Compostable or recyclable cooler

Abstract

A tub for a container includes an inner tub and an outer tub, each formed of a solid compostable or recyclable sheet formed primarily of plant fiber. Both the inner tub and the outer tub include a floor, a plurality of side walls that are coupled to the floor along common edges and each coupled to two adjacent side walls along common edges, and a rim provided at a top of the side walls. The rim of the inner tub rests on and is secured to the rim of the outer tub such that the side walls of the inner tub extend downwardly into the space between the side walls outer tub, with the side walls of the outer tub surrounding and spaced apart from the side walls of the inner tub. A volume between the side walls of the inner and outer tub provides a cavity.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A container comprising:
 a tub formed of a solid compostable or recyclable sheet formed primarily of plant fiber, the tub including
 a floor having a top surface to receive material to be held in the container, 
 a plurality of side walls that are continuously and seamlessly coupled to the floor along first common edges and each continuously and seamlessly coupled to two adjacent side walls along second common edges to surround an interior space of the tub, the side walls inclined at an oblique angle relative to the floor to slant outwardly from bottom to top, and 
 a rim provided at the top of the first side walls, 
 wherein a pair of side walls on opposite sides of the floor each have an indentation that projects inwardly into the interior space and extends vertically down from the rim while leaving the interior space as a substantially open and continuous volume. 
   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising a lid configured to sit on the rim of the tub to enclose the material in the interior space. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the lid is a substantially flat cover. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein for each respective side wall of the pair of side walls, the indentation is positioned on the respective side wall about equidistant from two side walls adjacent to the respective side walls. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the indentation is wider at a lower end than a top end of the indentation. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the indentation is trapazoidal. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the indentation is of substantially uniform depth from a top to a bottom of the indentation. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the indentation extends vertically from the rim to the floor. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the indentation on each side wall of the pair of side walls form hand-holds. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the plant fiber comprises a paper pulp. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the tub has a thickness of 1.5 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 23 , comprising a moisture barrier film formed over at least an inner surface of the inner tub. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 23 , comprising a moisture barrier film formed over an outer surface of the outer tub. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 23 , comprising a moisture barrier material mixed with the plant fiber. 
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein portions of the side wall on opposite sides of the recess are substantially flat between the recess and the second common edges with the adjacent side walls. 
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the side wall includes a pair of projections that extend outwardly from recessed side surfaces, and the indentation is formed in the outer surface of the projections. 
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37 , wherein the recessed side surfaces are substantially flat between the projections and the second common edges with the adjacent side walls.