U.S. patent application number 13/861346 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-17 for oral tobacco product.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fiedler & Lundgren AB. The applicant listed for this patent is BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED, FIEDLER & LUNDGREN AB. Invention is credited to Hans Tomas Essen, David Rushforth, Eva Sommarstrom.
Application Number | 20130269715 13/861346 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46177168 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130269715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rushforth; David ; et
al. |
October 17, 2013 |
Oral Tobacco Product
Abstract
A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product is disclosed which
does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending
strength of less than 4N, and method of manufacturing the same.
Also disclosed is a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which
exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%.
Inventors: |
Rushforth; David; (London,
GB) ; Sommarstrom; Eva; (London, GB) ; Essen;
Hans Tomas; (Malmo, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
FIEDLER & LUNDGREN AB |
London
Malmo |
|
GB
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Fiedler & Lundgren AB
Malmo
SE
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
46177168 |
Appl. No.: |
13/861346 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/111 ;
131/355 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 13/00 20130101;
A24B 15/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/111 ;
131/355 |
International
Class: |
A24B 15/14 20060101
A24B015/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 11, 2012 |
GB |
1206402.8 |
Claims
1. A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising: a
mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a
binding agent, wherein the portion does not exhibit any brittleness
and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.
2. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1, wherein the
tobacco is cut tobacco, and wherein the binding agent comprises
carboxymethyl cellulose.
3. The oral tobacco product according to claim 2, wherein the
binding agent further comprises exclusively carboxymethyl
cellulose.
4. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1, wherein the
binding agent is provided in a proportion by weight of greater than
1%.
5. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1, having a
three-point bending strength of between 1N and 3.5N.
6. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1, wherein the
portion is stable in water, and wherein the portion is resistant to
one of breaking down and dissolving, in water, in less than 30
minutes.
7. The oral tobacco product according to claim 6, wherein the
portion exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in
water, of less than 25%.
8. A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising: a
mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a
binding agent, wherein the portion exhibits a friability value of
less than 0.5%.
9. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8, wherein the
portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.4%.
10. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8, wherein the
portion does not exhibit any brittleness and wherein the portion
has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.
11. The oral tobacco product according to claim 10, wherein the
portion has a three-point bending strength of between 1N and
3.5N.
12. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8, wherein the
tobacco comprises cut tobacco, and wherein the binding agent
comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.
13. The oral tobacco product according to claim 12, wherein the
binding agent comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.
14. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8, wherein the
binding agent is provided in a proportion by weight of greater than
1%.
15. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8, wherein the
portion is stable in water; and wherein the portion is resistant to
one of breaking down and dissolving, in water, in less than 30
minutes.
16. The oral tobacco product according to claim 15, wherein the
portion exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in
water, of less than 25%.
17. A method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco
product comprising: combining tobacco with a binding agent to form
a mixture; and providing individual portions thereof.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the binding agent
comprises a cellulose derivative.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the binding agent
comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the binding agent
comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.
21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising kneading
the mixture before an extruding step.
22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising kneading
the mixture for between 7 and 15 minutes.
23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising heating
the mixture before an extruding step.
24. A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising: a
mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a
binding agent, wherein the portion exhibits a maximum negative
force greater than 0.1N in a three-point bending strength test.
25. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24, wherein the
portion exhibits a negative force of between -0.1N and -0.9N in a
three-point bending strength test.
26. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24, wherein the
tobacco comprises cut tobacco, and wherein the binding agent
comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.
27. The oral tobacco product according to claim 26, wherein the
binding agent comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.
28. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24, wherein the
portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%.
29. The oral tobacco product according to claim 28, wherein the
portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.4%.
30. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24, wherein the
portion does not exhibit any brittleness, and wherein the portion
exhibits a maximum three-point bending strength of less than 4N.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a tobacco product and, more
particularly, to a non-smokeable tobacco product for oral use and a
method of manufacturing the same.
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0002] This application claims priority under 35 USC .sctn.119 to
United Kingdom Patent Application GB 1206402.8, filed Apr. 11,
2012, entitled "Oral Tobacco Product." The entire contents of the
aforementioned application are expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Tobacco products for smokeless use include snuff, snus and
other tobacco compositions. Snus can be in the form of loose
tobacco particles or in pre-portioned fleece pouches. Smokeless
oral-use tobacco products also include tobacco mixed with various
additives including binding agents, and processed to produce a
hardened tobacco product.
SUMMARY
[0004] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
there is provided a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which
does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending
strength of less than 4N. The mouldable tobacco product may, in
further embodiments, exhibit an increased malleability and/or
ductility as well as a corresponding reduction in brittleness.
[0005] The oral tobacco product may comprise a cellulose derivative
as a binding agent, for example carboxymethyl cellulose. In some
embodiments, the binding agent may consist exclusively of
carboxymethyl cellulose.
[0006] The binding agent may be provided in a proportion of greater
than 1% by weight, between 1%-10% by weight, between 1%-7% by
weight, between 1%-5% by weight, or between 2%-4% by weight,
depending on the embodiment.
[0007] The oral tobacco product may have a three-point bending
strength of between 1N and 4N, between 1N and 3.5N, between 1N and
3N, between 1N and 2.5N, between 1.5N and 3.5N, between 2N and 4N,
between 2.5N and 4N, between 3N and 4N, or around 2.5N, depending
on the embodiment.
[0008] The oral tobacco product may be substantially stable in
water, for example such that it does not break down or dissolve in
water in less than 30 minutes, does not break down or dissolve in
water in less than 1 hour, or does not break down or dissolve in
water in less than 2 hours.
[0009] The oral tobacco product may exhibit a percentage weight
loss after 30 minutes in water of less than 25%, less than 10%,
between 4%-7%, or less than 6%, depending on the embodiment.
[0010] The mouldable oral tobacco product may exhibit a friability
value of less than 0.5%, less than 0.4%, between 0.1% and 0.4%,
between 0.1% and 0.35%, between 0.1% and 0.3%, between 0.15% and
0.4%, or between 0.2% and 0.4%, depending on the embodiment.
[0011] The oral tobacco product may not exhibit any brittleness,
and may in some embodiments have a three-point bending strength of
less than 4N.
[0012] The oral tobacco product of the present disclosure may
comprise any non-mutually exclusive combination of features defined
above, or may comprise any of the features defined above
individually.
[0013] Also provided is a method of manufacturing a preformed
mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a
binding agent to form a mixture, and providing individual portions
thereof, for example by extrusion of the mixture and dividing said
extruded mixture into the individual portions.
[0014] The binding agent may comprise a cellulose derivative, for
example carboxymethyl cellulose, and in some embodiments may
consist exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.
[0015] The method may further comprise kneading the mixture before
the extruding step, and may comprise kneading the mixture for a
duration of between 5-20 minutes, between 5-15 minutes, between
5-10 minutes, between 15-20 minutes, between 10-20 minutes, between
7-15 minutes, or around 10 minutes, depending on the
embodiment.
[0016] The method may, in some embodiments, further comprise
heating the mixture before the extruding step.
[0017] The oral tobacco product may have a three-point bending
strength of less than 3N, less than 2.5N, less then 0.5N, or less
than 0.25N, depending on the embodiment.
[0018] Embodiments comprising heating the mixture before the
extruding step may further comprise heating the mixture to between
5.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. or between 50.degree. C.-60.degree.
C. Alternatively, the method may comprise not heating the mixture
and the process may take place at an ambient temperature, which may
be between 5.degree. C. and 20.degree. C., between 5.degree. C. and
15.degree. C., between5.degree. C. and 10.degree. C., between
10.degree. C. and 20.degree. C., or between 15.degree. C. and
20.degree. C., depending on the embodiment.
[0019] Some embodiments of the present invention also provide a
preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a negative
force greater than -0.1N in a three-point bending strength test. In
still further embodiments, the oral tobacco product may exhibit a
negative force of between -0.1N to -0.9N, or more specifically
between -0.4N to -0.6N, in a three-point bending strength test.
[0020] Some embodiments of the present invention also provide a
preformed oral tobacco product comprising tobacco and a cellulose
derivative as a binding agent.
[0021] The binding agent may, for example, partially or exclusively
comprise carboxymethyl cellulose.
[0022] The binding agent may, in some embodiments, be provided in
one of the proportions as defined above.
