Compostable container for storing fluids

Abstract

A fully compostable container is provided having an enclosed body with an opening through an interior surface and an exterior surface. The enclosed body having a plant fiber structural layer configured to biodegrade in ambient conditions into nontoxic residue and a fluid barrier layer formed on a first side of the structural layer to form the interior surface of the enclosed body, the fluid barrier layer configured to biodegrade in ambient conditions into nontoxic residue. The container is gradually biodegradable when exposed to a set of factors in a natural environment and has a shelf life of six months when stored under standard commercial conditions.

1 . A cap for an ambient compostable container, comprising:
 a first end that is open and is configured to be coupled to sidewalls of the container;   a second end that is closed that prevents fluid from passing through the first end and through the cap when the cap is coupled to the container; and   a cap sidewall that extends from the first end to the second end, each of the first end, the second end, and the cap sidewall being formed from an ambient compostable material that is configured to degrade into nontoxic residue in ambient environmental temperatures in the range of 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap has a shelf life of approximately six months. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein during the shelf life, the cap is substantially insoluble and temperature resistant. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is made of a potato starch. 
     
     
         5 . A device, comprising:
 a cap formed from an ambient compostable material configured to degrade into nontoxic residue in ambient environmental temperatures in the range of 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, the cap having:   a first end that is open;   a second end that is closed; and   a sidewall having a substantially cylindrical shape, the sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the cap has a shelf life of approximately six months. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein during the shelf life, the cap is substantially insoluble and temperature resistant. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the cap is made of a potato starch. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the cap is configured to couple to a mouth of a container and form a fluid tight seal. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a first portion formed from an ambient compostable material that is configured to degrade into nontoxic residue in ambient environmental temperatures in the range of 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, the first portion including:
 a first seal portion; and 
 a first recess; and 
   a second portion formed from an ambient compostable material that is configured to degrade into nontoxic residue in ambient environmental temperatures in the range of 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, the second portion including:
 a second seal portion; and 
 a first protrusion that is configured to nest in the first recess. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a container, wherein the first and the second seal portions are configured to combine to form a fluid tight seal with an opening of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion further includes a second protrusion corresponding to the first recess. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second protrusion is configured to form a fluid tight seal with the opening of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion further comprises an inlet cutout configured to couple the cap to the container. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion further comprises an inlet cutout configured to couple the cap to the container. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second seal portions are configured to combine to form the fluid tight seal when the first protrusion nests in the first recess. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed of a structural fiber material blended with a fluid resistant resin.