Humidity Control Package
AssigneeLaserSharp FlexPak Services, LLC
InventorKenneth Klann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A humidity controlled package that uses a humidity sensitive valve that opens and closes an opening to control a humidity in the package. The package has a package holding area inside the package. The humidity level in the package controls the valve to open to allow air flow between an inside of the valve and an outside of the valve, and close to prevent air flow between the inside and outside of the valve. At least part of the valve is in the package. In one embodiment, the package is vented when the humidity value gets higher than a setpoint. In another embodiment, a sachet of dessicant is opened by the humidity level.
Claims26
A humidity controlled package, comprising:
- A package formed of a material with a set rate of gas transfer, said package defining an inner area which is sized to hold product.
- a humidity control valve, having an open state and a closed state,
- where in the open state, the humidity control valve opens an orifice to allow air flow between an inside of the valve and an outside of the valve, and in the closed state the valve closes the orifice to prevent air flow between the inside and outside of the valve,
- Where the humidity control valve is located at least partly in the package, and where the valve is automatically opened to open the orifice, and closed to close the orifice by a humidity level inside the package mechanically changing the shape of the valve, where said humidity control value is configured to change humidity in the inner area of the package when the valve is opened, and to maintain humidity in the inner area of the package as unchanged when the valve is not opened.
A method of controlling humidity inside a package, comprising:
- Forming a package defining an inner area which is adapted to hold a product;
- Controlling a humidity in the inner area, using a humidity control valve which is located at least partly in the package, having an open state and a closed state, where in the open state, the humidity control valve is opened to allow air flow between an inside of the valve and an outside of the valve, and in the closed state to prevent air flow between the inside and outside of the valve,
- Where a humidity level inside the package causes the valve to automatically open to the open state and close to the closed state by a humidity level inside the package,
- using said humidity control value to change humidity in the inner area of the package when the valve is opened, and to maintain humidity in the inner area of the package as unchanged when the valve is not opened.
A humidity sensitive valve, comprising:
- a two-part structure including a first material that changes size based on humidity, and a second material, laminated to the first material, which does not change size based on humidity, where the valve is flat at a set point of humidity, and at a level above the set point of humidity, the first material swells, causing the side with the first material to become convex, and at a level below the set point of humidity, the first material shrinks, causing the side with the first material to become concave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.