Microwave Crisping Tray and Cover for Multi-Surface Browning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microwave cooking constructs for food items with multiple surfaces are complex and expensive, limiting their ability to brown and crisp multiple surfaces simultaneously without requiring rotation or inversion.

Innovation Solution

A cost-effective microwave heating apparatus comprising a pair of opposed heating surfaces, a tray, and a cover that are foldably joined with a locking feature, using microwave energy interactive materials to heat and crisp multiple sides of a food item simultaneously, made from disposable materials like paperboard or polymeric materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing microwave cooking constructs are used to brown and crisp multiple surfaces simultaneously, then the cooking function is achieved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to brown and crisp multiple surfaces simultaneouslyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking apparatus is divided into two separate functional components: a tray with elevated heating areas for supporting the food item, and a cover with corresponding heating areas for pressing against the food. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler in structure while collectively achieving multi-surface browning and crisping functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover is designed to nest over the tray when closed, with the locking feature integrating both components into a compact unit. The hinge assembly allows the cover to pivot and lock onto the tray, creating a nested configuration that minimizes structural complexity while maintaining the dual-heating-surface functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If existing microwave cooking constructs are used to brown and crisp multiple surfaces simultaneously, then the cooking function is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to brown and crisp multiple surfaces simultaneouslyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tray and cover are designed as disposable or single-use components that can be manufactured from inexpensive materials such as paperboard, molded pulp, or thin polymeric materials. This approach significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the functionality of browning and crisping multiple surfaces simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses microwave energy interactive materials with specific dielectric properties that enable efficient energy conversion at low material costs. By optimizing the material parameters (such as susceptor composition and thickness), the apparatus achieves effective heating and browning functions using cost-effective materials rather than expensive metals or complex structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If a disposable material is used for the apparatus, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the structural strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tray and cover are constructed from composite materials that combine disposable base materials (paperboard, molded pulp, or thin polymers) with microwave energy interactive materials (such as metallic susceptor layers or conductive coatings). This composite structure maintains structural strength sufficient for holding and pressing food items while keeping manufacturing costs low and enabling disposable use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient browning and crisping of multiple food item surfaces in a microwave oven without the need for rotation or inversion, while being cost-effective and minimizing structural deformation during heating.

Implementation Method 1

The heating areas include a microwave energy interactive material, for example, a microwave energy interactive material operative for converting at least a portion of impinging microwave energy into thermal energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2245376B1Apparatus for preparing a food item in a micowave oven

Publication Date: 2014.10.15 GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL LLC

Figure 1A~1D
Figure 1E~1F

AI summary

An apparatus for preparing a food item in a microwave oven comprises a tray including a plurality of elevated heating areas and a plurality of channels disposed between the elevated heating areas, the elevated heating areas each including a microwave energy interactive material, a cover pivotably connected to the tray for pivoting the cover relative to the tray between an open position and a closed position, and a locking feature operative for releasably maintaining the cover in the closed position.