Microwave heating construct with elevatable bottom

• US 8,395,100 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Laubhan, Vicki, Fitzwater, Kelly R., Wilson, Weston R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, NGAN V
• Application Number:
  US12/583,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20100038359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 219/729, 219/730, 219/731, 219/732, 219/733, 219/734, 219/735, 219/759
• US Class Current: 219/729
• 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: B65D 2581/3406 Pizza or bread
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3447 Heat attenuators, blocking agents or heat insulators for temperature control
• 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 2581/346 integral to the package, e.g. the package is transformed into a stand
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/366 Pizza
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5455 the lines of weakness being provided in a closure hinged to an edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6408 Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1303 Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]

Abstract

A microwave heating construct includes a movable portion defined at least partially by lines of disruption extending between adjacent edges of the bottom panel. The movable portion is adapted to be moved towards the interior space for maintaining a food item in an elevated position within the construct. A susceptor or other microwave energy interactive element may be joined to the movable portion to enhance heating, browning, and/or crisping of the food item.

Claims

1. A microwave heating construct, comprising:

a top panel including a line of disruption that defines a removable portion of the top panel; and

a bottom panel opposite the top panel, the bottom panel including a plurality of lines of disruption that define a movable portion of the bottom panel and a remaining portion of the bottom panel, wherein the lines of disruption each extend between pairs of adjacent peripheral edges of the bottom panel,

wherein

the movable portion of the bottom panel and an area of the top panel that circumscribes the removable portion of the top panel each include microwave energy interactive material, and

the movable portion of the bottom panel is operative for being moved towards the top panel, wherein the construct is configured so that

moving the movable portion of the bottom panel brings the movable portion of the bottom panel into closer proximity with the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel, and

the movable portion of the bottom panel is maintained in closer proximity to the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein the lines of disruption define chamfered corners of the movable portion of the bottom panel.

3. The construct of claim 1, further comprising fold lines extending substantially between adjacent pairs of lines of disruption.

4. The construct of claim 3, wherein the fold lines lie substantially along the peripheral edges of the bottom panel.

5. The construct of claim 3, wherein the movable portion of the bottom panel is substantially octagonal in shape.

6. The construct of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of side panels extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, wherein the side panels each include a hingeable portion foldably joined to the movable portion of the bottom panel.

7. The construct of claim 6, wherein each hingeable portion is foldably joined to the movable portion of the bottom panel along the respective peripheral edge of the bottom panel.

8. The construct of claim 6, wherein each hingeable portion is defined by a plurality of lines of disruption in the respective side panel.

9. The construct of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lines of disruption in the respective side panel includes

a pair of lines of disruption extending from the respective peripheral edge of the bottom panel towards the top panel, and

a fold line extending between the pair of lines of disruption extending from the respective peripheral edge of the bottom panel.

10. The construct of claim 6, wherein the hingeable portions of the side panels are operative for supporting the movable portion of the bottom panel when the movable portion of the bottom panel is moved towards the top panel.

11. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel and the movable portion of the bottom panel is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

12. The construct of claim 1, wherein the removable portion of the top panel is substantially circular in shape.

13. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel has a generally annular shape.

14. The construct of claim 1, further comprising a contoured ring for being positioned between the top panel and the bottom panel, wherein the contoured ring comprises microwave energy interactive material.

15. The construct of claim 14, wherein the contoured ring circumscribes an opening.

16. The construct of claim 1, further comprising a tray for being positioned on the bottom panel, wherein the tray includes

a first portion comprising microwave energy interactive material operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy, and

a second portion that is substantially transparent to microwave energy.

17. The construct of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the tray further includes a plurality of metal foil segments operative for directing microwave energy towards the center of the tray.

18. The construct of claim 1, in combination with a food item, wherein the food item has a lower surface and an upper surface that are each desirably at least one of browned and crisped.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the food item is positioned on the movable portion of the bottom panel so that the microwave energy interactive material of the movable portion is proximate to the lower surface of the food item.

