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US 6,320,172 B1Granted
Microwavable container for food products and method of fabricating same
OwnerJeffrey T. Watkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container for microwave heating of a food product, and a method of fabricating such a container, wherein the container includes a tub assembly having a moisture-impervious floor and one or more sidewalls. A quantity of food product, such as popcorn, is placed in a pocket formed in a sheet of barrier material, and a continuous heat seal is formed between the floor of the tub and the sheet of barrier material. A microwave susceptor can be disposed to the floor for heating the food product.
Claims78
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face, the interior face of the floor and the at least one wall panel defining an interior volume;
- and
- (c) a sheet of barrier material forming a pocket for containing a food product, the sheet of barrier material having an interior surface and an exterior surface and the interior surface of the sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the floor around the pocket so that a peripheral outer portion is formed to separate the food product from the at least one wall panel.
1 more element
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face, the interior face of the floor and the at least one wall panel defining an interior volume;
- (c) a sheet of barrier material forming a pocket for containing a food product, the sheet of barrier material having an interior surface and an exterior surface and the interior surface of the sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the floor around the pocket;
- and
- (d) at least one projection formed on the at least one wall panel, the projection being movable between an inoperative position where the projection is co-planar with the wall panel and an operative position where the projection extends outwardly from the wall panel.
2 more elements
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face, the interior face of the floor and the at least one wall panel defining an interior volume;
- (c) a sheet of barrier material forming a pocket for containing a food product, the sheet of barrier material having an interior surface and an exterior surface and the interior surface of the sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the floor around the pocket;
- and
- (d) a handle formed on the at least one wall panel, the handle being movable between an inoperative position where the handle is co-planar with the wall panel and an operative position where the handle extends away from the wall panel.
2 more elements
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a generally polygonal tub having at least three substantially flat wall panels interconnected along their side edges, a moisture-impervious floor having an interior face and exterior face, and an open mouth;
- (b) a sheet of moisture-impervious barrier material forming a pocket for containing a food product, the sheet of moisture-impervious barrier material being continuously sealed to the floor around the pocket so that a peripheral outer portion is formed to separate the food product from the at least one wall panel;
- and
- (c) a microwave susceptor disposed underneath the food product.
1 more element
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising a tub having at least one wall panel and a floor comprising a moisture barrier, the container further comprising a sheet of barrier material deformed to comprise a pocket for containing a food product, the sheet of barrier material continuously sealed to the floor about the periphery of the pocket so that a peripheral outer portion is formed to separate the food product from the at least one wall panel.
A method of assembling a container for microwave heating of a food product, the method comprising:
- (a) forming a pocket in a sheet of barrier material;
- (b) depositing a quantity of a food product within the pocket;
- (c) placing a tub assembly having a floor and at least one wall panel, wherein the floor has an interior face and an exterior face, over the food product such that the pocket is substantially closed by the interior face of the floor;
- and
- (d) sealing the barrier material to the interior face of the floor of the tub assembly around the pocket to encapsulate the quantity of food product between the barrier material and the interior face of the floor of the tub assembly so that a peripheral outer portion is formed to separate the food product from the at least one wall panel.
2 more elements
A method of assembling a container for microwave heating of a food product, the method comprising:
- (a) fabricating a tub assembly by folding at least one blank to form a floor and at least one wall panel, wherein the floor has an interior face and an exterior face;
- (b) forming a pocket in a sheet of barrier material;
- (c) depositing a quantity of a food product within the pocket;
- (d) inserting at least a portion of the barrier material within the tub assembly, whereby the pocket of food product is adjacent the interior face of the floor of the tub assembly;
- and
- (e) forming a seal between the barrier material and the interior face of the floor of the tub assembly around the pocket so that a peripheral outer portion is formed to separate the food product from the at least one wall panel.
3 more elements
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth and having an upper portion proximate to the mouth and a lower portion proximate to the base;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face and the at least one wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face;
- and
- (c) a sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the at least one wall panel at the lower portion proximate to the base to form a volume with the interior face of the at least one wall panel and the interior face of the floor for containing the food product.
1 more element
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face and the at least one wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face;
- (c) a sheet of barrier material, the interior face of the at least one wall panel and the interior face of the floor forming a volume for containing the food product, the sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the at least one wall panel;
- and
- (d) at least one projection formed on the at least one wall panel, the projection being movable between an inoperative position where the projection is co-planar with the wall panel and the operative position where the projection extends outwardly from the wall panel.
2 more elements
A container for microwave heating of a food product, the container comprising:
- (a) a substantially upright sidewall assembly comprising a base, a mouth, and at least one wall panel extending between the base and the mouth;
- (b) a floor extending substantially horizontally from the at least one wall panel adjacent the base, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face and the at least one wall panel having an interior face and an exterior face;
- and
- (c) a sheet of barrier material, the interior face of the at least one wall panel and the interior face of the floor forming a volume for containing the food product, the sheet of barrier material being sealed to the interior face of the at least one wall panel;
- and
- (d) a handle formed on the at least one wall panel, the handle being movable between an inoperative position where the handle is co-planar with the wall panel and the operative position where the handle extends away from the wall panel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.