Patents by Inventor Robert L. Esse

Robert L. Esse has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230285894
    Abstract: Slurries and methods of making slurries for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges. The slurries may include a saturated aqueous salt and one or more other reagents selected to provide a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity. The saturated aqueous salt may be one or more of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium formate, and/or magnesium chloride, and the one or more other reagents may be one or more of a lactate salt, glycerol, and/or an acetate salt, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: Tina O'Shea, Robert L. Esse, Jonathan W. DeVries, Brian Rice
  • Patent number: 11673731
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to an injection molded container for holding a product, wherein the container is configured to house a humidity control product that may regulate the relative humidity of the inner body of the container such that the product housed therein may be kept at an optimal humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean A. Knutsen, Robert L. Esse, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20230088606
    Abstract: Devices and methods for controlling humidity including an aqueous saturated solution of a salt and/or a sugar in combination with an additive in which all components of the saturated solution are food grade. The device may or may not include a container, such as a flexible pouch, encasing the aqueous saturated solution and/or an absorbent pad. The pouch or other container may be made of a material which is moisture permeable and liquid impermeable, for example, and the aqueous saturated solution further comprises a thickening agent. In some embodiments, the components of the aqueous saturated salt solution are separately contained in different compartments of the device container, and a user may activate the device to mix the components together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Boveda Inc.
    Inventors: Tina M. O'Shea, Justin W. Lilley, John T. Nguyen, Robert L. Esse, Jonathan W. DeVries, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20220267078
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a humidity control device having a capsule and a humidity control agent arranged within the capsule. The capsule may have a sidewall arranged between a pair of end portions, and at least one end portion may be an endcap coupled to the sidewall. Further, the capsule may have at least one vapor permeable and liquid impermeable surface. The humidity control device may be configured to control relative humidity within an enclosure to a particular level or to within a particular range. The humidity device may be sized and configured to control humidity within a relatively small and/or uniquely shaped enclosure, such as a container for a single cigar or rolled cannabis product, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Boveda Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Rice, Robert L. Esse, David Egberg
  • Patent number: 11358778
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a humidity control device having a capsule and a humidity control agent arranged within the capsule. The capsule may have a sidewall arranged between a pair of end portions, and at least one end portion may be an endcap coupled to the sidewall. Further, the capsule may have at least one vapor permeable and liquid impermeable surface. The humidity control device may be configured to control relative humidity within an enclosure to a particular level or to within a particular range. The humidity device may be sized and configured to control humidity within a relatively small and/or uniquely shaped enclosure, such as a container for a single cigar or rolled cannabis product, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Boveda Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Rice, Robert L. Esse, David Egberg
  • Publication number: 20210260234
    Abstract: A device for reducing contaminants on a user's hands, the device having an antimicrobial surface with at least 60% copper. The device may have a rounded shape with a length of between approximately 2 inches and 5 inches, and a width between approximately 1 inch and 4 inches, and a depth between approximately 0.25 inches and 1 inch. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may be an entire outer surface of the device. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may include at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% copper. In other embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may include 100% copper. Moreover, in some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may have at least one of tin, nickel, aluminum, and zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Robert L. Esse, Claire M. Troxel, David Egberg
  • Patent number: 10909607
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring and providing humidity control for an asset within a closed environment such as a storage container, with transmission of sensed humidity levels to at least one server that stores current and historical humidity levels and comprises a processor and stored executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, may recommend an optimal humidity controller to use for the asset, determine when the recommended humidity controller requires replacement and predictively recommend an optimal replacement humidity controller based on at least historical humidity data and trending thereof, execution of a sales transaction, that may be pre-scheduled based on asset type, asset size and/or historical data, for the optimal replacement humidity controller, and providing the proper replacement humidity controller to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BOVEDA INC.
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jason L. Schmitz, Robert L. Esse, Sean A. Knutsen, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20200207534
    Abstract: Humidity controlled product methods and packages produced by providing a package material having an interior surface and providing a plurality of humidity control devices in a continuous strip, separating a humidity control device from the strip, adhering the humidity control device to the interior surface of the product package material, and forming the package material into a product package or a product package component with the separated humidity control device adhered to an interior space within the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Boveda Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Esse, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20200188845
    Abstract: Slurries and methods of making slurries for modifying and extending relative humidity control ranges. The slurries may include a saturated aqueous salt and one or more other reagents selected to provide a controlled modifiable narrow range of relative humidity. The saturated aqueous salt may be one or more of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, sodium formate, and/or magnesium chloride, and the one or more other reagents may be one or more of a lactate salt, glycerol, and/or an acetate salt, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: Tina O'Shea, Robert L. Esse, Jonathan W. DeVries, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20200039723
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to an injection molded container for holding a product, wherein the container is configured to house a humidity control product that may regulate the relative humidity of the inner body of the container such that the product housed therein may be kept at an optimal humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean A. Knutsen, Robert L. Esse, Brian Rice
  • Publication number: 20190255178
    Abstract: A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: David C. Egberg, Robert L. Esse
  • Publication number: 20190071235
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a humidity control device having a capsule and a humidity control agent arranged within the capsule. The capsule may have a sidewall arranged between a pair of end portions, and at least one end portion may be an endcap coupled to the sidewall. Further, the capsule may have at least one vapor permeable and liquid impermeable surface. The humidity control device may be configured to control relative humidity within an enclosure to a particular level or to within a particular range. The humidity device may be sized and configured to control humidity within a relatively small and/or uniquely shaped enclosure, such as a container for a single cigar or rolled cannabis product, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Rice, Robert L. Esse, David Egberg
  • Publication number: 20190060498
    Abstract: A device for reducing contaminants on a user's hands, the device having an antimicrobial surface with at least 60% copper. The device may have a rounded shape with a length of between approximately 2 inches and 5 inches, and a width between approximately 1 inch and 4 inches, and a depth between approximately 0.25 inches and 1 inch. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may be an entire outer surface of the device. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may include at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% copper. In other embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may include 100% copper. Moreover, in some embodiments, the antimicrobial surface may have at least one of tin, nickel, aluminum, and zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. Esse, Claire M. Troxel, David Egberg
  • Patent number: 10201612
    Abstract: A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Egberg, Robert L. Esse
  • Publication number: 20180342006
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring and providing humidity control for an asset within a closed environment such as a storage container, with transmission of sensed humidity levels to at least one server that stores current and historical humidity levels and comprises a processor and stored executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, may recommend an optimal humidity controller to use for the asset, determine when the recommended humidity controller requires replacement and predictively recommend an optimal replacement humidity controller based on at least historical humidity data and trending thereof, execution of a sales transaction, that may be pre-scheduled based on asset type, asset size and/or historical data, for the optimal replacement humidity controller, and providing the proper replacement humidity controller to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Jason L. Schmitz, Robert L. Esse, Sean A. Knutsen, Brian Rice
  • Patent number: 10055781
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring and providing humidity control for an asset within a closed environment such as a storage container, with transmission of sensed humidity levels to at least one server that stores current and historical humidity levels and comprises a processor and stored executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, may recommend an optimal humidity controller to use for the asset, determine when the recommended humidity controller requires replacement and predictively recommend an optimal replacement humidity controller based on at least historical humidity data and trending thereof, execution of a sales transaction, that may be pre-scheduled based on asset type, asset size and/or historical data, for the optimal replacement humidity controller, and providing the proper replacement humidity controller to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Boveda Inc.
    Inventors: Jason L. Schmitz, Robert L. Esse, Sean A. Knutsen
  • Publication number: 20180099804
    Abstract: Humidity control devices for consumer products and methods for making the same. In particular, a humidity control device may contain a humidity control agent for controlling the relative humidity (RH) within a packaged consumer product, such as a food, pharmaceutical, herb, or any other suitable consumer product. In some embodiments, the humidity control device may be attached to, or integrated with, the product packaging. For example, the device may be fixedly or removably adhered to an inside wall of a product package. In some embodiments, the device may be constructed or formed on the product packaging material, such that the device is an integral part of the product packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Robert L. Esse, Tim Bohrer, Rob Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170360936
    Abstract: A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: David C. Egberg, Robert L. Esse
  • Patent number: 9750811
    Abstract: A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Boveda, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Egberg, Robert L. Esse
  • Publication number: 20170072056
    Abstract: A humidity control device for use in maintaining the desired humidity of a closed environment, e.g., a container, while also decreasing headspace oxygen, the device including a water vapor and oxygen permeable pouch, an aqueous salt solution containing humidity controlling salts in combination with salts of ascorbic acid or isomers thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David C. Egberg, Robert L. Esse