Device for controlling headspace humidity and methods for making the same

Abstract

Humidity control devices for consumer products and methods for making the same. In particular, a humidity control device may contain a humidity control agent for controlling the relative humidity (RH) within a packaged consumer product, such as a food, pharmaceutical, herb, or any other suitable consumer product. In some embodiments, the humidity control device may be attached to, or integrated with, the product packaging. For example, the device may be fixedly or removably adhered to an inside wall of a product package. In some embodiments, the device may be constructed or formed on the product packaging material, such that the device is an integral part of the product packaging material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A humidity control device for controlling headspace relative humidity in a consumer product package, the device comprising:
 a base layer comprising a wall of the product package;   a permeable layer comprising a material permeable to water vapor, the permeable layer coupled to the base layer; and   a humidity control agent arranged between the base layer and permeable layer.   
     
     
         2 . The humidity control device of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the product package is an inner wall. 
     
     
         3 . The humidity control device of  claim 2 , wherein the inner wall comprises a paper or paperboard material. 
     
     
         4 . The humidity control device of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable layer is coupled to the base layer via an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The humidity control device of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a hot-melt type adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The humidity control device of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is heat activated. 
     
     
         7 . The humidity control device of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable layer comprises at least one of a polymeric film, fibrous polyethylene, elastomer, polyamide, paper, foil, metalized polyester, copolymer, polyolefin, copolyester, polylactic acid, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The humidity control device of  claim 7 , wherein the permeable layer comprises a microperforated material. 
     
     
         9 . The humidity control device of  claim 7 , wherein the permeable layer comprises a material with a WVTR of between 10 and 85 grams of water per 100 square inches per 24 hours. 
     
     
         10 . The humidity control device of  claim 1 , wherein the humidity control agent comprises a solid, dispersion, emulsion, gel, or saturated or unsaturated aqueous solution. 
     
     
         11 . The humidity control device of  claim 10 , wherein the humidity control agent comprises at least one of a salt, sugar, glycerin, propylene glycol, other polyol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and amino acid. 
     
     
         12 . A humidity control device for controlling headspace relative humidity in a consumer product package, the device comprising:
 a packet formed of a material permeable to water vapor, the packet configured to couple to an inner surface of the product package; and   a humidity control agent arranged within the packet.   
     
     
         13 . The humidity control device of  claim 12 , wherein the packet material comprises at least one of a polymeric film, fibrous polyethylene, elastomer, polyamide, paper, foil, metalized polyester, copolymer, polyolefin, copolyester, polylactic acid, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . The humidity control device of  claim 13 , wherein the packet material comprises a microperforated material. 
     
     
         15 . The humidity control device of  claim 13 , wherein the packet material comprises a WVTR of between 10 and 85 grams of water per 100 square inches per 24 hours. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a humidity control device for controlling headspace relative humidity in a consumer product package, the method comprising:
 obtaining a base material comprising a wall of the product package;   obtaining a humidity control agent;   extruding a quantity of humidity control agent onto a surface of the base material such that a portion of the surface remains exposed and forms a perimeter around the extruded quantity of humidity control agent;   obtaining a permeable material permeable to water vapor but impermeable to the humidity control agent; and   arranging the permeable material over the extruded quantity of humidity control agent and the base material, such that the permeable material contacts the humidity control material and the exposed perimeter of base material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising applying an adhesive to at least one of the base material and the permeable material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising applying heat to seal the base material and permeable material together at the perimeter surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the permeable material comprises at least one of a polymeric film, fibrous polyethylene, elastomer, polyamide, paper, foil, metalized polyester, copolymer, polyolefin, copolyester, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the permeable material comprises a microperforated material.