WO2019075516A1

WO2019075516A1 - Heatable food container

Info

Publication number: WO2019075516A1
Application number: PCT/AU2018/051123
Authority: WO
Inventors: David George Kilpatrick
Original assignee: Zipform Packaging Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Zipform Packaging Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-16
Filing date: 2018-10-16
Publication date: 2019-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-16
Also published as: AU2018352470A1

Abstract

A container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface is adapted to direct energy of the energy source to a particular location of the food product for heating of the food product. A heatable container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface comprises a plurality of sections adapted to be assembled together for defining the container.

Description

Heatabie Food Container TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The present invention relates to containers, in particular to food containers.

[0002] The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, in relation to containers for storing meals for reheating prior consumption.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0004] Pre-packed meals (commonly known as TV dinners) comprising frozen or chilled meals typically require heating prior consumption of the meals contained in the TV dinners.

[0005] Proper heating of the pre-packed meal is essential to ensure that the heated food product of the TV dinner is safe for consumption by the persons that will be eating the heated food product. Not properly re-heating pre-packed meals may lead to food poisoning. For the majority of the population, food poisoning leads only to unpleasant symptoms such vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps from which most of the population will recover. However, in certain group ages (children and the elderly) and in the sick, food poisoning may be life threatening or the cause of long-lasting serious health problems for this particular segment of the population.

[0008] To avoid food poisoning, while consuming pre-packed meals it is essential that heating of the pre-packed meals is done quickly and that the entire food product be heated to at least 80 °C.

[0007] The reason that heating of a food product of a TV dinner must be quick and that the temperature of the food product must be at least 60 °C prior consumption, is that bacteria contained in the food product is impeded from multiplying once the temperature of 80 °C has been reached. It is known that bacteria may multiply under temperatures below 60 °C such that their population reaches sufficient numbers to cause illnesses in the consumers of the food product or as the bacteria multiplies poisons may be produced that will iead to food poisoning if the consumers eat food products that have not been not properly heated.

[0008] As mentioned before, examples of food products that require proper heating prior consumption are TV dinners. However, properly heating TV dinners in accordance with proper food practices can be a cumbersome exercise mainly due to the multitude of steps that are required for properly heating the TV dinners.

[0009] Typically, re-heating of a TV dinner requires at least three steps to ensure that the entire food product has been properly heated to at least 60 °C and not that just an outer section of the food product - surrounding an inner core of the food product at a temperature less than 60 °C - has reached 60 °C.

[0010] A first step for heating the TV dinner is opening of the package (such as a paper board box or a paper board sleeve surrounding a plastic fray), extracting the plastic tray containing the food product, and pre-heating the food product in an oven or microwave for a specific period of time; a second step is to stir the partia!iy heated food product after the specific period of time has lapsed; and in a third step, the TV dinner is returned to the oven for further heating until the food product has completely been defrosted and the entire food product has reached a temperature of 60 °C or above.

[001 1 ] However, to comply with proper food standards, heating the pre-heated food product (after the food product has been stirred once) requires typically on multitude occasions additional stirring of the meal and returning the TV dinner to the oven for further heating. Also, on occasions, during the process of reiterativeiy stirring the food product, the food product may be tasted by the consumer to confirm whether it has reached an appropriate temperature to the consumer's satisfaction.

[0012] This process of heating the TV dinner is time consuming and cumbersome. But, most importantly this heating process may be a safety hazard for the consumer of the TV dinner due to fact that, as mentioned above, the food product may be tasted by the consumer on numerous occasions to confirm whether the food product has reached a temperature suitable to the consumers taste. The fact that the tasting of the food product may be a safety hazard is particularly true because during the tasting (in particular of food product that has not yet reached a temperature of at least 60 °C) harmful bacteria may be taken in by the consumer and thus potentially poisoning the consumer.

[0013] Furthermore, TV dinners include containers, such as food trays, for containing the food product. The trays are typically made out of microwaveabie material, usually plastics. For example, currently trays for TV dinners are made out of CPET (Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate) with lids made out of APET (Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate). However, CPET and APET have their limitations.

