# US 10,479,584 B2 · Microwave packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,584 B2 - Document ID: US10479584B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/293,542 - Filed: 2016-10-14 - Published: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-15 - Assignees: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. - Applicants: Graphic Packaging International, LLC - Inventors: Fermin P. Resurreccion, Jr.; Alicia Rivera; Vladimir C. Martinez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479584B2 ## CPC - B65D 81/3453: {Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups} - B65B 25/22: Packaging articles of food, e.g. fish fillets, intended to be cooked in the package - B65B 61/207: {for inserting partitions between package contents} - B65D 5/38: Drawer-and-shell type containers - B65D 5/48038: {Strips crossing each other} - B65D 25/06: adapted to be fitted in two or more alternative positions - B65D 2581/3466: Microwave reactive material applied by vacuum, sputter or vapor deposition - B65D 2581/3472: Aluminium or compounds thereof - B65D 2581/3478: Stainless steel - B65D 2581/3479: Other metallic compounds, e.g. silver, gold, copper, nickel - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein a microwave energy interactive element extends along each of the receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles of the plurality of receptacles comprises a plurality of sides defined by the insert, and each side of the plurality of sides defined by the insert comprises a microwave energy interactive material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The container of claim 3, wherein the tray further comprises a bottom wall comprising a microwave energy interactive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The container of claim 3, wherein a lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs intersects with a longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs to at least partially form multiple receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The container of claim 5, wherein each of the lateral rib and the longitudinal rib defines a side of the plurality of sides for each receptacle of the multiple receptacles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The container of claim 6, wherein each of the lateral rib and the longitudinal rib comprises two faces each having the microwave energy interactive material disposed thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein each of the lateral ribs and the longitudinal ribs defines a side of the plurality of sides for respective receptacles of the plurality of receptacles, and each of the lateral ribs and the longitudinal ribs comprises two faces each having the microwave energy interactive material disposed thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein a lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs intersects with a longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs to at least partially form multiple receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The container of claim 9, wherein each of the lateral rib and the longitudinal rib defines at least one side of each receptacle of the multiple receptacles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The container of claim 9, wherein the lateral rib comprises a first notch and the longitudinal rib comprises a second notch, the first notch and second notch engaging one another at an intersection of the lateral rib and the longitudinal rib. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11, wherein the top edge of the lateral rib is generally coplanar with the top edge of the longitudinal rib. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The container of claim 12, wherein one of the first notch and the second notch is in communication with the top edge of the respective lateral rib and longitudinal rib, and one of the first notch and the second notch is in communication with a bottom edge of the respective lateral rib and longitudinal rib. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11, wherein each of the first notch and the second notch comprises a tapered portion extending from an edge of the respective lateral rib and longitudinal rib and a slit portion extending from the respective tapered portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles comprises a plurality of sides defined by the insert, and each side of the plurality of sides defined by the insert for each receptacle comprises a respective portion of a respective one of the plurality of lateral ribs and the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein each lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs comprises a plurality of first notches and each longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs comprises a plurality of second notches, and each first notch engages a respective second notch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the central panel is at least partially attached to the top edge of each of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the central panel comprises a recess for holding a secondary food item, and the top edges of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib are further recessed to at least partially accommodate the recess in the central panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the central panel comprises a recess for receiving a secondary container holding a secondary food item. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles is a first plurality of receptacles, and the central panel extends over a second plurality of receptacles at least partially defined by the insert. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The container of claim 20, wherein the second plurality of receptacles comprises four receptacles at least partially covered by the central panel, and the central panel engages three lateral ribs of the plurality of lateral ribs and three longitudinal ribs of the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 22 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein a microwave energy interactive element extends along each of the receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein each of the receptacles of the plurality of receptacles comprises a plurality of sides defined by the insert, and each side of the plurality of sides defined by the insert comprises a microwave energy interactive material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The insert of claim 24, wherein each of the lateral ribs and the longitudinal ribs defines a side of the plurality of sides for respective receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The insert of claim 25, wherein each of the lateral ribs and the longitudinal ribs comprises two faces each having the microwave energy interactive material disposed thereon. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles comprises a plurality of sides defined by the insert, and each side of the plurality of sides defined by the insert for each receptacle comprises a respective portion of a respective one of the plurality of lateral ribs and the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein each lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs comprises a plurality of first notches and each longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs comprises a plurality of second notches, and each first notch engages a respective second notch. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The insert of claim 28, wherein for each of the lateral ribs of the plurality of lateral ribs, each first notch of the plurality of first notches is in communication with a first edge of the respective lateral rib, and for each of the longitudinal ribs of the plurality of longitudinal ribs each second notch of the plurality of second notches is in communication with a second edge of the respective longitudinal rib. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The insert of claim 29, wherein the first edge of each of the lateral ribs is a bottom edge of the respective lateral rib, and the second edge of each of the longitudinal ribs is the top edge of the respective longitudinal rib. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The insert of claim 28, wherein each of the first notches and the second notches comprises a tapered portion extending from an edge of the respective lateral ribs and longitudinal ribs and a slit portion extending from the respective tapered portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein the central panel is at least partially attached to the top edge of each of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein the central panel comprises a recess for holding a secondary food item. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein the central panel comprises a recess for receiving a secondary container holding a secondary food item. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The insert of claim 22, wherein the plurality of receptacles is a first plurality of receptacles, and the central panel extends over a second plurality of receptacles at least partially defined by the insert. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The insert of claim 35, wherein the second plurality of receptacles comprises four receptacles at least partially covered by the central panel, and the central panel engages three lateral ribs of the plurality of lateral ribs and three longitudinal ribs of the plurality of longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 37 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. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein a microwave energy interactive element extends along each of the receptacles of the plurality of receptacles. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein each of the lateral ribs of the plurality of lateral ribs comprises a first notch and each of the longitudinal ribs of the plurality of longitudinal ribs comprises a second notch, and the engaging each lateral rib of the plurality of lateral ribs with each longitudinal rib of the plurality of longitudinal ribs comprises engaging the first notch and second notch with one another for each of the lateral ribs and for each of the longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the forming the insert further comprises attaching the central panel to the top edge of each of the at least one lateral rib and the at least one longitudinal rib. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the central panel comprises a recess, and the method further comprises disposing a secondary food item in the recess.