TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates generally to cigar packaging, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for packaging a cigar such that the cigar is preserved, aged, and flavored while packaged.
BACKGROUND
Existing cigar packaging leaves much to be desired. Many cigars are wrapped in plastic or inserted into glass or aluminum tubes to be sold individually. Existing cigar packaging can provide protection for the cigar and can help to slow drying of the cigar. However, the time between a cigar being packaged and being purchased by an end user is typically wasted. That time could be better spent further aging and/or flavoring the cigar, for example, while awaiting purchase by an end user. Further, although existing cigar packaging helps to slow the drying out of the packaged cigar, the shelf life of a cigar packaged with existing cigar packaging is still relatively short.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for packaging a cigar that allows for a cigar to be preserved, aged, and flavored while packaged.
SUMMARY
Certain exemplary aspects of the invention are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
In one set of embodiments, packaging for a cigar is provided. The packaging includes an elongated tube configured to receive the cigar therein. The tube includes an open end and an opposing closed end. The tube also includes a cap releasably secured to the open end of the tube. The cap is configured to protect the contents of the tube against environmental contaminants. The packaging further includes an infusing agent located within the tube and adjacent to the closed end of the tube. The infusing agent is configured to act as a humidifier to prevent the cigar from drying out while the cigar is in the packaging and the infusing agent is further configured to provide flavor and aroma to the cigar while the cigar is in the packaging. The cigar is placed thereafter in the packaging/tube to be between the infusing agent and the cap at the open end.
In one embodiment, the tube may include a tube body and a reservoir releasably secured to the tube body. The infusing agent may be located within the reservoir. Further, the tube body may be separated from the reservoir by a semi-permeable divider configured to allow selective communication between the tube body and the reservoir.
In one embodiment, the infusing agent may be char from an interior of a charred wood barrel. The wood barrel may be a whiskey aging barrel.
In another set of embodiments, a method for packaging a cigar is provided. The method includes providing an infusing agent. The infusing agent is configured to act as a humidifier to prevent the cigar from drying out and further configured to provide flavor and aroma to the cigar. The method also includes inserting the infusing agent into a closed end of an elongated tube. The tube includes an open end and the opposing closed end. The method further includes inserting the cigar into the tube (specifically after the step of inserting the infusing agent, e,g., these elements are not inserted simultaneously) and releasably securing a cap to the open end of the tube, thereby to position the cigar between the infusing agent and the open end/cap. The cap is configured to seal the tube against potential environmental contaminants.
In one embodiment, the method may further include aging the cigar in a charred wood barrel prior to inserting the cigar into the tube. The cigar may be aged in the wood barrel for at least 8 weeks.
In one embodiment, the infusing agent may be char from an interior of a charred wood barrel. The wood barrel may be a whiskey aging barrel.
In one embodiment, the method may further include hydrating the infusing agent prior to inserting the infusing agent into the tube. The infusing agent may be inserted into a reservoir releasably secured to a tube body of the tube. Further, the infusing agent may be hydrated with whiskey. The method may also include partially drying the infusing agent after the infusing agent has been hydrated and before inserting the infusing agent into the tube.
In one embodiment, the infusing agent may have at least 50% moisture content at a time when the infusing agent is inserted into the tube. More specifically, the moisture content may be between 50% and 70%. Additionally, the method step of inserting the infusing agent into the tube may further include inserting an amount of at least 0.2 grams of the infusing agent into the tube. More specifically, the amount of the infusing agent may be between 0.2 grams and 0.6 grams. Furthermore, a relative humidity within the tube may be at least 70% at a time when the cap is releasably secured to the tube. More specifically, the relative humidity may be between 70% and 75%.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments. Features and attributes associated with any of the embodiments shown or described may be applied to other embodiments shown, described, or appreciated based on this disclosure.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cigar packaging according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cigar packaging of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cigar packaging of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the reservoir of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps that a user may perform to package a cigar according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the description below is not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In general, the description relates to cigar packaging 10 and a cigar packaging process 12 that provide for a cigar 14 to be preserved, aged, and flavored while packaged. As described above, there are drawbacks or shortcomings of existing cigar packaging. Advantageously, aspects of the cigar packaging 10 and the packaging process 12 of the present invention, both described in greater detail below, address the drawbacks and shortcomings of existing cigar packaging. Other advantages and technical effects of the embodiments of this invention will become evident to one skilled in the art from the following description.
