Abstract: A field director assembly includes electrically conductive vanes configured to prevent arcing in an unloaded microwave oven.

Abstract: A self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are supported by a slotted central support member. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material. A portion of at least one of the first and second major surfaces is covered by an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by an integral array of rigid vanes extending radially outwardly from a central axis, the vanes being molded from an electrically non-conductive heat-resistant material. At least a portion of one major surface of each vane has an electrically conductive material embedded thereinto. The electrically non-conductive heat-resistant material is either a polymeric resin (with an optional reinforcing matrix) or paperboard material. A plurality of bracing members, each extending between the first major surface of one vane and the second major surface of an adjacent vane, may be integrally molded into the field director structure.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director useful for heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, and an electrically conductive sheath encasing the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered by an electrically conductive material. The sheath is arranged on the substrate in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material and an electrically conductive wrapper that wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially outer end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A susceptor assembly includes electrically conductive vanes positioned with respect to each other and to an planar susceptor member having an electrically lossy layer thereon to prevent overheating of the susceptor in an unloaded microwave oven.

Abstract: A susceptor assembly includes electrically conductive vanes configured to prevent arcing in an unloaded microwave oven.

Abstract: A collapsible field director includes at least one master vane and at least first and second slave vanes. The master vane includes a conductive flap that is articulably attached to a mounting flange. The flange is attached to a planar support member having openings or slots formed therein. Each slave vane has a mounting tab thereon. The slave vanes are flexibly connected to the master vane. The slave vanes are flexibly displaceable with respect to the conductor flap and the conductor flap is articulably movable with respect to the mounting flange so that the field director structure, in the deployed state, occupies a self-supported disposition in which the conductor flap is oriented perpendicular to the mounting flange and the slave vanes are angularly spaced from the master vane with the tabs on the slave banes being received in openings or slots in the planar member.

Abstract: A blank for forming a collapsible field director structure comprises nonconductive material sheet having at least three panels thereon, one panel being a master panel and the other two panels being slave panels. Each panel is substantially rectangular in shape and has elongated upper and lower edges and two relatively shorter side edges. Each panel is connected to at least one adjacent panel along an elongated edge. A patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface of a first one of the panels; and another patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface on one of the other panels; or the second surface of said first one of the panels. The slave panels are each foldable along an elongated edge so that a surface of each slave panel is brought into confronting facial adjacency to and adhered against a surface of the master panel.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each extending radially outwardly from a central axis. The vanes are supported in a slotted central support member. Each vane has a predetermined thickness dimension. Each vane comprises a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and an electrically conductive wrapper having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate. The wrapper wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially inner end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a vane array comprising a plurality of V-shaped vane doublets, wherein each vane doublet itself comprises a first and a second vane. Each vane extends radially outwardly from the central axis. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, with a portion of each vane being electrically conductive. A vane support structure is attached to the vane array.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each extending radially outwardly from a central axis. The vanes are supported in a slotted central support member. Each vane has a predetermined thickness dimension. Each vane comprises a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and an electrically conductive wrapper having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate. The wrapper wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially inner end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, with each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane is formed from an electrically non-conductive outer jacket having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and an inner layer of an electrically conductive material having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer jacket. The inner layer and the outer jacket are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion with the inner layer being substantially completely enclosed within the electrically non-conductive outer jacket, so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are supported by a plurality of bracing members, each bracing member extending between adjacent vanes and being attached thereto. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material. A portion of at least one of the first and second major surfaces is covered by an electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, with each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis. Each vane is angularly adjacent to two other vanes and is attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a predetermined thickness dimension. Each vane is formed from a pair of electrically non-conductive outer laminae, each having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, and an inner core formed of an electrically conductive material. The core has a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer laminae. The inner core and the outer laminae are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion with the inner core being completely enclosed within the non-conductive outer laminae so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A field director assembly includes electrically conductive vanes positioned with respect to each other and to a planar support member to prevent overheating of the susceptor in an unloaded microwave oven.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, and an electrically conductive sheath encasing the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered by an electrically conductive material. The sheath is arranged on the substrate in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material and an electrically conductive wrapper that wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially outer end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.

Abstract: A method of making a self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven comprises in any operative order, the steps of folding a first and a second elongated vane blank along a central fold line to form at least two V-shaped vane doublets; inserting each of the vane doublets into a slotted annular support member so that each vane in each vane doublet extends through an adjacent slot in the annular support member; and attaching the vane doublets at their vertices to define a vane array.

Abstract: A blank for forming a collapsible field director structure comprises nonconductive material sheet having at least three panels thereon, one panel being a master panel and the other two panels being slave panels. Each panel is substantially rectangular in shape and has elongated upper and lower edges and two relatively shorter side edges. Each panel is connected to at least one adjacent panel along an elongated edge. A patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface of a first one of the panels; and another patch of adhesive is disposed on: the first surface on one of the other panels; or the second surface of said first one of the panels. The slave panels are each foldable along an elongated edge so that a surface of each slave panel is brought into confronting facial adjacency to and adhered against a surface of the master panel.