Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F25/00—Devices used by the smoker for controlling the moisture content of, or for scenting, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco
  • A24F25/02—Moistening devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/015—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone
  • A61L9/04—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air without heating
  • A61L9/048—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air without heating air treating gels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
  • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
  • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
  • B65D85/1081—Inserts or accessories added or joined to the container, e.g. coins, pens, cards, spacers

Definitions

• the tobacco in products such a cigarettes, cigars and loose tobacco for pipe smoking or roll-your-own cigarettes is prone to drying out both during the pre-use storage period and particularly after the product packaging has been opened. This is undesirable, since tobacco becomes less palatable as it dries.
• the permeable layer may comprise a semi-permeable one-way membrane that transmits evaporated liquid from the gel body but substantially blocks the passage of water vapour or liquid to the gel body.
• This arrangement allows the required moisture release from the gel to the tobacco, but prevents the gel from absorbing moisture back from the tobacco. This is beneficial in a situation where the humidifier has been left in a package of tobacco for a long time and has given up all its liquid; it is then undesirable for the gel to take moisture away from the tobacco. Also, it prevents brown discoloration of the gel which can arise from absorption of moisture from tobacco, and stops the take-up of scents and flavours from the tobacco which would reduce the product quality.
• the humidifier may further comprise a removable outer layer covering the permeable layer that is substantially impermeable to the passage of the evaporated liquid, the outer layer intended to be removed before use of the humidifier.
• a "water-proof outer layer of this type which stops the gel from giving up its liquid, allows humidifiers to be supplied independently from packaged tobacco products so that a smoker can utilise one as and when he finds his tobacco has become dry.
• the humidifier may further comprise an outer layer covering the permeable layer that is substantially impermeable to the passage of the evaporated liquid, the outer layer having in it one or more apertures covered by one or more sealing members, the sealing member(s) being removable from the outer layer to open the aperture(s) before use of the humidifier.
• this embodiment gives the option of re-sealing the apertures once enough moisture has been released, allowing the remainder to be released at a later time. It also offers further scope for tailoring the rate of evaporation, by the provision of larger, smaller, fewer or more apertures.
• These different moisture release rates can be provided according to the present invention by engineering the gel body.
• Various properties and characteristics can be modified to tailor the evaporation rate. These include selection of the material comprising the gel particle network, the density of the gel network (for example, how tight or loose die network is), the ratio of liquid to gel material, the size and shape of the gel body, and the type of liquid used.
• gel materials are pectins, which are similarly biocompatible.
• Additives of this type may similarly be used with non-water liquids.
• a further example of a suitable permeable layer is a material comprising a thermo- mechanically expanded polymer membrane having microscopic pores that render the material permeable to the evaporating vapour from the gel body.
• This type of membrane can be used alone, or laminated with a fabric. In the latter form, it is commonly used to make waterproof clothing, under brand names such as GORE-TEX (RTM).
• the microscopic pores (micropores) are of a size to let water vapour through, but to block the passage of liquid water.
• Suitable polymers from which these membranes can be made include polytetrafluoroethylene, polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide.
• Humidifiers according to the present invention may include additional features in various combinations with the features described.
• the humidifier may further comprise a sealed compartment containing a supercoolable salt hydrate solution that can be activated to crystallise and release heat to the gel body, thereby increasing the rate of moisture release by evaporation.
• Humidifiers comprising such heat-releasing elements are described in our co-pending application GB 0710776.6 "Heatable humidifying device for use with tobacco products", filed in the United Kingdom on 5th June 2007.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
• Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38318762

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2007
  • 2007-06-05 GB GB0710784A patent/GB0710784D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2008
  • 2008-05-29 NZ NZ581196A patent/NZ581196A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-05-29 AU AU2008258677A patent/AU2008258677B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-05-29 BR BRPI0812329-2A2A patent/BRPI0812329A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-05-29 EP EP08760228A patent/EP2155007A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-05-29 CA CA002687345A patent/CA2687345A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-05-29 WO PCT/EP2008/056637 patent/WO2008148701A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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