Patent Application
20230069808
This disclosure generally relates to terpene infusion into cannabis materials. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a kit adapted to perform contactless terpene infusion into cannabis materials.
Terpenes are hydrocarbon compounds found in a variety of plants, some of which are cannabis and some of which are not. In particular, terpenes are recognized for their ability to emit a strong aroma of varying scents, depending upon the particular terpene strain. With respect to cannabis, terpenes emit such scents to deter would-be attackers, such as herbivores, from eating the plant, or attract those who are more interested in eating the attackers, such as carnivores.
Furthermore, many cannabis plant growers tend to grow cannabis in a way that strengthens the potency of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), which typically has the psychoactive effect of producing a sense or euphoria in a human being, the result of THC binding with cannabinoid 1 (“CB1”) receptors in the brain. Cannabis plants with a higher potency of THC than others also tend to have the terpenes that emit a smell typically considered to be a desirable aroma to many users of cannabis.
While being grown, cannabis may lose some, if not all, of the aroma associated with its terpenes. The aroma may be lost, or diminished, based on a variety of factors (e.g., seed selection, sub-optimal growing environment, etc.).
As a result, current apparatuses and processes do not adequately maintain the natural aroma from cannabis after being grown.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a kit is configured to perform contactless terpene infusion for one or more cannabis materials. The kit includes a terpene composition. Furthermore, the kit includes a carrier medium that is configured to at least partially absorb the terpene composition upon making contact with the terpene composition. Finally, the kit includes a removable tray adapted to (i) fit within a top portion of a container, (ii) receive the carrier medium, (iii) prevent the carrier medium from contacting the one or more cannabis materials situated within a bottom portion of the container, and (iv) infuse the one or more cannabis materials with an aroma from the carrier medium subsequent to the at least partial absorption of the terpene composition.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the kit also includes a storage apparatus that has a bottom portion, a wall integrally formed to surround the bottom portion, and to extend upward from the bottom portion, a top portion that is removable from the storage apparatus, and a removable tray. The top portion is in contact with the wall during closure of the storage apparatus.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, the kit includes the carrier medium and the removable tray, without the terpene composition.
The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
A kit is configured to perform contactless terpene infusion for one or more cannabis materials. In particular, the kit may be used in conjunction with a separately provided (or potentially part of the kit) storage apparatus that stores one or more cannabis materials (e.g., cannabis flowers, leaves, etc.). For example, the storage apparatus may be a wide mouth mason jar, although other types of storage apparatuses may be used instead. One or more cannabis materials are stored at the bottom of the storage apparatus. The kit includes a removable tray, which is adapted to connect to the top portion of the storage apparatus. For example, the removable tray may have a lip that mates with the rim of the storage apparatus. As a result, the removable tray allows for a carrier medium for a terpene composition to lie above the cannabis materials without making contact with such materials beneath it, which could damage them. Thus, the kit allows for contactless terpene infusion.
Furthermore, the kit solves not only the problem of avoiding damage to cannabis materials during the terpene infusion process, but also the problem of providing optimal delivery of the aroma stemming from the terpene composition. Particularly, the kit is configured to provide such contactless terpene infusion in a downward direction toward the cannabis materials. Also, the kit may have apertures that are sized and/or shaped to accommodate carrier media to optimize delivery of the aroma via contactless terpene infusion.
In essence, the storage apparatus allows for storage of the one or more cannabis materials prior to use, while also infusing the one or more cannabis materials with an aroma to improve the smell and/or taste of the one or more cannabis materials during use. Accordingly, the storage apparatus may be adapted for olfactory, and/or gustatory, use with one or more cannabis materials. Therefore, the one or more cannabis materials may remain dry (i.e., moisture-free) during absorption by the carrier medium of the terpene composition within the removable tray.
In one embodiment, the kit may have the removable tray and a container with one or more carrier media. One example of a carrier medium is an expandable bead that is capable of absorbing the terpene solution. Another example of the carrier medium is an absorbent paper. In another embodiment, the kit also includes a container with the terpene solution, but the storage apparatus is provided separately from the kit. Finally, in yet another embodiment, the kit includes the container with the removable tray, the plurality of carrier media, the container with the terpene solution, and the storage apparatus.
Furthermore, a terpene infusion process may be performed by the end-user to prepare the kit for terpene infusion. For example, the end-user may pour the terpene solution into the container for the one or more carrier media to allow the one or more carrier media to absorb the terpene solution prior to pouring the plurality of carrier media into the removable tray. Alternatively, the one or more carrier media may be positioned within a different container or location for absorption of the terpene solution. The end-user may also place the one or more cannabis materials in the bottom of the storage apparatus during the absorption of the terpene solution by the plurality of carrier media, which may be positioned within the container within the removable tray that is situated within the storage apparatus. Alternatively, the end-user may wait until the terpene solution has been absorbed by the one or more carrier media before placing the carrier media within the corresponding container and within the removable tray situated within the storage apparatus. As an example, the plurality of carrier media may be gel beads fabricated from at least sodium polyacrylate. As another example, a carrier medium may be cellulose paper having a particular shape (e.g., square, circle, etc.). (Cellulose paper is just one example of a type of absorbent paper; other substances (e.g., cotton, rice, flax seed, etc.) may be used in addition or in the alternative.)
The terpene solution itself is not limited to any particular formula. For instance, the terpene solution may include a terpene blend of various terpene materials. As an example, the terpene materials may include one or more naturally derived non-cannabis terpene isolates, which are food grade. As another example, the terpene materials may include one or more terpenes extracted from one or more cannabis plants. As yet another example, the terpene materials may form a cannabis/non-cannabis hybrid formulation, including one or more terpenes extracted from one or more cannabis plants and one or more naturally derived non-cannabis terpene isolates.
Furthermore, the terpene blend may include materials other than specific terpenes. For instance, the terpene blend may include one or more essential oils. Additionally, or alternatively, the terpene blend may include one or more flavor enhancers, such as an ester and an aldehyde.
Moreover, one example of the storage apparatus, which shall be illustrated in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, is a wide-mouth mason jar. However, other storage apparatuses may be used instead.
The removable tray 110 may have a plurality of circular-shaped apertures 210 positioned along a horizontal axis of the removable tray 110. Each of the plurality of circular shaped apertures 210 may be shaped in a substantially similar manner to a horizontal axis cross-section of the carrier medium to emit the aroma from the terpene composition through at least one of the plurality of circular shaped apertures 210 to the one or more cannabis materials. (The term “substantially similar” is intended to connote a similar shape and/or a similar size.) For example, each of the plurality of circular shaped apertures 210 may have a similar shape (e.g., circle) to that of a two-dimensional cross-section of a bead (e.g., circle) such that the bead does not fall through the removable tray 110. The dimensions of the circular shaped aperture 210 may be sized (e.g., via diameter) to be smaller or the same size as the cross section to prevent the bead from falling through. In one embodiment, such sizing is based on the expanded size of the carrier medium. In another embodiment, such sizing is based on the unexpanded size. Such configuration allows for optimal delivery of the terpene aroma in a downward direction toward the one or more cannabis materials because a significant portion of the carrier medium is not blocked by the bottom wall of the removable tray 110 itself. Furthermore, in one embodiment, such configuration helps lock at least some of the plurality of carrier media in place within the removable tray 110 (e.g., a bead mates with a circular shaped aperture 210) to optimally deliver contactless terpene infusion without the carrier media moving around within the removable tray 110, which could impede terpene infusion. In another embodiment, such locking is not utilized.
Additionally, in one embodiment, the removable tray 110 may have a pattern for the plurality of circular shaped apertures 210 that optimizes contactless terpene infusion in a downward direction toward the one or more cannabis materials. For example, the pattern may be a semicircular pattern that allows for dispersion of the terpene aroma in a manner that maximizes terpene exposure around the inside of the storage apparatus. Furthermore, the removable tray 110 may also have a plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 211 are positioned along one or more vertical axes of the removable tray 110. Alternatively, or in addition, a plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 212 are positioned along one or more horizontal axes of the removable tray 110. In one embodiment, the plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 211 may be connected to the plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 212 to integrally form an aperture that is both substantially vertical and horizontal. In another embodiment, the plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 211 is distinct from the plurality of substantially rectangular shaped apertures 212.
Given that locking the carrier media in place along the sides of the removable tray 110 is not readily feasible, the circular shaped apertures 210 are reserved only for the bottom portion of the removable tray 110. The side portions of the removable tray 110 allow for sideways aroma dispersion.
Furthermore, the carrier medium container 120, which may be a cylindrical container, may have a top portion 124 that attaches to a bottom portion 122. For example, the top portion 124 may be a cap that twists on and off of the bottom portion 122 of the carrier medium container 120. The carrier medium container 120 may store a plurality of carrier media 200.
