Insulating microwave interactive packaging

A microwave cooking container comprising:

• a body formed from a dimensionally stable material, the body including
• at least one wall at least partially covered by a microwave energy interactive material,
• a floor adapted to support a food item, and
• an opening opposite the floor;
• and
• a base adapted to support the body, the base including a venting aperture,
• wherein the body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion each being of separate construction, the upper portion being attached to the lower portion at a common interface between the upper portion and the lower portion, and
• wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each independently include a major opening having a rim, the rim being the common interface between the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being arranged in an opposed relationship such that the respective major openings of the upper portion and the lower portion are adjacent and open to one other.

A microwave package comprising:

• a carton form including
• a base with a central fold line,
• a first side wall foldably joined to the base along a first fold line, and
• a second side wall foldably joined to the base along a second fold line, the first fold line and the second fold line being convexly curved;
• and
• a pouch disposed between the base, the first side wall, and the second side wall of the carton form, the pouch comprising a microwave energy interactive material,
• wherein
• the carton form and the pouch may be transformed from a first, flattened configuration to a second, erected configuration with the first side wall and the second side wall being maintained in tension by the base, and
• in the second configuration, the base of the carton form assumes a concavely curved form with the first side wall and the second side wall of the carton form being bowed or convexly curved.

A microwave energy interactive insulating material comprising:

• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film;
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material;
• and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film,
• wherein upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy,
• at least some of the closed cells inflate, and
• the first polymer film, the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and the dimensionally stable substrate bulge away from the second polymer film.

A microwave packaging material comprising:

• a susceptor film comprising a microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film layer;
• a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material;
• and
• a patterned adhesive layer joining a second polymer film to the moisture-containing layer, thereby defining at least one closed cell between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.

A microwave packaging material consisting essentially of:

• a first polymer film layer;
• a microwave energy interactive material layer supported on the first polymer film;
• a moisture-containing layer joined to the microwave energy interactive material layer;
• a second polymer film layer;
• and
• a patterned adhesive layer disposed between and joining the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer, wherein the patterned adhesive layer defines a plurality of closed cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film.

A microwave energy interactive structure comprising:

• a first sheet and a second sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material adjoined in a superposed, contacting relationship, wherein the microwave energy interactive insulating material includes
• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film;
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material;
• and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film, wherein at least some of the closed cells inflate upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy.

A microwave energy interactive insulating package comprising a plurality of adjoined panels that define a cavity for receiving a food item,

• wherein at least one panel of the plurality of adjoined panels comprises an microwave energy interactive insulating material including
• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film,
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film, and
• wherein upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy,
• at least some of the closed cells inflate, and
• the first polymer film, the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and the dimensionally stable substrate bulge toward the cavity.

A microwavable food carton comprising:

• an interior surface;
• and
• a sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material joined to at least a portion of the interior surface,
• wherein the microwave energy interactive insulating material includes
• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film,
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film, wherein at least some of the closed cells inflate in response to microwave energy.

A microwave energy interactive insulating material comprising:

• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film;
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material;
• and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film,
• wherein upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy,
• at least some of the closed cells inflate, and
• the second polymer film bulges away from the dimensionally stable substrate, the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and the first polymer film.

A microwave energy interactive package comprising an outer surface at least covered by a microwave energy interactive insulating material including:

• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film;
• a dimensionally stable substrate joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material;
• and
• a second polymer film joined to the dimensionally stable substrate in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of closed cells between the dimensionally stable substrate and the second polymer film,
• wherein upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy,
• at least some of the closed cells inflate, and
• the second polymer film bulges away from the dimensionally stable substrate, the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and the first polymer film.

A microwave heating package, comprising:

• a carton form including
• a base with a central fold line,
• a first wall foldably joined to the base along a first fold line, and
• a second wall foldably joined to the base along a second fold line;
• and
• a microwave energy interactive pouch disposed between the base, the first wall, and the second wall of the carton form, the pouch including an interior space for receiving a food item, wherein the pouch comprises
• a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a polymer film, and
• a support layer joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material.