Patent US10227172

Microwave popcorn bag
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US10227172

1. A microwaveable food package, comprising: (18) (4)

popcorn that expands while cooking under an application of microwave energy, the popcorn having an expected volume after cooking;

a container for the popcorn having a first end and a second end and including a plurality of sidewalls between the first end of the container and the second end of the container, the first end of the container configured to be opened after cooking, the plurality of sidewalls defining an interior volume within which the popcorn is disposed, a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls being formed of a translucent glassine material, the container being folded into a collapsed shape about the interior volume in a manner that permits expansion of the container into an expanded shape as the popcorn expands within the interior volume;

a first opaque line on the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the first opaque line indicating the expected volume after cooking of 70% to 90% of a maximum volume of the interior volume of the container when the container is in the expanded shape; and

a second opaque line on the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, the second opaque line indicating a maximum volume of the popcorn in the container when the container is in the expanded shape after cooking.

2. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a biodegradable material. (0)

3. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a compostable material. (0)

4. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the popcorn and the container are free of flavor additives. (0)

5. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the popcorn and the container are free of cooking additives. (0)

6. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the popcorn and the container are free of perfluorochemicals. (0)

7. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the container is free of plastic. (0)

8. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the container is free of susceptors. (0)

9. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, further comprising an airtight package enclosing the container for shipping and handling. (0)

10. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the first opaque line is disposed within a folded portion of the first sidewall when the container is in the collapsed shape such that the first opaque line is obscured from view, the first opaque line being exposed when the container is in the expanded shape. (0)

11. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the glassine has a weight of about 60-90 gsm. (0)

12. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the glassine has a weight of about 25-90 gsm. (0)

13. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the translucent glassine material of the container has an opacity of about 50%-95%. (0)

14. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the material has an opacity of about 80%-90%. (0)

15. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first opaque line or the second opaque line is horizontal when the container is placed for use in a microwave oven. (0)

16. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first opaque line or the second opaque line is horizontal when an open top of the container is positioned upright after cooking. (0)

17. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the container is a gusset bag, each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is formed of the translucent glassine material. (0)

18. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the microwaveable food package is included in a food kit, the microwaveable food package being disposed within an interior volume of an outer container of the food kit, the food kit including at least one additive contained in a non-microwaveable container disposed within the interior volume of the outer container of the food kit exterior to the microwaveable food package. (1) (0)

20. The microwaveable food package of claim 1, wherein the expected volume of the popcorn after cooking is no more than 80% of the maximum volume of the interior volume of the container in the expanded shape. (0)

21. A microwaveable food package, comprising: (1) (4)

a container having a first end portion and a second end portion and a plurality of sidewalls extended between the first end portion and the second end portion, the container having a first volume when the container is in an unexpanded configuration and a second volume when the container is in an expanded configuration, the second volume being greater than the first volume, an entirety of the container being formed of a material that is biodegradable and compostable, the container being free of cooking additives, perfluorochemicals, plastic and susceptors, at least one sidewall from the plurality of sidewalls including a first opaque indicium disposed between the first end portion of the container and the second end portion of the container and a second opaque indicium disposed between the first opaque indicium and the first end portion of the container, the first opaque indicium and the second opaque indicium each being disposed within a folded portion of the at least one sidewall when the container is in the unexpanded configuration such that the first opaque indicium and the second opaque indicium are obscured from view, the first opaque indicium and the second opaque indicium being exposed when the container is in the expanded configuration; and

popcorn disposed within the container, the popcorn configured to expand while cooking under an application of microwave energy, the popcorn having an expected volume after cooking,

the first opaque indicium indicating the expected volume after cooking of 70% to 90% of the second volume of the container,

the second opaque indicium indicating a maximum volume of the popcorn in the container after cooking.

22. The microwavable food package of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sidewalls are entirely formed of a translucent glassine material. (0)

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Patent US10227172

Microwave popcorn bag

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