Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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PATENT APPLICATION
FOR
FLUID CONTAINER
By:
Sung Park
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, co-pending United
States Provisional Application No. 61/675,573, filed July 25, 2012, for all
subject
matter common to these applications. The disclosure of said provisional
application
is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.
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SUMMARY
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
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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.
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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 he 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a first bioplastic junction
piece and a second bioplastic junction piece, according to an example
embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container of FIG. 1, according to aspects of
the present invention;
FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 along line A-A,
according to aspects of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container, according to an example
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the container of FIG. 4, according to aspects of
the present invention;
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FIG. 6 is a side view of the container of FIG. 4 along one or more trusses
included therein, according to aspects of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a lower end of a container having the second
bioplastic junction piece formed of two or more component parts., according to
aspects of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower end of the container of FIG. 7, according
to
aspects of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a container having the first bioplastic junction
formed of two or more component parts, according to aspects of the present
invention;
and
FIG. 10 is a side view of the container of FIG. 9, according to aspects of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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
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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
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(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.
FIGS. 1 through 10, wherein like parts are designated by like reference
numerals throughout, illustrate example embodiments of a fluid container
according
to the present invention. Although the present invention will be described
with
reference to the example embodiments illustrated in the figures, it should be
understood that many alternative forms can embody the present invention. One
of
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skill in the art will additionally appreciate different ways to alter the
parameters of the
embodiments disclosed, such as the size, shape, or type of elements or
materials, in a
manner still in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a fluid container 10 according to an
example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 further depicts the
container
of FIG. 1 from an exploded view. FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section of the
container
10 along line A-A (shown in FIG. 1). The container 10 includes a body 12
having one
or more walls defining an interior volume 16. Each of the one or more walls
has an
10 interior side facing the interior volume 16 and an exterior side
opposite the interior
side (i.e., facing away from the interior volume 16). The container 10 further
includes
a base 18 disposed at an end thereof, and a top 20 disposed at an opposite end
thereof.
The top 20 has an interior side facing the interior volume 16 and an exterior
side
opposite the interior side (i.e., facing away from the interior volume 16).
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
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contents in the interior volume 16 of the container 10. In the example
embodiment of
FIGS. 1 through 3, the container 10 includes a single wall that is generally
cylindrical
in shape. Accordingly, in the example embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the
first
bioplastic junction piece 24 is a ring having a 'LP-shaped cross-section
adapted to
receive an upper perimeter of the one or more walls. Additionally, in the
example
embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 is a
disk
with a lip having a 'Y-shaped cross-section adapted to receive a lower
perimeter of
the one or more walls.
The container 10 further includes a cover 28 adapted to assume a sealed
position (depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3) and an unsealed position (depicted in
FIG. 2).
In the sealed position, the cover 28 completely obstructs the aperture 22,
such that
fluid in the body 12 is not permitted to exit the container 10 through the
aperture 22.
In the unsealed position, the cover 28 either only partially obstructs or does
not
obstruct the aperture 22, thereby allowing fluid in the body 12 to exit the
container 10
through the aperture 22. A bioplastic grommet 30 is disposed at the edge of
the
aperture 22. The bioplastic grommet 30 is coupled to or integral with the
cover 28 in
a sealable manner. Stated differently, the cover 28 is adapted to couple with
or be
integral with the bioplastic grommet 30 in a manner enabling the cover 28 to
seal the
aperture 22.
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.
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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 FIGS. 1 through 3, the aperture 22 is disposed
at an edge of the perimeter of the top 20. In this way, the aperture is
disposed at a
location suitable for engaging with the mouth of a user drinking from the
container
10. It should be appreciated that the position of the aperture 22 is
illustrative and in
no way limiting. The aperture 22 alternatively may be located at any other
suitable
position on the top 20, including (as a non-limiting example) at a center of
the top 20.
In such embodiments, the aperture 22 may serve as a "fill hole" or guide hole
in a
method of manufacturing the container 10, as would be appreciated by one of
skill in
the art upon reading the present specification.
