CA1239999A
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave container and package comprising said container and a body of material to be heated, and method of making same
Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd
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Filing: 1985-06-25
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Granted: 1988-08-02
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Expires: 2005-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Abstract: A container for holding material such as foodstuff to be heated in a microwave oven, including an open-topped tray and a lid for covering the tray to form a closed cavity, wherein at least one surface of the container has one or more electrically conductive plates and/or microwave-transparent apertures for generating a microwave field pattern having a higher order than that of the fundamental modes of the container, such that the field pattern so formed propagates into the contained material to thereby locally heat the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Keefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3453; H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6408; H05B6/647; H05B6/6491; H05B6/6494; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3437; B65D2581/3439; B65D2581/344; B65D2581/3441; B65D2581/3471; B65D2581/3472; B65D2581/3486; B65D2581/3487; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the container being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, said first and second types being respectively electrically conductive and microwave-transparent, and the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the container being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, said first and second types being respectively electrically conductive and microwave-transparent, and the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
224 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the lid being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
224 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the lid being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
218 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the container being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising a plurality of discrete regions of a first type spaced apart and surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of each first-type region and the spacing between adjacent first-type regions being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
218 words
A package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the container being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising a plurality of discrete regions of a first type spaced apart and surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of each first-type region and the spacing between adjacent first-type regions being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said surface is formed of a sheet of microwave transparent material and wherein the higher order mode generating means comprises at least one plate made of electrically conductive material, said plate being attached to said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said surface is formed of a sheet of electrically conductive material and wherein the higher order mode generating means comprises at least one aperture in the sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said surface is formed of a sheet of electrically conductive material and wherein the higher order mode generating means comprises at least one aperture in the sheet, and wherein each said aperture is covered with microwave transparent material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the dimensions of said or each first-type region are such as to be non-one-dimensionally-resonant at the microwave frequency being used.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the higher order mode generating means is so configured and positioned on its surface as to generate or amplify higher order modes which are natural to the container and dictated by its boundary conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the higher order mode generating means is so configured and positioned on its surface as to generate a mode which is of a higher order than that of the fundamental of the container but is not determined by the boundary conditions of the container.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the container with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, said first and second types being respectively electrically conductive and microwave-transparent, and the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the container with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, said first and second types being respectively electrically conductive and microwave-transparent, and the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the lid with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the lid with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the container with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising a plurality of discrete regions of a first type spaced apart and surrounded by A region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of each first-type region and the spacing between adjacent first-type regions being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of manufacturing a package of material to be heated in a microwave oven, comprising a container and a body of material to be heated disposed in said container, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, said method comprising providing a surface of the container with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, and placing said body of material in the container, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising a plurality of discrete regions of a first type spaced apart and surrounded by A region of a second type, one of said types being electrically conductive and the other of said types being microwave-transparent, the dimensions of each first-type region and the spacing between adjacent first-type regions being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
220 words
A container for receiving a body of material to constitute therewith a package to be heated in a microwave oven, said container comprising an open topped tray for carrying said body of material and a lid covering said tray to form a cavity, said container and said body defining fundamental modes of microwave energy in said cavity, wherein the improvement comprises a surface of the container being provided with mode generating means for generating, within the cavity, at least one microwave energy mode of a higher order than that of said fundamental modes, said mode generating means being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the body of material in the container for causing microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material to thereby locally heat the body of material, said mode generating means comprising at least one region of a first type surrounded by a region of a second type, said first and second types being respectively electrically conductive and microwave-transparent, and the dimensions of said at least one first-type region and the width of said second-type region surrounding said at least one first-type region being sufficient to cause microwave energy in said at least one higher-order mode to propagate into the body of material as aforesaid. CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein more than one surface of the container is formed with a higher order mode generating means and wherein a first of said surfaces is formed of a sheet of microwave transparent material to which is attached at least one electrically conductive plate, and wherein a second of said surfaces is formed of a sheet of electrically conductive material, in which sheet is formed at least one aperture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A package as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, compris-ing at least two higher order mode generating means each formed on a respective horizontal surface of the container, and wherein said means are vertically aligned with one another to thereby improve the vertical distribution of heating energy within the material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container as claimed in claim 13, wherein more than one surface of the container is formed with a higher order mode generating means and wherein a first of said surfaces is formed of a sheet of microwave transparent material to which is attached at least one electrically conductive plate, and wherein a second of said surfaces is formed of a sheet of electrically conductive material, in which sheet is formed at least one aperture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A container as claimed in claim 13, comprising at least two higher order mode generating means each formed on a respective horizontal surface of the container, and wherein said means are vertically aligned with one another to thereby improve the vertical distribution of heating energy within the material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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