Bemis Company, Inc.

Keith A Klipstine

Brian K Murdick

Tara Kay Cruz

Blake A Bougie

The present invention relates to improved manually openable self-venting ovenable packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray. The packages of the present invention are self-venting whereby a venting region comprising a release coating applied between the inner surface of the front panel and the inner surface of the back panel permits the overwrap to rupture and release steam in response to heat and/or overpressure generated during heating of a food item in a microwave oven. The inventive packages also includes a manual tear opening feature provided by at least one line of weakness in the front panel positioned between the peelable seal and the first side edge of the front panel. The tear opening feature is configured to permit partial or complete removal of the overwrap from the tray.

Easy-open self-venting microwavable tray and overwrap

The present invention relates to improved manually openable packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray.

Manually openable sealed overwrap and tray

The present invention relates to improved packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray. Advantageously, when the tray is removed from the overwrap, a portion of the first film separates from the laminate and remains peelably sealed to the flange of the tray and thus, may serve as a lidding film for the container. Since the recessed cavity is still covered, the container may then be placed directly in a microwave or conventional oven to thaw and/or cook the food container within the package without first removing the lidding film.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Keith A Klipstine