Sustainable coated corrugated fiberboard container

Abstract

A packaging container having sustainable repulpable / recyclable capability specifically sized to maintain the integrity of the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE™) rations used by the U.S. Army and military services. A coated corrugated fiberboard using a C-flute configuration is utilized in a novel packaging design that incorporates a liner or a vertical container divider.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]There are no related applications.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0003]None.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates to packaging, and in particular, coated corrugated fiberboard secondary packaging for the United States Army rations known as Meal(s), Ready-to-Eat (MRE™).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]Corrugated fiberboard is a well-known structural material commonly used for manufacturing storage boxes. The relatively inexpensive cost of the material, its structural qualities, and the ease with which corrugated fiberboard can be fabricated has resulted in an ever growing number of items manufactured from it. The use and development of this material in the manufacturing of containers is well known.[0006]Moreover, recent concerns regarding the environmental impact of waste materials has led to grea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention incorporates high-performance, lightweight and recyclable coated corrugated fiberboard material into secondary packaging for military rations wherein a polymeric coated wax alternative medium (WAM) corrugated structure is utilized in lieu of the previous SF-grade fiberboard design. This new generation of fiberboard containers offers numerous benefits over current materials and is environmentally sustainable, utilizing repulpable coatings, and its effective design and enhanced end-of-life disposal capabilities reduce negative environmental impacts. Logistically, the packaging is lighter yet capable of performing in adverse environments and will further reduce the environmental footprint of military rations. Packaging waste is reduced, recyclability is enhanced, and disposal options are increased. In addition, this fiberboard design offers comparable protection during transport, storage and operational use.

[0013]The container of the present invention is sized for the secondary packaging, storage, and transportation of a standard twelve-count case currently used in the Meal, Ready-To-Eat (MRE™) ration system (ACR-M-030 Section D) as defined by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Army. It is compostable, recyclable, and repulpable with equal compression strength and less weight in comparison to the existing military packaging. In one embodiment, a two-piece container is provided, including a regular slotted container (RSC) with a separate corrugated insert or liner around its interior perimeter to provide additional support under load and to increase puncture resistance along the vertical walls of the container. In another embodiment, a one-piece RSC design is provided, including a built-in or integral divider across the width of the container subdividing it into two compartments of generally equal size, thereby increasing the structural rigidity of the container. The packaging is delivered in a generally flat, partially assembled state to the end-user, whereby it need only be expanded into its three-dimensional conformation in a standard manner, and in the case of the two-piece container, its liner inserted therein, in order to make the device ready for use after packaging it with twelve MRE™ rations.

[0015]It is yet another object of this invention to provide a corrugated fiberboard container that is lighter, less expensive to manufacture, yet equal in durability to the currently used solid fiberboard containers used for the Meal(s), Ready-To-Eat (MRE™) ration system;

[0016]It is still another object of this invention to provide a corrugated fiberboard container for the Meal(s), Ready-To-Eat (MRE™) ration system which is easier to transport;

[0020]It is an object of this invention to provide a corrugated fiberboard container for the Meal(s), Ready-To-Eat (MRE™) ration system that is simple to manufacture, and with minimum waste.

Problems solved by technology

In this regard, the aforementioned SF-grade solid fiberboard material currently used in the Meal(s), Ready-To-Eat (MRE™)) ration system is costly to produce and is more expensive than common commercial grades of fiberboard.

This fiberboard material utilizes cellulose and harmful chemicals, thereby depleting natural resources in the environment and creating harmful waste.

The additives enhance the durability of the packaging and adequately protect its contents but limit recyclability.

Moreover, the current MRE™ container design must incorporate multiple manufacturing processes adding to the overall cost.

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