# US 9,434,491 B2 · Ovenable corrugated paper container

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- Number: US 9,434,491 B2
- Document ID: US9434491B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/502,100
- Filed: 2014-09-30
- Published: 2015-01-15
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2002-04-11
- Assignees: The Ovenable Paper Pan Company, LLC
- Applicants: The Ovenable Paper Pan Company, LLC
- Inventors: Scott Sanders
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434491B2

## CPC

- B65B 29/08: Packaging of edible materials intended to be cooked in the package (infusible substances B65B29/02)
- A47J 36/022: {Cooking- or baking-vessels or supports thereof for using only once (eating- or serving-plates for using only once A47G19/02)}
- A47J 36/025: {Vessels with non-stick features, e.g. coatings}
- A47J 36/04: the materials being non-metallic
- A47J 37/01: Vessels uniquely adapted for baking (for use in baker's ovens A21B)
- B31B 50/74: Auxiliary operations
- B31B 50/88: Printing; Embossing
- B32B 9/06: of paper or cardboard
- B32B 27/10: of paper or cardboard
- B32B 29/08: Corrugated paper or cardboard
- B65D 1/34: Trays or like shallow containers {(B65D81/3813 takes precedence)}
- B65D 3/22: with double walls; with walls incorporating air-chambers; with walls made of laminated material {(for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3818)}
- B65D 5/56: Linings or internal coatings {, e.g. pre-formed trays provided with a blow- or thermoformed layer (to protect the articles from mechanical damage B65D81/127)}
- B65D 81/264: {for absorbing liquids}
- B65D 81/343: {specially adapted to be heated in a conventional oven, e.g. a gas or electric resistance oven}
- B65D 81/386: {formed of corrugated material}
- B65D 2581/3406: Pizza or bread
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- B31B: MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- 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

An ovenable paper container containing an inner liner, an outer liner, and an intermediate or corrugated paper layer positioned between the inner liner and the outer liner. The ovenable paper container can be used to heat and/or cook food and then be used as a serving container without the danger of causing burns.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container designed for use with food products and which can be exposed to temperatures of at least about 200° F., container, said container having a base and a container rim that at least partially encircles said base, said container comprising an inner liner, an outer liner and a corrugated layer positioned between said inner and outer liners; said corrugated layer is formed of a plurality of flutes, said corrugated layer having a corrugated base portion, a corrugated rim portion and a corrugated transition region; said outer liner having an upper and a lower surface, said outer liner having a weight of at least about 10 pounds per thousand square feet, said lower surface of said outer liner forming a bottom surface of said container, said outer liner having an outer base portion, an outer rim portion and an outer transition region; said inner liner having an upper and a lower surface, said inner liner having a weight of at least about 20 pounds per thousand square feet, said inner liner is formed of an inner base portion, an inner transition region and an inner rim portion; said inner transition region of said inner liner is positioned between said inner base portion and said inner rim portion; said outer transition region of said outer liner is positioned between said base portion and said rim; said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer is positioned between said corrugated base portion and said corrugated rim portion; said inner rim portion of said inner liner is at least partially encircling said inner base portion; said outer rim portion of said outer liner is at least partially encircling said outer base portion; said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer is at least partially encircling said corrugated base portion; said inner base portion of said inner liner is generally planar; said inner rim portion of said inner liner extending above said inner base portion of said inner liner; an upper surface of said inner rim portion, an upper surface of said inner base portion and an upper surface of said inner transition region of said inner liner forming said upper surface of said inner liner, said upper surface of said inner liner is absent a seam; a majority of said upper surface of said inner rim portion of said inner liner is at a higher elevation than said upper surface of said inner base portion of said inner liner; at least a portion of said upper surface of said inner rim portion and said inner base portion of said inner liner can engage a food product that is placed on said container; said corrugated layer having a weight of at least about 1 pound per thousand square feet; said corrugated layer is at least partially connected to at least one of said upper surfaces of said outer liner and said lower surface of said inner liner by an adhesive; a height of a majority of said flutes of said corrugated layer that form said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer is less than a height of a majority of said flutes of said corrugated layer in said corrugated base portion of said corrugated layer, a height of at least one said flutes located in said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer has a height that is less than a height of a majority of said flutes in said corrugated base portion of said corrugated layer, a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer varying in at least one region of said container rim along a longitudinal length of said container rim, said inner liner including a polymeric coating, said polymeric coating is present on said upper surface of said inner liner, said polymeric coating is formulated to engage a food product that is placed on said container and to inhibit the food product from sticking to said container while the food is heated on said container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer located adjacent to said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer is greater than a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer that are located at an opposite end of said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner liner has a weight that is greater than a weight of said corrugated layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric coating has a coating weight of at least about 0.05 pounds per thousand square feet, said container configured to heat or cook foods in temperatures of about 200° F.-600° F. and to resist burning.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner liner including a plurality of openings that fully pass through said inner liner, a majority of said openings do not fully pass through said outer liner, said openings are designed to allow a liquid to pass through said openings in said inner liner and result in the liquid being at least partially entrapped between said inner liner and said outer liner.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said inner liner is embossed to allow air to circulate underneath food positioned on said upper surface of said inner liner during heating of the food.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner rim portion of said inner liner extending upwardly from said inner base portion of said inner liner at an angle of at least about 25°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner liner has a weight of about 50 to about 100 pounds per thousand square feet, said outer liner has a weight of about 10 to about 70 pounds per thousand square feet, said corrugated layer has a weight of about 10 to about 70 pounds per thousand square feet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The container as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner liner, said outer liner and said corrugated layer are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and paper board.

### Claim 10

A container designed for use with food products, said container having a base and a container rim that at least partially encircles said base, said container comprising an inner liner, an outer liner and a corrugated layer positioned between said inner and outer liners; said corrugated layer is formed of a plurality of flutes, said corrugated layer having a corrugated base portion, a corrugated rim portion and a corrugated transition region; said outer liner having an upper and a lower surface, said lower surface of said outer liner forming a bottom surface of said container, said outer liner having an outer base portion, an outer rim portion and an outer transition region; said inner liner having an upper and a lower surface, said inner liner is formed of an inner base portion, an inner transition region and an inner rim portion; said inner transition region of said inner liner is positioned between said inner base portion and said inner rim portion; said outer transition region of said outer liner is positioned between said outer base portion and said outer rim portion; said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer is positioned between said corrugated base portion and said corrugated rim portion; said inner rim portion of said inner liner is at least partially encircling said inner base portion; said outer rim portion of said outer liner is at least partially encircling said outer base portion; said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer is at least partially encircling said corrugated base portion; said inner base portion of said inner liner is generally planar; said inner rim portion of said inner liner extending above said inner base portion of said inner liner; an upper surface of said inner rim portion, an upper surface of said inner base portion and an upper surface of said inner transition region of said inner liner forming said upper surface of said inner liner, said upper surface of said inner liner is absent a seam; a majority of said upper surface of said inner rim of said inner liner is at a higher elevation than said upper surface of said inner base portion of said inner liner; at least a portion of said upper surface of said inner rim portion and said inner base portion of said inner liner can engage a food product that is placed on said container; said corrugated layer is at least partially connected to at least one of said upper surfaces of said outer liner and said lower surface of said inner liner by an adhesive; a height of a plurality of said flutes of said corrugated layer that form said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer is less than a height of a majority of said flutes of said corrugated layer in said corrugated base portion of said corrugated layer, a height of at least one of said flutes located in said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer has a height that is less than a height of a majority of said flutes in said corrugated base portion of said corrugated layer, a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer varying in at least one region of said container rim along a longitudinal length of said container rim, said inner liner including a polymeric coating, said polymeric coating is present on said upper surface of said inner liner, said polymeric coating is formulated to engage a food product that is placed on said container and to inhibit the food product from sticking to said container while the food is heated on said container.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer located adjacent to said corrugated transition region of said corrugated layer is greater than a height of said flutes in said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer that are located at an opposite end of said corrugated rim portion of said corrugated layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner liner has a weight that is greater than a weight of said corrugated layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said polymeric coating has a coating weight of at least about 0.05 pounds per thousand square feet, said container configured to heat or cook foods in temperatures of about 200° F.-600° F. and to resist burning.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner liner including a plurality of openings that fully pass through said inner liner, a majority of said openings do not fully pass through said outer liner, said openings are designed to allow a liquid to pass through said openings in said inner liner and result in the liquid being at least partially entrapped between said inner liner and said outer liner.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said upper surface of said inner liner is embossed to allow air to circulate underneath food positioned on said upper surface of said inner liner during heating of the food.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner rim portion of said inner liner extending upwardly from said inner base portion of said inner liner at an angle of at least about 25°.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner liner has a weight of about 50 to about 100 pounds per thousand square feet, said outer liner has a weight of about 10 to about 70 pounds per thousand square feet, said corrugated layer has a weight of about 10 to about 70 pounds per thousand square feet.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The container as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner liner, said outer liner and said corrugated layer are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and paper board.

### Claim 19

A container having a base and a rim that at least partially encircles said base, said container comprising an inner liner, an outer liner and a corrugated layer that is positioned between said inner and outer liners; said corrugated layer formed of a plurality of flutes, said corrugated layer having a corrugated base portion, a corrugated rim portion and a corrugated transition region; said inner and outer liners are formed of a non-corrugated substrate; said outer liner having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface of said outer liner forming a bottom surface of said container, said outer liner having an outer base portion, an outer rim portion and an outer transition region; said inner liner having a lower surface, said inner liner is formed of an inner base portion, an inner rim portion and an inner transition region; said inner rim portion at least partially encircling said inner base portion, said inner rim portion extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of said inner base portion, said inner transition region positioned between said inner base portion and said inner rim portion; an upper surface of said inner rim portion and an upper surface of said inner base portion and an upper surface of said inner transition region are absent a seam; a majority of said upper surface of said inner rim portion at a higher elevation than said upper surface of said inner base portion; said upper surface of said inner base portion is configured to engage a food product that is placed on said container; said corrugated layer at least partially connected to at least one of said upper surface of said outer liner and said lower surface of said inner liner; a height of a majority of said flutes located in said corrugated rim portion is less than a height of a majority of said flutes in said corrugated base portion, a height of a majority of said flutes located in said corrugated rim portion is less than a height of at least one flute in said corrugated transition region, said at least one flute in said corrugated transition region has a height that is less than a height of a majority of said flutes in said corrugated base portion, said inner liner including a polymeric coating, said polymeric coating is present on said upper surface of said inner liner, said polymeric coating is formulated to engage a food product that is placed on said container and to inhibit the food product from sticking to said container while the food is heated on said container.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The container as defined in claim 19, wherein said inner liner has a different weight than at least one of said corrugated layer and said outer liner.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The container as defined in claim 19, wherein said polymeric coating has a coating weight of at least about 0.05 pounds per thousand square feet, said container configured to heat or cook foods in temperatures of about 200° F.-600° F. and to resist burning.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The container as defined in claim 20, wherein said polymeric coating has a coating weight of at least about 0.05 pounds per thousand square feet, said container configured to heat or cook foods in temperatures of about 200° F.-600° F. and to resist burning.