Multi-compartment microwave heating package
View Patent ↗A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven includes a plurality of compartments, at least one of which is defined at least partially by a microwave energy interactive insulating material that includes a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a polymer film, and a second polymer film layer that at least partially defines a plurality of expandable insulating cells that inflate upon exposure to microwave energy.
1. A microwave heating construct, comprising:
a plurality of compartments defined by a single sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material, the microwave energy interactive insulating material including
a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film layer, and
a second polymer film layer that at least partially defines a plurality of expandable insulating cells that inflate upon exposure to microwave energy,
wherein
the single sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, each having substantially equal dimensions, the second section being disposed between the first section and the third section,
the first section and the second section at least partially define a first compartment of the plurality of compartments,
the first section and the third section at least partially define a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, and
the first section, second section, and third section are joined along at least one respective edge.
2. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive insulating material further includes a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and
the second polymer film layer is joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby defining the plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.
3. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the second polymer film layer is joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material in a predetermined pattern that defines the plurality of expandable insulating cells, and
the microwave energy interactive insulating material further includes a gas-generating reagent disposed between the layer of microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film layer.
4. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the first section, second section, and third section each include a pair of opposed end edges, and
the at least one respective edge comprises at least one respective end edge of the pair of opposed end edges.
5. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one respective edge comprises a first side edge of the first section and a second side edge of the first section, the second side edge being opposite the first side edge,
the first section is joined to the second section along the first side edge of the first section, and
the third section is joined to the first section along the second side edge of the first section.
6. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment each have an interior space, and the inflating of the expandable cells upon exposure to microwave energy urges at least a portion of the layer of microwave energy interactive material towards the interior space of the first compartment and the second compartment.
7. The construct of claim 1 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving food items, and
the first compartment and the second compartment having the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
8. The construct of claim 1 , in combination with food items, wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving the food items therein, and
the first compartment and the second compartment with the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
9. A microwave heating construct, comprising:
a plurality of compartments defined by a single sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material, the microwave energy interactive insulating material including
a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film layer, and
a second polymer film layer that at least partially defines a plurality of expandable insulating cells that inflate upon exposure to microwave energy,
wherein
the single sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, each having substantially equal dimensions, the second section being disposed between the first section and the third section,
the first section and the second section at least partially define a first compartment of the plurality of compartments, and
the first section and the third section at least partially define a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, and
wherein
the sheet has a first side comprising the first polymer film layer and a second side comprising the second polymer film layer,
the first compartment has an interior surface defined substantially by the first polymer film layer, and
the second compartment has an interior surface defined partially by the first polymer film layer and partially by the second polymer film layer.
10. The construct of claim 9 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive insulating material further includes a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and
the second polymer film layer is joined to the moisture-containing layer in a predetermined pattern, thereby defining the plurality of expandable insulating cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer.
11. The construct of claim 9 , wherein
the second polymer film layer is joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material in a predetermined pattern that defines the plurality of expandable insulating cells, and
the microwave energy interactive insulating material further includes a gas-generating reagent disposed between the layer of microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film layer.
12. The construct of claim 9 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment each have an interior space, and
the inflating of the expandable insulating cells upon exposure to microwave energy urges at least a portion of the layer of microwave energy interactive material towards the interior space of the first compartment and the second compartment.
13. The construct of claim 9 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving food items, and
the first compartment and the second compartment having the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
14. The construct of claim 9 , in combination with food items, wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving the food items therein, and
the first compartment and the second compartment with the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
15. A microwave heating construct, comprising:
a first panel at least partially defining a first compartment;
a second panel at least partially defining a second compartment, the second compartment being connected to the first compartment; and
a third panel positioned between the first panel and the second panel, the third panel at least partially defining at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment,
wherein the first panel, second panel, and third panel are part of a single sheet of material, the first panel, second panel, and third panel each comprising microwave energy interactive material that generates heat in response to being exposed to microwave energy,
wherein
the sheet has a first side comprising a first polymer film layer and a second side comprising a second polymer film layer,
the first compartment has an interior surface defined substantially by the first polymer film layer, and
the second compartment has an interior surface defined partially by the first polymer film layer and partially by the second polymer film layer.
16. The construct of claim 15 , wherein the first compartment is connected to the second compartment along respective side edges of the first compartment and the second compartment.
17. The construct of claim 15 , wherein the single sheet of material comprises a microwave energy interactive insulating material.
18. The construct of claim 15 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive material is supported on the first polymer film layer,
a moisture-containing layer is joined to the microwave energy interactive material, and
the second polymer film layer is joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of expandable cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film layer, the expandable cells being operative for inflating upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy.
19. The construct of claim 15 , wherein
the microwave energy interactive material is supported on the first polymer film,
the second polymer film layer is joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material in a predetermined pattern that defines the plurality of expandable insulating cells, and
a gas-generating reagent disposed between the layer of microwave energy interactive material and the second polymer film layer.
20. The construct of claim 15 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving food items, and
the first compartment and the second compartment having the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
21. The construct of claim 15 , in combination with food items, wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving the food items therein, and
the first compartment and the second compartment with the food items therein are for being arranged in a superposed configuration and exposed to microwave energy.
22. A microwave heating construct, comprising:
a first panel at least partially defining a first compartment;
a second panel at least partially defining a second compartment, the second compartment being for overlying the first compartment; and
a third panel positioned between the first panel and the second panel, the third panel at least partially defining at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment,
wherein the first panel, second panel, and third panel each comprise
a layer of microwave energy interactive material supported on a first polymer film, the microwave energy interactive material being operative for generating heat in response to microwave energy,
a moisture-containing layer joined to the layer of microwave energy interactive material, and
a second polymer film joined to the moisture-containing layer in a patterned configuration that defines a plurality of expandable cells between the moisture-containing layer and the second polymer film, the expandable cells being operative for inflating upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy.
23. The construct of claim 22 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined by a single sheet of microwave energy interactive insulating material.
24. The construct of claim 22 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined by at least two sheets of microwave energy interactive insulating material.
25. The construct of claim 22 , wherein
the first compartment has an interior surface defined substantially by the first polymer film, and
the second compartment has an interior surface defined partially by the first polymer film and partially by the second polymer film.
26. The construct of claim 22 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment each have an interior space, and
the inflating of the expandable cells upon sufficient exposure to microwave energy urges at least a portion of the layer of microwave energy interactive material towards the interior space of the first compartment and the second compartment.
27. The construct of claim 22 , wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving food items, and
the first compartment and the second compartment with the food items therein are for being arranged with the second compartment overlying the first compartment and exposed to microwave energy.
28. The construct of claim 22 , in combination with food items, wherein
the first compartment and the second compartment are for receiving the food items therein, and
the first compartment and the second compartment with the food items therein are for being arranged with the second compartment overlying the first compartment and exposed to microwave energy.