[0014] One of the limitations of the CPET and APET is that it is difficult to print onto these materials pictorial or written information related to the origin of the TV dinner, instructions for consuming the food product and the composition of the food product contained in the TV dinner. To overcome this particular limitation, typically, the trays containing the food product may be inserted in paper board boxes or partially surrounded with paper board sleeves having their outer surfaces printed with advertisement information as well as instructions for heating the product and the composition of the food product; however, use of the paper board boxes or sleeves increases substantially the costs.

[0015] Some attempts have been made to print on plastic material; however, the outcome of these particular printing jobs is poor and not satisfactory to the packaging and the food industry as well as to the consumers,

[0016] Furthermore, typically conventional ovenable food containers are made out of plastic materials such as PET; in particular, these food containers are manufactured out of a single sheet of material via a thermoforming process which via pressure and heat define the three-dimensional shape of the food container. One disadvantage of this process is that due to the pressure and heat applied during the thermoforming process deformation of the material occur that can result in creases and changes in the thickness of the material; this deformation can compromise the integrity of the container affecting the quality and shelf-life of the product.

[0017] However, these conventional ovenable food containers have been proven to be useful for heating pre-cooked foods; nevertheless, food containers made out of plastics such as PET cannot be efficiently printed with branding and statutory information thus the these food containers need to be provided to the consumers within boxes or sachets. Another disadvantage is that recycling of plastic materials such as PET is very difficult; thus typically, ovenable food containers (made out of plastic materials such as PET) after their use are discarded ending up in landfills or seas.

[0018] Solutions have been provided, for developing beatable food containers that allow printing of branding and statutory information as well as that they may have a higher content of recyclable materials.

[0019] One solution has been developed comprising a heatabie food container thermoformed using a sheet of material made out of a layer of ovenable paper including a layer of a plastic material such as PET to define an inner barrier within the container. However, these particular food containers have proven to be ineffective and not especially appealing to the consumers. In particular, the pressure and heat applied to the sheet of material during the thermoforming process produces a relative large quantity of creases in particular around the corners of the container thus increasing the possibility that the container may include defects that compromise the barrier that the container needs to provide between the exterior of the container and the food product located within the container 10.

[0020] Another disadvantage of these particular heatabie food containers based on layered paper/plastic material is that the food containers end up being not particularly strong making it difficult to apply a properly sealed lid after having filled the container with the food product. A solution to overcome this disadvantage is to add to this particular food container an upper rim made out of plastic material such as PET with the objective of providing a sufficiently strong rim for application of the properly sealed lid. However, one of the drawbacks of this solution is that, even though a properly sealed lid is incorporated in the food container, the container still includes the relative large quantity of creases that makes the food container unappealing to the consumers and may include defects that will compromise the qualify and shelf-life of the food product contained in the container; another drawback is the fact the container due to having an upper rim made out of plastic material such as PET makes the food container difficult to recycle ending up after use in landfills or seas.

[0021 ] It is against this background that the present invention has been developed. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0022] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface is adapted to direct energy of the energy source to a particular location of the food product for heating of the food product,

[0023] Preferably, the food product is heated to a particular temperature such as 60 °C.

[0024] Preferably, the food product is heated such that any location of the food product is heated to substantially the same temperature,

[0025] Preferably, the surface of the food container comprises at least one particular area adapted to impede the energy from the energy source to enter the inner volume of the container.

[0028] Preferably, the source of heating comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation.

[0027] Preferably, the particular area of the surface of the container comprises a material adapted to impede the electromagnetic radiation from entering the inner volume of the container through that particular area.

[0028] Preferably, the electromagnetic radiation comprises microwave radiation.

[0029] In an alternative arrangement, the electromagnetic radiation comprises thermal radiation.

[0030] Preferably, the material comprises a muiti!ayered material comprising at least one layer adapted to impede the electromagnetic radiation from traveling through the layer.

[0031 ] Preferably, the at least one layer comprises meta [0032] Preferably, the at least one metal layer comprises aluminum.

[0033] Preferably, the material comprises a multilayered material comprising the at least one layer.

[0034] Preferably, the material comprises a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, a second layer comprising the metal and a third layer comprising plastic.

[0035] Preferably, the plastic comprises CPET or PET.

