Disposable cigar humidification apparatus

A cigar humidification apparatus comprises a sealed hollow cylindrical container having at least one, and preferably two removable end caps; a porous material contained in the sealed container; and a humidification solution provided in the porous material. The porous material is preferably florists foam. The humidification solution consists of 1-10% propylene glycol; 10-24% water; and 70-80% saturated salt solution. The salt solution is preferably a saturated solution of sodium chloride in water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the field of cigar humidors and 
humidification agents for maintaining humidity of cigars in a sealed 
container. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Cigars are kept freshest when stored at the correct combination of 
temperature and humidity. Too little humidity leads to a dry cigar which 
will burn too hot and harsh, while too much humidity can prevent correct 
burning and draw, and may also lead to spoliation and mold. 
A relative humidity of 70% to about 72% at 70.degree. F. is generally 
regarded as an optimal humidity level for storage of cigars. A common 
humidification solution used in cigar humidors is a 50%/50% 
water/propylene glycol solution. However, such solutions are usually used 
in reservoirs in expensive humidors and can be expensive. 
It would be desirable to provide a disposable cigar humidification 
apparatus and solution usable for inexpensive humidification of cigars in 
the correct relative humidity range. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to provide a cigar humidification 
apparatus and solution which is inexpensive to manufacture and use, and 
which is disposable, and which can be used with smaller travel humidors 
(including plastic containers with lids (such as Tupperware.RTM. 
containers) and sealable plastic bags (such as ZipLoc.RTM. bags) that do 
not have the space for a large capacity humidification system. 
"Tupperware" is a trademark of Dart Industries, Inc.; ZipLoc is a 
trademark of DowBrands, Inc. 
These objects, and other objects as disclosed in this application, are 
achieved as described below. 
A cigar humidification apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the 
invention comprises a sealed hollow cylindrical container having at least 
one, and preferably two removable end caps; a porous material contained in 
the sealed container; and a humidification solution provided in the porous 
material. The porous material is preferably florists foam. The 
humidification solution consists of 1-10% propylene glycol; 10-24% water; 
and 70-80% saturated salt solution. The salt solution is preferably a 
saturated solution of sodium chloride in water. 
Other objects, aspects and features of the present invention in addition to 
those mentioned above will be pointed out in detail or will be understood 
from the following detailed description provided in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 where like numbers identify the same elements in 
the drawings, a cigar humidification apparatus 10 is shown. Cigar 
humidification apparatus 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical container such 
as tube 12. Tube 12 is preferably a thin walled plastic tube formed from 
cellulose acetate propionate. Tube 12 is preferably provided with end caps 
14 at each end thereof. End caps 14 are formed of a flexible plastic or 
rubber material, preferably vinyl, and fit snugly and sealingly onto the 
ends 16 of tube 12 to seal humidification carrier foam and humidification 
solution as described hereafter, to prevent loss of moisture prior to use 
of the cigar humidification apparatus 10. The end caps 14 are removable 
from tube 12. The tube 12 and end caps 14 are preferably sized to be about 
the same size as a cigar, so that the apparatus 10 may be placed with 
cigars in a humidor without additional space or size requirements. 
Contained within tube 12 is a porous material 18, which is a material 
having an ability to receive and keep a humidification solution. Porous 
material 18 may be any suitable solution carrier material, and may include 
clay materials, polymer foams, fiber mats and other materials, such as 
hydrophilic materials, capable of holding the humidification solution in 
suspension in tube 12. Most preferably, the porous material 18 is 
florist's foam. Porous material 18 may be held in place in tube 12 by 
clips 20 which fit into each end of tube 12. Clips 20 are preferably 
formed from a flexible materials such as a plastic and have a curved 
portion 22 that has a radius larger than the radius of tube 12, so that 
the clips 20 expand to frictionally engage the inner walls of tube 12 when 
located insides the tube 12. 
The porous material 18 is soaked with a humidification solution. The 
humidification solution consists of a mixture of water, saturated salt 
solution, and propylene glycol. It has been found that the following 
mixtures, within a range of .+-.2% for each component, provide a relative 
humidity of about 72%. 
______________________________________ 
Saturated Salt 
Propylene Glycol (Vol. %) 
Water (Vol. %) 
Solution (Vol. %) 
______________________________________ 
1% 24% 75% 
2% 28% 70% 
5% 15% 80% 
10% 10% 80% 
______________________________________ 
Thus, a humidification solution consisting of 1-10% (by volume) propylene 
glycol, 10-24% (by volume ) water, and 70-80% (by volume) saturated salt 
solution is effective as a humidification solution in the invention. As 
noted above, variations of each component may be in the range of .+-.2% 
and are equivalent to the ranges defined above. The saturated salt 
solution is a solution of sodium chloride in water. 
The humidification apparatus 10 is placed into use by removing the end caps 
14, and placing the apparatus 10 in a closed container 24 with cigars to 
be preserved, as shown for example in FIG. 4. The humidification solution 
will generate a relative humidity in the closed container in the range of 
72% relative humidity. The apparatus 10 will provide humidity in the 
desired range in a closed plastic container for about 30 days, and is then 
disposed of and replaced with a fresh such apparatus 10. 
It is to be appreciated that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting 
of the invention, and that various changes and modifications to the 
preferred embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in 
the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from 
the spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is therefore 
intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following 
claims.