Molded fiber tray

Abstract

Disclosed herein are molded fiber trays. A molded fiber tray includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base to form a content holding structure, an edge extending from the sidewall configured for holding the molded fiber tray, and a barrier layer formed on an internal surface of the base, the sidewall, and the edge. The barrier layer configured to substantially chemically inert with respect to contents in the content holding structure. The base can include a geometric pattern. The sidewall can include a step.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded fiber tray comprising:
 a base;   a sidewall extending from the base to form a content holding structure;   an edge extending from the sidewall configured for holding the molded fiber tray; and   a barrier layer formed on an internal surface of the base, the sidewall, and the edge, the barrier layer configured to be substantially chemically inert with respect to contents in the content holding structure.   
     
     
         2 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another barrier layer formed on an external surface of the base, the sidewall, and the edge, the another barrier layer configured to substantially prevent moisture, condensation, or liquid from absorbing into the molded fiber tray.   
     
     
         3 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer includes at least one of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, a grease barrier, a gas barrier, or an oil barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier layer and the another barrier layer includes at least one of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, a grease barrier, a gas barrier, or an oil barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a geometric pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 5 , wherein the geometric pattern is at least one of a tessellated geometric pattern, a tessellated hexagonal geometric pattern, a tessellated polygon geometric pattern, a three-dimensional (3-D) geometric pattern, a tessellated 3-D geometric pattern, a tessellated hexagonal 3-D geometric pattern, or a tessellated polygon 3-D geometric pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 5 , wherein the geometric pattern comprises a plurality of geometric sub-patterns. 
     
     
         8 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes a step. 
     
     
         9 . The molded fiber tray of  claim 1 , wherein the molded fiber tray is comprised of at least one of sustainable materials, recyclable materials, biodegradable materials, bio-based resins, weight-optimized biodegradable plastic, molded fiber, molded paper, molded pulp, fiber, paper, pulp, paperboard, pressed pulp, fiber based, pressed fiber, paper, starch, cellulose, biodegradable resins such as Polylactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF). 
     
     
         10 . A method for making a molded fiber tray, comprising:
 forming a molded fiber tray from structure forming materials using a structure forming process, wherein the molded fiber tray includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base to form a content holding structure, and an edge extending from the sidewall configured for holding the molded fiber tray; and   forming a barrier layer on an internal surface of the base, the sidewall, and the edge, the barrier layer configured to be substantially chemically inert with respect to contents in the content holding structure.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 forming another barrier layer on an external surface of the base, the sidewall, and the edge, the another barrier layer configured to substantially prevent moisture, condensation, or liquid from absorbing into the molded fiber tray.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier layer includes at least one of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, a grease barrier, a gas barrier, or an oil barrier. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier layer and the another barrier layer includes at least one of a vapor barrier, a moisture barrier, a grease barrier, a gas barrier, or an oil barrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the forming a molded fiber tray further comprises:
 forming a geometric pattern on the base.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the geometric pattern is at least one of a tessellated geometric pattern, a tessellated hexagonal geometric pattern, a tessellated polygon geometric pattern, a three-dimensional (3-D) geometric pattern, a tessellated 3-D geometric pattern, a tessellated hexagonal 3-D geometric pattern, or a tessellated polygon 3-D geometric pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sidewall includes a step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the structure forming materials is at least one of sustainable materials, recyclable materials, biodegradable materials, bio-based resins, weight-optimized biodegradable plastic, molded fiber, molded paper, molded pulp, fiber, paper, pulp, paperboard, pressed pulp, fiber based, pressed fiber, paper, starch, cellulose, biodegradable resins such as Polylactic acid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF).