Polylactic acid-based custom product packaging and associated methods
AssigneeLifoam Industries, LLC
InventorsSaumitra Bhargava, Jonathan Godfrey, Timothy Pritchett
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Abstract
Molded foam articles are provided. The molded foam articles are formed from polylactic acid and are capable of a number of post-processing or secondary uses. Forming the molded foam articles from polylactic acid advantageously extend the life of the molded bead foam article by permitting users to cut, heat, adhere, modify, and repurpose the molded foam articles.
Claims36
A custom product packaging comprising at least one molded bead foam article comprising polylactic acid, wherein the at least one molded bead foam article has been modified through at least one of (i) machining, (ii) adhesion to another molded bead foam article, (iii) boiling, or (iv) thermoforming.
A method for producing custom product packaging comprising:
- molding a plurality of foam beads comprising polylactic acid to produce at least one molded foam article, and
- subjecting the at least one molded bead foam article to at least one secondary process to form the custom product packaging, wherein the secondary process comprises (i) machining, (ii) adhesion to another molded bead foam article, (iii) boiling, or (iv) thermoforming.
A method of producing protective packaging, the method comprising:
- molding a plurality of foam beads comprising polylactic acid to produce at least one molded bead foam article,
- shaping the at least one molded bead foam article into a shape, wherein the shape corresponds to at least a portion of an object, and then
- combining one or more shaped foam articles into the protective packaging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.