U.S. patent application number 10/322440 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-24 for new product and a method for its manufacture.
This patent application is currently assigned to SWEDISH MATCH NORTH EUROPE AB. Invention is credited to Arnarp, Jan, Hodin, Fredrik, Lundin, Jorgen.
Application Number | 20040118421 10/322440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32592993 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040118421 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hodin, Fredrik ; et
al. |
June 24, 2004 |
New product and a method for its manufacture
Abstract
The present invention provides a tobacco product, which gives a
high yield of taste and nicotine without chewing and has a pleasant
appearance, comprising a multi-layer (laminate) structure wherein
the product comprises at least one load layer and a construction
layer. Also provided is a method for manufacturing said tobacco
product comprising the following step: pressing at least one load
layer with a construction layer in a press apparatus.
Inventors: |
Hodin, Fredrik; (Ronninge,
SE) ; Lundin, Jorgen; (Upplands-Vasby, SE) ;
Arnarp, Jan; (Stockholm, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Assignee: |
SWEDISH MATCH NORTH EUROPE
AB
Stockholm
SE
|
Family ID: |
32592993 |
Appl. No.: |
10/322440 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/352 ;
131/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23L 33/175 20160801;
A24B 13/00 20130101; A24B 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/352 ;
131/347 |
International
Class: |
A24F 047/00 |
Claims
1. A tobacco composition comprising a multi-layer structure wherein
the composition comprises at least one load layer and a
construction layer.
2. A tobacco composition according to claim 1 wherein the
construction layer is either a backbone layer or a cosmetic
layer.
3. A tobacco composition according to claim 1 wherein the
composition comprises at least two load layers with an intermediate
construction layer, preferably a backbone layer.
4. A tobacco composition according to claim 1 wherein the
composition comprises at least two construction layers, preferably
cosmetic layers, with an intermediate load layer.
5. A tobacco composition according to claim 1 wherein the load
layers comprise a load layer composition.
6. A tobacco composition according to claim 5 wherein the load
layer composition comprises tobacco powder, filler, a plasticizer,
a solvent and a gum base.
7. A tobacco composition according to claim 6 wherein the load
layer composition comprises tobacco powder, titanium dioxide,
glycerol, water and chewing gum-base.
8. A tobacco composition according to claim 2 wherein the backbone
layer comprises a construction layer composition or a solid fiber
material.
9. A tobacco composition according to claim 2 wherein the cosmetic
layer comprises a construction layer composition or plastic or
paper material or a combination thereof.
10. A tobacco composition according to claim 2 wherein the
construction layer composition comprises a gum base, and optionally
tobacco powder, a plasticizer and a solvent.
11. A tobacco composition according to claim 8 wherein the
construction layer composition comprises a chewing gum base, and
optionally tobacco powder, glycerol and water.
12. A tobacco composition according to any one of the preceding
claims comprising additionally a lipophilic softener.
13. A tobacco composition according to any one of the preceding
claims contained in cloth, wherein said cloth preferably comprises
heat-sealable non-woven.
14. A method for manufacturing a tobacco composition according to
claim 1 comprising the following step: pressing at least one load
layer with a construction layer in a press apparatus.
15. A method for manufacturing a tobacco composition according to
claim 3 comprising the following step: pressing at least two load
layers, comprising a load layer composition, with an intermediate
construction layer in the form of a backbone layer, comprising a
construction layer composition, in a press apparatus.
16. A method for manufacturing a tobacco composition according to
claim 4 comprising the following step: pressing at least two
construction layers in the form of at least two cosmetic layers,
each comprising a construction layer composition, with an
intermediate load layer, comprising a load layer composition, in a
press apparatus.
17. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the load
layer composition has been manufactured using a method comprising
the following steps: a) mixing tobacco powder, filler, plasticizer,
and the solvent, b) heating the mixture; and c) adding a gum
base.
18. Method according to any one of claims 15 to 16 wherein the
construction layer composition has been manufactured using a method
comprising the following steps: a) heating gum base to a suitable
consistency mixture; and optionally b) adding the gum base to a
mixed solution comprising tobacco powder, a plasticizer and a
solvent
19. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein one or
more sweeteners, pH adjusting agents, colours or flavours are
added.
20. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the load
layers are pressed repeatedly after folding, preferably more than
30 times, before the backbone layer is added to the load layers to
form the multi-layered tobacco product.
21. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein a
lubricant is distributed on the load layers before each folding,
preferably the load layers are sprinkled with cornstarch before
each folding.
22. Method according to any one of claims 14-21 wherein the tobacco
composition is coated with a coating layer or is patterned.
23. Method according to any one of claims 14-21 wherein the tobacco
composition subsequently is punched out in pieces for oral use,
preferably essentially circular pieces.
24. Method according to claim 23 wherein the out-punched tobacco
composition is put on a carrier, preferably a strip of cloth, most
preferred a cloth comprising heat-sealable non-woven, and
optionally subsequently the cloth is sealed, preferably using
heat.
25. Method according to claim 24 wherein a further carrier,
preferably a strip of cloth, most preferred a cloth comprising
heat-sealable non-woven, is added on the other opposite side of the
out-punched tobacco composition, and optionally subsequently the
carriers are sealed together, preferably using heat.
26. A tobacco composition obtainable by a method according to any
one of claims 14-23.
27. A container comprising one or more tobacco compositions
according to any one of the claims 1 to 14 and 26, wherein
preferably said container is a can with a lid.
28. A tobacco composition according to any one of the claims 1-14
and 26 presented in the form of a spool, coil or reel.
Description
[0001] This invention concerns the technical field of
tobacco-containing products, especially tobacco-containing
products, which give a high yield of taste and nicotine without
chewing and, which gives a pleasant appearance. In particular, a
laminated tobacco product and a method for its manufacture are
disclosed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are gum-containing tobacco products previously known.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,498, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,845,647 there are chewable gum-containing tobacco products
disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,392 there is also a
gum-containing tobacco product disclosed which is chewable.
[0003] The appearance of products presently on the market can still
however be improved. Tobacco-containing products for use in the
mouth (oral use) presently on the market also often need to be
chewed in order to give a high yield of taste and nicotine.
[0004] Accordingly there is a need for tobacco products, which give
a high yield of taste and nicotine without chewing, and offer a
good appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention solves one or more of the above
problems by providing according to a first aspect of the invention
a tobacco product, which gives a high yield of taste and nicotine
without chewing and has a pleasant appearance, comprising a
multi-layer (laminate) structure wherein the product comprises at
least one load layer and a construction layer. Also provided,
according to a second aspect of the present invention, is a method
for manufacturing a tobacco product according to the first aspect
of the invention, comprising the following step: pressing at least
one load layer with a construction layer in a press apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "tobacco product" or "tobacco composition" (used
interchangeably in the present description) embrace any composition
or product comprising tobacco in any form.
[0007] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "load layer" embrace any layer comprising an essential
amount of tobacco raw material.
[0008] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "construction layer" embrace a backbone layer and a
cosmetic layer. The backbone layer may comprise an essential amount
of tobacco raw material or it may lack tobacco.
[0009] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "tobacco raw material" or "tobacco" (used
interchangeably in the present description) embrace any tobacco
type available or mixtures thereof. Examples of tobacco types are:
Rustika, Va., Burley, Oriental and Kentucky. Preferably the tobacco
is tobacco in powder form. The tobacco powder is preferably
obtained by breaking up, drying and feeding raw tobacco into a
grinder. The ground (or cut) tobacco is then sieved into three
particle size fractions: coarse, medium and fine. Pre-set
quantities of the three fractions may be fed into a mixer silo
where the tobacco flour is mixed. After blending, the tobacco flour
is fed into a storage silo, from which flour may automatically be
taken for processing into a tobacco product. Each type of tobacco
flour is preferably kept in a separate silo. The tobacco may also
be flue cured, air cured, sun cured or fire cured.
