Transparent moisture barrier coatings for containers

Abstract

Containers for smokeless tobacco products and other consumer and food products are provided. The containers include a layer of fibrous material, wherein the layer of fibrous material includes a moisture barrier layer imbedded within the layer of fibrous material or carried on an outer surface of the layer of fibrous material as a coating, the moisture barrier layer incorporating at least one of: (i) a triazine-containing compound; (ii) a nano-cellulose material; (iii) a nanoclay material; (iv) a polymer composition comprising one or more of a salt of one or more of myristic, palmitic and stearic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, and a C 9 -C 18 fatty acid complex of a metal ion having an oxidation state of at least three; and (v) an inorganic oxide material.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a body having a bottom wall and a side wall, the bottom wall and the side wall defining an internal storage compartment adapted for storage of a product, and a top configured to be engaged with the body, wherein at least one of the bottom wall, side wall, and top comprises a layer of fibrous material, wherein the layer of fibrous material comprises a moisture barrier layer imbedded within the layer of fibrous material or carried on an outer surface of the layer of fibrous material as a coating, the moisture barrier layer comprising at least one of: (i) a triazine-containing compound; (ii) a nano-cellulose material; (iii) a nanoclay material; (iv) a polymer composition comprising one or more of a salt of one or more of myristic, palmitic and stearic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, and a C 9 -C 18  fatty acid complex of a metal ion having an oxidation state of at least three; and (v) an inorganic oxide material.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material is a fiberboard, cardboard, paper, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a wrapping material extending about a perimeter of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the wrapping material comprises fiberboard, cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition comprises a polymer, copolymer, or a mixture of polymers and copolymers. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer composition comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene butadiene copolymers, modified styrene butadiene copolymers, styrene/acrylate copolymers, carboxylated polystyrene, acrylic/polyacrylic polymers, polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate-ethylene, polyvinyl acrylic, soy protein polymer; corn zein (protein), starch, polyolefin dispersion, polyvinylidene chloride, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers, polybutylene succinate, plasticized cellulose acetate, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one triazine-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, ammeline, ammelide, cyanuric acid, 2-ureidomelamine, melam, melem, melon, melamine cyanurate, melamine phosphate, dimelamine pyrophosphate, melamine polyphosphate, hexamethoxymethyl melamine, and acrylate-functionalized melamine. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the nano-cellulose material is a nano-fibrillated or nanocrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoclay material is a platey kaolin, nanoclay, clay nanocomposite, or polymer-clay nanocomposite. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic oxide material comprises AlOx, SiOx, or MgOx. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the internal storage compartment contains a plurality of products selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products, and food products. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the top is removable from the body. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the top is engaged with the body. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a smokeless tobacco container or a cigarette pack. 
     
     
         15 . A container for smokeless tobacco products, comprising:
 a body having a bottom wall and a side wall, the bottom wall and the side wall defining an internal storage compartment adapted for storage of smokeless tobacco, and a top configured to be engaged with the body, wherein at least one of the bottom wall, side wall, and top comprises a layer of fibrous material, wherein the layer of fibrous material comprises a moisture barrier layer imbedded within the layer of fibrous material or carried on an outer surface of the layer of fibrous material as a coating, the moisture barrier layer comprising at least one of: (i) a triazine-containing compound; (ii) a nano-cellulose material; (iii) a nanoclay material; (iv) a polymer composition comprising one or more of a salt of one or more of myristic, palmitic and stearic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, and a C 9 -C 18  fatty acid complex of a metal ion having an oxidation state of at least three; and (v) an inorganic oxide material.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the top is removable from body. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom wall and side wall comprise fiberboard. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the top comprises fiberboard. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the top comprises a metal or polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer composition comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene butadiene copolymers, modified styrene butadiene copolymers, styrene/acrylate copolymers, carboxylated polystyrene, acrylic/polyacrylic polymers, polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate-ethylene, polyvinyl acrylic, soy protein polymer; corn zein (protein), starch, polyolefin dispersion, polyvinylidene chloride, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers, polybutylene succinate, plasticized cellulose acetate, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one triazine-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, ammeline, ammelide, cyanuric acid, 2-ureidomelamine, melam, melem, melon, melamine cyanurate, melamine phosphate, dimelamine pyrophosphate, melamine polyphosphate, hexamethoxymethyl melamine, and acrylate-functionalized melamine. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the nano-cellulose material is a nano-fibrillated or nanocrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the nanoclay material is a platey kaolin, nanoclay, clay nanocomposite, or polymer-clay nanocomposite. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the inorganic oxide material comprises AlOx, SiOx, or MgOx. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the top and body are generally cylindrical.