[0036] Preferably, the at least one layer of paper board comprises an outer surface adapted for printing pictorial and written information thereon.

[0037] Preferably, the first to third layers are joined together via adhesive.

[0038] Preferably, the layers are flame treated (prior application of the adhesive) so as to permit the adhesive to be received by the surfaces of the layers and to join the layers together.

[0039] Preferably, the container comprises a lower end and a wall section having a lower edge surrounding the lower end defining an interior of the container having an inner volume for receiving the food product.

[0040] Preferably, the wall section comprises an upper edge defining the upper end adapted to receive a lid.

[0041 ] Preferably, the wall section is adapted to impede entry of the electromagnetic energy into the inner volume of the container through the wall section.

[0042] Preferably, the wall section comprises the multilayered material having a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, a second layer comprising the metal and a third layer comprising plastic.

[0043] Preferably, the container is configured so that the food product contained therein are heated in accordance with proper food practices by applying to the container microwave radiation having a particular energy content during a particular period of time.

[0044] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a rnuitilayered material having a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, and a second layer comprising metal attached to the at least one layer.

[0045] Preferably, the rnuitilayered materia! further comprises a third layer comprising plastic.

[0048] Preferably, the plastic comprises CPET or PET.

[0047] Preferably, the at least one layer of paper board comprises an outer surface adapted for printing pictorial and written information thereon.

[0048] Preferably, the metal comprises aluminum.

[0049] Preferably, the first to third layers are joined together via adhesive.

[0050] Preferably, the layers are flame treated (prior application of the adhesive) so as to permit the adhesive to be received by the surfaces of the layers and to join the layers together via the adhesive.

[0051 ] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for heating a food product, the method comprising the steps of including the food product in a container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and applying energy from the energy source to the container for heating of the food product contained in the container.

[0052] Preferably, the method further comprises the steps for introducing the container including the food product in a microwave oven for applying microwave radiation to the container for heating of the food product.

[0053] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a heatable container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface comprises a plurality of sections adapted to be assembled together for defining the container.

[0054] Preferably, the plurality of sections comprises one section adapted to permit electromagnetic radiation to travel through the one section, and another section adapted to impede electromagnetic radiation to travel through the another section.

[0055] Preferably, the one section and the another section are adapted to act as a barrier impeding transference of matter between the exterior of the container and the interior of the container.

[0058] Preferably, the one section comprises at least one side wall of the container.

[0057] !n an alternative arrangement, the one section comprises the lower end of the container.

[0058] Preferably, the one section comprises material made out of a plurality of layers.

[0059] Preferably, the plurality of layers comprise one or more first layers comprising paper, and one or more second layers comprising plastic material and paper.

[0060] Preferably, the paper comprises ovenable paper.

[0061 ] Preferably, the plastic material comprises CPET, PET or EVOH.

[0062] Preferably, the another section comprises a lower end of the container defining the base of the container.

[0063] Preferably, the another section comprises materia! made out of a plurality of layers.

[0064] In an alternative arrangement, the another section comprises the side walls of the container. [0085] Preferably, the plurality of layers comprising paper and material reflective of the electromagnetic radiation.

[0066] Preferably, the paper comprises ovenable paper.

[0067] Preferably, the material reflective of the electromagnetic radiation comprises metal.

[0068] Preferably, the metal comprises metal foil. [0069] Preferably the metal foil comprises aluminum. [0070] Preferably, the side wall defines a vertical wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071 ] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention, !t should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a particular arrangement of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cross-section of a section of material defining a wail section of the container shown in figure 1 in accordance with a particular arrangement of the present embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the container shown in figure 1 containing a food product during heating of the food product via microwave radiation; and

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the container shown in figure 1 containing a food product during heating of the food product via microwave radiation and; Figure 5 is a schematic top view of another particular arrangement of a container in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBOD! ENT(S)

[0072] !n accordance with the present embodiment of the invention there is provided a particular arrangement of a container 10 such as a tray for containment of a food product 32. The container 10 is configured in such a manner that it enhances heating of a food product (contained in the container 10) to ensure that any location within the food product 32 is heated to at least a particular temperature such as 60^QC. Enhancement of the heating is accomplished through controlling the particular location of the container 10 through which the microwave radiation 34 travels to enter the container 10 for heating of the food product 32 as is shown in figures 3 and 4.

