Patent Application
20140027463
The present invention relates to containers suitable for use with beverages and foods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container that, as a whole, is biodegradable and compostable, while maintaining a water-impermeable interior.
Pre-filled beverage or food containers (e.g., soda cans, canned soups, etc.) are sold in a wide variety of commercial settings and can contain a wide variety of food contents. Pre-filled beverage or food containers often must be water-impermeable for extended periods of time, during which the containers may be shipped, sold, and/or stored all by multiple elements in the supply chain. For these and other reasons, the use of water-permeable materials like cardboard is limited to certain types and/or designs of containers. Furthermore, to ensure that the interior of such cardboard-based containers are water-impermeable, these cardboard-based containers include coatings or layers (e.g., plastics, foils, etc.) that often render the container as a whole non-compostable.
Accordingly, there is a need for a compostable, biodegradable container that maximizes visibility of water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable components without sacrificing the overall water-impermeability of the container as a whole, or of the interior volume of the container in which fluids are stored. The present invention is directed toward solutions to address this and other needs, in addition to having other desirable characteristics that will be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present specification.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a fluid container can include a body having one or more walls defining an interior volume. Each of the one or more walls can have an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side. A top can be disposed at a first end of the body. The top can have an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side. An aperture can pass completely through the top between the exterior side of the top and the interior side of the top forming a passage therethrough. A base can be disposed at a second end of the body opposite the first end of the body. The base can have an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side. A first bioplastic junction piece can couple the one or more walls to the top along a first seam therebetween in such a way as to prevent contents within the interior volume of the container from directly contacting the one or more walls or the top along the first seam. A second bioplastic junction piece can couple the one or more walls to the base along a second seam therebetween in such a way as to prevent contents within the interior volume of the container from directly contacting the one or more walls or the base along the second seam. A cover can completely obstruct the aperture when in a sealed position and expose the aperture when in an unsealed position. A bioplastic grommet can be disposed along the edge of the aperture and is coupled to or integral with the cover in a sealable manner. One or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can be disposed to form a lining on the interior side of the one or more walls and the interior side of the top. The lining, the first bioplastic junction piece, and the second bioplastic junction piece can form barriers that prevent contents disposed in the interior volume from making direct contact with the interior side of the one or more walls, the interior side of the base, and the interior side of the top prior to biodegradation. The body, the base, and the top can be constructed of a water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material.
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials forming the lining can be biodegradable in one or more first environmental conditions and water-impermeable in one or more second environmental conditions. The one or more first environmental conditions can include one or more composting or biodegradation conditions and the one or more second environmental conditions can include one or more storage or usage conditions. The bioplastic grommet can be integral with or coupled to the first bioplastic junction piece. The bioplastic grommet can be integral with or coupled to the first bioplastic junction piece via one or more trusses disposed against the interior side of the top. The container can be generally cylindrical in shape. The first bioplastic junction piece can include a ring and the second bioplastic junction piece can include a disk. A perimeter of the grommet can be substantially circular, substantially oval, substantially rectangular, substantially geometric, or substantially irregular in shape. The cover can include a repeated-use hinge cover or a single-use tear cover.
In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, the first bioplastic junction piece can include a first frame member coupled to the base and a second frame member coupled to the one or more walls, and the first frame member and the second frame member additionally can be coupled to each other. The first frame member and the second frame member can be permanently coupled to each other. The first frame member and the second frame member can be welded together. The first frame member and the second frame member can be bonded together by an adhesive material.
In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, the second bioplastic junction piece can include a first frame member coupled to the top and a second frame member coupled to the one or more walls. The first frame member and the second frame member additionally can be coupled to each other. The first frame member and the second frame member can be permanently coupled to each other. The first frame member and the second frame member can be welded together. The first frame member and the second frame member can be bonded together by an adhesive material.
These and other characteristics of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:
An illustrative embodiment of the present invention relates to a container adapted to hold beverages, other liquids, or other food products. The container can be constructed entirely of a combination of paper or cardboard and biopolymers. Accordingly, an entirety of the container is compostable and biodegradable. The container achieves an environmentally friendly “look and feel” by minimizing the amount of bioplastic component parts that are visible and by maximizing the visibility of component parts made of water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material(s) (e.g., cardboard), all while still maintaining structural integrity of the container and the ability of the container to be filled, sealed, and also resealed. The container includes one or more bioplastic junction pieces that are shaped and positioned to line and seal seams between container wall(s) and a base of the container, container wall(s) and a top of the container, or both. In this way, the one or more bioplastic junction pieces provide water-impermeable barriers at seams in the container where leakage is most likely to occur. The interior of the walls, the base, and the cover of the container can be coated in one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable materials to ensure that fluid contained in the interior volume of the container is not permitted to soak through the one or more walls, the base, or the top of the container from the inside. Accordingly, in this way, the interior volume of the container can be rendered water-impermeable, such that fluid contents are prevented from escaping from the container or being absorbed by the container. Furthermore, despite the water-impermeability of the container (e.g., from the inside), the container as a whole is biodegradable and compostable.
The present description makes reference to the use of bioplastics as well as various properties, including biodegradability and compostability. As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, bioplastics are derived from renewable raw materials like starch (e.g. corn, potato, tapioca, etc.), cellulose, soybean protein, lactic acid, and the like. They are not typically hazardous or toxic in production and are able to decompose into materials such as carbon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted. Bioplastics generally can take different length of times to completely and fully compost, depending on the particular material. Bioplastics conventionally are intended to be composted in an industrial or commercial composting facility that is able to generate high composting temperatures for extended periods (e.g., between about 90-180 days in some instances).
The term “compostable” is intended to have its normal meaning, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present specification. For example, according to the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), a bioplastic is compostable if it is capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the plastic is not visually distinguishable and breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g., cellulose) and if through the process of biological decomposition the bioplastic leaves no toxic residue. Furthermore, most existing international standards define “compostable” to include those materials capable of biodegradation of about 60% within about 180 days (e.g., in combination with other criteria). In general, it will be appreciated upon reading the present specification that for a plastic to be compostable, three criteria must be met: the plastic must be: (a) capable of biodegradation, e.g., the break-down into carbon dioxide, water, biomass at the same rate as cellulose or paper; (b) capable of disintegration, e.g., the material must be capable of becoming indistinguishable within the compost, such that it is not visible and need not be screened out; and (c) non-eco-toxic, e.g., must not produce any toxic material, such that the resulting compost can support plant growth.
The amount of time required to compost can change depending on a variety of factors. Commercial composting facilities tend to grind materials being composted and agitate (e.g., stir, turn over, etc.) the resulting piles while exposing the piles to high temperatures. This reduces the amount of time required for the materials to compost. However, composting rates at home composts can be significantly lower and can vary depending on how frequently the pile is agitated (e.g., stirred, turned over, etc.), the moisture of the pile, the contents of the materials forming the pile, the temperature of the pile, and other environmental conditions.
To be “biodegradable,” a bioplastic must be capable of degrading as a result of naturally occurring microorganism(s), such as bacteria, fungi, and the like. However, unlike compostability, the quality of not leaving behind a toxic residue is not a requirement for biodegradability.
Accordingly, the terms “biodegradability” and “compostability” generally are intended to have their normal meanings and definitions, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present specification.
An aperture 22 passes completely through the exterior side of the top 20 and the interior side of the top 20. In this way, the aperture 22 forms a passage through the top 20, through which fluid may enter or exit the interior volume 16 of the container 10. The container 10 further includes a first bioplastic junction piece 24 disposed at a first end of the container 10 and a second bioplastic junction piece 26 disposed at a second end of the container 10 opposite the first end. The first bioplastic junction piece 24 couples the one or more walls to the base 18 along a first seam 52 between the one or more walls and the base 18. The second bioplastic junction piece 26 couples the one or more walls to the top 20 along a second seam 54 between the one or more walls and the top 20. Furthermore, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 can include a surface (e.g., substantially flat in shape) extending between its perimeter and across an entire area of the second bioplastic junction piece 26. The second bioplastic junction piece 26 thus forms a barrier that protects the base 18 from contacting fluid contents in the interior volume 16 of the container 10.
Portions of the one or more walls, the base 18, or the top 20 covered by the first or second bioplastic junction pieces 24, 26 are prevented from contacting fluid contents in the interior volume 16 of the container 10. In the example embodiment of
The container 10 further includes a cover 28 adapted to assume a sealed position (depicted in
The body 12, the base 18, and the top 20 are constructed of a water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material. For example, the body, the base 18, and the top 20 can be constructed of cardboard, any other cellulose-based material, or any other suitable water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material. In some illustrative embodiments, the body 12, the base 18, and the top 20 are formed of a water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable mater comprising cellulose, starch (e.g., corn, potato, tapioca, etc.), soy protein, lactic acid, or the like. For purposes of the present description, a container built using a substantially cellulose material (e.g., paper, cardboard, etc.) is described.
One or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can be disposed on the interior side of the one or more walls, the interior side of the base 18, and the interior side of the top 20. The one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can form a water-impermeable lining that, in combination with the first and second bioplastic junction pieces 24, 26, creates a barrier that prevents water (or other liquid contents) disposed in the interior volume 16 of the container 10 from making direct physical contact with the interior side of the one or more walls, the interior side of the base 18, and the interior side of the top 20. The can be beneficial, for example, in preventing contents of the interior volume 16 from being absorbed by or from passing through the one or more walls of the body 12.
In the example embodiment of
In general, upon reading the present specification, one of skill in the art will appreciate a wide variety of suitable locations to place the aperture 22, the bioplastic grommet 30, and the cover 28. All such alternatives and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the aperture 22 and the cover 28 can assume any suitable shapes, including as non-limiting examples substantially oval, substantially rectangular, substantially geometric, or substantially irregular in shape. The bioplastic grommet 30 similarly may have any suitable shape. As non-limiting examples, the perimeter of the bioplastic grommet 30 can be substantially oval, substantially rectangular, substantially geometric, or substantially irregular in shape.
The cover 28 can be coupled to or integral with the bioplastic grommet 30 in a sealed manner. For example, the cover 28 can be a single-use tear cover constructed of plastic or foil and formed integral with or coupled to the bioplastic grommet 30. In this way, the cover 28 can be manufactured in the sealed position, and removed by a user partially or completely tearing the cover 28 off the bioplastic grommet 30 (e.g., by pulling on a tab extending from the cover 28). In this way, the cover 28 can be reconfigured in the unsealed position during use. As yet another example, the cover 28 can be a repeated-use hinge cover that is hingeably or pivotally coupled to the top 20. In accordance such embodiments of the present invention, the cover 28 can be adapted to be received in a sealable and re-sealable manner by the bioplastic grommet 30. Similarly, the cover 28 can be adapted to be released from the bioplastic grommet 30 (e.g., by a user pulling the cover 28 out from the aperture 22).
The bioplastic grommet 30 can include two bioplastic pieces 32a, 32b coupled together or formed integral with one another. For example, the two bioplastic pieces 32a, 32b can be coupled together through the aperture 22 by adhesives, additional bioplastic material, or the like. Alternatively, the two bioplastic pieces 32a, 32b can be formed integral through the aperture 22 by welding (e.g., heat welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.) the two bioplastic pieces 32a, 32b such that the materials of the two bioplastic pieces 32a, 32b flow together and set as a single grommet piece disposed around the edge of the aperture 22. It should be appreciated that the examples of the bioplastic grommet 30 described and depicted herein are illustrative and in no way limit the present invention. In general, the bioplastic grommet 30 generally can be any suitable grommet piece, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present specification.
In general, the one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials (which forms the lining on the base 18, the top 20, and the one or more walls) can be biodegradable in one or more first environmental conditions, such as standard biodegradation conditions or composting conditions, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. Furthermore, the one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can be water-impermeable in one or more second environmental conditions, e.g., during conditions in which the container 10 is being stored or used.
In an illustrative embodiment, the one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials forming the lining are made of polylactic acid (PLA). Alternatively, any other suitable biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can be utilized with the present invention, so long as the resulting container is compostable. In general, bioplastic components of the container 10 (e.g., the first bioplastic junction piece 24, the second bioplastic junction piece 26, the bioplastic grommet 30, etc.) also can be made of PLA, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. Alternatively, any other suitable bioplastic material can be utilized to manufacture such components, so long as the desired biodegradability, water-impermeability, and compostability characteristics of the resulting container are maintained. The cover 28 generally can be made of any suitable material. For example, the cover 28 can be constructed of a bioplastic (e.g., PLA), a foil (or other thin sheet of metal), a water-permeable material, or any other suitable material. In embodiments where the cover 28 is constructed of a water-permeable material, the cover 28 optionally may include a water-impermeable coating lining an interior side thereof, such that the cover 28 is prevented from absorbing fluid contents of the container 10 that come into contact with the cover 28.
In accordance with some alternative embodiments, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 is ring-shaped rather than disk-shaped. For example, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 can be substantially similar in shape to the first bioplastic junction piece 24 of the example embodiment of
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the aperture 22 is positioned away from an edge of the perimeter of the top 20. For example,
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 includes two or more component parts. For example,
As described previously herein, in embodiments such as that depicted in
The structure of
In general, the exterior sides of the base 18, the top 20, and the one or more walls can also be coated with one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials (e.g., PLA, etc.). The one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials can form a water-impermeable lining that, in combination with the cover 28 and the first and second bioplastic junction pieces 24, 26, creates a barrier that prevents water (or other liquid contents) disposed external to the container 10 from being absorbed by the one or more walls, the base 18, or the top 20. This can be beneficial, for example, in preventing the container 10 from becoming sodden or soggy, e.g., when placed in a wet environment such as a cooler or other container of ice.
Notably, the container 10 according to embodiments of the present invention can be constructed entirely of compostable and biodegradable components. Furthermore, in illustrative embodiments, the amount of visible PLA or other bioplastics is small, thereby allowing the container 10 to achieve an environmentally friendly appearance without sacrificing the ability of the container 10 as whole to remain water-impermeable during use.
Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. It is intended that the present invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/675,573, filed Jul. 25, 2012, for all subject matter common to these applications. The disclosure of said provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61675573 | Jul 2012 | US |
