Eco-friendly Liquid Container

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an environmentally friendly container for liquids that is designed to use few materials and, upon disassembly, may easily be separated into recyclable elements. The container includes a housing, a flexible storage bag within the housing, and a lid positioned over an end of the housing, wherein the flexible storage bag is held between the lid and the housing. Further, the container includes a shrink-wrap film surrounding at least a portion of the housing and lid, wherein the shrink-wrap film secures the lid to the housing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a housing including a side wall, a housing first end, and a housing second end;   a flexible storage bag within the housing;   a lid positioned over the housing first end, wherein at least a portion of the flexible storage bag is held between the lid and the housing first end; and   a shrink-wrap film surrounding at least a portion of the housing and at least a portion of the lid, wherein the shrink-wrap film secures the lid to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tab extending from the housing second end, wherein the at least one tab defines a bottom plane perpendicular to the side wall, wherein the shrink-wrap film surrounds at least a portion of the at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab and the shrink-wrap film retain the bottom panel within the housing along the bottom plane. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the housing is formed from a single sheet of paper. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein at least two portions of the flexible storage bag are secured between the lid and the housing first end. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes an opening providing access to the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a straw releasably connected to an outer surface of the shrink-wrap film, wherein the straw is configured to puncture through the shrink-wrap film and the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a liquid within the flexible storage bag, wherein the amount of liquid is less than the storage capacity of the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the housing is made of a foldable cardboard. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the flexible storage bag is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the housing is an octagon. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a container, the method comprising:
 forming a housing including a side wall, a housing first end, and a housing second end;   inserting a flexible storage bag into the housing;   placing a lid over the housing first end wherein the lid secures at least a portion of the flexible storage bag between the housing first end and the lid; and   securing the lid to the housing by heat sealing a shrink-wrap film around at least a portion of the housing and at least a portion of the lid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the container further comprises at least one tab extending from the housing second end, wherein the at least one tab defines a bottom plane perpendicular to the side wall, wherein the shrink-wrap film surrounds at least a portion of the at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab and the shrink-wrap film retain the bottom panel within the housing along the bottom plane. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the housing is formed by folding a single sheet of paper. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at least two portions of the flexible storage bag are secured between the lid and the housing first end. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the lid includes an opening providing access to the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising releasably attaching a straw to an outer surface of the heat sealed shrink-wrap film, wherein the straw is configured to puncture through the shrink-wrap film and the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flexible storage bag includes a liquid, wherein the amount of liquid is less than the storage capacity of the flexible storage bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the housing is made of a foldable cardboard. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the flexible storage bag is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the housing is an octagon.