# US 10,306,875 B1 · Disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects

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- Number: US 10,306,875 B1
- Document ID: US10306875B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/285,642
- Filed: 2016-10-05
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-05
- Assignees: Verily Life Sciences LLC
- Applicants: Verily Life Sciences LLC
- Inventors: Peter Massaro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306875B1

## CPC

- A01K 67/362: Containers or crates
- B29C 49/4273: {Auxiliary operations after the blow-moulding operation not otherwise provided for}
- B29C 51/10: Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
- B29C 51/266: {Auxiliary operations after the thermoforming operation (B29C51/42, B29C51/44, B29C51/46 take precedence)}
- B29K 2009/00: Use of rubber derived from conjugated dienes, as moulding material
- B29K 2067/046: {PLA, i.e. polylactic acid or polylactide}
- B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films}
- B29K 2995/006: Bio-degradable, e.g. bioabsorbable, bioresorbable or bioerodible
- B29K 2995/0065: Permeability to gases
- B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)}
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects can include a first layer, a mixture, and a second layer. The first layer can be molded to form a cavity and define an opening to allow the mixture to be positioned in the cavity. A quantity of the mixture can be positioned in the cavity and comprise insect larvae and food for the insect larvae. The second layer can be positioned over the opening and coupled to the first layer to seal the opening. The first layer or the second layer can include a disposable material and the second layer can couple to the first layer to form a disposable container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects comprising:
a first layer molded to form a cavity and defining an opening to allow a mixture to be positioned in the cavity;
a quantity of the mixture positioned in the cavity, the mixture comprising insect larvae and food for the insect larvae; and
a second layer positioned over the opening and coupled to the first layer to seal the opening,
wherein the first layer or the second layer comprises a disposable material and the second layer is coupled to the first layer to form the disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the first layer is vacuum molded or blow molded and includes one or more posts extending from the first layer and coupled to the second layer to prevent the cavity from collapsing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 2, wherein the one or more posts comprise a first post positioned at a first position on the first layer and a second post positioned at a second position on the first layer to form a gap between the first post and the second post.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 2, wherein the second layer is graspable at a position by a vacuum arm, wherein a post of the one or more posts is positioned to couple to the second layer at the position to provide stability for the disposable container.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a first plastic film and the second layer comprises a second plastic film, the first plastic film or the second plastic film comprising a gas permeable plastic for allowing air to enter the cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the quantity of the mixture positioned in the cavity forms an air gap of approximately 1/16 of an inch to 2 inches between the mixture and the second layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the first layer or the second layer comprise a clear material for allowing visual observation of a growth of the insect larvae.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the first layer or the second layer comprise an opaque plastic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects is positionable in a compartment of a reusable container as a liner.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the disposable container is biodegradable in a release area.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects of claim 1, wherein the first layer or the second layer comprises a material that is less than approximately 250 microns thick.

### Claim 12

A method comprising:
providing a first layer to be molded to form a cavity and define an opening to allow a mixture to be positioned in the cavity;
providing a quantity of the mixture to be positioned in the cavity, the mixture comprising insect larvae and food for the insect larvae; and
providing a second layer to be positioned over the opening and coupled to the first layer for sealing the opening and to form a disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the first layer to be molded further comprises heating the first layer to more than approximately 110 ° C. and vacuum molding or blow molding the cavity to form one or more posts that extend from the first layer and are coupleable to the second layer to prevent the cavity from collapsing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein providing the first layer to be molded further comprises forming a first post at a first position on the first layer and a second post at a second position on the first layer to form a gap between the first post and the second post.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the first layer to be molded comprises providing a first plastic film, wherein providing the second layer comprises providing a second plastic film, wherein the first plastic film or the second plastic film comprises a gas permeable plastic to allow air to enter the cavity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the quantity of the mixture comprises defining a top surface of the mixture and forming an air gap between the top surface and the second layer, the air gap being approximately a 1/16 of an inch to 2 inches.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the first layer or providing the second layer comprises providing a clear material to allow visual observation of a growth of the insect larvae.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the first layer or providing the second layer comprises providing an opaque plastic.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the second layer to be coupled to the first layer further comprises forming a biodegradable container to be positioned in a release area to release insects as the biodegradable container degrades.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing the first layer or providing the second layer comprises providing a material that is less than approximately 250 microns thick.