Microwave Popcorn Package, Methods and Product
AssigneeConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
InventorsCharles Thomas Gorman, Paul John Warosh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microwave popcorn package is provided. The preferred package includes a flexible bag construction reinforced with a sidewall construction. The package is such that the flexible bag construction and the sidewall construction are selectively expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. After the package is opened, the sidewall construction provides for a rigid sidewall to provide a stand up bowl for access to the popped popcorn.
Claims21
A microwave package comprising:
- a sidewall construction defining an interior, the sidewall construction being selectively expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the sidewall construction is a vertically rigid material;
- and
- a flexible bag construction, a portion of which is secured to the interior of the sidewall construction, being selectively expandable between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration, wherein the flexible bag construction and the sidewall construction form a container having vertically rigid sidewalls in the expanded configuration.
A method of assembling a microwave popcorn package, the method comprising:
- folding a bag blank to form a bag construction having a base and a first and second side panel;
- sealing outer edges of the first and second side panels together, wherein the first and second side panels and the base define an interior;
- distributing popcorn charge into the interior of the bag construction;
- and
- securing a portion of the bag construction to an interior of a sidewall construction;
A microwave popcorn package comprising:
- a sidewall construction having a first side panel and a second side panel and defining an interior between the first and second side panels, the sidewall construction having a plurality of creases and being selectively expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the sidewall construction is a vertically rigid material that forms vertically rigid sidewalls in the expanded configuration;
- a flexible bag construction having a first side, a portion of which is secured to the first side panel of the sidewall construction, a second side, a portion of which is secured to the second side panel of the sidewall construction, and a base extending between the first and second sides, the flexible bag construction being selectively expandable between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration, wherein the first side, the second side, and the base of the flexible bag construction define an interior;
- and
- a popcorn charge disposed in the interior of the flexible bag construction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.