WO2003092863A1 - Dehumidifying product - Google Patents
Dehumidifying product Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003092863A1 WO2003092863A1 PCT/GB2003/001841 GB0301841W WO03092863A1 WO 2003092863 A1 WO2003092863 A1 WO 2003092863A1 GB 0301841 W GB0301841 W GB 0301841W WO 03092863 A1 WO03092863 A1 WO 03092863A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cavity
- liquid
- membrane
- product
- cavities
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/26—Drying gases or vapours
- B01D53/263—Drying gases or vapours by absorption
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/26—Drying gases or vapours
-
- 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
- B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
- B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
-
- 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
- B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
- B65D81/26—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators
- B65D81/266—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with provision for draining away, or absorbing, or removing by ventilation, fluids, e.g. exuded by contents; Applications of corrosion inhibitors or desiccators for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a product and method for absorbing water vapour, particularly, although not exclusively, for dehumidifying air in a confined space.
- Humidity, or water vapour in air is often undesirable as water vapour may interfere with the storage of moisture sensitive materials, such as foodstuffs, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, household goods and clothes, or it may adversely effect the operation of moisture sensitive equipment. This problem may be particularly pronounced in those areas where humidity levels are particularly high, such as those countries having hot humid climates.
- methods employing refrigeration equipment involve cooling air to a predetermined temperature below its dew point, so that water condenses from the air and the water may be drained away. Thereafter, the air may be reheated to a predetermined warmer temperature.
- Techniques including absorbent materials may include continuous operation systems so that water is absorbed by the absorbent in a first cycle and then water desorbed from the absorbent by the application of heat in a second cycle.
- these techniques suffer from various disadvantages as they typically require bulky and heavy equipment, such as compressors, fans and heaters, which are interconnected by a network of pipes so that water vapour is absorbed continuously from air.
- bulky and heavy equipment such as compressors, fans and heaters
- such systems are ill-suited for operation in a confined or limited space.
- the cost associated with such systems may prohibit their use in a domestic environment.
- absorbents such as silica gel may be employed in these devices
- silica gel typically absorbs up to 30% its weight of water and it is necessary to employ an absorbent having a higher capacity for water vapour absorption to prolong the life and improve the efficiency of the device.
- hygroscopic deliquescent agents such as calcium chloride, which may absorb 4 to 5 times its weight of water, have been employed in such devices. On absorption of water vapour, the deliquescent agent dissolves to form a liquid.
- the present invention provides a dehumidifying product comprising two joined cavities with a fold line between them, one cavity containing a deliquescent agent and the other cavity being for the collection of liquid, the cavity for the deliquescent agent being closed by a vapour-permeable membrane, wherein the product may be folded about the fold line to reconfigure it from an operative configuration in which water vapour can be absorbed by the deliquescent agent and in which liquid can pass from the cavity for the deliquescent agent to the liquid collection cavity, to a stowed configuration in which the cavities are in face to face relation.
- the membrane of the cavity for the deliquescent agent is liquid-impermeable, to ensure that liquid can pass only into the liquid collection cavity.
- the product is substantially unable to absorb water vapour when in the stowed configuration. This may be because of an external agency, for example a plastics wrapping, but is preferably because of the product itself, for example because of the occlusion of the membrane by the liquid collection cavity, in the stowed configuration.
- the liquid collection cavity is sealed with a vapour-impermeable liquid-impermeable membrane such as to act as a barrier to vapour and liquid.
- a vapour-impermeable liquid-impermeable membrane such as to act as a barrier to vapour and liquid.
- it may be, for example, a metal foil or a vapour- and liquid-impermeable plastics film.
- the vapour- permeable membrane which closes the cavity for deliquescent agent is preferably liquid-impermeable and the same material may be used to close the liquid collection cavity as well. It will be appreciated that although a vapour-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane may be relatively expensive manufacturing costs may be reduced by using a single membrane to cover both cavities.
- the product has an operative configuration in which the membrane of the cavity for deliquescent agent and the part of the liquid collection cavity in face to face relation with said membrane in the stowed configuration (for example the membrane of the liquid collection cavity when such a membrane is provided) are side by side and generally co-planar.
- this operative configuration is a (or the) rest configuration of the product.
- the stowed configuration may also be a rest configuration (eg if the product is bistable) . However it need not be; means may be provided to keep it in that configuration, thereby restraining it against opening.
- the cavities are in face to face contact when in the stowed configuration.
- the deliquescent agent is in contact with the membrane of the respective cavity, at least in the operative configuration.
- that cavity is full of or slightly overfilled by the deliquescent agent, such that the membrane is somewhat strained by it.
- the membrane, or membranes are secured in place by adhesive or heat sealing.
- Heat sealing is preferred.
- the product is preferably formed with a rim or flange around its periphery to provide a flat band against which the membrane (s) may engage.
- a portion of the rim or flange furthest from the fold line may be formed with a formation enabling the dehumidifying product to be hung, preferably from one end of the product, with the liquid collection cavity below the cavity for the deliquescent agent.
- the formation may, for example, be an aperture to receive a wall hook. Alternatively, and preferably, it may itself be a hook formation.
- the fold line is preferably formed by the material which forms the cavities. That is, there preferably is no discrete further part.
- the fold line is constituted by a rib between the cavities, the rib preferably being formed by adjacent walls of the respective cavities, with a web of material connecting them.
- the material may be sufficiently thin and/or flexible as to form a fold line without any further measure, or, preferably, it is thinner than the material elsewhere. It may, if wished, be moulded with a thinned fold line in the form of a "score" (whether arising from a moulding process or by a discrete scoring process) .
- passageways which may be covered by a liquid-permeable membrane but which are preferably open, to permit liquid to pass from the cavity for the deliquescent agent to the liquid collection cavity.
- a convenient way of providing one or more passageways between the cavities is to provide heat sealing of the membrane (s) to the region between them (for example to the web mentioned above) but to leave the sealing incomplete. Thus there will be a region, or regions, left unsealed.
- the arrangement is such that liquid can run from the cavity for deliquescent agent, but the deliquescent agent is retained in that cavity. Incomplete sealing can be achieved by selective absence of adhesive or by selective avoidance of heat sealing or by moulding a recess or recesses where required.
- the deliquescent agent absorbs at least its own weight of water, at 25 °C.
- the deliquescent agent forms a liquid or gel on absorption of water vapour.
- Preferred deliquescent agents include calcium chloride and/or magnesium chloride as these not only exhibit an acceptable water absorption capacity but they are relatively non-caustic.
- the desiccant as defined above may include other active agents selected from a binder, such as starch, a perfume and an antimicrobial agent or combinations thereof.
- the cavities are of a plastics material, preferably a thermoplastics material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and polypropylene.
- a moulding press preferably from a sheet of plastics material (eg by vacuum forming) or from a polymer material in the melt (eg by injection moulding) .
- vapour-permeable liquid-impermeable membranes are commercially available and/or described in literature.
- a material is selected that can admit at least 500g, more preferably at least l,000g, most preferably at least 2,000g water vapour/m 2 /day.
- Suitable membranes may be of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyamide. The polyethylene material sold under the trade mark TYVEK is one example.
- the dehumidifying product is such that it can stay in its stowed condition without the assistance of separate parts, such as retaining bands or complex secondary packaging.
- This may be by virtue of its inherent properties or by virtue of a mechanical device, such as a co-moulded hook and eye.
- a surface of the product, external in the stowed configuration, is preferably printed upon, for example with a Trade Mark, graphics, explanatory wording and the like.
- the surface comprises two major surface portions, formed by flat bottom walls of the cavities. Preferably they are parallel to one another in the stowed configuration. Preferably both are printed upon.
- the dehumidifying product may suitably be wrapped in vapour- and liquid-impermeable packaging up to the point of sale, in order to have the maximum shelf-life and/or utility for the customer.
- Such packaging can be transparent plastics film.
- a method of absorbing water vapour from a locus comprising the steps (in either order) of a) reconfiguring a dehumidifying product of the first aspect into its operative configuration, and b) locating it in the locus.
- Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of dehumidifying product of the present invention, in its in- use configuration;
- Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the product of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a front view of the product of Fig. 1, in its stowed configuration
- Fig. 4 is a side view of the product of Fig. 1, in its stowed configuration.
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment, in its stowed configuration
- Fig. 6 is a side view of the product of Fig. 5, partly open;
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the product of Fig. 5, in its in-use configuration.
- the dehumidifying product shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tray 2 of a self-supporting thermoplastics sheet material. As best shown in Fig. 1, the tray is oval in frontal appearance. It has two identical cavities 4, 6. They are separated by a fold line 8. Fold line 8 is in the form of a rib, the rib being formed by adjacent side walls 10, 12 of the two cavities, connected by a web 14.
- each cavity is of semi-oval shape, in front view.
- the tray 2 has a rim 16 extending all around its periphery. At its upper end the rim is wider and is formed with a hook 18, for hanging.
- Each cavity is formed with a flat bottom wall 19.
- a single membrane 20 is secured in place over the tray, so as to close the cavities.
- the membrane is a vapour-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane sold under the name TYVEK (Registered Trade Mark) . Sealing is effected around the whole of the rim 16, but in the fold line, the sealing onto the web 14 is only intermittent.
- the upper cavity 4 is entirely filled with calcium chloride, as deliquescent agent, such that substantially the entire surface of the membrane over the upper cavity is in contact with calcium chloride.
- the product may be folded about the fold line 8, into the compact stowed condition shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
- the product resembles the shell of a bivalve. Any propensity to open before it is needed could be restrained by a mechanical means on the device, or even by a spot of releasable adhesive between the contacting parts. Preferably, however, this is not done.
- the product is retained in its stowed condition by means of packaging.
- the flat bottom walls of the cavities provide an area for advertisement and information purposes. Accordingly they may be printed on. All that is additionally desirable is an inexpensive clear plastics film, impermeable to vapour, about the product, to keep it in good condition before sale. Thus, expensive and wasteful printed secondary packaging is not required.
- Figs. 5-7 showing the second embodiment the reference numerals correspond to those used in Figs. 1-4.
- the embodiments are similar, but that of Figs. 5-7 has the following substantial differences: the fold line 8 is not formed by the side walls of the cavities. Rather, each cavity has a flange, and the flanges meet at a hinge. the cavities are asymmetric.
- the liquid collection cavity 6 is considerably deep than the cavity 4 for the deliquescent agent.
- the cavity 4 for the deliquescent agent is covered by a vapour-permeable liquid-impermeable membrane 20 whereas the liquid collection cavity is covered by a vapour- and liquid-impermeable membrane 20 .
