EP3679811A1 - Humidification de produits de tabac - Google Patents

Humidification de produits de tabac Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3679811A1
EP3679811A1 EP19151251.6A EP19151251A EP3679811A1 EP 3679811 A1 EP3679811 A1 EP 3679811A1 EP 19151251 A EP19151251 A EP 19151251A EP 3679811 A1 EP3679811 A1 EP 3679811A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
humidifier
closure
lid
compartment
tobacco product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP19151251.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Christopher Forecast
Thomas FRITH
Oliver Taylor
Luke WADSWORTH
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JT International SA
Original Assignee
JT International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JT International SA filed Critical JT International SA
Priority to EP19151251.6A priority Critical patent/EP3679811A1/fr
Publication of EP3679811A1 publication Critical patent/EP3679811A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
    • B65D81/22—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient in moist conditions or immersed in liquids
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
    • B65D43/0212—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/245—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/28—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials
    • 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
    • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
    • B65D2203/12—Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
    • B65D2543/0012—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners
    • B65D2543/00175—Shape of the outer periphery having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00518—Skirt
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00555—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on both the inside and the outside
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
    • B65D2543/00629—Massive bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
    • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00685—Totality
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
    • B65D2543/0074—Massive bead
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
    • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
    • B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
    • B65D2543/00796—Totality
    • 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
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00833—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
    • B65D2543/00842—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar outside of the lid

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to humidifying tobacco products.
  • an aspect relates to a humidifier for tobacco products. Further aspects relate to a tobacco product storage container, a lid for such a tobacco product storage container and methods of humidifying such a tobacco product storage container.
  • Tobacco products tend to lose their moisture content over time, in particular when their packaging is opened for use. This is a particular problem for loose tobacco, which can be purchased in large formats, such as tubs or buckets, which may be opened many times before their contents are exhausted.
  • the moisture content of tobacco can be controlled and optimised using a humidifier, which transfers water vapour to the tobacco material.
  • a humidifier which transfers water vapour to the tobacco material.
  • Such humidifiers are commercially available in the form of pads, for example from EssentraTM.
  • Humidifiers can be provided inside tobacco product packaging, for example as a sticker on the underside of a RYO bucket lid, in such a way that they can be wetted by a user. They may be provided wet on purchase, or dry for wetting by the user. They may be single-use, or it may be possible for the user to re-wet them when they dry up.
  • the user can only determine whether such a humidifier is properly wetted by touching it. Touching the humidifier to determine its wetness can involve inadvertent application of sufficient pressure to squeeze some water out of the humidifier, reducing the quantity of water it holds and thus the time before it will need replacing or re-wetting. It also requires opening the packaging, which can result in loss of water vapour from the packaging head space. Further, in order for the moisture content of the tobacco product to be maintained, the user must remember to repeatedly take the time to open the packaging and feel the wetness of the humidifier.
  • a humidifier for tobacco products comprising: an absorbent element; and a hydrochromic substance arranged in fluid and/or vapour communication with the absorbent element, the hydrochromic substance being located such that there is a human-perceptible change in the colour of the humidifier between a wet state and a dry state.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be reversible, such that its colour changes from a first colour in the presence of water to a second colour in the absence of water and from the second colour in the absence of water to the first colour in the presence of water.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be a hydrochromic ink.
  • the absorbent element can be a sponge.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be impregnated in the absorbent element.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be provided as a coating on the absorbent element's surface.
  • the colour of the absorbent element can substantially match the colour of the hydrochromic substance in either the presence or absence of water.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be translucent or transparent in the presence of water.
  • the hydrochromic substance's colour in the absence of water can be human-perceptibly different to the absorbent element's colour in the absence of the hydrochromic substance, or the hydrochromic substance's colour in the presence of water can be human-perceptibly different to the absorbent element's colour in the absence of the hydrochromic substance.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be patterned in and/or on only a portion of the absorbent element, such that the change in colour of the humidifier from the wet state to the dry state, or vice versa, reveals an image or message.
  • a tobacco product storage container comprising: a tobacco product storage compartment which can be opened and closed; and the humidifier of any preceding claim arranged in fluid and/or vapour communication with the tobacco product storage compartment's interior.
  • the container can comprise at least a portion of an external wall which is transparent or translucent, arranged such that the colour of the humidifier can be observed while the tobacco product storage compartment is closed.
  • the container can comprise a humidifier compartment which can be opened and closed independently from the tobacco product storage compartment, said humidifier compartment housing the humidifier.
  • a method of humidifying the tobacco product storage container of the second aspect comprising wetting the absorbent element such that the humidifier undergoes a colour change.
  • the method can further comprise: at a later time detecting that the colour change has reversed; and responsive thereto, re-wetting the absorbent element such that the humidifier undergoes a further colour change.
  • a lid for closing a tobacco product storage container comprising a humidifier compartment configured to contain a humidifier, the lid having first and second opposing sides, wherein: the first side comprises a porous wall of the humidifier compartment configured to permit egress of water and/or water vapour from the humidifier compartment; and the second side comprises a closure of the humidifier compartment configured to permit access to its interior and further configured to prevent egress of water and/or water vapour from the humidifier compartment.
  • the closure can be transparent or translucent, such that the interior of the humidifier compartment is visible when the closure is closed.
  • the porous wall of the humidifier compartment can be porous by virtue of it comprising one or more through-holes.
  • the closure can comprise a closure peripheral sealing structure, and the second side can further comprise a sealing feature configured to engage with the closure peripheral sealing structure so as to seal the humidifier compartment closed.
  • the closure peripheral sealing structure can comprise a gasket.
  • closure peripheral sealing structure and the sealing feature of the second side can be configured to engage one another in a snap fit such that a user receives audible and/or haptic feedback when the closure is closed.
  • the second side can further comprise a hinge connecting the closure to the humidifier compartment.
  • the hinge can be configured to permit the closure to rotate about greater than 90° such that, when in use, once fully opened the closure will remain open under the action of its own weight.
  • the humidifier compartment may only extend across a portion of the lid's footprint.
  • the humidifier compartment can form a protrusion on the first side but not the second side.
  • the closure can be arranged to be levered open by a user's finger by means of: a grip portion extending out of the closure's external side; or a recess in the lid's second side which is adjacent an edge of the closure when closed; or a grip portion extending out of the closure's external side, located towards an edge of the closure which is adjacent a recess in the lid's second side when the closure is closed.
  • the lid can further comprise a humidifier in the humidifier compartment.
  • the humidifier can comprise an absorbent element.
  • the humidifier can further comprise a hydrochromic substance arranged in fluid and/or vapour communication with the absorbent element, the hydrochromic substance being located such that there is a human-perceptible change in the colour of the humidifier between a wet state and a dry state.
  • a tobacco product storage container comprising the lid of the fourth aspect.
  • a method of humidifying the tobacco product storage container of the fifth aspect comprising: opening the closure; wetting the humidifier; and closing the closure.
  • the wetting of the humidifier can cause it to undergo a colour change, the method further comprising: at a later time, detecting that the colour change has reversed; and responsive thereto, repeating the method steps.
  • top, bottom, side, front, “back”, “forward”, “rear” and other terms describing the orientation of features are not intended to be limiting and are purely included in order to facilitate the description of the relative location of these features in the context of the accompanying drawings. In use, or during storage, the features may be disposed in other orientations.
  • a humidifier for tobacco products configured to indicate its moisture level to a user visually.
  • a hydrochromic substance which undergoes a colour change as it is wetted and/or as it dries.
  • a user can therefore see that the humidifier is properly wetted and ready for use, or has dried up and needs to be either replaced or re-wetted, without needing to touch it.
  • a humidifier can comprise an absorbent element as well as a hydrochromic substance arranged in fluid and/or vapour communication with the absorbent element.
  • the hydrochromic substance is located such that there is a human-perceptible change in the colour of the humidifier between a wet state and a dry state.
  • the absorbent element In the wet state, the absorbent element is above a first saturation level, preferably below 100% to prevent water dripping. In the dry state, the absorbent element is below a second saturation level, lower than the first saturation level, but preferably contains some amount of water to alert a user when to refill the humidifier before the loose tobacco starts to dry out.
  • the first saturation level may be comprised between 50% and 100%.
  • the second saturation level may be comprised between 0% and 50%.
  • Hydrochromic substances can be one-way, changing from one colour when dry to another when wet, or vice-versa, with the colour remaining fixed after a single change.
  • a one-way hydrochromic substance can be used to provide a visual indication to the user that they have sufficiently wetted a new humidifier for use.
  • a one-way hydrochromic substance can be used to indicate to the user when the humidifier has dried out and needs replacing or re-wetting.
  • Some hydrochromic substances are reversible, such that their colour changes from a first colour in the presence of water to a second colour in the absence of water and from the second colour in the absence of water to the first colour in the presence of water. These substances are particularly useful for humidifiers which are intended to be re-wetted one or more times by the user as they can indicate both when the humidifier is properly wetted and ready for use, and when it has dried out and should be re-wetted.
  • hydrochromic substances have a first colour in the presence of water (wet state), and a second colour in the absence of water (dry state).
  • first colour in the presence of water
  • second colour in the absence of water
  • One-way hydrochromic substances only allow one colour change between the first and second colour
  • reversible hydrochromic substances allow multiple changes between the first and second colours.
  • the hydrochromic substance In use, when the humidifier is in the wet state, the hydrochromic substance displays the first colour. As the humidifier dries up, some areas of the hydrochromic substance remain wet but others have already dried up, and therefore the humidifier presents areas of different colours. This is indicative that the humidifier is starting to dry up and that it will soon be necessary to refill it. If the user does not refill the humidifier, it will continue to dry and the hydrochromic substance will eventually be dry and display the second colour. At this point in time the user should refill the humidifier to prevent the tobacco from drying.
  • the hydrochromic substance is a hydrochromic ink.
  • the hydrochromic ink preferably comprises hydrochromic pigments in a carrier medium, which is preferably aqueous based.
  • the hydrochromic ink may comprise hydrochromic pigments suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion, preferably an aqueous based acrylic polymer emulsion.
  • Hydrochromic inks may further comprise other components typically present in inks, such as solvents, binders, humectants, surfactants, biocides, buffers, lubricants, dyes or non-hydrochromic pigments.
  • Hydrochromic pigments may be reversible or irreversible. Reversible hydrochromic pigments change between two colours depending on whether they are wet or dry, as explained above. Irreversible hydrochromic pigments can either change once between two colours when in contact with water, as explained above, or dissolve in water (water-soluble colour pigments).
  • the absorbent element is capable of absorbing water and also of emitting water by evaporation. It can be made from any suitable material meeting these requirements, such as natural and/or synthetic materials, for example a polymer, e.g. polyolefin, polyethylene or polypropylene, a cellulosic material or a combination thereof. It could for example comprise polyethylene terephthalate
  • the absorbent element can be porous, for example a sponge material. It can be formed of one continuous piece or multiple pieces. The absorbent element can be any suitable size or shape.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be impregnated in the absorbent element. Alternatively or additionally, it could be provided as a coating on the absorbent element's surface, for example using screen printing techniques such as silk screen printing.
  • the hydrochromic substance can for example be translucent or transparent in the presence of water. In that case, its colour in the absence of water can be human-perceptibly different to the absorbent element's colour in the absence of the hydrochromic substance.
  • the hydrochromic substance could be white when dry, but the absorbent element could be blue or green.
  • the colour of the absorbent element can substantially match the colour of the hydrochromic substance in the wet state.
  • its colour in the absence of water can be human-perceptibly different to the absorbent element's colour in the absence of the hydrochromic substance.
  • the absorbent element could be green and the hydrochromic substance is green when dry and white when wet.
  • the colour of the absorbent element can substantially match the colour of the hydrochromic substance in the dry state.
  • its colour in the presence of water can be human-perceptibly different to the absorbent element's colour in the absence of the hydrochromic substance.
  • the absorbent element could be white and the hydrochromic substance is green when dry and white when wet.
  • the hydrochromic substance can be patterned in and/or on only a portion of the absorbent element, such that the change in colour of the humidifier from its wet state to its dry state, or vice versa, reveals an image or message.
  • the instruction "REFILL ME” the message "I'M THIRSTY”, a sun symbol or a cross could appear as the humidifier dries out, or a water droplet symbol or tick could appear as the humidifier is (re)wetted.
  • the humidifier can be arranged in fluid and/or vapour communication with the interior of a tobacco product storage compartment which can be opened and closed.
  • the container could be transparent or translucent, at least in part, to allow the humidifier to be seen while the tobacco product storage compartment is closed.
  • the humidifier could be located on the underside of a transparent lid, or adjacent a transparent window in a wall. The user therefore need not open the tobacco product storage compartment to determine whether the humidifier is sufficiently wet, saving time and avoiding the risk of losing water vapour from the tobacco product storage compartment's headspace. They can also be alerted to the state of the humidifier by glancing at the container, reducing the burden on them to remember to check.
  • the container comprises a humidifier compartment which can be opened and closed independently from the tobacco product storage compartment then the humidifier can be inserted, wetted, removed, replaced and re-wetted as required without ever opening the tobacco product storage compartment.
  • a lid for closing a tobacco product storage container comprising a compartment configured to contain a humidifier.
  • the humidifier compartment can be opened to provide access to its interior and sealed closed, for example by means of a closure peripheral sealing structure which is configured to engage with a sealing feature on the lid.
  • the humidifier compartment has a porous wall which, in use, faces the tobacco product such that the headspace above the tobacco product is humidified by water vapour evaporated from the humidifier and/or water which has dripped out of the humidifier.
