FR2624105A1 - IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CONTAINERS USED IN PARTICULAR IN MICROWAVE OVENS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements relating to containers which can be used in particular in microwave ovens. In this container comprising a dish 2 and a cover 1 suitable for being placed on the dish and comprising ventilation means allowing the steam to escape from the covered dish, the ventilation means comprise a multiplicity of holes having a diameter up to approximately 1 mm, formed in said cover 1 and arranged in a configuration representing words or drawings 4. Application in particular to microwave-resistant containers which can be used for reheating ready-prepared meals.

Description

The present invention relates to containers, which contain meals

  or prepared ready meals, and in particular containers for already prepared meals,

  which are intended to be heated in a microwave oven.

  or meals that must be cooked in a microwave oven.

  The use of meals or ready meals

  trimmed is becoming increasingly popular. The food is cooked initially in the dish, in which it must be sold, or is placed in this dish after having been cooked

  initial. Then the dish is packed appropriately with

  that it can be handled for distribution to and from the store, or may be sent

  to companies in the field of catering. Such recom-

  not all prepared are intended to be reheated either in a conventional oven preset to a desired temperature, or

  with the use of microwave heating.

  A disadvantage associated with heating or cooking food with a microwave heating system is that the food heats up very quickly and at least a portion of the water contained in that food is quickly transformed into vapor.The formation of steam causes the appearance of projections and / or splashing

  food, which dirty the microwave oven.To avoid

  this problem, it has been proposed to use a protective element placed at the top of the dish during

  heating or cooking food using micro-

  However, although the protective element prevents

  splashing and spattering of food during heating

  the formation of a steam build-up below the protection element

  when the consumer withdraws this element of protection.

  This is why it has been proposed to develop several

  large holes of a diameter in the order of

  1 cm into the protective element to facilitate evacuation.

  steam off the covered plate. The disadvantage of this solution lies in the fact that the formation of large holes in the protection element causes manufacturing problems related to the fact that the parts of the protective element, which are Punching off, and in addition it is impossible to provide a large number of large holes in the protective element since the mechanical strength of the latter would be affected. Localized accumulation

  may occur in the case where the air holes

  are not uniformly distributed in the element

protection.

  Another solution to this problem is

  was to provide several contoured cuts in the protection element. Although this solution eliminates the manufacturing problems mentioned above, there are associated

  not only the other disadvantages indicated in a de-

  cut, but also the disadvantages

  both in that, during heating, the profiled cut-outs

tooth to close.

  This is why we have developed a microwave container.

  wave, which includes a protective element or a cover

  allowing the steam to escape from the food

  naked in the container during cooking or reheating,

  but does not have the drawbacks indicated above.

  The problem is solved according to the present invention using a microwave container, comprising

  a dish and a lid suitable for being placed on the dish and

  carrying means for aeration allowing the vapor to escape from the covered plate, characterized in that the

  aeration means comprise a plurality of holes

  diameter up to about 1 mm and formed

in said lid.

  A particular advantage of the container according to

  The invention lies in the fact that the holes in the lid can be distributed over a large area.

  the cover, which allows a uniform evacuation of the

  fear without the mechanical resistance of the cover

is affected.

  The lid is preferably made in one

  rigid or semi-rigid plastic, compatible with microwaves, such as polyester, polyethylene

  high density polypropylene or a material formed of

  multiple. The flat part of the container can be

  also made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic

  rigid, compatible with microwaves, which can be

  to the material of the lid or be different.

  A plurality of holes are provided in the cover

  key of the container, preferably at least between one hundred and the number. maximum of holes, which can be formed in

  the surface without affecting the structural integrity of the cover

  key. More preferably, there is formed in the cover a number between one hundred and several hundred holes. These holes have a diameter up to

  approximately 1 mm, preferably a diameter greater than 30 microns.

  It is preferable that the holes cover an over-

  total ventilation area of at least 1 square centimeter and

  preferably an area of at least five centimeters

  Res. The holes may be arranged in any desired configuration, for example in the form of words or a drawing. It is preferable that holes are distributed relatively evenly over a surface

  of the lid as this makes it easier to

  steaming during warming or cooking

  food and prevents localized accumulation of

fear.

  The holes are formed in the lid of the container.

  puncture by punching or piercing the lid. When the

  is made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic

  rigid rigidly compatible with microwaves, the holes are formed preferably by punching the plastic material and folding the latter beyond its elastic limit so that during heating, the holes do not close. During the formation of the holes, made in this way, there is no residue of cutting of the material posing

  discard issues during manufacturing.

  The lid may comprise at least a portion

  able to be seized, for example through the development of

  spaced apart, separated by a protruding part, that the

  consumer can grab with his fingers. This facilitates

  the lid of the dish once the food is

  held in the latter was warmed.

  The microwave container according to the present invention can be used either to cook a meal, it contains, or to heat a meal or cooked dish while

prepared, that it contains.

  The present invention also relates to a

  protector for a microwave container, made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, in which a plurality of holes of a diameter up to

up to about 1 mm.

  Other features and advantages of the pre-

  invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter

  reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 represents a plan view of the cover

  key of a container according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the container according to the invention, the lid is in place; and - Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the container according to the invention, placed in a package

  auxiliary for sale in a shop.

  With reference to the drawings, the lid 1 is

  molded polypropylene.It has a generally oval shape

  and is adapted to be mounted on an oval dish 2 also made of molded polypropylene and containing a meal or ready-made cooked dish. The lid has a multitude

  of holes 3, ie about 500 holes of a diameter of about

  1 mm. As shown, the holes are arranged in the form of words 4, which are easily readable. The words 4 are

  reproduced at the other end of the lid.

  Cavities 5 are formed in the lid 1 on either side of a central bar 6. The cavities 5 and the bar 6 are formed in the lid during the molding operation of the latter. To remove the lid 1 of the dish

  2, the consumer grasps both sides of bar 6 and raises

the lid.

  Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the plate 2 is located in an auxiliary package 7 serving as support

  and used to protect the dish during transport

  than at the sales outlet and during his exhibition before the sale. The auxiliary package 7 has an oval hole in

  its upper surface 8 and able to receive the dish 2. The neck

  1 on the top of the lid 2.

  under the lid 1, the contents of plate 2 can be

  sealed in a manner not shown, for example using aluminum foil or film

  of plastic material, which makes it possible to preserve the cooked dish.

  all prepared, under cool conditions for a specified time interval. Before reheating the cooked ready-made dish, remove the aluminum foil or the plastic film from the dish and replace the lid. The auxiliary package 7 has a lid 9, which can be inserted into the oval portion in recess of the lid 1. The hinge 11, which connects the lid 9 to the package 7, and the flange 12, which extends towards the low

  from the lid 9, can be inserted into the

  respective portions- in recess 13 and 14 of this cover.

  Before sale, fold the lid 9 of the packaging

  secondary layer 7 over the lid 1 of the container and

  the flange 12 is fixed to the side wall of the packaging

  by any suitable means, for example by gluing. The upper part of the cover 9 may comprise

  appropriate inscriptions describing the nature of the cooking

  all prepared and carrying the cooking instructions.

Claims (11)

  1. Microwave container, having a dish (2)   and a lid (1) adapted to be placed on the dish and comprising   both means of aeration allowing the steam to escape   per out of the covered plate, characterized in that the aeration means comprise a plurality of holes (3) having a diameter up to about 1 mm and formed in said lid (1).   Container according to claim 1, characterized   in that the lid (1) is made of a material   rigid or semi-rigid plastic, compatible with micro- waves.   Container according to one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that the plastic material is polyes-   ter, high density polyethylene, polypropylene or multi-layered material.   4. Container according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, further characterized in that the dish (2) is   made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material tible with microwaves.   Container according to any one of the   cations 1 to 4, further characterized in that the holes (3)   have a diameter greater than 30 microns.   Container according to any one of the claims   1 to 5, further characterized in that between one and more   if hundreds of holes (3) are formed in the cover (1).   Container according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, further characterized in that the holes (3)   are arranged to form words or a drawing.   8. Container according to any one of the claims   2 to 7, further characterized in that the holes (3) are formed in the lid (1) of the container by perforation of the plastic material and folding of the latter beyond of its elastic limit.   Container according to any one of the claims   1 to 8, further characterized in that the total aeration area provided by the holes (3) is at least five square centimeters. -   Container according to any of the claims   cations 1 to 9, further characterized in that the lid   (1) comprises at least one part (6) that can be grasped.   The container of any one of claims 1 to 10, further characterized in that it contains a   meal or a cooked dish all prepared.