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2003224317A AU2003224317B2 (en) | 2002-05-04 | 2003-05-01 | Dehumidifying product |
MXPA04010895A MXPA04010895A (en) | 2002-05-04 | 2003-05-01 | Dehumidifying product. |
BR0309726-9A BR0309726A (en) | 2002-05-04 | 2003-05-01 | Dehumidification Product |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0210289.5 | 2002-05-04 | ||
GBGB0210289.5A GB0210289D0 (en) | 2002-05-04 | 2002-05-04 | Product |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2003092863A1 true WO2003092863A1 (en) | 2003-11-13 |
Family
ID=9936105
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2003/001841 WO2003092863A1 (en) | 2002-05-04 | 2003-05-01 | Dehumidifying product |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
KR (1) | KR101019376B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003224317B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR0309726A (en) |
GB (1) | GB0210289D0 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA04010895A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003092863A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200409583B (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016034719A3 (en) * | 2014-09-04 | 2016-06-23 | Petr Dejmek | A process and a container for dehydration of a product |
WO2018004704A1 (en) * | 2016-06-28 | 2018-01-04 | Willert Home Products, Inc. | Dehumidifier apparatus and disposable cartridge therefor |
WO2023044106A1 (en) * | 2021-09-17 | 2023-03-23 | Boveda Inc. | Enhanced moisture control devices for the preservation of products in closed environments |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0212029A1 (en) * | 1985-08-12 | 1987-03-04 | ALIZOL SA Société Anonyme dite: | Device for the absorption of atmospheric humidity |
JPH0471613A (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-03-06 | Nippon Synthetic Chem Ind Co Ltd:The | Dehumidifying package |
JPH05293329A (en) * | 1992-04-17 | 1993-11-09 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | Dehumidifying packing bag |
US5651266A (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 1997-07-29 | Eaton Corporation | Drier/accumulator for refrigerant system and method of making same |
US5907908A (en) * | 1997-10-01 | 1999-06-01 | Tetra Technologies, Inc. | Dehumidifying pouch |
JPH11347339A (en) * | 1998-06-09 | 1999-12-21 | Tokuyama Corp | Dehumidifier |
US6273942B1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2001-08-14 | Auxilium Jersby Aktiebolag | Moisture absorption apparatus |
-
2002
- 2002-05-04 GB GBGB0210289.5A patent/GB0210289D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-05-01 MX MXPA04010895A patent/MXPA04010895A/en unknown
- 2003-05-01 KR KR1020047017722A patent/KR101019376B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2003-05-01 AU AU2003224317A patent/AU2003224317B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-05-01 WO PCT/GB2003/001841 patent/WO2003092863A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-05-01 BR BR0309726-9A patent/BR0309726A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2004
- 2004-11-26 ZA ZA200409583A patent/ZA200409583B/en unknown
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0212029A1 (en) * | 1985-08-12 | 1987-03-04 | ALIZOL SA Société Anonyme dite: | Device for the absorption of atmospheric humidity |
JPH0471613A (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-03-06 | Nippon Synthetic Chem Ind Co Ltd:The | Dehumidifying package |
JPH05293329A (en) * | 1992-04-17 | 1993-11-09 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | Dehumidifying packing bag |
US5651266A (en) * | 1996-04-04 | 1997-07-29 | Eaton Corporation | Drier/accumulator for refrigerant system and method of making same |
US5907908A (en) * | 1997-10-01 | 1999-06-01 | Tetra Technologies, Inc. | Dehumidifying pouch |
JPH11347339A (en) * | 1998-06-09 | 1999-12-21 | Tokuyama Corp | Dehumidifier |
US6273942B1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2001-08-14 | Auxilium Jersby Aktiebolag | Moisture absorption apparatus |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 03 30 March 2000 (2000-03-30) * |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2016034719A3 (en) * | 2014-09-04 | 2016-06-23 | Petr Dejmek | A process and a container for dehydration of a product |
WO2018004704A1 (en) * | 2016-06-28 | 2018-01-04 | Willert Home Products, Inc. | Dehumidifier apparatus and disposable cartridge therefor |
US9943798B2 (en) | 2016-06-28 | 2018-04-17 | Willert Home Products, Inc. | Dehumidifier apparatus and disposable cartridge therefor |
US10427087B2 (en) | 2016-06-28 | 2019-10-01 | Willert Home Products, Inc. | Dehumidifier apparatus and disposable cartridge therefor |
WO2023044106A1 (en) * | 2021-09-17 | 2023-03-23 | Boveda Inc. | Enhanced moisture control devices for the preservation of products in closed environments |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ZA200409583B (en) | 2006-05-31 |
BR0309726A (en) | 2005-02-22 |
AU2003224317A1 (en) | 2003-11-17 |
MXPA04010895A (en) | 2005-02-14 |
GB0210289D0 (en) | 2002-06-12 |
AU2003224317B2 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
KR20050030894A (en) | 2005-03-31 |
KR101019376B1 (en) | 2011-03-07 |
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