Patterned microwave susceptor element and microwave container incorporating same

A microwave susceptor structure comprising:

• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• and
• a second layer of patterned microwave interactive material;
• wherein the patterned microwave interactive material comprises a plurality of arrangements of microwave interactive features, the arrangements comprising repeating patterns of some of the microwave interactive features disposed generally along respective close plane curves that are generally symmetrical about at least two orthogonal axes.

A microwave susceptor structure comprising:

• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• and
• a second layer of patterned microwave interactive material comprising:
• a first arrangement of substantially identical first microwave interactive features along a circle of a first radius;
• a second arrangement of substantially identical second microwave interactive features along a circle of a second radius greater than the first radius, the second arrangement being concentric with the first arrangement;
• a third arrangement of substantially identical third microwave interactive features along a circle of a third radius greater than the second radius, the third arrangement being concentric with the second arrangement;
• and
• a fourth arrangement of substantially identical fourth microwave interactive features along a circle of a fourth radius greater than the third radius, the fourth arrangement being concentric with the third arrangement.

A microwave susceptor structure comprising:

• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• and
• a second layer of patterned microwave interactive material comprising:
• a first arrangement of substantially identical first microwave interactive features along a circle of a first radius;
• a second arrangement of substantially identical second microwave interactive features along a circle of a second radius greater than the first radius, the second arrangement being concentric with the first arrangement;
• a third arrangement of substantially identical microwave transparent features along a circle of a third radius greater than the second radius, the third arrangement being concentric with the second arrangement;
• and
• a fourth arrangement of a microwave interactive strip along a circle of a fourth radius greater than the third radius, the fourth arrangement being concentric with the third arrangement.

A microwave susceptor blank comprising:

• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• a second layer of patterned microwave interactive material;
• and
• a third layer of microwave transparent material;
• wherein the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers;
• wherein the patterned microwave interactive material comprises a bottom heating region, a fold region bounding the bottom heating region, and a sidewall region bounding the fold region;
• and
• wherein the fold region comprises a plurality of curvilinear microwave transparent features disposed generally through out the fold region in a generally repeating pattern for relieving thermal stress in the fold region during heating of the susceptor.

A microwave susceptor blank comprising:

• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• a second layer of patterned microwave absorptive material formed on the first layer and comprising a bottom heating region, a fold region bounding the bottom heating region, and a sidewall region bounding the fold region;
• and
• a third layer of microwave transparent supportive material, the first and third layers being laminated with the second layer disposed therebetween;
• wherein the bottom heating region comprises a plurality of non-overlapping closed curvilinear heating regions distributed generally throughout the bottom heating region, at least a first one of the closed curvilinear heating regions comprising a first plurality of discrete spaced-apart microwave absorptive features for enhancing microwave transmission and reducing microwave reflectance of the bottom heating region under load relative to a plain susceptor;
• wherein the fold region comprises a generally continuous microwave absorptive feature having a plurality of curvilinear microwave transparent features disposed therein in a generally repeating pattern for relieving thermal stress in the fold region upon exposure thereof to microwave energy;
• and
• wherein the sidewall region comprises a generally continuous microwave absorptive feature.

A microwave container comprising:

• a bottom heating region comprising a plurality of non-overlapping closed curvilinear heating regions distributed generally throughout the bottom heating region and disposed on a microwave transparent supporting substrate, at least a first one of the closed curvilinear heating regions comprising a first plurality of discrete microwave absorptive features that are spaced-apart for enhancing microwave transmission and reducing microwave reflectance of the bottom heating region under load relative to a plain susceptor;
• a fold region disposed on the microwave transparent supporting substrate about the bottom region, the fold region comprising a generally continuous microwave absorptive feature having a plurality of curvilinear microwave transparent features disposed therein in a generally repeating pattern for relieving thermal stress in the fold region upon exposure to microwave energy;
• and
• a sidewall region disposed on the microwave transparent supporting substrate about the fold region, the sidewall region comprising a generally continuous microwave absorptive feature.

A microwave container comprising:

• a bottom region;
• a fold region disposed about the bottom region;
• and
• a sidewall region disposed about the fold region;
• the bottom region, the fold region, and the sidewall region being formed from a laminated material comprising:
• a first layer of microwave transparent material;
• a second layer of patterned microwave interactive material;
• and
• a third layer of microwave transparent material, the second layer being disposed
• between the first and third layers;
• the patterned microwave interactive material in the bottom region comprising a plurality of arrangements of microwave interactive features, the arrangements comprising repeating patterns of some of the microwave interactive features disposed generally along respective close plane curves that are generally symmetrical about at least two orthogonal axes;
• the patterned microwave interactive material in the fold region comprising a plurality of curvilinear microwave transparent features disposed generally through out the fold region in a generally repeating pattern for relieving thermal stress in the fold region during microwave heating;
• and
• the patterned microwave interactive material in the sidewall region comprising a microwave interactive strip disposed generally throughout the sidewall region.