  • the humidifier compartment closure is arranged on the opposite side of the lid to the porous wall so that the humidifier compartment can be opened independently from the tobacco product storage container. This arrangement allows the humidifier to be inserted, wetted, removed, replaced and re-wetted as required without ever opening the tobacco product storage container. This saves the user time and avoids the risk of losing water vapour from the tobacco product storage compartment's headspace.
  • the tobacco product storage container could for example be in the form of a bucket or tub, with the lid configured to close off an upper opening.
  • the opening could be an aperture in a ceiling of the container, or the container could simply have no ceiling.
  • the humidifier could be a colour-changing humidifier as described above.
  • the closure is transparent or translucent, such that the interior of the humidifier compartment is visible when the closure is closed, then the user can easily ascertain the location of the humidifier and readily understand that it can be accessed without opening the tobacco product storage container, even if they are unfamiliar with this type of lid. If the humidifier is a colour-changing humidifier as described above then they can also be alerted to the state of the humidifier by glancing at the container, reducing the burden on them to remember to check.
  • the porous wall of the humidifier compartment can be porous by virtue of it comprising one or more through-holes, for example if the humidifier compartment is formed predominantly of moulded plastic.
  • the closure peripheral sealing structure can comprise a gasket to form a substantially watertight seal.
  • the closure peripheral sealing structure can be configured to engage with the sealing feature in a snap fit such that a user receives audible and/or haptic feedback when they close the closure. That is, the closure may "click" closed.
  • the humidifier compartment closure can for example be provided as a stopper or plug, or as a hinged door. If it is hinged then the hinge can be configured to permit the closure to rotate about greater than 90°, such that, when in use (assuming the lid is substantially horizontal in use), once fully opened the closure will remain open under the action of its own weight.
  • the humidifier compartment could extend across substantially the entirety of the lid's footprint such that it fills the upper opening of the tobacco product storage container.
  • the humidifier compartment could only extend across a portion of the lid's footprint, forming a protrusion on its lower side sized to fit the humidifier, reducing the quantity of material used to form the compartment.
  • the closure can be provided with a grip portion extending out of its external side so that it can be gripped by a user to pull it open.
  • a recess could be provided in the external side of the lid adjacent an edge of the closure so that the user can place their finger in the recess to push against the edge of the closure and lever it up.
  • FIGs 1A to 1E illustrate an example tobacco product storage container 100 comprising a tobacco product storage compartment 110 having a rim 111 and a handle 112.
  • the tobacco product storage compartment 110 is closed by a lid 120 having an integrated humidifier compartment 130.
  • Figure 1A shows the container 100 closed, with a transparent plastic closure 131 of the humidifier compartment 130 also closed over a humidifier 140. (The same view is shown in close-up in Figure 1C which will be described in detail below.)
  • FIG. 1B is a close-up view of the humidifier compartment 130 with the closure 131 open to provide access to the humidifier 140 which, as can be seen from this figure, is a sponge. Also visible in this figure is a gasket 132 around the periphery of the closure 131, which provides a substantially watertight seal when the closure 131 is closed. This could alternatively be provided around the edges of an aperture in the lid 120 that the closure 131 closes.
  • the closure 131 is hinged to one edge of the aperture in the lid 120 in such a way that when the closure 131 has been fully opened as shown, it rests at an acute angle to the plane of the main body of the lid 120, which in use is substantially horizontal. The closure 131 thus stays open unaided so that the humidifier 140 can be easily inserted, (re)wetted or removed.
  • a grip portion 133 extends from the exterior side of the closure 131. This acts as a finger-operated handle to lift the closure open.
  • Figure 1D shows a vertical cross section of the container 100 with both the tobacco product storage compartment 110 and the humidifier compartment 130 closed.
  • the detail on the humidifier compartment 130 shows the humidifier 140 substantially filling the humidifier compartment 130.
  • the humidifier compartment 130 is sized such that the humidifier 140 fits snugly inside it when saturated. The humidifier 140 will then shrink a little as it dries.
  • the floor of the humidifier compartment 130 is provided as a perforated wall 134 to allow water vapour which evaporates from the humidifier 140 to pass into the headspace of the tobacco product storage compartment 110.
  • Figure 1E shows the underside of the lid 120, i.e. the side that faces the tobacco product storage compartment 110 when the container 100 is closed.
  • a peripheral recess 121 is shown, which is configured to engage with the rim 111 of the tobacco product storage compartment 110 to close the container 100.
  • the detail on the underside of the humidifier compartment 130 shows a pattern of holes in the perforated wall 134. Although holes are shown arranged in a concentric circular pattern, other patterns are possible, such as a matrix of holes in regular rows and columns.
  • FIG 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 200 of humidifying a tobacco product storage container such as the container 100 of Figure 1 .
  • the absorbent element is wetted such that the humidifier 140 undergoes a colour change.
  • the user observes the colour change, and therefore knows when to stop adding water. This can be done with the humidifier 140 already in place in the tobacco product storage container 100, or the humidifier can be put in place after wetting.
  • the humidifier comprises a reversible hydrochromic substance and is configured to be reusable, at a later time the user detects that the colour change has reversed at step 220. In response to this, the wetting step 210 is repeated such that the humidifier undergoes a further colour change. Again, the humidifier 140 may be left in place to be wetted, or may be removed from the tobacco product storage container 100 to be re-wetted, and then replaced once this is complete. This cycle can continue until the supply of tobacco product in the container 100 is exhausted (or even beyond that, if the container 100 is refillable).
  • FIG 3 is a flowchart illustrating a further example method 300 of humidifying a tobacco product storage container such as the container 100 of Figure 1 .
  • the closure 131 of the humidifier compartment 130 is opened.
  • the humidifier 140 is wetted. This may occur with the humidifier 140 in place in the humidifier compartment 130, or it may be removed for wetting then replaced.
  • the closure 131 is closed.
  • steps 310 to 330 may be repeated every time the user detects that the humidifier 140 has dried up, until the supply of tobacco product in the container 100 is exhausted (or even beyond that, if the container 100 is refillable). Such user detection may be performed by the user touching the humidifier 140 in between steps 310 and 320.
  • the method 300 can further comprise a step 340 of, at a later time than step 330, detecting that the colour change has reversed. The flow then returns to step 310 in response to this.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP19151251.6A 2019-01-10 2019-01-10 Humidification de produits de tabac Pending EP3679811A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19151251.6A EP3679811A1 (fr) 2019-01-10 2019-01-10 Humidification de produits de tabac

