U.S. patent application number 13/060221 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for tobacco substitute.
Invention is credited to Robert S. Luzenberg, JR..
Application Number | 20110139166 13/060221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41707683 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110139166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luzenberg, JR.; Robert S. |
June 16, 2011 |
Tobacco Substitute
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a smokeless tobacco substitute
which may reduce and/or alleviate many of the health problems
associated with the use of cigarettes and conventional smokeless
tobacco products. Further, methods of manufacturing and packaging
the smokeless tobacco substitute are also disclosed. Finally a
method of using the smokeless tobacco substitute to assist a user
in reducing or ceasing the use of cigarettes and conventional
smokeless tobacco products is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Luzenberg, JR.; Robert S.;
(Odenville, AL) |
Family ID: |
41707683 |
Appl. No.: |
13/060221 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2009/054667 |
371 Date: |
February 22, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61090828 |
Aug 21, 2008 |
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61090834 |
Aug 21, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/359 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 15/16 20130101;
A24B 13/00 20130101; A24F 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/359 |
International
Class: |
A24B 15/00 20060101
A24B015/00 |
Claims
1. A smokeless tobacco substitute device comprising a material
capable of absorbing a liquid component, retaining the liquid
component and releasing at least a portion the liquid component
when placed in a mouth of a user, wherein the liquid component
comprises nicotine, a nicotine substitute, a Nicotiana extract, a
flavoring or a combination of any of the foregoing.
2-54. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a tobacco
substitute. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a
smokeless tobacco substitute, uses thereof and methods of
manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The U.S. Surgeon General has determined that cigarette
smoking is a major risk factor in coronary heart disease and is the
cause of approximately 30% of all cancer deaths. Smokeless tobacco
products also lead to health problems for those consuming them.
However, it is very difficult to give up the use of tobacco
products, and any cessation therapy has to deal with both the
physiological and the psychological dependence on the tobacco
product and nicotine. To date, the best results have been obtained
with nicotine chewing gum, which achieves direct delivery to the
systemic circulation by buccal absorption. However, chewing gum
formulations taste bad, may lead to mouth ulcers and heartburn,
cannot be used effectively by denture wearers, and depend entirely
on the patient following the prescribed chewing regime.
[0003] As with other addictions, addiction to nicotine encompasses
two key components. One component is a physiological addiction to
nicotine itself. The physiological addiction is mediated through
adaptive changes in specific brain nicotinic acetylcholine
receptors that lead to typical withdrawal symptoms upon abstaining
from nicotine. A second component is a complex behavioral
component. The behavior component is linked to learned internal
cues associated with various positive or negative emotional
feelings tied to tobacco use or abstinence.
[0004] The physiological addiction to nicotine is significant. The
American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (third edition, revised) lists the
officially recognized diagnostic criteria for nicotine withdrawal
as the presence of at least four of the following signs: craving
for nicotine, irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty
concentrating, restlessness, decreased heart rate and increased
appetite or weight gain.
[0005] In order to minimize the risk associated with cigarette use
and the restriction on the use of cigarettes in public areas, many
smokers are turning from traditional cigarettes to smokeless
tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco products are generally
recognized to be a safer alternative to smoking. However, the use
of smokeless tobacco products also carry certain risks as discussed
herein. In response to the foregoing, tobacco companies have
increased the marketing for smokeless tobacco products.
[0006] Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) showed that among adults aged 18 and older in 2004, about 3%
of people (6% of men and less than 1% of women) were current users
of smokeless tobacco. Rates among young people, however, are
higher. According to the CDC's 2005 survey, about 14% of male high
school students and 2% of female high school students were using
smokeless tobacco. The CDC 2004 Tobacco Survey reported that, of
middle school students, 4% of the boys and 2% of the girls reported
using smokeless tobacco at least once in the 30 days before the
survey. Teens that use smokeless tobacco are more likely to smoke
later. Therefore, the use of smokeless tobacco products is on the
rise.
[0007] Numerous smokeless tobacco products are commonly available
today. Examples include (i) loose oral snuff, where the user picks
a snuff dose by his/her fingers from an open package, (ii) pouches
containing loose oral snuff, (iii) chewing tobacco, (iv) snus (a
form of moist snuff) and (v) tobacco lozenges. The use of smokeless
tobacco in general parlance is loosely referred to as "chewing,"
although the term "dipping" is particularly associated with the use
of snuff. The use of smokeless tobacco entails the placing of a wad
of leaf tobacco or a pinch of snuff in the gingival buccal area of
the mouth cavity and sucking on the "quid". The term "quid" is
given to a portion of smokeless tobacco which is held in the mouth
for chewing or dipping. Many persons chew or dip during most waking
hours, and some persons keep a quid in place for 24 hours a
day.