[0073] In particular, the particular arrangement of a container 10 comprises a wail section 12 adapted to impede the microwave radiation 34 from travelling through the wall section 12; however the microwave radiation 34 may access the interior of the container 12 through the upper end 14 and lower end 16 of the container 10.

[0074] As shown in figure 1 , the container 10 comprises a lower end 18 (the base 16 of the container 10) and a wail section 12 having a lower edge 18 surrounding the base 8 so as to define an inner volume of the container 10.

[0075] The wail section 12 also comprises an upper edge 20 defining the upper end 14 of the container 12. The upper end 14 of the container 10 is adapted to receive a lid for closing of the container 10. In a particular arrangement, the lid may be adapted to permit microwave radiation 34 to access the interior of the container 10.

[0076] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, impeding the microwave radiation 34 of entering the interior of the container 10 through a particular region of container 12 such as for example the wall section 12 is accomplished by the type of material that makes up the wall section 12 of the container 10.

[0077] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, the wail section 12 comprises a particular arrangement of a mu!iilayered material 22 as shown in figure 2. The material 22 comprises a plurality of layers attached to each other to define a sheet of material 22.

[0078] The particular arrangement of material 22 comprises a first layer 24 defined by at least one layer of paper board, a second layer 26 defined by an aluminum foil, and a third layer 28 defined by plastic such as CPET.

[0079] As shown in figure 2, the layers 24 to 28 are attached to each other in such a manner that the aluminum layer 26 is sandwiched between the CPET layer 28 and the pair of paper board layers 24. In the particular arrangement of the container 10, the CPET layers 28 define the inner surface of the wall section 12 and the paper board layers 24 defines the outer surface of the wall section 12.

[0080] Further, in a particular arrangement, the layers 24 to 28 are joined together via adhesive. For this, the layers 24 to 28 are flame treated (prior application of the adhesive) so as to permit the adhesive to be received by the surfaces of the layers 24 to 28 and to join the layers together via the adhesive.

[0081 ] Flame treatment of materials comprises applying a gas flame to the surface(s) of the materials onto which another layer of material will be attached thereto. Flame treatment is done in order to disrupt the outer surface of the particular materials to be adhered together. The disruption of the surface permits the material (such as the paper board) to be in an open stage allowing application of the adhesive on the surfaces of the layers 24 to 28 - this is because in the open stage the flame treated surfaces receive the humidity that carries the adhesive. Also, the flame treatment permits the layers 24 to 30 once abutting each other to slide with respect to each other allowing for a particular period of time (the time that the open stage lasts) proper alignment of the layers onto each other.

[0082] Further, the flame treatment makes the layers, undergoing the flame treatment, more malleable while the surfaces are in the open stage. This facilitates conforming the layers 24 to 28 to particular shapes; this is particularly advantageous during attachment of the layers 24 and 28 onto the layer 28 (defining for example a CPET food tray) during manufacture of the container 10. [0083] The open stage of the flame treated materia! lasts only a particular period of time until the material returns to closed stage, !n the closed stage, the materia! gets stiffer and the bond between the f!ame treated layers is increased.

[0084] The use of the particular arrangement of material shown in figure 1 , is particularly advantageous because, it provides the container 10 with an outer surface (such as the outer surface of the wall section 12) that can be printed so as to allow the container 10 having a wall section depicting any information relevant to the particular food product contained in the container such as instructions for heating, origin and composition of the food product.

[0085] Further, as mentioned before, one of the layers 26 of the material 22 making up the container 10 are defined by an aluminum layer. The incorporation of the aluminum layer is particular advantageous because it impedes microwave radiation 34 from entering the interior of the container 10 through the particular sections where the aluminum layer is located. The majority of the microwave radiation 34 impacting the outer surface of the material 22 is mainly reflected from the outer surface due to the presence of the aluminum layer 26.

[0086] Referring now to figures 3 and 4.

[0087] As mentioned before, the container 10 comprises a wall section 12 adapted to impede microwave radiation 34 from traveling through the wall section 12 as is illustrated in figure 3 (this is because the wall section 12 is defined by the material 22 shown in figure 2). However, the container 10 is adapted to permit microwave radiation 34 to travel through the upper end 14 and lower end 16 of the container 10 as is illustrated in figure 4.