Referring now to the Figures, FIGS. 1-5 show cigar packaging 10 or portions thereof in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Specifically, FIGS. 1 and 2 show cigar packaging 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The cigar packaging 10 of the first embodiment generally includes an elongated tube 16 having an open end 18 and a closed end 20. The open end 18 and the closed end 20 are located opposite to each other on the tube 16. The tube 16 may be made of glass, plastic, acrylic, or a similar translucent material, for example, such that the packaged contents of the tube 16 (e.g., a cigar 14) may be visibly perceived through the tube 16. In the depicted embodiment, the tube 16 is sized as to accommodate a single cigar 14. However, it is to be understood that, in alternative embodiments, the tube 16 may be alternatively sized to accommodate more than one cigar 14, for example. In the packaging process 12, described in greater detail below, an infusing agent 22, also described in greater detail below, and a cigar 14 are both inserted into the tube 16. Such is shown, for example, by arrows A1 and A2 in FIG. 1.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap 24 is releasably secured to the open end 18 of the tube 16 to protect the contents of the tube 16 (e.g., the cigar 14 and infusing agent 22) from potential environmental contaminants and to help effectuate the preserving, aging, and flavoring of the cigar 14 while within the packaging 10 (e.g., by the infusing agent 22). To this end, the closure of the open end 18 with the cap 24 seals the interior environment where the cigar 14 is stored so as to allow for the moisture maintaining and the flavoring during storage of the cigar 14. The cap 24 may be affixed to the tube 16 through a screw-type connection, a bayonet-type connection, an interference (or friction) fit (as in FIG. 2), or similar. It should be understood that additional ways of affixing the cap 24 to the tube 16 are possible. The cap 24 may be made of plastic or another material such as cork. It should be understood that the cap 24 could be made of an alternative suitable material. Further, in alternative embodiments, the cap 24 may be dimensioned differently than is shown in FIG. 2, for example. For example, the cap 24 may be taller than is shown to provide a user with more material to grip when securing or removing the cap 24 to/from the tube 16. Optionally, a label 26 may be affixed to the cigar packaging 10 such that the label 26 extends from the tube 16 over the cap 24 and back to the tube 16 on an opposing side. In addition to offering useful information, such as branding or other printed indicia, the label 26 may also serve to evidence any tampering with the cap 24 (e.g., prior to purchase by a customer). While stored in the packaging 10, the infusing agent 22 acts as a humidifier by transfer of evaporating vapors into the cigar 14 as schematically indicated in FIG. 1 by arrows A3.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the Figures show cigar packaging 10 or portions thereof in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. For the sake of conciseness, only elements that are modified from the prior embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described in the following paragraphs, with all other elements maintaining the same reference numbers where essentially unchanged from the prior embodiment described.
Specifically, the embodiment of the cigar packaging 10 depicted in FIG. 3 features a two-part tube 16. The two-part tube 16 includes a tube body 28 and a reservoir 30. Like the tube 16 of the first embodiment, the tube body 28 includes an open end 18; however, opposite the open end 18 of the tube body 28 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 is a divider 32. The divider 32 serves to physically separate the contents of the tube body 28 (e.g., a cigar 14) from the contents of the reservoir 30 (e.g., an infusing agent 22). The divider 32 is semi-permeable such that the infusing agent 22 itself (or substantial portions thereof) cannot physically pass through the divider 32. This prevents the infusing agent 22 from sticking to the cigar 14 when the cigar 14 is removed from the cigar packaging 10, for example. However, the divider 32 allows for gas or vapor communication between the reservoir 30 and the tube body 28 as shown by arrows A3, for example. Thus, aromas and flavors, for example, from the infusing agent 22 can be infused into the cigar 14. In an embodiment, the divider 32 may be fixed (releasably or permanently) to the tube body 28. In an alternative embodiment, the divider 32 may not be the fixed to the tube body 28. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the divider 32 may rest on the reservoir 30 and be secured in place (e.g. between the tube body 28 and the reservoir 30) by the reservoir 30 when the reservoir 30 is releasably secured to the tube body 28. Further, the divider 32 may be made of the same material as the tube body 28. However, it is to be understood that the divider 32 could be made of another suitable material.
Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, the Figures show embodiments of the reservoir 30. In this embodiment of the cigar packaging 10, the reservoir 30 is configured to receive and hold the infusing agent 22, as shown by arrow A4. Separating the infusing agent 22 from the cigar 14 by inserting the infusing agent 22 into the reservoir 30 (and through use of the divider 32, as shown by arrow A5) prevents the infusing agent 22 from physically contacting the cigar 14. Further, the divider 32 prevents the infusing agent 22 from exiting the cigar packaging 10 when a user removes the cigar 14 from the packaging 10, for example. The reservoir 30 is releasably secured to a bottom 34 of the tube body 28. For example, the reservoir 30 may be secured to the tube body 28 by a screw-type connection, a bayonet-style connection, an interference (or friction) fit, or similar. It is to be understood that the reservoir 30 could be releasably secured to the tube body 28 in an alternative manner. Further, the reservoir 30 could take on alternative forms than those expressly depicted in FIGS. 4 (e.g., flat bottom) and 5 (e.g., rounded bottom).
Referring now to FIG. 6, the Figure depicts a flowchart illustrating a packaging process 12 for packaging a cigar 14 in cigar packaging 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In block 36, the process 12 includes barrel aging the cigar 14. The cigar 14 is aged in the barrel to impart flavor and/or aroma from the barrel to the cigar 14. Specifically, in an embodiment, the cigar 14 may be aged in a wood barrel with a charred interior. The charred wood barrel may have previously been used to age liquor. For example, the cigar 14 may be aged in a whiskey (e.g., bourbon, rye, scotch), tequila, rum, or other liquor barrel. It is to be understood that the cigar 14 may be alternatively aged (e.g., not in a wood barrel and/or not in a wood barrel that previously held liquor). In an embodiment, the cigar 14 may be aged in the barrel for at least 8 weeks. More specifically, the cigar 14 may be aged in the barrel for 8-12 weeks or, alternatively, for 6 months or longer. It is to be understood that the length of time that the cigar 14 ages in the barrel could vary based the properties of the cigar 14 and/or the properties of the barrel. For example, stronger tobacco cigars may be aged in the barrel longer than less strong tobacco cigars. Further, the infusing agent 22 (e.g., barrel char) to be packaged with the cigar 14 in the tube 16 may or may not be sourced from the same barrel that the cigar 14 was aged in. If the infusing agent 22 is not sourced from the same barrel that the cigar 14 was aged in, the infusing agent 22 could be sourced from the same type of barrel (e.g., a barrel that previously held whiskey). The infusing agent 22 will be discussed in greater detail below.
In block 38, the process 12 includes providing an infusing agent 22. The infusing agent 22 is chosen such that it will add a desirable flavor and/or aroma to the cigar 14 while the cigar 14 ages in the packaging 10. The infusing agent 22 is further configured to act as a humidifier to prevent the cigar 14 from drying out in the packaging 10, as will be described in greater detail below. In an embodiment, the infusing agent 22 may be a portion or several portions of the charred insides of wooden barrels (i.e., barrel char). The wooden barrels may be made of oak or another suitable wood, for example. The wooden barrels may have previously (e.g., prior to the infusing agent 22 being collected from the barrel) been utilized to hold and age liquor. The liquor may be whiskey (e.g., bourbon, rye, scotch), tequila, rum, or another liquor that uses charred barrels in an aging process. Further, it is to be understood that the infusing agent 22 could be something other than barrel char. For example, in an alternative embodiment the infusing agent 22 could be coffee or espresso beans. The coffee or espresso beans may be aged in wooden barrels. The wooden barrels may have been utilized to hold and age liquor such as bourbon.
With continued reference to FIG. 4 and, specifically, to block 40, the process 12 includes hydrating the infusing agent 22. In an embodiment, the infusing agent 22 may be hydrated by soaking the infusing agent 22 in a fluid for a time period. For example, the infusing agent 22 may be soaked for 6-8 hours. In an alternative embodiment, the infusing agent 22 may be hydrated by spritzing or spraying the infusing agent 22 with a fluid until a desired moisture content is achieved. Regardless of the particular method of hydration, the fluid used to hydrate the infusing agent 22 may be liquor. For example, the hydrating fluid could be whiskey (e.g., bourbon, rye, scotch), tequila, rum, or another liquor that uses charred barrels. More specifically, if the infusing agent 22 is barrel char and the hydrating fluid is a liquor, then the hydrating fluid could be the same liquor as was stored and/or aged in the charred barrel. For example, if the barrel char came from a whiskey barrel, then the hydrating fluid could be whiskey—either the same whiskey as was in the charred barrel or a different whiskey. However, such does not necessarily have to be the case. Alternatively, the hydrating fluid could be a fluid other than liquor—water, for example.
