Elevated microwave heating construct

• US 9,107,243 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• 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:
  US12/384,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 219/730, 219/725, 219/732, 219/733, 219/735, 219/728, 219/759, 426/107, 426/109, 426/110, 426/111, 426/113, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243, 99D/IG.14, 229/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 includes 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 preparing a food item, the food item having a surface that is desirably browned and/or crisped, the microwave heating construct comprising:

a platform comprising microwave energy interactive material, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy; and

a pair of side members pivotably joined to the platform, the side members each comprising an inner panel and an outer panel, wherein

the outer panel includes a first portion and a second portion, the inner panel and the first portion of the outer panel including microwave energy interactive material, and

the inner panel is joined to the first portion of the outer panel so that the inner panel and the first portion of the outer panel are fixedly coupled to one another in a facing, substantially parallel relationship,

wherein

in an unerected configuration, the inner panel is substantially coplanar with the platform, and the second portion of the outer panel is in a facing, contacting relationship with the platform so that the microwave heating construct in the unerected configuration is substantially planar, and

in an erected configuration,

the second portion of each outer panel is pivoted away from the platform, and the inner panels and the first portion of each outer panel are pivoted inwardly towards the platform, so that the first portion of the outer panels extend below the platform and the second portion of the outer panels extend above the platform, and

the platform is for having the food item positioned thereon with the surface of the food item being in a facing relationship with the microwave energy interactive material of at least the platform, and the second portion of each outer panel is for engaging the food item so that the food item arrests pivoting of the side members and maintains the construct in the erected configuration.

2. The construct of claim 1, wherein in the erected configuration, the second portion of each outer panel forms an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the platform, and the inner panels each form an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the platform.

3. The construct of claim 1, wherein

the second portion of each outer panel includes microwave energy interactive material, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy, and

the second portion of each outer panel engaging the food item maintains the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each outer panel in close proximity with the food item.

4. The construct of claim 1, wherein

the second portion of each outer panel includes microwave energy interactive material, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy, and

the platform having the food item positioned thereon urges the platform downwardly so that the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each outer panel is brought into close proximity with the food item.

5. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material has a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms.

6. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, indium tin oxide, and any combination thereof.

7. The construct of claim 1, wherein, for each side member of the pair of side members, the first portion of the outer panel is foldably connected to the inner panel along a fold line.

8. The construct of claim 1, wherein, for each side member of the pair of side members, the inner panel is an innermost panel of the side member and the outer panel is an outermost panel of the side member.

9. The construct of claim 1, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the inner panel and the first portion of the outer panel in each of the side members is at least partially deactivated.

10. A microwave heating construct for preparing a food item, the food item having bottom and side surfaces that are desirably browned and/or crisped, the microwave heating construct comprising:

a main panel, and

a pair of side members joined to the main panel along fold lines, wherein the side members each include a minor panel and a major panel, wherein the major panel includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being fixedly coupled to the minor panel, wherein the main panel and the second portion of the major panels each comprise microwave energy interactive material operative for converting microwave energy into thermal energy and the minor panels and the first portion of the major panels each comprise microwave energy interactive material,

wherein

in an unerected configuration, the minor panels are substantially coplanar with the main panel, the first portion of the major panel and the minor panel are in a substantially superposed, facing relationship with one another, and the second portion is in a substantially superposed, facing relationship with the main panel, so that the microwave heating construct in the unerected configuration is substantially planar, and

in an erected configuration,

the side members are pivoted along the fold lines so that the minor panels and major panels are brought into a substantially upright configuration so that the minor panels and the first portion of each major panel elevate the main panel, and

the food item is positioned on the main panel so that

the bottom and side surfaces of the food item are in a facing relationship with the microwave energy interactive material of the main panel and the second portion of each major panel, and

the second portion of each major panel engages the food item so that the pivoting of the minor panels and the first portion of each major panel towards the main panel is arrested and the microwave heating construct is maintained in the erected configuration.

11. The construct of claim 10, wherein pivoting the side members along the fold lines so that the minor panels and major panels are brought into the substantially upright configuration comprises concurrently pivoting the second portion of each major panel away from the main panel and pivoting the minor panels and the first portion of each major panel towards the main panel.

12. The construct of claim 10, wherein in the erected configuration, the second portion of each major panel forms an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the main panel, and the minor panels each form an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the main panel.

13. The construct of claim 10, wherein the second portion of each major panel engaging the food item maintains the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each major panel in close proximity with the food item.

14. The construct of claim 10, wherein the food item positioned on the main panel urges the main panel downwardly so that the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each major panel is maintained in close proximity with the food item.

15. The construct of claim 10, wherein the microwave energy interactive material has a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms.

16. The construct of claim 10, wherein the microwave energy interactive material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, indium tin oxide, and any combination thereof.

17. The construct of claim 10, wherein, for each side member of the pair of side members, the first portion of the major panel is foldably connected to the minor panel along a fold line, and the first portion of the major panel is in face-to-face contact with the minor panel.

18. The construct of claim 10, wherein, for each side member of the pair of side members, the minor panel is an innermost panel of the side member and the major panel is an outermost panel of the side member.

19. The construct of claim 10, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the minor panel and the first portion of the major panel in each of the side members is at least partially deactivated.

20. A construct for preparing a food item in a microwave oven, the food item having a surface that is desirably browned and/or crisped, the microwave heating construct comprising:

a main panel for receiving the food item, the main panel including microwave energy interactive material operative for generating heat from microwave energy,

a pair of reinforcing panels including a first reinforcing panel and a second reinforcing panel joined to opposite edges of the main panel, wherein each of the first reinforcing panel and the second reinforcing panel includes microwave energy interactive material, and

a first side panel and a second side panel, each of the first side panel and the second side panel including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes microwave energy interactive material and the second portion includes microwave energy interactive material operative for generating heat from microwave energy,

wherein the first portion of the first side panel is coupled to the first reinforcing panel in a facing, substantially parallel relationship so that the first portion of the first side panel and the first reinforcing panel have a fixed position with respect to one another, and the first portion of the second side panel is coupled to the second reinforcing panel in a facing, substantially parallel relationship so that the first portion of the second side panel and the second reinforcing panel have a fixed position with respect to one another,

wherein in an unerected configuration, the second portion of the first side panel and the second portion of the second side panel are in a facing, contacting relationship with the main panel, and

wherein in the erected configuration,

the reinforcing panels and each side panel are moved into a substantially upright configuration so that the reinforcing panels and the first portion of each side panel extend downwardly from the main panel to define a void beneath the main panel, and the second portion of each of the first side panel and the second side panel extends upwardly from the main panel to define side walls for the main panel, and

the food item is positioned on the main panel so that

the surface of the food item is in a facing relationship with the microwave energy interactive material of the main panel and the second portion of the respective first and second side panels, and

the second portion of each of the first side panel and the second side panel engages the food item so that the pivoting of the reinforcing panel and the first portion of each of the first side panel and the second side panel towards the main panel is arrested and the microwave heating construct is maintained in the erected configuration.

21. The construct of claim 20, wherein the reinforcing panels and each side panel are moved into a substantially upright configuration by concurrently pivoting

the second portion of each side panel away from the main panel, and

the reinforcing panel and the first portion of each side panel towards the main panel.

22. The construct of claim 20, wherein in the erected configuration, the second portion of each side panel forms an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the main panel, and the reinforcing panels each form an angle of from about 55°

to about 125°

with respect to the main panel.

23. The construct of claim 20, wherein in the erected configuration, the second portion of each side panel engaging the food item maintains the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each side panel in close proximity with the food item.

24. The construct of claim 20, wherein the food item positioned on the main panel urges the main panel downwardly so that the microwave energy interactive material of the second portion of each side panel is maintained in close proximity with the food item.

25. The construct of claim 20, wherein the microwave energy interactive material has a thickness of less than about 100 angstroms.

26. The construct of claim 20, wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises at least one of aluminum and indium tin oxide.

27. The construct of claim 20, wherein the first portion of the first side panel is foldably connected to the first reinforcing panel along a first fold line, and the first portion of the second side panel is foldably connected to the second reinforcing panel along a second fold line.

28. The construct of claim 20, wherein the microwave energy interactive material of at least one of the first reinforcing panel, the second reinforcing panel, the first portion of the first side panel, and the first portion of the second side panel is at least partially deactivated.