Sleeve for crisping and browning of foods in a microwave oven and package and method utilizing same

Claim 1

A microwave browning and crisping sleeve comprising a paperboard strip and a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of said paperboard strip, said microwave interactive layer, when subjected to microwave energy, operating as a means for converting microwave energy to heat in an amount sufficient to brown or crisp food in heat transfer relationship therewith; wherein said paperboard strip is subdivided end-to-end by fold lines running side-to-side, into at least five panel portions extending across the width of the strip between opposite side edges thereof; wherein opposite ends of said paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperboard sleeve having the surface to which said interactive layer is affixed as an inner peripheral surface; and wherein said fold lines are disposed at positions enabling said sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration in which said sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage and a second configuration in which the inner peripheral surface defines an open-ended space for receiving a food product for heating in a microwave oven.

Claim 22

A method of microwave heating packaged food comprising the steps of: (A) providing a package assembly comprising: (1) an outer package body defining an inner receiving space; (2) at least one item of food; and (3) at least one microwave browning and crisping sleeve, said sleeve comprising a paperboard strip and a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of said paperboard strip, said microwave interactive layer, when subjected to microwave energy, operating as a means for converting microwave energy to heat in an amount sufficient to brown or crisp food in heat transfer relationship therewith; wherein said paperboard strip is subdivided end-to-end by fold lines running side-by-side, into at least five panel portions extending across the width of the strip between opposite side edges thereof; wherein opposite ends of said paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperboard sleeve having the surface to which said interactive layer is affixed as an inner peripheral surface; wherein said fold lines are disposed at positions enabling said sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration in which said sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage and a second configuration in which the inner peripheral surface defines an open-ended space for receiving a said food item with said inner peripheral surface being in heat transfer relationship to top, bottom and side surfaces thereof; and wherein said food item and sleeve are disposed within said receiving space with the sleeve being in said flattened first configuration; (B) opening the outer package body; (C) removing a food item and a sleeve from the outer package body; (D) erecting said sleeve into a said second configuration conforming generally to a peripheral profile of the removed food item; (E) arranging said removed food item within said open-ended space with top, bottom and side surfaces of the food item in heat transfer relationship with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve; (F) supporting the food item arranged within the sleeve in a microwave oven; and (G) heating the food within the sleeve in the microwave oven.

Claim 23

A method of microwave heating packaged food comprising the steps of: (A) providing a package assembly comprising: (1) an outer package body defining an inner receiving space; (2) at least one item of food; and (3) at least one microwave browning and crisping sleeve, said sleeve comprising a paperboard strip and a microwave interactive layer affixed over one surface of said paperboard strip, said microwave interactive layer, when subjected to microwave energy, operating as a means for converting microwave energy to heat in an amount sufficient to brown or crisp food in heat transfer relationship therewith; wherein said paperboard strip is subdivided end-to-end by fold lines running side-by-side, into at least five panel portions extending across the width of the strip between opposite side edges thereof; wherein opposite ends of said paperboard strip are connected end-to-end in a manner creating a paperboard sleeve having the surface to which said interactive layer is affixed as an inner peripheral surface; wherein said fold lines are disposed at positions enabling said sleeve to be erected and collapsed between a first configuration in which said sleeve is flattened for shipping and storage and a second configuration in which the inner peripheral surface defines an open-ended space for receiving a said food item with said inner peripheral surface being in heat transfer relationship to top, bottom and side surfaces thereof; and wherein said food item and sleeve are disposed within said receiving space with the sleeve being in said flattened first configuration; (B) opening the outer package body; (C) removing a food item and a sleeve from the outer package body; (D) erecting said sleeve into a said second configuration conforming generally to a peripheral profile of the removed food item; (E) arranging said removed food item within said open-ended space with top, bottom and side surfaces of the food item in heat transfer relationship with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve; (F) supporting the food item arranged within the sleeve in a microwave oven; and (G) heating the food within the sleeve in the microwave oven.