Disposable biodegradable insulated container and method for making

A disposable biodegradable insulated container comprising a substantially frustoconical carrier having an open upper end and substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces and including a frustoconical sidewall formed from a paper blank of substantially uniform thickness and having a seam defined by overlapping opposite marginal end portions of said blank, said blank defining an outwardly directed annular bead having a circular cross-section and surrounding said open upper end, a bottom wall spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of said sidewall and having a depending annular skirt engaged with an associated marginal portion of the inner surface of said sidewall, and means for retaining said skirt in substantially liquid tight engagement with an associated portion of said sidewall inner surface, a frustoconical paper wrap having a substantially uniform thickness and coaxially surrounding said sidewall, said wrap having an upper edge disposed substantially adjacent a lower portion of said bead and a lower edge in general registry with said bottom edge, a plurality of elongate shallow fluted indentations formed in the outer surface of said wrap and substantially equangularly spaced about the axis of said carrier, said wrap having a thickness greater than the depth of said indentations, each of said indentations extending in a direction defined by the intersection of an axial plane of said carrier and said wrap, said indentations being of substantially equal length and terminating in spaced relation to said upper and lower edges of said wrap, each of said indentations defining a corresponding longitudinally extending and inwardly directed rib projecting from the inner surface of said wrap and engaging said sidewall, adjacent ribs cooperating with associated upper and lower marginal portions extending between said adjacent ribs, an associated portion of the outer surface of the sidewall, and an associated portion of the inner surface of said wrap and defining a chamber between said wrap and said sidewall, and means for adhering the upper and lower marginal portions of said wrap to said sidewall, adjacent indentations cooperating with associated upper and lower marginal portions of said wrap extending between said adjacent indentations and bounding a portion of a surface of revolution defined by a smooth outer peripheral surface portion of said wrap, said outer peripheral surface portion having the general shape of an isosceles trapezoid.