U.S. patent application number 14/561736 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-09 for smokeless tobacco pouch.
This patent application is currently assigned to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The applicant listed for this patent is R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Invention is credited to Paul Stuart Chapman, David Troy Turfler.
Application Number | 20160157515 14/561736 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55025397 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160157515 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chapman; Paul Stuart ; et
al. |
June 9, 2016 |
SMOKELESS TOBACCO POUCH
Abstract
A pouched product adapted for release of a releasable component
therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include a
water-permeable fabric pouch formed so as to define a cavity
therein, a composition contained within the cavity of the
water-permeable fabric pouch, the composition comprising one or
more releasable components that are released from the composition
under mouth conditions and that are capable of movement through the
water-permeable fabric pouch, and a release modifying agent adapted
to react with at least one of the one or more releasable components
in the composition and thereby modify the release thereof from the
water-permeable fabric pouch.
Inventors: |
Chapman; Paul Stuart;
(Winston-Salem, NC) ; Turfler; David Troy;
(Collierville, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company |
Winston-Salem |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company
|
Family ID: |
55025397 |
Appl. No.: |
14/561736 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 15/282 20130101;
A24B 13/00 20130101; A24B 15/241 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24B 13/00 20060101
A24B013/00 |
Claims
1. A pouched product comprising: a water-permeable fabric pouch
formed so as to define a cavity therein; a composition contained
within the cavity of the water-permeable fabric pouch, the
composition comprising one or more releasable components that are
released from the composition under mouth conditions and that are
capable of movement through the water-permeable fabric pouch; and a
release modifying agent adapted to react with at least one of the
one or more releasable components in the composition and thereby
modify the release thereof from the water-permeable fabric
pouch.
2. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the fabric pouch is
formed of a nonwoven web of fibers.
3. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises
natural fibers.
4. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises
synthetic fibers.
5. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises
cellulosic fibers.
6. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a
heat sealable binder fiber.
7. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent forms a part of the fabric.
8. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the water-permeable
fabric pouch is infused with the release modifying agent.
9. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is adsorbed or absorbed by at least a portion of the
water-permeable fabric pouch.
10. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the water-permeable
fabric pouch comprises a filter media.
11. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is admixed with the composition contained within the cavity
of the water-permeable fabric pouch.
12. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is adapted to bind with at least one of the one or more
releasable components in the composition so as to prevent the
release of at least a portion of the bound component from the
water-permeable fabric pouch.
13. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is in an encapsulated form.
14. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is adapted to chemically or physically modify at least one of
the one or more releasable components in the composition prior to
or during release thereof from the water-permeable fabric
pouch.
15. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is adapted to react with a component selected from the group
consisting of acetaldehyde, arsenic, benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium,
crotonaldehyde, formaldehyde, nicotine, nicotine-derived
nitrosamine ketone (NNK), N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), derivatives
thereof, decomposition products thereof, precursors thereof, and
combinations thereof.
16. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the release modifying
agent is selected from the group consisting of adsorbents,
absorbents, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPS), non-molecularly
imprinted polymers (NIPS), botanicals, antioxidants, chelating
agents, cyclodextrins, and combinations thereof.
17. The pouched product of claim 1, wherein the composition within
the cavity of the water-permeable fabric pouch comprises at least
one of a particulate tobacco material, nicotine, particulate
non-tobacco material treated to contain nicotine and/or flavoring
agents, and fibrous plant material treated to contain a tobacco
extract.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to products made or derived
from tobacco, or that otherwise incorporate tobacco, and are
intended for human consumption. In particular, the disclosure
relates to a fleece that may be combined with smokeless tobacco to
form a pouched product suitable for oral use.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Various products intended for oral use employ moisture
permeable pouches or sachets. See for example, the types of
representative smokeless tobacco products, as well as the various
smokeless tobacco formulations, ingredients and processing
methodologies, referenced in the background art set forth in U.S.
Pat. Pub. Nos. 2011/0303511 to Brinkley et al. and 2013/0206150 to
Duggins et al; which are incorporated herein by reference. During
use, such pouches or sachets are inserted into the mouth of the
user, and water soluble components contained within those pouches
or sachets are released as a result of interaction with saliva.
[0003] Products commonly referred to as "snus," for example,
comprise ground tobacco materials incorporated within sealed
pouches. Representative types of snus products have been
manufactured in Europe, particularly in Sweden, by or through
companies such as Swedish Match AB (e.g., for brands such as
General, Ettan, Goteborgs Rape and Grovsnus); Fiedler &
Lundgren AB (e.g., for brands such as Lucky Strike, Granit, Krekt
and Mocca); JTI Sweden AB (e.g., for brands such as Gustavus) and
Rocker Production AB (e.g., for brands such as Rocker). Other types
of snus products have been commercially available in the U.S.A.
through companies such as Philip Morris USA, Inc. (e.g., for brands
such as Marlboro Snus); U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (e.g., for
brands such as SKOAL Snus) and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
(e.g., for brands such as CAMEL Snus). See also, for example,
Bryzgalov et al., 1N1800 Life Cycle Assessment, Comparative Life
Cycle Assessment of General Loose and Portion Snus (2005); which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0004] Various types of snus products, as well as components for
those products and methods for processing components associated
with those products, have been proposed. See, for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 8,067,046 to Schleef et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,728 to
Holton, Jr. et al.; US Pat. Pub. Nos, 2004/0118422 to Lundin et
al.; 2008/0202536 to Torrence et al.; 2009/0025738 to Mua et al.;
2011/0180087 to Gee et al.; 2010/0218779 to Zhuang et al.;
2010/0294291 to Robinson et al.; 2010/0300465 to Zimmermann;
2011/0061666 to Dube et al.; 2011/0303232 to Williams et al.;
2012/0067362 to Mola et al.; 2012/0085360 to Kawata et al.;
2012/0103353 to Sebastian et al. and 2012/0247492 to Kobal et al.;
and PCT Pub. Nos. WO 05/063060 to Atchley et al. and WO 08/56135 to
Onno; which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition,
certain quality standards associated with snus manufacture have
been assembled as a so-called GothiaTek standard. Furthermore,
various manners and methods useful for the production of snus types
of products have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,607,479 to Linden and U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,899 to Nielsen; and US
Pat. Pub. Nos. 2008/0156338 to Winterson et al.; 2010/0018539 to
Brinkley et al.; 2010/0059069 to Boldrini; 2010/0071711 to
Boldrini; 2010/0101189 to Boldrini; 2010/0101588 to Boldrini;
2010/0199601 to Boldrini; 2010/0200005 to Fallon; 2010/0252056 to
Gruss et al.; 2011/0284016 to Gunter et al.; 2011/0239591 to Gruss
et al.; 2011/0303511 to Brinkley et al.; 2012/0055493 to Novak III
et al. and 2012/0103349 to Hansson et al.; and PCT Pub. Nos. WO
2008/081341 to Winterson et al. and WO 2008/146160 to Cecil et al.;
which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, snus
products can be manufactured using equipment such as that available
as SB 51-1/T, SBL 50 and SB 53-2/T from Merz Verpackungmaschinen
GmBH.
[0005] Certain types of products employing pouches or sachets that
contain tobacco substitutes (or combinations of tobacco and tobacco
substitutes) also have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,167,244 to Kjerstad and U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,399 to Winterson
et al.; and US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2005/0061339 to Hansson et al.;
2011/0041860 to Essen et al. and 2011/0247640 to Beeson et al.;
which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0006] Certain types of product employing pouches or sachets have
been employed to contain nicotine, such as those used for nicotine
replacement therapy (NRT) types of products (e.g., a pharmaceutical
product distributed under the tradename ZONNIC.RTM. by Niconovum
AB). See also, for example, the types of pouch materials and
nicotine-containing formulations set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
4,907,605 to Ray et al.; US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2009/0293895 to Axelsson
et al. and 2011/0268809 to Brinkley et al.; and PCT Pub. Nos. WO
2010/031552 to Axelsson et al. and WO 2012/134380 to Nilsson; which
are incorporated herein by reference.
[0007] Tobacco is known to include a number of constituents that
may be more desirable or less desirable for release therefrom in a
smokeless tobacco composition. It would be desirable to provide a
smokeless tobacco product that is configured to alter the amount of
certain constituents that may be released therefrom during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to products for oral delivery
of one or more components of a composition. More particularly, a
composition may be retained within a fleece--i.e., a
water-permeable fabric--in the form of a pouch, and the delivery of
the one or more components of the composition may be modified, such
as to partially or substantially completely prevent release of one
or more components from the fleece.
