Patent Grant
12310959
The present disclosure relates to flavored products intended for human use. The products are configured for oral use and deliver substances such as flavors and/or active ingredients during use. Such products may include tobacco or a product derived from tobacco, or may be tobacco-free alternatives.
All-white snus portions are growing in popularity, and offer a discrete and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional snus. Such modern “white” pouched products may include a bleached tobacco or may be tobacco-free. Products of this type may suffer from certain drawbacks, such as poor product stability that could lead to discoloration of the product and/or undesirable organoleptic characteristics.
The present disclosure generally provides compositions and products configured for oral use. The compositions and products can comprise at least one releasable component, at least one filler component, and a polyol component in an amount of about 25% by weight or greater based on the total weight of the oral composition. The compositions and products may be configured to impart a taste when used orally and, additionally or alternatively, may deliver active ingredients to a consumer, such as nicotine. The compositions, products, and methods of the present disclosure in particular may be adapted or configured to provide a desired mouthfeel and/or texture to a consumer while also having a reduced water content relative to known compositions exhibiting similar properties.
In certain embodiments, the polyol component is present in an amount of about 25% by weight to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. In some embodiments, the oral composition comprises less than 10% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. In other embodiments, the oral composition comprises about 0.1% to 9% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. In certain embodiments, the oral composition comprises about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. In some embodiments, the polyol comprises one or both of glycerin and propylene glycol. In other embodiments. The oral composition exhibits a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a water activity of about 0.85 or less. In some embodiments, the oral composition is contained within a pouch. In certain embodiments, the oral composition is in the form of a lozenge, a pastille, or an extrudate. In some embodiments, the releasable component is an active ingredient. In certain embodiments, the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a nicotine component, botanicals, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, cannabinoids, nutraceuticals, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the releasable material is a flavor component. In certain embodiments, the composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, gums, binding agents, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, the oral composition further comprises a tobacco component.
In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure can provide methods of forming an oral composition with a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a relatively low water activity. The methods can comprise combining at least one releasable material and at least one filler component with a polyol such that the polyol comprises about 25% by weight or greater of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition and limiting a water content of the oral composition to a range wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.85 or less. In some embodiments, the polyol can comprise about 25% to about 40% by weight of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition. In another embodiment, the method can comprise limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 10% or less by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. In certain embodiments, the method can comprise limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. In another embodiment, the method can comprise limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.80 or less.
The disclosure includes, without limitations, the following embodiments.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawing, which is briefly described below. The invention includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-noted embodiments as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined in a specific embodiment description herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed invention, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Having thus described aspects of the disclosure in the foregoing general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawing is exemplary only, and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.
The FIGURE is a perspective view of a pouched product according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure including a pouch or fleece at least partially filled with a composition for oral use.
The present disclosure provides compositions and products formed therefrom, the compositions and products particularly being configured for oral use. The compositions and products may incorporate one or more components that are effective for retaining a releasable component and then releasing the releasable component at a desired time, such as when in contact with an oral cavity. The components for retaining the releasable component can be adapted to or configured to provide for controlled release in some embodiments.
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to example embodiments thereof. These example embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Reference to “dry weight percent” or “dry weight basis” refers to weight on the basis of dry ingredients (i.e., all ingredients except water). Reference to “wet weight” refers to the weight of the mixture including water. Unless otherwise indicated, reference to “weight percent” of a mixture reflects the total wet weight of the mixture (i.e., including water).
The present disclosure provides compositions and products that may include the compositions. As described, the compositions may be provided in a variety of forms and, as further described herein, specifically, may be provided in a substantially solid form, such as a collection of particles, fibers, or the like. Accordingly, a product may include the composition itself, or the composition positioned within a unitizing structure, such as a pouch, a fleece, or the like.
In some embodiments, the disclosure provides oral compositions including at least one releasable material, at least one filler component, and a water substitute component in an amount of about 25% by weight or greater based on the total weight of the oral composition. The water substitute component in example embodiments, by include a polyol. The compositions and products particularly may provide a desired property or set of properties that would typically be expected in a composition with a relatively high water content but that are exhibited by the present compositions despite having only a relatively small water content. As such, the present compositions can likewise exhibit a desirably low water activity. In some embodiments, the products as described herein comprise a mixture of components, typically including at least one carrier and/or filler and at least one releasable material (e.g., a flavoring material and/or an active ingredient). In some embodiments, the composition further may comprise one or more additional ingredients, such as, for example, salts, sweeteners, binding agents, humectants, gums, organic acid, a tobacco material, a tobacco-derived material, or a combination thereof. The relative amounts of the various components within the composition may vary, and typically are selected so as to provide the desired sensory and performance characteristics to the oral product. The example individual components of the composition are further described below.
Carrier/Filler Component
Compositions as described herein include at least one component that may be characterized as being a carrier component and/or a filler component. In some embodiments, the compositions may include both of a carrier and a filler, and various materials may fulfill the function of both a carrier and a filler. A carrier component according to the present disclosure preferably may be adapted to or configured to retain at least a releasable material as described herein and may, in some embodiments, retain substantially all of the further components of the composition. A filler component may fulfill multiple functions, such as enhancing certain organoleptic properties such as texture and mouthfeel, enhancing cohesiveness or compressibility of the product, and the like. Generally, the filler components are porous particulate materials. In some embodiments, the present compositions may comprise a carrier. In further embodiments, the present compositions may comprise a carrier and a filler.
In some embodiments, a carrier component and/or a filler component may be cellulose-based. For example, suitable particulate components are any non-tobacco plant material or derivative thereof, including cellulose materials derived from such sources. Examples of cellulosic non-tobacco plant material include cereal grains (e.g., maize, oat, barley, rye, buckwheat, and the like), sugar beet (e.g., FIBREX® brand filler available from International Fiber Corporation), bran fiber, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of derivatives of non-tobacco plant material include starches (e.g., from potato, wheat, rice, corn), natural cellulose, and modified cellulosic materials. Additional examples of potential particulate carrier and/or filler components include maltodextrin, dextrose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, lactose, mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol. Combinations of materials can also be used.
“Starch” as used herein may refer to pure starch from any source, modified starch, or starch derivatives. Starch is present, typically in granular form, in almost all green plants and in various types of plant tissues and organs (e.g., seeds, leaves, rhizomes, roots, tubers, shoots, fruits, grains, and stems). Starch can vary in composition, as well as in granular shape and size. Often, starch from different sources has different chemical and physical characteristics. A specific starch can be selected for inclusion in the mixture based on the ability of the starch material to impart a specific organoleptic property to composition. Starches derived from various sources can be used. For example, major sources of starch include cereal grains (e.g., rice, wheat, and maize) and root vegetables (e.g., potatoes and cassava). Other examples of sources of starch include acorns, arrowroot, arracacha, bananas, barley, beans (e.g., favas, lentils, mung beans, peas, chickpeas), breadfruit, buckwheat, canna, chestnuts, colacasia, katakuri, kudzu, malanga, millet, oats, oca, Polynesian arrowroot, sago, sorghum, sweet potato, quinoa, rye, tapioca, taro, tobacco, water chestnuts, and yams. Certain starches are modified starches. A modified starch has undergone one or more structural modifications, often designed to alter its high heat properties. Some starches have been developed by genetic modifications, and are considered to be “modified” starches. Other starches are obtained and subsequently modified. For example, modified starches can be starches that have been subjected to chemical reactions, such as esterification, etherification, oxidation, depolymerization (thinning) by acid catalysis or oxidation in the presence of base, bleaching, transglycosylation and depolymerization (e.g., dextrinization in the presence of a catalyst), cross-linking, enzyme treatment, acetylation, hydroxypropylation, and/or partial hydrolysis. Other starches are modified by heat treatments, such as pregelatinization, dextrinization, and/or cold water swelling processes. Certain modified starches include monostarch phosphate, distarch glycerol, distarch phosphate esterified with sodium trimetaphosphate, phosphate distarch phosphate, acetylated distarch phosphate, starch acetate esterified with acetic anhydride, starch acetate esterified with vinyl acetate, acetylated distarch adipate, acetylated distarch glycerol, hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropyl distarch glycerol, starch sodium octenyl succinate.
In some embodiments, a carrier component and/or a filler component may be a cellulose material or cellulose derivative. One particularly suitable material for use in the products described herein is microcrystalline cellulose (“mcc”). The mcc may be synthetic or semi-synthetic, or it may be obtained entirely from natural celluloses. The mcc may be selected from the group consisting of AVICEL® grades PH-100, PH-102, PH-103, PH-105, PH-112, PH-113, PH-200, PH-300, PH-302, VIVACEL® grades 101, 102, 12, 20 and EMOCEL® grades 50M and 90M, and the like, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, a composition as described herein may comprise mcc as a particulate filler component and/or as a carrier component. The quantity of mcc present in the compositions as described herein may vary according to the desired properties. In some embodiments, a cellulose derivative or a combination of such derivatives in particular may be used in combination with a different carrier component, and this particularly can include cellulose derivatives, such as a cellulose ether (including carboxyalkyl ethers), meaning a cellulose polymer with the hydrogen of one or more hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure replaced with an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl group. Non-limiting examples of such cellulose derivatives include methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose (“HPC”), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (“HPMC”), hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose (“CMC”). In one embodiment, the cellulose derivative is one or more of methylcellulose, HPC, HPMC, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and CMC. In one embodiment, the cellulose derivative is HPC.
The total amount of carrier component(s) and filler component(s) present in the composition can vary, but is typically up to about 75 percent of the composition by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. A typical range of total carrier and/or filler component within the composition can be from about 10 to about 75 percent by total weight of the composition, for example, from about 10, about 15, about 20, about 25, or about 30, to about 35, about 40, about 45, or about 50 weight percent (e.g., about 20 to about 50 weight percent or about 25 to about 45 weight percent). In certain embodiments, the total amount of carrier/filler component is at least about 10 percent by weight, such as at least about 20 percent, or at least about 25 percent, or at least about 30 percent, or at least about 35 percent, or at least about 40 percent, based on the total weight of the composition.
In one or more embodiments, a carrier component may be adapted to or configured to substantially surround or envelop further components of the composition. For example, the carrier may be configured as a packet, a pouch, a fleece, or the like, and such structures are further described herein. The term “fleece” may particularly be used herein as a common term for such structures and should not be viewed as limiting the nature of the structure.
A suitable fleece, for example, may be formed of a plurality of fibers. The term “fiber” as used herein includes both fibers of finite length, such as conventional staple fibers and nanofibers, as well as substantially continuous structures, such as continuous filaments, unless otherwise indicated. The fibers can have a substantially round or circular cross section or non-circular cross sections (for example, oval, rectangular, multi-lobed, and the like). The fibers can be provided in a variety of configurations, and the fibers particularly can include multicomponent fibers.
In some embodiments, the fleece can be in the form of a non-woven material. The term “nonwoven” is used herein in reference to fibrous materials, webs, mats, batts, or sheets in which fibers are aligned in an undefined or random orientation. In some embodiments, the plurality of fibers used in forming a fleece may include heat sealable and/or meltable binder fibers. Further aspects of a suitable pouch or fleece are further described below.
Releasable Material
A “releasable material” or “releasable component” as used herein may refer to any material or component that is retained by a carrier component or a filler component and is releasable therefrom when in contact with the oral cavity of a consumer. The terms releasable material and releasable component may be used interchangeably. The releasable material, in some embodiments, may be adapted to or configured to absorb, adsorb, or otherwise become entrained within a portion of a carrier component or a filler component. In this manner, the releasable material may be retained with a desired level of stability and/or may be configured for controlled release from the porous structure.
A wide of variety of releasable materials may be utilized. In some embodiments, a plurality of releasable materials may be used. In some embodiments, one or more releasable materials may be adapted to or configured to be relatively rapidly released from a carrier component or filler component. Likewise, in some embodiments, one or more releasable materials may be adapted to or configured to be relatively slowly release from a carrier component or filler component.
Active Ingredients
In some embodiments, a releasable material may be an active ingredient. For example, the releasable material may include a single active ingredient or a plurality of active ingredients. If desired, one or more active ingredients may be retained on a portion of a filler, and one or more active ingredients may be otherwise retained in the compositions and/or products, such as being bound to a further filler or being present in a unitary form (e.g., pelletized active ingredients).
Non-limiting examples of active ingredients that may be used as a releasable material herein and/or be otherwise included within the present compositions and/or products (e.g., when not retained by the porous alumina) can include a nicotine component, melatonin, botanical ingredients (e.g., lavender, peppermint, chamomile, basil, rosemary, ginger, cannabis, ginseng, maca, hemp, eucalyptus, rooibos, fennel, citrus, cloves, and tisanes), stimulants (e.g., caffeine and guarana), amino acids (e.g., taurine, theanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) and/or pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medicinal ingredients (e.g., vitamins, such as B6, B12, and C, and/or cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)). The particular percentages and choice of ingredients can vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and other characteristics. Example active ingredients would include any ingredient known to impact one or more biological functions within the body, such as ingredients that furnish pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or which affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or other animals (e.g., provide a stimulating action on the central nervous system, have an energizing effect, an antipyretic or analgesic action, or an otherwise useful effect on the body).
Typically, the nicotine component (calculated as the free base) when present, is in a concentration of at least about 0.001% by weight of the mixture, such as in a range from about 0.001% to about 10%. In some embodiments, the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the mixture. In some embodiments, the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 3% by weight, such as, e.g., from about from about 0.1% w/w to about 2.5%, from about 0.1% to about 2.0%, from about 0.1% to about 1.5%, or from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the mixture. These ranges can also apply to other active ingredients noted herein.
Flavoring Agents
In some embodiments, a releasable material may be one or more flavoring agent. As used herein, a “flavoring agent” or “flavorant” is any flavorful or aromatic substance capable of altering the sensory characteristics associated with the oral product. Examples of sensory characteristics that can be modified by the flavoring agent include taste, mouthfeel, moistness, coolness/heat, and/or fragrance/aroma. Flavoring agents may be natural or synthetic, and the character of the flavors imparted thereby may be described, without limitation, as fresh, sweet, herbal, confectionary, floral, fruity, or spicy. In some embodiments, the releasable material may include a single flavoring agent or a plurality of flavoring agents. If desired, one or more flavoring agents may be retained on a portion of a carrier or filler, and one or more flavoring agents may be otherwise retained in the compositions and/or products, such as being bound to a further carrier or filler.
Non-limiting examples of flavoring agents that may be used as a releasable material herein and/or be otherwise included within the present compositions and/or products (e.g., when not retained by the porous alumina) can include vanilla, coffee, chocolate/cocoa, cream, mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, wintergreen, eucalyptus, lavender, cardamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple, peach, lime, cherry, strawberry, trigeminal sensates, terpenes, and any combinations thereof. See also, Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (1972), which is incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, “trigeminal sensate” refers to a flavoring agent which has an effect on the trigeminal nerve, producing sensations including heating, cooling, tingling, and the like. Non-limiting examples of trigeminal sensate flavoring agents include capsaicin, citric acid, menthol, Sichuan buttons, erythritol, and cubebol. Flavorings also may include components that are considered moistening, cooling or smoothening agents, such as eucalyptus. These flavors may be provided neat (i.e., alone) or in a composite, and may be employed as concentrates or flavor packages (e.g., spearmint and menthol, orange and cinnamon; lime, pineapple, and the like).
The flavoring agent generally comprises at least one volatile flavor component. As used herein, “volatile” refers to a chemical substance that forms a vapor readily at ambient temperatures (i.e., a chemical substance that has a high vapor pressure at a given temperature relative to a nonvolatile substance). Typically, a volatile flavor component has a molecular weight below about 400 Da, and often include at least one carbon-carbon double bond, carbon-oxygen double bond, or both. In one embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, terpenes, terpenoids, or a combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of aldehydes include vanillin, ethyl vanillin, p-anisaldehyde, hexanal, furfural, isovaleraldehyde, cuminaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and citronellal. Non-limiting examples of ketones include 1-hydroxy-2-propanone and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone-1-one. Non-limiting examples of esters include allyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, and 3-methylbutyl acetate. Non-limiting examples of terpenes include sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-farnesene, nerolidol, thuj one, myrcene, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, linalool, and eucalyptol. In one embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more of ethyl vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-farnesene, or citral. In one embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises ethyl vanillin.
The amount of flavoring agent utilized in the mixture can vary, but is typically up to about 10 weight percent, and certain embodiments are characterized by a flavoring agent content of at least about 0.1 weight percent, such as about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, about 1 to about 6 weight percent, or about 2 to about 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the mixture.
Tobacco Material
The Nicotiana species can, in some embodiments, be selected for the content of various compounds that are present therein. For example, plants can be selected on the basis that those plants produce relatively high quantities of one or more of the compounds desired to be isolated therefrom. In certain embodiments, plants of the Nicotiana species (e.g., Galpao commun tobacco) are specifically grown for their abundance of leaf surface compounds. Tobacco plants can be grown in greenhouses, growth chambers, or outdoors in fields, or grown hydroponically.
Various parts or portions of the plant of the Nicotiana species can be included within a mixture as disclosed herein. For example, virtually all of the plant (e.g., the whole plant) can be harvested, and employed as such. Alternatively, various parts or pieces of the plant can be harvested or separated for further use after harvest. For example, the flower, leaves, stem, stalk, roots, seeds, and various combinations thereof, can be isolated for further use or treatment. In some embodiments, the tobacco material comprises tobacco leaf (lamina). The mixture disclosed herein can include processed tobacco parts or pieces, cured and aged tobacco in essentially natural lamina and/or stem form, a tobacco extract, extracted tobacco pulp (e.g., using water as a solvent), or a mixture of the foregoing (e.g., a mixture that combines extracted tobacco pulp with granulated cured and aged natural tobacco lamina).
The tobacco material is typically used in a form that can be described as particulate (i.e., shredded, ground, granulated, or powder form). The manner by which the tobacco material is provided in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary. Preferably, plant parts or pieces are comminuted, ground or pulverized into a particulate form using equipment and techniques for grinding, milling, or the like. Most preferably, the plant material is relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the like. For example, tobacco parts or pieces may be ground or milled when the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 weight percent or less than about 5 weight percent. Most preferably, the tobacco material is employed in the form of parts or pieces that have an average particle size between 1.4 millimeters and 250 microns. In some instances, the tobacco particles may be sized to pass through a screen mesh to obtain the particle size range required. If desired, air classification equipment may be used to ensure that small sized tobacco particles of the desired sizes, or range of sizes, may be collected. If desired, differently sized pieces of granulated tobacco may be mixed together.
The manner by which the tobacco is provided in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary. Preferably, tobacco parts or pieces are comminuted, ground or pulverized into a powder type of form using equipment and techniques for grinding, milling, or the like. Most preferably, the tobacco is relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the like. For example, tobacco parts or pieces may be ground or milled when the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 weight percent to less than about 5 weight percent. For example, the tobacco plant or portion thereof can be separated into individual parts or pieces (e.g., the leaves can be removed from the stems, and/or the stems and leaves can be removed from the stalk). The harvested plant or individual parts or pieces can be further subdivided into parts or pieces (e.g., the leaves can be shredded, cut, comminuted, pulverized, milled or ground into pieces or parts that can be characterized as filler-type pieces, granules, particulates or fine powders). The plant, or parts thereof, can be subjected to external forces or pressure (e.g., by being pressed or subjected to roll treatment). When carrying out such processing conditions, the plant or portion thereof can have a moisture content that approximates its natural moisture content (e.g., its moisture content immediately upon harvest), a moisture content achieved by adding moisture to the plant or portion thereof, or a moisture content that results from the drying of the plant or portion thereof. For example, powdered, pulverized, ground or milled pieces of plants or portions thereof can have moisture contents of less than about 25 weight percent, often less than about 20 weight percent, and frequently less than about 15 weight percent.
In certain embodiments, tobacco materials that can be employed include flue-cured or Virginia (e.g., K326), burley, sun-cured (e.g., Indian Kurnool and Oriental tobaccos, including Katerini, Prelip, Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos), Maryland, dark, dark-fired, dark air cured (e.g., Madole, Passanda, Cubano, Jatin and Bezuki tobaccos), light air cured (e.g., North Wisconsin and Galpao tobaccos), Indian air cured, Red Russian and Rustica tobaccos, as well as various other rare or specialty tobaccos and various blends of any of the foregoing tobaccos.
The tobacco material may also have a so-called “blended” form. For example, the tobacco material may include a mixture of parts or pieces of flue-cured, burley (e.g., Malawi burley tobacco) and Oriental tobaccos (e.g., as tobacco composed of, or derived from, tobacco lamina, or a mixture of tobacco lamina and tobacco stem). For example, a representative blend may incorporate about 30 to about 70 parts burley tobacco (e.g., lamina, or lamina and stem), and about 30 to about 70 parts flue cured tobacco (e.g., stem, lamina, or lamina and stem) on a dry weight basis. Other example tobacco blends incorporate about 75 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 15 parts burley tobacco, and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; or about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 25 parts burley tobacco, and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; or about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 10 parts burley tobacco, and about 25 parts Oriental tobacco; on a dry weight basis. Other example tobacco blends incorporate about 20 to about 30 parts Oriental tobacco and about 70 to about 80 parts flue-cured tobacco on a dry weight basis.
In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness of at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, or at least about 80%. In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness in the range of about 50% to about 90%, about 55% to about 75%, or about 60% to about 70%. ISO brightness can be measured according to ISO 3688:1999 or ISO 2470-1:2016.
In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can be characterized as lightened in color (e.g., “whitened”) in comparison to an untreated tobacco material. White colors are often defined with reference to the International Commission on Illumination's (CIE's) chromaticity diagram. The whitened tobacco material can, in certain embodiments, be characterized as closer on the chromaticity diagram to pure white than an untreated tobacco material.