[0008] For many years, it has been demonstrated that tobacco use is
harmful, including tobacco exposure through the use of smokeless
tobacco. Cured tobacco is known to contain a number of
nitrosamines, including the harmful carcinogens
N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and
4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The use of
smokeless tobacco is also associated with other deleterious effects
on the body, e.g., the skin, teeth. Among the health problems that
have been identified with the use of smokeless tobacco are: (i)
oral (mouth) cancer, (ii) pancreatic cancer, (iii) addiction to
nicotine, (iv) leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can lead
to cancer), (v) receding gums (gums slowly shrink away from around
the teeth), (vi) bone loss around the roots of the teeth, (vii)
abrasion (scratching and wearing down) of teeth, (viii) staining of
teeth and (ix) bad breath.
[0009] Smokeless tobacco may also play a role in heart disease and
high blood pressure. Men who switched from cigarettes to snuff or
chewing tobacco in a large American Cancer Society study had higher
death rates from heart disease, stroke, cancer of the mouth and
lung, and all causes of death combined than fowler smokers who
stopped using all tobacco products.
[0010] Therefore, the use of smokeless tobacco products is not a
risk-free substitute for smoking. However, despite the knowledge of
the potential harm from tobacco products, individuals continue to
use tobacco products and many become addicted to these
products.
[0011] It is therefore desirable to provide a smokeless tobacco
substitute which does not cause the deleterious health problems
enumerated herein for use as a substitute for cigarettes and
smokeless tobacco and a method of making the same. It is
furthermore desirable to provide such a substitutionary product
which simulates the appearance, texture, tactile response, and mode
of use of genuine smokeless tobacco. Other objects and uses of the
present disclosure and methods herein are obvious to those skilled
in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] It should be noted that identical features in different
drawings are shown with the same reference numeral.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of the smokeless
tobacco substitute.
[0014] FIGS. 2a-2d show cross sectional views of exemplary
configurations of the smokeless tobacco substitute. FIG. 2a shows
an embodiment comprising a single portion of material; FIG. 2b
shows an embodiment having an outer portion and an inner portion;
FIG. 2c shows an embodiment having an outer portion and three inner
portions; FIG. 2d shows an embodiment having an outer portion and
an inner portion comprised of different materials.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an exemplary
configurations of the smokeless tobacco substitute. FIG. 3 shows an
embodiment comprising a hollow outer portion containing a
non-liquid component.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the placement of the
smokeless tobacco substitute placed in a user's mouth.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The present disclosure provides a tobacco substitute which
may reduce and/or alleviate many of the health problems associated
with the use of cigarettes and conventional smokeless tobacco
products. Further, methods of manufacturing and packaging the
tobacco substitute are also disclosed. Finally a method of using
the tobacco substitute to assist a user in reducing or ceasing the
use of cigarettes and conventional smokeless tobacco products is
also disclosed.
Tobacco Substitute Device One embodiment, of the tobacco substitute
of the current disclosure is demonstrated generally in FIG. 1. In a
specific embodiment, the tobacco substitute is a smokeless tobacco
substitute. With reference to FIG. 1, a smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 has been developed comprising a compositional
material that is capable of absorbing one or more liquid
components, retaining all or a portion of said liquid(s) for a
period of time, and releasing all or a portion of said liquid(s) at
a desired time and/or rate. Such release may be a controlled
release as described herein.
[0018] In one embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute contains
one or more constituents present in a tobacco product; this
embodiment may be referred to as a harm reduction device when the
concentration of one or more constituents of a tobacco product that
are known to cause harm are reduced as compared to a tobacco
product. In another embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute
may lack the components of a tobacco product other than the
presence of nicotine, a nicotine substitute, flavoring components
and/or other constituents that that are generally recognized in the
art as safe for consumption by a user; in a specific embodiment,
the smokeless tobacco substitute may lack the constituents of the
tobacco plant other than the presence of nicotine.
[0019] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the smokeless
tobacco substitute is designed to appear similar to a pouch tobacco
product (one example of a pouch tobacco product is a Skoal Bandit).
In such an embodiment (illustrated in FIG. 1), the smokeless
tobacco substitute 10 may be a substantially rectangular pouch
familiar to users of smokeless tobacco. In this particular
embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 includes a pair of
long sides 12 and short sides 14 thereby forming the substantially
rectangular shape. The long 12 and/or short sides 14 may be
modified to simulate certain characteristics of commercially
available pouch products. For example, the smokeless tobacco
substitute may be modified to comprise crimps or similar structures
(designated as 16) such as may be formed as a result of the normal
manufacturing process for the commercially available pouch product.
Structures 16 may be present on the long 12 and/or short 14 sides.
Furthermore, the smokeless tobacco substitute may be contained,
either partially or entirely, within a porous covering similar to
commercially available pouch tobacco products. The covering may
also contain crimps or similar structures (as described above) such
as may be formed as a result of the normal manufacturing process
for the commercially available pouch product. In an alternate
embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is designed to
appear similar to a snus product.
[0020] In addition, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may be
manufactured to resemble other articles that may commonly be placed
in the mouth of a user, such as a piece of gum (for example, a
breath freshening gum such as but not limited to, Eclipse brand gum
having a square or rectangular configuration) or a mint having a
cylindrical configuration with a generally oval cross section.
Other shapes and configurations are also possible as the materials
from which the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is manufactured are
pliable or can be manufactured into desired shapes and
configurations. In one embodiment, the goal of the present
disclosure is to provide the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 in a
form that is familiar to the public so as to allow a user of the
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 to use the device without
attracting attention that may occur when a tobacco product is
used.
[0021] In the foregoing embodiments, such structures may be formed
by any method, including without limitation, casting, molding, form
molding, mechanical crimping and/or heat assisted crimping; other
techniques as is known in the art for the materials described
herein may also be used. The dimensions may be selected to provide
a comfortable placement in the mouth of a user.
[0022] In an alternate embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute
10 may have other configurations that do not resemble or mimic
commercially available products. In such embodiments, the smokeless
tobacco substitute 10 may have a cylindrical, circular or polygonal
(pentagon, hexagon etc.) cross section. Other cross sectional
shapes may also be used. In a particular embodiment, the shape of
the smokeless tobacco substitute is designed to conform to the
contours of a user's oral cavity.
[0023] The smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may be manufactured from
a variety of materials. Materials suitable for this purpose
include, but are not limited to, cellulose esters such as cellulose
acetate (including triacetate and diacetate forms), a porous
plastic, polyamides such as a nylon (including but not limited to
nylon 66 or nylon 6), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefins and
cellulose ethers. Combinations of the foregoing may also be used.
In one embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is
manufactured from cellulose acetate. In another embodiment, the
smokeless tobacco substitute is manufactured from a porous plastic
material described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,541,055 and 6,024,012, which
are herein incorporated by reference for such teaching. In still a
further embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute is
manufactured from a combination of cellulose acetate and porous
plastic material.
[0024] The smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may be manufactured from
a single material having uniform properties, such as but not
limited to, the rate of liquid release when the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 is placed in the mouth of a user. In one embodiment,
the rate of liquid release is determined, at least in part, by the
porosity of the material from which the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 is manufactured. In such an embodiment, the smokeless
tobacco substitute 10 may comprise a variety of configurations. In
one embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 comprises a
portion 20 (illustrated in FIG. 2A). The portion 20 may have a
cavity 22 if desired. The cavity 22, when present, may be empty or
may contain an additional ingredient or ingredients; the additional
ingredients may be in the form of a non-liquid component as
described herein. The cavity 22 may extend completely or partially
along a dimension of the portion 20. In one embodiment, the
ingredient(s) are at least one of those ingredients discussed
herein, including flavoring components. The cavity may also serve
as a conduit to increase the flow of saliva from the users mouth to
the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 to favor release of the at
least one liquid component. The cavity 22 may also speed loading of
the liquid component into the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 (as
discussed herein).
[0025] In an alternate embodiment (illustrated in FIG. 2B), the
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 comprises an outer portion and one
or more inner portions. In FIG. 2B, the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 is shown comprising an outer portion 24 and a single
inner portion 26. The outer and inner portions may be used to
absorb a distinct liquid component or may absorb the same liquid
component. For example, the outer component may contain a mix of
flavoring agents (as discussed herein) and the one or more inner
portions may contain nicotine, a nicotine substitute or a Nicotiana
extract. As shown in FIG. 2B, the inner component 26 may have a
cavity 22, for the purposes discussed above. As shown in FIG. 2C,
the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may comprise more than one
inner portion. In FIG. 2C, three inner portions (32a-c) are shown
surrounded by an outer portion 30; more or fewer inner portions may
be present as desired. One or more of the inner portions 32a-c or
the outer portion 30 may contain a cavity, designated 34 and 36,
respectively, for the purposes discussed above.
[0026] Alternatively, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may be
manufactured from a single material differing in at least one
property, or more than one material differing in at least one
property. The differing property may be the rate of liquid release
when the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is placed in the mouth of
a user. In this embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may
comprise an outer portion and one or more inner portions as shown
in FIGS. 2B and 2C. In another embodiment, the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 may comprise an outer portion of a first material and
an inner portion of a second material. The first and second
material may differ in at least one property, such as the rate of
liquid release when the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is placed
in the mouth of a user. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG.
2D. FIG. 2D shows the outer portion 40 manufactured from a first
material surrounding, at least partially, an inner portion 42
manufactured from a second material. In a specific embodiment, the
outer portion is cellulose acetate and the inner portion is a
porous plastic material as described above.
[0027] In still a further embodiment, when the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 contains one or more cavities as described, the
cavity may contain a non-liquid component. The non-liquid component
may be in the form of a powder, paste or slurry or may be in the
form of a dry or wet material. The non-liuid component may be
contained within the smokeless tobacco substitute 10, such as by
inclusion in a porous membrane or pouch. In one embodiment, the
material is a finely divided tobacco material. The tobacco material
may be generated from tobacco leaves as is known in the art and may
be flavored as is known in the art. In such an embodiment, the
outer portion may be manufactured from the materials discussed
herein. In one embodiment, the outer material is cellulose acetate.
In such an embodiment, the outer portion may contain one or more of
the liquid components described herein. Such a liquid component may
contain additional flavoring agents, additional nicotine or a
nicotine substitute or other agents as described herein. In such an
embodiment, the addition of the agents described above may allow
the lowering of the tobacco content of the device, while still
providing the user the cessation of a tobacco product.
[0028] FIG. 3 provides an exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 3, the
outer portion is designated 50 and surrounds a non-liquid component
52. As stated above, the non-liquid component may be a finely
divided tobacco product. In such an embodiment, the smokeless
tobacco substitute would provide the user with the sensation of a
tobacco product, with the added benefits of additional flavoring or
other agents described herein and be a safer alternative to
commercially available tobacco products.
[0029] In such embodiments, each of the inner and/or outer portions
may contain the same liquid component or a different liquid
component. The rate of liquid release may be selected such that
when at least one of the inner or outer portions contain different
liquid components, the rate of release of such liquid components
may be varied. In one embodiment, the density of the material
comprising the inner and/or outer portions is varied to impact the
rate of liquid release. For example, the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 may have an outer portion of cellulose acetate having
a Dpf of 200 and an inner portion of cellulose acetate having a Dpf
of 5. In this embodiment, the rate of liquid release would be
greater from the outer portion than the inner portion. In a
particular embodiment, the inner portions are selected to have a
slower rate of liquid release to provide a longer lasting impact to
the user.
[0030] In the embodiments described above, when the outer and inner
portions absorb a different liquid component, they may absorb the
liquid component separately and then be assembled together as
shown. In an alternate embodiment, a part of the inner or outer
portion may extend beyond the other and allow for preferential
uptake of a desired liquid component. As would be known in the art,
when the outer and inner portions absorb distinct liquid
components, some intermingling of the components may occur during
loading or during storage of the device 10.
[0031] In one embodiment, the material(s) comprising the smokeless
tobacco substitute 10 is cellulose acetate and has a denier per
filament (Dpf) value of between about 1 and about 1,000, between
about 100 and about 500, between about 500 and about 1000, between
about 250 and about 750, between about 100 and about 250, between
about 50 and about 100 or between about 1 and about 100. In
embodiments where the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is
manufactured from a porous plastic material, the rate of liquid
release may be determined by the size of the pores contained in the
porous plastic material. In one embodiment, the pores are from
about 2 to about 500 microns, from about 5 to 400 microns or about
10 to 100 microns.
[0032] The embodiments discussed above can be designed or modified
to appear similar to a pouch tobacco product as discussed
above.
[0033] The material from which the smokeless tobacco substitute 10
is manufactured may be selected on the basis of the rate of liquid
release when the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is placed in the
mouth of a user, the amount of liquid capable of being absorbed by
the material, the ability of the material to conform to the
contours of the mouth of the user, the feel of the material when
placed in the mouth of the user or a combination of the
foregoing.
[0034] The smokeless tobacco substitute 10 absorbs at least one
liquid component and retains at least a portion of the liquid
component and releases at least a portion of the liquid component
at a desired time and/or rate. Therefore, the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 is provided as a wet product. A wet product is
defined as a product containing at least 30% moisture content. In
contrast, most of the pouch smokeless containing products currently
available are provided as dry products, with a moisture content
less than 15%. The lack of moisture in commercially available pouch
smokeless tobacco products leads to a drying out of the product
during storage while awaiting sale to a user, making the product
unsuitable for use. This disadvantage is not present with the
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 of the present disclosure since the
device will retain the moisture during storage.
[0035] A variety of liquid components may be used in conjunction
with the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 of the present disclosure.
In one embodiment, the liquid component is designed to mimic the
flavor of a tobacco product, such as a smokeless tobacco
product.
[0036] In one embodiment, the liquid component lacks the
constituents present in a tobacco plant, except possibly nicotine.
In another embodiment, the liquid component lack the components of
a tobacco product other than the presence of nicotine, a nicotine
substitute, flavoring components and/or other constituents that
that are generally recognized in the art as safe for consumption by
a user. In such embodiments, the liquid component may be designed
to mimic the flavor of a tobacco product, such as a smokeless
tobacco product. In a specific embodiment, such a liquid component
contains nicotine and/or a nicotine substitute. The term "nicotine
substitute" refers to a compound capable of binding a receptor to
which nicotine binds in the human body, such as the nicotinic
acetylcholine receptor. A nicotine substitute as used herein does
not include nicotine. Examples of such nicotine substitutes
include, but are not limited to, metabolites of nicotine in the
subject (such as but not limited to continine) lobeline, arecoline,
isoarecolone, anabasine, cytosine, bupropion, polacrilex and
nicotine bitartrate. The foregoing listing of compounds includes
the free compounds, salts thereof and analogues thereof that
exhibit similar properties.
[0037] In one embodiment, the liquid component contains nicotine.
In another embodiment, the liquid component contains a nicotine
substitute. In an alternate embodiment, the liquid component
contains nicotine and a nicotine substitute. In still another
embodiment, the liquid component contains neither nicotine nor a
nicotine substitute.
[0038] In an alternate embodiment, the liquid component contains a
liquid tobacco extract extracted from the leaves, flowers, roots,
stems or a combination thereof of any member of the genus
Nicotiana. Exemplary species include N. rustica and N. tabacum
(including but not limited to varieties and/or cultivars designated
LA B21, LN KY171, TI 1406, Basma, Galpao, Perique, Beinhart 1000-1,
and Petico). Other species include N. acaulis, N. acuminata, N.
acuminata var. multiflora, N. africana, N. alata, N. amplexicaulis,
N. arentsii, N. attenuata, N. benavidesii, N. benthamiana, N.
bigelovii, N. bonariensis, N. cavicola, N. clevelandii, N.
cordifolia, N. corymbosa, N. debneyi, N. excelsior, N. forgetiana,
N. fragrans, N. glauca, N. glutinosa, N. goodspeedii, N. gossei, N.
hybrid, N. ingulba, N. kawakamii, N. knightiana, N. langsdorffii,
N. linearis, N. longiflora, N. maritima, N. megalosiphon, N.
miersii, N. noctiflora, N. nudicaulis, N. obtusifolia, N.
occidentalis, N. occidentalis subsp. hesperis, N. otophora, N.
paniculata, N. pauciflora, N. petunioides, N. plumbaginifolia, N.
quadrivalvis, N. raimondii, N. repanda, N. rosulata, N. rosulata
subsp. ingulba, N. rotundifolia, N. setchellii, N. simulans, N.
solanifolia, N. spegazzinii, N. stocktonii, N. suaveolens, N.
sylvestris, N. thyrsiflora, N. tomentosa, N. tomentosiformis, N.
trigonophylla, N. umbratica, N. undulata, N. velutina, N.
wigandioides, and N x sanderae.
