Microwavable construct for heating, browning, and crisping rounded food items

• US 8,853,601 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Talpaert, Arnaud, Noyelle, Marie-Line
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu B
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARVEY, BRANDON T
• Application Number:
  US13/186,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 996/46.C, 219/725, 219/730, 219/732, 219/733, 219/734, 229/902, 229/903, 229/906, 426/107, 426/113, 426/122, 426/124, 426/234, 426/243
• US Class Current: 219/731
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3412 Cooking fried food B65D2581/3416 and B65D2581/3417 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3444 Packages having devices which convert microwave energy into movement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3455 Packages having means for improving the internal circulation of air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3472 Aluminium or compounds thereof
• 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 5/5038 Tray-like elements formed by folding a blank and presenting openings or recesses without external box B65D71/72; external face of container provided with opening for receiving object in display position B65D5/5286
• 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

Abstract

A microwave energy interactive construct for heating a food item having a surface intended to be browned and/or crisped includes a flanged receiving element shaped to receive the food item. The flanged receiving element includes a plurality of hingeable flange segments, so that microwave energy interactive material disposed on the hingeable flange segments may be brought into intimate and/or proximate contact with the surface of the food item.

Claims

1. A microwave energy interactive construct for heating a food item having a surface intended to be browned and/or crisped, comprising:

a dimensionally stable base;

a flanged receiving element, the flanged receiving element being shaped to receive the food item with the food item seated thereon, the flanged receiving element including a plurality of hingeable flange segments defined by a plurality of lines of disruption in the base; and

microwave energy interactive material disposed on the hingeable flange segments,

wherein the hingeable flange segments are operative for flexing downwardly to bring the microwave energy interactive material into close proximity with the surface of the food item seated thereon.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is substantially obround in shape.

3. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is substantially elongate in shape.

4. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is substantially circular in shape.

5. The construct of claim 1, wherein

the flanged receiving element includes a substantially centrally located aperture, and

the lines of disruption extend outwardly from the aperture.

6. The construct of claim 1, wherein

the flange segments are each defined by a pair of adjacent lines of disruption terminating at respective end points, and

a fold line extends between the respective end points.

7. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flange segments are operative for hinging along a fold line disposed between adjacent lines of disruption in response to an urging force applied to the flange segments.

8. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises a susceptor operative for browning and/or crisping of the surface of the food item.

9. The construct of claim 1, wherein

in a first configuration prior to receiving the food item in the flanged receiving element, the flange segments are substantially coplanar with the base, and

in a second configuration after receiving the food item in the flanged receiving element, the flange segments are obliquely oriented with respect to the base.

10. The construct of claim 1, in combination with another construct of claim 1, wherein the constructs are pivotably connected to one another for pivoting the constructs between an open position and a closed position.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein in the closed position, the constructs are in an opposed relationship with the respective bases facing one another, such that the respective flanged receiving elements are in substantial alignment with one another.

12. The construct of claim 1, in combination with a carton, the carton including a top panel, a bottom panel, and a plurality of walls defining an interior space, wherein the construct is adapted to be received within the interior space of the carton with an upper side of the base of the construct facing the top panel of the carton.

13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising a susceptor joined to the top panel of the carton.

14. The combination of claim 12, further comprising a microwave energy interactive insulating material joined to the top panel of the carton.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the microwave energy interactive insulating material includes

a susceptor film,

a moisture-containing layer joined to the susceptor film, and

a polymer film layer joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby forming a plurality of closed cells between the moisture-containing layer and the polymer film layer, wherein the closed cells are operative for inflating in response to microwave energy.

16. The construct of claim 1, in combination with the food item, wherein the elongate food item is seated within the flanged receiving element so that the microwave energy interactive material disposed on the hingeable flange segments is in close proximity with the surface of the food item.

21. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is curvilinear in shape.

22. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is non-curvilinear in shape.

23. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is substantially polygonal in shape.

24. The construct of claim 1, wherein the flanged receiving element is substantially octagonal in shape.

25. The construct of claim 5, wherein the substantially centrally located aperture is defined by the flange segments while the flange segments are substantially coplanar with the base.

17. A microwave energy interactive construct, comprising:

a base;

a support element for defining a void beneath the base; and

a receptacle for receiving a food item with the food item seated thereon, the receptacle including a plurality of hingeable tabs defined by a plurality of lines of disruption in the base, the hingeable tabs including microwave energy interactive material for converting at least a portion of microwave energy into thermal energy, wherein the hingeable tabs are operative for flexing downwardly into the void beneath the base to bring the microwave energy interactive material into close proximity with a surface of the food item seated thereon.

18. The construct of claim 17, in combination with the food item, wherein the food item and the receptacle each have a substantially circular shape.

19. The construct of claim 17, in combination with the food item, wherein the food item and the receptacle each have an elongated shape.

20. A microwave energy interactive construct, comprising:

a base;

a support element for elevating the base; and

an elongate receptacle for receiving an elongate food item with the elongate food item seated thereon, the receptacle including

a plurality of hingeable portions defined by cuts in the base, and

an opening substantially centered within the receptacle,

wherein the hingeable portions include microwave energy interactive material for converting at least a portion of microwave energy into thermal energy, the hingeable portions being operative for flexing downwardly to bring the microwave energy interactive material into close proximity with a surface of the elongate food item seated thereon.