[0088] The heating process of the food product 32 contained in the container 10 is enhanced because the microwave radiation 34 is impeded from travelling through the side wail 12 of the container 10 but permitted to travel through the upper and lower ends 14 and 16 of the container 10 as illustrated in figure 3 and 4

[0089] This can ensure, in accordance with particular arrangements of the present embodiment of the invention, that the food product contained within the container 10 is heated to the appropriate temperature such as 60°C and that every location within the food product 32 is properly heated avoiding, for example, the formation in the food product 32 of an inner core having a temperature that is lower than the temperature of an outer circumference surrounding the inner core as typically occurs in conventional containers for TV dinners.

[0090] The reason that the heating of the food product 32 is enhanced is that the microwave radiation 34 generated within the microwave oven will mainly be directed to travel through the upper and lower ends 14 and 16 of the container 10.

[0091 ] Most of the microwave radiation 34 that enters the upper and lower end 14 and 16 of the container 10 will travel a distance equal to the thickness of the food product 32 which for the particular arrangement shown in figure 3 and 4 is a distance that is smaller than the distance between each side of the food product 32.

[0092] The microwave radiation 34 by traveling from top to bottom of the food product 32 travel a shorter distance (when compared to any microwave radiation 34 traveling from one side of the food product 32 to the other side of the food product 32) resulting in that the food product will be heated more evenly (that is any point of the food product reach a similar temperature) when compared to the alternative circumstance where the microwave radiation 34 travels from one side of the food product 32 to the other side of the food product 32.

[0093] The reason for the above is that the energy content of a particular microwave reduces (when traveling through a particular medium - e.g. the food product 32) with respect to the travel distance of the microwave radiation 34 within the medium. Thus, the energy content of the microwave radiation 34 traveling through the medium is greater at the starting point than at a later instance when the microwave radiation 34 has traveled some distance into the medium. This is the reason that in conventional TV dinners typically an inner core of the food product has not been properly heated compared to an outer circumference surrounding the inner core - the microwave radiation 34 after passing through the outer circumference of the food product 32 does not have enough energy content for heating of the inner core of the food product 32 to substantially the same temperature than the outer core.

[0094] Therefore, the heating of the food product 32 (shown in figure 3 and 4) will be not as effective when the microwave radiation 34 is permitted to also enter through the sides of the food product 32 because of the longer distance that the microwave radiation 34 travels when compared to the arrangement of the present embodiment of the invention where the microwave travels a shorter distance due to traversing the food product 32 from top to bottom and vice versa.

[0095] Thus, by directing the microwave radiation 34 to only access the upper and lower ends 14 and 16 of the container 10, the heating effect is enhanced due to the shorter distance that the microwave radiation 34 travels through the food product 32. Thus, any location within the food product 32 will be heated to substantially the same temperature when compared to the alternative circumstance where the microwave radiation 34 travels from one side of the food product 32 to the other side of the food product 32 - as mentioned before, in this alternative circumstance, a colder inner core surrounded by a hotter outer periphery is formed.

[0096] The reason for this improvement in heating of the food product is that ice is a very poor converter of microwave energy into heat whereas water in liquid form is very efficient. In conventional containers, the food product at the edges of the container defrosts first and once defrosted, this portion of the food product absorbs 90% of all available microwave energy. The part of the food product which remains frozen in the middle is only receiving 10% of the available energy and so takes a long time to defrost. Whilst this slow process of raising the temperature of food in the food container is continuing, the temperature of the portion of the food product on the outside is raised even higher, to boiling point and beyond. This typically causes a deterioration in flavour and nutrient loss. The containers in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention voids this effect because electromagnetic radiation such as microwaves are prevented from entering the food from the side. All electromagnetic radiation which enters the container 10 are "funnelled" through the top and bottom and therefor defrost the frozen food product relatively evenly over the top and bottom surfaces. The food product is raised to the required temperature more quickly and equally importantly, no part of the food product is overheated.

