Microwave heating structure comprising an array of shaped elements

Claim 1

A multiple layer article of manufacture, adapted to be formed into a packaging structure in which a foodstuff may be heated by microwave energy to a edible condition, comprising: a plurality of individual discrete shapes of flexible electroconductive material supported in an array on a substrate layer, each said individual discrete shapes of flexible electroconductive material having a thickness which is normally opaque to microwave radiation and being formed in an H- or I- outline or elongate-strip shape, said individual discrete shapes being arranged on said substrate to define a space surrounding the periphery of each individual shape with the spaces surrounding the plurality of shapes defining a continuous aperture extending throughout the array of discrete shape and effective to generate thermal energy in said continuous aperture when said article is exposed to microwave energy and the foodstuff is in contact with or proximate to the aperture, said substrate layer being formed of microwave energy transparent material and being in adhered structural relationship with said plurality of individual discrete shapes of flexible electroconductive material so that a packaging structure may be formed from said article in which said foodstuff may be positioned.