Container with microwave interactive web

• US 8,803,049 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Hagan, Brian R., Lai, Laurence M. C., Walsh, Joseph, Cox, William, Hackel, George, Zeng, Neilson, Shaw, Michael, Bohrer, Timothy Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung D
• Application Number:
  US11/715,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20070215611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,714 Days
• Field of Search: 219/725, 219/759, 219/730, 219/731, 219/726, 219/728, 219/729, 428/580, 220/640, 220/649, 220/675, 220/62, 220/62.1
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/082 by shaping between complementary mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/162 of deep containers or boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/20 having movable moulds or mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/22 rotatable about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/46 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/76 Making non-permanent or releasable joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72325 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72328 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72341 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72343 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2001/00 Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 : Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2105/00 : Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/406 : the lining material being a plunger, a web, a sheet or a bag to be forced into the box, e.g. by using heat
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/407 : involving forming of the liner before inserting
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 : Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/592 : using punches or dies
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/74 : Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 : Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• 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 2581/3493 : attached to the base surface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A container includes a microwave interactive web at least partially overlying and joined to a three-dimensional support, wherein the three-dimensional support may be formed prior to having the microwave interactive web mounted thereto. The three-dimensional support may be a preformed container that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally stable for use in containing food.

Claims

1. A construct comprising:

a container including a curved interior corner at least partially defined by a substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container; and

a microwave interactive web mounted to the container, wherein the web comprises microwave interactive material, and the web defines a plurality of pleats that are positioned in and extend along the curved interior corner of the container, so that the pleats, which are defined by the web, extend across the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container, and

in the interior corner of the of the container, the container and the web are distinctly different layers of the construct, so that

the pleats, which are defined by the web, are distinct from the container,

the container is distinct from the pleats, which are defined by the web,

the pleats, which are defined by the web, are distinct from the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container, and

the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container is distinct from the pleats, which are defined by the web; and

wherein the web includes opposite first and second sides, and for a pleat of the plurality of pleats, the pleat;

includes each of

a first portion of the first side of the web,

a second portion of the first side of the web,

a first portion of the second side of the web, and

a second portion of the second side of the web; and

is configured so that both

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the second side of the web.

2. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the pleats, which are defined by the web, include the microwave interactive material.

3. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the container consists essentially of polymeric material.

4. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a vacuum thermal-formed container.

5. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the web includes a peripheral edge that comprises a bead.

6. The construct according to claim 1, wherein:

the container includes a base and a plurality of side walls, wherein the plurality of side walls

(a) extends upwardly from the base, and

(b) extends at least partially around and at least partially defines a cavity of the container;

the web is positioned in the cavity and at least partially covers the base and at least one side wall of the side walls; and

the web includes a metallic shielding element that

at least partially covers the side wall and the curved interior corner of the container, and

has a thickness within a range of from about 0.000285 inches to about 0.05 inches.

7. The construct according to claim 1, wherein:

the container includes a base and a plurality of side walls that extends upwardly from the base;

the plurality of side walls extend at least partially around and at least partially defines a cavity of the container; and

the web is positioned in the cavity and at least partially covers the base and each of the side walls.

8. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the web being mounted to the container comprises:

the web being adhered to the container.

9. The construct according to claim 1, wherein:

the web is a first web;

the construct further comprises a second web that is microwave interactive and mounted to the container; and

the first and second web are distinct from one another.

10. The construct according to claim 1, wherein:

the container includes a plurality of compartments; and

the web is in a first compartment of the plurality of compartments.

11. The construct according to claim 10, wherein:

the web is a first web;

the construct further comprises a second web that is microwave interactive and mounted in a second compartment of the plurality of compartments; and

the first and second webs are distinct from one another.

12. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the microwave interactive material extends at least partially around a cavity of the container, so that the microwave interactive material is positioned in and extends along the curved interior corner of the container.

13. The construct according to claim 12, wherein the microwave interactive material extends substantially all the way around the cavity of the container.

14. The construct according to claim 12, wherein the microwave interactive material, which extends at least partially around a cavity of the container, has a thickness within a range of from about 0.000285 inches to about 0.05 inches.

15. The construct according to claim 1, wherein

the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container is a substantially smooth, concave surface of the container;

the substantially smooth, concave surface of the container extends upright

the substantially smooth, concave surface of the container spans laterally from a first upright wall of the container to a second upright wall of the container; and

each of the pleats, which are defined by the web,

extends upright along the curved interior corner of the container,

is adjacent the substantially smooth, concave surface of the container, and

extends across the substantially smooth, concave surface of the container.

16. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the container consists essentially of polymeric material.

17. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the container comprises a vacuum thermal-formed container.

18. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the web includes a peripheral edge that comprises a bead.

19. The construct according to claim 15, wherein:

the container includes a base and a plurality of side walls, the plurality of side walls includes the first and second upright side walls of the container, and the plurality of side walls

(a) extends upwardly from the base, and

(b) extends at least partially around and at least partially defines a cavity of the container;

the web is positioned in the cavity and at least partially covers the base and at least one side wall of the side walls; and

the web includes a metallic shielding element that

at least partially covers the side wall, and

has a thickness within a range of from about 0.000285 inches to about 0.05 inches.

20. The construct according to claim 15, wherein:

the container includes a base and a plurality of side walls that extends upwardly from the base, the plurality of side walls include the first and second upright side walls of the container;

the plurality of side walls extend at least partially around and at least partially defines a cavity of the container; and

the web is positioned in the cavity and at least partially covers the base and each of the side walls.

21. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the web being mounted to the container comprises:

the web being adhered to the container.

22. The construct according to claim 15, wherein:

the web is a first web;

the construct further comprises a second web that is microwave interactive and mounted to the container; and

the first and second webs are distinct from one another.

23. The construct according to claim 15, wherein:

the container includes a plurality of compartments; and

the web is in a first compartment of the plurality of compartments.

24. The construct according to claim 23, wherein:

the web is a first web;

the construct further comprises a second web that is microwave interactive and mounted in a second compartment of the plurality of compartments; and

the first and second webs are distinct from one another.

25. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the microwave interactive material extends at least partially around a cavity of the container.

26. The construct according to claim 25, wherein the microwave interactive material extends substantially all the way around the cavity of the container.

27. The construct according to claim 25, wherein the microwave interactive material, which extends at least partially around a cavity of the container, has a thickness within a range of from about 0.000285 inches to about 0.05 inches.

28. The construct according to claim 15, wherein the pleats, which are defined by the web, include the microwave interactive material.

29. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the pleat, which is defined by the web, is configured so that both:

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face contact with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face contact with the second portion of the second side of the web.

30. The construct according to claim 1, wherein for each pleat of the plurality of pleats, the pleat:

includes each of

a first portion of the first side of the web,

a second portion of the first side of the web,

a first portion of the second side of the web, and

a second portion of the second side of the web; and

is configured so that both

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the second side of the web.

31. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the pleats, which are defined by the web, are engaged against the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container.

32. The construct according to claim 1, wherein the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container as a whole is entirely unpleated.

33. A construct comprising:

a container including a curved interior corner at least partially defined by a substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container, wherein the substantially smooth, curved, interior surface, as a whole, is entirely unpleated;

a microwave interactive web mounted to the container, wherein the web comprises microwave interactive material, and the web defines a plurality of pleats that are positioned in and extend along the curved interior corner of the container, so that the pleats, which are defined by the web, extend across and are engaged against the unpleated, substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container, and

in the interior corner of the container, the container and the web are distinctly different layers of the construct, so that;

the pleats, which are defined by the web, are distinct from the container,

the container is distinct from the pleats, which are defined by the web,

the pleats, which are defined by the web, are distinct from the unpleated, substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container, and

the unpleated, substantially smooth, curved, interior surface of the container is distinct from the pleats, which are defined by the web; and

wherein the web includes opposite first and second sides, and for a pleat of the plurality of pleats, the pleat;

includes each of

a first portion of the first side of the web,

a second portion of the first side of the web,

a first portion of the second side of the web, and

a second portion of the second side of the web; and

is configured so that both

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the second side of the web.

34. The construct according to claim 33, wherein the pleat, which is defined by the web, is configured so that both:

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face contact with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face contact with the second portion of the second side of the web.

35. The construct according to claim 33, wherein for each pleat of the plurality of pleats, the pleat:

includes each of

a first portion of the first side of the web,

a second portion of the first side of the web,

a first portion of the second side of the web, and

a second portion of the second side of the web; and

is configured so that both

the first portion of the first side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the first side of the web, and

the first portion of the second side of the web is in opposing face-to-face relation with the second portion of the second side of the web.