DE9005464U1 - Container for use in a microwave oven - Google Patents

Description

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Melitta-Werke Bentz & Sohn
Ringstrasse 99
Minden

Container for use in a microwave oven

The present innovation relates to an iron container according to the preamble of the first claim.

The known containers used in microwave ovens allow the food contained therein to be heated, cooked and prepared quickly, but the food also cools down again quickly after the container is removed from the oven, which can only be avoided by placing the container in an oven or baking chamber, which may be needed for the preparation of other dishes, or by keeping it warm in another way.

The aim of this innovation is to create a container that can be used in a microwave oven and that keeps the food heated or prepared in it warm for a longer period of time.

The innovative solution to this problem arises from the features of the characterising part of the main

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claim.

The advantageous division of the container components into a bowl-shaped base, a lid and the insulation material attached to their outsides makes it easy to create a largely heat-tight container suitable for use in a microwave oven and to divide the tasks of the individual components so that they can be made from the material best suited to their function, thus enabling the insulation properties to be optimized with the greatest possible microwave permeability. This increases the effect of the energy used for heating and reduces unnecessary energy consumption and vitamin loss because the food does not have to be reheated. A particularly advantageous feature of this innovation is the possibility of continuing to cook food, such as rice, outside of the microwave oven.

Further embodiments emerge from the subclaims. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the innovation, the insulation material arranged on the outside of the base and lid is additionally surrounded by a microwave-permeable casing, so that this, since it has only low strength values, is also protected against external forces and also against dirt. Furthermore, the casing is provided with a ventilation opening which is closed with a membrane permeable to water vapor, which ensures that any moisture which has penetrated between the base or lid and casing can escape to the outside in the form of water vapor during the cooking process, but that moisture cannot penetrate again, for example during the cleaning process.

An example of the innovation is described in more detail below using two drawings.

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Show it:

Fig. 1 a container for use in a microwave oven ,

Fig. 2 a container according to Figure 1 with
additional casing and ventilation opening.

Figures 1 and 2 clearly illustrate the structural design of the container in their sectional view.

A bowl-shaped base 1 and an associated lid 2 are completely surrounded on their outsides by parts made of insulating material 3, so that a largely heat-tight container is created. All materials used in the construction are microwave-permeable and

suitable for microwaves. For the base 1 and the lid 2, as well as for the insulation casing 4 shown in Figure 2, either glass, ceramic or suitable plastics such as polypropylene, polysulfone or polycarbonate can be used.

Pas insulation material consisting of plastic molded parts 3, on the other hand, consists of different types of plastics that are better suited as insulation material, such as polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam.

In the case of the design without a casing, this is connected to the cover 2 or to the lower part 1 by means of adhesive, clamp or screw connections, whereby in Figures 1 and 2 the glued versions with large

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adhesive distributed evenly over all contact surfaces. For an embodiment with sheathing 4 of the insulation material 2, the same connection form is provided for joining the sheathing 4 and the cover 2 or lower part 1.

The casing 4 of the lower part 1 has a ventilation opening 6, which is provided with a membrane 7 permeable to water vapor, which serves to allow any moisture in the insulation material 3 to escape to the outside and to seal against water penetrating from the outside, for example during the cleaning process.

Deviating from the embodiment described above, a further ventilation opening 6 can also be arranged in the cover casing 4.

The edge of the lid and the edge of the lower part 1 are shaped in such a way that the lid 7 always rests centrally on the lower part 1.

Claims (7)

Melitta - 5 - Protection claims 1. Container for use in a microwave oven, iinr^k ftalrannviii^hnQf rl &agr; A ov everything oSnom with" oinom &kgr;* %* &lgr;. ** em gunuiinuwAWMuw··! u « « u & uuh» u .^ ·■ w ··· ..···» «. -^ · . _v .·· Lid (2) and a bowl-shaped lower part (1), and both parts are surrounded on the outside by parts made of insulating material (3) and all components are made of microwave-permeable material. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulating material (3) consists of plastic molded parts, for example of polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (2) and the lower part (1) are optionally made of glass, ceramic or plastic, whereby polypropylene, polysulfone or polycarbonate is advantageously used as the plastic. 4. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (2) and the lower part (1) are equipped with a further casing (4) made of one of the aforementioned container materials, which surrounds the insulation material (3) on its outside and is also microwave-permeable. 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the casing (4) is provided with a ventilation opening (6) and a membrane (7) closing it and permeable to water vapor, which allows moisture that has penetrated between the casing (4) to escape to the outside. • · &bgr; · m ft Melitta -· 6 - 6. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulation material (3) and/or the casing (4) are connected to the lower part (1) or (2) by means of a clamping, adhesive or screw connection. 7. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims , characterized in that the lid edge and the edge of the lower part (1) are shaped in such a way that the lid (2) rests centrally on the lower part (1).