20. A method of using the combination of claim 19, comprising moving the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the top panel, so that the upper surface of the food item is brought into closer proximity to the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the top panel defines venting gaps between the movable portion of the bottom panel and the remaining portion of the bottom panel.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of each the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel is operative for converting microwave energy into heat, and

the method further comprises exposing the food item to microwave energy, so that the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel convert microwave energy into heat and

at least one of browns and crisps the lower surface of the food item, and

at least one of browns and crisps the upper surface of the food item.

23. A microwave heating construct, comprising:

a top panel including a removable portion for being separated from the construct to define an opening in the top panel, wherein the top panel includes microwave energy interactive material extending around the removable portion,

a bottom panel opposite the top panel, the bottom panel including a movable portion comprising microwave energy interactive material, the movable portion of the bottom panel being defined at least partially by

a plurality of lines of disruption extending across the bottom panel between pairs of adjacent peripheral edges of the bottom panel, and

a plurality of fold lines extending between adjacent pairs of the plurality of lines of disruption; and

a plurality of side panels extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, the side panels each including a hingeable portion foldably joined to the movable portion of the bottom panel,

wherein the lines of disruption are for being breached so that the movable portion of the bottom panel can move towards the top panel, wherein moving the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the top panel is for moving a food item seated thereon into closer proximity with the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel.

24. The construct of claim 23, in combination with the food item, wherein the food item has

an upper peripheral surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped,

an upper central surface that is not desirably browned or crisped, and

a lower surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the food item is positioned on the movable portion of the bottom panel so that the microwave energy interactive material of the movable portion of the bottom panel underlies the lower surface of the food item.

26. A method of using the combination of claim 25, comprising

breaching the lines of disruption, and

moving the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the top panel so that

the upper peripheral surface of the food item is proximate to the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel, and

the opening overlies the upper central surface of the food item.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein moving the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the top panel defines a void beneath the movable portion of the bottom panel.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of each the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel is operative for generating heat in response to microwave energy, and

the method further comprises exposing the food item positioned on the movable portion of the bottom panel to microwave energy, so that the microwave energy interactive material of each the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel generates heat and

the upper peripheral surface of the food item is at least one of browned and crisped, and

the lower surface of the food item is at Least one of browned and crisped.

29. A microwave heating construct, comprising:

a top panel including a removable portion for being separated from the construct, wherein the top panel includes microwave energy interactive material extending around the removable portion,

a bottom panel opposite the top panel, the bottom panel including a movable portion comprising microwave energy interactive material, the movable portion of the bottom panel being defined at least partially by

a plurality of lines of disruption extending across the bottom panel between pairs of adjacent peripheral edges of the bottom panel, and

a plurality of fold lines extending between adjacent pairs of the plurality of lines of disruption,

wherein the bottom panel is substantially rectangular in shape, so that the movable portion of the bottom panel is substantially octagonal in shape, and so that the lines of disruption define a remaining portion of the construct; and

a plurality of side panels extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, the side panels each including a hingeable portion foldably joined to the movable portion of the bottom panel, the hingeable portion of each side panel being operative for moving with the movable portion of the bottom panel,

wherein the movable portion of the bottom panel is for

moving a food item seated on the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel, and

defining a void beneath the movable portion of the bottom panel, so that the remaining portion of the bottom panel supports the construct.

30. The construct of claim 29, in combination with a food item, wherein the food item has

an upper surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped, and

a lower surface that is desirably at least one of browned and crisped.

31. The combination of claim 30, wherein the food item is positioned on the movable portion of the bottom panel so that the microwave energy interactive material of the movable portion of the bottom panel underlies the lower surface of the food item.

32. A method of using the combination of claim 31, comprising

moving the food item seated on the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel so that the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel overlies the upper surface of the food item, and

defining the void beneath the movable portion of the bottom panel, so that the remaining portion of the bottom panel serves to support the construct.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein moving the food item seated on the movable portion of the bottom panel towards the microwave energy interactive material of the top panel defines venting gaps adjacent to the remaining portion of the bottom panel.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein

the microwave energy interactive material of each the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel is operative for heating in response to microwave energy, and

the method further comprises exposing the food item to microwave energy, so that the microwave energy interactive material of each the top panel and the moveable portion of the bottom panel heats and

the upper surface of the food item is at least one of browned and crisped, and

the lower surface of the food item is at least one of browned and crisped.