[0023] Some embodiments of the present invention provide an oral
tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and is
stable in water. Such an oral tobacco product may further comprise
any feature or characteristic or non-mutually exclusive combination
thereof, as defined above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plurality of continuous
lengths of tobacco product of the invention being formed by an
extruder;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of the continuous lengths of
tobacco product of FIG. 1 having been cut into individual
portions;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows one individual portion of tobacco product of
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0028] FIG. 4 shows three-point bend test results of a number of
test tobacco product formulations, including product formulations
according to the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a wide continuous belt of tobacco product
material being formed by an extruder;
[0030] FIG. 6 shows the continuous belt of tobacco product material
of FIG. 4 having been processed by a cutter/scorer roller to divide
the belt into individual tobacco product portions;
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a double roller apparatus for producing
individual portions of tobacco product of the present disclosure;
and
[0032] FIG. 8 shows a friability test drum used to measure the
friability physical property of the tobacco products of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] A first embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a
soft and mouldable oral tobacco product comprising tobacco combined
with a binding agent and extruded into continuous rods which are
then cut into individual portions. Optionally, the product may
additionally include further additives, such as, for example,
flavourants, humectants, and/or the like.
[0034] In one embodiment, a method is provided for producing such
an oral tobacco product, the method comprising combining moist snus
tobacco with carboxymethyl cellulose (`CMC`) as a binding agent at
a proportion of 3% by weight. The snus tobacco typically includes a
number of additional components already mixed therewith, which may
include salt, soda, humectants such as propylene glycol and/or
glycerol, flavouring, water, and/or the like. The moisture content
of the snus may be around 55%. However, the moisture content is not
limited to this value and may be between 30%-60%, between 45%-60%,
or between 50%-58%. The mixture is then heated to around 60.degree.
C. and kneaded for around 10 minutes. The mixture is then extruded
through a multiple orifice extruder (see FIG. 1)--though other
extruder configurations are within the scope of the invention--to
form elongate strips of tobacco composition which are subsequently
cut into individual portions (see FIGS. 2 and 3). It is to be noted
that the invention is not intended to be limited to such a method
including a heating step, and this step may be omitted.
[0035] A second embodiment for producing oral tobacco products
comprises feeding tobacco, and optionally other dry additives, into
an extruding machine. The tobacco may be milled or ground tobacco,
or may be tobacco processed in any other way. The tobacco feeds
into an extruder that heats the tobacco (and dry additives, if
applicable), and combines water and CMC as a binding agent, and,
optionally, other liquid additives, with the dry ingredients. CMC
as a binding agent is included at a proportion of 3% by weight. The
heated mixture is then fed through a die to form a continuous
length of moist tobacco composition which is subsequently cut to
desired lengths or into individual portions. The first extruder may
be a gravimetric counter-rotating twin-screw extruder, or a single
screw extruder. The second extruder may be a twin-screw co-rotating
extruder with variable heat zones and screw configurations, or a
single screw with one heat zone. However, these extruders are only
exemplary and are not limiting to the scope of the invention. The
heat zones may be controllable to between 25.degree. C.-150.degree.
C. Alternatively, it is contemplated that this method may not
include any heating of the mixture from an external heat source, in
which case the mixing process would occur at ambient temperature,
for example 5.degree. C.-20.degree. C.
[0036] The resulting portions of tobacco product produced by the
aforementioned embodiments are soft and malleable, allowing them to
easily be moulded by a user into a desired shape prior to insertion
into the mouth for use. The product may exhibit a reduction in, or
a lack of, brittleness.
[0037] The physical characteristics of a number of tobacco products
made using the above processes, but using a variety of different
binding agents, were tested. In particular, each product of
different composition was tested for hardness and bending
properties using a Three-Point Bending test (hereafter "TPB test"),
a known test which measures how much force is required to
bend/break a product into two or more pieces. The test involves a
portion of product being placed on two spaced supports, and a probe
presses against the upper surface of the product at the mid-point
between the supports and moves at a rate downwards towards the two
supports. The reactionary force exerted back by the test product on
the probe is recorded as the probe moves and as the product deforms
between the supports and point of force application, until the
product breaks or the test concludes.
[0038] A number of samples of oral tobacco products of the
invention were also tested for the physical property of
"friability". Friability is a measurement of the tendency of an
object to be reduced to smaller pieces when subjected to pressure
or friction. A numerical value for friability is the weight
percentage of material lost when an individual product sample is
placed within a friability drum and rotated at 25 rpm for 100
revolutions, which is equal to 4 minutes of rotation. A friability
drum is a standard test apparatus comprising a drum with a diameter
of 152 mm and a paddle which lifts and drops the sample product on
each rotation of the drum. In the tests conducted, the friability
test drum was a Copley 1000 tester drum, as shown in FIG. 8.
