US4015085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container for the microwave heating of frozen sandwiches
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-04-30
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Granted: 1977-03-29
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Expires: 1995-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A sandwich having a moisture containing bread base and a filler on top of said base enclosed in a nonmetallic film with means to accommodate selective heating in a controlled environment is provided with a conductive metallic layer between the bottom of the base and the nonmetallic film and is adapted for controlling a partial application of heat to the base relative to application of heat to the filler.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis J. Woods
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:22
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/26; B32B3/266; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3461; B32B1/00; B32B15/00; B32B15/20; B32B23/00; B32B23/04; B32B23/042; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/726; B32B2311/00; B32B2311/24; B32B2439/00; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3405; B65D2581/3406; B65D2581/3416; B65D2581/3437; B65D2581/3471; B65D2581/3472; B65D2581/3486; B65D2581/3489; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
In a system for heating a frozen sandwich including a nonmetallic film enclosing said sandwich, the combination which comprises: a. a conductive metallic layer placed over the inner bottom surface of said film and adapted for partial deflection of microwave energy applied to said film; b. a moisture containing bread base placed over said metallic layer; and c. A sandwich filler placed over said bread base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a system for heating a frozen sandwich including a nonmetallic film enclosing said sandwich, the combination which comprises: a. a conductive metallic layer placed over the inner bottom surface of said film and adapted for partial deflection of microwave energy applied to said film; b. a moisture containing bread base placed over said metallic layer; and c. A sandwich filler placed over said bread base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 in which a moisture absorbent layer is interposed between said bread base and said metallic layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said metallic layer has an array of perforations therein for passage of microwave energy therethrough to said bread base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said perforations are of the order of 1/4 inch in diameter and of total area equal to about 5 to 10 percent of the area of said bread base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the total area of at least one surface of said bread base directly exposed to said microwave energy is equal to about 5 to 10 percent of the area of said one surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film and having a moisture containing bread base and a sandwich filler, which comprises: a. placing said filler on top of said bread base; b. hermetically sealing said filler and said bread base within said nonmetallic film; c. freezing said filler and said bread base; d. applying heat energy to said nonmetallic film; and e. partially shielding said bread base from said heat energy to provide a palatable food.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film and having a moisture containing bread base and a sandwich filler, which comprises: a. placing said filler on top of said bread base; b. hermetically sealing said filler and said bread base within said nonmetallic film; c. freezing said filler and said bread base; d. applying heat energy to said nonmetallic film; and e. partially shielding said bread base from said heat energy to provide a palatable food.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the step of partially shielding includes the step of admitting said heat energy through a plurality of limited area paths distributed over the bottom of said bread base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said heat energy is microwave energy, and the step of partially shielding includes the step of directing said microwave energy through a plurality of limited area paths distributed across at least one surface of said bread base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 including the step of absorbing moisture in a zone immediately adjacent to said bread base.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film, said sandwich having a frozen bread base and a frozen filler on top of said base, which comprises: a. a conductive metallic layer between the bottom of said base and said nonmetallic film adapted for only partial application of microwave energy to said base relative to the application of said microwave energy to said filler; and b. a moisture absorbent layer interposed between said base and said metallic layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A system for heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film, said sandwich having a frozen bread base and a frozen filler on top of said base, which comprises: a. a conductive metallic layer between the bottom of said base and said nonmetallic film adapted for only partial application of microwave energy to said base relative to the application of said microwave energy to said filler; and b. a moisture absorbent layer interposed between said base and said metallic layer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film and having a moisture containing bread base and a filler on top of said base, which comprises: a. applying heating energy in a controlled environment in which said sandwich is placed; b. shielding said base for only partial application of heat to said base relative to the application of heat to said filler; and c. absorbing moisture which may be present in a zone immediately adjacent to said base.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of heating a frozen sandwich enclosed in a nonmetallic film and having a moisture containing bread base and a filler on top of said base, which comprises: a. applying heating energy in a controlled environment in which said sandwich is placed; b. shielding said base for only partial application of heat to said base relative to the application of heat to said filler; and c. absorbing moisture which may be present in a zone immediately adjacent to said base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A frozen food container, which comprises: a. a first wall of nonmetallic film; b. a second wall of nonmetallic film hermetically sealed to said first wall and including: i. an outer layer of nonmetallic film, and ii. an inner layer of nonmetallic film; c. a metallic layer interposed between said outer and said inner layers of said second wall for partially deflecting microwave energy directed therethrough; and d. a moisture absorbent layer placed over said inner layer of said second wall to absorb moisture which may collect adjacent to said metallic layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A frozen food container, which comprises: a. a first wall of nonmetallic film; b. a second wall of nonmetallic film hermetically sealed to said first wall and including: i. an outer layer of nonmetallic film, and ii. an inner layer of nonmetallic film; c. a metallic layer interposed between said outer and said inner layers of said second wall for partially deflecting microwave energy directed therethrough; and d. a moisture absorbent layer placed over said inner layer of said second wall to absorb moisture which may collect adjacent to said metallic layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said metallic layer is perforated to remove 10 percent of its surface area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said second wall is cellophane and said metallic layer is aluminum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said metallic layer has a surface area exceeding the surface area of said moisture absorbing layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |