Package with enlarged base

• US 8,309,896 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Primary Examiner(s): VAN, QUANG T
• Application Number:
  US12/658,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100193509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 219/730, 219/725, 219/759, 219/762, 219/728, 99D/IG.14, 426/109, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243, 229/128, 229/101.1, 229/103, 229/104, 229/117, 229/117.06, 229/242, 229/903, 229/938
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/15 using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3474 Titanium or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3477 Iron or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3478 Stainless steel
• 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 5/0209 the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section
• 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 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

Various containers with an enlarged base for receiving a food item are provided. The containers may be formed from various sleeves for heating, browning, and crisping a food item. Blanks for forming such sleeves and containers also are provided. The blanks, sleeves, and/or containers may include a removable portion at least partially defined by a line of disruption.

Claims

1. A blank for forming a microwave heating construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels, the plurality of adjoined panels each 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,

a second minor panel joined to the main panel, and

a major panel joined to the first minor panel,

wherein

the main panel, the first minor panel, the second minor panel, and the major panel are joined respectively to one another along a plurality of respective substantially parallel fold lines extending in the first direction, and

at least one of the main panel and the major panel includes microwave energy interactive material, and

an end panel joined to the main panel along a substantially arcuate fold line extending generally in the second direction, wherein

the end panel has an end edge opposite the arcuate fold line, wherein the end edge of the end panel is a free edge of the blank, and

the end panel includes a pair of opposed side edges that extend divergently from the arcuate fold line to the end edge, such that the second dimension of the end panel increases from the arcuate fold line to the end edge.

2. The blank of claim 1, wherein the end edge is substantially arcuate in shape.

3. The blank of claim 2, wherein the end edge is outwardly arcuate in shape.

4. The blank of claim 1, wherein

the major panel is a first major panel, and

the plurality of adjoined panels further includes

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

a first partial end panel joined to the first major panel along a first curved fold line extending generally in the second direction, and

a second partial end panel joined to the second major panel along a second curved fold line extending generally in the second direction.

5. The blank of claim 4, wherein the first partial end panel and the second partial end panel each include

an end edge opposite the respective curved fold line, and

a side edge that extends convergently from the respective curved fold line to the respective end edge.

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

7. The blank of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

8. The blank of claim 1, further comprising a removable portion including at least a portion of at least one of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel.

9. The blank of claim 8, wherein the removable portion is defined at least partially by

a transverse tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the adjoined panels,

an oblique tear line substantially abutting the transverse tear line, and

a cutout adjacent to the oblique tear line.

10. The blank of claim 9, wherein

the cutout extends inwardly from a first peripheral edge of the blank extending in the second direction,

the cutout at least partially defines a tab adjacent to the first peripheral edge, and

the oblique tear line extends substantially between the tab and the transverse tear line.

11. The blank of claim 9, wherein the cutout is disposed distal from the first peripheral edge within at least one panel of the plurality of adjoined panels.

12. The blank of claim 8, wherein

the removable portion is defined at least partially by a tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the adjoined panels, and

the removable portion includes

a grasping feature extending from a first peripheral edge of the blank extending in the first direction, and

a cutout along a second peripheral edge extending in the first direction opposite the first peripheral edge, the cutout being substantially opposite the grasping feature.

13. The blank of claim 12, wherein

the removable portion is a first removable portion,

the tear line is a first tear line,

the grasping feature is a first grasping feature,

the cutout is a first cutout, and

the blank further includes a second removable portion defined at least partially by a second tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the adjoined panels, the second removable portion including

a second grasping feature extending from the first peripheral edge of the blank, and

a second cutout along the second peripheral edge opposite the second grasping feature.

14. The blank of claim 8, wherein

the removable portion is defined at least partially by a tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the adjoined panels, and

the removable portion includes a grasping feature defined at least partially by a line of disruption in the second minor panel.

15. The blank of claim 14, wherein the line of disruption comprises a substantially arcuate slit including a pair of ends disposed substantially along the fold line adjoining the main panel and the second minor panel.

16. The blank of claim 8, wherein

the removable portion is a first removable portion of a plurality of removable portions defined at least partially by a plurality of tear lines,

each tear line of the plurality of tear lines has a first end and a second end,

each tear line independently extends obliquely across at least a portion of least one of the plurality of adjoined panels, and

at least one of the first end and the second end of each tear line of the plurality of tear lines substantially abuts a peripheral edge of the blank.

17. The blank of claim 8, wherein

at least some of the substantially parallel fold lines extending in the first direction are tear lines, and the removable portion is defined at least partially by

a first tear line that extends in the first direction and adjoins a first pair of adjacent panels of the plurality of adjoined panels, and

a second tear line that extends in the first direction and adjoins a second pair of adjacent panels of the plurality of adjoined panels.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first dimension of at least one of the first minor panel and the second minor panel is greater than the first dimension of the main panel.

19. The blank of claim 8, wherein the removable portion is defined at least partially by a line of disruption initiating and terminating proximate a first peripheral edge of the blank opposite the arcuate end edge.

20. The blank of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the line of disruption extends into the end panel.

21. A microwave heating construct, 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 at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel includes microwave energy interactive material;

a first end panel foldably joined to the first main panel along a first arcuate fold line, the first end panel including a pair of opposed side edges that extend divergently from the first main panel to a free edge of the first end panel, wherein the free edge of the first end panel is outwardly arcuate; and

a second end panel foldably joined to the second main panel along a second arcuate fold line, the second end panel including a pair of opposed side edges that extend convergently from the second main panel to a free edge of the second end panel,

wherein

in a first configuration, the first end panel and the second end panel respectively lie substantially within the same plane as the first main panel and the second main panel, and

in a second configuration, the first end panel and the second end panel are respectively folded towards one another along the first arcuate fold line and the second arcuate fold line.