[0010] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "load layer composition" embraces any composition
suitable for use in the load layers of the multi-layer tobacco
product according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Preferably said load layer composition comprises tobacco powder
(flour), a filler (texturizer), a plasticizer, a solvent and a gum
base. The load layer composition may also comprise sweeteners, pH
adjusting agents, colours and flavours or combinations thereof, and
if the amount of additives is large it may be necessary to reduce
the amount of filler or tobacco powder to keep the plastic
properties.
[0011] It is intended throughout the present description that the
expression "construction layer composition" embraces any
composition suitable for use in the backbone layer or in the
cosmetic layer of the multi-layer tobacco product according to the
first aspect of the present invention. Preferably said construction
layer composition comprises a gum base, and optionally tobacco
powder, a plasticizer and a solvent. The construction layer
composition may also comprise sweeteners, pH adjusting agents,
colours and flavours or combinations thereof, and if the amount of
additives is large it may be necessary to reduce the amount of
tobacco powder to keep the plastic properties.
[0012] The backbone layer may comprise a construction layer
composition or a solid fiber material such as woven.
[0013] The cosmetic layer may comprise a construction layer
composition or a plastic or paper material or a combination
thereof.
[0014] The filler (texturizer) may be selected from the group
comprising the following compounds: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide,
calcium carbonate, alumina, alumiminium hydroxide, alumiminium
oxide and magnesium silicate or combinations thereof. Preferably
the filler is titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2).
[0015] The plasticizer may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic (i.e.
lipophilic). Examples of hydrophilic plasticizers are glycerol,
propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol and combinations thereof.
Preferably glycerol is used as plasticizer. Examples of hydrophobic
plasticizers (softeners) are lecithin, cephalin, Tweens, Spans,
glyceryl monostearate and beeswax or combinations thereof. Fats may
also be used as hydrophobic plasticizers.
[0016] The solvent is preferably water or ethanol, or a combination
thereof. Most preferred water is used.
[0017] The gum base is preferably a chewing gum base. An example of
a chewing gum base is Smily 2 toco Pellets obtainable from Gum Base
Company S. p. A., Italy.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the load layers may be internally
multi-layered. The load layer composition is generally present in
the form of a dough when its components have been mixed and then
the composition is processed in a press, preferably in a roller
press such as a pasta machine. Then the load layer may be rolled,
sprinkled with cornstarch or similar and folded. Then again the
load layer is pressed again. This may be repeated for at least 30
times, to a thinner and thinner plate. The end thickness is
preferably about 1 mm.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the composition comprises at least two load
layers with an intermediate backbone layer.
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the composition comprises at least two
cosmetic layers with an intermediate load layer.
[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the backbone layer may be internally
multi-layered or in the form of a mono-layer. The construction
layer composition may be processed in a press, preferably in a
roller press such as a pasta machine. Preferably the backbone layer
has a thickness which is less than 0,5 mm.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the load layers comprise a load layer
composition.
[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the load layer composition comprises tobacco
powder, filler, a plasticizer, a solvent and a gum base.
[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the load layer composition comprises tobacco
powder, titanium dioxide, glycerol, water and chewing gum base.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the backbone layer comprise a construction
layer composition.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the construction layer composition comprises
a gum base, and optionally tobacco powder, a plasticizer and a
solvent.
[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the construction layer composition comprises
a chewing gum base, and optionally tobacco powder, glycerol and
water.
[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the tobacco product comprises additionally a
lipophilic softener.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of
the present invention the tobacco product is contained in cloth,
wherein said cloth preferably comprises heat sealable nonwoven.
[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the method for manufacturing a tobacco
composition comprises the following step: pressing at least two
load layers, comprising a load layer composition, with an
intermediate construction layer in the form of a backbone layer,
comprising a construction layer composition, in a press
apparatus.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the method for manufacturing a tobacco
composition comprises the following step: pressing at least two
construction layers in the form of at least two cosmetic layers,
each comprising a construction layer composition, with an
intermediate load layer, comprising a load layer composition, in a
press apparatus.
[0032] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the load layer composition has been
manufactured using a method comprising the following steps:
[0033] a) mixing tobacco powder, filler, plasticizer, and the
solvent,
[0034] b) heating the mixture; and
[0035] c) adding a gum base.
[0036] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the construction layer composition has been
manufactured using a method comprising the following steps:
[0037] a) heating gum base to a mixture with a suitable
consistency; and optionally
[0038] b) adding the gum base to a mixed solution comprising
tobacco powder, a plasticizer and a solvent.
[0039] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention, one or more sweeteners, pH adjusting agents,
colours or flavours are added.
[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the load layers are pressed repeatedly after
folding, preferably more than 30 times, before the backbone layer
is added to the load layers to form the multi-layered tobacco
product.
[0041] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention a lubricant is distributed on the load layers
before each folding, preferably the load layers are sprinkled with
cornstarch before each folding. The lubricant may be potato fluor,
talc or cornstarch, preferably cornstarch.
[0042] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the tobacco product is coated with a coating
layer or is patterned. A method of achieving a patterning effect on
the tobacco product surface and therefore a further preferred
embodiment of the invention, comprises continuously printing the
tobacco product with a coating substance, leaving gaps on the
tobacco product that may correspond to marks, logotypes, texts or
anagrams, thereby for printing of the tobacco product. A coloring
agent may further penetrate through the outer layer of the tobacco
product at such open points and not on the remaining surface that
would be protected by the coating substance. Printing may thus be
based upon applying the coating substance as a printed background,
leaving the foreground or printed characters without this coating
substance, and hence when the tobacco product with the layers
inside undergoes coloring operations, it will only be penetrated
through areas without the coating substance, leaving the surface of
such tobacco product marked by the areas without coating
substance.
[0043] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the tobacco product is subsequently punched
out in pieces for oral use, preferably essentially circular pieces.
The pieces are further preferably in size for use in the mouth,
most preferred under the upper lip of a human being. If the pieces
are circular they may preferably have a diameter of approximately 7
mm.
[0044] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention the out-punched tobacco product is put on a
carrier, preferably a strip of cloth, most preferred a cloth
comprising heat-sealable non-woven, and optionally subsequently the
cloth is sealed, preferably using heat.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention a further carrier, preferably a strip of
cloth, most preferred a cloth comprising heat-sealable non-woven,
is added on the other opposite side of the out-punched tobacco
product, thus forming a sandwich with the tobacco product in the
middle, and optionally subsequently the two carriers are sealed
together, preferably using heat. The sealing may create a quadratic
seal around each tobacco product (composition). The pieces (i.e.
the tobacco product) with a diameter of approximately 7 mm, may be
put between two strips of heat-sealable non-woven with a width of
approximately 12 mm and sealed.
[0046] According to a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of
the present invention a tobacco product obtainable by a method
according to the second aspect is provided.
[0047] According to a preferred embodiment of the first and second
aspect of the invention a container comprising one or more tobacco
products, wherein preferably said container is a can with a lid, is
provided.
[0048] According to a preferred embodiment of the first and second
aspect of the invention i.e. one or more tobacco products are
presented in the form of a spool, coil or reel.
[0049] Generally described the present invention provides according
to the first aspect of the invention a tobacco product stabilized
with hydrophobic plasticizers and constructed of more than one
layer. The layers function to increase the nicotine yield or keep
the nicotine yield high, hold the construction and improve the
appearance. The present invention is constructed to function
without chewing. The construction (the tobacco composition) will
essentially be destroyed and the product will break up in pieces if
it is chewed. The preferred use is under the upper lip of a human
being. The product is essentially not soluble, just nicotine and
taste are extracted from the invention when used in the mouth. In a
non-chewing product nicotine release depends on the amount of
nicotine and on the size of the surface exposed to saliva. In the
present invention steps are taken to expand the surface. The
product (the tobacco composition according to the first aspect) is
made of thin layers loosely kept together, permitting saliva to wet
the layers from between. The layers may preferably contain little
plasticizers to promote some cracking, allowing salivia to
penetrate the structure. To improve the appearance, "the stay in
place performance" or the initial taste the exterior layers may
contain other mixture, components or material compared to the inner
ones. For example less tobacco, which makes it easier to colour.
