Patent Application
20210171240
This disclosure generally relates to storage apparatuses. More particularly, the disclosure relates to storage apparatuses for cannabis.
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.
A storage apparatus, adapted for storage of one or more cannabis materials during terpene infusion, is provided. The storage apparatus has a bottom portion, a wall integrally formed to surround the bottom portion, and to extend upward from the bottom portion, a top portion, and a removable mesh shelf. The top portion is removable from the storage apparatus. Furthermore, the top portion is in contact with the wall during closure of the storage apparatus. The removable mesh shelf is configured to bifurcate the storage apparatus into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber stores the one or more cannabis materials. Additionally, the second chamber stores a carrier medium for the terpene composition. The carrier medium emits an aroma from the terpene composition through the removable mesh to infuse the one or more cannabis materials with the aroma from the terpene composition.
As an alternative, a storage apparatus kit, adapted for storage of one or more cannabis materials and for terpene infusion, is provided. The storage apparatus kit has a terpene solution, a container storing the terpene solution, a plurality of carrier media, a container storing the carrier media, and the foregoing storage apparatus.
As yet another alternative, a process is provided for terpene infusion within the foregoing storage apparatus. The process positions a plurality of carrier media within a first chamber of a storage apparatus. Furthermore, the process applies a terpene solution to the plurality of carrier media within the first chamber of the storage apparatus such that the plurality of carrier media absorb the terpene solution. The process also positions a removable mesh shelf within the storage apparatus. The removable mesh shelf bifurcates the storage apparatus into the first chamber and a second chamber. Moreover, the process positions one or more cannabis materials within the first chamber. The removable mesh shelf prevents the one or more cannabis materials from contacting the plurality of carrier media.
Finally, the process seals the storage apparatus such that the plurality of carrier media emits an aroma from the absorbed terpene solution through the removable mesh shelf to infuse the one or more terpene materials with the aroma.
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 storage apparatus is provided to store cannabis and infuse an aroma from a terpene composition into the cannabis. In particular, the storage apparatus has a first chamber, dedicated to storing a carrier medium of the terpene composition, and a second chamber, dedicated to storing one or more cannabis materials (e.g., cannabis flowers, leaves, etc.). 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.
Furthermore, the bifurcated chambers allow the storage apparatus to compartmentalize the carrier medium away from the one or more cannabis materials, thereby preventing, or minimizing, any contamination of the one or more cannabis materials. Accordingly, 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 first chamber.
In one embodiment, the storage apparatus is part of a storage apparatus kit. For example, a container with a terpene solution and a container with a plurality of carrier media (e.g., expandable beads capable of absorbing the terpene solution) may be included with the storage apparatus, or provided as accessories. A terpene infusion process may be performed by the end-user to prepare the storage apparatus kit for terpene infusion. For example, the end-user may pour the plurality of carrier media into the first chamber of the storage apparatus and pour the terpene solution into the first chamber of the storage apparatus so that the plurality of carrier media absorb the terpene solution. The end-user may also place the one or more cannabis materials in the second chamber during the absorption of the terpene solution by the plurality of carrier media, or may wait until the terpene solution has been absorbed by the plurality of carrier media. As an example, the plurality of carrier media may be gel beads fabricated from at least sodium polyacrylate.
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.
In another embodiment, the removable mesh shelf 103 has a solid layer, and is operably connected to a vent through which the aroma from the terpene composition is passed from the first chamber to the second chamber. In yet another embodiment, an integrated shelf is used in place of the removable mesh shelf 103. For example, the integrated shelf may have a door through which the terpene solution is positioned in the first chamber. The integrated shelf may be integrally formed with the wall 101 of the storage apparatus 101. Furthermore, the integrated shelf may have an aroma emission mechanism, such as a mesh or vent configuration. Accordingly, after positioning of the terpene composition within the first chamber and sealing the storage apparatus 100, the end-user may achieve terpene aroma emission for infusion into the cannabis 104 without additional emission activation on the part of the end-user.
Moreover, in one embodiment, the plurality of carrier media 201 are miniaturized at the outset of dispersion into the plurality of compartments 211. Upon subsequent contact with the terpene solution, the plurality of carrier media 201 absorb the terpene composition by expanding in size, thereby carrying the terpene composition without moisture, or with only minimal moisture, in the storage apparatus 100.
In an alternative embodiment, instead of having multiple compartments, the bottom portion 110 may have only a single compartment. In essence, the bottom portion 110 may have a single compartment 211, and an outer rim that acts as the elevated wall for placement of the removable mesh shelf 103.
In yet another alternative embodiment, an insert elevation device may be inserted into the storage apparatus 100 to hold the removable mesh shelf 103 in an elevated state over the bottom portion 110 of the storage apparatus 100.
In another alternative embodiment, the removable mesh shelf 103 may be held in an elevated state by contacting the inner portion of the wall 101 in an adherent manner. Accordingly, the removable mesh shelf 103 may be held in place without resting on a component of the bottom portion 110.
Additionally,
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.
