Device for controlling relative humidity within a substantially sealed container
AssigneePhilip Morris Management Corp.
InventorsDavid B. Spruill, Joseph L. Banyasz, Thomas V. Van Auken
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Abstract
An insert for inclusion in a substantially sealed container to control the relative humidity within the container is provided. The insert is a packet at least part of the surface of which is a membrane capable of passing water vapor and which contains a buffering substance which is a saturated salt solution selected according to the desired relative humidity, and modified by a nonelectrolyte, if necessary, to adjust the relative humidity.
Claims26
A device for insertion into a substantially sealed container for maintaining in said container, at substantially all times after sealing, a desired relative humidity, said device comprising:
- a buffering substance capable of maintaining said desired relative humidity by liberating water vapor when actual relative humidity falls below said desired relative humidity and by absorbing water vapor when actual relative humidity rises above said desired relative humidity, said buffering substance further having a relative humidity temperature dependency similar to a food or tobacco product contained in said substantially sealed container;
- and
- a means of enclosure for containing said buffering substance and allowing said liberation and absorption of water vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.