U.S. patent application number 14/044595 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-03 for edible, biodegradable food and beverage container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Alec A. BECK, Allicen MAIER. Invention is credited to Alec A. BECK, Allicen MAIER.
Application Number | 20140093625 14/044595 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50385461 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140093625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BECK; Alec A. ; et
al. |
April 3, 2014 |
EDIBLE, BIODEGRADABLE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAINER
Abstract
An edible, biodegradable container that includes an edible or
biodegradable sealant preventing liquids or moisture from foods or
beverages stored therein from being absorbed into the container is
disclosed. The sealant allows the edible container to contain
liquids, even when the liquids are stored for extended periods of
time within the container. The sealant may be applied to the
interior of the container only, or may be applied to the entire
container. The edible container may be configured in any size and
shape to hold a plurality of different foods or beverages such as
cups, mugs, shot glasses, bowls, or bottles. The edible container
may be formed with high side walls, allowing it to hold a beverage
and used like a traditional drinking cup or mug. The edible
container is configured to be eaten during or after consumption of
the food or liquid stored therein.
Inventors: |
BECK; Alec A.; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; MAIER; Allicen; (Santa Monica, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BECK; Alec A.
MAIER; Allicen |
Los Angeles
Santa Monica |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50385461 |
Appl. No.: |
14/044595 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61708676 |
Oct 2, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/138 ;
426/310 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 90/10 20150501;
Y02A 40/90 20180101; B65D 65/463 20130101; Y02A 40/961 20180101;
Y02W 90/13 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/138 ;
426/310 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/46 20060101
B65D065/46 |
Claims
1. An edible container for holding food or beverages, the edible
container comprising: a base; side walls connected to the base; a
top rim formed from the tops of the side walls; and a biodegradable
sealant material, wherein the biodegradable sealant material coats
at least a portion of the interior of the container and prevents
liquids from being absorbed into the edible material.
2. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the edible container is
configured in the shape of a cup with high side walls, wherein the
high side walls have a height greater than the diameter of the
base.
3. The edible container of claim 1, further comprising seasonings
or flavorings coating at least a portion of the exterior of the
edible container.
4. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material comprises a plurality of coatings of biodegradable
sealant material.
5. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material is removable.
6. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material is edible.
7. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material comprises at least one of coconut oil, palm oil,
sugar glaze, honey glaze, hydrophobic edible compound, chocolate
compound, yogurt, shellac, pectin glaze, egg white glaze, or
mixtures thereof.
8. The edible container of claim 1, further comprising predefined
breakaway areas in the side walls formed of a series of
indentations or perforations, wherein the predefined breakaway
areas are designed to break off from the edible container without
cracking or weakening the entire container.
9. A method of forming an edible container, the method comprising:
providing a mold having the desired shape of the container;
providing a flexible, edible material; forming the edible material
around the mold, including forming side walls and a base; allowing
the edible material to set into a final container form; and coating
at least a portion of the interior of the final container form with
a biodegradable sealant material, wherein the biodegradable sealant
material prevents liquids from being absorbed into the edible
material.
10. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, wherein
forming the edible material around the mold comprises cutting the
edible material into multiple pieces and joining the pieces
together on the mold.
11. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, wherein
forming the edible material around the mold comprises shaping a
single piece of edible material around the mold.
12. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, wherein
coating at least a portion of the interior of the final form
comprises applying a plurality of coatings as layers, allowing each
layer to set before a subsequent layer is applied.
13. The edible container of claim 8, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material is removable.
14. The edible container of claim 8, wherein the biodegradable
sealant material is edible.
15. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, wherein
the biodegradable sealant material comprises at least one of
coconut oil, palm oil, sugar glaze, honey glaze, hydrophobic edible
compound, chocolate compound, yogurt, shellac, pectin glaze, egg
white glaze, or mixtures thereof.
16. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, wherein
forming the side walls comprises forming high side walls have a
height greater than the diameter of the base.
17. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, further
comprising coating at least a portion of the exterior of the edible
container with seasonings or flavorings.
18. The method of forming an edible container of claim 8, further
comprising forming predefined breakaway areas in the side walls by
including a series of indentations or perforations, wherein the
predefined breakaway areas are designed to break off from the
edible container without cracking or weakening the entire
container.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/708,676, filed on Oct. 2, 2012, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present application relates to an edible container, and
more particularly to an edible, biodegradable container configured
to hold both food and beverages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Edible servers for foods are well known in the prior art.
These typically comprise a dough based composition that is baked or
otherwise cooked to form a hardened shell. Most often, solid foods
or pastes are then placed into the edible shell for consumption.
For example, ice cream cones have been made of pretzel or dough
materials, and pastries have been filled with chocolate. However,
these containers can often become soggy or break apart when filled
with a liquid for more than a brief period of time. This problem
can also occur not just with liquids, but with other foods that
introduce moisture into the edible container, such as yogurts,
jams, and certain cheeses.
[0004] Additionally, these prior edible servers typically contain
low walls that limit their use. Because these prior art containers
become soggy after absorbing liquid or moisture, they begin to lose
their shape and integrity. Thus, these prior art edible containers
are not typically high-walled containers that could be used to hold
a beverage. Instead, they have taken the form of low-walled bread
bowls for soups or chili that become soggy and only hold food for a
limited time, and not a high-walled container in the form of a
traditional drinking glass for liquids.
[0005] What is needed is an edible container that is sealed, with
an edible or biodegradable sealant, on the inside to keep liquids
or moisture from soaking into the container even when stored
therein for extended periods of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present application is directed to an edible,
biodegradable container that includes an edible or biodegradable
sealant preventing liquids or moisture from foods or beverages
stored therein from being absorbed into the container, even when
stored for extended periods of time. The sealant may be applied to
the interior of the container only, or may be applied to the entire
container. The edible container may be configured in any size and
shape to hold a plurality of different foods or beverages such as
cups, mugs, shot glasses, bowls, or bottles. The top of the edible
container may remain open, or a lid of edible material may be
included. The edible container is configured to be eaten during or
after consumption of the food or liquid stored therein. In some
embodiments, a portion of the food or beverage may be allowed to
soak into the edible container over time, adding to the flavor.
Seasonings may be used in or on the edible material of the
container to enhance flavor as well.
[0007] In order to form the shape of the container, a mold may be
used with the edible material. The edible material may be cut to a
size to fit the mold, and then applied and formed around the mold.
Alternatively, the edible material may be rolled into a coil shape,
and then wrapped around the mold. The shape of the edible container
may also be formed without the use of a mold. Once the edible
material is in the desired shape for the container, it may be baked
or otherwise allowed to set. The container may also be molded into
a final shape using dough extrusion or dough wrapping, similar to
the coiling process. The edible material could also be molded into
the final shape for the container by squeezing the dough between
male and female molds, or shaping it on a spinning wheel such as
those used for pottery or lathe work. Allowing the edible material
to set into the final shape may be done by, for example, baking,
frying hot air frying, boiling, gluing using edible glue such as
egg shite or binding agents, pressure cooking, or dehydrating. The
process of forming the edible container may be done by hand, or may
be done as part of a mass-production process using machinery. Once
the container is in the final shape, the food or liquid may be
added.
[0008] According to some embodiments, the edible material used for
the container may complement the food or beverage stored therein.
For example, the edible container may be made of pretzel dough and
the beverage may be beer or a soft drink. As another example, the
edible container could be made out of granola and could hold a food
substance such as yogurt or jam.
[0009] Using edible, biodegradable materials for food and beverage
containers has the added benefit of reducing the amount of plastics
used and sent to landfills. In addition, users can enjoy the
novelty of drinking or eating out of a container made of edible
material, such as a cup made of pretzel.
[0010] The edible, biodegradable container is designed to contain a
beverage or food substance and also be eaten, during or after
consumption of the food or beverage therein. The container
eliminates plastic used for typical beverage containers, and allows
for consumption of food in a novel way while drinking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an edible container with high
side walls that may be used to hold a beverage.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an illustration of an edible container formed by
wrapping coils of dough around a mold.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the edible container when
filled with a beverage.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a user drinking a beverage from
the edible container.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an edible container in a small
cup shape and filled with yogurt.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an edible container in a bowl
shape.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an edible container in a barrel
shape with a closed top and bottom, and containing a food
substance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The edible, biodegradable container of the present invention
is configured to hold liquids or foods with high moisture content
for extended periods of time without becoming soggy or breaking
apart. An edible sealant may be used to coat in the interior of the
container, or may be applied to the entire container, to prevent
liquids or moisture from soaking in. Once formed and sealed, the
edible container is filled with a beverage or food substance. The
user drinks or eats the substance while also eating, or before
eating, the edible container at their desired pace. The user may
eat the entire edible container, or may throw away all or part of
the edible container knowing it is biodegradable.
