Compostable cup

Abstract

A compostable cup includes a base, an opening, a body extending between the base and the opening, the body having a curved profile and a thickness less than 0.7 mm, a lip circumscribing the opening, a plurality of ribs distributed about the opening, and a material including P-Hydroxy-Benzoate Hydroxylase (PHBH). Related systems and articles of manufacture are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compostable cup, comprising:
 a base;   an opening;   a body extending between the base and the opening, the body having a curved profile and a thickness of 0.5 mm, with a tolerance of less than 10%;   a lip circumscribing the opening;   a plurality of ribs distributed about the opening; and   a material including P-Hydroxy-Benzoate Hydroxylase (PHBH).   
     
     
         2 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the material consists of the PHBH material. 
     
     
         3 . The compostable cup of  claim 2 , wherein the compostable cup is made by a process including injection molding the PHBH. 
     
     
         4 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the body and the base is uniform. 
     
     
         5 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the body is uniform between the base and the lip. 
     
     
         6 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the body allows the compostable cup to be composted and/or biodegraded in at least one of home composting conditions, landfill conditions, and commercial conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable cup is configured to compost by at least 95.3 percent after 12 weeks in commercial conditions. 
     
     
         8 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable cup is configured to compost by at least 90 percent after 26 weeks in home composting conditions. 
     
     
         9 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the curved profile includes a first curved portion, an inflection point, and a second curved portion. 
     
     
         10 . The compostable cup of  claim 9 , wherein the curved profile further includes a flat portion extending between the second curved portion and the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the curved profile includes a continuous curve between the base and the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs includes four ribs spaced equidistant from each other adjacent to the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are adjacent the lip. 
     
     
         14 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a diameter of 98 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The compostable cup of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable cup is made to withstand a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         16 . An injection molded compostable cup, comprising:
 a cup body having a thickness of 0.5 mm; and   a material consisting of P-Hydroxy-Benzoate Hydroxylase (PHBH).   
     
     
         17 . The compostable cup of  claim 16 , wherein the material only includes PHBH. 
     
     
         18 . The compostable cup of  claim 16 , wherein the material does not include any additives or colorants. 
     
     
         19 . The compostable cup of  claim 16 , wherein the compostable cup withstands a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         20 . The compostable cup of  claim 16 , wherein the compostable cup is made by a process including:
 injecting the PHBH material into a mold;   cooling, via water-cooling, the PHBH material within the mold such that the PHBH material hardens into a semi-amorphous and semi-crystalline state; and   ejecting the compostable cup from the mold.