Typical inclusion ranges for tobacco materials can vary depending on the nature and type of the tobacco material, and the intended effect on the final mixture, with an example range of up to about 30% by weight (or up to about 20% by weight or up to about 10% by weight or up to about 5% by weight), based on total weight of the mixture (e.g., about 0.1 to about 15% by weight). In some embodiments, the products of the disclosure can be characterized as completely free or substantially free of tobacco material (other than purified nicotine as an active ingredient). For example, certain embodiments can be characterized as having less than 1% by weight, or less than 0.5% by weight, or less than 0.1% by weight of tobacco material, or 0% by weight of tobacco material. In some embodiments, a composition or product according to the present disclosure may comprise no more than about 10% by weight of a tobacco material, excluding any nicotine component present, based on the total weight of the mixture.
Water and Water Substitutes
Consumers of oral products often desire products exhibiting certain organoleptic properties and/or a specific type of mouthfeel in the product. Often it is desirable for an oral product to exhibit properties, such as moistness or wetness in the oral cavity. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the compositions and products may provide such property through inclusion of a content of water. The water content of the composition within the product, prior to use by a consumer of the product, may vary according to the desired properties. Typically, the composition, as present within the product prior to insertion into the mouth of the user, can comprise less than 60%, less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 20%, less than 10%, or less than 5% by weight of water. For example, total water content in the composition and/or product may be in the range of about 0.1% to about 60%, about 1% to about 50%, about 1.5% to about 40%, or about 2% to about 25% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the composition.
Despite the desire for certain properties in an oral composition or product, materials with a relatively high water content can suffer from instability and may be more susceptible to infiltration of the product by mold and/or bacteria. Accordingly, there can be a desire to provide compositions and products with a “moist” or “wet” feel in the mouth but without a significant water content. In some embodiments, it therefore can be useful to provide compositions and products wherein water is only an optional component or where water is present but is in a total amount of less than 10%, less than 8%, less than 5%, less than 4%, less than 3%, less than 2%, less than 1%, or less than 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Further, water content may be in the range of about 0.1% to about 9%, about 0.2% to about 7%, or about 0.5% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Compositions with a water content within such ranges may be referred to as being a low moisture composition.
As noted above, while such low moisture compositions may be useful, they may not provide the sensory properties desired by a consumer. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the present compositions and products may include one or more water substitute components. A suitable water substitute may be any material that is not an aqueous and thus is not a substantial source of water to be added to the compositions but is nevertheless adapted to or configured to impart a “moist” or “wet” sensation when the compositions and products incorporating such water substitute is in the oral cavity of a consumer. In some embodiments, non-limiting examples of further suitable water substitutes can include a variety of humectants, hygroscopic materials, and hydrophilic materials. For example, polydextrose, glycerol, polypropylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, sorbitan esters (e.g., sorbitan monostearate), polysorbates, honey, sugar, molasses, glyceryl triacetate, lactic acid, and the like may be utilized.
In one or more embodiments, the present compositions and products may incorporate one or more humectants as a water substitute. More particularly, one or more polyols may be used in the present compositions and products. Polyol components in particular may be beneficial to form oral compositions and products that maintain a moist sensation in the mouth while still having a low moisture content. In some embodiments, the polyol can include glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, example water substitutes may also include one or more sugar alcohols. Beneficially, the water substitute, such as a polyol, may be present in the compositions and products in an amount of about 25% or greater, about 30% or greater, or about 35% or greater (e.g., up to about 60%) by weight based on the total weight of the composition or product. In further embodiments, the water substitute, such as a polyol, may be present in an amount of about 25% by weight to about 50%, about 25% to about 45%, about 25% to about 40%, or about 25% to about 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Surprisingly, it has been found according to the present disclosure that the desire organoleptic/mouthfeel properties may be provided through the inclusion of a substantially high content of a water substitute, including polyols, without significantly reducing the processability of the compositions. For example, although it was expected that highly viscous additives, such as polyols, may reduce flowability of products in the processing thereof, it was found according to the present disclosure that flowability was not significantly impacted, even when using polyol concentrations as high as 40% by weight or greater, based on the total weight of the composition.
The ability to provide compositions with a substantially low water content can likewise beneficially provide the compositions with a relatively low water activity. In some embodiments, the oral compositions and products thus can exhibit a mouthfeel corresponding to moist product while having a water activity of about 0.85 or less. As water activity is a ratio between the vapor pressure of the composition or product to the water vapor pressure of pure water under the same conditions, water activity of the present compositions and products can be measured using any known method in the art. For example, water activity may be measured using any of a resistive electrolytic hygrometer, capacitance hygrometer, and a dew point hygrometer. In further embodiments, the oral composition or product may have a water activity of about 0.8 or less. More particularly, water activity may be about 0.5 to about 0.85, about 0.55 to about 0.8, or about 0.6 to about 0.75.
Further Additives
In some embodiments, one or more further additives can be included in the disclosed compositions and/or products. For example, the compositions can be processed, blended, formulated, combined and/or mixed with other materials or ingredients. The additives can be artificial, or can be obtained or derived from herbal or biological sources. Specific types of further additives that may be included are further described below.
In some embodiments, the compositions and products may include a content of one or more organic acids. As used herein, the term “organic acid” refers to an organic (i.e., carbon-based) compound that is characterized by acidic properties. Typically, organic acids are relatively weak acids (i.e., they do not dissociate completely in the presence of water), such as carboxylic acids (—CO2H) or sulfonic acids (—SO2OH). As used herein, reference to organic acid means an organic acid that is intentionally added. In this regard, an organic acid may be intentionally added as a specific ingredient as opposed to merely being inherently present as a component of another ingredient (e.g., the small amount of organic acid which may inherently be present in an ingredient such as a tobacco material). In some embodiments, the one or more organic acids are added neat (i.e., in their free acid, native solid or liquid form) or as a solution in, e.g., water. In some embodiments, the one or more organic acids are added in the form of a salt, as described herein below.
In some embodiments, the organic acid is an alkyl carboxylic acid. Non-limiting examples of alkyl carboxylic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and the like. In some embodiments, the organic acid is an alkyl sulfonic acid. Non-limiting examples of alkyl sulfonic acids include propanesulfonic acid and octanesulfonic acid. In some embodiments, the alkyl carboxylic or sulfonic acid is substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. Non-limiting examples include glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, and lactic acid. In some embodiments, an organic acid may include more than one carboxylic acid group or more than one sulfonic acid group (e.g., two, three, or more carboxylic acid groups). Non-limiting examples include oxalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, and glutaric acid. In organic acids containing multiple carboxylic acids (e.g., from two to four carboxylic acid groups), one or more of the carboxylic acid groups may be esterified. Non-limiting examples include succinic acid monoethyl ester, monomethyl fumarate, monomethyl or dimethyl citrate, and the like.
In some embodiments, the organic acid may include more than one carboxylic acid group and one or more hydroxyl groups. Non-limiting examples of such acids include tartaric acid, citric acid, and the like. In some embodiments, the organic acid is an aryl carboxylic acid or an aryl sulfonic acid. Non-limiting examples of aryl carboxylic and sulfonic acids include benzoic acid, toluic acids, salicylic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, and p-toluenesulfonic acid. In some embodiments, the organic acid is citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, octanoic acid, benzoic acid, a toluic acid, salicylic acid, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the organic acid is benzoic acid. In some embodiments, the organic acid is citric acid. In alternative embodiments, a portion, or even all, of the organic acid may be added in the form of a salt with an alkaline component, which may include, but is not limited to, nicotine. Non-limiting examples of suitable salts, e.g., for nicotine, include formate, acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, alpha-methylbutyate, isovalerate, beta-methylvalerate, caproate, 2-furoate, phenylacetate, heptanoate, octanoate, nonanoate, oxalate, malonate, glycolate, benzoate, tartrate, levulinate, ascorbate, fumarate, citrate, malate, lactate, aspartate, salicylate, tosylate, succinate, pyruvate, and the like.
The amount of organic acid present in the compositions may vary. Generally, the compositions can comprise from 0 to about 10% by weight of organic acid, present as one or more organic acids, based on the total weight of the mixture.
In some embodiments, the compositions may further comprise a salt (e.g., alkali metal salts), typically employed in an amount sufficient to provide desired sensory attributes to the compositions and products. Non-limiting examples of suitable salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, flour salt, and the like. When present, a representative amount of salt is about 0.5 percent by weight or more, about 1.0 percent by weight or more, or at about 1.5 percent by weight or more, but will typically make up about 10 percent or less of the total weight of the composition or product, or about 7.5 percent or less or about 5 percent or less (e.g., about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight).
The compositions and products also may include one or more sweeteners. The sweeteners can be any sweetener or combination of sweeteners, in natural or artificial form, or as a combination of natural and artificial sweeteners. Examples of natural sweeteners include fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, mannose, galactose, lactose, stevia, honey, and the like. Examples of artificial sweeteners include sucralose, isomaltulose, maltodextrin, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K, neotame and the like. In some embodiments, the sweetener comprises one or more sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are polyols derived from monosaccharides or disaccharides that have a partially or fully hydrogenated form. Sugar alcohols have, for example, about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms and include erythritol, arabitol, ribitol, isomalt, maltitol, dulcitol, iditol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, sorbitol, and combinations thereof (e.g., hydrogenated starch hydrolysates). When present, a representative amount of sweetener may make up from about 0.1 to about 20 percent or more of the of the composition by weight, for example, from about 0.1 to about 1%, from about 1 to about 5%, from about 5 to about 10%, or from about 10 to about 20% of the composition or product on a weight basis, based on the total weight of the composition or product.
In some embodiments, the compositions and products may include one or more binding agents. A binder (or combination of binders) may be employed in certain embodiments, in amounts sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes and physical integrity to the composition. Typical binders can be organic or inorganic, or a combination thereof. Representative binders include povidone, sodium alginate, starch-based binders, pectin, carrageenan, pullulan, zein, and the like, and combinations thereof. A binder may be employed in amounts sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes and physical integrity to the composition. The amount of binder utilized can vary, but is typically up to about 30 weight percent, and certain embodiments are characterized by a binder content of at least about 0.1% by weight, such as about 1 to about 30% by weight, or about 5 to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition or product.
In certain embodiments, the binder includes a gum, for example, a natural gum. As used herein, a natural gum refers to polysaccharide materials of natural origin that have binding properties, and which are also useful as a thickening or gelling agents. Representative natural gums derived from plants, which are typically water soluble to some degree, include xanthan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, ghatti gum, gum tragacanth, karaya gum, locust bean gum, gellan gum, and combinations thereof. When present, natural gum binder materials are typically present in an amount of up to about 5% by weight, for example, from about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, or about 1%, to about 2, about 3, about 4, or about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition or product.
