Patent ID: 6410065
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A63H,Y10S

Abstract:
A microwave popcorn device comprising:an inflatable container, a mass of unpopped popcorn disposed in said inflatable container, said mass of unpopped popcorn being adapted to be popped by exposure to microwave energy, and said mass of popcorn generating an inflation gas as it is popped by exposure to microwave energy, said inflatable container having a base portion adapted to rest on a food support surface of a microwave oven and having an inflatable portion which is substantially fully inflatable by inflation gas generated in said container as said mass of popcorn is popped, said inflatable portion of said container being preformed so as to be substantially fully inflatable into a predetermined three-dimensional external shape by inflation gas generated in said container, said predetermined three-dimensional shape being other than in the form of a bag or envelope and simulating the external configuration of an animate object, said inflatable portion of said container having graphic material on the exterior thereof, said graphic material combining with said three-dimensional external shape to visually detail the animate object in the three-dimensional external shape formed by said inflatable portion, and said inflatable container comprises a pair of flexible panels which are joined together and which cooperate to form said inflatable portion, each of said flexible panels being preformed to said predetermined three-dimensional external shape of the animate object, and at least one of said flexible panels having said graphic material which combines with said three-dimensional external shape to visually detail the recognizable character or article in the three dimensional shape formed by said one of said panels.