Apparatus and method for delayed activation of active agent in container holding product sensitive to environmental trigger(s)
A device configured to maintain or preserve products sensitive to environmental triggers, such as moisture or oxygen, can include a lid ( 24 ) removably attachable to a body ( 16 ) of a container ( 10 ) in which the sensitive product ( 23 ) is stored. An active agent ( 12 ) capable of preventing, or at least slowing, exposure of the sensitive product to the environmental trigger is positioned in or under the lid. A utensil ( 40 ) configured to shield the active agent can be removably attached to an underside of the lid and positioned to cover the active agent when the utensil is attached to the lid. Upon removal of the utensil, the active agent is unshielded and, upon exposure to the environment, is activated to absorb or consume at least some of the environmental triggers within the container.
1. A method of maintaining or preserving a product that is sensitive to an environmental trigger, the product being situated in a container having a first cavity and a second cavity, the product being stored in the second cavity, the container further having a utensil that is usable for removing an amount of the product from the second cavity and that is releasably attached to a housing defining the first cavity, the first cavity being devoid of any of the product while the utensil is releasably attached to the housing, the utensil comprising a concave product removal portion and a handle portion extending from the product removal portion, the utensil enclosing the first cavity while the utensil is releasably attached to the housing, the method comprising:
releasing and removing the utensil from the housing and thereby unshielding an active agent that is housed in the first cavity, the active agent being structured to reduce exposure of the product to the environmental trigger, the utensil retaining its original shape as it is released and removed from the housing; and
exposing the product housed in the second cavity to the active agent, thereby reducing exposure of the product to the environmental trigger in order to maintain or preserve the product.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental trigger is moisture and wherein the product is sensitive to moisture.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the active agent is a desiccant.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity is on a lid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second cavity is defined by a body of the container having a base and a sidewall extending from the base, the body being configured to hold the product, the body further having an opening in communication with the second cavity through which a user may remove the amount of the product using the utensil.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first cavity is on a lid that is removably attachable to the body and is configured to close the opening when the lid is attached to the body, the lid having a basewall and further having a skirt extending from an outer periphery of the basewall, the lid further having at least one projection extending from the basewall and forming the housing, the at least one projection being spaced inwardly from the skirt, the lid further having an active agent situated on an inner portion of the at least one projection.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the utensil has a portion thereof configured to seat on the at least one projection and to shield the active agent from the environmental trigger, the utensil being removably attachable to the at least one projection.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one projection is in the form of an annular member which forms the housing and defines the first cavity, the active agent being positioned within the first cavity.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the active agent is press fit into the inner portion of the at least one projection.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is provided as a unitary component made of a single piece of material.
11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second cavity comprises a lower compartment configured to hold the product and an upper compartment;
wherein the container includes a foil layer that is attached to the body and that separates the upper compartment from the lower compartment; and
the utensil is situated within the upper compartment when the lid is attached to the body.