Segmented portable humidity control device for an enclosed volume storage device

A device for controlling a relative humidity level in an enclosed volume storage device includes a plurality of container segments each including two side walls with internal edges joined at an interior edge of the container segment, an outer wall extending between external edges of the two side walls, a base wall extending between bottom edges of each of the two side walls and the outer wall of the container segment, and a permeable top wall. The container segments are configured in a first instance to be compactly adjacently positioned so that each side wall of a container segment abuts another side wall of another container segment and the segments are radially arrayed around a central axis of the device. A binding element is applied to maintain the segments in this position. The binding element is removable to allow the segments to be individually distributed within the storage device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure pertains to a device for controlling relative humidity within an enclosed volume storage device, and more particularly, to a device for controlling relative humidity within a humidor.

BACKGROUND

Devices for controlling relative humidity levels within an enclosed volume storage device are known in the art. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,892,327 to Neff (“the '327 patent), issued Feb. 22, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

As described in the '327 patent, the range of relative humidity at which tobacco products such as cigars should be stored to optimize freshness generally understood as being between 64% relative humidity to minimize drying of the tobacco and below 72% relative humidity to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and prevent the hatching of the Cigarette or Tobacco Beetle, orLasioderna serricome, with 65-70% relative humidity being ideal. Numerous efforts have been directed toward achieving this level of humidity in confined environments, such as humidors, through the incorporation of moisture-moderating materials and associated devices. Silica gel beads (for example, as available from Heartfelt Industries of Carson City, Nev.), propylene glycol beads (for example, HUMI-CARE crystal gel humidification beads available from Cigars International of Bethlehem, Pa.) and superabsorbent polymer grains (for example, as available from M2 polymer Technologies of West Dundee, Ill.), which can be used to effectively adsorb and desorb moisture, are suitable moisture-moderating materials. In some cases, for improved performance, these materials are used in combination with liquids such as distilled water or polyethylene glycol. A particularly suitable moisture-moderating material for the humidity control devices described herein are BLACK ICE humidification beads available from Cigars International of Bethlehem, Pa.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a prior art humidification regulating apparatus10as disclosed by the '327 patent is shown in exploded perspective view. Apparatus10comprises a cylindrical container (base)11, and is adapted to house a quantity of a composition12as described above that is capable of as adsorbing and desorbing moisture. The container is closed at one end (its “bottom” side, not visible) and is provided with a removable closure element such as lid13having perforations15at the other end. Lid13has a circumference slightly larger than the circumference of the peripheral edge of the container11so as to overlap the container (base)11in a substantially sealing engagement about end opening of the container11. For purposes of securing the lid13to the container11, the lid13engages threads on the peripheral region of the upper edge of the walls of container11.

Apparatus10of the '327 patent also comprises a retaining member14, such as a porous cloth, porous urethane, or a sponge, which acts to inhibit transfer of the composition12through perforations15when the apparatus10is inverted (for example, if the “bottom” of the apparatus10is removably attached to the underside of a closed lid of a storage device (e.g., humidor), as shown inFIG. 2, discussed below).

The composition12controls relative humidity to a predetermined level, through absorbing or desorbing water vapor through the perforations15in lid13. If a greater desorption is desired, for example, the composition12may be moistened through direct hydration by removing lid13and retaining member14or by absorbing moisture from a directly hydrated retaining member14.

Container10is fashioned from a material which is lightweight and has a means of allowing the composition12to absorb and desorb water (e.g., as water vapor), preferably through perforations15in the lid13. The perforations15in the lid13are of a size and shape that allow an adequate flow of water vapor to maintain the predetermined relative humidity level within the container10. The rate of absorption and desorption will depend upon the perforation size and pattern, as well as the volume of the composition12within the container10.

The container10shown inFIG. 1is placed within a storage device such as a cigar box or humidor, or other environment wherein humidity regulation is desired. As shown inFIG. 2, the bottom of container11is affixed to the interior surface of the lid of a cigar box or humidor, for example using a securing device such as a magnet or hook and loop fabric such as VELCRO. However, because the apparatus can be placed at only a single location within the storage device, it may be difficult to achieve a uniform relative humidity level throughout the entire interior volume of the storage device.

