US 12,031,276 B2
Fiber-based microwave bowls with selective spray coating
Yoke Dou Chung, Chandler, AZ (US); Yiyun Zhang, Gilbert, AZ (US); Ric Gonzalez, Chandler, AZ (US); Steve Lucero, Chandler, AZ (US); and Min Wang, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Assigned to FOOTPRINT INTERNATIONAL, LLC, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Filed by Footprint International, LLC, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/512,171.
Application 17/512,171 is a division of application No. 16/726,180, filed on Dec. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,686,050.
Application 16/726,180 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/220,371, filed on Jul. 26, 2016, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0049431 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. D21J 1/00 (2006.01); B05B 1/02 (2006.01); B05B 1/06 (2006.01); B05B 13/02 (2006.01); B05D 1/02 (2006.01); B29C 41/50 (2006.01); B65D 1/34 (2006.01); B65D 25/34 (2006.01); B65D 81/34 (2006.01); D21H 17/17 (2006.01); D21H 17/28 (2006.01); D21H 23/22 (2006.01); D21H 23/50 (2006.01); D21J 1/04 (2006.01); D21J 1/06 (2006.01); D21J 1/10 (2006.01); D21J 7/00 (2006.01); B05B 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC D21J 1/04 (2013.01) [B05B 1/02 (2013.01); B05B 1/06 (2013.01); B05B 13/0221 (2013.01); B05D 1/02 (2013.01); B29C 41/50 (2013.01); B65D 1/34 (2013.01); B65D 25/34 (2013.01); B65D 81/3453 (2013.01); D21H 5/0005 (2013.01); D21H 5/0047 (2013.01); D21H 17/17 (2013.01); D21H 17/28 (2013.01); D21J 1/06 (2013.01); D21J 1/10 (2013.01); D21J 7/00 (2013.01); B05B 1/044 (2013.01); B05D 2203/22 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coated microwaveable bowl of the type characterized by a substantially flat, circular, bottom region bounded by a circumferential sidewall obtained by:
providing a wire mesh mold substantially the same as a desired shape of the coated microwaveable bowl;
preparing an aqueous fiber based slurry comprising at least one of hardwood virgin fiber particles and softwood virgin fiber particles;
adding an embedded moisture barrier to the aqueous fiber based slurry, where some of the embedded moisture barrier is bonded to the fiber particles;
immersing the mold in the aqueous fiber based slurry;
drawing a vacuum across the mold within the aqueous fiber based slurry until a desired thickness of fiber particles accumulates at a surface of the mold;
removing the accumulated fiber particles from the mold;
drying and pressing the accumulated fiber particles in a press to thereby form the microwaveable bowl;
where the microwaveable bowl comprises a substantially flat, circular, bottom region bounded by a circumferential sidewall;
transferring the microwaveable bowl from the press to a coating station; and
applying, at the coating station, a topical oil barrier layer to at least a portion of the microwaveable bowl to form the coated microwaveable bowl, wherein the topical oil barrier layer comprises solids in a water solution, the solids including at one of acrylate, rice bran wax, pectin, pea protein, and liquid ammonium.