[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a completed biodegradable,
edible container. The edible container 1 is formed from an edible
material in a single structure. The edible container 1 contains a
base portion and side walls 2 designed to confine the beverage or
food held within the container. The side walls 2 are fitted
securely to the base, either during a baking process or through the
use of an edible material that holds them together. For example, a
honey or other syrupy material that sets may be used to join the
base and side walls. Alternatively, the base and sidewalls may be
formed from one continuous piece of material. As seen in FIG. 1,
the edible container 1 may be in the shape of a cup or mug and the
side walls 2 may be high in order to hold beverages therein. High
side walls may include walls with a height greater than the
diameter of the base of the edible container. For example, the
edible container 1 may be a cup about 6'' tall with a 3'' diameter,
and the edible material forming the bottom and side walls 2 may
have a 1/3'' thickness. An edible 3 sealant is applied to the
interior of the edible container 1. The rim 5 of the edible
container may be seasoned or coated with flavorings to enhance
enjoyment of the food or beverage contained therein. For example,
if the edible container is made of a pretzel material, the rim 5
may be coated with salt. If the edible container is made of a
cookie or cake material, the rim 5 may be coated with a chocolate,
vanilla or other flavored frosting. Such seasonings or flavorings
may also be applied to the exterior of the side walls 2 of the
container 1, and may also be applied to the interior of the
container or the base of the container. As shown in FIG. 1, when
the edible material is pretzel, a salt seasoning 6 may be applied
to the outer surface. A logo, pattern, or design 4 may be baked or
otherwise imprinted into the side walls 2 of the container, the
base of the container, or a top of the container. A logo, pattern
or design that is printed on a biodegradable material may also be
applied to the side walls, top or base of the container. The
imprinting may be performed using a laser to etch or burn the logo,
pattern, or design into the walls of edible container.
[0020] To make the edible container, the edible material is chosen
and prepared so that it is in a flexible form. The edible material
may then be cut into various shapes depending on the desired final
form the edible container, and affixed to a mold. For example, if a
user wants to make an edible cup shaped container, the edible
material may be cut into a rectangle and a circle and affixed
around and under a cylindrical mold to form the side walls and
base. The different pieces of the edible material may be pinched or
otherwise joined together while on the mold to make the shape of
the edible container. Alternatively, a user may make one or more
very long strips of edible material, such as pretzel dough. These
strips may then be coiled around the mold from the "lip" at the
bottom to the top, and sealed in the center to make one tightly
sealed edible container. Instead of multiple pieces, the edible
material may also be formed of one continuous piece that is
wrapped, folded, coiled or otherwise shaped around the mold. Once
it has been formed around the mold, the edible material is set or
hardened into the final form of the container, such as by baking,
frying, hot air frying, boiling, gluing using edible glue such as
egg white or binding agents, pressure cooking, or dehydrating.
According to some aspects of the invention, an edible material such
as a pretzel or cookie dough could be placed onto a mold, and then
placed into an oven to bake with the open, top end facing down.
After baking, the edible container is allowed to cool and then the
mold is removed. A sealant substance may then be applied as
described in more detail below.
[0021] According to some aspects of the invention, the edible
container may be formed with pre-defined areas designed to break
off of the rest of the container without cracking or weakening the
entire container. These pre-defined areas may be formed using
breakaway lines such as a series of small indentations or
perforations, or may be formed using indented creases along the
outside edge of the edible container. These pre-defined areas allow
a user to break off smaller pieces of the container for consumption
while maintaining the integrity of the edible container as a whole,
such that it continues to hold any remaining food or beverage. FIG.
2 is an image of an edible container 1, showing the interior space
and sealant 3 in more detail. For illustrative purposes only, the
edible material is shown to be pretzel, but other types of
materials could form the edible container shown such as cake,
bread, pita, blended and dried veggies and fruits, cereals, cookie,
or granola. The edible container illustrated in FIG. 2 may be
formed as a cup made of traditional recipe soft pretzel dough. The
dough may then be wrapped around a cup-shaped mold like a coil,
glazed and then baked. The mold may be removed either before or
after the baking process. After the edible material has been baked
and is in the final form for the container, a sealant material 3
may be applied at least to the interior of the container 1.
According to some embodiments, the sealant may be coconut oil
applied to the inside of the container. After applying the coconut
oil, or other sealant material, the container 1 may be put in a
freezer to harden the coconut oil so that it will act as sealant to
keep liquids or moisture from foods with high moisture content from
leaking into edible container walls and base and making the
container soggy or break apart. The sealant may absorb slightly
into the edible material on the inside of the container before
hardening. In order to ensure a sufficient seal, the process of
applying a layer of sealant and freezing to harden to the sealant
may be repeated multiple times. Depending on the sealant used, the
sealant should stay in hardened form even when a cold beverage is
put into the edible container 1. For example, a coconut oil sealant
will stay hard as long as beverages colder than the 77 degree
Fahrenheit coconut oil melting point are used. A user may choose
different sealant materials based on the type and temperature
beverage or food they plan to use in the edible container. Although
the use of a freezer has been described above, sealant may be
allowed to set at any temperature above their melting point.
However, the use of a freezer or other chilling environment can
reduce the time necessary for the sealant to set.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an edible container 1 using a
pretzel material with a beverage contained therein. As shown in
FIG. 3, the container 1 may be partially consumed as the beverage
is also consumed. FIG. 4 is an illustration of a user drinking a
beverage from the edible container 1.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an edible container using
granola as the edible material. The edible granola container may be
formed around a mold to provide the desired container shape. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5, the edible granola container may be
formed around a small cup shaped mold and filled with an edible
food substance such as yogurt. As shown in FIG. 6, the granola
container may also be formed using a bowl shaped mold. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6, the edible containers of the present invention may
be formed with vertical walls, or they may have walls that taper
from the bottom to the top. The edible granola containers may take
any shape by using the appropriate molds, or by hand forming the
containers. In some aspects of the invention, the granola may be
pressure molded and either baked or allowed to cold set. A spray on
sealant may be used to coat the exterior and interior of the edible
container, providing additional structural support.
[0024] As described above, the edible container may be formed of
any edible material that will hold its shape, such as hard or soft
pretzel dough, cookie dough, cake, cereals or granola. After the
edible container has set in its final form, a sealant such as an
oil, glaze, or sugary compound may be applied to the interior of
the container, or to the entire container. Preferably, the sealant
is also made out of an edible, biodegradable substance. For
example, the sealant may comprise at least one of, or a mixture of,
coconut oil, palm oil, sugar glaze, honey glaze, hydrophobic edible
compound, chocolate compound, yogurt, shellac, pectin glaze, egg
white glaze, or other edible material that will set to a hardened
form. After the sealant has set, a seasoning may be applied to the
container to enhance the flavor. The seasonings may be selected
based on the edible material used for the container and on the food
or beverage that will be placed into the container for consumption.
Alternatively, the seasonings may be applied to the edible material
before baking or setting, and the sealant may be applied over the
top of any seasoning on the interior of the container.
[0025] As seen in FIGS. 1-7, the biodegradable, edible container 1
may have a structure comprising a base and high side walls 2. The
implementation of high side walls allows the edible container to be
used for holding beverages. The base is fitted securely to the high
side wall 2, either through joining the dough and baking them
together or by using a substance between the side walls and base to
hold them together. When the edible container is formed using the
coiled construction mentioned above, the base and the sidewall are
formed from one or more strands of edible material, making the
entire container from one piece. The same substance used for the
sealant may be used to join the base and side walls. The side walls
width may match the circumference of any given size container
bottom, and the height may be selected based on the desired use for
the edible container. For example, the container may take the shape
of a shot glass that is less than 2 inches high, a cup or drinking
glass, a large mug that is 15 inches or taller, or a bowl. Balance
and structural stability will play a factor in the right dimensions
for each size edible container. The width of the container may vary
depending on strength and hardness of edible material used to form
the container, and on the user's preference.
[0026] The sealant 3 applied to the container plugs up any porous
surface of the edible material so any beverage or food placed into
the edible container will not leak from inside the container into
the edible material until a specific length of time has elapsed.
The amount of time that the sealant material will keep the beverage
or food from leaking into the container may be dependent on the
type or mixture of sealants used, the number of coatings applied,
storage conditions, outside temperature, temperature of the cup,
and beverage or food temperature. The sealant may be applied
liberally and evenly to all of the inside of the cup and then
allowed to harden or set by cooling it to below its melting point.
In order to ensure a sufficient seal, the sealant material may be
applied in several coatings, with each coating allowed to harden or
set before the next coating is applied. As an alternative to the
edible sealants, a piece of biodegradable paper (in the shape of
the interior of the container), may be placed in the container
before the beverage or other food substance is poured in. This
creates a much longer sealant time, as provides the user with the
option to take it out and any time to let the beverage soak in. The
biodegradable paper may be sliced at the bottom and overlapped so
it unfolds during removal as to prevent spillage. The same type of
biodegradable paper can also be used to handle the edible during
storage, purchase and transfer to customers for safety and health
reasons, and to minimize materials used overall.
