Susceptors capable of balancing stress and effectiveness
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Russell, Lorin R. Cole, Scott W. Middleton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An outer portion of one or more layers of microwave interactive material, which is for becoming hot when exposed to microwave energy, is arranged in a manner that seeks to advantageously control heating, so that the outer portion of the microwave interactive material can safely be adjacent the periphery of a turntable tray. The turntable tray can be heated by the microwave interactive material so that a peak thermally induced stress occurs in the turntable tray at a position proximate the periphery of the tray. The layer(s) of microwave interactive material are configured in a manner so that the peak thermally induced stress is less than a predetermined amount.
Claims34
A construct for heating a food item in a microwave oven having a turntable tray, the construct comprising:
- a bottom panel for being disposed on the turntable tray and in face-to-face contact with the turntable tray, the bottom panel comprising a support layer, a first outer edge, and a second outer edge, each of the first outer edge and the second outer edge extending from a common outer corner;
- a susceptor disposed on the support layer and comprising a layer of microwave interactive material that is operative for becoming hot when exposed to microwave energy, the layer of microwave interactive material at least partially defining a central region of the bottom panel, the central region comprising a first inner edge and a second inner edge each extending from a common beveled corner that is recessed from the outer corner, the first inner edge and the second inner edge being substantially parallel to the respective first outer edge and second outer edge;
- and
- a marginal region of the support layer at least partially extending between the first outer edge and the first inner edge and between the second outer edge and the second inner edge;
- wherein an outer periphery of the bottom panel and an inner periphery of the central region are substantially the same shape.
A method of heating a food item in a microwave oven having a turntable tray, the method comprising:
- obtaining a construct comprising a bottom panel, the bottom panel comprising a support layer, a first outer edge, and a second outer edge, each of the first outer edge and the second outer edge extending from a common outer corner, a susceptor disposed on the support layer and comprising a layer of microwave interactive material that at least partially defines a central region of the bottom panel, the central region comprising a first inner edge and a second inner edge each extending from a common beveled corner that is recessed from the outer corner, the first inner edge and the second inner edge being substantially parallel to the respective first outer edge and second outer edge, and a marginal region of the support layer at least partially extending between the first outer edge and the first inner edge and between the second outer edge and the second inner edge, wherein an outer periphery of the bottom panel and an inner periphery of the central region are substantially the same shape;
- positioning the food item on at least the central region of the bottom panel;
- positioning the bottom panel on the turntable tray in face-to-face contact with the turntable tray;
- and
- operating the microwave oven to expose at least the layer of microwave interactive material to microwave energy, causing the layer of microwave interactive material to become heated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.