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US5041325A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Microwave food package and grease absorbent pad therefor

Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1989-06-12
•
Granted: 1991-08-20
•
Expires: 2009-06-12
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Abstract

Abstract A package of food containing a substantial amount of water and solidified grease that can be cooked within the package in a microwave oven. A pad adjacent the food comprises microwave radiation transparent generally hydrophobic liquid grease absorbing materials that are capable of holding the amount of grease in the food when it is melted; and a vapor tight microwave radiation transparent enclosure surrounding the pad and food includes means for venting steam from the enclosure as the food is cooked. Preferably, the pad is produced from microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of propylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.

Inventors

  • 👤 Curtis L. Larson
  • 👤 Pierre H. LePere

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 03:49
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/05; A23B2/08; A23B2/30; A23B2/33; B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/22; B65D77/225; B65D81/00; B65D81/24; B65D81/26; B65D81/264; B65D81/34; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3461; B65D2205/00; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3416; B65D2581/3417; B65D75/00; B65D75/52; B65D75/58; B65D75/5855; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24322; Y10T428/24331; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24595; Y10T428/24603

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
A pad for use with a food containing a substantial amount of water and solidified grease for cooking of the food in a microwave oven with the pad adapted to be placed adjacent the food to be cooked, the pad comprising: a plurality of generally microwave radiation transparent and generally hydrophobic grease absorbing microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of polypropylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 72 words
A pad for use with a food containing a substantial amount of water and solidified grease for cooking of the food in a microwave oven with the pad adapted to be placed adjacent the food to be cooked, the pad comprising: a plurality of generally microwave radiation transparent and generally hydrophobic grease absorbing microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of polypropylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The pad of claim 1, wherein said microfibers are less than 30 microns in diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The pad of claim 1, wherein said microfibers are less than 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 78 words
The pad of claim 1, wherein said pad includes first and second major opposing surfaces with said first major surface for placement adjacent the food and further including a second pad comprising generally microwave radiation transparent and generally hydrophobic grease absorbing material, with a major surface of said second pad bonded to said first pad opposite the food, said first and second pads together being capable of absorbing all of the grease exuded by the food during cooking.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The pad of claim 4, wherein said second pad is produced from microfibers constructed of a composition comprising a blend containing substantially equal parts by weight of polypropylene and poly 4-methylpentene-1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein portions of said pad adjacent the food are thermally embossed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The pad of claim 1, wherein the pad is produced from melt blown microfibers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4042740A Cited
US4103058A Cited
US4551377A Cited
US4463121A Cited
US4572852A Cited
US4740377A Cited
US4748069A Cited
US4681801A Cited
US4737394A Cited
US4851273A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-19 1995-02-18 1995-08-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-19 1999-02-18 1999-08-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-19 2003-02-18 2003-08-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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