SUMMARY

Briefly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a device for controlling a relative humidity level in an enclosed volume storage device, for example, such as a small cigar humidor. The device is initially configured in a first configuration for transportation and handling as a single, compact and integrated package, and later disaggregated into multiple segments that can be positioned at a variety of distributed locations within the cigar humidor. In this manner, control can be applied in a more uniform manner across the interior volume of the cigar humidor.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the humidity control device includes a plurality of container segments each having a plurality of walls defining an interior volume of the segment. The plurality of walls includes two side walls with internal edges joined at an interior edge of the container segment, an outer wall extending between external edges of the two side walls, a base wall extending between bottom edges of each of the two side walls and the outer wall of the container segment, and a permeable top wall. The container segments are configured to be compactly adjacently positioned so that each side wall of a container segment abuts another side wall of another container segment. In this position, the container segments are radially arrayed around a central axis that is substantially proximal to the interior edges of the container segments. The humidity control device further includes a binding element removably applied to the container segments to maintain the container segments in the compactly adjacent position.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of container segments includes four container segments radially arrayed around the central axis, and the side walls of each segment meet at the interior edge to define a right angle.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the permeable top wall of each container segment forms a portion of an insert that is matingly inserted within a cavity defined by top edges of each of the two side walls and the outer wall. The permeable top wall includes perforations aligned along a plurality of rays extending from a vertex located at an interior edge of the insert.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the binding element comprises a cap which has a cylindrical interior surface with interior threads. Each of the container segments has external thread segments applied to the outer walls at a position adjacent to top ends of the segments. In the compactly adjacent position, the external threads of the container segments are aligned at the outer edges of the segments to form a continuous outer thread upon which the cylindrical cap may be screwed to maintain the segments in the compactly adjacent position.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, humidification grains are provided within the interior volume of each container segment. As described above, a particularly suitable type of humidification grains for use as described herein are BLACK ICE humidification beads available from Cigars International of Bethlehem, Pa.

This SUMMARY is provided to briefly identify some aspects of the present disclosure that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION. This SUMMARY is not intended to identify key or essential features of the present disclosure nor is it intended to limit the scope of any claims.

The term “aspects” is to be read as “at least one aspect.” The aspects described above and other aspects of the present disclosure described herein are illustrated by way of example(s) and not limited in the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

We now provide some non-limiting, illustrative examples that illustrate several operational aspects of various arrangements and alternative embodiments of the cigar box presented in the present disclosure.

As used herein, directional terms as may be used such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “front”, “rear”, “left,” “right,” “inner,” “outer,” “interior” and “exterior” relate to an orientation of the disclosed humidity control device from the perspective of a typical user, and do not specify permanent, intrinsic features or characteristics of the device.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe a humidity control device100used for controlling relative humidity within an enclosed volume storage device (for example, within a conventional wooden cigar humidor that holds on the order of 20 to 500 cigars). As best shown inFIGS. 3-8, the humidity control device100includes a plurality of container segments110each having an interior volume configured to hold humidification grains140or another suitable humidification/dehumidification medium that is capable of adsorbing and desorbing gaseous water vapor in order to control the relative humidity of a surrounding exterior environment. As described above, a particularly suitable type of humidification grains for the humidity control devices described herein are BLACK ICE humidification beads available from Cigars International of Bethlehem, Pa.

Each container segment110of the humidity control device100is preferably formed as a unitary molding including two side walls111that are joined along a linear interior edge112, an outer wall114that is joined to and extends between outer edges113of each of the two side walls111, and a base wall115that is sealably joined to bottom edges of side walls111and outer wall114. The molding is preferably formed from a non-permeable material. Although depicted inFIGS. 3-7as a material that is transparent and tinted, aspects of the present disclosure also contemplate a molding formed from materials that may be non-tinted rather than tinted, and/or translucent or opaque rather than transparent. Preferred materials for the container segment110include but are not limited to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, clarified polyethylene, polypropylene, clarified polypropylene, extrusion blow-moldable copolyester, polycarbonate, propionate, polymers, plastics, resins, composites and/or lightweight metals.

As depicted for example inFIGS. 6 and 7, the container segments110may in addition preferably include an insert120that is matingly inserted within an opening118defined by top edges119and interior surfaces of the side walls111and outer wall114. As depicted for example inFIG. 8, the insert120may be formed as a unitary molding including side walls124and outer wall128that are joined to and extend between a top wall125and a flange123of the insert120. The side walls124outer wall128of the insert120are configured to conformably fit against the interior surfaces of the side walls111and outer wall114of the container segment110, respectively.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, a flange123of the insert120abuts the top edge119of the side walls111and outer wall114of the container segment110, in order to fixedly locate the top wall125vertically and laterally relative to the container segment110. Alternatively, for example, the top wall125could be vertically fixed against an inwardly-extending ledge that could be provided on the interior surfaces of the side walls111and outer wall114of the container segment110.

The insert120is preferably formed as a unitary molding. Preferred materials for the insert120include but are not limited to polystyrene, nylon, and polyurethane. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the top wall125of the insert120includes perforations126that permit the humidification grains140or other humidification medium provided within the interior volume of the container110to adsorb or desorb water vapor present in the surrounding exterior environment. The perforations126depicted inFIG. 8may preferably extend in linear rays away from an interior edge121of the insert120. Alternatively, the perforations may be arranged in any alternate pattern that permits water vapor to be effectively transferred between the interior volume of the container segment110and its surrounding exterior environment. In addition, the top wall125and/or other portions of the insert120may alternatively be formed from a material that is water vapor-permeable (for example, by using a porous plastic material available from Atlas Minerals & Chemicals, Inc. of Mertztown, Pa.).

