US6114679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave oven heating element having broken loops
Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC
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Filing: 1998-01-29
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Granted: 2000-09-05
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Expires: 2018-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A microwave energy heating element has a plurality of spaced microwave components generally arranged in a closed loop pattern. Each of the microwave components (42, 44) has a non-resonant length. When the heating element is in a loaded condition with a load juxtaposed thereto for capacitively coupling the microwave components together, the microwave components cooperatively redistribute impinging microwave energy. When the heating element is in an unloaded condition, the microwave components act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence Lai
- 👤 Neilson Zeng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3437; B65D2581/3439; B65D2581/344; B65D2581/3441; B65D2581/3463; B65D2581/3468; B65D2581/3486; B65D2581/3489; B65D2581/3494; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A microwave energy heating element comprising a plurality of spaced microwave components generally arranged in a closed loop pattern, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, and when in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said microwave components together, said microwave components cooperatively redistribute impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said microwave components act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A microwave energy heating element comprising a plurality of spaced microwave components generally arranged in a closed loop pattern, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, and when in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said microwave components together, said microwave components cooperatively redistribute impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said microwave components act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said microwave components are arranged in an end to end relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 2 wherein said microwave components are identical to each other and are regularly spaced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 3 wherein said microwave components each has a tab at one end and a slot at an opposite end, said tab sized to fit within a slot of an adjacent microwave component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 3 wherein said microwave components are arranged in an inner loop pattern and an outer loop pattern concentric with said inner loop pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 5 wherein said microwave components of said inner loop pattern are staggered relative to said microwave elements of said outer loop pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closed loop pattern has a circumferential length of one wavelength of said microwave energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating element is mounted on a substrate having at least one layer of susceptor material associated with one surface thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 8 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paperboard and paper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 9 wherein said microwave components are comprised of a metallic film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sandwich coupon comprising a substrate; a plurality of spaced microwave components generally arranged in a closed loop pattern on said substrate, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, and when in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said microwave components together, said microwave components cooperatively redistribute impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said microwave components act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sandwich coupon comprising a substrate; a plurality of spaced microwave components generally arranged in a closed loop pattern on said substrate, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, and when in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said microwave components together, said microwave components cooperatively redistribute impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said microwave components act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closed loop pattern has a circumferential length of one wavelength of said microwave energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 11 wherein said substrate has at least one layer of susceptor material associated with one surface thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 13 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paperboard and paper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 14 wherein said microwave components are comprised of a metallic film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 13 wherein said substrate has a shield layer for protecting an outer edge of said load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 16 wherein said shield layer has an aperture having said plurality of spaced microwave components therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sandwich coupon as claimed in claim 17 wherein said aperture is elongated and has said plurality of spaced microwave components arranged in a plurality of closed loop patterns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
A microwave energy heating element comprising a continuous portion having a non-resonant length and a discontinuous portion comprising a plurality of spaced microwave components, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, when said heating element is in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said continuous portion and said discontinuous portion together, said heating element cooperatively redistributes impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said continuous and discontinuous portions act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
A microwave energy heating element comprising a continuous portion having a non-resonant length and a discontinuous portion comprising a plurality of spaced microwave components, each of said microwave components having a non-resonant length, when said heating element is in a loaded condition with a load for capacitively coupling said continuous portion and said discontinuous portion together, said heating element cooperatively redistributes impinging microwave energy, and when in an unloaded condition, said continuous and discontinuous portions act independently remaining inert to impinging microwave energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 19 wherein said continuous portion includes a resonant loop section and transmission lines extending therefrom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 20 wherein said discontinuous portion couples said transmission lines together to present a closed loop pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 21 wherein said heating element is mounted on a substrate having at least one layer of susceptor material associated with one surface thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 22 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, paperboard and paper.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A microwave energy heating element as claimed in claim 23 wherein said microwave components are comprised of a metallic film.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-05 | 2004-03-06 | 2004-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | 2008-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-05 | 2012-03-06 | 2012-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |