim 8, further comprising a glue flap extending from at least one of the opposed end panels.

11. The blank of claim 8, further comprising at least one aperture extending though at least one of the side panels.

12. The blank of claim 8, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor, a segmented metal foil, a metal foil, or any combination thereof.

13. A microwave heating package, comprising:

a dimensionally stable platform for receiving a food item, the platform including a base and a pair of walls opposite one another, the base including microwave energy interactive material, wherein the platform defines at least a portion of a sleeve, the sleeve including a top panel joined to the pair of walls opposite the base, wherein at least one of the top panel and walls includes microwave energy interactive material, and wherein the sleeve includes a tear line extending around the sleeve, the tear line substantially bisecting the base, walls, and top panel, wherein the tear line substantially bisects the top panel into a first section and second section, the first section and the second section of the top panel each being substantially octagonal in shape; and

a flexible component dimensioned to receive the platform, the flexible component including microwave energy interactive material,

wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the base and the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component are configured for being in a superposed configuration beneath the food item.

14. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is further configured for overlying the food item.

15. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the base and the flexible component is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

16. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the base comprises a plurality of metal foil segments.

17. The microwave heating package of claim 16, wherein the metal foil segments are arranged as a pair of substantially circular groups.

18. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein the platform further includes a plurality of support elements.

19. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component circumscribes a plurality of microwave energy transparent areas.

20. The microwave heating package of claim 13, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is supported on a first polymer film,

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

a second polymer film is joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby defining a plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is operative for heating upon sufficient impingement by microwave energy, and

the expandable insulating cells are operative for inflating when the microwave heating package is sufficiently exposed to microwave energy.

21. A microwave heating package, comprising:

a dimensionally stable platform for receiving a food item, the platform including a base and a pair of walls opposite one another, the base including microwave energy interactive material; and

a flexible component dimensioned to receive the platform, the flexible component comprising

microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film,

a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material supported on the first polymer film, and

a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby defining a plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is operative for heating upon sufficient impingement by microwave energy, and

the expandable insulating cells are operative for inflating when the microwave heating package is sufficiently exposed to microwave energy,

wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the base and the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component are configured for being in a superposed configuration beneath the food item.

22. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component is further configured for overlying the food item.

23. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the base and the flexible component is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

24. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the base comprises a plurality of metal foil segments.

25. The microwave heating package of claim 24, wherein the metal foil segments are arranged as a pair of substantially circular groups.

26. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the base comprises a plurality of metal foil segments in a superposed relationship with a susceptor.

27. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the platform further includes a plurality of support elements extending downwardly from the platform.

28. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein

the platform defines a portion of a sleeve,

the sleeve further includes a top panel joined to the pair of walls opposite the base, and

at least one of the top panel and walls includes microwave energy interactive material.

29. The microwave heating package of claim 28, further comprising a tear line extending around the sleeve, wherein the tear line substantially bisects the base, walls, and top panel.

30. The microwave heating package of claim 29, wherein the tear line substantially bisects the top panel into a first section and second section, the first section and the second section of the top panel each being substantially octagonal in shape.

31. The microwave heating package of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the flexible component circumscribes a plurality of microwave energy transparent areas.

32. A microwave heating package, comprising:

a dimensionally stable first component for receiving a food item, the first component comprising microwave energy interactive material; and

a flexible second component dimensioned to receive the first component, the second component comprising

microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film,

a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material on the first polymer film, and

a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby defining a plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the second component is operative for heating upon sufficient impingement by microwave energy, and the expandable insulating cells are operative for inflating when the microwave heating package is sufficiently exposed to microwave energy,

wherein the second component includes a first panel for underlying the first component and a second panel for overlying the first component, the first panel and the second panel each comprising the microwave energy interactive material, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the first panel of the second component and the microwave energy interactive material of the first component are configured for being in a superposed configuration beneath the food item, and the microwave energy interactive material of the second panel of the second component is configured for overlying the food item.

33. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the first component comprises a substantially planar card.

34. The microwave heating package of claim 33, wherein the card includes two portions, the portions each being somewhat square in shape with rounded corners.

35. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the first component comprises a tray including a base and a plurality of upstanding walls.

36. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the first component and the second component comprises a susceptor that is operative for absorbing at least a portion of impinging microwave energy and converting it to thermal energy.

37. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the first component comprises a plurality of metallic foil segments in a superposed relationship with a susceptor.

38. The microwave heating package of claim 32, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the second component is arranged in a grid-like configuration.