James River-norwalk, Inc.

James River Corporation

James River Paper Company, Inc.

James River-dixie/northern, Inc.

Richard K Brown

Thomas D Pawlowski

Oscar E Seiferth

Timothy H Bohrer

Raymond V Maroszek

A packaged arrangement (1) contains a tray (4) which is convertible into a heating stand by inversion thereof. The walls of the tray are of a material that is transparent to microwave energy, but a support wall (10) which forms a bottom of the tray and top of the stand is provided with a liner of a microwave interactive layer that is formed of a material capable of converting microwave energy into heat. The tray (4) is configured so as to define a storage space for a predetermined quantity of food and to possess sufficient strength as to be able to support the predetermined quantity of food upon the support wall (10) in the inverted, heating stand condition thereof. A second packaged arrangement (1') comprises a recloseable package body (2') that may be used, at least in part, to form the enclosed air space and stand. In accordance with methods of use, food is removed from the package, at least one of the components of the packaged arrangement is formed into an air space enclosing heating stand, upon the floor of a microwave oven, and the food is placed upon this stand during microwave heating thereof.

Package assembly and method for storing and microwave heating of food

An apparatus for surface heating of an object, such as a food object, in an oven by microwave energy which requires only a microwave interactive heater material and a support for it that is designed to obtain higher temperatures via a contact wall formed of stacked layers. In particular, in accordance with various embodiments, a primary panel defines a contact surface against which an object is disposed, and a secondary panel which is coextensive in area with at least an object heating portion of the primary panel is disposed adjacent to the primary panel at an opposite side thereof from the contact surface. Each of the primary panel and secondary panel is formed of a layer of microwave interactive heater material that is applied to a microwave transparent support material, such as paperboard. The layer of heater material applied to the primary panel covers at least the object heating portion thereof, and the layer of microwave interactive heater material applied to the secondary panel covers at least a part of a surface which faces toward the primary panel to an extent that is substantially coextensive with at least the object heating portion of the primary panel.

Apparatus for surface heating an object by microwave energy

A container (2) for heating popcorn or other types of particulate food items in a microwave oven formed from a single blank having a bottom panel (4) coated with a microwave interactive material (26) adding heat to particulate food items such as popcorn kernels and configured so that each particulate food item placed into the container (2) for heating is spaced, on average, no more than the average diameter of one such food item away from the microwave interactive layer. The container is formed for shipping in a triangular wedge shape and for expansion to a trapezoidal box shape for use within a microwave oven for heating of the particulate food items.

Packaging container for microwave popcorn popping

A microwave insert for use in an outer microwave transparent carton for surface heating an object, such as a food product, in a microwave oven. The insert includes a flexible layer of interactive material for converting microwave energy into heat, and a support material, preferably a semi-rigid microwave transparent material such as paperboard, for supporting the interactive material in a position adjacent one portion of the surface of the object in a configuration to minimize the amount of overlaps of interactive material. The overlap is provided along a base panel spaced from the folds which define the base panel and is restricted to a zone wherein the overlap zone is positioned to utilize the maximum possible amount of microwave shielding by the object when the object and the insert are located in operative position within a microwave oven.

Overlap seam for microwave interactive package insert

A microwave browning and crisping sleeve as well as a package assembly and method of microwave heating of food using the sleeve, wherein a paperboard strip has a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of the paperoard strip, the paperboard strip being subdivided by fold lines into at least five panel portions, wherein opposite ends of the paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperborad sleeve having the surface to which the interactive layer is fixed as its inner peripheral surface, and wherein the fold lines are disposed at positions which enable the sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration wherein the sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage, and a second configuration wherein the inner peripheral surface defines an open ended space for receiving a food product with top, bottom and side surfaces of the food product being in heat transfer relationship with respect to the microwave interactive layer. The package assembly comprises an outer package body defining an inner receiving space within which at least one sleeve and food item are disposed. In use, a food item and sleeve are removed from the package body, the sleeve erected and the food item inserted therein, after which the food in the sleeve is placed in a microwave oven and heated.

Sleeve for crisping and browning of foods in a microwave oven and

A container (2) including a paperboard carton (4) for uniformly heating and crisping the top crust of a large food product such as a pot pie having no side and bottom crusts in a microwave oven including a top panel (9) having crisping means (10) separated by a vertical distance of less than 2.7 centimeters from the top surface of the food product. The crisping means (10) consists of a microwave interactive layer for converting microwave energy received on the inner and outer surfaces of the layer into radiant heat for browning and crisping the top surface of the food product. Crisping means (10) also reflects heat radiated by the top surface of the food product back onto that surface for additional browning and crisping. Uniformity of heating is provided by partially shielding the food product during its exposure to microwave energy, thereby also preventing overheating, loss of mass and changes in texture.

Fruit and meat pie microwave container and method

A container including a paperboard carton (4) for heating and crisping two sides of food pieces having non-uniform dimensions in a microwave oven including initial and final vertically spaced food supporting panels (14,30) separated by a vertical distance exceeding the average vertical height of the food pieces. A pair of microwave interactive layers (16,102) are associated with corresponding food supporting panels (14,30) for converting microwave energy into conductive heat for browning and crisping the food pieces. Handles (8) formed in the paperboard container are provided for allowing manual inversion of the container during the crisping and cooking process to cause food pieces initially supported by the initial food supporting panel to move under the force of gravity into supporting relationship with the final food supporting panel.

Microwave cooking carton for browning and crisping food on two sides

A microwave carton (2) including a bottom tray-shaped portion (4) having upstanding inner side wall panels (10,12,14,16) and a telescoping top portion (6) having downwardly extending side wall panels (30,32,34,36) wherein a layer (28) of microwave reflective material covers the entire interior surface of the top portion (6) and a vapor escape means (24) is provided for allowing vapor generated within the carton (2) to be vented to the exterior of the carton (2) by passing through a space formed between one inner side wall (10,12,13,16) and one outer side wall (30,32,34,36). The vapor escape means (24) may be formed by removing an upper portion of one of the inner side walls (10,12,14,16). One of each pair of corresponding sidewalls may be angled to for a space therebetween through which vapor may escape.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Richard K Brown