Microwavable construct with contoured heating surface
View Patent ↗A tray for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven includes a substantially planar base, a platform extending upwardly from the base, and a microwave energy interactive element overlying at least a portion of the platform.
1. A microwave heating tray, comprising:
a substantially planar base having a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge of the base is a peripheral edge of the tray, the base including a line of disruption extending substantially across a portion of the base between points that lie along the peripheral edge of the base, wherein the line of disruption defines a foldable portion of the base, wherein the foldable portion of the base is operative for being transitioned between
a first position in which the foldable portion is coplanar with the base, and
a second position in which the foldable portion extends obliquely from the base; and
a platform extending upwardly from the base, the platform comprising microwave energy interactive material, the platform including
a first portion that is elevated relative to the base, and
a second portion that extends obliquely and outwardly from the first portion downwardly towards the base.
2. The tray of claim 1 , wherein
the peripheral edge includes a curvilinear portion, and
the pair of points lies along the curvilinear portion of the peripheral edge.
3. The tray of claim 1 , wherein
the line of disruption is a first line of disruption,
the pair of points is a first pair of points, and
the base includes a second line of disruption extending substantially between a second pair of points that lie along the peripheral edge.
4. The tray of claim 3 , wherein the first line of disruption and the second line of disruption are parallel to one another.
5. The tray of claim 3 , wherein the first line of disruption and the second line of disruption at least partially define handles of the tray.
6. The tray of claim 5 , wherein the handles are for being folded upwardly towards the platform along the first line of disruption and the second line of disruption.
7. The tray of claim 5 , wherein
the tray is a first tray, and
the handles serve as a guide for positioning the tray relative to a second tray.
8. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the platform is substantially uniformly elevated relative to the base.
9. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the platform is variously elevated relative to the base.
10. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the platform has a contoured shape.
11. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the platform has a substantially domed shape.
12. The tray of claim 11 , wherein
the first portion of the platform has a height relative to the base, and
the height of the first portion of the platform decreases substantially uniformly from a center of the platform towards the base.
13. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the platform is a first platform of a pair of opposed platforms.
14. The tray of claim 13 , wherein the platforms are separated by a recess.
15. The tray of claim 14 , wherein a lowermost portion of the recess is substantially coplanar with the base.
16. The tray of claim 15 , wherein the line of disruption extending substantially between the pair of points that lie along the peripheral edge is substantially perpendicular to the recess.
17. The tray of claim 1 , further comprising a channel extending at least partially across the platform.
18. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel comprises an indentation in the platform.
19. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel is upwardly open.
20. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel includes a lowermost portion that is elevated relative to the base.
21. The tray of claim 17 , wherein
the first portion of the platform has a first height relative to the base, and
the channel includes a lowermost portion having a second height relative to the base so that the lowermost portion of the channel is positioned above the base, wherein the second height is less than the first height, so that the lowermost portion of the channel is positioned between the base and the first portion of the platform.
22. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel extends through the second portion of the platform.
23. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel extends linearly at least partially across the platform.
24. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel extends curvedly at least partially across the platform.
25. The tray of claim 17 , wherein the channel is a first channel of a plurality of channels extending at least partially across the platform.
26. The tray of claim 25 , wherein at least some channels of the plurality of channels are parallel to one another.
27. The tray of claim 25 , wherein at least some channels of the plurality of channels are perpendicular to one another.
28. The tray of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy interactive material comprises a susceptor.
29. A microwave heating tray, comprising:
a substantially planar base defining a peripheral margin of the tray, so that a peripheral edge of the base is a peripheral edge of the tray, wherein the base includes a line of disruption extending substantially across a portion of the base from a first point on the peripheral edge to a second point on the peripheral edge of the base, the line of disruption defining a handle portion of the base, wherein the handle portion of the base is operative for being moved relative to the base along the line of disruption; and
a platform extending upwardly from the base, the platform including
a heating surface that is elevated relative to the base, the heating surface including microwave energy interactive material, and
a face that extends obliquely and downwardly from the heating surface to the base.
30. The tray of claim 29 , wherein
the platform is a first heating surface of a pair of opposed platforms, and
the opposed platforms are each substantially semi-circular in shape.
31. The tray of claim 30 , wherein
the opposed platforms are separated by a recess, and
a lowermost portion of the recess comprises the base.
32. The tray of claim 31 , wherein the line of disruption extending substantially across a portion of the base extends in a direction substantially transverse to the recess.
33. The tray of claim 29 , further comprising an upwardly open channel extending at least partially across the platform, wherein the upwardly open channel includes a lowermost portion that is elevated relative to the base.
34. The tray of claim 29 , wherein the peripheral edge is substantially circular in shape, so that the handle portion includes a substantially arcuate portion the peripheral edge of the base.
35. A microwave heating tray, comprising:
a substantially planar base having a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge of the base is a peripheral edge of the tray, the base including a guide for positioning the tray relative to another tray, wherein the guide is defined by a line of disruption extending across a portion of the base, wherein the guide is operative for being folded out of the plane of the base along the line of disruption; and
a platform extending upwardly from the base, the platform including an uppermost portion that is elevated relative to the base, wherein the uppermost portion of the platform includes microwave energy interactive material.
36. The tray of claim 35 , wherein
the platform is a first heating surface of a pair of opposed platforms, and
the opposed platforms are each substantially semi-circular in shape.
37. The tray of claim 36 , wherein
the opposed platforms are separated by a recess, and
a lowermost portion of the recess comprises the base.
38. The tray of claim 37 , wherein the line of disruption extending substantially across a portion of the base extends in a direction substantially transverse to the recess.
39. The tray of claim 35 , further comprising an upwardly open channel extending at least partially across the platform, wherein the upwardly open channel includes a lowermost portion that is elevated relative to the base.
40. The tray of claim 35 , wherein the peripheral edge is substantially circular in shape, so that the guide includes a substantially arcuate portion the peripheral edge of the base.
41. A microwave heating tray, comprising:
a substantially planar base having a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge of the base is a peripheral edge of the tray, the peripheral edge of the tray being substantially circular in shape, wherein the base includes a line of disruption extending from a first point on the peripheral edge to a second point on the peripheral edge of the base, so that the line of disruption extends across a portion of the base, wherein the line of disruption defines a foldable portion of the base, wherein the foldable portion of the base includes a portion of the peripheral edge of the base, the portion of the peripheral edge being substantially arcuate in shape; and
a platform extending upwardly from the base, the platform including an uppermost portion that is elevated relative to the base, wherein the uppermost portion of the platform includes microwave energy interactive material.
42. The tray of claim 41 , wherein
the platform is a first heating surface of a pair of opposed platforms, and
the opposed platforms are each substantially semi-circular in shape.
43. The tray of claim 42 , wherein
the opposed platforms are separated by a recess, and
a lowermost portion of the recess comprises the base.
44. The tray of claim 43 , wherein the line aof disruption extending substantially across a portion of the base extends in a direction substantially transverse to the recess.
45. The tray of claim 41 , further comprising an upwardly open channel extending at least partially across the platform, wherein the upwardly open channel includes a lowermost portion that is elevated relative to the base.