Humidifying Insert and Method for Humidifying Smoking Articles

Abstract

A humidifying insert for a smoking article packaging has a planar shape, is insertable into a smoking article packaging and includes a humidifying agent and a humidity transmitter, which transfers the humidifying agent from the humidifying insert into the inner volume of the smoking article packaging. A storage compartment, in which the humidifying agent is stored, has a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier. A method for humidifying smoking articles is also provided.

Claims

1. A humidifying insert, for a smoking article packaging, wherein the humidifying insert has a planar shape, is insertable into a smoking article packaging and comprises: a humidifying agent, and a humidity transmitter, configured to transfers the humidifying agent from the humidifying insert into an inner volume of the smoking article packaging, and a storage compartment in which the humidifying agent is stored, the storage compartment having a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier.

2. The humidifying insert according to claim 1, wherein: the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter are enclosed between a front sheet material layer and a back sheet material layer.

3. The humidifying insert according to claim 2, wherein: the front and back sheet material layers are affixed to each other at least circumferentially along edges of sides of the front and back sheet material layers facing each other, wherein at least respective center parts of the front and back sheet material layers are unaffixed to each other forming a cavity enclosing the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter.

4. The humidifying insert according to claim 2, wherein: each of the front and back sheet material layers is a composite film, comprising at least two material layers.

5. The humidifying insert according to claim 4, wherein: the composite film of at least one of the front and back sheet material layers comprises a first layer of polyethylene terephthalate, a second layer of polyethylene terephthalate coated on at least one side with an oxide layer and a third layer of polyethylene.

6. The humidifying insert according to claim 4, wherein: the composite film of at least one of the front and back sheet material layers is printable.

7. The humidifying insert according to claim 2, wherein: the front sheet material layer comprises perforations located at the humidity transmitter establishing a second fluidic connection between the humidity transmitter and atmosphere surrounding the humidifying insert.

8. The humidifying insert according to claim 7, wherein: each of the perforations has a hole size of 0.01 to 4 mm.

9. The humidifying insert according to claim 7, wherein: the perforations comprise from 1 to 200 holes.

10. The humidifying insert according to claim 7, wherein: the humidity transmitter comprises a tissue material located directly at the perforations between the front and back sheet material layers.

11. The humidifying insert according to claim 1, wherein: the breakable barrier is a seal varnish.

12. The humidifying insert according to claim 1, wherein: the breakable barrier is breakable with a pressure gradient between the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter.

13. The humidifying insert according to claim 1, wherein: the humidifying agent is a water based solution.

14. A method for humidifying smoking articles in a packaging with a humidifying insert, which has a planar shape and comprises a humidifying agent, a humidity transmitter, and a storage compartment in which the humidifying agent is stored, wherein the storage compartment has a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier, comprising the steps: (a) breaking the breakable barrier by pressurizing the storage compartment to open the fluidic connection such that the humidifying agent can flow from the storage compartment to the humidity transmitter; and (b) inserting the humidifying insert into a smoking article package.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the storage compartment is pressurized by folding the humidifying insert in an area where the storage compartment is located.

16. The humidifying insert according to claim 7, wherein: each of the perforations has a hole size of 0.1 to 3 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols. The figures show:

[0033] FIG. 1 a general view of a smoking articles package 2 with the humidifying insert 1;

[0034] FIG. 2 a schematic top view of the humidifying insert 1;

[0035] FIG. 3 a sectional view along A-A of the humidifying insert 1;

[0036] FIG. 4 a sectional view along B-B of the humidifying insert 1;

[0037] FIG. 5 a sectional view along C-C of the humidifying insert 1;

[0038] FIG. 6 schematic view of the layer stack of the composite material 11;

[0039] FIG. 7a-b a sectional view along A-A of the folded humidifying insert 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] In FIG. 1 depicts the smoking articles package 2 with the humidifying insert 1. The smoking articles package 2 comprises outer walls 2c, which enclose an inner volume 5 of the smoking articles package 2. In the inner volume 5 smoking articles 17 are arranged. The humidifying insert 1 is insertable in the smoking articles package 2 in an insertion direction I. The humidifying insert 1 can also be extracted from the smoking articles package 2 in an extraction direction E. Preferably, the humidifying insert 1 can be inserted into and/or extracted from the smoking articles packaging 2 in the same way as smoking articles 17 can be inserted into and/or extracted from the smoking articles packaging 2. Preferably, the humidifying insert 1 is inserted into the smoking articles packaging 2 through a top opening 2a, which is closable with a lid 2b hinged to a back wall of the smoking articles packaging 2. The insertion and extraction directions I, E are to be construed as parallel to the packaging walls longitudinal direction, i.e. perpendicular to the plane into which the top opening 2a extends in any orientation of the packaging 2.

