US2671707A - Tobacco humidor - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1954 J. s. LOMBARD 2,671,707'

TOBACCO HUMIDOR Filed March 31, 1950 5 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTOR Jos' ,3. Lombard ATTORN March 9 1954 LOMBARD 2,671,707

TOBACCO HUMIDOR I I Filed March 51, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jose 15' Lomau'd BY 7 Q 25;? z I ,j ATTOR 'I- s J, S. LOMBARD TOBACCO HUMIDOR March 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1950 INVENTOR Jose 15'. Lombard FA f ATTOR March 9, 1954 LQMBARD 2,671,707

TQBACCO HUMIDOR Filed March 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jose A5,. Lombard BY 771444) r M ATTMJ Patented Mar. 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT FF I CE 2,671,707 roe icco HUMIDQR Jos S. Lombard, NewvYork; N. Y; Aiiiiiie'a't'ion March 31, 1950, serial No. i53,145 3 Claims. (01; 312=31 This invention relates to humidors for storing tobacco and tobacco products, and particularly to humidors adapted to supply water vapor to the stored tobacco to co'ntrblits moisture content. ihis application is a continuation-m-part of my earlier application Serial No. 587,510, filed April 10, 1945, now U.- S. Patent No. 2,561,805, issued July 24, 1951.

In the storage of tobacco, itis important to prevent the tobacco from drying out and at the same to prevent it from becoming overly moist. It is also important that the tobacco be kept at a rentiveiy low temperature to prevent the rapid loss of volatile flavors and aroma-tic substances;

In the usual tohaeco hummer, a moist or wet surface is exposed to the closed tobacco chamber so that water evaporates from the surface until either the water suppiy is extaustee or the water vapor pressure reaches equilibriiii'n at avalue, depending upon the temperature of the eha-mber, which correspondst'o one hundred percent relative humidity; equilibrium condition will be disturbedeach time the eoritainer is opened, but will be restored; after clesiii e; In the conventional humiclor; it is ordinary practice" to limit either the quantitv' of water available; or its rate of evaporation; to a value such that with the usual opening and elosing of the hummer, the tobacco will not ecome overly meist; Limiting the supply of water has the disadvantage that the water must be replenished at frequent intervals, and limiting the rate of evaporation has the disadvantage that if the humidor' not opened for a considerable period of time, the tobacco may become too moist.

The present inventior'i pi ovides a huiiiiddr in which the relative hiimidity or aninsulated tobacco chamber is maintained substantially constant irrespective of; erdinarfi changesin the temperature of the siirroundiI-ig atmsprier e. One aspect of the invention is directed to permitting controlled amounts of water vapor to enter the tobacod chamber whee preventing the entrance of Water, or other materiai, in liquid form: Another aspect of the invention is directed particularly to the non-spillliquid cohtaliner in combination hiifiiidity-contrelling agents. othe aspects of the invention are directed-t particular features of construction fer obtainirig insulation on all sides of the tobacco ch'a'inher', for sealing the ammo ena ser; and for simplifying" and lowering the cost (if construction 6f the huffi or. Qtlier aspects, advantages; olejects'; of the invention will be :3 tea" out the following d'- semstiea er appareiit-thrfroth 2 considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior or a humidor embodying the invention; 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hurnidor shown in Fig. 1; I

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the removable cover of the humidor;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sealing ring;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the outer shell of the humidor;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the inner wall efthe humidor;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cigarette rack adapted to be positioned within the tobacco chamber; 4

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a humidifying reservoir which is positioned between the outer and inner walls of the humidor;

Figure 9 is an explodedview of the reservoir shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken on line lll"lll of Figure 2;

Figure 11 shows details'of the float assembly or the reservoir of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line l2l2 of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a partial sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 2;

Figures 14 to 18 are diagrammatic vertical sectional views of the reservoir showing the position (if the humec'tant solution when the humidor is rotatedabout a transverse axis of the hum-idor extending through the reservoir; and

Figures 19 to 22 are diagrammatic sectional vi ws showing the positions assume by the humectant solution iii the reservoir when the humidor; lying on its side, is rotated about its longitiid-inal axis.

s As shown in Figures 1 to 6, a tobacco receiving chamber, enerauy indicated at 2, (Figures 2 and 6') is formed within the hurnidor loy' a CYIiIidricaJIi-finer wall 4, which is provided with removable wall lining B, or Vihyl'i't'e plastic or other sui-taHIe material.- This wall 4 is positioned at lower end around an upwardly extendin shoulder 8' (Figure 2") formed by aninwardly extending circular boss Hi on the bottom or a generally cup-shaped outer shell I2 (see also Figure 5) the inner surf-ace ofthe boss lu'h'i'fig ciov'eredwith ahottom lining [3' in the frni of a disc of plastic material similar to that of the tee 61' This boss ldiire'ferablv is formed ifidefiting'th bottom of the she'll i2 inwardly so as to form an insulating dead air space H between the bottom of shell [2 and the surface (not shown) on which the humidor is placed. A ring l6, of cork or other suitable material, may be secured around the inset portion of the bottom so that the humidor rests on the ring IE to prevent scratching or marring of the surface on which the humidor is placed.

The outer shell l2 extends upwardly around the inner wall 4, but is spaced therefrom so as to provide an insulating dead air space [8 around the tobacco chamber 2 between the inner wall 4 and outer shell l2.

The top of the air space I8 is closed by an annular sealing ring 22 (Figures 2 and 4) of generally U-shaped cross section, the outer downwardly extending edge 23 of which fits snugly within the shell l2 near its upper end. The ring 22 extends inwardly of the humidor over the upper edge of the inner Wall 4 and its inner downwardly extending edge 24 fits snugly against the inner face of the wall 4 near its upper end, so that the lower edge of the ring 22 abuts the upper edge of the plastic lining 6.

The main body of the humidor, thus, is formed by the outer cup-shaped shell I 2 surrounding the cylindrical inner wall 4, which is held firmly in position at its lower end by the shoulder 8 and at its upper end by the ring 22 that serves also to seal the dead air space [8. With this construction, the humidor can be assembled or disassembled by hand quickly and without need for special tools.

The humidor is provided also with an insulating removable cover, generally indicated at 26, (see also Figure 3) which seals the tobacco chamber 2 from the outside air and which provides an additional dead air space 28 above the tobacco chamber 2. The cover 26 includes a circular sealing plate 32 which is provided with a curved downwardly extending rim portion 34 completely surrounding the plate 32, the bottom edge of which abuts and preferably is flush with the upper edge of the shell [2, as at 36, when the humidor is closed.

As best shown in Figure 2, the inner surface of the lowermost portion of the rim 34 of plate 32, is substantially vertical, for example, for a distance of about one-eighth of an inch, and is arranged to form an air tight seal with the ada jacent outer surface of the sealing ring 22, which surface also extends vertically for a short distance above the top of the outer shell [2. Above this sealing area of contact between the ring 22 and the plate 32, the sealing ring 22 curves inwardly more rapidly, that is, with a smaller radius of curvature, than does the sealing plate 32, so that the plate 32 separates immediately from the sealing ring 22, their only area of contact being immediately adjacent the upper edge of the shell l2.

In order to provide the dead air space 28 in the cover 26, a guide pan, generally indicated at 38, having a plane circular bottom 42 and an upwardly-extending outwardly-sloping annular wall 44, is secured to the under surface of the sealing plate 32, for example, by a screw 46 which extends upwardly through the bottom 42 of the pan 38, through a clearance opening in the sealing plate 32, and is in threaded engagement with a downwardly-extending boss 48 that is secured, by solder or other suitable means, to the inner surface of a dome-shaped handle 52. A cup-shaped weight 54, of lead or other heavy material, and a plane washer 56 are positioned around the screw 46 between the sealing plate 32 and the guide pan 38 to prevent bending of the guide pan when the screw 46 is tightened and to provide sufficient weight in the cover 26 to insure that it will seat itself properly when placed on the humidor.

The handle 52 is generally circular in shape, but of course may be formed in any other desired shape, and is provided with a downwardlyextending annular flange 58 which is curved inwardly so that the cover can be gripped easily with the fingers, the bottom portion of the flange 58 being curved outwardly so that its undersurface lies flush on the upper surface of the sealing plate 32. The handle 52, sealing plate 32, and guide pan 38 are locked firmly together by the screw 46.

When the cover 26 is being placed on the humidor, the sloping wall 44 of the guide pan 3!! slides against the inner corner of the sealing ring 22 and insures proper positioning of the cover. The seal formed by the rim 34 of th sealing plate 32 and the outer surface of the sealing ring 22 insures adequate protection of the stored tobacco from the outside air, and at the same time per mits easy removal and replacement of the cover because the seal is broken when the cover has been tilted or lifted only a short distance so that there is no tendency for the cover to bind or jam. It will be noted also that the tobacco chamber is insulated on all sides by dead air spaces, insuring that the tobacco will remain relatively cool even though the humidor is surrounded temporarily by warm air.

The tobacco chamber 2 can be used for storing tobacco products in any form, for example, cigarettes, cigars, or pipe tobacco. In order to provide a convenient support for cigarettes, a generally U-shaped rack, generall indicated at 62 in Figure 7, is adapted to fit within the tobacco chamber 2. The rack 62, which may be formed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material preferably in one piece, comprises a bottom 64 and vertical sides 66, both of which are provided with inwardly-extending flanges 68 to hold the cigarettes in position. The sides 66 are perforated to permit vapor to enter the ends of the cigarettes, and are provided at their upper ends with outwardly-extending curved ears 12 which fit loosely within the tobacco chamber 2 to position the tray centrally thereof while permitting it to be rotated by hand to any desired position. This rack may be similar in all respects to that described in my above-mentioned copending application.

In order to provide water vapor for the tobacco chamber 2, a reservoir, generally indicated at 16 in Figure 8, of sheet metal or other suitable material, is positioned within the humidor between the inner wall 4 and the outer shell l2.

In order to provide a passageway for the water vapor in the reservoir 16 to enter the tobacco chamber 2, a curved inner cover 18 (Figure 9) of the reservoir 16 is provided with a perforated cup or strainer which is secured into an opening 19 of the cover 18 so as to extend into the interior of the reservoir 16. This strainer 80 is provided with a cover 8| which is secured over the open face of cup 80 by any suitable means, for example, by press-fitting the flange 8Ia of the cover 8| within the walls of the cup 80. The cover 8| is provided with perforations, which desirably are somewhat smaller than the perforations in the body of the strainer 80. The perforated strainer 80 is positioned adjacent an opening 82 in the inner wall 4 (Figure 6) which is covered by a perforated sheet or screen 84' ofplastic, metal, or other materiaL. interposed between the inner wall 4 and the plastic lining B. A hole 86 in the plastic lining 6 immediately. adjacent the screen 84 permits the water va or to pass into the tobacco chamber 2. The linin 6 fits sufficiently loosely within the inner wall 4 that it may be rotated by hand, thus permitting more or less of the perforated portion 84 to overlap the opening'86 in the lining.

In order to control the relative humidity Within the chamber 2 so that it is substantially independent of the temperature outside the humidor, the reservoir It is partially filled with a humectant solution 88 (Figure 14). In humidors intended to maintain a relative humidity of'lo' to 75 percent, usually considered desirable for the storing of cigars, the humectant solution 88 comprises equal parts by weight of sodium acetate and ethylene glycol with two parts by weight of water. This solution will maintain the desired relative humidity substantially constant, so that cigars which are overly dry when placed in the humidor will acquire the desired moisture content, whereas cigars which are overly moist when placed in the humidor will lose part of their moisture to acquire the desired moisture content. The humidity-controlling agents, that is, sodium acetate and ethylene glycol, are substantially nonvolatile and so never need to be replaced in the reservoir. If the humidor were not opened, the water also would last indefinitely, but with normal usage when the humidor is periodically opened and closed a certain amount of water vapor will be lost and water must be added to the reservoir from time to time. The humectant solution 88 has no deleterious effect on the flavor or aroma of the tobacco.

It has been found that the humectant solution 88 will effectively control the humidity even when its water content has decreased to as low as 2 to 5 percent of the humectant solution. However, if the percentage of water drops below this amount, the water in the reservoir must be replenished or the humidity-control system will not function properly. An arrangement is provided in the reservoir I6 for indicating when the Water supply is low and for permitting water to be added. In addition, an arrangement is provided which prevents the humectant solution 88 from leaking out of the reservoir 16 if the humidor is turned on its side or even if it is turned upside down. This latter feature is particularly important because of the presence of the non-volatile humidity-control agents in the humectant solution which desirably are retained in the humidor throughout its life, and which would contaminate the tobacco if allowed to enter the chamber 2.

The reservoir It includes a cup-shaped portion, generally indicated at 96, (Figure 9) formed, for example, from one piece of metal or other suitable material, which includes an outer face Q2, and side walls 94. The inner cover 18 of the reservoir is provided with flanges 9 6 whichfit snugly within the Walls 94 and are sealed thereto so as to be water-tight, as for example, by soldering. The Walls 54 are provided with outwardly-extending flanges 98 which fit under projecting tabs r52- (Figures 6 and 10-) on the outer surface of the inner wall 4 to support the reservoir. The face 92 and thecover 18 are curved so as to! fit nicely between the inner wall .4 and the outerishell' I;2,- aashowir. imFigui-e 1.3-.

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A filler-tube and indicator, generallyindicated at I04 in Figure 9, is positioned in the reservoir 16 and includes a tube I 0B, extending from Within the reservoir 16 upwardly" through a suitable opening in the top wall thereof, which is termie nated at its upper end by a fitting I08, for example, formed ofa separate piece or metal and attached to the filler tube. III-8 as by press fitting (see also Figure 10). Thefitting I08 forms an internal valve seat I'IZ, whose purpose will be explained later, and an external shoulder which presses downwardly against a washer I I4 of rubber, or other suitable material, which surrounds the filler tube I06 to form a water-tight seal. The upper end of fitting I08 is recessed to form a smaller diameter projecting portion II6 which extends into an opening Ila. (see also Figure 4) in the upper surface of the sealing ring 22.

The lower end of the filler tube I05 is closed by a cup I22 which extends upwardly around the outside of the tube I06. The bottom of the cup I22 is provided with a small clearance opening to permit passage of a float rod I28, as will be explained later. The cup I22 is provided with an opening I2 in the side opposite the center of the humidor, for example in the form of tw vertical slits in the wall of the cup I22. Water which is poured into the filler tube I03 through the opening H8 in the sealing ring 22 passes through a perforated metal disc I 30 inthe tube I56 and enters the reservoir I6 through the opening I29.

In order to prevent leakage of the huinectant solution out of the humidor, even if the humidor should be inverted, a check" valve including a movable plunger IN. is mounted within the cup I22. The plunger I 3| has the shape of arelatively thick washer with a central opening for the float rod I23 and concave upper and lower surfaces. This. plunger is fitted loosely within the cup I22 so that it is free to move along the rod I23 when the humidor is inverted and seat against the perforated disc I30 to prevent the humectant solution from entering the tube lot. This arrangement is satisfactory because at most only one or two drops of solution will be trapped in the cup I22 and will not have'sufficient hydrostatic pressure to force the solution past the plunger I3I and through the perforations of the disc I130.

In order to indicate when the hume'ctant solution 83 has reached such a low level in the reservoir it that it should be replenished, a hollow cylindrical float I36 (see also Figure 1-1) isprovld'ed, which may be formed, for example, of two metal cups I38 and I42; The cup I38 is provided with a peripheral groove I44, formed by embossing. the metal shell inwardly, and isadapted to fit over the open end of the cup I42, the groove I44 serving as a stop against which the cup M2 is positioned. The joint between the cups I38 and I42 is sealed by any suitable means, as, for example, by soldering. It is apparent, of course, that the float I36 can be constructed in any other known manner and of other materials. The lower end of the float rod r28 is secured to the float I35, as by being positioned around the groove I44, and extends upwardly through the clearance opening in the bottom of cup I22 into the filler tube Hit and is fitted at its upper end with an indicator ball I45 of plastic or'other suitable material. It isapparent that as the levelof the humectant solution in the reservoir 16 changes, the ball I46 will move upwardly or downwardly Withinthe fi-llertube W6 tF-igure Id);

7 This ball, when it is near the top of the filler tube I66, is visible through the opening H8 in the sealing ring 22, indicating that there is sufficient water within the reservoir I6. This ball I46 may be colored, if desired, in order to enhance its visibility.

An annular boss or ring I48, formed, for example, by embossing a groove in the outer surface of tube I86, projects inwardly of the filler tube I96 a short distance below its upper end, and also may be colored so that it is readily visible through the opening H8 in the sealing ring 22 whenever the ball I l-6 is below the ring I48. Thus, whenever the ring I48 is visible, an indication is provided that additional water is needed for the reservoir.

The indicator ball I46, in conjunction with the valve seat H2 of the fitting I08, forms a check valve so that if the humidor should be inverted, the force of gravity will move the float assembly downwardly seating the ball I45 against the valve seat H2 and preventing the humectant solution from leaking out of the reservoir.

When a non-volatile humectant solution is used, such as in the present humidor, it is important not only that none of the liquid spill outside the humidor, but also that none of the liquid be admitted to the tobacco chamber where, because of its non-volatile character, it would permanently contaminate the tobacco products therein. The construction of the humidor in accordance with the present invention prevents direct spilling of the humectant solution either outside the humidor or into the tobacco chamber.

Figures 14 to 22 will be helpful in explaming this non-spill action. Figure 14 shows the position of the humectant solution 88 when the humidor is in its usual upright position, the level of the humectant solution 88 being maintained at all times below the level of the perforated cup fill. The positions assumed by the humectant solution when the humidor is tipped to the left or right are shown in Figures 15 and 18, respectively. Continued rotation of the humidor about its transverse axis causes the reservoir I6 to assume the positions shown in Figures 16 and 17, the humectant solution at all times remaining below the level of the perforated cup 80. It will be noted also that when the humidor is approximately upside down, that not only is the end of the filler tube I86 out of the humectant solution, but plunger I3I has been pulled by gravity against the disc I30 to prevent the solution from entering the tube I66, and the float assembly has been pulled downwardly by gravity causing the ball I46 to seal the entrance to tube I66 so that even if any of the liquid were accidentally trapped within the tube 506 it will not leak out. The perforated cup 89 extends within the reservoir and the openings are so small that it is difiicult for any of the humectant solution to enter the cup in liquid form; however, even if this should occur, the liquid would be prevented from entering the tobacco chamber by the even finer perforations in the cover SI and would merely leak back through the perforations in the body of cup Bil into the reservoir.

When the humidor is positioned on its side, that is, with its longitudinal axis horizontal, the reservoir it may assume the positions shown in Figures 19 to 22. When the reservoir is on top of the humidor, as shown in Figure 19, the humectant solution drains to the two ends of the reservoir so that the level of the liquid is below the perforated cup 80 and cannot leak into the tobacco chamber 2. If the humidor is rotated so that the reservoir I6 is on the bottom as shown in Figure 20, the level of the liquid is well below the perforated cup 80. If the humidor is rotated so that the reservoir I6 is on the side of the humidor, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the level of the humectant solution 88 remains below the perforated cup 80.

Thus, irrespective of the position of the humidor, the humectant solution 88 cannot spill out of the reservoir, and the non-volatile humidity control agents therein will last indefinitely.

It will be noted also that the perforations of the cover 8I of the cup are spaced from the perforations of screen 84 thus, fluid motivated by capillary forces cannot pass readily from one screen to the next and thus enter the tobacco chamber. Moreover, the perforations of cup 80 and its cover 8! in the front 78 of the reservoir, are preferably sufficiently small that the humectant liquid, even if splashed against the screens, will not pass through the perforations.

Thus, it will be seen that the foregoing humidor with its humectant solution and non-volatile humidity-controlling agents is well adapted to attain the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth. Humidity control substantially independent of the ambient temperature is provided by the humectant solution, it being understood, of course, that other humectant solutions having non-volatile control agents can be employed, if desired, and that the solution can be adjusted to provide other relative humidities than that suggested, for example, for the storage of cigarettes or pipe tobacco. The non-spill characteristics of the humidor make practicable the use of such non-volatile agents. The insulating properties of the humidor, wherein the tobacco chamber is surrounded on all sides by a dead air space, assists in providing more precise control of the humidity and prevents the tobacco from becoming too warm or too cool with consequent loss of the aromas and volatile flavors.

I claim:

1. In a humidor having a tobacco receiving chamber, substantially cylindrical spaced Walls surrounding and defining said chamber, and a reservoir having inner and outer walls containing a humectant solution and positioned between said spaced walls of said chamber for supplying water vapor to said chamber, a combination comprising an opening extending between said reservoir and said chamber for permitting water vapor to pass from said reservoir into said chamber and from said chamber into said reservoir, the inner and outer walls of said reservoir being curved and defining portions of concentric cylinders, said opening extending through the said inner wall of said reservoir substantially at the center thereof and having a circumferential lip therearound extending within said reservoir, said opening being at all times above the level of a predetermined quantity of said solution in said reservoir when said liquid is at rest, irrespective of the orientation of said humidor, and an indicator responsive to the level of said solution and arranged to denote when said predetermined quantity of liquid is in said reservoir.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an internal annular lip on the inner reservoir wall extending around said opening and inwardly of the reservoir, and a screen having a plurality of minute holes extending across said opening.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a filler tube having an upper opening and a lower opening and extending into said reservoir, said indicator being positioned within said tube and including a float positioned within said reservoir, a float rod extending upwardly from said float into said filler tube, and a ball mounted 5 on said float rod and visible through said upper opening of said filler tube, and a valve set within said filler tube arranged to be closed by upward movement of said ball to seal said upper opening when said liquid reaches said prede- 10 termined level.

JOSE s. LOMBARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Miranda June 6, 1893 Browning Feb. 13, 1912 Cooney July 12, 1932 Harris Mar. 16, 1937 Laidley Oct. 29, 1940 Paul Nov. 16, 1948 Morrison Sept. 5, 1950 Lombard July 24, 1951

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