Elevated microwave heating construct

• US 20090218338A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Futzwater, Kelly R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/027 Cooking- or baking-vessels specially adapted for use in microwave ovens; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• 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 2581/3474 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 2581/3489 Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield B65D2581/3487 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3497 attached to the side walls
• 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: H05B 6/6494 for cooking

Abstract

A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven comprises a platform having a first surface substantially defined by a microwave energy interactive element and a pair of side members joined to the platform along respective lines of disruption. The side members extend upwardly and downwardly from the plane of the platform.

Claims

1. A microwave heating construct for a food item, comprising:

a platform for receiving the food item, the platform lying within a generally horizontal plane;

a microwave energy interactive element joined to at least a portion of the platform; and

a pair of side members joined to the platform along respective lines of disruption, each side member of the pair of side members including

an outer panel that extends above the plane of the platform and below the plane of the platform, and

an inner panel that extends below the plane of the platform.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein for each side member of the pair of side members, the outer panel and the inner panel of the side member are in a substantially contacting, facing relationship with one another.

3. The construct of claim 1, wherein for each side member of the pair of side members, the outer panel is adhesively joined to the respective inner panel.

4. The construct of claim 1, wherein for each side member of the pair of side members,

the inner panel is joined to the platform along the respective line of disruption, and

the outer panel is joined to the respective inner panel.

5. The construct of claim 4, wherein the outer panel is joined to the respective inner panel along a fold line.

6. The construct of claim 1, wherein for at least one side member of the pair of side members, at least a portion of the outer panel extending above the plane of the platform forms an angle with the platform of from about 55°

to about 125°

.

7. The construct of claim 1, wherein for at least one side member of the pair of side members, at least a portion of the inner panel forms an angle with the platform of from about 55°

to about 125°

.

8. The construct of claim 1, wherein each side member of the pair of side members is adapted to rotate towards and away from the platform along the respective line of disruption.

9. The construct of claim 8, wherein for each side member of the pair of side members,

when the outer panel extending above the plane of the platform is rotated towards the platform, the respective inner panel is rotated away from the platform, and

when the outer panel extending above the plane of the platform is rotated away from the platform, the respective inner panel is rotated towards the platform.

10. The construct of claim 8, wherein substantially complete rotation of the inner panels away from the platform causes the construct to become substantially flattened.

11. The construct of claim 1, wherein each outer panel extending above the plane of the platform at least partially defines a respective side wall for the platform.

12. The construct of claim 11, wherein the microwave energy interactive element is further joined to an inwardly facing side of each side wall.

13. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a susceptor.

14. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive element comprises a layer of microwave energy interactive material having a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms.

15. The construct of claim 14, wherein the layer of microwave energy interactive material is operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy.

16. A microwave heating construct for a food item having an outer surface intended to be browned and/or crisped, comprising:

a platform for receiving the food item;

a pair of substantially upstanding members, each upstanding member including

a first portion extending upwardly from the platform, and

a second portion extending downwardly from the platform,

a pair of reinforcing panels joined to opposite edges of the platform in a facing, contacting relationship with the respective second portions of the upstanding members, the second portions of the upstanding members and the reinforcing panels collectively elevating the platform and defining an insulating void beneath the platform; and

a microwave energy interactive material disposed on the platform and the first portion of each upstanding member, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy,

wherein the platform and the respective first portions of the upstanding members are capable of flexing to at least partially enwrap the outer surface of the food item and to bring the microwave energy interactive element into proximity with the surface of the food item.

17. The construct of claim 16, wherein for each upstanding member of the pair of upstanding members, the first portion of the upstanding member at least partially defines a side wall for the platform.

18. The construct of claim 16, wherein for each upstanding member of the pair of upstanding members, the reinforcing panel is adhesively joined to the second portion of the respective upstanding member.

19. The construct of claim 16, wherein for each upstanding member of the pair of upstanding members,

when the first portion of the upstanding member is rotated towards the platform, the second portion of the upstanding member and the respective reinforcing panel are rotated away from the platform, and

when the first portion of the upstanding member is rotated away from the platform, the second portion of the upstanding member and the respective reinforcing panel are rotated towards the platform.

20. The construct of claim 19, wherein substantially complete rotation of the first portion of each upstanding member towards the platform causes the construct to become substantially flattened.

21. A microwave heating construct comprising:

a 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 adjoining panels including

a main panel,

a pair of substantially opposed minor panels respectively joined to opposite edges of the main panel along a first pair of opposed fold lines extending in the first direction, and

a pair of substantially opposed major panels respectively joined to the pair of opposed minor panels along a second pair of respectively opposed fold lines extending in the first direction, the major panels being folded over the respective minor panels along the respective second pair of fold lines,

wherein the second dimension of each major panel is greater than the second dimension of each minor panel, such that a first portion of each major panel is in a substantially superposed, facing relationship with the respective minor panel, and a second portion of each major panel is in a substantially superposed, facing relationship with respective portions of the main panel; and

a layer of microwave energy interactive material joined to at least a portion of the main panel.

22. The construct of claim 21, wherein the first portion of each major panel is joined the respective minor panel to maintain the first portion of each major panel in the substantially superposed, facing relationship with the respective minor panel.

23. The construct of claim 22, wherein the first portion of each major panel is joined to the respective minor panel by an adhesive.

24. The construct of claim 21, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, indium tin oxide, and any combination thereof.

25. The construct of claim 21, wherein the layer of microwave energy interactive material has a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms.