US4734288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package for expandable food product
Assignee: RYT-WAY PACKAGING Corp
•
Filing: 1987-04-10
•
Granted: 1988-03-29
•
Expires: 2007-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A package for an expandable food product and a method for manufacturing the same including an outer container, an expandable food pouch within the container and a coating on the inside surface of the container to adhere the pouch thereto when the package is exposed to a source of heat. A further embodiment of the package includes an expandable food pouch with a designed fault along its peripheral edge to facilitate the controlled release of pressure formed within the pouch.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolf G. Engstrom
- 👤 Douglas M. Fincham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3453; B65D81/3461; B65D81/3469; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3421; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/813; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/902; Y10S229/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A microwave popcorn package capable of accommodating the expansion of popcorn during exposure to microwave energy, said package comprising: an outer container having an inner surface defined by a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from said base to define an operable top; an expandable food pouch disposed within said container in contact therewith but free of any connection to said container, said food pouch containing unpopped popcorn; and a coating on at least a portion of said inner surface of said container, said coating comprising a material which is solid at room temperature and which becomes tacky when said container with said coating thereon and said expandable food pouch with popcorn therein is exposed to microwave energy at a level sufficient to pop said popcorn, said coating applied to said container relative to said pouch such that said container with said coating thereon is capable of securing said expandable food pouch to said inner surface of said container during and subsequent to exposure to said microwave energy sufficient to prevent said expandable pouch from shifting during said exposure and thereafter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A microwave popcorn package capable of accommodating the expansion of popcorn during exposure to microwave energy, said package comprising: an outer container having an inner surface defined by a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from said base to define an operable top; an expandable food pouch disposed within said container in contact therewith but free of any connection to said container, said food pouch containing unpopped popcorn; and a coating on at least a portion of said inner surface of said container, said coating comprising a material which is solid at room temperature and which becomes tacky when said container with said coating thereon and said expandable food pouch with popcorn therein is exposed to microwave energy at a level sufficient to pop said popcorn, said coating applied to said container relative to said pouch such that said container with said coating thereon is capable of securing said expandable food pouch to said inner surface of said container during and subsequent to exposure to said microwave energy sufficient to prevent said expandable pouch from shifting during said exposure and thereafter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said coating is a polyethylene or parafin based coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The package of claim 1 wherein one of said sidewalls includes a flap portion adapted for securement to an opposite sidewall for maintaining said package in a closed position, said flap being provided with a heat sensitive adhesive which is released when exposed to microwave energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said coating is applied only to said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said coating is applied only to said base and a lower edge portion of said sidewalls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said expandable food pouch is constructed of a polyester film material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The package of claim 1 wherein each of said sidewalls is generally trapezoidally shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The package of claim 1 wherein the area of said base is between one-third and two-thirds the area of the top of said container in its open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The package of claim 8 wherein the area of said base is about one-half the area of the top of said container in its open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said food pouch is generally circular in its flattened position and whereas the height of said sidewalls is between one-fourth and one-half the diameter of said food pouch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The package of claim 10 wherein the height of said sidewalls is about one-half the diameter of said food pouch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said food pouch is generally circular and the diameter of said food pouch is between one-fourth and one-half the area of the top of said container in its open position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The package of claim 12 wherein the diameter of said food pouch is about one-third the area of the top of said container in its open position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said base is generally rectangular and wherein each of a pair of opposing sidewalls is comprised of three triangular sections, one of said triangular sections having a side defining the lower edge of said sidewall and an apex at the top edge of said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said base is generally rectangular and each of an opposing edge of said base is provided with an upwardly extending tab section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said container is expandable and in its unexpanded position has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The microwave popcorn package of claim 1 wherein said coating comprises a material which becomes tacky when said container with said coating thereon and said expandable food pouch with popcorn therein is exposed to microwave energy at a level sufficient to pop said popcorn, said level comprising a temperature of approximately 300° F. to 325° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1299503A
Cited
US1385831A
Cited
US2159835A
Cited
GB504311A
Cited
US2369765A
Cited
US2633284A
Cited
US2858970A
Cited
US2865768A
Cited
US3052554A
Cited
US3314210A
Cited
US3198420A
Cited
US3443971A
Cited
US3502488A
Cited
US3539360A
Cited
US3716180A
Cited
US3806618A
Cited
US3997677A
Cited
US3851574A
Cited
US4013798A
Cited
US3955749A
Cited
US4390554A
Cited
US4292332A
Cited
US4141487A
Cited
US4260101A
Cited
US4525367A
Cited
US4261504A
Cited
US4404241A
Cited
US4277506A
Cited
US4248901A
Cited
US4279933A
Cited
US4344537A
Cited
US4358466A
Cited
US4448309A
Cited
US4453665A
Cited
US4586649A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |