Humidity Control Container

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/635,190 filed Apr. 17, 2024, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to containers used to contain humidity-sensitive substances, and more particularly, to a humidity control container which can be used to preserve and store humidity-sensitive substances such asto maintain optimal freshness of the substances prior to consumption.

Humidity may affect various materials such as fabrics, consumables and other materials. Therefore, various techniques for humidity control have been devised for the storage of consumable products such as tobacco,herbal medicine and food to provide optimal conditions for the use and life of the product. Various types of consumable products may require different levels of humidity to optimize the freshness of the product over time. In some cases, excessive humidity in a storage container used to store such products may damage the product. In other cases, too little humidity may cause the product to dry out and render the product useless.

Medications may often be provided to consumers in airtight containers. Consumers of medications may be urged to store the medications in a cool, dry environment. In some cases, containers in which medications and health supplements are stored may contain packets of silica to absorb any moisture that may be introduced into the container by opening the container. Tobacco products, particularly cigars, are often stored in a device called a humidor that keeps humidity at the optimal level for long-term storage and quality. Humidors and other containers for storing tobacco,certain herbal medicines, and food are equipped with humidity control devices.

Pharmaceutical and recreational plant products may be purchased in quantities which are larger than those consumed during any single use. At the time of purchase, these plant products may be fresh but, because they are organic, are perishable. Over time, these products may lose inherent properties that are important to the consumer. For example, once purchased, the initial quantity ofmay be reduced through periodic consumption. The purchased quantity and any residual portion which remains after consumption should be stored under optimal conditions in a suitable container to maintain the freshness of the product for as long as possible.

The rate of decay ofcan be largely influenced by environment in which it is stored. If the product is improperly stored, the rate of product decay may be high. A fresh product that decays rapidly may become unusable after a few days. In such cases, mold may grow on the product, rendering it unusable. At a slower rate of decay, the freshness of the product may gradually fade such that, if not consumed quickly enough, the product loses its flavor, entourage effect and other desirable properties. While decay of the product is ultimately inevitable, storage of the product under optimal conditions plays a significant role in slowing the rate of decay and maintaining desirable product qualities until the product is consumed,

While storage devices for plant products have had some success in addressing these issues, there remains a need to improve the storage of consumable products such asand other plant products to optimize long-term product freshness.

Accordingly, there is need for a humidity control container which can be used to preserve and store humidity-sensitive substances such asto maintain optimal freshness of the substances prior to consumption.

The present invention is directed to a humidity control container which can be used to preserve and store a moisture-sensitive substance such asto maintain optimal freshness of the substance prior to consumption. An illustrative embodiment of the humidity control container may include a container enclosure having an enclosure interior. An enclosure lid may be supported by the container enclosure. The enclosure lid may be selectively deployable in a closed lid position and an open lid position on the container enclosure. In the closed lid position, the enclosure lid may form a substantially airtight seal with the container enclosure. At least one moisture-porous humidity pack compartment may be supported by the enclosure lid. The humidity pack compartment may be suitably sized and configured to contain at least one humidity pack. When the enclosure lid is deployed in the closed lid position on the container enclosure, the humidity pack in the humidity pack compartment may be disposed in air communication with the enclosure interior of the container enclosure. Accordingly, humidity from the humidity pack may waft from the humidity pack compartment into the enclosure interior of the container enclosure to maintain optimum moisture of the moisture-sensitive substance contained in the enclosure interior. The enclosure lid may be periodically deployed from the closed lid position to the open lid position to facilitate access and removal of the moisture-sensitive substance from the enclosure interior and returned to the closed lid position to restore the humidity of the enclosure interior for continued storage of the substance.

In an illustrative implementation of the invention, a humidity control container which can be used to preserve and store a moisture-sensitive substance such asto maintain optimal freshness of the substance prior to consumption may include a container enclosure having an enclosure interior. An enclosure lid may be supported by the container enclosure. The enclosure lid may be selectively deployable in a closed lid position and an open lid position on the container enclosure. In the closed lid position, the enclosure lid may form a substantially airtight seal with the container enclosure. The enclosure lid may have an interior lid surface. The interior lid surface of the enclosure lid may form an enclosure ceiling in the enclosure interior in the closed lid position. At least one moisture-porous humidity pack compartment may be supported by the interior lid surface of the enclosure lid. The humidity pack compartment may be suitably sized and configured to contain at least one humidity pack. When the enclosure lid is deployed in the closed lid position on the container enclosure, the humidity pack in the humidity pack compartment may be disposed in air communication with the enclosure interior of the container enclosure. Accordingly, humidity from the humidity pack may waft from the humidity pack compartment on the enclosure ceiling into the enclosure interior of the container enclosure to maintain optimum moisture of the moisture-sensitive substance contained in the enclosure interior. The enclosure lid may be periodically deployed from the closed lid position to the open lid position to facilitate access and removal of the moisture-sensitive substance from the enclosure interior and returned to the closed lid position to restore the humidity of the enclosure interior for continued storage of the substance.

In another illustrative implementation of the invention, a humidity control container which can be used to preserve and store a moisture-sensitive substance such asto maintain optimal freshness of the substance prior to consumption may include a container enclosure having an enclosure interior. An enclosure lid may be supported by the container enclosure. The enclosure lid may be selectively deployable in a closed lid position and an open lid position on the container enclosure. In the closed lid position, the enclosure lid may form a substantially airtight seal with the container enclosure. The enclosure lid may have an interior lid surface. The interior lid surface of the enclosure lid may form an enclosure ceiling in the enclosure interior in the closed lid position. At least one moisture-porous humidity pack compartment may be supported by the interior lid surface of the enclosure lid substantially at the geometric center of the enclosure lid. The humidity pack compartment may be suitably sized and configured to contain at least one humidity pack. When the enclosure lid is deployed in the closed lid position on the container enclosure, the humidity pack in the humidity pack compartment may be disposed in air communication with the enclosure interior of the container enclosure. Accordingly, humidity from the humidity pack may waft from the humidity pack compartment on the enclosure ceiling into the enclosure interior of the container enclosure to maintain optimum moisture of the moisture-sensitive substance contained in the enclosure interior. The enclosure lid may be periodically deployed from the closed lid position to the open lid position to facilitate access and removal of the moisture-sensitive substance from the enclosure interior and returned to the closed lid position to restore the humidity of the enclosure interior for continued storage of the substance.

In a second aspect, at least one lid hinge may pivotally attach the enclosure lid to the container enclosure.

In another aspect, at least one enclosure partition may be disposed in the enclosure interior of the container enclosure. The enclosure partition may divide the enclosure interior into at least two enclosure compartments.

In another aspect, the container enclosure may include a bottom enclosure panel and a front enclosure panel, a rear enclosure panel and a pair of side enclosure panels extending from the bottom enclosure panel.

In another aspect, at least one of the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and the side enclosure panels may be fabricated of different materials.

In another aspect, the different materials of which the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and/or the side enclosure panels are fabricated may include a first material, and second material and/or a third material in any combination.

In another aspect, at least one of the first material, the second material and the third material of which the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and/or the side enclosure panels are fabricated may include wood.

In another aspect, the first material, the second material and the third material may include a first wood, a second wood and a third wood, respectively.

In another aspect, the first material, the second material and the third material may include maple, cherry and mahogany in any combination.

In another aspect, each of the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and the side enclosure panels may be square or rectangular.

In another aspect, the bottom enclosure panel may have a front bottom panel edge, a rear bottom panel edge and a pair of side bottom panel edges.

In another aspect, the front enclosure panel may have a bottom front panel edge which extends along the front bottom panel edge of the bottom enclosure panel, a top front panel edge and a pair of side front panel edges.

In another aspect, the rear enclosure panel may have a bottom rear panel edge which extends along the rear bottom panel edge of the bottom enclosure panel, a top rear panel edge and a pair of side rear panel edges.

In another aspect, each side enclosure panel may have a bottom side panel edge which extends along a corresponding side bottom panel edge of the bottom enclosure panel, a top side panel edge, a front side panel edge which extends along a corresponding side front panel edge of the front enclosure panel and a rear side panel edge which extends along a corresponding side rear panel edge of the rear enclosure panel.

In another aspect, the enclosure lid may have a rear lid edge, a front lid edge and a pair of side lid edges. In the closed lid position of the enclosure lid, the rear lid edge may engage the top rear panel edge of the rear enclosure panel; the front lid edge may engage the top front panel edge of the front enclosure panel; and the side lid edges may engage the top side panel edges of the respective side enclosure panels.

In another aspect, at least one of the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and the side enclosure panels may have an exterior panel surface. At least one logo may be applied to the exterior panel surface of at least one of the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel and the side enclosure panels.

In another aspect, the enclosure lid may have an exterior lid surface. At least one logo may be applied to the exterior lid surface of the enclosure lid.

In another aspect, the humidity pack compartment may be fabricated of a moisture-porous material such as fabric, netting or meshwork.

In another aspect, the humidity pack compartment may have a rear compartment panel, a front compartment panel, a first side compartment panel, a second side compartment panel and a bottom compartment panel. The rear compartment panel, the front compartment panel, the first side compartment panel and the second side compartment panel may be disposed proximate the rear lid edge, the front lid edge and the side lid edges, respectively, of the enclosure lid.

In another aspect, the rear compartment panel, the front compartment panel, the first side compartment panel and the second side compartment panel of the humidity pack compartment may be disposed substantially equidistant from the rear lid edge, the front lid edge and the side lid edges, respectively, of the enclosure lid.

In another aspect, at least one humidity pack opening may be provided in the humidity pack compartment. The humidity pack opening may facilitate placement and removal of the humidity pack with respect to the interior of the humidity pack compartment. The humidity pack opening may additionally facilitate wafting of moisture from the humidity pack to the enclosure interior of the container enclosure.

In another aspect, the humidity pack opening may be disposed between bottom compartment panel and the first side compartment panel of the humidity pack compartment. The humidity pack opening may maintain air communication between the humidity pack in the humidity pack compartment and the enclosure interior of the container enclosure when the enclosure lid is disposed in the closed lid position on the container enclosure.

In another example implementation, disclosed is a method of preserving a humidity-sensitive substance in a humidity control container, the method comprising:

In another example implementation, disclosed is a humidity control container for preserving a humidity-sensitive substance, the container comprising:

In another example implementation, disclosed is a humidity control container for preserving a humidity-sensitive substance, the container comprising:

In another aspect, the enclosure lid is pivotally coupled to the container enclosure by at least one hinge disposed along a rear edge of the enclosure lid.

In another aspect, the humidity pack compartment is positioned substantially at or near a geometric center of the interior lid surface.

In another aspect, the humidity pack compartment comprises a fabric, mesh, or netting material configured to allow moisture to pass from the at least one humidity pack into the enclosure interior.

In another aspect, the humidity control container further comprises at least one enclosure partition disposed in the enclosure interior to divide the enclosure interior into at least two compartments.

In another aspect, the at least one enclosure partition is removably mounted to allow reconfiguration of the enclosure interior.

In another aspect, at least one of the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel, or the side enclosure panels is fabricated from a material different from a material of at least one other panel, the material or materials selected from wood, metal, plastic, fiberboard, or composites thereof.

In another aspect, the material or materials include distinct varieties of wood selected from maple, cherry, mahogany, or combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the container enclosure is substantially rectangular such that each panel is joined along respective edges to define the enclosure interior.

In another aspect, the enclosure lid comprises an exterior lid surface configured to receive at least one logo, brand, or decorative marking.

In another aspect, the humidity control container further comprises at least one humidity pack opening in the humidity pack compartment for placement or removal of the at least one humidity pack.

In another aspect, the humidity pack opening is disposed between a bottom compartment panel and a side compartment panel of the humidity pack compartment such that, in the closed lid position, the at least one humidity pack remains in air communication with the enclosure interior.

In another aspect, the humidity-sensitive substance comprises

In another aspect, the humidity pack compartment is dimensioned to hold a plurality of humidity packs simultaneously.

In another aspect, the enclosure lid and the container enclosure form the substantially airtight seal by virtue of a continuous gasket disposed around a rim of at least one of the enclosure lid or the container enclosure.

In another aspect, the bottom enclosure panel, the front enclosure panel, the rear enclosure panel, and the side enclosure panels are each joined at a respective edge to form a rectangular prism defining the enclosure interior.