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19151251.6A EP3679811A1 (fr) 2019-01-10 2019-01-10 Humidification de produits de tabac

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3679811A1 true EP3679811A1 (fr) 2020-07-15

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19151251.6A Pending EP3679811A1 (fr) 2019-01-10 2019-01-10 Humidification de produits de tabac

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EP (1) EP3679811A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20220048683A1 (en) * 2020-08-12 2022-02-17 Progressive International Corporation Container with Terracotta Lid

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5813564A (en) * 1997-10-15 1998-09-29 Luo; Yi-Wen Cover structure for an airtight container
DE102006014551A1 (de) * 2006-03-20 2007-09-27 Corpac Deutschland Gmbh & Co.Kg Deckel zum Verschließen eines Behälters, insbesondere für korrosionsempfindliche Ladung
US20080272085A1 (en) * 2004-01-14 2008-11-06 Giovanni Maria Laporta Bottle Stopper
GB2513163A (en) * 2013-04-18 2014-10-22 British American Tobacco Co Container

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5813564A (en) * 1997-10-15 1998-09-29 Luo; Yi-Wen Cover structure for an airtight container
US20080272085A1 (en) * 2004-01-14 2008-11-06 Giovanni Maria Laporta Bottle Stopper
DE102006014551A1 (de) * 2006-03-20 2007-09-27 Corpac Deutschland Gmbh & Co.Kg Deckel zum Verschließen eines Behälters, insbesondere für korrosionsempfindliche Ladung
GB2513163A (en) * 2013-04-18 2014-10-22 British American Tobacco Co Container

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20220048683A1 (en) * 2020-08-12 2022-02-17 Progressive International Corporation Container with Terracotta Lid

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