# US 9,049,751 B1 · Highly conductive microwave susceptors

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- Number: US 9,049,751 B1
- Document ID: US9049751B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/149,534
- Filed: 2011-05-31
- Granted: 2015-06-02
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31
- Assignees: Nestec S.A.
- Applicants: Ulrich J. Erle
- Inventors: Ulrich J. Erle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9049751B1

## CPC

- H05B 6/64: Heating using microwaves {(containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted to be heated by microwaves B65D81/3446)}
- B65D 81/34: for packaging foodstuffs {or other articles} intended to be cooked or heated within the package
- B65D 81/3453: {Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups}
- H05B 6/80: Apparatus for specific applications (stoves or ranges F24C7/02)
- B65D 2581/3405: Cooking bakery products
- B65D 2581/3472: Aluminium or compounds thereof
- B65D 2581/3485: Other unusual non-metallic substances, e.g. ivory, wood
- B65D 2581/3489: Microwave reflector, i.e. microwave shield (B65D2581/3487 takes precedence)
- B65D 2581/3494: Microwave susceptor (B65D2581/3487 takes precedence)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- 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

## Abstract

Microwaveable packages having highly conductive susceptors and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the microwaveable packages include a container defining an interior and having a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior. At least a portion of the microwave shielding material is a highly conductive susceptor. The highly conductive susceptor may include a standard microwave susceptor layer and a layer including a substrate having a source of mobile charges. Methods for increasing a surface heating of a food product are also provided and include, in a general embodiment, providing a food product in an interior of a container, which has a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior, and heating the food product in the container in a microwave oven for a predetermined amount of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microwaveable package comprising:
a container defining an interior and comprising a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior, wherein at least a portion of the microwave shielding material is a conductive susceptor comprising an electrical resistance that is below about 100 Ω, and the conductive susceptor comprises a standard microwave susceptor layer and a shielding layer comprising a substrate including a source of mobile charges, wherein the shielding layer is at least substantially metal free.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein the conductive susceptor comprises an electrical resistance from about 10 Ω to about 80 Ω.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein the microwave shielding material is entirely comprised of the conductive susceptor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the microwave shielding material is a pure microwave shield.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The microwaveable package of claim 4, wherein the pure microwave shield is a metal layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein the conductive susceptor comprises a second standard microwave susceptor layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a thickness from about 0.05 mm to about 3.0 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The microwaveable package of claim 1, wherein the source of mobile charges is a salt water solution having a concentration from about 10% to about 30% by weight.

### Claim 9

A method for increasing a surface heating of a food product, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a food product in an interior of a container, the container comprising a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior, wherein at least a portion of the microwave shielding material is a conductive susceptor comprising an electrical resistance that is below about 100 Ω, the conductive susceptor comprises a standard susceptor layer and a shielding layer comprising a substrate including a source of mobile charges, wherein the shielding layer is at least substantially metal free; and
heating the food product in the container in a microwave oven for a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined amount of time is between about 30 seconds to about 4 minutes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the microwave shielding material is entirely comprised of the conductive susceptor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein a second portion of the microwave shielding material is a pure microwave shield.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the pure microwave shield is a metal layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the substrate has a thickness from about 0.05 mm to about 3.0 mm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the source of mobile charges is a salt water solution that has a concentration of about 25% by weight.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the conductive susceptor further comprises a second standard microwave susceptor layer located between the first standard microwave susceptor layer and the shielding layer.