Fluid container

Abstract

A biodegradable and compostable container for fluids 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). 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. Thus, 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 and the cover of the container are coated in one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable materials to ensure that fluid contained in the interior volume is not permitted to pass therethrough, while the resulting container as a whole remains compostable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid container, comprising:
 a body having one or more walls defining an interior volume, each of the one or more walls having an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side;   a top disposed at a first end of the body, the top having an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side;   a base disposed at a second end of the body, the base having an interior side facing the interior volume and an exterior side opposite the interior side;   an aperture passing completely through the top between the exterior side of the top and the interior side of the top forming a passage therethrough;   a first bioplastic junction piece coupling 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 coupling 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 completely obstructing the aperture when in a sealed position and exposing the aperture when in an unsealed position;   a bioplastic grommet disposed along an edge of the aperture, and coupled to or integral with the cover in a sealable manner; and   one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials disposed to form a lining on the interior side of the one or more walls and the interior side of the top;   wherein the lining, the first bioplastic junction piece, and the second bioplastic junction piece 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; and   wherein the body, the base, and the top are constructed of a water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more biodegradable, water-impermeable coating materials forming the lining are biodegradable in one or more first environmental conditions and water-impermeable in one or more second environmental conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more first environmental conditions comprising one or more composting or biodegradation conditions and the one or more second environmental conditions comprise one or more storage or usage conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the water-permeable, biodegradable, and compostable material of which the body, the base, and the cover are formed comprises cellulose. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bioplastic grommet is integral with or coupled to the first bioplastic junction piece. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the bioplastic grommet is integral with or coupled to the first bioplastic junction piece via one or more trusses disposed against the interior side of the top. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second bioplastic junction piece includes 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 being additionally coupled to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are permanently coupled to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are heat welded together. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are bonded together by an adhesive material. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first bioplastic junction piece includes a first frame member coupled to the base and a second frame member coupled to the one or more walls, the first frame member and the second frame member being additionally coupled to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are permanently coupled to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are heat welded together. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are bonded together by an adhesive material. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is generally cylindrical in shape, and wherein the first bioplastic junction piece comprises a ring and the second bioplastic junction piece comprises a disk. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the bioplastic grommet is substantially circular, substantially oval, substantially rectangular, substantially geometric, or substantially irregular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a repeated-use hinge cover or a single-use tear cover.