Patent ID: 6870145

Claim:
A method of assembling a container for microwave heating of a food product, comprising: providing a mandrel having an exterior surface, a body portion, and a top portion, the top portion of the mandrel defining a recess and the exterior surface of the mandrel defining a plurality of bores in at least a portion of the top portion and at least a portion of the body portion; providing a sheet of barrier material having a first side and a second side; draping the first side of the sheet on the mandrel over the top portion and at least a portion of the body portion thereof; applying a vacuum to the bores of the mandrel to hold at least a portion of the sheet about a portion of the mandrel and to define a pocket in a portion of the at least a portion of the sheet being held within the pocket of the mandrel; depositing a quantity of the food product within the pocket; providing a tub assembly having a mouth, a floor, at least one elongate wall panel, and an interior surface, the floor having an interior face and an exterior face; positioning the mouth of the tub assembly in overlying orientation with the mandrel and the quantity of food product such that the pocket is substantially closed by the interior face of the floor; and sealing a portion of the second side of the barrier material to the interior surface of the tub assembly about the pocket to encapsulate the quantity of food product between the barrier material and the interior face of the floor of the tub assembly.