Brittle products that have a tendency to chip or break will have a
higher friability percentage value, whereas soft, mouldable
products which do not readily chip or shatter exhibit much lower
friability percentage values.
[0039] The numerical results of the friability of two exemplary
sets of a number of samples of oral tobacco products prepared
according to the present disclosure are shown in Tables 1 and 2
below. The first sample set was also subjected to TPB tests and
these values are additionally shown in Table 1. In addition to
these test results, the results of further TPB tests of samples of
oral tobacco products of the invention having differing
compositions are shown in the graph of FIG. 4, which includes
tobacco composition products with various binding agents including
pectin, carrageennan, gellan, guar, hamulsion, hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose (HPMC), locust bean gum (LBG), sodium alginate, xanthan,
agar, and CMC.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sample set 1 - Friability and TPB test
results Weight Weight Three Point before after Three Point Bending
- Sample friability friability Difference Friability Bending -
Maximum Number test (g) test (g) (g) (%) Minimum (N) (N) 1 30.1085
30.0588 0.0497 0.17% -- -- 2 30.2742 30.2225 0.0517 0.17% -- -- 3
30.2483 30.1959 0.0524 0.17% -- -- 4 29.8301 29.7434 0.0867 0.29%
-0.302 2.8478 5 29.4287 29.3633 0.0654 0.22% -0.3176 2.6677 6
29.7334 29.6665 0.0669 0.22% -0.348 2.6945 7 29.6188 28.1016 1.5169
5% -0.3506 2.6925 8 29.4723 29.4080 0.0643 0.22% -0.3469 2.5659 9
29.4714 29.4005 0.0709 0.24% -0.3406 2.5679 10 29.5698 29.4974
0.0724 0.24% -- -- 11 29.4400 29.3926 0.0474 0.16% -- -- 12 29.5254
29.4737 0.0517 0.18% -0.3498 1.8336 13 29.5676 29.5199 0.0477 0.16%
-0.3626 1.9415 14 29.5371 29.4890 0.0481 0.16% -0.3628 1.8474 15
29.8202 29.7750 0.0452 0.15% -0.3008 1.9203 16 29.8016 29.7498
0.0518 0.17% -0.3206 1.9037 17 29.9204 29.8657 0.0547 0.18% -0.3144
1.7754 18 29.6358 29.5853 0.0505 0.17% -0.2937 1.5397 19 29.4904
29.4478 0.0426 0.14% -0.2951 1.421 20 29.5131 29.4522 0.0609 0.21%
-0.3037 1.5787 21 28.7602 28.7035 0.0567 0.20% -2956 2.2142 22
28.6516 28.6095 0.0421 0.15% -0.2994 2.2862 23 28.9318 28.8785
0.0533 0.18% -0.3185 2.3265 24 28.8972 28.8469 0.0503 0.17% -0.2925
2.7956 25 29.1156 29.0540 0.0616 0.21% -0.394 2.6525 26 28.9331
28.8758 0.0573 0.20% -0.3975 2.5926 27 29.2892 29.2276 0.0616 0.21%
-0.3684 2.6506 28 29.7568 29.7004 0.0564 0.19% -0.436 2.8467 29
29.5851 29.5184 0.0667 0.23% -0.4232 2.7604 30 29.3904 29.3485
0.0419 0.14% -0.3262 1.6799 31 29.2997 29.2583 0.0414 0.14% -0.3297
1.7266 32 29.3207 29.2725 0.0482 0.16% -0.3274 1.6928 33 29.2014
29.1476 0.0538 0.18% -0.3242 1.7774 34 29.4028 29.3533 0.0495 0.17%
-0.3267 1.71 35 29.1155 29.0653 0.0502 0.17% -0.3436 1.5883 36
29.4176 29.3774 0.0402 0.14% -0.4845 2.9047 37 29.4210 29.3748
0.0462 0.16% -0.4244 2.9382 38 29.3874 29.3360 0.0514 0.17% -0.4293
2.7686 39 29.5111 29.4608 0.0503 0.17% -0.3012 3.4808 40 29.7908
29.7428 0.0480 0.16% -0.2256 3.4973 41 28.3111 28.2657 0.0454 0.16%
-0.3949 3.2675 42 29.7870 29.6899 0.0971 0.33% -0.3022 1.6538 43
29.6391 29.5626 0.0765 0.26% -0.3081 1.6347 44 29.6853 29.5987
0.0866 0.29% -0.31 1.6526 45 29.6924 29.6352 0.0572 0.19% -0.368
2.7362 46 29.2403 29.1959 0.0444 0.15% -0.3958 2.8025 47 29.7833
29.7276 0.0557 0.19% -0.3701 2.7801 48 29.0826 29.0255 0.0571 0.20%
-0.2761 2.7155 49 29.7832 28.7369 0.0463 0.16% -0.2527 2.6535 50
28.9325 28.8851 0.0474 0.16% -0.2376 2.5916 51 29.9879 29.9208
0.0671 0.22% -0.331 2.516 52 29.6288 29.5642 0.0646 0.22% -0.3424
2.6502 53 29.8454 29.7838 0.0616 0.21% -0.3263 2.5361 54 29.6387
29.5482 0.0905 0.31% -0.3248 2.4527 55 30.1406 30.0436 0.0970 0.32%
-0.2852 2.7934 56 29.9599 29.9027 0.0572 0.19% -0.3251 2.4198 57
30.1920 30.1220 0.0700 0.23% -0.2775 2.6153 58 29.8984 29.8370
0.0614 0.21% -0.2714 2.668 59 28.0844 28.0248 0.0596 0.21% -0.3372
2.3507 60 29.3232 29.2622 0.0610 0.21% -0.3635 2.5247 61 29.0555
28.9990 0.0565 0.19% -0.3197 2.1457 62 27.8569 27.7890 0.0679 0.2%
-0.3015 2.3744 63 29.2768 29.2110 0.0658 0.22% -0.3094 2.3606
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Sample set 2 - Friability and TPB test
results Weight before Weight after Sample friability test
friability test Difference Friability Number (g) (g) (g) (%) 1
30.0930 30.0496 0.0434 0.14% 2 30.2595 30.2139 0.0456 0.15% 3
30.1713 30.1276 0.0437 0.14% 4 29.9503 29.9038 0.0465 0.16% 5
30.0988 30.0528 0.0460 0.15% 6 29.8706 29.8143 0.0563 0.19% 7
30.3218 30.2557 0.0661 0.22% 8 30.0644 30.0057 0.0587 0.20% 9
30.1581 30.0960 0.0621 0.21% 10 30.3498 30.2930 0.0568 0.19% 11
30.2619 30.2131 0.0488 0.16% 12 29.1994 29.1426 0.0568 0.19% 13
29.7700 29.7289 0.0411 0.14% 14 28.6369 28.5906 0.0463 0.16% 15
30.5005 30.4414 0.0591 0.19% 16 30.3697 30.2922 0.0775 0.255% 17
30.4545 30.3680 0.0865 0.28% 18 30.8266 30.7425 0.0841 0.27% 19
31.0328 30.9338 0.0990 0.32% 20 30.8475 30.7640 0.0835 0.27% 21
30.8582 30.7803 0.0779 0.25% 22 30.3752 30.3029 0.0723 0.24% 23
30.3466 30.2708 0.0758 0.25% 24 30.5830 30.4921 0.0909 0.30%
[0040] Referring first to the graph of FIG. 4, it can be seen that
the graph plot for many compositions of tobacco product and binding
agent have a curve profile which initially increases to a peak
force value, after which point, the force plot drops. This
signifies a product with an initial hardness before breaking, the
peak of the graph being the break point, and indicates a
brittleness to the products, after which break point, the force is
reduced.
[0041] Conversely to the above, some of the plots for tobacco
products of embodiments of the invention steadily increase in force
value over time with no decrease in force value, illustrating that
these products do not break and exhibit no brittleness, but
instead, are malleable and continue to deform as increasing force
is applied. Therefore, these tobacco products exhibit the desirable
physical properties of being mouldable by a user into a desired
shape prior to insertion into the mouth, or mouldable once in the
mouth, without breaking into smaller chunks as would a harder or
brittle product. The height of the curves for these tobacco
products indicates the force required to mould the product. It can
be seen from the graphs for these products that differing tobacco
blends result in products which require different degrees of force
to be applied in order to be moulded. One of the binding agents
that results in a mouldable product is CMC. However, the invention
is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this
binding agent, and other binding agents may also demonstrate
similar properties, such as, for example, xanthan gum, pectin,
locust bean gum, gellan, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC),
guar gum, agar, carrageenan, tragacanth, sodium alginate or
maltodextrin.
[0042] Referring to the test results in Table 1, it can be seen
that, with the exception of sample 7 which has a friability value
far outside the remaining sample range and so can be excluded from
consideration as a test anomaly, the samples tested exhibited a
friability percentage value within the range of 0.14%-0.33%, with a
sample set average of 0.20%. These samples also exhibited a maximum
TPB test force value within the range of 1.42N-3.50N, with a sample
average of 2.37N. The low friability values illustrate the physical
characteristics of the sample products as being soft, mouldable,
and not exhibiting any brittleness. The relatively low maximum TPB
test force values also indicate a mouldable and malleable
product.
[0043] Referring to the test results in Table 2, it can be seen
that the samples tested exhibited a friability percentage value
within the range of 0.14%-0.32%, with a sample set average of
0.21N, very close to, and consistent with, the friability test
results obtained from the first sample set in Table 1, again,
illustrating the physical characteristics of the sample products as
being soft, mouldable and not exhibiting any brittleness.
[0044] Another desirable physical property demonstrated by the
tobacco composition products of the invention is that the preformed
product does not, or substantially does not, stain the fingers of
the user when being moulded and manipulated prior to use.
[0045] In addition to the above, with CMC as a binding agent at 3%,
the tobacco composition products of the various formulations
exhibit a maximum TPB test force of less than around 400 g,
equating to around 4N, consistent with the results in Table 1
discussed above. The highest maximum TPB test value of the products
tested was achieved with the product made from coarse stem tobacco.
The three products produced using coarse lamina tobacco, fine grade
lamina and stem tobacco ("Granit Fine") and mixed grade lamina and
stem tobacco ("Granit Mixed"), produced tobacco product
formulations in which the three-point bending strength was less
than 250 g, or 2.5N, whilst all being soft, malleable products.
[0046] The tobacco products of the present disclosure are not
limited to such values, however, and some embodiments, with varying
types of dry tobacco and CMC binding agent percentage by weight,
may have a three-point bending strength less than 2.5N, less than
0.5N, or less than 0.25N.
[0047] The loose tobacco used in the manufacture of the tobacco
products of the inventions and in the embodiments described above,
may be relatively fine in size, and snus tobacco or other fine
grade tobacco may be employed.
[0048] The tobacco products of some embodiments are also stable in
water for at least 30 minutes, and in some cases one hour, and do
not break down, dissolve, or otherwise lose product mass as a
result of exposure to water, as do some known smokeless oral
tobacco products. This results in a product which maintains its
integrity and shape during three phases of consumer use (insertion
into a user's mouth, use, and removal from a user's mouth), making
it convenient to use and also clean and convenient to dispose of
after use.
[0049] The above property of resistance to disintegration in water
of the tobacco products of the present disclosure was tested using
the following methodology. Five fleeces were identity marked WC
(Wet Control) Replicate sample 1,2,3 and DC (Dry Control). Four
flat bottomed round 150 ml flasks were identified WC, 1, 2, 3. Five
aluminium boats were identified WC, 1, 2, 3, DC. Samples WC, 1, 2,
3 were weighed ("weight 1"--see Table 3 below) and put into
corresponding flasks. 100 mls of de-ionized water was dispensed
into each flask and stoppered. Flasks 1, 2, 3 were placed on a
shaker for 30 minutes at 155 rpm. The WC flask was not shaken.
Samples 1, 2, 3 and WC were then drained through a sieve on top of
their respective fleece. Sample DC was then weighed ("weight 1").
All samples were then arranged on a sieve and placed in an oven at
29 degrees Celsius. Samples were then dried for over 12 hours (22
actual). Samples were then weighed, and the data was recorded
("weight 2"--see Table 3 below).
[0050] The weight loss for each sample (weight 1-weight 2) was then
calculated and recorded. The percentage weight loss for each sample
was then compared with that for the wet control, using an "average
portion weight" (APW) value of finished products. This APW value
had previously been calculated from 20 sample products as being
1.5211 g. The percentage weight loss was calculated using the
following formula:
{[weight difference(R.sub.1-R.sub.3)-weight
difference(WC)]/APW}.times.100
[0051] Table 3 below shows the results of the above test and the
percentage weight loss values of those replicate samples 1-3:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Disintegration test 1 results weight loss
compared Weight Weight Differ- to WC using Average 1 2 ence Portion
Weight (APW) (g) (g) (g) (%) Dry Control (DC) 4.0932 3.5148 0.5784
Wet Control (WC) 4.1190 3.3639 0.7551 Replicate 1 4.1274 3.2900
0.8374 5.4 Replicate 2 4.0922 3.2676 0.8246 4.6 Replicate 3 4.1341
3.2825 0.8516 6.3
[0052] The above results show that the tested products exhibit a
weight loss percentage value of between 4.6%-6.3% and an average
weight loss value of less than 6%. The property of resistance to
disintegration in water of the tobacco products was also tested
using a second test methodology which is in accordance with
recognised standard European Pharmacopoeia, Pharmaceutical
Technical Procedures 2.9.1--Disintegration of Tablets and Capsules.
This test determines whether tablets or capsules can disintegrate
within a prescribed time when placed in a liquid medium. In this
test, product samples are placed within a tube, in a liquid-filled
container and agitated within the liquid. When tested using this
methodology, tobacco products of embodiments of the invention were
found to be substantially stable in water for at least 30 minutes,
and showed stability in water for at least 1 hour, and further were
substantially stable in water for at least 2 hours.
[0053] Referring again to the graph of FIG. 4, a further property
exclusive to certain tobacco product formulations of the present
disclosure is shown, in that the end of the graphs dip below the
zero on the Force x-axis at the end of the test when the force of
the test probe stops moving. This indicates an elasticity in the
product which exceeds that of other formulations of other known
tobacco products that were tested with other binding agents. In the
tested range of products, the negative force in the three-point
bend test ranged between approximately -10 g (-0.1N) to around -90
g (-0.9N). The greatest negative value was exhibited by the
formulation in which course stem tobacco was used, with other
product formulations exhibiting a negative value of around -40 g to
-60 g (-0.4N to -0.6N). One binding agent that was used to form a
product which exhibited such desirablephysical characteristics is
CMC, although the disclosure is not intended to be limited to a
tobacco product having this binding agent, and other binding
agents, including those listed above, may also demonstrate such
desirable properties.
[0054] A further advantage of the tobacco products of the invention
is that they may provide a flavour delivery comparable to that of
loose snus without the inconvenience of small particles being
spread around the inside of the mouth which can get caught in the
gums/teeth, and the messy disposal after use, as is the case with
loose snus and hard smokeless tobacco products. Furthermore, the
products provide the convenience of pouched snus but without the
requirement for the tobacco product to be contained within a pouch
and the disadvantages that may be associated with pouched snus
products.
[0055] It is noted that, while the mixture is described in some
embodiments as being heated to around 60.degree. C., this
temperature may take on other values or ranges, for example between
5.degree. C. and 70.degree. C., or 50.degree. C. In another
embodiment, the mixture may not require heating at all, and the
heating step of the process may be omitted entirely. In such a
case, the mixture is processed at an ambient temperature, for
example between 5.degree. C. and 20.degree. C.
[0056] Furthermore, although the kneading step is described in some
embodiments as being performed for around lo minutes, the process
of the invention is not intended to be limited to this duration and
other kneading times may be used, for example, between 3-20
minutes, or between 7-15 minutes. Additionally, although the binder
is described in some embodiments as being added at a proportion of
around 3% by weight, other proportions are also contemplated, for
example between 1%-5%, or between 2%-4%. It has been found that a
binding agent proportion less than 1% does not bind the tobacco
together in the finished product to the required level, whereas a
binding agent proportion more than 5% may result in undesirable
product characteristics. The above binding agent proportions apply
to CMC as a binding agent but the disclosure is not intended to be
limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent, and other
binding agents, including but not limited to those listed above,
and in the same or similar proportions, may also demonstrate such
desirable properties.
[0057] The extruding of the continuous lengths of tobacco product
may alternatively be different to that of the processes described
above, and may alternatively comprise extruding a wide belt of
material (see FIG. 5) and subsequently shaping it using a
cutter/scorer (see FIG. 6). In a further embodiment, the product
may be shaped and formed into individual dosages by being passed
through double rollers (see FIG. 7). In yet another embodiment, the
product may be shaped and formed into individual dosages by being
extruded into half-dies then pressed together.