22. The construct of claim 21, wherein the second end panel includes a substantially linear end edge that extends between the pair of opposed side edges of the second end panel.

23. The construct of claim 22, wherein a locking feature extends from the substantially linear edge of the second end panel, the locking feature being adapted to be received within a slot in the first end panel.

24. The construct of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises a susceptor, a foil, a segmented foil, or any combination thereof.

25. The construct of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

26. The construct of claim 21, further comprising a removable portion including at least a portion of at least one of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel.

27. The construct of claim 26, wherein the removable portion is defined at least partially by

a transverse tear line extending substantially across at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel,

an oblique tear line substantially abutting the transverse tear line, and

a cutout adjacent to the oblique tear line.

28. The construct of claim 27, wherein the cutout extends inwardly from a first end of the construct and at least partially defines a tab.

29. The construct of claim 27, wherein the cutout is disposed within at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel distal from a first end of the construct.

30. The construct of claim 26, wherein

the removable portion is defined at least partially by a transverse tear line extending substantially across each of the first main panel, the second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel, and

the removable portion includes a grasping feature projecting from at least one of the first main panel and the second main panel distal from the fold lines adjoining the respective main panel to the first minor panel and the second minor panel.

31. The construct of claim 30, wherein

the removable portion is a first removable portion,

the transverse tear line is a first transverse tear line,

the grasping feature is a first grasping feature, and

the construct further includes a second removable portion adjacent to the first removable portion, wherein

the second removable portion is defined at least partially by a second transverse tear line extending substantially across each of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel, and

the second removable portion includes a second grasping feature projecting from at least one of the first main panel and the second main panel distal from the fold lines adjoining the respective main panel to the first minor panel and the second minor panel.

32. The construct of claim 26, wherein

the removable portion is defined at least partially by a transverse tear line extending substantially across at least the first main panel and the second main panel, and

the removable portion includes a grasping feature defined by a line of disruption in the second minor panel.

33. The construct of claim 26, wherein the removable portion is defined at least partially by a line of disruption extending obliquely across at least one of the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel.

34. The construct of claim 26, wherein

at least one of the fold lines adjoining the first main panel, the second main panel, the first minor panel, and the second minor panel is a tear line, and

the removable portion is defined by at least one tear line that adjoins

at least one of the first main panel and the second main panel, and

at least one of the first minor panel and the second minor panel.

35. The construct of claim 26, wherein the removable portion is defined by a line of disruption initiating and terminating proximate a first end of at least one of the adjoined panels.

36. The construct of claim 35, wherein the line of disruption includes a first portion extending from the first end of at least one of the adjoined panels, a second portion extending obliquely from the first portion, and a third, arcuate portion.

37. The construct of claim 36, wherein the arcuate portion of the line of disruption lies substantially within the first end panel.

38. The construct of claim 37, wherein the arcuate portion of the line of disruption comprises a cut that defines a tab.

39. A blank for forming a microwave heating construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels, the plurality of adjoined panels each 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,

a second minor panel joined to the main panel, and

a major panel joined to the first minor panel,

wherein

the main panel, the first minor panel, the second minor panel, and the major panel are joined respectively to one another along a plurality of respective substantially parallel fold lines extending in the first direction, and

at least one of the main panel and the major panel includes microwave energy interactive material, and

an end panel joined to the main panel along a substantially arcuate fold line extending generally in the second direction, wherein

the end panel has an end edge opposite the arcuate fold line, and

the second dimension of the end panel increases from the arcuate fold line to the end edge,

wherein the blank includes a removable portion comprising at least a portion of at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel, the removable portion being defined at least partially by

a transverse tear line extending in the second direction substantially across the adjoined panels,

an oblique tear line substantially abutting the transverse tear line, and

a cutout adjacent to the oblique tear line.

40. A microwave heating construct, 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 at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel includes microwave energy interactive material; and

a first end panel foldably joined to the first main panel, the first end panel including a pair of opposed side edges that extend divergently from the first main panel,

wherein the construct includes a removable portion comprising at least a portion of at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel, the removable portion being defined at least partially by

a transverse tear line extending substantially across at least one of the first main panel, second main panel, first minor panel, and second minor panel,

an oblique tear line substantially abutting the transverse tear line, and

a cutout adjacent to the oblique tear line.

41. A blank for forming a microwave heating construct, comprising:

a plurality of adjoined panels, the plurality of adjoined panels each having a first dimension extending in a first direction and a second dimension extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, at least one of the plurality of adjoined panels comprising microwave energy interactive material operative for converting microwave energy into heat, wherein the plurality of adjoined panels includes

a main panel,

a first minor panel and a second minor panel joined to the main panel,

a first major panel joined to the first minor panel,

a second major panel joined to the second minor panel, wherein the main panel, the first minor panel, the second minor panel, the first major panel, and the second major panel are joined respectively to one another along a plurality of respective fold lines extending in the first direction,

a first partial end panel joined to the first major panel along a first curved fold line extending generally in the second direction,

a second partial end panel joined to the second major panel along a second curved fold line extending generally in the second direction, and

an end panel joined to the main panel along a substantially arcuate fold line extending generally in the second direction,

wherein

the end panel includes

an outwardly arcuate edge opposite the arcuate fold line, and

a pair of opposed side edges that extend divergently from the arcuate fold line to the outwardly arcuate edge, and

the end panel has a second dimension extending between the arcuate fold line and the outwardly arcuate edge that is greater than the second dimension of each the first partial end panel and the second partial end panel.