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.
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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 98 can he 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-
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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 FIGS. 1 through 3. In such
embodiments where the second bioplastic junction piece 26 is generally ring-
shaped
and does not extend across the interior of the ring, the interior side of the
base 18 may
be coated with a water-impermeable coating to prevent direct contact between
fluids
contained in the container 10 and the base 18 (which in illustrative
embodiments is
constructed of a water-permeable material). Accordingly, coating the interior
side of
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the base 18 in such embodiments can assist in maintaining the water-
impermeability
of the interior of the container 10. As just one non-limiting example, the
interior face
of the base 18 may be coated with PLA or another biopolymer, substantially as
described previously herein with reference to the coating on the interior side
of the
one or more walk.
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, FIG.
4 depicts a perspective view of the container 10 having the aperture 22
located at the
center of the top 20, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 5 further depicts the container 10 of FIG. 4 from an exploded
view,
and FIG. 6 further depicts the container 10 of FIG. 4 from a cross-sectional
view
along trusses 34. As shown in the example embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6, the
cover 28 is a single-use tear cover that is permanently coupled to the piece
32a
disposed on the exterior side of the top 20. Additionally, the first
bioplastic junction
piece 24 is coupled to the piece 32b disposed on the interior side of the top
20. For
example, two trusses 34 can bridge the space between the first bioplastic
junction
piece 24 and the piece 32b, providing additional structural support,
especially for the
aperture 22. As depicted, each of the trusses 34 has a top profile that is
generally
rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the trusses 34 may have any other
suitable shape,
as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the present
specification. In the example embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6, in which the
first
bioplastic junction piece 24 is a ring, the trusses 34 are disposed at
locations around
the ring spaced apart by 180 degrees. Alternatively, the trusses 34 may be
located at
any other suitable position, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the
art upon
reading the present specification. Furthermore, although only two trusses 34
are
depicted in the example embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6, more or less trusses
34
can be included.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the second
bioplastic junction piece 26 includes two or more component parts. For
example,
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FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an exploded view and a cross-sectional view,
respectively, of a
lower end of the container 10 having the second bioplastic junction piece 26
formed
of two or more component parts, according to an example embodiment of the
present
invention. As shown, the second bioplastic junction piece 26 can include a
first frame
member 36 coupled to the base 18 and n second frame member IR ocmpiPd to the
one
or more walls. The first frame member 36 and the second frame member 38
additionally are coupled to each other. For example, the first frame member 36
and
the second frame member 38 can be permanently coupled to each other. In some
embodiments, the first frame member 36 and the second frame member 38 are
welded
together (e.g., by ultrasonic welding or heat welding) or bonded together by
an
adhesive material.
As described previously herein, in embodiments such as that depicted in
FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the second bioplastic junction piece 26 is substantially
ring-
shaped, both the interior side and the exterior side of the base 18 may be
coated with
one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials (e.g., PLA,
etc.).
Accordingly, in such embodiments, one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable
coating materials (e.g., PLA, etc.) can be disposed on (a) the interior side
of the base
18, (b) the interior side of the top 20, and (c) the interior sides of the one
or more
walls. This forms a water-impermeable lining that, in combination with the
cover 28
and the first and second bioplastic junction pieces 24, 26, creates a barrier
preventing
water (or other liquid contents) disposed internal to the container 10 from
being
absorbed by the one or more walls, the base 18, and/or the top 20.
The structure of FIGS. 7 and 8 additionally or alternatively can be
implemented for the first bioplastic junction piece 24. For example, FIGS. 9
and 10
depict an exploded view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an upper
end of
the container 10 having the first bioplastic junction piece 24 including the
first frame
member 36 and the second frame member 38. As depicted, the top 20 can be
coupled
to the first frame member 36, and the one or more walls (at the upper
perimeter
thereof) can be coupled to the second frame member 38. The piece 32b of the
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bioplastic grommet 30 can be coupled to the second frame member 38 of the
first
bioplastic junction piece 24, as illustrated.
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.
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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.
