US20130269293A1

US20130269293A1 - Desiccant Container

Info

Publication number: US20130269293A1
Application number: US13/448,419
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Francis Dowling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-17
Filing date: 2012-04-17
Publication date: 2013-10-17

Abstract

The invention relates to a desiccant container for use in a container of product, including a body means, adapted to receive and contain desiccant material and a supporting means for supporting the body means in a desirable position within the container of product. In use, desiccant material can be put into the body means, the supporting means being connected to the body means and the desiccant container put in the container of product so that the body means is supported in a desirable position. The desiccant can then remove moisture from the air in the container and or from the upper surface of the product within the container. The invention also relates to a method of use.

Description

The present invention relates to a desiccant container and in particular to desiccant container for use in a container of product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Patent Application #2011253850 filed Dec. 6, 2011 in AUSTRALIA Provisional Patent Application #2011901441 filed Apr. 18, 2011 in AUSTRALIA

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The following describes a non-limiting example of the invention being used with reference to use with containers for gym supplements. Clearly there are a wide range of applications for the invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited to use with containers for gym supplements. For example, the invention may be used anywhere where desiccants may be used such as for food stuffs, hair care products, medicines or industrial chemicals, to name just a few examples. Further, the invention may be used alone, not with a container, for example, in a camera bag or cabinet, wherever it is desired to reduce moisture.
Gym supplements are increasingly used to assist people to achieve their body shape and fitness goals. These supplements are often supplied in a plastic canister of product with a wide mouthed, screw-off lid, for ready access to the product. Moisture in the air is captured within the canister once the lid is closed and can react with the product inside. The moisture can cause the product to clump or go solid which makes use more difficult and is undesirable. More seriously, the water can react with the gym supplement and change the chemical composition, in some cases rendering active ingredients inert or worse, harmful. For example, water soluble vitamins such as vitamin C are difficult to maintain in powder products in a moist environment as the vitamin C quickly reacts and degrades. When a person purchases gym supplements or other health products it is more economical to buy a larger container of the product, particularly when the product is sent by mail such as from overseas. The chemical composition and hence the active ingredients and health benefits of the supplements is the value in the product, which may be significantly degraded if the product reacts with moisture.
As an attempt to prevent the adverse effects of moisture reacting with gym supplements, one or more silica sachets are generally included in the canister. These silica sachets are generally buried deep within the product, far away from the surface of the product where the moisture resides and needs to be absorbed. Due to the wide mouth of the plastic canister a considerable proportion of the product is exposed to the air above the upper surface of the product. Use of silica sachets works to a certain extent but the sachets are restricted by their absorption capacity as well as the ability to know whether or not they are saturated and need replacement, limiting the ability to remove moisture from the air. Further, importantly, if the silica sachet is buried in the product it cannot be working to remove moisture from the air above the surface of the product.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to have an improved means of reducing moisture in a container of product. In particular it is desirable to have an improved means of reducing the moisture that reacts with the upper surface of the product.
For clarity, any prior art referred to herein, does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge, in the United States of America or elsewhere.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a desiccant container that at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides, a desiccant container for use in a container of product, the desiccant container including:

- a body means, shaped in a manner that will prevent it from being buried easily in whatever product is also in the container including an air permeable filter, adapted to receive and contain desiccant material therein;
  wherein, in use, desiccant material can be put into the body means, and the desiccant container put in the container of product so that the body means is in a desirable position above the product inside the container whereby the desiccant can remove moisture from the air in the container and or from the upper surface of the product within the container.

The desiccant may be any suitable desiccant material and may take any suitable form. Preferably, the desiccant is silica gel. Most preferably, the desiccant is self indicating silica gel where a colour change occurs when the gel is saturated. The silica gel may be dehydrated in an oven or similar for reuse. The colour change may be incorporated into a design or feature of the desiccant container as a novelty. In one form of the invention, the silica gel may be contained in another container before being placed into the desiccant container. In this form of the invention the silica balls may be in sachets. Preferably, the silica balls are loose balls which can be readily filled into the desiccant container. The balls may be any suitable size. The balls may be a few millimetres in diameter. In larger applications or industrial applications, larger size pieces of desiccant may be used, as is suitable for the particular material or product. In another preferred form of the invention silica gel is be used. Again, preferably, the silica gel is of a form that changes colour when hydrated. The silica gel may be reusable. The silica gel may be dried out for reuse.
The desiccant container may be made of any suitable material or combinations of materials.
The product may be any suitable product. The product may a gym supplement powder. Alternatively, the product may be a foodstuff. The product may be bread flour. In another form of the invention the product may be a medicine, herbal or therapeutic preparation for humans or animals. In another form of the invention the product may be a chemical or compound such as for use in industry or manufacturing. The product may be hair care products. The product may be in any form. The product may be a powder, solid, granules, flakes, pellets, capsules, pills or similar.
The body means may take any suitable shape. Preferably, in one form of the invention the body means is substantially cylindrical. Alternatively, the body means may be spherical, cuboid, pyramidal or irregular shaped. The body means may take any suitable form. Preferably, the body means includes a top and or a base. Preferably, the top includes a rim. Preferably, the top includes a curved part. Preferably, the top includes a V-shaped part to substantially resist against burial in the product. Preferably, the top part includes a rim and a curved part joined at a V-shape. Preferably, any or all of the rim, curved part and V-shape of the top substantially act against burial of the desiccant container in product. Preferably, the base includes a rim. Preferably, the base includes a curved part. Preferably, the base includes a V-shaped part to substantially resist against burial in the product. Preferably, the base includes a rim and a curved part joined at a V-shape. Preferably, any or all of the rim, curved part and V-shape of the base substantially act against burial of the desiccant container in product. Preferably, a top and a base are included and the top and the base are mirror images of one another. The top and base may be different to one another. In a most preferred form of the invention, a top is included, including a rim, joined to a curved part at a V-shaped junction and a base is included, including a rim, joined to a curved part at a V-shaped junction and an air permeable filter sits between the top and the base containing desiccant material. Preferably, the shape of the body substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product. Preferably, the desiccant container can be orientated upright or on its side and the shape of the body substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product. Preferably, the body means of the desiccant container can be any orientation and the shape of the body means substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product.
Preferably, the body means includes a mesh or filter. Preferably, the mesh or filter enables the desiccant material to be held within the body means so as to prevent contact of the desiccant material with the product. Preferably, the mesh or filter enables the desiccant material to be exposed to the air so as to remove moisture from the surrounding air. Preferably, the mesh or filter is of a suitable size to contain the desiccant material within the body and to allow air to circulate freely. The mesh or filter may take any suitable form. Preferably, in one form of the invention a fine metal mesh is used. In another form of the invention, the mesh or filter may be made of plastic, cardboard, paper, textile, cloth, or similar or any combination thereof. Preferably, the filter is made of a paper based material. The mesh or filter may be disposable. In one form of the invention, the mesh or filter may include decoration. The mesh or filter may include advertising material. For example, an advert for a complementary product may be included on the filter of a desiccant container provided in a container of product. Preferably, a removable filter is included in the body that can be removed for cleaning. Preferably, the mesh or filter is resistant to clogging. The mesh of filter may be a cylinder that fits within the body or around the body of the desiccant container. The body means may include strips between the top and the bottom to provide support to the body means. The strips may be made of any suitable material. The strips may be made of plastic, metal other suitable material or combination thereof.
Preferably, the body means includes a base. Preferably, the body means includes a removable lid. Preferably, the base and the lid are circular. The base and the lid may be any suitable shape. The base and lid may be the same or different shapes to one another. In one form of the invention, the base may be removable. In one form of the invention, the base and the lid may be removable. Any suitable means of attachment of the lid to the body means may be used. Preferably, the lid includes at least one transparent part to enable visual inspection of the desiccant material contained within the body. Most preferably, the lid is a clear plastic lid. Preferably, the lid can be readily removed to remove or replace the desiccant material. The lid may be closed in any suitable manner. Preferably, the lid is closed and opened by a screw-fit. Alternatively, preferably, the lid is closed by a push fit, and removed by pushing up on the lid.
Preferably, in one form of the invention, the body means includes one or more chamber and the desiccant is contained within the or each chamber. Preferably, two or more chambers are included for containing desiccant. There may be one, two, three or four chambers as is suitable for the particular use of the desiccant container. There may be any number of chambers within the body means. The chambers may take any suitable form or shape. Preferably, a divider is included in the body means to divide the body means into chambers. The divider may take any suitable form. The divider may divide the body means into any number of chambers. Preferably, the divider is substantially cross-shaped in cross-section and divides the body means into four chambers. Preferably, the divider divides the body means into a plurality of chambers and the wall of the body means forms the outer wall of the chambers.
The or each chamber may be adapted in any suitable way to receive the desiccant material. The or each chamber may be adapted to receive silica gel. The silica gel may be of a particular size. The or each chamber may be adapted to receive silica gel or other desiccant.
Preferably, the desirable position is one where the desiccant container is on or near the upper surface of the product inside a container. Preferably, the desirable position resting on top of said product inside the container. Preferably, in one form of the invention, the desirable position is on the upper surface of the product material and the configuration of the desiccant container substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product. Preferably, the desirable position is the optimal position for absorption of moisture from the air around the upper surface of the product. Preferably, in one form of the invention, the desirable position is suspended over the surface of the product.
Preferably, the desiccant container is reusable. Preferably, the desiccant is reusable and can be reused in the reusable desiccant container.
Preferably, the desiccant material can substantially remove the moisture from the air inside the container of product. Preferably, the desiccant container is adapted to remove moisture from the air proximal to the upper surface of product so that moisture does not react with the product. Preferably, the product degrades when exposed to moisture. Preferably, use of the desiccant container substantially prevents degradation of the product through contact with water in the air.
Accordingly, the present invention provides, in a second aspect, a desiccant container for use in a container of product, the desiccant container including:

- A body means adapted to receive and contain desiccant material therein; A removable air permeable filter adapted to prevent the desiccant material leaving the body means and the content of the container entering the body means while allowing air to circulate to the desiccant material; and
- two or more shaped stand means, connected or connectable to the body means for standing the body means in a desirable position within the container of product,
  wherein, in use, desiccant material can be put into the body means, the stand means being connected to the body means and the desiccant container positioned within the container of product so that the body means is supported in a desirable position whereby the desiccant can remove moisture from the air in the container and or from the upper surface of the product within the container and the two or more shaped stand means enable the desiccant container to function in either a horizontal and vertical orientation to remove moisture from the air.

Accordingly, the present invention provides, in a third aspect, a desiccant container for removing moisture from the air, the desiccant container including:

- a body means, including one or more chamber, adapted to receive and contain desiccant material therein; and
- a supporting means, connected or connectable to the body means for supporting the body means in a desirable position,
  wherein, in use, desiccant material can be put into one or more chamber of the body means, the supporting means connected to the body means and the desiccant container positioned so that the body means is supported in a desirable position whereby the desiccant can remove moisture from the air proximal to the desirable position.

In this form of the invention, the desiccant container may be used in a cupboard to remove moisture. The desiccant container may be suspended from a wall or ceiling by the supporting means. The support means may be a stand means to enable the desiccant container to stand on any suitable surface. The desiccant container may stand on a floor or the floor of a cupboard.
Accordingly, the invention also provides a method of use of a desiccant container, the desiccant container including a body means adapted to receive desiccant therein and a supporting means for supporting the desiccant container in a desirable position within a container, the method including the steps of:

a) filling the body means of the desiccant container with desiccant or similar;
b) using the supporting means to ensure the desiccant container remains in a desirable position in the container and does not get buried in its contents;
c) closing the lid of the container.

Preferably, the method includes the following additional step:

d) checking the desiccant material and on noting a colour change replacing with fresh or dehydrated desiccant material.

Preferably, in another form of the invention the body may act as a stand means for standing the desiccant container on the surface of the product or wherever the user may desire for example the kitchen pantry shelf.
Preferably, the desiccant container of the method is the desiccant container according to the invention in any of its forms or aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with non-limiting preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a desiccant container according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the desiccant container being used in a container of product and having desiccant inside the chambers.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the desiccant container of FIG. 1, removed from the container of product;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the desiccant container

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the container of powder and the desiccant container of FIG. 1, with the desiccant container in a side on position; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the desiccant container of FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS INCLUDING A BEST METHOD

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference numerals.
Desiccant container 1 can be seen positioned inside container 2, container 2 having body 3 and lid 4. Container 2 is illustrated as approximately half full of product 5. Clearly the amount of product 5 within container 2 will vary during use.
As illustrated, container 2 is a generally cylindrical container of a well-known form, including screw-on lid 4. Container 2 can take any suitable, shape, form or be made of any suitable materials. Product 5 is again illustrated as a gym supplement powder but clearly could be any powder, substance, or in fact any product that it may be desired to keep from reacting with moisture in the air through use of desiccant. Silica gel 6 residing within body 7 of desiccant container 1. Silica gel 6 could be replaced with any suitable desiccant, including sachets of desiccant. Silica gel 6 are of a reusable type which changes colour to indicate that they are no longer acting as a desiccant due to the amount of moisture already absorbed and need to be dried out for reuse. Body 7 includes a removable filter 8 made of a washable plastic to enable silica gel 6 to be exposed to the air but that body can be removed and cleaned before being replaced. Paper filters could also be used. Filter 8 may become clogged with powder of product 5 after prolonged use, reducing exposure of silica gel 6 with the air. Therefore it is most advantageous to have a removable, washable filter 8 of body 7, so as to maintain the function of desiccant container 1, over time.
During use silica gel 6 absorbs moisture and during saturation changes colour. The colour change, and hence the state of hydration of silica gel 6 can be seen through clear lid 9. As illustrated clear lid 9 is a top lid but clearly lids could be included at both ends of desiccant container 1 and either lid could be used as is convenient.
Body 7 includes a base 10 and top 11 in which clear lid 9 is fitted, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 8 and 9. Base 10 is formed of curved part 12 and rim 13 and top 11 is formed of curved part 14 and rim 15. The shaping of curved parts 12 and 14 and rims 13 and 15 is important and found to be surprisingly useful at preventing desiccant container 1 sinking into powder 5. Flared rims 13 and 15 increase the surface area of the bottom surface of base 10 and the top surface of 11. The same as snowshoes a greater surface area on a powder surface distributes the weight over a greater surface area reducing the downward pressure. The increased surface area acts against burial of desiccant container 1 in powder 5. If rim 13 or 15 were to be pressed into powder 5 the V-shape created between the junction of rim 13 and curved part 12, and rim 15 and curved part 14, causes powder to catch on curved part 12 or 14. The increased surface area of curved parts 12 and 14 acts against burial of desiccant container 1 so as to maintain silica gel 6 exposed to the air in container 2 and the surface of product 5. Again the position of desiccant container 1 assists to remove moisture from the air and air close to the surface of product 5.
FIG. 4 illustrates desiccant container 1 in a side position. In the side position the V-shape formed between the rim and curved parts of base 10 and 11 both are in contact with product 5. The pair of V-shapes act against burial of desiccant container 1 in product 5 so as to maintain desiccant container 1 in the optimum position for absorbing moisture from the air close to the upper surface of product 5. The configuration of desiccant container 1 is very useful as in either orientation exposure of silica gel 6 to the upper surface of product 5 and surrounding air is maximised. When carrying container 2 of product 5, say in a kit bag to the gym, it is likely that container 2 will move around in the bag. Desiccant container 1 may roll around in container 2 on top of product 5 but due to the shaping will remain with optimal function.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a first preferred embodiment of the invention will be described; referring to FIG. 1 in particular, desiccant container 1 can be seen positioned inside container 10, container 10 having body 12 and lid 14. Container 10 is illustrated as approximately two thirds full of product 16. Clearly the amount of product 16 within container 10 will vary during use and so the level of product 16 should be taken as being illustrative only.
Container 10 is shown as a generally cylindrical container of a well-known form, including screw on lid 14 to enable access though wide opening 18. Clearly other shapes or forms of container 10 could be used. Container 10 as illustrated is a plastic container and lid, as is well known for containing gym supplements. Product 16 is illustrated as a gym supplement powder but clearly could be any powder, substance, or in fact any product that it may be desired to keep from reacting with moisture in the air through use of desiccant. Container 10 and lid 14 could be replaced by any suitable container and lid and may be made of materials other than plastic such as wood, paper, card, metal or any combination thereof. The container 10 may be of any suitable dimensions such as very small for medicinal powder products or very large for industrial quantity containers of chemicals, for example. It is certainly not intended that the invention be limited to use of screw top plastic containers for gym supplements, there are a great many applications.
combinations may be used as is suitable to the type of product and the nature of the container.
More than one desiccant container may be used in a container. For example, one desiccant container may be suspended from the lid of the container while a second stands on the surface. Or three or more of the third embodiments of the invention may be used in a large container of product so as to continuously remove maximum moisture from the upper surface of the product and the surrounding air.
The advantages and application of the invention in its many forms are clearly a significant advance over the prior art, and are likely to prove immensely popular as an effective means of preserving the qualities of gym supplements, and many many other types of products for extended periods of time.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its various aspects.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Desiccant containers of the invention can be manufactured and sold individually or included within containers of powder when sold by retail or wholesalers.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST


Preferred Desiccant Container

1	Dessiccant Container
2	Container
3	Body of Container
4	Lid of Container
5	Product
6	Silica Gel
7	Body of 1
8	Filter of 7
9	Clear Lid of 1
10	Base of 7
11	Top of 7
12	Curved part of 10
13	Rim of 10
14	Curved Part of 11
15	Rim of 11

Claims

1. A desiccant container for use in a container of product, the desiccant container including:

a body means, shaped in a manner that will prevent it from being buried easily in whatever product is also in the container including an air permeable filter, adapted to receive and contain desiccant material therein;

wherein, in use, desiccant material can be put into the body means, and the desiccant container put in the container of product. Due to its design the body resists burial and remains in a desirable position whereby the desiccant can remove moisture from the air in the container and or from the upper surface of the product within the container.

2. The desiccant container of claim 1, wherein the desiccant material is silica gel.

3. The desiccant container of claim 2, wherein a colour change occurs when the desiccant is saturated and the silica gel may be dehydrated in an oven or similar for reuse.

4. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the product is a gym supplement powder.

5. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body means is substantially cylindrical

6. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the body means includes a top and or a base.

7. The desiccant container of claim 6, wherein the top part and or the base includes a rim and a curved part

8. The desiccant container of claim 7, wherein the top and or the base includes a rim and a curved part joined at a V-shape.

9. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein any or all of the rim, curved part and V-shape of the top substantially act against burial of the desiccant container in the product.

10. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein any or all of the rim, curved part and V-shape of the base substantially act against burial of the desiccant container in product.

11. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein a top and a base are included and the top and the base are mirror images of one another.

12. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the shape of the body substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product.

13. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the desiccant container can be orientated upright or on its side and the shape of the body substantially acts against burial of the desiccant container in the product.

14. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the body means includes a mesh or air permeable filter made of fine metal mesh, paper, plastic, nylon, cardboard, cloth, or similar, or any combination thereof.

15. The desiccant container of claim 14, wherein the mesh or filter enables the desiccant material to be held within the body means so as to prevent contact of the desiccant material with the product and the mesh or filter enables the desiccant material to be exposed to the air so as to remove moisture from the surrounding air.

16. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the mesh or filter is a removable filter that can be removed for cleaning.

17. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the body means includes a removable lid.

18. The desiccant container of claim 17, wherein the lid includes at least one transparent part to enable visual inspection of the desiccant material contained within the body.

19. The desiccant container of claim 1 or 18, wherein the rim and the curved part are joined together by a V-shaped join.

20. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein any or all of the rim, curved part and V-shaped join substantially act against burial of the desiccant container in product.

21. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the rim and or the curved part are preferably adapted to have increased surface area so as to substantially act against burial in the product.

22. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the desirable position is one where the desiccant container is on or near an upper surface of the product.

23. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the desiccant material can remove substantially all the moisture from the air inside the container of product.

24. The desiccant container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the desiccant container is adapted to remove moisture from the air proximal to the upper surface of product so that moisture does not react with the product.

25. A desiccant container for use in a container of product, the desiccant container including:

a body means adapted to receive and contain desiccant material therein;

a removable filter adapted prevent the desiccant material leaving the body means and allowing air to circulate to the desiccant material; and

two or more shaped end means, connected or connectable to the body means for standing the body means in a desirable position within the container of product,

wherein, in use, desiccant material can be put into the body means, the desiccant container positioned within a container of product so that the body means is in a desirable position whereby the desiccant can remove moisture from the air in the container and or from the upper surface of the product within the container in either a horizontal and vertical orientation to remove water from the air.

26. A method of use of a desiccant container, the desiccant container including a body means adapted to receive desiccant therein for use within a container, the method including the steps of:

a) Filling the body means of the desiccant container with desiccant or similar;

b) Positioning in the desiccant container in a desirable position where it is able to remove moisture from within the container;

c) Closing the lid of the container.

27. The method of claim 26 including the following additional step:

28. The method of claim 26 or 27 wherein, the desiccant container is the desiccant container of any one of claims 1 to 25.

29. A desiccant container for use in a container of product substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of FIGS. 1 to 5

30. A method of use of a desiccant container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of FIGS. 1 to 5.