[0027] A seasoning or other flavoring garnish may be applied to the
rim or walls of the edible container. The seasoning or flavoring
could be applied to the entire edible container, both inside and
outside. The seasoning or flavorings may also be applied around the
top rim of the edible container, like using salt to rim a margarita
glass. In order to have the seasoning or flavoring stick to the
container, a glazed layer of either egg white or water (for
example) may be applied to the container. Alternatively, the
seasoning or flavoring may be pressed into or coated onto the
edible material before or after setting. The seasonings or
flavorings used may depend on the type of edible material, and may
be chosen to complement the taste of the edible container and the
food or beverage contained therein. For example, chocolate frosting
may be used with a cookie container holding milk or grains of salt
applied to a pretzel container holding beer. The seasonings or
flavorings used may include honey mustard, garlic, sesame, or other
common flavorings. For pretzel containers, both hard and soft
pretzel dough may be used with various seasonings. As part of the
process of making an edible pretzel container, and alkaline bath
may be used to help seasonings or flavor more readily adhere to the
container. The raw pretzel dough may be conveyed to an alkaline
bath filled with an aqueous solution of either sodium carbonate or
lye. The bath may have an overall concentration of 1% sodium
hydroxide, and may be held at a temperature of around 200 degrees
Fahrenheit. The raw pretzel dough may be submerged in the bath, and
may float when finished. The alkaline bath gelatinizes the starch
on the pretzel's surface making it gummy and sticky, allowing the
salt to adhere more readily.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the
edible container with a food or beverage filling that may be
enclosed at both the top and the bottom. As shown in FIG. 7, the
edible container may be constructed in the same manner as described
above, but with both a base and a top being joined to the side
walls. In some embodiments, the top portion may be baked separately
from the rest of the edible container, and then joined after the
food or beverage has been placed inside. Alternatively, the top may
be baked or set with the rest of the container. When the top and
the rest of the container are baked or set together, the food or
beverage may be inserted before the edible container sets or may be
injected into the container after it has set. When injected after
the container has been set, a syringe or needle may be used to
introduce the food or beverage filling into the interior of the
container.
[0029] As mentioned above, the outside of the edible container may
be formed with logos or designs integrated into the edible material
itself. These logos or designs may be formed, for example, by
baking them into the outside edge. Alternatively, the logo or
design may be formed by having various colored ingredients arranged
in patterns to form the designs or logos on the outside of the
container. A mold may be configured to hold ingredients of a
certain color and press them into or against the outside of the
container. For example, a mold may hold dark colored chocolate
chips and allow them to pressed into the exterior of a container
made of granola. According to one aspect of the invention, the
molds may have interchangeable plates that allow for different
logos or designs to be used on the same general mold machine. A
logo may be cut out of a solid mold, with the dough or other edible
material expanding into a space in the mold to take the shape of
the logo or design. When the mold is removed, the logo or design
would then protrude from the side walls of the edible container,
creating a three-dimensional image. Engraving, such as laser
engraving, may be used to increase the depth and detail of the
images, while also reducing the materials required to switch plates
and operate the molds to create different logos or designs. An
edible logo may also be printed with edible ink onto an edible
label, and attached to the surface of the edible container. In
addition, a biodegradable label may be affixed to the outside of
the container. Such a biodegradable label may allow the edible
containers to be sold at sporting events, where vendors may not be
allowed to directly touch the food products. The label may be made
from biodegradable thin paper or cotton, and can be placed around
the outer circumference of the edible container. The label may be
formed of one or more pieces that wrap around the sides and bottom
of the edible container that can then be peeled off when a person
wants to consume the container.
[0030] As described herein, the edible container may be formed from
pretzel, cake, cookie dough, cereals, or granola. The pretzel
container of the present invention may be used to store, and allow
a user to consume, various foods and beverages including, but not
limited to, beer, water, soda, smoothie, cheese, chili, ice cream,
juice, iced tea, dipping sauces, fruits or fruit sauces,
vegetables, soups, salads, or pastas. The granola container may be
used to store, and allow a user to consume, various foods and
beverages including, but not limited to, yogurt, smoothie, pudding,
Jell-O, tapioca, juices, meal replacement drinks, polish pudding,
kisiel, horchata, lemonade, coffee, tea, pie fillings, bread
puddings, creme brulee, water, soda, vegetables, fruits, oatmeal,
cereals, or nut butters. Other edible container and filling
combinations may include bagel containers with cream cheese
fillings, pita cups with hummus, tabouli, cheese or vegetable
fillings, or boba cup containers with iced tea, smoothie or juice
fillings.
* * * * *