[0041] The humidifying insert is preferably inserted between the smoking articles 17 and the outer walls 2c of the smoking articles package 2. Preferably, the humidifying insert 1 is arranged with its back sheet material 10 facing the outer walls 2c of the smoking articles packaging 2 and its front sheet material 9 facing the smoking articles 17.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the humidifying insert 1 in the inactivated state with the front sheet material 9 in front. The humidifying insert 1 has a rectangular shape with edges 11. The corners of the rectangular shape may be rounded or bezelled to simplify the insertion of the humidifying insert into a smoking articles package 2. The rectangular shape comprises a longer edge 11a and a shorter edge, 11b, which together define a front surface plane 9 of the humidifying insert 1. Preferably, the longer edge 11a comprises a length of 85 mm. Preferably, the shorter edge 11b comprises a length of 40 mm. Preferably, the corners between the longer and shorter edges 11a, 11b are rounded with a radius of 6 mm. This sizing ensures machine compliance. Distanced from the edges 11 and near the center of the front surface plane 9, the storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4 are arranged. Preferably, the storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4 are arranged next to each other along the longer edge 11a of the rectangular shape of the humidifying insert 1.

[0043] Preferably, the storage compartment 6 comprises a rectangular shape, when viewed from the front surface plane 9. The rectangular shape of the storage compartment 6 comprises a longer axis A-A and a shorter axis B-B. The longer axis A-A is parallel to the longer edge 11a of the humidifying insert 1, wherein the shorter axis B-B is parallel to the shorter edge 11b of the humidifying insert 1. The humidity transmitter 4 also comprises an approximately rectangular shape, when viewed from the top surface plane 9. The rectangular shape of the humidity transmitter 4 comprises a longer axis C-C and a shorter axis A-A. The shorter axis A-A of the humidity transmitter 4 and the longer axis A-A of the storage compartment preferably are parallel to each other or even identical. The fluidic connection 7 is located at an edge 6a of the storage compartment 6 next to an edge 4a of the humidity transmitter 4. The edges 6a and 4a are parallel to each other.

[0044] The longer edge 4a facing the storage compartment 6 comprises a kinked shape with a corner 18 in the middle of the edge 4a. The corner 18 is located nearer to the storage compartment 6 than the two ends 19 of the edge 4a. This results in an angled arrangement of the two halves of the edge 4a, which are separated by the corner 18.

[0045] The storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4 are connected via a fluidic connection 7. The fluidic connection 7 is at least temporarily blocked with a breakable barrier 8. Therefore, the breakable barrier is arranged in the fluidic connection 7 between storage compartment 6 and humidity transmitter 4. The breakable barrier 8 extends along the complete edge 4a of the humidity transmitter 4. In the humidity transmitter 4, a tissue material 15 is arranged in a centered manner. At the position of the tissue material 15, the front sheet material 9 comprises a perforation 14.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the humidifying insert 1 along the axis A-A, which is depicted in FIG. 2, and perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 2. The front and back sheet material 9, 10 are layered above each other. The front and back sheet materials 9, 10 are affixed to each other at their respective edges 11 with their sides 9a, 10a facing towards each other. The front and back sheet materials 9, 10 are preferably affixed to each other by heat sealing. The front and back sheet materials 9, 10 are permanently affixed to each other only in a fixation area 11c extending from the edges 11 of the front and back sheet materials 9, 10 towards their center.

[0047] The fixation area 11c does not cover the complete sides 9a, 10a of the front and back sheet material 9, 10. A center part 12 of the front and back sheet materials 9, 10 remains unfixed forming a cavity 13. The cavity 13 is divided into two sections by the breakable barrier 8. One of the sections denotes the storage compartment 6 whereas the other section denotes the humidity transmitter 4. The breakable barrier 8 fixes the front and back sheet material 9, 10 with their sides 9a, 10a facing towards each other at least temporarily at each other. The breakable barrier 8 blocks the fluidic connection 7 between the storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4 at least temporarily.

[0048] In the storage compartment 6 and between the front and back sheet material 9, 10 the humidifying agent 3 is stored. In the humidity transmitter 4 and between the front and back sheet material 9, 10, the tissue material 15 is located. The tissue material 15 is located directly below the perforations 14 of the front sheet material 9. Preferably, a surface 15a of the tissue material 15 is arranged adjacent and in planar contact front sheet material 9 and the perforations 14.

[0049] FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view of the humidifying insert 1 along the axis B-B, which is depicted in FIG. 2, and perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 2. The axis B-B intersects the humidifying insert 1 at the storage compartment 6 perpendicular to the axis A-A. The shorter edge of rectangular shape of the storage compartment 6 (compare FIG. 2) is realized by a larger extent of the fixation area 11c from the edges 11 towards the center of the front and back sheet material 9, 10. By freely choosing the extent of the fixation area 11c from the edges 11 towards the center of the front and back sheet materials 9, 10, the shape of the storage compartment 6 and/or the humidity transmitter 4 can be determined. In the storage compartment 6 the humidifying agent 3 is stored. To simplify the production of the humidifying insert 1, the front and back sheet material 9, 10 may consist of a single piece of material whose shape-equivalent two halves have been folded over each other at a crease 20 forming one of the edges 11, 11a, 11b of the front and back sheet material 9, 10.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a third sectional view of the humidifying insert 1. In this figure, the humidifying insert 1 is sectioned along the axis C-C, which is parallel to the sectional axis B-B but intersects the humidifying insert 1 at the humidity transmitter 4. Between the front and back sheet material 9, 10, the tissue material 15 is located. Directly above the surface 15a of the tissue material 15 the perforation 14 is arranged. With this arrangement, the humidifying agent 3 evaporating from the tissue material 15 in the activated state can directly travel through the perforation 14 out of the humidifying insert 1 to the surrounding of the humidifying insert 1. Again, at one edge 11 the front and back sheet material 9, 10 are folded along the crease 20, as they consist of one piece of the composite material 16.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the composite material 16. The composite material 16 comprises several individual material layers 16a-d, which are arranged in direct planar contact and on top of each other. The individual layers 16a-d are in contact with at least one of the other layers 16a-d on at least one complete surface of the layer 16a-d. The individual layer 16a-d of the composite film 16 are fixed to each other over their entire contact area. The composite film 16 comprises a first layer 16a, which consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The composite film 16 comprises a second layer 16b, which also consists of polyethylene terephthalate. This second layer is coated on at least one side with a coating layer 16c. The coating layer preferably consists of aluminum oxide (AlOx). Alternatively, a Silicon Oxide (SiOx) coated film may be used. The composite film 16 further comprises a third layer 16d, which consists of polyethylene (PE).

[0052] FIGS. 7a and 7b show the humidifying insert folded along a folding axis F. The folding axis F is arranged parallel to the top edge 11b of the humidifying insert 1. The folding axis F intersects the storage compartment 6. When folding the humidifying insert 1 along the folding axis F, a crease F is generated. Along the crease F, the storage compartment 6 is divided into a first and a second sub-compartment 6b, 6c. The first sub-compartment 6b is located on the side of the crease F averted from the humidity transmitter 4. The second sub-compartment 6c is located on the side of the crease F facing the humidity transmitter 4. Generally speaking, the storage compartment 6 is folded along a folding line F serving as the rotational axis, dividing the storage compartment 6 into a first and a second sub-compartment 6b, 6c at a crease F, wherein the first sub-compartment 6b is rotated around the folding line F with respect to the second sub-compartment 6c.

[0053] In FIGS. 7a and 7b, the first sub-compartment 6b is rotated anti-clockwise. The first sub-compartment 6b is rotated around the fold line F serving as the rotational axis towards the back sheet material 10 of the second sub-compartment 6c. However it is also possible to rotate the first sub-compartment 6b clockwise. It is also possible to rotate the first sub-compartment 6b around the fold line F serving as the rotational axis towards the front sheet material 10 of the second sub-compartment 6c.

