Granted Patent B2

US 7,345,262 · App. 11/268,017 · Granted Mar 18, 2008

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A package comprising a plurality of adjoined panels defining a cavity for receiving a food item, the food item including at least one surface intended to be browned and/or crisped in a microwave oven, wherein

the plurality of adjoined panels includes

a first panel including a transparent viewing window, and

a second panel opposed to the first panel,

the package includes a microwave energy interactive material overlying at least a portion of the second panel, the microwave energy interactive material being capable of converting microwave energy to thermal energy,

in a first configuration, the transparent viewing window displays at least a portion of the surface of the food item intended to be browned and/or crisped, and

in a second configuration inverted from the first configuration, the microwave energy interactive material is adjacent to at least a portion of the surface of the food item intended to be browned and/or crisped.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein the transparent viewing window comprises an aperture circumscribed by the first panel.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein a substantially transparent polymer film overlies the transparent viewing window.

4. The package of claim 1 , wherein

the transparent viewing window is a first transparent viewing window, and

the first panel includes a second transparent viewing window.

5. The package of claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of panels further includes a first side panel and a second side panel in an opposed relation,

at least a first slit extends continuously through the first panel and the first side panel, and

at least a second slit extends continuously though the first panel and the second side panel.

6. The package of claim 5 , wherein the first slit and the second slit each define a locking feature for securing a tray within the cavity.

7. The package of claim 1 , in combination with a tray dimensioned to be received within the cavity.

8. A method of using the package of claim 1 , comprising:

inserting the food item into the package such that the surface to be browned and/or crisped can be seen through the transparent viewing window;

removing the food item from the package prior to heating the food item in a microwave oven;

inverting the package;

inserting the food item into the package such that the surface to be browned and/or crisped is positioned adjacent to the microwave energy interactive material; and

exposing the food item to microwave energy m a microwave oven.

Assignments (10)