Patent Publication Number: US-2021171240-A1

Title: Process for infusing a terpene solution into a storage container that stores cannabis

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure generally relates to storage apparatuses. More particularly, the disclosure relates to storage apparatuses for  cannabis.    
     2. General Background 
     Terpenes are hydrocarbon compounds found in a variety of plants, some of which are  cannabis  and some of which are not. In particular, terpenes are recognized for their ability to emit a strong aroma of varying scents, depending upon the particular terpene strain. With respect to  cannabis , terpenes emit such scents to deter would-be attackers, such as herbivores, from eating the plant, or attract those who are more interested in eating the attackers, such as carnivores. 
     Furthermore, many  cannabis  plant growers tend to grow  cannabis  in a way that strengthens the potency of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), which typically has the psychoactive effect of producing a sense or euphoria in a human being, the result of THC binding with cannabinoid 1 (“CB1”) receptors in the brain.  Cannabis  plants with a higher potency of THC than others also tend to have the terpenes that emit a smell typically considered to be a desirable aroma to many users of  cannabis.    
     While being grown,  cannabis  may lose some, if not all, of the aroma associated with its terpenes. The aroma may be lost, or diminished, based on a variety of factors (e.g., seed selection, sub-optimal growing environment, etc.). 
     As a result, current apparatuses and processes do not adequately maintain the natural aroma from  cannabis  after being grown. 
     SUMMARY 
     A storage apparatus, adapted for storage of one or more  cannabis  materials during terpene infusion, is provided. The storage apparatus has a bottom portion, a wall integrally formed to surround the bottom portion, and to extend upward from the bottom portion, a top portion, and a removable mesh shelf. The top portion is removable from the storage apparatus. Furthermore, the top portion is in contact with the wall during closure of the storage apparatus. The removable mesh shelf is configured to bifurcate the storage apparatus into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber stores the one or more  cannabis  materials. Additionally, the second chamber stores a carrier medium for the terpene composition. The carrier medium emits an aroma from the terpene composition through the removable mesh to infuse the one or more  cannabis  materials with the aroma from the terpene composition. 
     As an alternative, a storage apparatus kit, adapted for storage of one or more  cannabis  materials and for terpene infusion, is provided. The storage apparatus kit has a terpene solution, a container storing the terpene solution, a plurality of carrier media, a container storing the carrier media, and the foregoing storage apparatus. 
     As yet another alternative, a process is provided for terpene infusion within the foregoing storage apparatus. The process positions a plurality of carrier media within a first chamber of a storage apparatus. Furthermore, the process applies a terpene solution to the plurality of carrier media within the first chamber of the storage apparatus such that the plurality of carrier media absorb the terpene solution. The process also positions a removable mesh shelf within the storage apparatus. The removable mesh shelf bifurcates the storage apparatus into the first chamber and a second chamber. Moreover, the process positions one or more  cannabis  materials within the first chamber. The removable mesh shelf prevents the one or more  cannabis  materials from contacting the plurality of carrier media. 
     Finally, the process seals the storage apparatus such that the plurality of carrier media emits an aroma from the absorbed terpene solution through the removable mesh shelf to infuse the one or more terpene materials with the aroma. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a disassembled view of the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a bottom portion of the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates an assembled view of the storage apparatus, illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an end-user pouring the plurality of carrier media from a carrier media container into the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a bottom portion of the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the end-user pouring the terpene solution from a terpene solution container into the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the terpene solution making contact with the plurality of carrier media for subsequent absorption. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates the expanded carrier media situated beneath the removable mesh shelf, on which the  cannabis  materials may be positioned. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates the fully situated components of the storage apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a process that may be utilized by the end-user to operate the storage apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-4B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A storage apparatus is provided to store  cannabis  and infuse an aroma from a terpene composition into the  cannabis . In particular, the storage apparatus has a first chamber, dedicated to storing a carrier medium of the terpene composition, and a second chamber, dedicated to storing one or more  cannabis  materials (e.g.,  cannabis  flowers, leaves, etc.). In essence, the storage apparatus allows for storage of the one or more  cannabis  materials prior to use, while also infusing the one or more  cannabis  materials with an aroma to improve the smell and/or taste of the one or more  cannabis  materials during use. Accordingly, the storage apparatus may be adapted for olfactory, and/or gustatory, use with one or more  cannabis  materials. 
     Furthermore, the bifurcated chambers allow the storage apparatus to compartmentalize the carrier medium away from the one or more  cannabis  materials, thereby preventing, or minimizing, any contamination of the one or more  cannabis  materials. Accordingly, the one or more  cannabis  materials may remain dry (i.e., moisture-free) during absorption by the carrier medium of the terpene composition within the first chamber. 
     In one embodiment, the storage apparatus is part of a storage apparatus kit. For example, a container with a terpene solution and a container with a plurality of carrier media (e.g., expandable beads capable of absorbing the terpene solution) may be included with the storage apparatus, or provided as accessories. A terpene infusion process may be performed by the end-user to prepare the storage apparatus kit for terpene infusion. For example, the end-user may pour the plurality of carrier media into the first chamber of the storage apparatus and pour the terpene solution into the first chamber of the storage apparatus so that the plurality of carrier media absorb the terpene solution. The end-user may also place the one or more  cannabis  materials in the second chamber during the absorption of the terpene solution by the plurality of carrier media, or may wait until the terpene solution has been absorbed by the plurality of carrier media. As an example, the plurality of carrier media may be gel beads fabricated from at least sodium polyacrylate. 
     The terpene solution itself is not limited to any particular formula. For instance, the terpene solution may include a terpene blend of various terpene materials. As an example, the terpene materials may include one or more naturally derived non- cannabis  terpene isolates, which are food grade. As another example, the terpene materials may include one or more terpenes extracted from one or more  cannabis  plants. As yet another example, the terpene materials may form a  cannabis /non- cannabis  hybrid formulation, including one or more terpenes extracted from one or more  cannabis  plants and one or more naturally derived non- cannabis  terpene isolates. 
     Furthermore, the terpene blend may include materials other than specific terpenes. For instance, the terpene blend may include one or more essential oils. Additionally, or alternatively, the terpene blend may include one or more flavor enhancers, such as an ester and an aldehyde. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate disassembled and assembled views of a storage apparatus  100 . In particular,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a disassembled view of the storage apparatus  100 . In one embodiment, the storage apparatus  100  has a cylindrical configuration (e.g., canister) with a cylindrical wall  101 . (The cylindrical configuration is just one example of a variety of shapes (e.g. cube) that may be used for the storage apparatus  100 .) Furthermore, the storage apparatus  100  may have a top portion  102  (e.g., cap) that is removable from the storage apparatus  100 . For example, an end-user may remove the top portion via various actions (e.g., twisting, pulling, etc.). Additionally, the storage apparatus  100  may have a removable mesh shelf  103  that bifurcates the storage apparatus  101  into a first chamber and a second chamber. For instance,  cannabis  materials  104  (e.g.,  cannabis  flowers, leaves, etc.) may rest on the removable shelf  103 , in the second chamber, when the removable mesh shelf  103  is positioned within the storage apparatus  100 . The removable mesh shelf  103  has one or more openings that allow aroma from terpene composition within the second chamber to be infused into the first chamber, where the  cannabis    104  is positioned. The second chamber is delineated as the area between the removable shelf  103  and the underside portion of the top portion  102 . 
     In another embodiment, the removable mesh shelf  103  has a solid layer, and is operably connected to a vent through which the aroma from the terpene composition is passed from the first chamber to the second chamber. In yet another embodiment, an integrated shelf is used in place of the removable mesh shelf  103 . For example, the integrated shelf may have a door through which the terpene solution is positioned in the first chamber. The integrated shelf may be integrally formed with the wall  101  of the storage apparatus  101 . Furthermore, the integrated shelf may have an aroma emission mechanism, such as a mesh or vent configuration. Accordingly, after positioning of the terpene composition within the first chamber and sealing the storage apparatus  100 , the end-user may achieve terpene aroma emission for infusion into the  cannabis    104  without additional emission activation on the part of the end-user.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a bottom portion  110  of the storage apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates an assembled view of the storage apparatus  100 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Upon closure of the storage apparatus  100 , the end-user may have to wait for a predetermined time period (e.g., twenty four to forty eight hours) to allow for maximum terpene infusion. In one embodiment, the end-user waits for the predetermined time period prior to placing the  cannabis  materials  104  within the storage apparatus  100 . At the conclusion of the predetermined time period, the terpene composition should be fully absorbed, or substantially absorbed (e.g., seventy percent to ninety nine percent absorption rate), thereby removing liquid from the storage apparatus  100  prior to positioning of the  cannabis    104  within the storage apparatus  100 . As a result, mold or other contaminants are prevented from affecting the  cannabis  materials  104 . In another embodiment, the end-user places the  cannabis  materials  104  in the storage apparatus  100  at the outset of the predetermined time period, and allows the  cannabis  materials  104  to be present during the absorption of the terpene composition. In either of the foregoing embodiments, the removable mesh shelf  103  provides sufficient bifurcation between the first chamber, where the terpene composition is located, and the second chamber, where the  cannabis  materials  104  are located; thus, contamination is prevented, or at least minimized. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a plurality of carrier media  201  being dispersed within the storage apparatus  100 . In particular,  FIG. 2A  illustrates an end-user  203  pouring the plurality of carrier media  201  from a carrier media container  202  into the storage apparatus  100 . (Alternatively, a machine may perform such dispersion.) Furthermore,  FIG. 2B  illustrates the bottom portion  110  of the storage apparatus  100 . The bottom portion  110  is integrally formed with the wall  101 . In one embodiment, the bottom portion  110  may have a plurality of compartments  211 , which are formed from a plurality of vertical walls  212  integrally formed to raise from the bottom portion  110 . After the end-user pours the plurality of the carrier media  201  into the storage apparatus  100 , the plurality of carrier media  201  may naturally fall into the various compartments  211 . Furthermore, the vertical walls  212  may be elevated to a particular height, which determines the height of the first chamber. In other words, the removable mesh shelf  103  may rest on the vertical walls  212 , thereby rendering the bifurcation between the first chamber and the second chamber. (The term “vertical wall” is intended to refer to elevation of a divider wall for the plurality of compartments along a vertical axis extending from the bottom portion  110  upward toward the top portion  102 , when sealed.) The vertical walls  212  may be arranged in a variety of patterns (e.g., grid, concentric circles, etc.). 
     Moreover, in one embodiment, the plurality of carrier media  201  are miniaturized at the outset of dispersion into the plurality of compartments  211 . Upon subsequent contact with the terpene solution, the plurality of carrier media  201  absorb the terpene composition by expanding in size, thereby carrying the terpene composition without moisture, or with only minimal moisture, in the storage apparatus  100 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, instead of having multiple compartments, the bottom portion  110  may have only a single compartment. In essence, the bottom portion  110  may have a single compartment  211 , and an outer rim that acts as the elevated wall for placement of the removable mesh shelf  103 . 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, an insert elevation device may be inserted into the storage apparatus  100  to hold the removable mesh shelf  103  in an elevated state over the bottom portion  110  of the storage apparatus  100 . 
     In another alternative embodiment, the removable mesh shelf  103  may be held in an elevated state by contacting the inner portion of the wall  101  in an adherent manner. Accordingly, the removable mesh shelf  103  may be held in place without resting on a component of the bottom portion  110 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a terpene solution  301  being dispersed toward the plurality of carrier media  201  situated at the bottom portion  110  of the storage apparatus  100 . For example,  FIG. 3A  illustrates the end-user  203  pouring the terpene solution  301  from a terpene solution container  302  into the storage apparatus  100 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates the terpene solution  301  making contact with the plurality of carrier media  201  for subsequent absorption. (Although multiple carrier media  201  are illustrated, a single carrier media  201  (e.g., one relatively large absorption bead) may be utilized instead.) 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate inner views of the storage apparatus  100  after a predetermined time period for the plurality of carrier media  201  to absorb the terpene solution  301  illustrated in  FIG. 3B . In particular,  FIG. 4A  illustrates the expanded carrier media  201  situated beneath the removable mesh shelf  103 , on which the  cannabis  materials  104  may be positioned. Furthermore,  FIG. 4B  illustrates the fully situated components of the storage apparatus  100 . The removable mesh shelf  103  bifurcates the storage apparatus  100  into a first chamber  401  and a second chamber  402 . The first chamber  401  encompasses the plurality of compartments  211  storing the expanded plurality of carrier media  201 , and the second chamber  402  stores the  cannabis  materials  104 . (The positioning of the removable shelf  103  may be higher or lower than that illustrated in  FIG. 4B , which is provided only as an example.) 
     Additionally,  FIG. 5  illustrates a process  500  that may be utilized by the end-user  203  to operate the storage apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-4B . At a process block  501 , the process  500  positions a plurality of carrier media  201  within a first chamber  401  of the storage apparatus  100 . Alternatively, a single carrier medium may be utilized. As yet another alternative, no carrier medium is utilized (i.e., one or more beads may be fabricated from the terpene solution  301 ). Further, at a process block  502 , the process  500  applies a terpene solution  301  to the plurality of carrier media  201  within the first chamber  401  of the storage apparatus  100  such that the plurality of carrier media  201  absorbs the terpene solution  301 . Additionally, at a process block  503 , the process  500  positions the removable mesh shelf  103  within the storage apparatus  100 . The removable mesh shelf  103  bifurcates the storage apparatus  100  into the first chamber  401  and a second chamber  402 . Also, at a process block  504 , the process  500  positions one or more  cannabis  materials  104  within the first chamber  401 . The removable mesh shelf  103  prevents the one or more  cannabis  materials  104  from contacting the plurality of carrier media  201 . Finally, at a process block  505 , the process  500  seals the storage apparatus  100  such that the plurality of carrier media  201  emit an aroma from the absorbed terpene solution  301  through the removable mesh shelf  103  to infuse the one or more terpene materials with the aroma. 
     It is understood that the apparatuses and processes described herein may also be applied in other types of apparatuses and processes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments of the apparatuses and processes described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses and processes. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses and processes may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.