[0039] The extracts may be prepared by any method known to those
skilled in the art, including without limitation: (i) leaves,
flowers, roots, stems or a combination thereof, (ii) grinding the
leaves, flowers, roots, stems or a combination thereof,
reconstituting the ground material in a liquid, such as water, and
filtering the solid insoluble parts from the liquid, (iii) heating
or boiling the leaves, flowers, roots, stems or a combination
thereof in a liquid, such as water and/or (iv) performing a
chemical extraction on the leaves, flowers, roots, stems or a
combination thereof. Combinations of the forgoing may also be
used.
[0040] The extracts may be processed to reduce the level of harmful
components in the tobacco; alternatively, the tobacco starting
material may be treated to reduce the level of harmful components
in the tobacco. Furthermore, the extracts may be processed to
remove one or more components of the tobacco extract that are known
to cause harm. In certain embodiment, the processing step may be
carried out to reduce or eliminate levels of nicotine in the
extract. When the levels of naturally occurring nicotine are
reduced or eliminated, nicotine or a nicotine substitute may be
added to the liquid component. The liquid component may also be
modified by adding nicotine or a nicotine substitute.
[0041] The use of the smokeless tobacco substitute containing such
a liquid component provides a safer alternative to the use of
commercially available tobacco products as the amount of actual
tobacco constituents is reduced as compared to products containing
un-extracted tobacco.
[0042] In any of the foregoing embodiments, the liquid component
may contain varying levels of nicotine or a nicotine substitute.
For example, the liquid component may be a liquid tobacco extract
as described above. In these embodiments, the levels of naturally
occurring nicotine in the liquid tobacco extract may reduced or
eliminated if desired. The levels of nicotine may be assayed in the
extracted liquid component prior to addition of nicotine or a
nicotine substitute. In another example, the liquid component may
contain no liquid tobacco extract and the levels of nicotine and/or
a nicotine substitute may be adjusted as desired.
[0043] In these embodiments, the amount or concentration of
nicotine and/or nicotine substitute may start at a first level and
be reduced in a gradient or step-wise manner in a series of
available smokeless tobacco substitutes 10. For example, one
embodiment of the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may contain
approximately 8-12 mg of nicotine and/or nicotine substitute per
device. Another embodiment may contain approximately 4-8 mg of
nicotine and/or nicotine substitute per device. A further
embodiment may contain approximately 1-4 mg of nicotine and/or
nicotine substitute per device. Yet another embodiment may contain
approximately 0 mg of nicotine and/or nicotine substitute per
device. A user, may begin by consuming the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 with the largest amount of nicotine and gradually
reduce their addiction to and/or craving for nicotine by using
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 with decreasing amounts or
concentrations of nicotine. Eventually, the user may select a
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 with no nicotine or nicotine
substitute. As such, the smokeless tobacco substitute may be used
as a cessation product.
[0044] In any of the foregoing embodiments, the liquid component(s)
may also be supplemented with other agents as desired, regardless
of whether the liquid component contains tobacco extracts or
nicotine or nicotine substitutes. Any vitamin, herb or chemical can
be added to provide additional benefits. Medicaments and other
drugs that are delivered orally may also be added. In certain
cases, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may be used to
specifically deliver a medicament or drug to a patient that has
difficulty taking such medications in their traditional form. In
this aspect, the delivery of the medicament or other drug may be
coincident with the delivery of a flavoring component, a nicotine
or nicotine substitute component, a combination of the foregoing or
may be delivered alone. Some exemplary ones include anti-oxidants
such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), A and D. Also caffeine or
derivatives such as guarana may be added. Other stimulants can also
be added such as ginsing, guto kola or ginko biloba. Herbal
components may be added to enhance certain organoleptic qualities
and/or provide certain physiological effects. The additional
non-essential ingredients may be classified as antiseptics,
demulcents, diuretics, emollients, stimulants, tonics,
rubefacients, sialagogues, hemostatics, vulneraries, or
combinations thereof. Non-essential ingredients with pain
relieving, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine active ingredients
can also be utilized. For example, the non-essential ingredients of
the herbal component may comprise extracts of: red clover,
Echinacea, ginger, rose hips, white clover, sweet clover, licorice,
ginseng, guarana, anise, clove, as well as any other suitable leaf,
root, or gum (e.g., gum tragacanth, gum arabic, gum acacia, and/or
gum karaya), and any combination thereof. Since every herb contains
biochemical constituents that can have an effect on the body, the
potential additional non-essential ingredients for the herbal
component are limited only by the desired overall organoleptic
qualities and physiological effects of the smokeless tobacco
substitute.