[0058] In order to address various issues and advance the art, the
entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various
embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and
provide for superior oral tobacco products and methods of
manufacture. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a
representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive
and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in
understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be
understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are
not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by
the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that
other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure.
Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements,
components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the
disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but
which may be claimed in future.
Additional embodiments include:
[0059] A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which does not
exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of
less than 4N; an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any
brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N,
and which comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a
binding agent; an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any
brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N,
which comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a
binding agent, and wherein the binding agent consists exclusively
of carboxymethyl cellulose.
[0060] An oral tobacco product wherein the binding agent is
provided as a proportion of greater than 1% by weight, between
1%-10% by weight, between 1%-7% by weight, between 1%-5% by weight,
or between 2%-4% by weight, depending on the embodiment; an oral
tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness, and has a
three-point bending strength of less than 4N, e.g., between 1N and
3.5N; an oral tobacco product according to any preceding embodiment
which is substantially stable in water and does not substantially
break down or dissolve in water in less than 30 minutes, less than
1 hour, or less than 2 hours; and an oral tobacco product according
to any preceding embodiment which is substantially stable in water
and does not substantially break down or dissolve in water in less
than 30 minutes, less than 1 hour, or less than 2 hours, and which
exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in water, of
less than 25%, less than 10%, between 4%-7%, or an average weight
loss of less than 6%.
[0061] A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a
friability value of less than 0.5%, less than 0.4%, or between 0.1%
and 0.4%; an oral tobacco product having a friability value of less
than 0.5% which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a
three-point bending strength of less than 4N; an oral tobacco
product having a friability value of less than 0.5% which does not
exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of
less than 4N, and having a three-point bending strength of between
1N and 3.5N; and a pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which
exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5% and comprises cut
tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, wherein the
binding agent is, in some embodiments, exclusively carboxymethyl
cellulose.
[0062] A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a
friability value of less than 0.5% and comprises cut tobacco and
carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, wherein the binding
agent is provided as a proportion of greater than 1% by weight,
between 1%-10% by weight, between 1% and 7% by weight, between 1%
and 5% by weight, or between 2% and 4% by weight; a pre-formed
mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of
less than 0.5% which is substantially stable in water and does not
substantially break down or dissolve in water in less than 30
minutes, less than 1 hour, or less than 2 hours; and an oral
tobacco product according to the previous embodiment which exhibits
a percentage weight loss in water over 30 minutes of less than 25%,
less than 10%, or between 4%-7%, or which exhibits an average
weight loss of less than 6%.
[0063] A method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco
product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and
providing individual portions thereof; a method according to the
previous embodiment wherein the binding agent comprises a cellulose
derivative, for example partially or exclusively comprising
carboxymethyl cellulose; a method of manufacturing a preformed
mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a
binding agent and providing individual portions thereof, and
further comprising kneading the mixture before an extruding step,
and wherein kneading the mixture may occur for between 7 and 15
minutes, e.g., 10 minutes; and a method of manufacturing a
preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining
tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions
thereof, and further comprising heating the mixture before an
extruding step.
[0064] A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a
maximum negative force greater than -0.1N in a three-point bending
strength test; an oral tobacco product according to the previous
embodiment which exhibits a negative force of between -0.1N to
-0.9N, e.g., between -0.4N and -0.6N, in a three-point bending
strength test; a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which
exhibits a maximum negative force greater than -0.1N in a
three-point bending strength test, comprising cut tobacco and
carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent; a preformed mouldable
oral tobacco product which exhibits a maximum negative force
greater than -0.1N in a three-point bending strength test,
comprising cut tobacco and wherein the binding agent is exclusively
carboxymethyl cellulose; an oral tobacco product according to
embodiment 25 wherein the binding agent consists exclusively of
carboxymethyl cellulose; a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product
which exhibits a maximum negative force greater than -0.1N in a
three-point bending strength test and a friability value of less
than 0.4%, e.g., between 0.1% and 0.4%; and an oral tobacco product
according to any of the preceeding embodimentswhich does not
exhibit any brittleness and which exhibits a maximum three-point
bending strength of less than 4N.
* * * * *