[0009] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a
pouched product. In particular, the pouched product can comprise a
water-permeable fabric pouch formed so as to define a cavity
therein. A composition can be contained within the cavity of the
water-permeable fabric pouch, and the composition can comprise one
or more releasable components that are released from the
composition under mouth conditions and that are capable of movement
through the water-permeable fabric pouch. A release modifying agent
can also be included within the cavity or be otherwise combined
with the water-permeable fabric, and the release modifying agent
can be adapted to react with at least one of the one or more
releasable components in the composition and thereby modify the
release thereof from the water-permeable fabric pouch.
[0010] In various embodiments, the pouched product can be defined
by one or more particular elements, characteristics, or functions.
In particular, the pouched product can be further defined by one or
more of the following descriptions in any combination.
[0011] The fabric pouch can be formed of a nonwoven web of
fibers.
[0012] The fabric can comprise natural fibers.
[0013] The fabric can comprise synthetic fibers.
[0014] The fabric can comprise cellulosic fibers.
[0015] The fabric can comprise a heat sealable binder fiber.
[0016] The release modifying agent can form a part of the
fabric.
[0017] The water-permeable fabric pouch can be infused with the
release modifying agent.
[0018] The release modifying agent can be adsorbed or absorbed by
at least a portion of the water-permeable fabric pouch.
[0019] The water-permeable fabric pouch can comprise a filter
media.
[0020] The release modifying agent can be admixed with the
composition contained within the cavity of the water-permeable
fabric pouch.
[0021] The release modifying agent can be adapted to bind with at
least one of the one or more releasable components in the
composition so as to substantially prevent the release of at least
a portion of the bound component from the water-permeable fabric
pouch.
[0022] The release modifying agent can be in an encapsulated
form.
[0023] The release modifying agent can be adapted to chemically or
physically modify at least one of the one or more releasable
components in the composition prior to or during release thereof
from the water-permeable fabric pouch.
[0024] The release modifying agent can be adapted to react with a
component selected from the group consisting of acetaldehyde,
arsenic, benzo[a]pyrene, cadmium, crotonaldehyde, formaldehyde,
nicotine, nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK),
N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), derivatives thereof, decomposition
products thereof, precursors thereof, and combinations thereof.
[0025] The release modifying agent can be selected from the group
consisting of adsorbents, absorbents, molecularly imprinted
polymers (MIPS), non-molecularly imprinted polymers (NIPS),
botanicals, antioxidants, chelating agents, cyclodextrins, and
combinations thereof.
[0026] The composition within the cavity of the water-permeable
fabric pouch can comprise at least one of a particulate tobacco
material, nicotine, particulate non-tobacco material treated to
contain nicotine and/or flavoring agents, and fibrous plant
material treated to contain a tobacco extract.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Having thus described the invention in the foregoing general
terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein and
including a release modifying agent according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein and
including a release modifying agent in particulate form according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein and
including a release modifying agent within a separate fleece
container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 5A is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein and
including an encapsulated release modifying agent according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0033] FIG. 5B is an illustration of a pouched product formed of a
water-permeable fabric pouch having a composition therein and
including a plurality of capsules enclosing a release modifying
agent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] The present invention now will be described more fully
hereinafter. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the
embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in
the art. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular
forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0035] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
a pouched product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user
is provided. The pouched product can comprise a water-permeable
fabric pouch as an outer element and a composition comprising one
or more releasable components as an inner element. The
water-permeable fabric pouch particularly can define a cavity in
which the composition can be situated. The composition positioned
within the pouch can be any composition containing one or more
releasable components that are capable of movement through the
water-permeable fabric pouch. Non-limiting, exemplary compositions
include tea or coffee materials (e.g., in the context of a beverage
pouch adapted for brewing or steeping) or compositions adapted for
oral use (e.g., tobacco-derived products such as snus or nicotine
replacement therapy products). In certain embodiments, the
composition within the cavity of the pouch can comprise at least
one of a particulate tobacco material, nicotine, particulate
non-tobacco material (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose) treated to
contain nicotine and/or flavoring agents, and fibrous plant
material (e.g., beet pulp fiber) treated to contain a tobacco
extract. In particular relation to compositions adapted for oral
use, the releasable component in the composition can be a component
that is released from the composition under mouth conditions.
[0036] Mouth conditions can encompass one or more characteristics
(in any combination) associated with the presence of an item in the
mouth of a user. For example, mouth conditions can include any
combination of temperature, moisture, and pH typically found in the
mouth of a human as well as the shear, compression, and other
mechanical forces that may be applied by the teeth during chewing.
Mouth conditions particularly can relate to being in contact with
saliva. For example, saliva in the mouth may at least partially
solubilize a releasable component so that the component is freed
from the composition for potential movement through the
water-permeable fabric pouch and into the mouth of the user. Mouth
conditions can include conditions wherein a releasable component is
solubilized in a solvent so as to be mobilized from the composition
for free movement via the solvent, including movement through the
fleece (i.e., the water-permeable fabric). As such, in some
embodiments, mouth conditions can be viewed as a generic term
whereby the pouched product is contacted with any aqueous
solvent.
[0037] An exemplary embodiment of a pouched product 100 is shown in
FIG. 1 and can comprise a water-permeable fabric 120 in the form of
a pouch which contains a composition 115 adapted for oral use. The
orientation, size, and type of the water-permeable fabric pouch and
the type and nature of the composition adapted for oral use that
are illustrated herein are not construed as limiting thereof.
[0038] In various embodiments, a moisture-permeable packet or pouch
can act as a container for use of the composition within. The
composition/construction of such packets or pouches, such as the
water-permeable fabric pouch 120 in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, may be varied as noted herein. For example, suitable
packets, pouches, or containers of the type used for the
manufacture of smokeless tobacco products, which can be suitable
for use according to the present disclosure are available under the
tradenames CatchDry, Ettan, General, Granit, Goteborgs Rape,
Grovsnus White, Metropol Kaktus, Mocca Anis, Mocca Mint, Mocca
Wintergreen, Kicks, Probe, Prince, Skruf, and TreAnkrare. A pouch
type of product similar in shape and form to various embodiments of
a pouched product described herein is commercially available as
ZONNIC (distributed by Niconovum AB). Additionally, pouch type
products generally similar in shape and form to various embodiments
of a pouched product are set forth as snuff bag compositions E
through J in Example 1 of PCT WO 2007/104573 to Axelsson et al.,
which is incorporated herein by reference, which are produced using
excipient ingredients and processing conditions that can be used to
manufacture pouched products as described herein.
[0039] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a
water-permeable fabric useful as a pouch to house a composition
adapted for oral use can comprise a nonwoven web. During use, the
user can place one pouched product containing the composition
adapted for oral use in the mouth of the human subject/user. The
mouth conditions, particularly contact with saliva, cause one or
more components of the composition (i.e., a "releasable component")
to be released from the composition. The releasable components
preferably are capable of movement through the water-permeable
fabric pouch and into the mouth of the user. The pouch preferably
is not swallowed. The pouch may be subject to chewing but is
preferably not chewed so as to substantially tear or otherwise
perforate the pouch and allow the composition to spill into the
mouth. The user is provided with flavor and satisfaction, and is
not required to spit out any portion of the product. After a time
suitable for use/enjoyment by the user (e.g., about 10 minutes to
about 60 minutes, typically about 15 minutes to about 45 minutes),
substantial amounts of the releasable components may be ingested by
the human subject, and the pouch may be removed from the mouth of
the human subject for disposal.
[0040] The pouch can be formed of any material that is suitable for
use in the human mouth and that is sufficiently moisture-permeable,
liquid-permeable, and/or water-permeable so as to allow for
movement of the releasable components from the composition
contained therein, particularly when in contact with saliva. As
used herein, the term "water-permeable" particularly includes
saliva-permeable.
[0041] The pouch material may be of a type that may be considered
to be similar in character to the mesh-like type of material that
is used for the construction of a tea bag. Components of the
loosely arranged composition adapted for oral use readily diffuse
through the pouch and into the mouth of the user (or into a
surrounding environment, such as the fluid into which a pouched
product may be placed, for example in embodiments wherein the
pouched product may be a tea bag or the like). Preferred fabric
materials for the pouched products may be designed and manufactured
such that under conditions of normal use, a significant amount of
the releasable components of the composition permeate through the
pouch prior to the time that the pouch undergoes loss of its
physical integrity. If desired, flavoring ingredients,
disintegration aids, and other desired components, may be
incorporated within, or applied to, the pouch material.
[0042] Various types of pouch materials and pouch manufacturing
techniques are discussed in more detail below. The water-permeable
fabric forming the pouch is generally suitable for containing,
particularly in dry conditions, a composition that can be in a
powdered, granular, shredded, or bulk solid form. The
water-permeable fabric also preferably contains the composition
under mouth conditions while allowing movement therethrough of the
releasable components (i.e., the solubilized components) of the
composition. In some embodiments, the water-permeable fabric may
have a basic structure that is adapted to retain solids above a
certain particle size while allowing particles below the defined
size that may be dispersed in saliva, as well as solubilized
components of the composition, to move therethrough.
[0043] The pouched products described herein particularly may
include a composition adapted for oral use that is a
tobacco-containing composition and/or a nicotine-containing
pharmaceutical composition. That is, the composition adapted for
oral use can be contained within a container, such as a pouch or
bag, such as the type commonly used for the manufacture of snus
types of products (e.g., a sealed, moisture permeable pouch that is
sometimes referred to as a "portion").
[0044] Certain oral products of the disclosure will incorporate
some form of a plant of the Nicotiana species, and most preferably,
those compositions or products incorporate some form of tobacco.
The selection of the plant from the Nicotiana species can vary; and
in particular, the types of tobacco or tobaccos may vary. Tobaccos
that can be employed include flue-cured or Virginia (e.g., K326),
burley, sun-cured (e.g., Indian Kurnool and Oriental tobaccos,
including Katerini, Prelip, Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos),
Maryland, dark, dark-fired, dark air cured (e.g., Passanda, Cubano,
Jatin and Bezuki tobaccos), light air cured (e.g., North Wisconsin
and Galpao tobaccos), Indian air cured, Red Russian and Rustica
tobaccos, as well as various other rare or specialty tobaccos.
Additional information on types of Nicotiana species suitable for
use in the present invention can be found in US Pat. Appl. Pub. No.
2012/0192880 to Dube et al., which is incorporated by reference
herein.
[0045] The portion or portions of the plant of the Nicotiana
species used according to the present invention can vary. For
example, virtually all of the plant (e.g., the whole plant) can be
harvested, and employed as such. Alternatively, various parts or
pieces of the plant can be harvested or separated for further use
after harvest. For example, the leaves, stem, stalk, roots, lamina,
flowers, seed, and various portions and combinations thereof, can
be isolated for further use or treatment. The plant material of the
invention may thus comprise an entire plant or any portion of a
plant of the Nicotiana species. See, for example, the portions of
tobacco plants set forth in US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2011/0174323 to
Coleman, III et al. and 2012/0192880 to Dube et al., which are
incorporated by reference herein.
[0046] The tobacco material can be subjected to various treatment
processes such as, refrigeration, freezing, drying (e.g.,
freeze-drying or spray-drying), irradiation, yellowing, heating,
cooking (e.g., roasting, frying or boiling), fermentation,
bleaching, or otherwise subjected to storage or treatment for later
use. Exemplary processing techniques are described, for example, in
US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2009/0025739 to Brinkley et al. and
2011/0174323 to Coleman, III et al., which are incorporated by
reference herein.
[0047] A harvested portion or portions of the plant of the
Nicotiana species can be physically processed. In certain
embodiments, the tobacco material is used in a form that can be
described as particulate (i.e., shredded, ground, granulated, or
powder form). The manner by which the tobacco material is provided
in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary. Preferably,
plant parts or pieces are comminuted, ground or pulverized into a
particulate form using equipment and techniques for grinding,
milling, or the like. Most preferably, the plant material is
relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment
such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the
like.
[0048] In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the tobacco
material employed in the tobacco composition or product can have
the form of an extract. Tobacco extracts can be obtained by
extracting tobacco using a solvent having an aqueous character such
as distilled water or tap water. As such, aqueous tobacco extracts
can be provided by extracting tobacco with water, such that water
insoluble pulp material is separated from the aqueous solvent and
the water soluble and dispersible tobacco components dissolved and
dispersed therein. Tobacco extraction techniques and tobacco
extract processing techniques are described, for example, in US
Pat. Pub. No. 2013/0312774 to Holton, Jr., which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0049] In certain embodiments, the pouched products of the
invention can include a nicotinic compound. Various nicotinic
compounds, and methods for their administration, are set forth in
US Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0274628 to Borschke, which is incorporated
herein by reference. As used herein, "nicotinic compound" or
"source of nicotine" often refers to naturally-occurring or
synthetic nicotinic compound unbound from a plant material, meaning
the compound is at least partially purified and not contained
within a plant structure, such as a tobacco leaf. Most preferably,
nicotine is naturally-occurring and obtained as an extract from a
Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco). The nicotine can have the
enantiomeric form S(-)-nicotine, R(+)-nicotine, or a mixture of
S(-)-nicotine and R(+)-nicotine. Most preferably, the nicotine is
in the form of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., in a form that is virtually all
S(-)-nicotine) or a racemic mixture composed primarily or
predominantly of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., a mixture composed of about
95 weight parts S(-)-nicotine and about 5 weight parts
R(+)-nicotine). Most preferably, the nicotine is employed in
virtually pure form or in an essentially pure form. Highly
preferred nicotine that is employed has a purity of greater than
about 95 percent, more preferably greater than about 98 percent,
and most preferably greater than about 99 percent, on a weight
basis.
[0050] Nicotinic compounds can include nicotine in free base form,
salt form, as a complex, or as a solvate. See, for example, the
discussion of nicotine in free base form in US Pat. Pub. No.
2004/0191322 to Hansson, which is incorporated herein by reference.
At least a portion of the nicotinic compound can be employed in the
form of a resin complex of nicotine, where nicotine is bound in an
ion exchange resin, such as nicotine polacrilex. See, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,248 to Lichtneckert et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference. At least a portion of the
nicotine can be employed in the form of a salt. Salts of nicotine
can be provided using the types of ingredients and techniques set
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,033,909 to Cox et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
4,830,028 to Lawson et al., and Perfetti, Beitrage Tabakforschung
Int., 12: 43-54 (1983), which are incorporated herein by reference.
See, also, US Pub. No. 2011/0268809 to Brinkley et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, salts of nicotine
have been available from sources such as Pfaltz and Bauer, Inc. and
K&K Laboratories, Division of ICN Biochemicals, Inc.
[0051] Representative types of excipients or other additional
ingredients that are particularly useful for the manufacture of
nicotine-containing products or tobacco-containing products include
fillers or carriers for active ingredients (e.g., calcium
polycarbophil, microcrystalline cellulose, cornstarch, beet pulp
fiber, silicon dioxide or calcium carbonate), thickeners, film
formers and binders (e.g., hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose, acacia, sodium alginate, xanthan gum and gelatin),
buffers and pH control agents (e.g., magnesium oxide, magnesium
hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium
bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or mixtures thereof),
antiadherents (e.g., talc), glidants (e.g., colloidal silica),
natural or artificial sweeteners (e.g., saccharin, acesulfame K,
aspartame, sucralose, isomalt, lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol
and sucrose), humectants (e.g., glycerin), preservatives and
antioxidants (e.g., sodium benzoate and ascorbyl palmitate),
surfactants (e.g., polysorbate 80), natural or artificial flavors
(e.g., mint, cinnamon, cherry or other fruit flavors), dyes or
pigments (e.g., titanium dioxide or D&C Yellow No. 10), and
lubricants or processing aids (e.g., calcium stearate or magnesium
stearate). Certain types of nicotine-containing products or
tobacco-containing products also can have outer coatings composed
of ingredients capable of providing acceptable outer coatings
(e.g., an outer coating can be composed of ingredients such as
carnauba wax, and pharmaceutically acceptable forms of shellacs,
glazing compositions and surface polish agents). Adhesives,
coatings, colorants, and other ingredients used in products
described herein can be generally recognized as safe, non-toxic,
ingestible and otherwise suitable for oral use.
[0052] Various combinations of materials, such as those described
above, can be used in forming the composition that is contained
within the cavity defined by the water-permeable fabric pouch. The
composition thus can include a number of releasable components that
are desired for release by the user into the user's mouth, such as
flavor components and the like. Some compositions, however, can
include releasable components that are desired to be partially,
substantially completely, or completely prevented from release into
the mouth under mouth conditions. In other words, although certain
components may be released from a composition under mouth
conditions, it may be desirable to modify the release of one or
more of such components.
[0053] In various embodiments, a pouched product also can comprise
a release modifying agent. In particular, a release modifying agent
can be a material that is adapted to react with at least one of the
releasable components in the composition that is positioned within
the water-permeable fabric pouch and thereby modify the release
thereof from the water-permeable fabric pouch.
[0054] In an example embodiment, a pouched product 200 is shown in
FIG. 2 and can comprise a water-permeable fabric 220 in the form of
a pouch which contains a composition 215 adapted for oral use. The
pouched product 200 further includes a release modifying agent 225,
which may be, for example, a particulate activated carbon or any
further material as described herein.
[0055] A release modifying agent useful according to the present
disclosure can be configured to modify the release of a releasable
component in a variety of manners. For example, in some
embodiments, a release modifying agent can be adapted to bind with
a releasable component in the composition. In such embodiments, the
release modifying agent can be associated with the water-permeable
fabric pouch in a manner such that the release modifying agent is
not substantially disassociated from the pouched product under
mouth conditions (i.e., there is substantially no release from the
pouch into the mouth). Exemplary associations between the release
modifying agent and the water-permeable fabric pouch are further
described below. Since the release modifying agent is substantially
prevented from disassociating from the water-permeable fabric
pouch, a releasable component that is bound by the release
modifying agent is likewise substantially prevented from movement
out of the water-permeable fabric pouch. By such binding, the
release modifying agent prevents the release of at least a portion
of the releasable component (i.e., the bound component) from the
water-permeable fabric pouch.
[0056] A release modifying agent that is a binding agent may be
configured to bind any percentage of the releasable component that
may be released from the mass of the composition contained within
the water-permeable fabric pouch up to 100% by weight of the
releasable component. For example, a release modifying binding
agent may be configured to bind about 1% to about 99.9%, about 10%
to about 99.5%, or about 25% to about 99% by weight of the
releasable component that is released from the composition under
mouth conditions. The release modifying binding agent thus may be
included in the pouched product in a mass sufficient to achieve the
desired binding.
[0057] The binding achieved with a release modifying binding agent
can be by one or more mechanisms. For example, the release
modifying binding agent may be configured to physically bind the
releasable component; the release modifying binding agent may be
configured to covalently bond with the releasable component; the
release modifying agent may be configured to ionically bond with
the releasable component; the release modifying agent may be
configured to undergo a further bond (e.g., hydrogen bonds and Van
der Waals forces) with the releasable component.
[0058] In some embodiments, a release modifying agent can be
adapted to chemically or physically modify a releasable component
in the composition prior to or during release thereof from the
water-permeable fabric pouch. The releasable component thus may be
altered so that the material that ultimately does move through the
water-permeable fabric pouch is in some way different from the
releasable component that is initially released from the
composition. For example, the release modifying agent may be an
oxidizing agent or a reducing agent that oxidizes or reduces a
releasable component so that at least a portion of the releasable
component that is released into the mouth is in an oxidized form or
a reduced form relative to the releasable component that is
initially released from the composition within the water-permeable
fabric pouch. As a further, non-limiting example, a release
modifying agent may be configured as a decomposing agent and may at
least partially decompose a releasable component. As still another
non-limiting example, a release modifying agent may be configured
as a bond cleaving agent that facilitates scission of a releasable
component. As another non-limiting example, a release modifying
agent may be configured as a derivatizing agent that reacts with
the releasable component for form a derivative of the releasable
component.
[0059] In some embodiments, a combination of release modifying
agents may be used so that the release of multiple releasable
components may be modified. A plurality of release modifying agents
may separately modify the release of different releasable
components (e.g., release modifying agent A modifying the release
of releasable component X and release modifying agent B modifying
the release of releasable component Y). As a non-limiting example,
a plurality of binding agents can be used to bind, and thus modify
the release of, a plurality of releasable components.
[0060] A plurality of release modifying agents may be used in
combination to modify the release of the same releasable component.
For example, a first release modifying agent may be adapted to
chemically or physically modify a releasable component, and a
second release modifying agent may be adapted to bind one or more
materials representing the modifying releasable component (e.g.,
release modifying agent A' changing a releasable component X' into
modified releasable components Z' and Z'', one or both of which may
be bound by release modifying agent B').
[0061] A release modifying agent may be incorporated into the
pouched product in a variety of manners. In some embodiments, a
release modifying agent can form at least a part of the
water-permeable fabric. For example, the water-permeable fabric may
be formed of a plurality of fibers, and the release modifying agent
can be attached (e.g., covalently, ionically, or the like) to at
least a portion of the fibers. As another non-limiting example, at
least a portion of the fibers may be formed from a material that is
a release modifying agent (e.g., a polymeric material). As still
another non-limiting example, the water-permeable fabric pouch can
be infused with the release modifying agent. In another
non-limiting example, the release modifying agent can be adsorbed
or absorbed by at least a portion of the water-permeable fabric
pouch.
[0062] In some embodiments, a release modifying agent can be in a
powdered or particulate form. The particulate release modifying
agent may be adhered or otherwise attached to the water-permeable
fabric. For example, in FIG. 2, the release modifying agent 225 may
be a layer of particulate activated carbon adhered to the water
permeable fabric 220. The particulate release modifying agent may
be associated with the composition contained in the cavity of the
water-permeable fabric pouch. For example, as seen in the pouched
product 300 of FIG. 3, the particulate release modifying agent 325
may be admixed with the composition 315 within the water permeable
fabric 320.
[0063] The water-permeable fabric may exhibit a porosity
sufficiently sized to allow the releasable components to move
therethrough under mouth conditions. Preferably, a particulate
release modifying agent is sized so that the particles are
substantially prevented from passing through the fabric. In some
embodiments, particles of a release modifying agent may be provided
in a separate pouch that can be included inside the water-permeable
pouch. For example, as seen in the pouched product 400 of FIG. 4,
the particulate release modifying agent 425 may be contained in a
containment fleece 430 and positioned within the water permeable
fabric 420 along with the composition 415 within.
[0064] In some embodiments, a release modifying agent can be in an
encapsulated form. The capsule can comprise a capsule wall that is
formed of a material that is configured to allow for dispersement
of the release modifying agent under desired conditions. For
example, the capsule wall may comprise a material that is
configured to dissolve or otherwise degrade under mouth conditions.
Preferably, the capsule is configured to disperse the release
modifying agent sufficiently rapidly so as to modify the release of
the releasable component from the composition in the
water-permeable fabric pouch. As another non-limiting example, the
capsule wall may comprise a material that is configured to be
broken or otherwise degraded by shear forces (e.g., chewing). While
suitable encapsulated materials may be described herein in relation
to microcapsules, it is understood that such terminology is not
intended to be viewed as limiting of the capsule sizes.
[0065] The crush strength of suitable microcapsules can be
sufficient to allow for normal handling and storage without
significant degree of premature or undesirable breakage. Providing
capsules that possess both suitable integrity during storage and
the ability to rupture or otherwise break down at the time of use
can be determined by experimentation, depending upon factors such
as capsule size and type, and is a matter of design choice. See,
for example, U.S. Pat. Pub, No. 2007/0068540 to Thomas et al.,
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0066] An exemplary capsule may include an outer shell
incorporating a material such as wax, gelatin, cyclodextrin, or
alginate, and an inner payload incorporating the release modifying
agent, which may be particulate in some embodiments or may be an
aqueous or non-aqueous liquid (e.g., a solution or dispersion of at
least one release modifying agent within water or an organic liquid
such as an alcohol or oil; or a mixture of water and a miscible
liquid like alcohol or glycerin). Thus, for example, a plurality of
such capsules may be incorporated within the pouch along with the
composition to be retained therein; and during use of the product,
a crushing or other destruction of the capsules may allow the
capsules to release the additive contained therein.
[0067] The capsules used in the pouched product of the invention
may be uniform or varied in size, weight, and shape. A
representative capsule can be generally spherical in shape.
However, suitable capsules may have other types of shapes, such as
generally rectilinear, oblong, elliptical, or oval shapes.
Exemplary microcapsules may have diameters of less than about 100
microns, such as microcapsules having diameters in the range of
about 1 to about 40 microns, or about 1 micron to about 20
microns.
[0068] In some embodiments, larger capsules may be utilized. For
example, a capsule utilized in the pouch product may have a size of
about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm or about 0.6 mm to about 3 mm in
diameter.
[0069] The number of capsules incorporated into the pouched product
can vary, depending upon factors such as the size of the capsules,
the character or nature of the additive in the payload, the desired
attributes of the composition within the pouch and the desired
release modification thereof, and the like. In some embodiments,
only a single capsule may be included. For example, as seen in the
pouched product 500 of FIG. 5A, a capsule 540 having the release
modifying agent (not visible) provided therein may be positioned
within the water permeable fabric 520 along with the composition
515 within. The single capsule 540 can thus be relatively large in
size. In other embodiments, a plurality of capsules may be
included. For example, as seen in the pouched product 500' of FIG.
5B, a plurality of capsules 540' each having the same or a
different release modifying agent (not visible) provided therein
may be positioned within the water permeable fabric 520' along with
the composition 515' within. The plurality of capsules 540' can
thus be relatively small in size. In particular, microcapsules may
be used. The number of capsules incorporated within pouched
product, for example, can exceed about 5, can exceed about 10, can
exceed about 20, can exceed about 40, and can even exceed about
100. In certain embodiments, the number of capsules/microcapsules
can be greater than about 500, and even greater than about
1,000.
[0070] The total weight of the capsules contained within the
smokeless tobacco product may vary, but is typically greater than
about 10 mg, often greater than about 20 mg, and can be greater
than about 30 mg. The total weight of the capsules is typically
less than about 200 mg, often less than about 100 mg, and can be
less than about 50 mg.
[0071] The capsules can be formed using any encapsulating
technology known in the art. For example, microcapsules can be
formed using any of various chemical encapsulation techniques such
as solvent evaporation, solvent extraction, organic phase
separation, interfacial polymerization, simple and complex
coacervation, in-situ polymerization, liposome encapsulation, and
nanoencapsulation. Alternatively, physical methods of encapsulation
could be used, such as spray coating, pan coating, fluid bed
coating, annular jet coating, spinning disk atomization, spray
cooling, spray drying, spray chilling, stationary nozzle
coextrusion, centrifugal head coextrusion, or submerged nozzle
coextrusion.
[0072] Regardless of the encapsulation methodology employed, the
outer wall or shell material and solvents used to form the capsules
can vary. Classes of materials that are typically used as wall or
shell materials include proteins, polysaccharides, starches, waxes,
fats, natural and synthetic polymers, and resins. Exemplary
materials for use in the microencapsulation process used to form
the microcapsules include gelatin, acacia (gum arabic), polyvinyl
acetate, potassium alginate, carob bean gum, potassium citrate,
carrageenan, potassium polymetaphosphate, citric acid, potassium
tripolyphosphate, dextrin, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone,
dimethylpolysiloxane, dimethyl silicone, refined paraffin wax,
ethylcellulose, bleached shellac, modified food starch, sodium
alginate, guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl
cellulose, sodium citrate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium
ferrocyanide, sodium polyphosphates, locust bean gum,
methylcellulose, sodium trimetaphosphate, methyl ethyl cellulose,
sodium tripolyphosphate, microcrystalline wax, tannic acid,
petroleum wax, terpene resin, tragacanth, polyethylene, xanthan
gum, and polyethylene glycol.
[0073] Microcapsules are commercially available, and exemplary
types of microcapsule technologies are of the type set forth in
Gutcho, Microcapsules and Microencapsulation Techniques (1976);
Gutcho, Microcapsules and Other Capsules Advances Since 1975
(1979); Kondo, Microcapsule Processing and Technology (1979);
Iwamoto et al., AAPS Pharm. Sci. Tech. 2002 3(3): article 25; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,550,598 to McGlumphy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,144 to Tateno
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,595 to Cherukuri et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,690,990 to Bonner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,599 to Wampler et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,901 to Soper et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,835 to
Soper et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,992 to Lew; U.S. Pat. No.
6,106,875 to Soper et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,455 to Takada et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,859 to DeRoos et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,482,433 to DeRoos et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,429 to Dennen; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,814 to Bouwmeesters et al.; U.S. Pat. Appl.
Pub. Nos. 2006/0174901 to Karles et al. and 2007/0095357 to Besso
et al.; and PCT WO2007/037962 to Holton et al.; each of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Suitable types of microcapsules
are available from sources such as Microtek Laboratories of Dayton,
Ohio. Exemplary types of commercially available microencapsulating
techniques include those marketed under the trade names
ULTRASEAL.TM. and PERMASEAL.TM. available from Givaudan
headquartered in Vernier, Switzerland.
[0074] Representative types of capsules are of the type
commercially available as "Momints" by Yosha! Enterprises, Inc. and
"Ice Breakers Liquid Ice" from The Hershey Company. Representative
types of capsules also have been incorporated in chewing gum, such
as the type of gum marketed under the tradename "Cinnaburst" by
Cadbury Adams USA. Representative types of capsules and components
thereof also are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,558 to Waterbury;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,686 to Irby, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
3,685,521 to Dock; U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,914 to Brooks et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,889,144 to Tateno et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,722 to
MacAdam et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,085 to Deal; US Pat. Pub.
Nos. 2004/0261807 to Dube et al.; 2006/0272663 to Dube et al.;
2006/01330961 to Luan et al.; 2006/0144412 to Mishra et al.;
2007/0012327 to Karles et al.; and 2007/0068540 to Thomas et al.;
PCT WO 03/009711 to Kim; PCT WO2006/136197 to Hartmann et al.; PCT
WO 2006/136199 to Mane et al., PCT WO 2007/010407; and PCT WO
2007/060543, as well as within filtered cigarettes that have been
marketed under the tradename "Camel Lights with Menthol Boost" by
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which are incorporated herein by
reference. See also, the types of capsules and components thereof
set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,185 to Takei et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,387,093 to Takei; U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,680 to Suzuki et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,719,933 to Nakamura et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,256
to Fonkwe et al.; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0224020 to
Schoenhard; 2005/0123601 to Mane et al.; 2005/0196437 to Bednarz et
al.; and 2005/0249676 to Scott et al.; which are incorporated
herein by reference. The capsules may be colored, provided with
smooth or rough surfaces, have rigid or pliant shells, have brittle
or durable shells, or other desired features or characters.
[0075] Any material that will react with a releasable component as
defined herein may be used as a release modifying agent.
Preferably, the release modifying agent is formed of a material
that is considered safe for oral use in humans and/or safe for
ingestion by humans.
[0076] In some embodiments, a release modifying agent may be
defined in relation to its reactivity with certain elements,
molecules, compounds, or the like that may be present in, and
releasable from, the composition included in the pouched product.
Such reactivity may relate to binding (e.g., absorption,
adsorption, covalent bonding) or a specific chemical reaction. As a
non-limiting example a release modifying agent may be any material
that is adapted to react with one or more of the following:
acetaldehyde, arsenic, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), cadmium,
crotonaldehyde, formaldehyde, nicotine, nicotine-derived
nitrosamine ketone (NNK), N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), other
tobacco-specific nitrosamines, derivatives thereof, decomposition
products thereof, precursors thereof, and the like. A release
modifying agent further may be any material that is adapted to
react with a compound that is releasable from tobacco under mouth
conditions. For exemplary compounds that are present in tobacco,
see for example, Rodgman and Perfetti, The Chemical Components of
Tobacco and Tobacco Smoke, CRC Press (2008). Further examples of
molecules that may be releasable from tobacco under various
conditions include the following: 1-aminonapthalene,
2-aminonapthalene, 3-aminobiphenyl, 4-aminobiphenyl, methyl ethyl
ketone, acetone, acrolein, butyraldehyde, priopionaldehyde,
catechol, hydroquinone, m-cresol, p-cresol, o-cresol, phenol,
resorcinol, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide, carbon
monoxide, acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, isoprene, toluene,
styrene, pyridine, quinoline, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel,
selenium, N'-nitrosoanabasine (NAB), N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), and
tar. For additional compounds noted to be present in smokeless
tobacco, see, for example, International Agency for Research on
Cancer. Smokeless Tobacco and Some Tobacco-Specific N-Nitrosamines.
Lyon, France: World Health Organization International Agency for
Research on Cancer, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of
Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 89 (2007), which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0077] A release modifying agent also may be any material that is
adapted to react with compounds that may be disadvantageously
present in a portion of the tobacco seed, e.g., in tobacco seed
oil, such as pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, or
rodenticides), fertilizers, or residues thereof. Exemplary
pesticides that can be targeted for release modification include,
but are not limited to, ethion, parathion, diazinon, methyl
parathion, thiodan, bromopropylate, pirimiphos methyl, fenthion,
prochloraz, pyridapenthion, malathion, chlorpyriphos, and
imazalil.
[0078] The release modifying agent may be characterized based upon
one or more of its reactivity, it composition, its physical
structure, and the like. In some embodiments, a release modifying
agent may include any of the following: adsorbents, absorbents,
molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPS), non-molecularly imprinted
polymers (NIPS), botanicals, antioxidants, chelating agents,
cyclodextrins, and combinations thereof.
[0079] Absorbents can include any material subject to wetting and
adapted to draw a releasable component into the structure thereof.
Absorbents may particularly be porous articles, including fibrous
materials, and may be specifically adapted to wicking of a liquid
(e.g., saliva including a releasable component) into the structure
thereof.
[0080] Adsorbents can include any material adapted for adhering a
releasable component on a surface thereof (i.e., undergoing surface
adsorption). Suitable adsorbents may exhibit physical adsorption
and/or chemical adsorption. Non-limiting examples of adsorbents
that may be suitable for use as a release modifying agent include
activated carbon, activated aluminas, molecular sieves (including
carbon molecular sieves and zeolites--e.g., aluminosilicates),
clays, silica gels, ion exchange resins, and sodium
bicarbonate.
[0081] Activated carbon can be particularly useful and preferably
consists primarily of carbon--e.g., having a carbon content above
about 80 weight percent, and more preferably above about 90 weight
percent. Preferred carbonaceous materials are provided by
carbonizing or pyrolyzing bituminous coal, tobacco material,
softwood pulp, hardwood pulp, coconut shells, almond shells, grape
seeds, walnut shells, macadamia shells, kapok fibers, cotton
fibers, cotton linters, and the like. Carbon from almond shells,
grape seeds, walnut shells, and macadamia nut shells are believed
to provide greater vapor phase removal of certain compounds as
compared to coconut shell carbon. Examples of suitable carbonaceous
materials are activated coconut hull based carbons available from
Calgon Corp. as PCB and GRC-11, coal-based carbons available from
Calgon Corp. as S-Sorb, BPL, CRC-11F, FCA and SGL, wood-based
carbons available from Westvaco as WV-B, SA-20 and BSA-20,
carbonaceous materials available from Calgon Corp. as HMC, ASC/GR-1
and SC II, and Witco Carbon No. 637. Other carbonaceous materials
are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,795 to White, et al. and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,027,837 to Clearman, et al.; and European Patent
Application Nos. 236,922; 419,733 and 419,981; the disclosures of
the foregoing being incorporated herein by reference.
[0082] A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is a polymeric
material that exhibits high binding capacity and selectivity for a
specific target molecule or class of target molecules. MIPs
comprise cavities that are engineered to selectively bind one or
more target molecules. Unlike most separation particles that
exhibit only non-selective interactions, MIPs have a selective
recognition site, which is sterically and/or chemically
complementary to a particular target molecule or class of
structurally related target molecules. General discussion of MIPs
is provided, for example, in Cormack et al., J. Chrom. B.
804:173-182 (2004); U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,978 to Domb; and US Pat.
Appl. Pub. Nos. 2004/0157209 to Yilmaz et al., 2005/0189291 to
Sellergren et al., and 2010/0113724 to Yilmaz et al., which are
incorporated herein by reference. MIPs have been studied for the
selective removal of various compounds from mixtures. For example,
US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2010/0239726 to Pertsovich, 2008/0038832 to
Sellergren et al.; and 2004/0096979 to Petcu et al., which are all
incorporated herein by reference, describe methods of removing
safrole, nitro-containing compounds, and phenols, respectively,
from mixtures.
[0083] MIPs are typically prepared by copolymerizing functional
monomers and crosslinkers in the presence of a "template" molecule
that provides a three-dimensional outline around which the polymer
is formed. The functional monomers organize around the template
molecule and are then locked into position by polymerization with
the crosslinkers and other functional monomers. The template
molecule can be the target molecule or a structural analogue which
mimics the target molecule. The template molecule directs the
organization of the functional groups on the monomer units, and,
following preparation of the polymer, the template molecule is
removed from the MIP, providing cavities that are designed for the
specific binding of a target compound.
[0084] Any method of polymer synthesis can be used to produce MIPs
and NIPs. For example, cationic or anionic polymerization may be
used. Free radical polymerization is the most commonly used method
for the preparation of MIPs and NIPs. The preparation by free
radical polymerization typically requires one or more monomers, one
or more crosslinkers, one or more initiators, and, optionally, one
or more solvents, in addition to the template molecule. Examples of
monomers, crosslinkers, initiators, solvents, template molecules,
and methods of preparation useful in forming MIPs and NIPs are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,985,818 to Pertsovich and U.S. Pat.
Pub. No. 2012/0291793 to Byrd et al., which are incorporated herein
by reference. A MIP and/or a NIP, for example, may form at least a
portion of the water-permeable fabric used to form the pouch, such
as by utilizing fibers formed from the MIP and/or the NIP or by
attaching the MIP and/or NIP to the fibers.
[0085] Botanical materials ("botanicals") refer to any plant
material, including plant material in its natural form and plant
material derived from natural plant materials, such as extracts or
isolates form plant materials or treated plant materials (e.g.,
plant materials subjected to heat treatment, fermentation, or other
treatment processes capable of altering the chemical nature of the
material). For the purposes of the present disclosure, botanicals
include but are not limited to "herbal materials," which refer to
seed-producing plants that do not develop persistent woody tissue
and are often valued for their medicinal or sensory characteristics
(e.g., teas or tisanes). Reference to botanical material is not
intended to include tobacco materials (i.e., does not include any
Nicotiana species). The botanical materials may comprise, without
limitation, any of the compounds and sources set forth herein,
including mixtures thereof. Certain botanical materials of this
type are sometimes referred to as dietary supplements,
nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals" or "functional foods."
[0086] Suitable botanicals particularly may exhibit antioxidant
characteristics, and such botanicals may be particularly preferred,
as well as non-botanical materials that exhibit antioxidant
characteristics. Exemplary botanical materials, many of which are
associated with antioxidant characteristics, include without
limitation acai berry, alfalfa, allspice, annatto seed, apricot
oil, basil, bee balm, wild bergamot, black pepper, blueberries,
borage seed oil, bugleweed, cacao, calamus root, catnip, catuaba,
cayenne pepper, chaga mushroom, chervil, cinnamon, dark chocolate,
potato peel, grape seed, ginseng, gingko biloba, Saint John's Wort,
saw palmetto, green tea, black tea, black cohosh, cayenne,
chamomile, cloves, cocoa powder, cranberry, dandelion, grapefruit,
honeybush, echinacea, garlic, evening primrose, feverfew, ginger,
goldenseal, hawthorn, hibiscus flower, jiaogulan, kava, lavender,
licorice, marjoram, milk thistle, mints (menthe), oolong tea, beet
root, orange, oregano, papaya, pennyroyal, peppermint, red clover,
rooibos (red or green), rosehip, rosemary, sage, clary sage,
savory, spearmint, spirulina, slippery elm bark, sorghum bran
hi-tannin, sorghum grain hi-tannin, sumac bran, comfrey leaf and
root, goji berries, gutu kola, thyme, turmeric, uva ursi, valerian,
wild yam root, wintergreen, yacon root, yellow dock, yerba mate,
yerba santa, bacopa monniera, withania somnifera, and silybum
marianum.
[0087] Botanical materials often include compounds from various
classes known to provide certain bioactive effects, such as
minerals, vitamins such a ascorbic acid, isoflavones,
phytoesterols, allyl sulfides, dithiolthiones, isothiocyanates,
indoles, lignans, flavonoids, polyphenols, plant phenolics,
tocopherols, ubiquinone, benzodioxoles, carotenoids, etc.
Antioxidants obtained from botanicals can be classified in the
following groups: monoterpenoid phenols; alcohols such as thymol,
carvacol, menthol; p-cymene; diterpene phenols such as carnosic
acid, carnosol, rosmanol; hydroxycinnamic type compounds such as
caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, p-coumaric acid,
resveratrol, curcumin, eugenol, cinnamaladehyde; hydroxybenzoic
acids and derivatives such as gallic acid, protocatechuic acid,
propyl gallate; 2-benzopryrones such as scopoletin, coumarin;
4-benzopyrones such as quercetin, genistein, naringenin, diosmin,
rutin; dihydrochalcones such as aspalathin, notophagin; flavanols
such as epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate,
epigallocatechin gallate; anthocyanins and anthocyanidins;
triterpenes such as ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid,
betulonic acid; tocopherols such as .alpha., .beta., .gamma.,
.delta.-tocopherols; tocotrienols; carotenoids such as n-carotene
or lutein; ubiquinone, CoQ10; ascorbyl palmitate; benzodioxoles
such as myristicin, piperine, safrole; and other compounds such as
gambogic acid, gingerol, and the like.
[0088] Exemplary compounds found in botanical materials include,
but are not limited to, propylene glycol, lactic acid, glycolic
acid, alanine, camphor, pyruvic acid, aspalathin, borneol, menthol,
phosphate, glycerin, proline, succinic acid, thymol, glyceric acid,
2-butenedioic acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, malic acid,
5-oxoproline (pyroglutamic acid), aspartic acid, trihydroxybutanoic
acid, glutamine, asparagine, levoglucosan, xylitol, ribitol,
2-keto-L-gluconic acid, fructose, caffeine, citric acid,
glucosamine, neophytadiene, altrose, quinic acid, xylulose,
glucose, inositol, 2-amino-2-deoxyglucose, glucitol, ascorbic acid,
glucose, gallic acid, gluconic acid, galactaric acid, hexadecanoic
acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-2-hydroxypropionic acid, glucuronic acid,
myoinositol, caffeic acid, tryptophan, linolenic acid, octadecanoic
acid, galacturonic acid, rosmaricin, carnosic acid, melibiose,
carnosol, phitosterol, sucrose, rosmanol, 2,5-deoxyfructosazine,
2,6-deoxyfructosazine, fructosazine, maltitol, epicatechin,
nothofagin, orientin, catechin, epigallocatechin, coumaroyl quinic
acid, tocoferol, chlorogenic acid, stigmasterol, rosmarinic acid,
betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, glyderinine,
epicatechin gallate, catechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate,
gallocatechin gallate, solanesol, and the like. For additional
exemplary compounds, see, e.g., Santhosh et al., Phytomedicine,
12(2005) 216-220, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0089] The botanical material can be used in the present pouched
products in a variety of forms. Exemplary forms include plant
materials in shredded or particulate (e.g., a milled or ground
product in a form characterized as granular or powder) form.
Exemplary forms also include isolated components of plant materials
in forms such as oils, aqueous extracts, or alcohol (e.g., ethanol)
extracts, which can be optionally used in solid form (e.g.,
freeze-dried or spray-dried form). Oils, aqueous extracts, and the
like may be infused into the water-permeable fabric and/or may be
encapsulated, in non-limiting embodiments. Botanicals, including
botanically derived antioxidants, that may be useful according to
the present disclosure are further described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/072,318, filed Nov. 5, 2013, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0090] A chelating agent is understood to be a ligand that is
adapted for forming a chelate complex with a substrate. Chelating
agents may be particularly useful as a release modifying agent for
metal species. Non-limiting examples of chelating agents include
dimercaprol or British anti-Lewisite (BAL); succimer or
dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA); unithiol or
2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (DMPS); D-penicillamine
(DPA); N-acetyl-D-penicillamine (NAPA); calcium disodium
ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaNa(2)EDTA); calcium trisodium or
zinc trisodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (CaNa(3)DTPA,
ZnNa(3)DTPA); deferoxamine (DFO); deferiprone;
triethylenetetraamine or trientine; N-acetylcysteine (NAC);
Prussian Blue (PB); and derivatives thereof.
[0091] Cyclodextrins are understood to be cyclic oligosaccharides
composed of a number (e.g., 5 or greater) of
.alpha.-D-glucopyranoside units. Non-limiting examples include
.alpha.-cyclodextrin (6 units), .beta.-cyclodextrin (7 units), and
.gamma.-cyclodextrin (8 units). Cyclodextrins can provide a
hydrophilic interior with a hydrophobic exterior thus making the
materials useful for forming a variety of complexes.
[0092] In some embodiments, a water-permeable fabric pouch as
described herein can be characterized as comprising a filter media.
In particular, a filter media can include any material that, under
the specified conditions of use, is permeable to one or more
components of a mixture, solution, or suspension, and is
impermeable to the remaining components. As a non-limiting example,
the nonwoven web forming the water-permeable fabric may be formed
so as to be a filter media by nature of the porosity thereof, the
fibers used in forming the web, and/or additives to the web (e.g.,
filter materials added to the web during formation thereof). In
some embodiments, a release modifying agent in particulate form
(e.g., an absorbent, adsorbent, MIP, NIP, or the like) may be
included in the pouched product such that, under mouth conditions,
the particulates substantially coat, or at least partially coat,
the interior of the water-permeable fabric such that releasable
components combined with saliva being withdrawn from the pouch may
be modified in one or more release characteristics through reaction
with the release modifying agent. In further embodiments, the
water-permeable fabric may be infused with a composition (e.g., a
botanical or other antioxidant) so that, under mouth conditions,
the infused material functions to modify the release of releasable
components that may otherwise pass through the water-permeable
fabric. In these non-limiting examples, as well as further
embodiments that may be envisioned in light of the present
disclosure, the water-permeable fabric may substantially function
to filter one or more releasable components--i.e., such that the
one or more releasable components is not permeable to the
water-permeable fabric while other materials (e.g., saliva and
optionally some releasable components from the composition) are
permeable to the water-permeable fabric. For example, under mouth
conditions, first, second, and third releasable components may be
released from the composition within the cavity of the
water-permeable fabric pouch, such as by forming a solution with
saliva, and while the saliva, the first releasable component, and
the second releasable component may be permeable to the
water-permeable fabric, the third releasable component may be
non-permeable to the water-permeable fabric because of the presence
of the release modifying agent and/or the nature of the
water-permeable fabric otherwise as a filter media.
[0093] A water-permeable fabric useful according to the present
disclosure may be formed of any material that provides the
requisite water permeability so that releasable components may be
released into the mouth and that still exhibits sufficient
structure to retain the solid composition (e.g., power, particles,
shredded material, or the like) inside the cavity defined by the
fabric. The fabric particularly may be formed of fibers and more
particularly may be formed of a nonwoven web of fibers. As used
herein, the term "fiber" is defined as a basic element of textiles.
Fibers are often in the form of a rope- or string-like element. As
used herein, the term "fiber" is intended to include fibers,
filaments, continuous filaments, staple fibers, and the like. The
term "multicomponent fibers" refers to fibers that comprise two or
more components that are different by physical or chemical nature,
including bicomponent fibers. Specifically, the term
"multicomponent fibers" includes staple and continuous fibers
prepared from two or more polymers present in discrete structured
domains in the fiber, as opposed to blends where the domains tend
to be dispersed, random or unstructured.
[0094] The term "nonwoven" is used herein in reference to fibrous
materials, webs, mats, bans, or sheets in which fibers are aligned
in an undefined or random orientation. The nonwoven fibers are
initially presented as unbound fibers or filaments. During
manufacturing of the water-permeable fabric, fibers or filaments
may be bound together. The manner in which the fibers or filaments
are bound can vary, and include thermal, mechanical and chemical
techniques that are selected in part based on the desired
characteristics of the final product.
[0095] In some embodiments, a heat sealable binder coating may be
utilized on the water-permeable fabric. In other embodiments, such
coating may expressly be absent or reduced. Accordingly, in certain
embodiments of the invention, the pouched product can be described
as substantially free of a heat sealable binder coating. For
example, the nonwoven web used to form the pouched product can
comprise no more than about 0.5% by weight, no more than about
0.25% by weight, or no more than about 0.1% by weight (based on
total weight of the nonwoven web) of a heat sealable binder
coating. In some embodiments, the nonwoven web will be completely
free of heat sealable binder coatings. As used herein, "heat
sealable binder coatings" refers to liquid coating materials, such
as acrylic polymer compositions, applied to a nonwoven web and
which are capable of sealing seams of individual pouches upon
heating.
[0096] In some embodiments, a fibrous nonwoven web useful in
forming the water-permeable fabric can include a plurality of heat
sealing binder fibers comprising a thermoplastic polymer capable of
providing the function of heat sealing of the pouch. As used
herein, a "binder fiber" can be a fiber of any type, size,
chemistry, etc. that can be used for the purpose of undergoing
softening or melting upon heating, such that the binder fiber can
act as a binding agent for the nonwoven web. Nonwoven webs
including heat sealing binder fibers are described in U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/484,956, filed Sep. 12, 2014, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0097] A variety of fibers can be used to form a nonwoven "fleece"
pouch--i.e., a water-permeable fabric. For example, cellulosic
fibers (e.g., regenerated cellulose known as rayon or viscose
fibers) can be used. In particular embodiments, the fibers can be
staple fibers. Each fiber in the nonwoven web can be a
homocomponent fiber; however bicomponent fibers may be used in
forming the nonwoven web. The water-permeable fabric can be formed
of a single fiber type or may be formed of a plurality of fiber
types. Further non-limiting examples of the types of fibers that
can be used in forming the nonwoven web include those made of wool,
cotton, fibers made of cellulosic material, such as regenerated
cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose
nitrate, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose
acetate butyrate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl
cellulose, protein fibers, and the like. See also, the fiber types
set forth in US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2014/0083438 to Sebastian et
al. and 2014/0026912 to Rushforth et al., which are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0098] Regenerated cellulose fibers are particularly advantageous,
and are typically prepared by extracting non-cellulosic compounds
from wood, contacting the extracted wood with caustic soda,
followed by carbon disulfide and then by sodium hydroxide, giving a
viscous solution. The solution is subsequently forced through
spinneret heads to create viscous threads of regenerated fibers.