Moreover, in one embodiment, the plurality of carrier media 200 is miniaturized at the outset of dispersion. Upon subsequent contact with the terpene solution 220, the plurality of carrier media 200 absorb the terpene solution 220 by expanding in size, thereby carrying the terpene composition without moisture, or with only minimal moisture, in the removable tray 110.
In one embodiment, the terpene composition container 210 and/or the terpene solution 220 are provided separately from the kit 100 illustrated in
Subsequent to absorption of the terpene solution 220 by the plurality of carrier media 200 within the carrier media container 120, the plurality of carrier media 200 may be poured into the removable tray 110, as illustrated in
The plurality of carrier media 200 (i.e., expanded beads that have absorbed the terpene solution 220) may emit a terpene aroma 501 downward within the storage apparatus 300 toward the one or more cannabis materials 320, as illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in
The size of the carrier medium 701 may vary to accommodate different sized removable trays 110 and different sized packages 130. For example, the carrier medium may be a two inch by two inch square-shaped absorbent paper that fits within a circular shaped removable tray 110 having a diameter of two and one half inches. (A variety of different sizes and shapes may be used for the carrier medium 701 and/or the removable tray 110.)
Furthermore, the carrier medium 701 may have different thicknesses that allow for various level of absorption of the terpene composition, maximization of aroma emission, minimization or avoidance of spillage of the terpene composition, and a fit within the removable tray 110. In one embodiment, an optimal thickness of the absorbent paper has been determined to be in the range of one tenth of an inch to one quarter of an inch; this range of thicknesses allows for all of the foregoing criteria to be met. By way of contrast, for exemplary purposes, an absorbent paper that has a thickness of one inch may have strong enough absorbent capabilities to avoid spillage, but have the effect of minimization of aroma emission. Furthermore, by way of additional contrast, for exemplary purposes, an absorbent paper that has a thickness of one one hundredth of an inch may allow for significant spillage. Accordingly, the optimal range provided for herein of one tenth of an inch to one quarter of an inch provides an optimal balance to meet the previously mentioned criteria. Although this optimal range has been described herein, absorbent paper that substantially (e.g., within a predetermined threshold deviation of ten to twenty percent) falls within this range may also sufficiently meet the indicated criteria. Further, alternative ranges such as one tenth of an inch to three tenths of an inch, one tenth of an inch to four tenths of an inch, and one tenth of an inch to five tenths of an inch may be utilized.
Although the kit configuration 700 is illustrated as having a plurality of absorbent papers 701, this illustration is provided only for exemplary purposes. For instance, the kit configuration 700 may have just one absorbent paper 701. Furthermore, although the kit configuration 700 is illustrated as having the plurality of absorbent papers 701 stored within the carrier medium container, a carrier medium container 124 is not required. For example, the absorbent papers 701, or other carrier medium, may be directly stored within the package 130, such as within the removable tray 110.
In one embodiment, the terpene composition container 210 and/or the terpene solution 220 are provided separately from the kit 700 illustrated in
Upon subsequent contact with the terpene solution 220, the absorbent papers 701 absorbs the terpene solution, thereby carrying the terpene composition without moisture, or with only minimal moisture, in the removable tray 110.
The absorbent paper 701 may emit a terpene aroma 901 downward within the storage apparatus 300 toward the one or more cannabis materials 320, as illustrated in
The absorbent paper 701 is not limited to enhancing the smell of the cannabis materials 320. In addition, the absorbent paper 701 (or other carrier medium described herein) provides for humidity control within the storage apparatus 300 (particularly when closed). The aroma emitted by the absorbent paper 701 maintains a humidity level within the storage apparatus of slightly dry. This humidity level enhances the absorption of terpenes into the cannabis materials 320, preserves use of the cannabis materials 320, and reduces contamination of the cannabis materials 320.
Although the description and accompanying drawings refer to cannabis materials, other types of materials may be utilized in the alternative or in addition. For example, rolling papers may be utilized with the kits described herein.
Furthermore, in one embodiment, a user utilizes the kits described herein to soak a carrier medium described herein with a terpene solution. However, in another embodiment, the carrier medium may be pre-soaked and provided within the kit such that the user does not have to perform the soaking.
It is understood that the apparatuses and processes described herein may also be applied in other types of apparatuses and processes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments of the apparatuses and processes described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses and processes. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses and processes may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