Stay in place improvement may be coating, "pattern" as set out
above or a non-woven outer layer.
[0050] Preferred features of each aspect of the invention are as
for each of the other aspects mutatis mutandis. The prior art
documents mentioned herein are incorporated to the fullest extent
permitted by law. The invention is further described in the
following examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention
in any way. Embodiments of the present invention are described in
more detail with the aid of examples of embodiments, the only
purpose of which is to illustrate the invention and are in no way
intended to limit its extent.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0051] This is a product for use under the upper lip. It can be
made in strips to let the consumer decide the size or in portion
pieces with different shapes.
1 25% titanium dioxide 30% tobacco powder
[0052] To form the invention all dry ingredients were first mixed.
If the addition of sweeteners, pH adjusting agents, colours,
flavours and others were large it was necessary to reduce the
amount of titanium oxide or tobacco powder to keep the plastic
properties.
2 11% glycerol 4% water
[0053] All wet components were stirred in.
3 25% chewing gum base (Smily 2 toco Pellets from Gum Base Company
S.p.A., Italy)
[0054] The gum base was heated to about 70.degree. C. before it was
added. This mixture should be mixed to a smooth dough. Depending on
the size of the batch, it might be necessary to heat the mixture.
The dough was processed in a pasta machine (Atlas, manufactured by
Marcato); rolled, sprinkled with cornstarch and folded. This was
repeated for at least 30 times, to a thinner and thinner plate. The
end thickness should be about 1 mm. This plate was the load layer.
A backbone with a thickness less than 0,5 mm was made of gum base
in a pasta machine. A backbone layer was put between two load
layers and was rolled in the pasta machine to a product plate with
a thickness of about 2 mm.
[0055] The pressure is critical by the use of the pasta machine--if
it is to high it will damage or destroy the layers.
[0056] The product plate can be coated or patterned before the
product is cut or punched out from it.
Example 2
[0057] This is punched pieces of the invention in a spool of
non-woven. The product is easy to keep in place, it lets the
customer decide dose and it has a clean look.
4 53% tobacco powder
[0058] To form the invention all dry ingredients were first mixed.
If the addition of sweeteners, pH adjusting agents, colours,
flavours and others are large it may be necessary to reduce the
amount of tobacco powder to keep the plastic properties.
5 16% glycerol 9% water
[0059] All wet components were stirred in.
6 16% chewing gum base
[0060] The gum base was heated to about 70.degree. C. before it is
added. This mixture should be mixed to a smooth dough. The dough
was processed in a pasta machine to make a thin plate. This dough
is hard to get through the pasta machine, but no layers are needed.
A plate with a thickness of 12-15 mm is sufficiently. This is the
load layer. The exterior layers (cosmetic layers) were made
according to the procedure in Example 1, but when a smooth dough
was reached no layers were built up instead the dough was rolled to
a very thin plate less then 0,5 mm thick. The load layer was put
between two exterior layers and was rolled in the pasta machine to
a product plate with a thickness of about 2 mm.
[0061] The product plate can be coated before the product is
punched out in circular pieces about 7 mm in diameter. The pieces
were put between two strips of heat-sealable non-woven with a width
of 12 mm and sealed.
[0062] Various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above but a person skilled in the art realizes further
minor alterations, which would fall into the scope of the present
invention. The breadth and scope of the present invention should
not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments,
but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims
and their equivalents. For example, any of the above-noted methods
and products can be combined with other known methods and products.
Other aspects, advantages and modifications within the scope of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the
invention pertains.
* * * * *