US6150646A — Microwavable container having active microwave en…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

A microwavable container comprising: an outer sleeve; an inner tray within said sleeve, said inner tray having a bottom wall and at least one upstanding side wall about the periphery of said bottom wall; a first active microwave energy heating element within said sleeve, said first active microwave energy beating element disposed opposite a food product carried by said tray; and a second active microwave energy heating element on said tray, said second active microwave energy heating element having patterns of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom and side walls, wherein said first and second active microwave energy heating elements cooperatively control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of said food product, while promoting browning of an outer surface of said food product.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

A microwavable container comprising: an outer sleeve; an inner tray within said sleeve, said inner tray having a bottom wall and at least one upstanding side wall about the periphery of said bottom wall; a first active microwave energy heating element within said sleeve, said first active microwave energy beating element disposed opposite a food product carried by said tray; and a second active microwave energy heating element on said tray, said second active microwave energy heating element having patterns of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom and side walls, wherein said first and second active microwave energy heating elements cooperatively control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of said food product, while promoting browning of an outer surface of said food product.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 1 wherein the microwave energy interactive material on said side walls has a plurality of slots formed therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 2 wherein the slots adjacent the corners of said tray are curved to enhance browning of the food product in the corner regions of said tray.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 3 wherein opposed ends of at least some of said slots are bulbous.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 4 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said at least one upstanding side wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 5 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said bottom wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 2 wherein said elongate slots are arranged in rows.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 7 wherein said rows of slots are staggered.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 8 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said at least one upstanding side wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 9 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said bottom wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 1 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall includes at least one meandering loop.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 11 wherein the length of said at least one meandering loop is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the effective wavelength of the incident microwave energy.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 12 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall further includes a ring about the peripheral edge of said bottom wall and wherein said at least one meandering loop is open, said loop being coupled to said ring by bridges.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 13 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall further includes a plurality of spaced loops and islands.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 44 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 1 wherein said first active microwave energy heating element includes a pattern of microwave energy interactive material, said pattern including a ring about the periphery of said microwave energy heating element and defining a centrally located aperture.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 15 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material further includes an array of microwave energy interactive elements within said aperture.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 16 wherein said microwave energy interactive elements are in the form of circular or hexagonal islands.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 16 wherein said microwave energy interactive elements are in the form of loops, each of said loops surrounding an island.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 1 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall includes a peripheral ring and centrally positioned, concentric octagonal rings coupled to said peripheral ring by bridges.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 19 wherein said concentric octagonal rings are coupled by pairs of diverging bridges.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 133 words

A tray for a microwavable container comprising: a bottom wall; at least one upstanding side wall about a periphery of said bottom wall; and an active microwave energy heating element within said tray, said active microwave energy heating element having patterns of microwave energy interactive material on the bottom wall and the at least one upstanding side wall of said tray, said patterns configured to control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of a food product carried by said tray, and further configured to brown an outer surface of said food product, wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall includes at least one meandering loop, the length of which is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the effective wavelength of the incident microwave energy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 133 words

A tray for a microwavable container comprising: a bottom wall; at least one upstanding side wall about a periphery of said bottom wall; and an active microwave energy heating element within said tray, said active microwave energy heating element having patterns of microwave energy interactive material on the bottom wall and the at least one upstanding side wall of said tray, said patterns configured to control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of a food product carried by said tray, and further configured to brown an outer surface of said food product, wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall includes at least one meandering loop, the length of which is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the effective wavelength of the incident microwave energy.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 21 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall further includes a ring about the peripheral edge of said bottom wall and wherein said at least one meandering loop is open, said loop being coupled to said ring by bridges.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 21 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material on said bottom wall further includes a plurality of spaced loops and islands.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 21 wherein the microwave energy interactive material on said side walls has a plurality of slots formed therein.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 24 wherein the slots adjacent the corners of said tray are curved to enhance browning of said food product in the corner regions of said tray.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 25 wherein opposed ends of at least some of said slots are bulbous.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 26 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said at least one upstanding side wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

A microwavable container as defined in claim 27 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said bottom wall and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 100 words

An active microwave energy heating insert to be placed under a microwavable container comprising: a substrate; and an active microwave energy heating element on an upper surface of said substrate, said active microwave energy heating element including a pattern of microwave energy interactive material, said pattern configured to control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of a microwavable container supported on said insert, wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material includes at least one meandering loop, the length of which is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the effective wavelength of the incident microwave energy.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 100 words

An active microwave energy heating insert to be placed under a microwavable container comprising: a substrate; and an active microwave energy heating element on an upper surface of said substrate, said active microwave energy heating element including a pattern of microwave energy interactive material, said pattern configured to control transmission of incident microwave energy towards a central region of a microwavable container supported on said insert, wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material includes at least one meandering loop, the length of which is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the effective wavelength of the incident microwave energy.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 49 words

An active microwave energy heating insert as defined in claim 29 wherein said pattern of microwave energy interactive material further includes a ring about the peripheral edge of said substrate and wherein said at least one meandering loop is open, said loop being coupled to said ring by bridges.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

An active microwave energy heating insert as defined in claim 29 further comprising at least one layer of suscepting material on said substrate and overlying said microwave energy interactive material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-11-21	2004-05-22	2004-11-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-11-21	2008-05-22	2008-11-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-11-21	2012-05-22	2012-11-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Microwavable container having active microwave energy heating elements for combined bulk and surface heating

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