Composition for use in edible biodegradable articles and method of use

• US 20060110498A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Availa Bank (Carroll County Bancshares, Inc. (Iowa))
• Original Assignee: Calla Investments LLC
• Inventors: Helou, Elie Jr., Dellinger, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/106
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/33 Edible containers, e.g. cups or cones
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/48 Products with an additional function other than for eating, e.g. toys or cutlery
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/506 products with an edible support, e.g. a cornet
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/147 Polymeric derivatives, e.g. peptides or proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/163 Sugars; Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/20 Inorganic substances, e.g. oligoelements
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/20 by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/30 by encapsulating; by coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/90 in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a composition for use in making edible biodegradable containers comprising water, pregelatinized and native starch, a first protein or natural polymeric compound, natural fibers, a wax emulsion, a mold release agent, a flavoring agent, and a coloring agent, wherein the composing consisting essentially of food grade materials.

Claims

1. A composition for use in making edible, biodegradable food service containers comprising:

water;

starch;

fibers;

a mold release agent;

a wax emulsion; and

a first protein or natural polymeric compound,

wherein the composition consists essentially of food grade materials.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the starch comprises pregelatinized and native starch.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 0% to less than 30% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 5% to less than 20% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

5. The composition of claim 2 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 7% to less than 15% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the first protein or natural polymeric compound comprises casein or soy protein.

7. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a second protein to improve the mechanical properties of the composition when dry.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein said second protein further comprises albumen or gelatin.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fibers comprise long, medium, and short fibers.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the fibers comprise natural fibrous materials.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the fibers have an average fiber length less than about 2 mm.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the fibers have an average aspect ratio in the range of 5:

1 to 25;

1.

13. The composition of claim 9 further comprising a filler material.

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material is organic.

15. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material comprises calcium carbonate, silica, calcium sulfate hydrate, magnesium silicate, micaceous minerals, clay minerals, titanium dioxide or talc.

16. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material comprises the short fibers.

17. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers having a combined concentration less than 25% by dry weight of the composition.

18. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers have a combined concentration less than 20% and greater than 5% by dry weight of the composition.

19. The composition of claim 13 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers have a combined concentration less than 17% and greater than 7% by dry weight of the composition.

20. The composition of claim 13 wherein the fibers comprise fibers from fast growing plants.

21. The composition of claim 1 wherein the wax emulsion comprises a natural wax.

22. The composition of claim 21 wherein the wax emulsion comprises emulsified carnuba wax or emulsified candelilla wax.

23. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mold release agent comprises metal stearate compounds, fatty acids, talc, fats or oils.

24. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mold release agent comprises aluminum, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, zinc stearates, oleic acid, linoleic acid, talc, fats or oils.

25. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a coating.

26. The composition of claim 23 wherein the coating partially permeates the matrix of the composition.

27. The composition of claim 1 further comprising:

a flavoring agent; and

a coloring agent.

28. A composition for use in making edible biodegradable containers comprising:

water;

pregelatinized and native starch;

a first protein or natural polymeric compound;

natural fibers;

a wax emulsion;

a mold release agent;

a flavoring agent; and

a coloring agent,

wherein the composing consisting essentially of food grade materials.

29. The composition of claim 28 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 0% to less than 30% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

30. The composition of claim 28 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 5% to less than 15% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

31. The composition of claim 28 wherein the first protein or natural polymeric compound comprises casein or soy protein.

32. The composition of claim 28 further comprising a second protein to improve the mechanical properties of the composition when dry.

33. The composition of claim 32 wherein said second protein comprises albumen or gelatin.

34. The composition of claim 28 wherein the fibers comprise long, medium, and short fibers.

35. The composition of claim 28 wherein the fibers have an average fiber length less than about 2 mm.

36. The composition of claim 35 wherein the fibers have an average aspect ratio in the range of 5:

1 to 25;

1.

37. The composition of claim 32 comprising filler material.

38. The composition of claim 37 wherein the filler material is organic.

39. The composition of claim 37 wherein the filler material comprises calcium carbonate, silica, calcium sulfate hydrate, magnesium silicate, micaceuous minerals, clay minerals, titanium dioxide or talc.

40. The composition of claim 37 wherein the filler material comprises the short fibers.

41. The composition of claim 40 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers have a combined concentration less than 25% by dry weight of the composition.

42. The composition of claim 40 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers have a combined concentration less than 20% and greater than 5% by dry weight of the composition.

43. The composition of claim 40 wherein the filler material and/or short fibers have a combined concentration less than 17% and greater than 7% by dry weight of the composition.

44. The composition of claim 28 wherein the wax emulsion comprises a natural wax.

45. The composition of claim 44 wherein the wax emulsion comprises emulsified carnuba wax or emulsified candelilla wax.

46. The composition of claim 28 wherein the mold release agent comprises metal stearate compounds (e.g., aluminum, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, or zinc stearates), fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid, linoleic acid, etc.), talc, fats or oils.

47. A composition for use in making edible biodegradable containers comprising:

water;

pregelatinized and native starch;

a first protein or natural polymeric compound;

bamboo fibers;

ground walnut shells; and

magnesium stearate;

wherein the composing consisting essentially of food grade materials.

48. The composition of claim 47 wherein the combination of bamboo fibers and ground walnut shells have an average fiber length less than about 2 mm.

49. The composition of claim 47 wherein the combination of bamboo fibers and ground walnut shells have an average aspect ratio in the range of 5:

1 to 25;

1.

50. The composition of claim 47 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 0% to less than 30% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

51. The composition of claim 47 wherein the pregelatinized starch is in a range from more than 5% to less than 15% by weight of the total starch in the composition.

52. The composition of claim 47 wherein the ground walnut shells have a concentration less than 25% by dry weight of the composition.

53. The composition of claim 47 wherein the ground walnut shells have a concentration less than 20% and greater than 5% by dry weight of the composition.

54. The composition of claim 47 wherein the ground walnut shells have a concentration less than 17% and greater than 7% by dry weight of the composition.

55. The composition of claim 47 wherein the ground walnut shells have a concentration of about 8% by dry weight of the composition.