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AssigneeE. Khashoggi Industries
InventorsPer Just Andersen, Simon K. Hodson
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Containers use in the storing, dispensing, packaging, and/or portioning of food and beverage products are disclosed. The disposable and nondisposable food and beverage containers are manufactured from aggregates held together by organic binders in order to be lightweight, insulative, inexpensive, and more environmentally compatible than those currently used for storing, dispensing, packaging, or portioning such products. The food and beverage containers of the present invention are particularly useful for dispensing hot and cold food and beverages in the fast food restaurant environment.
An article of manufacture for storing, dispensing, packaging, or portioning food or beverage products having a structural matrix comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of aggregate and organic binder reinforced with a fibrous material, the structural matrix formed by removing a substantial quantity of water by evaporation from a hydrated mixture comprising an organic binder selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, and mixtures or derivatives thereof, water, a fibrous material, and an inert inorganic aggregate material, wherein after removing a substantial quantity of the water from the hydrated mixture the inorganic aggregate has a concentration of at least about 40% by weight of the structural matrix, wherein the structural matrix of the article of manufacture is in the shape of a container suitable for use with food or beverage products, has a thickness less than about 1 cm, and has a density less than about 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the structural matrix includes a coating thereon and wherein the coating renders the structural matrix substantially nonporous.
An article of manufacture for storing, dispensing, packaging or portioning food or beverage products comprising a structural matrix reinforced with fibers, the structural matrix comprising a substantially homogenous mixture of aggregate and organic binder, the structural matrix formed by removing a substantial quantity of water by evaporation from a hydrated mixture comprising an organic binder selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, and mixtures or derivatives thereof, water, an inert inorganic aggregate material, and fibers, wherein after removing a substantial quantity of the water from the hydrated mixture the inorganic aggregate has a concentration greater than about 40% by weight of the structural matrix, wherein the fibers are substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the structural matrix of aggregate and organic binder, wherein the structural matrix of the article of manufacture is in the shape of a container suitable for use with food or beverage products, has a density of less than about 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, degrades after prolonged exposure to water, and has a thickness less than about 1 cm, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the structural matrix includes a coating thereon.
A food or beverage container having a structural matrix comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of aggregate and organic binder formed by removing a substantial quantity of water by evaporation from a hydrated mixture including water, an organic binder selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, proteins and mixtures or derivatives thereof, a fibrous material, and an inert inorganic aggregate having a concentration in a range from about 15% to about 70% by weight of the hydrated mixture, wherein the structural matrix of the food or beverage container is suitable for use with food or beverage products, has a density of less than about 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, degrades after prolonged exposure to water, and has a thickness less than about 1 cm, wherein at least a portion of the structural matrix includes a coating.
An article of manufacture for storing, dispensing, packaging, or portioning food or beverage products having a structural matrix comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of aggregate and organic binder, the structural matrix formed by removing a substantial quantity of water by evaporation from a hydrated mixture comprising an organic binder selected from the group consisting of polysaccharide gums, proteins, cellulose-based materials, nonionic starches, and mixtures or derivatives thereof, water, fibers, and an inert inorganic aggregate material, the inorganic aggregate having a concentration in a range from about 15% to about 70% by weight of the hydrated mixture, wherein the structural matrix of the article of manufacture is in the shape of a container suitable for use with food or beverage products, has a thickness less than about 1 cm and has a density less than about 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, and wherein at least a portion of the surface of the structural matrix includes a coating thereon .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.