Golden Valley Microwave Foods, Inc.

Jeffrey T Watkins

Lawrence C Brandberg

Denise Ellen Hanson

Charles H Turpin

James D Watkins

Sara J Risch

A thermocompensating susceptor is described comprising a microwave transparent sheet, e.g. paper, paperboard or plastic, having a layer thereon of a dried dispersion comprising a film forming vehicle together with two kinds of dispersed particles including microwave interactive particles such as a metal, metal oxide, carbon or graphite that absorbs microwave energy to produce heat in a microwave oven and electrically nonconductive thermocompensating particles of a mineral hydrate containing bound water of crystallization and having a dissociation temperature between about 100.degree. F. and 500.degree. F., at which temperature the bound water is released therefrom to prevent overheating of the laminate.

Microwave susceptor with attenuator for heat control

The present invention provides an insulating microwave heating package with a multiplicity of latent, uninflated or potential insulation chambers capable of inflating when exposed to microwave energy. The package includes at least two superimposed inner and outer pieces of flexible sheet material bonded together at selected points, patches or along seal lines separated by unsealed areas which define side-by-side unfilled, i.e., potential, inflation chambers between the lines, patches or points. Upon exposure to microwave energy, the package and its contents become heated. As a result of this heating process, the unfilled chambers also become heated, causing them to become filled with hot expanding air or moisture vapor. These chambers serve as insulation for the package and enhance heating of the food by reducing heat loss from the package.

Package with microwave induced insulation chambers

A thermocompensated susceptor laminate is described comprising a microwave transparent sheet, e.g., paper, paperboard or plastic, having two layers thereon. One layer is a microwave interactive susceptor layer, e.g., a dried dispersion comprising a film-forming vehicle together with microwave interactive particles such as metal, metal oxide, carbon or graphite that absorbs microwave energy to produce heat in a microwave oven. The second layer is an attenuator layer which includes electrically nonconductive thermocompensating particles of a mineral. One mineral attenuator is a hydrate containing bound water and having a dissociation temperature between about 100.degree. F. and 500.degree. F., at which temperature the bound water is released therefrom to prevent overheating of the laminate.

Microwave susceptor with separate attenuator for heat control

A package is described comprising a bag with a pair of opposing face panels joined by longitudinally extending centrally projecting gussets. The bottom of the bag has a strong permanent seal containing a stiffening member or stay. The top has a rupturable seal formed from thermoplastic adhesive that allows the top to open during popping to form a vent. The bottom seal includes adhesive seals that extend diagonally from the center of the bag obliquely toward the side edges and is pinched shut to provide a temporary fin seal across the entire lower end of the bag. The temporary fin seal is folded down and bonded to an outside face of the bag to provide the stiffening stay member. During cooking, the popping of corn expands the bag and forms a bottom wall which is held quite flat by the cooperation of the bottom diagonal seals and the stiffening stay member.

Flat bottomed stand-up microwave corn popping bag

The invention provides a package for popping popcorn in a microwave oven including an open-topped wide mouth container in the form of a tub or bowl formed from self-supporting, i.e. stiff, microwave transparent sheet material such as stiff paper or paperboard with a flexible and expandable cover. A layer of microwave interactive susceptor material is distributed across the bottom wall of the tub to assist in popping the popcorn. Unpopped popcorn within the tub is packaged in a sealed inner compartment or container within the tub. During cooking, the flexible cover expands upwardly as the kernels pop so as to accommodate their expansion.

Microwave corn popping package having flexible and expandable cover

The present invention provides an insulating microwave heating package with at least one and preferably a multiplicity of latent, uninflated or potential insulation chambers capable of inflating when exposed to microwave energy. The package includes at least two sheets of material bonded together at selected points, patches or along seal lines separated by unsealed areas which define unfilled inflation chambers between the lines, patches or points. Upon exposure to microwave energy, the package and its contents become heated. As a result of this heating process, the unfilled chambers also become heated, causing them to become filled with hot expanding air or moisture vapor. These chambers serve as insulation for the package and enhance heating of the food by reducing heat loss from the package.

A package is described comprising a bag with a pair of face D joined by longitudinally extending centrally projecting gussets. The bottom of the bag has a strong permanent seal and the top has a rupturable seal formed from thermoplastic adhesive that allows the top to open during popping to form a vent. The bottom seal includes adhesive seals that extend diagonally from the center of the bag obliquely toward the side edges and is pinched shut to provide a fin seal across the entire lower end of the bag. The top seal has diagonal adhesive seals on each side which are constructed and arranged to provide free-standing, outwardly projecting triangular corner flaps with sealed edges on each side. Their diagonal edges intersect at two spaced apart points near the center of the bag. The points at the intersecting ends of the four flaps define the steam vent area for the bag. The diagonal seals at the top and bottom ends intersect the bag face containing the susceptor at four points A-D to define a rectangular area that remains relatively flat while the corn is popped in the microwave oven. When the bag is in a flat condition, the gussets extend toward one another, almost to the center of the bag. The centermost folds of the gussets are therefore close enough together to the divide the bag into two parallel chambers: a lower chamber between the lower panel of the bag and the gussets, and an upper chamber between the gussets and the upper panel of the bag. The upper chamber is held shut with tack seals while the lower chamber is opened to receive the popcorn and shortening when the package is filled.

Flat-faced package for improving the microwave popping of corn

A thermocompensating susceptor is described comprising a microwave transparent sheet, e.g. paper, paperboard or plastic, having a layer thereon of a dried dispersion comprising a film forming vehicle together with two kinds of dispersed particles including microwave intractive particles such as a metal, metal oxide, carbon or graphite that absorbs microwave energy to produce heat in a microwave oven and electrically nonconductive thermocompensating particles of a mineral hydrate containing bound water of crystallization and having a dissociation temperature between about 100.degree. F. and 500.degree. F., at which temperature the bound water is released therefrom to prevent overheating of the laminate.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Jeffrey T Watkins