Center-supported microwave tray

Claim 1

A disposable, one-piece, self-supported tray for holding food in a microwave oven, said tray being formed from a unitary blank of dielectric, foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, and comprising: (a) a center panel having a periphery, a center portion, a plurality of side edges, at least one surface, and a relatively thin layer of conductive material on said one surface; (b) a plurality of side panels foldably joined to each other and to said side edges and extending downwardly therefrom for supporting said center panel at said periphery; (c) an integral supporting structure, for supporting said center panel center portion, including: (i) first and second support panels formed soley from material cut from said center panel and foldably joined thereto along intersecting fold lines extending normal to each other; (ii) said support panels being disposed to extend downwardly from and normal to said center panel; (iii) said first support panel having an opening therein and an abutment projecting into said opening; (iv) said second support panel including a pair of co-planer sections separated by a relatively narrow opening for receiving and engaging the abutment of said first support panel, when one of said second support panel sections is received within said first support panel opening, to maintain said support members in interlocking relationship.