[0045] In any of the foregoing embodiments, the liquid component(s)
may be flavored to mimic a desired taste, such as the taste of a
smokeless tobacco product or the taste of tobacco. Such flavoring
can be accomplished through the following non-limiting additions:
essential oils, natural and artificial flavors, sweeteners (sugar,
molasses, caramel color, sucralose or other artificial sweeteners),
extracts of plant products, including but not limited to, mint
leaves (peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen), lemon peel, cinnamon,
anise, licorice, ginger, cloves, coffee, tea leaves, cayenne,
tabasco or other peppers. The nature and/or concentration of the
additives may be dependent on the flavors to be mimicked. For
example, in one embodiment where the smokeless tobacco substitute
is flavored to mimic a wintergreen flavor, a cinnamon flavor or a
citrus flavor.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 may
be inserted into the mouth between the gum and lip area. Referring
to FIG. 4, when the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 is exposed to
the user's saliva, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 will release
at least a portion of its liquid contents so that liquid component
is introduced into the user's saliva. Accordingly, the liquid
component may mix with the saliva and subsequently be ingested or
absorbed into the bloodstream by the user.
[0047] In one embodiment, the release of the liquid component is a
controlled release. "Controlled release" as used herein means the
release of at least a portion of one or more liquids from the
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 in a manner that is modified from
an immediate release composition. The modified release may be a
differential release, a sustained/prolonged/slow release, a slow
release, a triggered release or a combination of the foregoing. In
one embodiment, the controlled release is a
sustained/prolonged/slow release. In a specific embodiment, the
sustained/prolonged/slow release is a release of at least a portion
of the previously absorbed liquid component(s) contained in the
smokeless tobacco substituteat a desired rate that is prolonged
over time. In one embodiment, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10
may degrade over a period of time as it releases its liquid
contents. In one embodiment, the controlled release may be the
triggered release of at least a portion of the previously absorbed
liquid component(s) contained in the smokeless tobacco substitute.
In a particular embodiment, the triggered release occurs upon
contact with human saliva after placement inside a user's mouth. In
one embodiment, the controlled release is a differential release.
In a particular embodiment, the differential release is a release
of at least a portion of the previously absorbed liquid
component(s) contained in the smokeless tobacco substitute that
occurs at different rates to provide a long-lasting release of such
liquid component(s) from the smokeless tobacco substitute or the
release of different liquid components at different rates. Methods
for modifying release rates are discussed herein. Combinations of
the foregoing may also be used.
[0048] Although various ingredients have been described above as
part of a composition according to the present invention, these
ingredients are merely exemplary and not limiting of that which
ingredients may be used within the device of the present
disclosure.
Method of Manufacture
[0049] Loose snuff is also packaged by weight in a small can and
sealed for freshness. The method of use differs between the two
forms of snuff. When a can of loose snuff is purchased the seal on
the can is broken, and the lid is removed. The user then inserts
the forefinger and thumb into the can and extracts a "pinch" of
snuff, and pack's the loose snuff into the lower gum and lip area
of the mouth. With this method of consumption the loose snuff has a
tendency to float throughout the oral cavity. When a can of snuff
is purchased that is filled with portion pouches the user breaks
the seal on the can, removes the lid and simply removes one of the
pouches of snuff and inserts the pouch in-between the lower lip and
gum area of the mouth. Because the loose snuff is contained in the
sealed paper pouch the problem of loose snuff floating throughout
the oral cavity is eliminated.
[0050] Because of its consistency, snuff is relatively difficult to
package in filled portions, and in order to enable snuff to pass
freely down a storage chute or like device into the portioning
pockets, it is normal to work with snuff having a moisture content
of less than 30%. Snuff which is ready for consumption should have
ideally a moisture content of 50-55%, which means that it must be
moistened subsequent to being packeted. As a result hereof, the
total manufacturing process takes a relatively long time to
complete, and requires a significant amount of machinery.
[0051] Also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure is a
method of manufacturing and packaging using the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10.
