Microwave heating package with thermoset coating

• US 8,106,339 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Robbins, David William, Middleton, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Van, Quang
• Application Number:
  US11/821,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000897A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 219/730, 219/725, 219/727, 219/729, 219/732, 219/734, 219/735, 219/759, 219/762, 426/107, 426/113, 426/115, 426/234, 428/35.8, 428/34.3, 156/233, 156/272.2, 156/230
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3462 separate from the package, e.g. separate stands
• 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 2581/3495 attached to the lid
• 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

Abstract

A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven includes a panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first surface, wherein the microwave energy interactive material generates heat when exposed to microwave energy, and a thermally stable coating overlying at least a portion of the second surface.

Claims

1. A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven, comprising:

a panel having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the first side of the panel surface, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for generating heat when exposed to microwave energy, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is supported on a polymer film that at least partially defines a first surface of the construct, the first surface being for contacting the food item; and

a heat-resistant coating disposed on at least a portion of the second side of the panel, such that the panel is disposed between the microwave energy interactive material and the heat-resistant coating, wherein the heat-resistant coating comprises a thermoset polymer that at least partially defines a second surface of the construct, wherein the second surface of the construct is opposite from the first surface of the construct.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein the thermoset polymer is an acrylate polymer.

3. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating has a coating weight of from about 0.5 to about 5 grams/square meter.

4. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating has a coating weight of from about 1 to about 2 grams/square meter.

5. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating overlies printed graphics, text, or any combination thereof.

6. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises a susceptor.

7. The construct of claim 1, wherein the heat-resistant coating is for being in a substantially contacting relationship with the floor of the microwave oven.

8. The construct of claim 1, wherein the first panel is a bottom panel, and the construct further comprises

a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the bottom panel;

and

a top panel having an interior surface comprising microwave energy interactive material.

9. The construct of claim 8, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel comprises a susceptor.

10. A microwave heating package, comprising:

a plurality of panels including a first panel having an interior side and an exterior side;

a susceptor film joined to the interior side of the first panel, the susceptor film comprising microwave energy interactive material disposed on a polymer film, wherein the polymer film at least partially defines an interior surface of the package;

ink disposed on the exterior side of the first panel; and

a thermoset coating disposed on the exterior side of the first panel so that the ink is disposed between the thermoset coating and the exterior side of the first panel, wherein the thermoset coating at least partially defines an exterior surface of the package.

11. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein the thermoset coating comprises an acrylate polymer.

12. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein the thermoset coating has a coating weight of from about 0.5 to about 5 grams/square meter.

13. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein the thermoset coating has a coating weight of from about 1 to about 2 grams/square meter.

14. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein upon exposure to microwave energy,

the microwave energy interactive material generates thermal energy,

at least a portion of the thermal energy is transferred to the thermoset coating, and

the thermoset coating does not soften or flow when exposed to the thermal energy.

15. The microwave heating package of claim 10, wherein the thermoset coating resists softening up to a temperature of about 450°

F.