[0054] The humidifying agent 3 is stored in the storage compartment 6 between front and back sheet material 9, 10. This implies that the front and back sheet material 9, 10 are distanced from each other by the humidifying agent 3. By folding the humidifying insert 1 along the folding line F, the front and back sheet material 9, 10 are pressed onto each other along the folding line F. The humidifying agent 3, previously occupying the space between front and back sheet material 9, 10 at the position of the folding line F, is then squeezed into the remaining space of the storage compartment 6, in particular the two sub-compartments 6b, 6c. Due to the additional humidifying agent 3 in the two sub-compartments 6b, 6c, the pressure in the two sub-compartments 6b, 6c is increased. This pressure increase leads to the pressure gradient between storage compartment 6 and humidity transmitter 4, which is necessary to break the breakable barrier 8. The broken state of the breakable barrier 8 is depicted in FIG. 7b. After breaking the breakable barrier 8, the fluidic connection 7 between the storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4 is open. The humidifying agent 3 can now pass from the storage compartment 6 through the fluidic connection 7 into the humidity transmitter 4. In the humidity transmitter, the humidifying agent 3 is absorbed in the tissue material 15. From the tissue material 15, the humidifying agent 3 slowly evaporates through the perforation 14 into the inner volume 5 of a smoking articles packaging 2. In the inner volume 5 of the smoking articles packaging 2 at least one smoking articles 17 is arranged, which is then moisturized by the evaporated humidifying agent 3 from the humidifying insert 1.

[0055] After the humidifying insert 1 was folded along the folding line F and the breakable barrier 8 is broken, the humidifying insert 1 may be folded back along the folding line F into its original shape. In this original shape, the humidity insert 1 can be easily inserted into a smoking articles package.

[0056] Instead of folding the humidifying insert 1, it is also possible to pressurize the storage compartment 6 to create the necessary pressure gradient to break the breakable barrier 8. Preferably, this pressurization realized is by pressing the humidifying insert 1 in two opposing directions, which both are parallel to the surface normal of the front and back sheet material 9, 10. Preferably, the humidifying insert 1 is pressurized at a position at which the storage compartment 6 is arranged. The pressing force generated by the pressing is directed to the inner volume of the storage compartment 6. For example, the humidifying insert may be pressurized by holding it at the storage compartment 6 between at least two fingers of one hand, for example thumb and index finger, an pressing the two fingers together. Preferably, one finger is laid on the front sheet material 9 and the other finger is laid on the back sheet material 10. Then the two fingers are pressed together.

[0057] A combination of pressurizing and folding of the humidifying insert 1 is also possible. In this embodiment the user first pressurizes the storage compartment 6 at the position of first the sub-compartment 6b. This leads to a movement of the humidifying agent 3 towards the breakable barrier 8, as the room for the humidifying agent 3 in the storage compartment 6 is reduced. This already creates a certain pressure gradient between the storage compartment 6 and the humidity transmitter 4. Then the humidifying insert 1 is folded along the folding line F. This further reduces the room for the humidifying agent 3 creating an event higher pressure gradient between storage compartment 6 and humidity transmitter 4. In this way it is possible to use a breakable barrier 8, which needs a higher pressure gradient to be broken. This can be beneficial, as it reduces the possibility of accidentally breaking the breakable barrier 8, which would lead to an unwanted and/or untimely activation of the humidifying insert 1.

[0058] The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0059] 1 humidifying insert [0060] 2 smoking articles packaging [0061] 2a top opening [0062] 2b lid [0063] 2c outer walls [0064] 3 humidifying agent [0065] 4 humidity transmitter [0066] 4a edge [0067] 5 inner volume [0068] 6 storage compartment [0069] 6a edge [0070] 6b first sub-compartment [0071] 6c second sub-compartment [0072] 7 fluidic connection [0073] 8 breakable barrier [0074] 9 front sheet material, front surface plane [0075] 9a side [0076] 10 back sheet material [0077] 10a side [0078] 11 edges [0079] 11a longer edge [0080] 11b shorter edge [0081] 11c fixation area [0082] 12 center part [0083] 13 cavity [0084] 14 perforation [0085] 15 tissue material [0086] 15a surface [0087] 16 composite film [0088] 16a first layer [0089] 16b second layer [0090] 16c coating layer [0091] 16d third layer [0092] 17 smoking article [0093] 18 corner [0094] 19 end [0095] 20 crease [0096] F folding axis, crease [0097] I insertion direction [0098] E extraction direction