Recyclable and compostable eating utensils and other products made from crop-based resin & method of manufacture

Abstract

A product is formed from a crop-based resin that decomposes into a compost within 120 days or less and is heat resistant being able to remain in hot water at a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes without any substantial loss in rigidity.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS & INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT / US2006 / 046994, filed Dec. 11, 2006, which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 749,441, entitled “RECYCLABLE AND COMPOSTABLE EATING UTENSILS AND OTHER PRODUCTS MADE FROM CROP-BASED RESIN & METHOD OF MANUFACTURE,” filed Dec. 12, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 846,059, entitled “RECYCLABLE AND COMPOSTABLE EATING UTENSILS AND OTHER PRODUCTS MADE FROM CROP-BASED RESIN & METHOD OF MANUFACTURE,” filed Sep. 20, 2006. All of these related applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this continuation application and that in the related provisional applications, the disclosure in this continuation application shall govern. Moreover, the inventors incorporate herein by reference ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]This invention has one or more features as discussed subsequently herein. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to: (a) the product's ability to withstand elevated temperatures without deforming and losing rigidity, (b) the product's ability to be virtually non-heat conducting so it acts as an insulator, (c) the product's strength and impact resistance so it won't shatter when struck or dropped, (d) the product's non-toxicity so it may be used as an eating utensil, (e) the eating utensil product's water and heat resistance so it is dishwasher safe, (f) the product's ability to be recycled, and (g) the product's ability to be converted into environmentally-safe compost.

[0015]Four, the products of this invention are heat resistant being able to remain in hot water at a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes without any substantial loss in rigidity.

[0018]This invention also includes a method of manufacturing an eating utensil. The eating utensil is formed from a crop-based resin as discussed above. The eating utensil decomposes into a compost within 120 days or less after being discarded and it includes an elongated rigid component that is at least 2.5 inches in length and is heat resistant being able to remain in hot water at a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes without any substantial loss in rigidity. The crop-based resin may be stored under sanitary conditions prior to use. The eating utensil may be packaged automatically in sealed packaging under substantially clean room conditions without being contacted directly by humans or exposed to other sources of contamination.Some Products Of This InventionChopstick

[0019]One embodiment of a product of this invention is a chopstick. This chopstick is injection or otherwise molded and comprises an elongated substantially linear, rigid body having opposed ends, one end configured to function as a handle and the other end configured to function to grip food and including a rough surface which may not be visible but one can feel the roughened surface by touch. This rough surface assists in grasping and holding food when using in a conventional manner a pair of such chopsticks with roughened surfaces at their food-gripping ends. The rough surface is at the chopstick tip that tapers from an eating end to an intermediate portion having a thickness greater than the eating end. The tip is tapered in a predetermined manner so that, when using the pair of chopsticks to grasp food, a substantial portion of the rough surface of the tip of one chopstick is nearby a substantial portion of the rough surface of the tip of the other chopstick. This facilitates holding food between the substantial portions of the rough surfaces of the chopsticks making contact during use. The length of the tapered, rough surface tip of each chopstick is at least substantially one inch.

[0020]The chopstick is formed from the crop-based resin discussed above and decomposes into a compost in a certified commercial composting facility within at least 90 days to produce an environmentally-safe compost. The chopstick is also heat resistant being able to remain in hot water at a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes without any substantial loss in rigidity. The chopstick may be packaged automatically in sealed packaging under substantially clean room conditions without being contacted directly by humans or exposed to other sources of contamination.

[0027]The sleeve, coaster, and stirring device are each heat resistant, being able to remain in hot water at a temperature of at least 190 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 minutes without any substantial loss in rigidity. The sleeve, coaster, and stirring device, each decomposes in a certified commercial composting facility within at least 90 days to produce an environmentally-safe compost.

Problems solved by technology

Petroleum based plastic products ordinarily are not biodegradable and cannot be converted into compost.

Products made from resins that are biodegradable frequently cannot withstand elevated temperatures and lose their rigidity.

This is an acute problem in attempting to make rigid products such as eating utensils that can withstand the elevated temperatures encountered during shipping or use under certain conditions.

Images