[0097] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, the food product 32 (and the container 10) may be configured as having particular dimensions (e.g. thickness of the food product 32) to ensure that any location of the food product 32 will be heated in accordance with proper food practice by using microwave radiation 34 having a particular energy content during a particular period of time; thus, there is no longer the need to repeatedly stir and taste the food product during heating of the TV dinner.

[0098] Further, due to the enhanced heating effect of the food product 32 produced by using the container 10 it is possible to increase the thickness of the food product 32 to be included in TV dinners, !n a particular arrangement, the height of containers for TV dinners may be increased to contain a food product 32 that is 32% greater in volume than when compared to the food products contained in the conventional TV dinners.

[0099] Furthermore, as mentioned before the material 22 used for manufacturing the container 10 includes an outer layer that permits printing of information to be conveyed to the consumer.

[00100] Moreover, in accordance with alternative arrangements of the present embodiment of the invention, the container 10 comprises a lower end 16 (the base of the container 10) that is adapted to impede microwave radiation from travelling through the lower end 18 (the base) of the container 10, and side walls 12 adapted to permit microwave radiation to traverse the side walls for heating of the food product contained in the container 10.

[00101 ] Figure 5 shows a particular arrangement of a food container 10 comprising side wails 12 and a lower end 16 (the base) wherein the side walls 12 are adapted to allow microwave radiation to travel through the side walls 12. In this particular arrangement, the lower end 16 comprises a material made out of a plurality of layers such as a layer comprising paper (such as ovenable paper) and another layer comprising a material reflective of the microwave radiation. The material reflective of the microwave radiation may comprise metal such as a metal foil; an example of the metal foil is aluminum.

[00102] Further, in the particular arrangement shown in figure 5, the side wall 12 comprises a material made out of a plurality of layers such as one or more first layers comprising paper (such as ovenable paper) defining the outer surface of the sidewall to permit printing of branding and statutory information and one or more second layers comprising CPET, PET or EVOH (Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer) and ovenable paper; and, the base (the lower end 16) comprises or more first layers comprising paper and a material reflective of microwave radiation such as a metal foil, for example, aluminum foil.

[00103] As mentioned in connection with the particular arrangement of container 10 shown in figures 1 to 4, the container 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention are assembled by surrounding the lower end 16 (the base) with the side wall 12 such that the lower edges 18 of the side wail 12 joins the periphery of the lower end 18 defining a sea! to impede food material to leak though the joint.

[00104] It is particularly advantageous that the containers 10 may be manufactured using a plurality of separate sections made out of different materials such as, for example, a first section having a particular type of material being adapted to impede microwave radiation to traverse this particular material and a second section having another type of material being adapted to permit microwave radiation to traverse this particular material; in particular, one of the advantages is that the containers 10 may be assembled without compromising the integrity of any of the materials that make up the container 10.

[00105] As mentioned before, in connection with the conventional beatable food containers, currently the conventional heatabie food containers are manufactured using thermoforming processes using a single sheet of material; the thermoforming processes can damage the material thus compromising the barrier qualities of the materials used for manufacturing the containers as well as changing the thickness of the sheet of material used for thermoforming the container 10. Assembly of the containers 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention by joining together separate sections of material ensures that the materials are not compromised such as to maintain their barrier properties.

[00106] Another advantage is that the container's may be configured as having vertical wails as depicted in figures 1 to 5 and in particular, vertical walls of relative large height defining a relative deep container 10; as mentioned before, currently for conventional heatabie food containers have a limited depth thus being inefficient in terms of space utilisation.

[00107] A further advantage of manufacturing the container 10 from a plurality of separate sections made out of different materials is that it permits defining the container 10 such that each part of the container is manufactured with a particular materia! depending on the particular location and function of that part; for example, the side wall may be manufactured with a material that is not an efficient inductor to ensure that after heating of the food product, the container 10 is at a temperature such that a person may handle the container 10 between her/his naked fingers. Also, the side wall of the container 10 may be manufactured with a material (such as comprising ovenable paper and CPET or PET) that may be printed improving the appeal of the container 10 and impeding the use of separate containers (such as boxes or sleeves) for containment of the container 10.

[00108] Moreover, a particular advantage of the present embodiment of the invention is that the containers 10 may be manufactured comprising different type of materials defining the barriers to increase the shelf-life of the food product contained in the containers 10. In fact, by assembling the container 10 using separate sheets of material it permits, for example, defining the side wail 12 with a material comprising a barrier defined by CPET, PET or EVOH and the base (the lower end 16) having as barrier the same material used for impeding the microwave radiation to traverse the base. This is particularly useful because if avoids having to manufacture the entire container 12 with a particular material that defines the barrier and, in addition, to locate at particular locations the material used for impeding traversing of the microwave radiation through these particular locations; thus, reducing the manufacturing costs of the containers 10.

[00109] It is evident that the containers 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention are particular advantageous. In fact, the containers 10 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention comprises the following advantages; a. they can be printed on all surfaces (top, bottom and sides) without distortion, thereby eliminating the need for inclusion in a box or sleeve; b. they are almost perfectly consistent and stable in terms of critical dimensions which makes them suitable for high speed automated equipment; c. they are exceptionally strong in compression which provides the option of not utilising outer packaging such as corrugated boxes; d. the use of metal layers such as aluminum foil provides a perfect barrier to impede transfer of matter (such as oxygen) between the interior and exterior of the container. Thus, the containers 10 trays are suitable for Modified Atmosphere Packing ("MAP") proteins such as beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish; e. the sides walls made out of paper (such as cardboard) provides a good insulator of heat which means the outside temperature of the pack is lower than in the case of the conventional beatable food containers. The food contained in the containers 10 is also kept hot for longer; f. the container 10 is fully recyclable in the paper stream and avoids the waste of non-renewable materials and it also avoids wasted materials in the form of secondary packaging (sleeve or printed carton plus shipper carton or case to provide necessary strength) associated with existing formats: and g. the inclusion of the material reflective to electromagnetic radiation in the side wall(s) of the container 10 and permitting the electromagnetic radiation to enter the upper end and lower end 18 of the container enhances the heating capacity of the container 10.

[001 10] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the material 22 has been described as including the layer 24 made out of plastic material; however, in accordance with an alternative arrangement of the invention, the material 22 may not include the plastic layer 28; instead, the material 22 may include the metal layer 28 and one or more papers layers 24; this particular arrangement of the invention is particularly advantageous because it allows attaching the material 22 to the outer surfaces of the wall section 12 of, for example, pre-assembled CPET containers (such as a food tray).

[001 1 1 ] Further, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments disclosed.

[001 12] In alternative embodiments of the invention, the containers 10 having other shapes may be configured in such a manner so as to locate the material 22 at specific locations of the container 10 so as to direct the microwave radiation 34 to particular locations of a particular food product 32 and not to other locations of the food product 32; this results in that heating of the particular locations of the food product 32 is enhanced. Thus, in accordance with other embodiments of the invention containers 10 may be configured by using the material 22 such that heating of particular locations of food products 32 contained in the container 10 may be conducted depending on the particular food product 32 and its dimensions.

[001 13] Furthermore, the present embodiments of the invention has been described in relation to heating of the food products in microwave oven; however, the food products inside containers 10 may also be heated in conventional ovens.

[001 14] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1 . A container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface is adapted to direct energy of the energy source to a particular location of the food product for heating of the food product.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the food product is heated to a particular temperature such as 60 °C.

3. A container according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the food product is heated such that any location of the food product is heated to substantially the same temperature.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface of the food container comprises at least one particular area adapted to impede the energy from the energy source to enter the inner volume of the container.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the source of heating comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the particular area of the surface of the container comprises a material adapted to impede the electromagnetic radiation from entering the inner volume of the container through that particular area.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises microwave radiation.

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises thermal radiation.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the material comprises a multilayered material comprising at least one layer adapted to impede the electromagnetic radiation from traveling through the layer.

10. A container according to claim 9 wherein the at least one layer comprises metal.

1 1. A container according to claim 10 wherein the at least one metal layer comprises aluminium,

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the materia! comprises a mu!ti!ayered material comprising the at least one layer.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the material comprises a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, a second layer comprising the metal and a third layer comprising plastic.

14. A container according to claim 13 wherein the plastic comprises CPET.

15. A container according to any one of claims 13 or 14 wherein the at least one layer of paper board comprises an outer surface adapted for printing pictorial and written information thereon.