In block 42, the process 12 includes drying the infusing agent 22. After the infusing agent 22 has been hydrated, the infusing agent 22 may be allowed to partially dry until a desired moisture content is achieved. For example, the infusing agent 22 may be allowed to partially dry for 2-6 hours after hydration such that the infusing agent 22 is damp, but not dripping with the hydrating fluid before being introduced into the tube 16. The amount of time the infusing agent 22 may be allowed to partially dry for may be influenced by various factors such as how saturated the infusing agent 22 becomes during hydration as well as the temperature and/or humidity of the area in which the infusing agent 22 is allowed to partially dry. In an alternative embodiment, the infusing agent 22 may be spritzed or sprayed and then allowed to partially dry for up to 1 hour, for example, before being introduced into the tube 16.
With continued reference to FIG. 6 and, particularly, blocks 40 and 42 of the process 12, the infusing agent 22 may be hydrated and partially dried such that the infusing agent 22 has at least 50% moisture content (e.g., measured by relative humidity) at the time that the infusing agent 22 is inserted into the tube 16. More specifically, the moisture content of the infusing agent 22 at the time of insertion into the tube 16 may be between 50% and 70% (e.g., measured by relative humidity). It is to be understood that the moisture content of the infusing agent 22 could further vary based on the size of the tube 16, the properties of the cigar 14, the properties of the infusing agent 22, and/or the properties of the hydrating fluid.
In block 44, the process 12 includes inserting the infusing agent 22 into the tube 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the infusing agent 22 could be directly introduced into the tube 16 (e.g., such that the infusing agent 22 could contact the cigar 14 in the tube 16). Alternatively, and as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the infusing agent 22 could be introduced into a reservoir 30 (arrow A4 in FIG. 4) and separated from the cigar 14 by a divider 32 (arrow A5 in FIG. 4). In an embodiment, at least 0.2 grams of infusing agent 22 are added to the tube 16. More specifically, between 0.2 grams and 0.6 grams of the infusing agent 22 may be added to the tube 16. It is to be understood that the amount of infusing agent 22 added to the tube 16 could further vary based on the size of the tube 16, the properties of the cigar 14, the properties of the infusing agent 22, or similar. The infusing agent 22 is chosen such that it will add a desirable flavor and/or aroma to the cigar 14 while the cigar 14 ages in the packaging 10. The infusing agent 22 is further configured to act as a humidifier to prevent the cigar 14 from drying out in the packaging 10. Such communication from the infusing agent 22 to the cigar 14 is illustrated by arrows A3 in FIGS. 2 and 3, and also in FIG. 4.
With continued reference to FIG. 6, in block 46, the process 12 includes inserting the cigar 14 into the tube 16. Such is illustrated in FIG. 1, for example. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the cigar 14 in inserted into the tube 16 with the infusing agent 22 such that the infusing agent 22 could physically and directly contact the cigar 14. An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, for example. In the alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the cigar 14 is inserted into the tube body 28 and rests against a divider 32 at the bottom 34 of the tube body 28. The infusing agent 22 is inserted into a reservoir 30 which is then releasably secured to the bottom 34 of the tube body 28. The divider 32 physically separates the cigar 14 from the infusing agent 22, but allows for selective communication (e.g., of flavor, aroma, moisture) between the tube body 28 and the reservoir 30.
Further, in block 48, the process 12 includes removably securing a cap 24 to the open end 18 of the tube 16. In an embodiment, the cap 24 is configured to seal the tube 16 such that potential environmental contaminants cannot enter the tube 16 and air (and flavor, aroma, moisture) cannot leave the tube 16. In other words, the seal created by the cap 24 may be air-tight. In one aspect, sealing the tube 16 serves to preserve the internal, relative humidity of the inside of the tube 16 (e.g., of the cigar 14 and infusing agent 22). In an embodiment, the relative humidity within the cigar packaging 10 is at least 50% at the time the tube 16 is sealed closed by the cap 24. More specifically, the relative humidity may be between 70% and 75%. The addition of the infusing agent 22 (configured to act as a humidifier) helps to maintain the humidity within the packaging 10 (and thus of the cigar 14). Such adds considerable shelf stability to the packaged cigar 14 (e.g., several additional months). Thus, the cigar 14 will hold up (e.g., not dry out) longer outside of a humidor in comparison to other packaged cigars. Furthermore, the process steps of packaging the cigar can be repeated if the original infusing agent 22 has dried out and the cigar is still to be stored and maintained for another time period. Thus, the packaging and methods described herein are repeatable and can therefore help store and flavor cigars for longer periods of time than conventional packaging materials.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of various embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Thus, the various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.
Patent Application
20240025631
