US5306512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for enhancing microwave popping of popcorn
Assignee: Packaging Dynamics LLC
•
Filing: 1988-07-24
•
Granted: 1994-04-26
•
Expires: 2008-07-24
Abstract
Abstract In a popcorn package for microwave popping, the subsequent popping of popcorn by microwave energy is enhanced by the use of a layer of metallized ink printed on the bag of a popcorn package. The metallized ink contains powdered aluminum and is of a commercial grade but diluted to provide an opacity level of light transmission in the range of 47% to 10%, such layer lying below the charge of popcorn and shortening during popping. The material of the bag comprises a pair of plies with the layer of metallized ink being printed to one of the plies and disposed between the plies of the bag.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H. Blamer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3461; B65D81/3469; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3421; B65D2581/3437; B65D2581/3463; B65D2581/3464; B65D2581/3471; B65D2581/3472; B65D2581/3486; B65D2581/3494; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1043; Y10T156/1049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A sealable bag for receiving a charge of popcorn and shortening for microwave popping, comprising: a two-ply bag having side gussets and one sealed end adapted to be folded along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets to define an area on which the corn and shortening is to be placed, said area being in registration with a printed layer of metallized ink on an unexposed surface of one of the plies of said bag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A sealable bag for receiving a charge of popcorn and shortening for microwave popping, comprising: a two-ply bag having side gussets and one sealed end adapted to be folded along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets to define an area on which the corn and shortening is to be placed, said area being in registration with a printed layer of metallized ink on an unexposed surface of one of the plies of said bag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A bag according to claim 1, said layer of ink extending beyond said area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A bag according to claim 1, said layer of ink extending beyond said lines and also into said gussets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A bag according to claim 1, said metallized ink being a commercial grade diluted to 75% to 85% of its original strength.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A bag according to claim 4 in which the diluent is at least 50% water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A bag according to claim 5 in which the diluent includes isopropyl alcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A bag according to claim 1, said bag originally comprising a web with longitudinal marginal portions overlapped and sealed to form a back seam, said layer of metallized ink being disposed at a side of the bag opposite to said backseam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A bag according to claim 1, said bag having an outer ply of paper and inner ply of paper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A bag according to claim 1, said bag having an outer ply of paper and an inner ply of polyester.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bag according to claim 1, said layer of ink being of such quantity as to have an opacity level of light transmission in the range of 47% to 10%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bag according to claim 1, said printed layer of ink being non-continuous and in registry with other printed indicia on the bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A popcorn package for microwave popping, comprising: (a) a two-ply bag having side gussets and sealed ends, said bag being folded along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets, and defining a central area at one side of said bag; (b) a charge of popcorn and shortening disposed in said bag on said area; and (c) a layer of printed metallized ink on one of the unexposed plies of said bag and disposed in registration with said area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A popcorn package for microwave popping, comprising: (a) a two-ply bag having side gussets and sealed ends, said bag being folded along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets, and defining a central area at one side of said bag; (b) a charge of popcorn and shortening disposed in said bag on said area; and (c) a layer of printed metallized ink on one of the unexposed plies of said bag and disposed in registration with said area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A popcorn package according to claim 12, said layer having marginal portions extending upwardly into said gussets and toward said sealed ends to define a shallow pan-like configuration responsive to microwave energy.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for making a popcorn package for microwave popping comprising the steps of: printing a layer of metallized ink on a selected region on one side of a ply adapted to be formed into a bag; combining the ply with the metallized ink printed thereon with an identical ply with the metallized ink layer facing the identical ply so as to be unexposed to the interior and to the exterior of a completed bag; forming the two plies into a two-ply bag having side gussets and sealed ends; and folding said two-ply bag along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets to define a central area at one side of said bag adapted to receive a charge of popcorn and shortening inside said bag, said central area being at least partially in registry with the unexposed layer of printed metallized ink.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for making a popcorn package for microwave popping comprising the steps of: printing a layer of metallized ink on a selected region on one side of a ply adapted to be formed into a bag; combining the ply with the metallized ink printed thereon with an identical ply with the metallized ink layer facing the identical ply so as to be unexposed to the interior and to the exterior of a completed bag; forming the two plies into a two-ply bag having side gussets and sealed ends; and folding said two-ply bag along spaced lines extending transversely to said gussets to define a central area at one side of said bag adapted to receive a charge of popcorn and shortening inside said bag, said central area being at least partially in registry with the unexposed layer of printed metallized ink.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3973045A
Cited
US3941967A
Cited
US4390554A
Cited
US3949184A
Cited
US4292332A
Cited
US4190757A
Cited
US4184061A
Cited
US4156806A
Cited
US4267420A
Cited
US4495392A
Cited
US4230924A
Cited
US4210674A
Cited
US4219573A
Cited
US4641005A
Cited
US4266108A
Cited
US4450180A
Cited
US4398077A
Cited
US4454403A
Cited
US4450334A
Cited
US4486640A
Cited
US4553010A
Cited
US4656325A
Cited
US4640838A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |