Microwave packaging
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsFermin P. Resurreccion, Jr., Alicia Rivera, Vladimir C. Martinez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container for heating a plurality of food items with microwave energy. The container has a tray with a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray, an insert disposed at least partially in the interior of the tray, and a plurality of receptacles at least partially defined by the insert. Each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles can be for at least partially receiving at least one food item of the plurality of food items.
Claims41
A container for heating a plurality of food items with microwave energy, the container comprising:
- a tray comprising a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- an insert disposed at least partially in the interior of the tray, the insert comprising a plurality of lateral ribs, a plurality of longitudinal ribs, and a central panel extending over at least one lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs and at least one longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs, wherein the central panel contacts the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib along respective portions of respective top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib, and the portions of the top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib are recessed to at least partially accommodate the central panel;
- and
- a plurality of receptacles at least partially defined by the insert, each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles being for at least partially receiving at least one food item of the plurality of food items;
- wherein each lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs engages each longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs to at least partially form the plurality of receptacles.
An insert for being disposed in an interior of a tray to form a container for heating a plurality of food items with microwave energy, the insert comprising:
- a plurality of lateral ribs;
- a plurality of longitudinal ribs, each lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs engaging each longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs;
- a plurality of receptacles at least partially defined by at least one of the lateral ribs of the plurality of lateral ribs and at least one of the longitudinal ribs of the plurality of longitudinal ribs, each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles being for receiving at least one food item of the plurality of food items;
- and
- a central panel extending over at least one lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs and at least one longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs, wherein the central panel contacts the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib along respective portions of respective top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib, and the portions of the top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib are recessed to at least partially accommodate the central panel.
A method of forming a package, comprising:
- obtaining a tray comprising a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the tray;
- forming the insert by engaging each lateral rib of a plurality of lateral ribs with each longitudinal rib of a plurality of longitudinal ribs to at least partially form a plurality of receptacles, wherein the forming the insert further comprises positioning a central panel to extend over at least one lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs and at least one longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs, the central panel contacting the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib along respective portions of respective top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib, and the portions of the top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib being recessed to at least partially accommodate the central panel;
- at least partially forming a container by positioning the insert at least partially in the interior of the tray;
- and
- inserting a plurality of food items into the container by positioning at least one food item of the plurality of food items at least partially into each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.