[0052] In one embodiment, a desired volume of liquid (the liquid
component) is dispensed into a receiving canister and a number of
smokeless tobacco substitutes 10 sufficient to absorb said liquid
are subsequently added to the canister. Over a period of time, the
smokeless tobacco substitutes 10 will absorb essentially all of the
liquid and retain said liquid. By "essentially all" it is meant
that at least 90% of the liquid added in one embodiment, or 95%,
98%, 99.0% or 99.9% of the liquid added in other embodiments will
be absorbed. Upon being placed in the mouth of the user, the
smokeless tobacco substitute 10 will release the absorbed liquid
component as described herein.
[0053] The desired volume of liquid may be calculated by
determining the maximum volume of liquid that can be absorbed by a
single smokeless tobacco substitute and multiplying that volume by
the number of smokeless tobacco substitutes to be added to the
canister.
[0054] In another embodiment, a desired number of the smokeless
tobacco smokeless tobacco substitutes 10 are placed into the
receiving canister before an appropriate amount of liquid is added.
Over a period of time, the smokeless tobacco smokeless tobacco
substitutes 10 will absorb essentially all of the liquid and retain
said liquid. By "essentially all" it is meant that at least 90% of
the liquid added in one embodiment, or 95%, 98%, 99.0% or 99.9% of
the liquid added in other embodiments will be absorbed. Upon being
placed in the mouth of the user, the smokeless tobacco substitute
10 will release the absorbed liquid component as described herein
In yet another embodiment, a desired number of the smokeless
tobacco substitutes 10 are placed (i.e., submerged either partially
or wholly, or dipped) into a liquid for a period of time sufficient
to allow the smokeless tobacco substitutes 10 to absorb a
sufficient volume. The smokeless tobacco substitute will retain at
least a portion of said liquid. Upon being placed in the mouth of
the user, the smokeless tobacco substitute 10 will release the
absorbed liquid component as described hereinThe liquids discussed
herein may be used in the production methods discussed above.
Method of Use
[0055] It is well known that tobacco, and tobacco products,
including smokeless tobacco, contain numerous compounds deleterious
to one's health. For example, cured tobacco is known to contain a
number of nitrosamines, including the harmful carcinogens
N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-
(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The use of
smokeless tobacco is also associated with other deleterious effects
on the body, e.g., skin, teeth, etc. Among the health problems that
have been identified with the use of smokeless tobacco are: (i)
oral (mouth) cancer, (ii) pancreatic cancer, (iii) addiction to
nicotine, (iv) leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can lead
to cancer), (v) receding gums (gums slowly shrink away from around
the teeth), (vi) bone loss around the roots of the teeth, (vii)
abrasion (scratching and wearing down) of teeth, (viii) staining of
teeth and (ix) bad breath. Cigarette smoke is known to contain
several harmful compounds including: (i) cyanide, (ii) benzene,
(iii) formaldehyde, (iv) methanol, (v) acetylene and (vi) ammonia.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have products that will assist
users in ceasing, quitting or reducing their use of and dependence
on tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco.
[0056] Included within such an embodiment is a liquid component
that contains varying levels of nicotine or a nicotine substitute.
In this embodiment, the amount or concentration of nicotine may
start at a first level and be reduced in a gradient or step-wise
manner in a series of available smokeless tobacco substitutes 10.
For example, one embodiment of the smokeless substitute 10 may
contain approximately 8-12 mg of nicotine and/or nicotine
substitute per device. Another embodiment may contain approximately
4-8 mg of nicotine and/or nicotine substitute per device. A further
embodiment may contain approximately 1-4 mg of nicotine and/or
nicotine substitute per device. Yet another embodiment may contain
approximately 0 mg of nicotine and/or nicotine substitute per
device. A user, may begin by consuming the smokeless tobacco
substitute 10 with the largest amount of nicotine and gradually
reduce their addiction to and/or craving for nicotine by using
smokeless tobacco substitutes 10 with decreasing amounts or
concentrations of nicotine. As such, the smokeless tobacco
substitute may be used as a cessation product.
[0057] As discussed above, the liquid component may be modified to
contain additional agents as described herein.
[0058] Addiction to smokeless tobacco has a substantial
psychological component to it, including: (i) stimulation, (ii)
tension reduction. (iii) pleasurable relaxation and (iv) habit.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of this disclosure that the smokeless
tobacco substitutes 10 and the liquid component contained therein
simulates tactile response and mode of use of genuine smokeless
tobacco thereby satisfying a user's psychological needs.
[0059] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention
as disclosed here.
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