16. A container according to any one claims 13 to 15 wherein, the first to third layers are joined together via adhesive.

17. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the layers are flame treated (prior application of the adhesive) so as to permit the adhesive to be received by the surfaces of the layers and to join the layers together.

18. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container comprises a lower end and a wall section having a lower edge surrounding the lower end defining an interior of the container having an inner volume for receiving the food product.

19. A container according to claim 18 wherein the wail section comprises an upper edge defining the upper end adapted to receive a lid.

20. A container according to claims 18 or 19 wherein the wail section is adapted to impede entry of the electromagnetic energy into the inner volume of the container through the wall section.

21. A container according to claim 20 wherein the wall section comprises the multi!ayered material having a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, a second layer comprising the metal and a third layer comprising plastic.

22. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container is configured so that the food product contained therein are heated in accordance with proper food practices by applying to the container microwave radiation having a particular energy content during a particular period of time.

23. A multilayered material having a first layer comprising at least one layer of paper board, and a second layer comprising metal attached to the at least one layer.

24. A multilayered material according to claim 13 wherein the multilayered material further comprises a third layer comprising plastic.

25. A multilayered material according to claim 24 wherein the plastic comprises CPET.

26. A multilayered material according to any one of claims 23 to 25 wherein the at least one layer of paper board comprises an outer surface adapted for printing pictorial and written information thereon.

27. A multilayered material according to any one of claims 23 to 26 wherein the metal comprises aluminium.

28. A multilayered material according to any one of claims 23 to 27 wherein the first to third layers are joined together via adhesive.

29. A multilayered material according to any one of claims 23 to 28 wherein the layers are flame treated (prior application of the adhesive) so as to permit the adhesive to be received by the surfaces of the layers and to join the layers together via the adhesive.

30. A method for heating a food product, the method comprising the steps of including the food product in a container in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and applying energy from the energy source to the container for heating of the food product contained in the container.

31. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 25 wherein the method further comprises the steps for introducing the container including the food product in a microwave oven for applying microwave radiation to the container for heating of the food product.

32. A heatab!e container for heating a food product via an energy source, the container comprising a surface defining an inner volume within the container for receiving the food product, wherein the surface comprises a plurality of sections adapted to be assembled together for defining the container.

33. A heatable container according to claim 32 wherein the plurality of sections comprises one section adapted to permit electromagnetic radiation to travel through the one section, and another section adapted to impede electromagnetic radiation to travel through the another section.

34. A heatable container according to claim 33 wherein the one section and the another section are adapted to act as a barrier impeding transference of matter between the exterior of the container and the interior of the container.

35. A heatable container according to claims 33 or 34 wherein the one section comprises at least one side wail of the container.

38. A heatable container according to claims 33 or 34 wherein the one section comprises the lower end of the container.

37. A heatable container according to claims 34 to 36 wherein the one section comprises materia! made out of a plurality of layers,

38. A heatable container according to claims 37 wherein the plurality of layers comprising one or more first layers comprising paper, and one or more second layers comprising plastic material and paper.

39. A heatable container according to claim 38 wherein the paper comprises ovenabie paper,

40. A heatable container according to claims 38 or 39 wherein the plastic materia! comprises CPET, PET or EVOH.

41. A heatable container according to any one of claims 32 to 40 wherein the another section comprises a lower end of the container defining the base of the container.

42. A heatable container according to any of claims 32 to 41 wherein the another section comprises material made out of a plurality of layers.

43. A beatable container according to any of claims 32 to 40 wherein the another section comprises the side walls of the container.

44. A beatable container according to claims 42 and 43 wherein the plurality of layers comprises paper and material reflective of the electromagnetic radiation.

45. A heatable container according to claim 44 wherein the paper comprises ovenable paper.

46. A heatable container according to claim 44 or 45 wherein the material reflective of the microwave radiation comprises metal.

47. A heatable container according to claim 46 wherein the metal comprises metal foil.

48. A beatable container according to claim 47 wherein the metal foil comprises aluminium.

49. A heatable container according to any of claims 35 to 48 wherein the side wall defines a vertical wail.