Humidifying Insert and Method for Humidifying Smoking Articles

Abstract

A humidifying insert for a smoking article packaging has a planar shape, is insertable into a smoking article packaging and includes a humidifying agent and a humidity transmitter, which transfers the humidifying agent from the humidifying insert into the inner volume of the smoking article packaging. A storage compartment, in which the humidifying agent is stored, has a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier. A method for humidifying smoking articles is also provided.

1 . A humidifying insert, for a smoking article packaging,
 wherein the humidifying insert has a planar shape, is insertable into a smoking article packaging and comprises:   a humidifying agent, and   a humidity transmitter, configured to transfers the humidifying agent from the humidifying insert into an inner volume of the smoking article packaging, and   a storage compartment in which the humidifying agent is stored, the storage compartment having a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter are enclosed between a front sheet material layer and a back sheet material layer.   
     
     
         3 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the front and back sheet material layers are affixed to each other at least circumferentially along edges of sides of the front and back sheet material layers facing each other, wherein at least respective center parts of the front and back sheet material layers are unaffixed to each other forming a cavity enclosing the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter.   
     
     
         4 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the front and back sheet material layers is a composite film, comprising at least two material layers.   
     
     
         5 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the composite film of at least one of the front and back sheet material layers comprises a first layer of polyethylene terephthalate, a second layer of polyethylene terephthalate coated on at least one side with an oxide layer and a third layer of polyethylene.   
     
     
         6 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the composite film of at least one of the front and back sheet material layers is printable.   
     
     
         7 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the front sheet material layer comprises perforations located at the humidity transmitter establishing a second fluidic connection between the humidity transmitter and atmosphere surrounding the humidifying insert.   
     
     
         8 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 each of the perforations has a hole size of 0.01 to 4 mm.   
     
     
         9 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the perforations comprise from 1 to 200 holes.   
     
     
         10 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the humidity transmitter comprises a tissue material located directly at the perforations between the front and back sheet material layers.   
     
     
         11 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the breakable barrier is a seal varnish.   
     
     
         12 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the breakable barrier is breakable with a pressure gradient between the storage compartment and the humidity transmitter.   
     
     
         13 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the humidifying agent is a water based solution.   
     
     
         14 . A method for humidifying smoking articles in a packaging with a humidifying insert, which has a planar shape and comprises a humidifying agent, a humidity transmitter, and a storage compartment in which the humidifying agent is stored, wherein the storage compartment has a fluidic connection to the humidity transmitter, wherein the fluidic connection is blocked with a breakable barrier, comprising the steps:
 (a) breaking the breakable barrier by pressurizing the storage compartment to open the fluidic connection such that the humidifying agent can flow from the storage compartment to the humidity transmitter; and   (b) inserting the humidifying insert into a smoking article package.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the storage compartment is pressurized by folding the humidifying insert in an area where the storage compartment is located. 
     
     
         16 . The humidifying insert according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 each of the perforations has a hole size of 0.1 to 3 mm.