In certain embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure can comprise pH adjusters or buffering agents. Examples of pH adjusters and buffering agents that can be used include, but are not limited to, metal hydroxides (e.g., alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), and other alkali metal buffers such as metal carbonates (e.g., potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate), or metal bicarbonates such as sodium bicarbonate, and the like. Where present, the buffering agent is typically present in an amount less than about 5 percent based on the weight of the compositions or products, for example, from about 0.5% to about 5%, such as, e.g., from about 0.75% to about 4%, from about 0.75% to about 3%, or from about 1% to about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the compositions or products. Non-limiting examples of suitable buffers include alkali metals acetates, glycinates, phosphates, glycerophosphates, citrates, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, borates, or mixtures thereof.
In some embodiments, the compositions and products may include one or more colorants. A colorant may be employed in amounts sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes to the composition or product. Examples of colorants include various dyes and pigments, such as caramel coloring and titanium dioxide. The amount of colorant utilized in the compositions or products can vary, but when present is typically up to about 3 weight percent, such as from about 0.1%, about 0.5%, or about 1%, to about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition or product.
Examples of even further types of additives that may be used in the present compositions and products include thickening or gelling agents (e.g., fish gelatin), emulsifiers, oral care additives (e.g., thyme oil, eucalyptus oil, and zinc), preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate and the like), disintegration aids, or combinations thereof. See, for example, those representative components, combination of components, relative amounts of those components, and manners and methods for employing those components, set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 9,237,769 to Mua et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,728 to Holton, Jr. et al., US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010/0291245 to Gao et al., and US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Typical inclusion ranges for such additional additives can vary depending on the nature and function of the additive and the intended effect on the final mixture, with an example range of up to about 10% by weight, based on total weight of the mixture (e.g., about 0.1 to about 5% by weight).
The aforementioned additives can be employed together (e.g., as additive formulations) or separately (e.g., individual additive components can be added at different stages involved in the preparation of the final mixture). Furthermore, the aforementioned types of additives may be encapsulated as provided in the final product or mixture. Exemplary encapsulated additives are described, for example, in WO2010/132444 to Atchley, which has been previously incorporated by reference herein.
Particles
In some embodiments, any one or more of a filler component, a tobacco material, and the overall oral product described herein can be described as a particulate material. As used herein, the term “particulate” refers to a material in the form of a plurality of individual particles, some of which can be in the form of an agglomerate of multiple particles, wherein the particles have an average length to width ratio less than 2:1, such as less than 1.5:1, such as about 1:1. In various embodiments, the particles of a particulate material can be described as substantially spherical or granular.
The particle size of a particulate material may be measured by sieve analysis. As the skilled person will readily appreciate, sieve analysis (otherwise known as a gradation test) is a method used to measure the particle size distribution of a particulate material. Typically, sieve analysis involves a nested column of sieves which comprise screens, preferably in the form of wire mesh cloths. A pre-weighed sample may be introduced into the top or uppermost sieve in the column, which has the largest screen openings or mesh size (i.e. the largest pore diameter of the sieve). Each lower sieve in the column has progressively smaller screen openings or mesh sizes than the sieve above. Typically, at the base of the column of sieves is a receiver portion to collect any particles having a particle size smaller than the screen opening size or mesh size of the bottom or lowermost sieve in the column (which has the smallest screen opening or mesh size).
In some embodiments, the column of sieves may be placed on or in a mechanical agitator. The agitator causes the vibration of each of the sieves in the column. The mechanical agitator may be activated for a pre-determined period of time in order to ensure that all particles are collected in the correct sieve. In some embodiments, the column of sieves is agitated for a period of time from 0.5 minutes to 10 minutes, such as from 1 minute to 10 minutes, such as from 1 minute to 5 minutes, such as for approximately 3 minutes. Once the agitation of the sieves in the column is complete, the material collected on each sieve is weighed. The weight of each sample on each sieve may then be divided by the total weight in order to obtain a percentage of the mass retained on each sieve. As the skilled person will readily appreciate, the screen opening sizes or mesh sizes for each sieve in the column used for sieve analysis may be selected based on the granularity or known maximum/minimum particle sizes of the sample to be analysed. In some embodiments, a column of sieves may be used for sieve analysis, wherein the column comprises from 2 to 20 sieves, such as from 5 to 15 sieves. In some embodiments, a column of sieves may be used for sieve analysis, wherein the column comprises 10 sieves. In some embodiments, the largest screen opening or mesh sizes of the sieves used for sieve analysis may be 1000 μm, such as 500 μm, such as 400 μm, such as 300 μm.
In some embodiments, any particulate material referenced herein (e.g., filler component, tobacco material, and the overall oral product) can be characterized as having at least 50% by weight of particles with a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 60% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 70% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 80% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 90% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 95% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, at least 99% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm. In some embodiments, approximately 100% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of no greater than about 1000 μm, such as no greater than about 500 μm, such as no greater than about 400 μm, such as no greater than about 350 μm, such as no greater than about 300 μm.
In some embodiments, at least 50% by weight, such as at least 60% by weight, such as at least 70% by weight, such as at least 80% by weight, such as at least 90% by weight, such as at least 95% by weight, such as at least 99% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of from about 0.01 μm to about 1000 μm, such as from about 0.05 μm to about 750 μm, such as from about 0.1 μm to about 500 μm, such as from about 0.25 μm to about 500 μm. In some embodiments, at least 50% by weight, such as at least 60% by weight, such as at least 70% by weight, such as at least 80% by weight, such as at least 90% by weight, such as at least 95% by weight, such as at least 99% by weight of the particles of any particulate material referenced herein have a particle size as measured by sieve analysis of from about 10 μm to about 400 μm, such as from about 50 μm to about 350 μm, such as from about 100 μm to about 350 μm, such as from about 200 μm to about 300 μm.