With reference toFIGS. 3-6, the humidity control device100further includes a cap130which is configured to act as a binding element for maintaining the container elements110in a fixed position and compactly adjacent to one another (for example, seeFIG. 4). The cap130is preferably formed as a unitary molding. Preferred materials for the cap130include but are not limited to ABS, polyethylene, clarified polyethylene, polypropylene, clarified polypropylene, extrusion blow-moldable copolyester, polycarbonate, propionate, polymers, plastics, resins, composites and/or lightweight metals.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the cap130is provided with one or more internal threads131that can be mated with one or more exterior threads formed by exterior thread segments116on each of the container segments110.

When coordinatedly positioned in the compactly adjacent position, in which side walls of adjacent container segments110abut one another, the container segments110are radially arrayed around a central axis substantially defined by the interior edges112, and the exterior thread segments116are aligned at the outer edges113of the container segments110to form the one or more continuous exterior threads suitable for mating with the interior threads131of the cap130. When the threads131of the cap130are mated with the threads formed by the thread segments116by screwing the cap130onto the container elements110, the container elements110are fixedly bound in the compactly adjacent position. Preferably, the outer walls114of one or more container elements110are further provided with a cap stop117for limiting the downward travel of the cap130as it is being screwed onto the container segments110to a fixed vertical position.

As an alternative to the threaded cap130and container segments110described above, the cap130may be configured with another retaining feature in addition to or in lieu of threads. For example, the cap130and container segments110may be provided with a conventional ring and groove arrangement for fixing the cap130by snapping it into place after it has been fit over the top ends of the container segments110in the compactly adjacent position. Alternatively, the cap may be formed from a flexible material that may be slid over the top edges119of the outer walls of the container segments110in the compactly adjacent position for a frictional and conformal fit against outer surfaces of the outer walls114at the top end of the container segments110. The flexible material in this case may be selected as one of natural or synthetic rubber, polystyrene, nylon, and polyurethane. As an alternative to the cap130, the flexible material may be formed instead as a band that is slid over the top edges119of the outer walls of the container segments110.

Aspects of the present disclosure contemplate that each of the alternative cap and/or binding element features described above may alternatively be provided at a bottom end rather than at a top end of the container segments110in the compactly adjacent position.

FIG. 9illustrates aspects of the present disclosure relating to use of the humidification device110within the interior volume of a cigar humidor200. As shown inFIG. 9, the cap130has been unscrewed and removed, and the container segments110once unbound from the compactly adjacent position have been individually positioned at interior corners201within a base202of the humidor200. A conventional hygrometer210is preferably provided (for example, affixed to a lid203of the humidor200) to monitor relative humidity within an enclosed volume of the humidor200when the lid203is closed against the base202.

In contrast to the single prior art device10depicted inFIG. 2, the multiple unbound corner-distributed segments110according to aspects of the present disclosure provide humidification that will likely avoid producing a significant variance in relative humidity at various positions within the enclosed volume of the humidor200. Notably, when bound in the compactly adjacent position, while the footprint of the segments110are essentially equivalent to the footprint to the prior art device10.

The device100as illustrated by the present disclosure includes four segments110that are radially arrayed around a central axis that is substantially proximal to the interior edges112of the segments110in the compactly adjacent position. The interior walls111of each of the four segments110define interior angles that are right angles, thereby enabling the segments110to be easily positioned in the corners201defining the rectangular space in the base202of the humidor200. It should never-the-less be noted that present disclosure contemplates configurations of the device100having a different number of radially-distributed segments than illustrated by the present disclosure, with walls111defining other than right angles. This may be necessary to provide segments110that can be easily positioned in humidors having enclosed volumes defined by other than purely rectangular volumes (and corners defining other than right angles). In addition, the present disclosure contemplates configurations of the device100having at least two or more segments110with walls111defining different interior angles.

FIGS. 10A and 10Bare schematic diagrams respectively illustrating the footprints of the container segments110in the compactly adjacent position (as device100) and in the unbound position (as segments110) at the interior corners201of the base202. While the total footprint of the segments110in either case is invariant, it can be readily seen that the footprint222ofFIG. 10Bin which the segments110are distributed at the interior corners201provides a more usable space within the humidor200for receiving cigars than the footprint224ofFIG. 10Awith the segments in the compactly adjacent position. Moreover, by providing side walls111of the container segments110inFIG. 10Bthat tightly fit against the corners201of the humidor200, unusable areas such as area226of the footprint224ofFIG. 10Acan be completely avoided. As a result, a greater usable area is potentially available within the footprint222ofFIG. 10Bas compared to the footprint224ofFIG. 10A.

REFERENCE CHARACTER TABLE

The following table lists the reference characters and names of features and elements used herein:

It will be understood that, while presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.