Disposable cook-in package for frozen food products

Claim 2

A cook-in container for a frozen food product of which at least one ingredient is in a hydratable condition comprising: a. an outer receptacle of non-combustible heat-conductive sheet material in the shape of a polygon having at least five sides and adapted to contain a vaporizable cooking agent, b. an inner receptacle of continuous sheet material in the shape of a polygon having fewer sides than and nested within said outer receptacle and adapted to contain said food product, said inner receptacle being joined at its edges to the edges of said outer receptacle and formed with an opening disposed above the level of said food product and communicating with said outer receptacle, the sides of said inner receptacle along a major portion of its periphery being uniformly spaced from and parallel to corresponding sides of said outer receptacle and along a minor portion of its periphery including at least one longer side non-parallel and corresponding peripherally to two adjoining sides forming an apex of said outer receptacle to substantially define therewith an enlarged triangular area between said receptacles to constitute a vapor release chamber for said cooking agent, and c. a detachable lid formed of moisture resistant sheet material covering said receptacles to completely enclose said food product therein and to provide a vapor barrier therefor, whereby the vapor generated by the heating of said cooking agent, when said package is exposed to a heat source, contributes to the cooking of said product and the condensate of said vapor retained within said inner receptacle by said lid reconstitutes the hydratable ingredient of said product.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said receptacles are formed of metal foil.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said outer receptacle is formed into a shape in horizontal cross section of a regular polygon, each angle of said shape being defined by pleats formed in the respective metal foil material.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said outer receptacle is of octagonal shape in horizontal cross section and said inner receptacle in horizontal cross section is of a hexagonal shape having two longer sides oppositely disposed to provide at opposite sides of said container a said enlarged triangular area between said inner and outer receptacles to serve as a vapor release chamber for said cooking agent, each said opening being formed in a portion of said inner receptacle defining a said chamber.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said opening is sealed by a film of heat-sensitive material.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said lid is foldable along an edge portion to expose one of said openings and is formed with an aperture overlying the other of said openings, whereby said cooking agent may be introduced into said outer receptacle through the exposed opening and will flow out of said outer receptacle through the other of said openings and said aperture upon reaching the level thereof.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said inner receptacle is formed with a depressed area immediately adjacent and communicating with said one opening to facilitate the introduction of said cooking agent through said one opening.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 1 including a cooking agent in the form of ice disposed between the walls of said inner and outer receptacles.

Claim 10

A frozen food package adapted to serve as a cook-in container comprising: a. an outer receptacle of non-combustible, heat conductive sheet material in the shape of a polygon having at least five sides and adapted to contain a vaporizable cooking agent, b. an inner receptacle of continuous sheet material in the shape of a polygon having fewer sides than and nested within said outer receptacle and joined at its edges to the edges of said outer receptacle, said inner receptacle being formed with an opening disposed near its edge and communicating with said outer receptacle, the sides of said inner receptacle along a major portion of its periphery being uniformly spaced from and parallel to corresponding sides of said outer receptacle and along a minor portion of its periphery including at least one longer side nonparallel and corresponding peripherally to two adjoining sides forming an apex of said outer receptacle to substantially define therewith an enlarged triangular area between said receptacles to constitute a vapor release chamber for said cooking agent, c. a frozen food product of which at least one ingredient is in a hydratable condition contained within said inner receptacle, and d. a detachable lid formed of moisture resistant sheet material covering said receptacles to completely enclose said food product therein and to provide a vapor barrier therefor, whereby the vapor generated by the heating of said cooking agent, when said package is exposed to a heat source, contributes to the cooking of said food product and the condensate of said vapor contained within said inner receptacle by said lid reconstitutes the hydratable ingredient of said product.

Claim 11

A frozen food package adapted to serve as a cook-in container comprising: a. an outer receptacle of non-combustible, heat conductive sheet material in the shape of a polygon having at least five sides and adapted to contain a vaporizable cooking agent, b. an inner receptacle of continuous sheet material in the shape of a polygon having fewer sides than and nested within said outer receptacle and joined at its edges to the edges of said outer receptacle, said inner receptacle being formed with an opening disposed near its edge and communicating with said outer receptacle, the sides of said inner receptacle along a major portion of its periphery being uniformly spaced from and parallel to corresponding sides of said outer receptacle and along a minor portion of its periphery including at least one longer side nonparallel and corresponding peripherally to two adjoining sides forming an apex of said outer receptacle to substantially define therewith an enlarged triangular area between said receptacles to constitute a vapor release chamber for said cooking agent, c. a frozen food product of which at least one ingredient is in a hydratable condition contained within said inner receptacle, and d. a detachable lid formed of moisture resistant sheet material covering said receptacles to completely enclose said food product therein and to provide a vapor barrier therefor, whereby the vapor generated by the heating of said cooking agent, when said package is exposed to a heat source, contributes to the cooking of said food product and the condensate of said vapor contained within said inner receptacle by said lid reconstitutes the hydratable ingredient of said product.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said receptacles are formed of metal foil.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 10 wherein said outer receptacle is formed into a shape in horizontal cross section of a regular polygon, each angle of said shape being defined by pleats formed in the respective metal foil material.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said outer receptacle is of octagonal shape and said inner receptacle in horizontal cross section is of a hexagonal shape having two longer sides oppositely disposed to provide at opposite sides of said container a said enlarged triangular area between said inner and outer receptacles to serve as a vapor release chamber for said cooking agent, each said opening being formed in a portion of said inner receptacle defining a said chamber.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said opening is sealed by a film of heat-sensitive material.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 12 wherein said lid is foldable along an edge portion to expose one of said openings and is formed with an aperture overlying the other of said openings, whereby said cooking agent may be introduced into said outer receptacle through the exposed opening and will flow out of said outer receptacle through the other of said openings and said aperture upon reaching the level thereof.

Claim 17

The invention according to claim 14 wherein said inner receptacle is formed with a depressed area immediately adjacent and communicating with said one opening to facilitate the introduction of said cooking agent through said one opening.