The present invention relates generally to the field of sealed packaging systems for organic material. More particularly, the invention concerns protective packaging systems for aggregates of particulate smokable product.
Organic smokable product, such as tobacco, legal non-tobacco herbs, or the like, continue to be enjoyed by consumers worldwide. Optimizing the smoking characteristics of organic material requires maintaining its freshness and flocculence from the time the product is packaged until the time the consumer uses the product. Protecting the freshness of the product helps maximize its flavor and burn characteristics at the time of its use. Protecting the flocculence, or light fluffiness, of an aggregate of particulate smokable product helps ensure that, when placed into a cigar wrapper and smoked by the consumer, it will draw properly and thereby produce a smoother smoking experience.
Various packaging systems exist which provide for the sealed encapsulation of loose particulate smokable product. However, these systems generally lack features that enable the attractive, compact, sealed packaging of small quantities of particulate smokable product, such as those quantities appropriate for a single consumer-rolled cigar, while substantially protecting the product from being crushed or powderized during shipment, retail display or handling by the consumer. Prior packaging solutions for particulate smokable product are commonly designed to contain large quantities of the smokable product, for example, enough to fill numerous rolled cigars. Prior solutions featuring flexible, single-layer packaging of large quantities of particulate smokable product can leave the product vulnerable to being crushed and powderized not only by external forces, but also under its own weight.
Moreover, prior packaging systems adapted to contain smaller quantities of smokable product generally do not include features to facilitate the evenly-distributed placement of the product along the length of an open cigar wrapper directly from the packaging.
Accordingly, what is needed is a low-cost, light-weight, compact, robust and attractive packaging system for a small aggregate of particulate smokable product which maintains the freshness and flocculence of the product, while facilitating the evenly-distributed placement of the product along the length of an open cigar wrapper directly from the packaging.
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided by the provision of a composite packaging system for particulate smokable product. The composite packaging system generally comprises an aggregate of particulate smokable product, a bag element, an envelope element and at least one externally viewable image disposed on the envelope element.
The smokable product is generally comprised of legal smokable non-tobacco herbs, but can also be comprised of smokable tobacco, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, the aggregate is flocculent and typically weighs between approximately 1.5 and 2.5 grams. In certain embodiments, the aspect ratio between the aggregate length and the aggregate width is greater than approximately 5. In further embodiments, the aggregate length is less than approximately 5.5 inches and the aggregate width is less than approximately 1 inch.
The bag element is substantially comprised of organic polymeric film, and has a mouth portion, a floor portion, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a distribution zone generally adjacent the floor portion and extending generally from the first lateral edge toward the second lateral edge. The aggregate is approximately evenly distributed within the distribution zone. The bag element is in a rolled configuration wherein it is rolled multiple times about its distribution zone.
The bag element of certain embodiments may include an adhesive strip, which is typically disposed on the outer surface of the bag element at a location proximate the mouth portion and contacting the outer surface at an additional location. This adhesive strip may thereby releasably secure the bag element in its rolled configuration.
The envelope element is typically comprised of a first side sheet and a second side sheet adjoined generally at their respective peripheries, thereby forming a hermetically sealed cavity. The aggregate and bag element are snugly retained within this cavity. The envelope element is substantially comprised of metallized organic polymeric film.
In particular embodiments, the aspect ratio between the envelope width and the envelope thickness is typically greater than approximately 3, and the aspect ratio between the envelope length and the envelope width is typically greater than approximately 2.5.
In some embodiments, the envelope includes a pouch portion with a proximal end and a tear-away portion thereat. The tear-away portion is at least partially separable from the pouch portion by way of lateral tearing from a first edge notch toward a second edge notch.
Further advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views.
Referring to
The smokable product is generally comprised of legal smokable non-tobacco herb, but can also be comprised of smokable tobacco, or a combination of the two. The term particulate smokable product is used herein to describe, for example, a collection of particles of smokable plant matter, each particle generally ranging in size from a blade of grass to a bud or small grain. The average size of each particle varies depending upon the particular product, and the selected plant matter may be, for example, cut or ground to produce the desired particle size.
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As shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 10-12, the bag element 24 is in a rolled configuration wherein it is rolled multiple times about the distribution zone 46. As a result, the bag element and the aggregate contained therewithin typically have a round or slightly oblong cross section. When a non-bag wrapping (not shown) is used in place of a bag element 24, the wrapping is in wrapping engagement with the aggregate 22. The bag element 24 may be considered a more specialized wrapping for the aggregate 22, but with additional features.
The bag element 24 provides several significant advantages to the composite packaging system 20, which include the following. First, during the packaging process, the floor portion 40 facilitates the formation of particulate smokable product into an elongated, evenly-distributed aggregate 22. Second, the aggregate 22 can be more easily handled while its weight is measured and adjusted prior to the product becoming hermetically sealed within the envelope element 26. Third, in its rolled configuration (shown, for example, in
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The envelope element 26 is substantially comprised of metallized organic polymeric film, which provides the packaging system a second barrier for maintaining the freshness of the product, a second layer of structural rigidity (for example, in compression and bending), as well as external surfaces upon which to print and display attractive and informative externally viewable image 30. The metallized organic polymeric film is typically a metallized polyester film. In certain embodiments, the first side sheet 32 and second side sheet 34 are each comprised of three layers, for example, a layer of PET, a layer of metal foil and a layer of LLDPE.
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In combination, the bag element 24, the envelope element 26, and the dimensions and aspect ratios described herein provide for a sealed packaging system 20 which is more slender, compact and attractive, yet rigid enough to protect the flocculence of the aggregate of particulate smokable product from packaging until use.
The foregoing detailed description is intended merely to provide examples, and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the appended claims to these described embodiments. Accordingly, modifications to the embodiments described are possible, and it should be clearly understood that the invention may be practiced in many different ways than the embodiments specifically described below, and still remain within the scope of the claims.