Pulp Molded Biodegradable Remove-ably Connectable Lid

Abstract

By creating a slurry of biodegradable material, forming it in a mold under a vacuum, a channel may be created in the lid which can be release-ably connected to a traditional rolled lip coffee cup, among other common liquid holding vessels but be made out of biodegradable material. The resulting lid may be elastic enough such that the lid will give to allow a complementary cup to fit into the channel to create a seal between the cup and the lids. It also will be firm enough to withstand the weight and pressure of the liquid inside the container and from pressure from consumers while using the container. The lid also may be sufficiently heat resistant to withstand desired temperatures and liquid exposure for a time long enough for a consumer to enjoy the contents of the container but also be biodegradable.

1 . A bio-degradable lid that can be remove-ably connected to a container with a rolled lip created by the process comprising:
 softening a firm pulp comprising soaking the firm pulp in a liquid;   allowing the pulp to soften into a pulp pool until the pulp pool transforms into a slurry;   adding food grade water and oil resistants to the slurry;   filtering the slurry;   pumping the slurry into a molding device;   receiving the slurry in a mesh net over the mold under vacuum wherein the mold defines a lid that has a rolled edge capable of being snapped over and be remove-ably connected to a cup;   dehydrating the slurry to form a rough lid;   creating the finished lid comprising cutting the excess material from the rough lid;   inspecting the lid comprising:
 determining if the appearance of the finished lid is acceptable comprising determining if the appearance has color, luster, lack of creases within tolerances; 
 determining if the finished lid weight is within weight limits; 
 determining if the cubage is within cubage limits; 
 determining if the heat proof ability is within heat limits; and 
 determining is microorganisms are within microorganism limits; 
   sterilizing the lids comprising subjecting the lids to ultraviolet radiation;   wherein the lid will biodegrade.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein filtering the slurry further comprises using a mesh type filter. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprising sealing the lids into sealable bags. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprising inspecting the lids against final tolerances. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the firm pulp is selected from a group comprising:
 sugarcane, rice, bamboo, wood fiber, recycled paper and wheat.   
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lids further comprises a top that comprises a hole to allow liquid to flow and a rounded sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the top, is connected to the top and is flared to allow the sidewall to be placed over a receiving container. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6 , wherein the grooved channel is part of the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . A biodegradable lid for a container wherein the container is made from a variety of materials, the lid comprising:
 a top that comprises a hole for liquid to flow;   a rounded sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the top, connected to the top and is flared to allow the sidewall to be placed over a receiving container;   a grooved channel around the perimeter of the lid that can remove-ably receive a rolled lip from the receiving container wherein the receiving container is made from a variety of materials;   wherein the lid comprises a pulp that has been manufactured by:
 softening a firm pulp comprising soaking the firm pulp in a liquid; 
 allowing the pulp to soften into a pulp pool until the pulp pool transforms into a slurry; 
 adding food grade water and oil resistants to the slurry; 
 filtering the slurry; 
 pumping the slurry into a molding device; 
 receiving the slurry in a mesh net over the mold under vacuum wherein the mold defines a lid that has a grooved channel around the perimeter of the lid that can remove-ably receive a rolled lip from a container that comprises a variety of materials and that is capable of being snapped over and be remove-ably connected to a cup to form a releasable seal; 
 dehydrating the slurry to form a rough lid; 
 creating the finished lid comprising cutting the excess material from the rough lid; 
 inspecting the lid comprising:
 determining if the appearance of the finished lid is acceptable comprising determining if the appearance has color, luster, lack of creases within tolerances; 
 determining if the finished lid weight is within weight limits; 
 determining if the cubage is within cubage limits; 
 determining if the heat proof ability is within heat limits; and 
 determining is microorganisms are within microorganism limits; and 
 
 sterilizing the lids comprising subjecting the lids to ultraviolet radiation and wherein the lid will biodegrade. 
   
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein filtering the slurry further comprises using a mesh type filter. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the process further comprising sealing the lids into sealable bags. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the process further comprising inspecting the lids against final tolerances. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the firm pulp is selected from a group comprising:
 sugarcane, rice, bamboo, wood fiber, recycled paper and wheat.   
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the grooved channel is part of the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a biodegradable lid comprising:
 softening a firm pulp comprising soaking the firm pulp in a liquid;   allowing the pulp to soften into a pulp pool until the pulp pool transforms into a slurry;   adding food grade water and oil resistants to the slurry;   filtering the slurry;   pumping the slurry into a molding device;   receiving the slurry in a mesh net over the mold under vacuum wherein the mold defines a lid that has a rolled edge capable of being snapped over and be remove-ably connected to a cup;   dehydrating the slurry to form a rough lid;   creating the finished lid comprising cutting the excess material from the rough lid;   inspecting the lid comprising determining if the appearance of the finished lid is acceptable; and   sterilizing the lids comprising subjecting the lids to ultraviolet radiation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining if the appearance of the finished lid is acceptable further comprises:
 determining if the appearance has color, luster, lack of creases within tolerances;   determining if the finished lid weight is within weight limits;   determining if the cubage is within cubage limits;   determining if the heat proof ability is within heat limits; and   determining is microorganisms are within microorganism limits.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sealing the lids into sealable bags. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inspecting the lids against final tolerances. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the firm pulp is selected from a group comprising:
 sugarcane, rice, bamboo, wood fiber, recycled paper and wheat.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lid further comprises a top that comprises a hole to allow liquid to flow and a rounded sidewall that is substantially perpendicular to the top, is connected to the top and is flared to allow the sidewall to be placed over a receiving container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the grooved channel is part of the sidewall.