Beverage container with internal antimicrobial texture

Abstract

A beverage container having an antimicrobial texture lining its interior, and methods of creating this beverage container.

1 . A beverage container, comprising:
 an interior surface, comprising a laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) texture.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a beverage compartment, wherein said LIPSS texture entirely lines said beverage compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , containing a beverage in contact with said LIPSS texture. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum insulation layer disposed between said interior surface and an exterior surface of said beverage container. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface is made of food grade 220 stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface is made of a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface is made of a glass. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making an antimicrobial beverage container, comprising:
 S 1 : providing a beverage container comprising a beverage compartment; and   S 2 : applying a LIPSS texture to an interior surface of said beverage compartment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step S 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 1 : inserting a femtosecond laser applicator into said beverage compartment; and 
 S 2 . 2 : etching said interior surface with said femtosecond laser applicator to form said LIPSS texture. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said interior surface is steel and step S 2 . 2  is performed with a Ti:sapphire laser amplifier system generating linearly polarized 30 femtosecond laser pulses at 1 kilohertz with a 790 nanometer central wavelength. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein step S 2 . 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 2 . 1 : moving said beverage container relative to said femtosecond laser applicator to etch the entire interior surface of said beverage compartment. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step S 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 1 : inserting a milling head into said beverage compartment; and 
 S 2 . 2 : milling said interior surface with said milling head to form said LIPSS texture. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step S 2 . 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 2 . 1 : moving said beverage container relative to said milling head to mill the entire interior surface of said beverage compartment. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step S 2  is performed by additive manufacturing techniques. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step S 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 1 : injection molding a liner using a mold configured with a negative texture complementary to said LIPSS texture; and 
 S 2 . 2 : bonding said liner into said beverage container. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an antimicrobial beverage container, comprising:
 S 1 : providing a mold, configured to cast an interior compartment of a beverage container lined with a LIPSS texture; and   S 2 : casting said beverage container with said mold.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step S 1  comprises:
 S 1 . 1 : providing a template beverage container; 
 S 1 . 2 : applying a LIPSS texture to an interior surface of said template beverage container to form a LIPSS textured template; and 
 S 1 . 3 : casting said mold using said LIPSS textured template. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said template beverage container is made of steel, and step S 1 . 2  comprises:
 S 1 . 2 . 1 : inserting a femtosecond laser applicator into said template beverage container; and 
 S 1 . 2 . 2 : etching said interior surface with said femtosecond laser applicator to form a LIPSS texture on said interior surface, 
 wherein said femtosecond laser applicator uses a Ti:sapphire laser amplifier system generating linearly polarized 30 femtosecond laser pulses at 1 kilohertz with a 790 nanometer central wavelength. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step S 2  is performed by injection molding of the entire antimicrobial beverage container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step S 2  comprises:
 S 2 . 1 : injection molding a liner with said mold; and 
 S 2 . 2 : bonding said liner into a pre-existing beverage container.