Preparation
In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure can provide methods of forming an oral composition with a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a relatively low water activity. As a non-limiting example, such methods can comprise combining at least one releasable material and at least one filler/carrier component with a polyol and/or other water substitute such that the polyol and/or other water substitute comprises about 25% by weight or greater of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition. Such methods can further comprise limiting a water content of the oral composition to a range wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.85 or less. In one embodiment, the polyol or other water substitute can be added in an amount such that the composition comprises about 25% to about 40% by weight of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition. In other embodiments, the methods can comprises limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 10% or less by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition, such as limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. In further embodiments, the method comprises limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.80 or less.
Configured for Oral Use
Provided herein is a product configured for oral use. The term “configured for oral use” as used herein means that the product is provided in a form such that during use, saliva in the mouth of the user causes one or more of the components of the mixture (e.g., flavoring agents and/or nicotine) to pass into the mouth of the user. In certain embodiments, the product is adapted to deliver releasable components to a user through mucous membranes in the user's mouth and, in some instances, said releasable component is an active ingredient (including, but not limited to, for example, nicotine) that can be absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth when the product is used.
Products or compositions configured for oral use as described herein may take various forms, including gels, pastilles, gums, lozenges, extrudates, powders, and pouches. Gels can be soft or hard. Certain products configured for oral use are in the form of pastilles. As used herein, the term “pastille” refers to a dissolvable oral product made by solidifying a liquid or gel mixture so that the final product is a somewhat hardened solid gel. The rigidity of the gel is highly variable. Certain products of the disclosure are in the form of solids. Certain products can exhibit, for example, one or more of the following characteristics: crispy, granular, chewy, syrupy, pasty, fluffy, smooth, and/or creamy. In certain embodiments, the desired textural property can be selected from the group consisting of adhesiveness, cohesiveness, density, dryness, fracturability, graininess, gumminess, hardness, heaviness, moisture absorption, moisture release, mouthcoating, roughness, slipperiness, smoothness, viscosity, wetness, and combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the product comprising the composition of the present disclosure is in the form of a mixture disposed within a moisture-permeable container (e.g., a water-permeable pouch). Such mixtures in the water-permeable pouch format are typically used by placing one pouch containing the mixture in the mouth of a human subject/user. Generally, the pouch is placed somewhere in the oral cavity of the user, for example under the lips, in the same way as moist snuff products are generally used. The pouch preferably is not chewed or swallowed. Exposure to saliva then causes some of the components of the mixture therein (e.g., flavoring agents and/or active ingredients, such as nicotine) to pass through e.g., the water-permeable pouch and provide the user with flavor and satisfaction, and the user is not required to spit out any portion of the mixture. After about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes, typically about 15 minutes to about 45 minutes, of use/enjoyment, substantial amounts of the mixture have been ingested by the human subject, and the pouch may be removed from the mouth of the human subject for disposal.
Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the mixture as disclosed herein and any other components noted above are combined within a moisture-permeable packet or pouch that acts as a container for use of the composition to provide a pouched product configured for oral use. Certain embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the FIGURE, and these described embodiments involve snus-type products having an outer pouch and containing a mixture as described herein. As explained in greater detail below, such embodiments are provided by way of example only, and the pouched products of the present disclosure can include the composition in other forms. The mixture/construction of such packets or pouches, such as the container pouch 102 in the embodiment illustrated in the FIGURE, may be varied. Referring to the FIGURE, there is shown a first embodiment of a pouched product 100. The pouched product 100 includes a moisture-permeable container in the form of a pouch 102, which contains a material 104 comprising a composition as described herein. The pouched product 100 may be an example of a product as described herein formed at least in part from the described compositions.
Suitable packets, pouches or containers of the type used for the manufacture of smokeless tobacco products are available under the tradenames CatchDry, Ettan, General, Granit, Goteborgs Rape, Grovsnus White, Metropol Kaktus, Mocca Anis, Mocca Mint, Mocca Wintergreen, Kicks, Probe, Prince, Skruf and TreAnkrare. The mixture may be contained in pouches and packaged, in a manner and using the types of components used for the manufacture of conventional snus types of products. The pouch provides a liquid-permeable container of a type that may be considered to be similar in character to the mesh-like type of material that is used for the construction of a tea bag. Components of the mixture readily diffuse through the pouch and into the mouth of the user.
An example pouch may be manufactured from materials, and in such a manner, such that during use by the user, the pouch undergoes a controlled dispersion or dissolution. Such pouch materials may have the form of a mesh, screen, perforated paper, permeable fabric, or the like. For example, pouch material manufactured from a mesh-like form of rice paper, or perforated rice paper, may dissolve in the mouth of the user. As a result, the pouch and mixture each may undergo complete dispersion within the mouth of the user during normal conditions of use, and hence the pouch and mixture both may be ingested by the user. Other examples of pouch materials may be manufactured using water dispersible film forming materials (e.g., binding agents such as alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, pullulan, and the like), as well as those materials in combination with materials such as ground cellulosics (e.g., fine particle size wood pulp). Preferred pouch materials, though water dispersible or dissolvable, may be designed and manufactured such that under conditions of normal use, a significant amount of the mixture contents permeate through the pouch material prior to the time that the pouch undergoes loss of its physical integrity. If desired, flavoring ingredients, disintegration aids, and other desired components, may be incorporated within, or applied to, the pouch material.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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