Exemplary methods for the preparation of regenerated cellulose are
provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,274 to Leoni et al; U.S. Pat. No.
4,268,666 to Baldini et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,766 to Baldini et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,256 to Ishida et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,535,028 to Yokogi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,689 to Laity; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,997,790 to Vos et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,938 to
Sumnicht, which are incorporated herein by reference. The manner in
which the regenerated cellulose is made is not limiting, and can
include, for example, both the rayon and the TENCEL processes.
Various suppliers of regenerated cellulose are known, including
Lenzing (Austria), Cordenka (Germany), Aditya Birla (India), and
Daicel (Japan).
[0099] The fibers used in the nonwoven web can vary and include
fibers having any type of cross-section, including, but not limited
to, circular, rectangular, square, oval, triangular, and
multilobal. In certain embodiments, the fibers can have one or more
void spaces, wherein the void spaces can have, for example,
circular, rectangular, square, oval, triangular, or multilobal
cross-sections. As noted previously, the fibers can be selected
from single-component (i.e., uniform in composition throughout the
fiber) or multicomponent fiber types including, but not limited to,
fibers having a sheath/core structure and fibers having an
islands-in-the-sea structure, as well as fibers having a
side-by-side, segmented pie, segmented cross, segmented ribbon, or
tipped multilobal cross-sections.
[0100] The physical parameters of fibers useful in forming a
nonwoven web can vary. For example the fibers used in the nonwoven
web can have varying size (e.g., length, dpf) and crimp
characteristics. In some embodiments, fibers used in the nonwoven
web can be nano fibers, sub-micron fibers, and/or micron-sized
fibers. In certain embodiments, fibers useful herein can measure
about 1.5 dpf to about 2.0 dpf, or about 1.6 dpf to about 1.90 dpf.
In a preferred embodiment, each fiber can be a staple fiber. Each
fiber length can measure about 35 mm to about 60 mm, or about 38 mm
to about 55 mm, for example. In various embodiments, each fiber can
measure about 4-10 crimps per cm, or about 5-8 crimps per cm. It is
advantageous for all fibers in the nonwoven web to have similar
fiber size and crimp attributes to ensure favorable blending and
orientation of the fibers in the nonwoven web.
[0101] The means of producing the nonwoven web can vary. Web
formation can be accomplished by any means known in the art. Web
formation will typically involve a carding step, which involves
deposition of the fibers (e.g., the heat sealable binder fibers and
any additional fibers) onto a surface followed by aligning/blending
the fibers in a machine direction. Thereafter, the nonwoven web is
typically subjected to some type of bonding/entanglement including,
but not limited to, thermal fusion or bonding, mechanical
entanglement, chemical adhesive, or a combination thereof. In one
embodiment, the nonwoven web is bonded thermally using a calendar
(which can provide flat or point bonding), steam jet bonding, or a
thru-air oven. Additional bonding methods include ultrasonic
bonding and crimping. In some embodiments, needle punching is
utilized, wherein needles are used to provide physical entanglement
between fibers. In one embodiment, the web is entangled using
hydroentanglement, which is a process used to entangle and bond
fibers using hydrodynamic forces.
[0102] For example, in certain embodiments, the nonwoven web is
made by a fleece carding process with point bonding. The point
bonding (e.g., using a calendar) should be limited to a relatively
small portion of the surface area of the nonwoven web to maintain
good porosity in the web for migration of water-soluble components
through the web during oral use. In certain embodiments, the point
bonding is limited to less than about 60% of the surface area of
the nonwoven web (or resulting pouch), such as less than about 50%,
less than about 30%, or less than about 20% (e.g., about 1% to
about 50%, about 5% to about 40%, or about 10% to about 30%). An
advantage of point bonding is the ability to control the porosity,
flexibility and fabric strength.
[0103] In other embodiments, the nonwoven web can be subjected to
hydroentangling. The term "hydroentangled" or "spunlaced" as
applied to a nonwoven fabric herein defines a web subjected to
impingement by a curtain of high speed, fine water jets, typically
emanating from a nozzle jet strip accommodated in a pressure vessel
often referred to as a manifold or an injector. This hydroentangled
fabric can be characterized by reoriented, twisted, turned and
entangled fibers. For example, the fibers can be hydroentangled by
exposing the nonwoven web to water pressure from one or more
hydroentangling manifolds at a water pressure in the range of about
10 bar to about 1000 bar. As compared to point bonding, spunlace
technology, in certain embodiments, will have less impact on
porosity of the web and, thus, may enhance flavor transfer through
the nonwoven pouch material.
[0104] In various embodiments, the nonwoven web can be subjected to
a second bonding method in order to reduce elongation of the web
during processing. In certain embodiments, carded and
hydroentangled nonwoven webs of the invention can exhibit
significant elongation during high speed processing on pouching
equipment. Too much elongation of the nonwoven web can cause the
web to shrink during processing, such that the final product is not
sized appropriately. As such, it can be necessary to modify process
equipment to fit a wider roll of fleece, for example, to compensate
for any shrinkage in the final product due to elongation.
[0105] In order to avoid or at least reduce such an elongation
problem, in various embodiments the nonwoven web can be point
bonded after the first bonding (e.g., hydroentangling) is
completed. A second bonding process can increase the tensile
strength of the nonwoven web and reduce elongation characteristics.
In particular, a point bonding process can bond a nonwoven web by
partially or completely melting the web (e.g., the heat sealable
binder fibers) at discrete points. For example, in some
embodiments, the nonwoven web can be subjected to ultrasonic
bonding after initial bonding of the web. Any ultrasonic bonding
system for nonwoven materials known in the art can be used to
ultrasonically bond the nonwoven web. See, for example, the
apparatuses and devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,339 to
Aust and U.S. Pat. No. 8,557,071 to Weiler, incorporated by
reference herein. In some embodiments, the nonwoven web can be
subjected to point bonding via embossed and/or engraved calendar
rolls, which are typically heated. See, e.g., the point bonding
methods incorporating the use of very high calendar pressures and
embossing techniques discussed in U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2008/0249492
to Schmidt, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The
point bonding process is typically limited to less than about 60%
of the surface area of the nonwoven web as noted above.
[0106] In certain embodiments, product identifying information may
be included on the water-permeable fabric pouch. In some
embodiments, the product identifying information is selected from
the group consisting of product brand, a company name, a corporate
logo, a corporate brand, a marketing message, product strength,
active ingredient, product manufacture date, product expiration
date, product flavor, product release profile, weight, product code
(e.g., batch code), other product differentiating markings, and
combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the processing
techniques used to blend, entangle and bond the nonwoven web can
also impart a desired texture to the fibrous nonwoven web material.
For instance, point bonding or hydroentangling can impart a desired
texture (e.g. a desired pattern) to the nonwoven web. This textured
pattern can include product identifying information. Product
identifying information may be included in further manners, such as
described in U.S. Pub. No. US 2014/0255452 to Reddick et al., the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0107] The fibrous webs can have varying thicknesses, porosities
and other parameters. The nonwoven web can be formed such that the
fiber orientation and porosity of the pouched product formed
therefrom can retain the composition adapted for oral use that is
enclosed within the outer water-permeable pouch, but can also allow
the flavors of the composition to be enjoyed by the consumer. For
example, in some embodiments, the fibrous webs can have a basis
weight of about 20 gsm to about 35 gsm, or about 25 gsm to about 30
gsm. In a preferred embodiment, the fibrous web can have a basis
weight of about 28 gsm. Basis weight of a fabric can be measured
using ASTM D3776/D3776M-09a (2013) (Standard Test Methods for Mass
Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric), for example. In various
embodiments, the fibrous web can have a thickness of about 0.1 mm
to about 0.15 mm (e.g., about 0.11 mm) The fibrous web can have an
elongation of about 70% to about 80%, e.g., about 78%. In some
embodiments, the fibrous web can have a peak load of about 4 lbs.
to about 8 lbs., e.g., about 5.5 lbs. Elongation and breaking
strength of textile fabrics can be measured using ASTM
D5034-09(2013) (Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength and
Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)), for example. In various
embodiments, the fibrous web can have a Tensile Energy Absorption
(TEA) of about 35 to about 40, e.g., about 37. In certain
embodiments, the fibrous web can have a porosity of greater than
about 10,000 ml/min/cm.sup.2. TEA can be measured, for example, as
the work done to break the specimen under tensile loading per
lateral area of the specimen. Porosity, or air permeability of
textile fabrics can be measured using ASTM D737-04(2012) (Standard
Test method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics), for
example.
[0108] In some embodiments, the water-permeable fabric can be made
from a nonwoven web that is substantially a single layer web or
fabric. In some embodiments, the water permeable fabric can be a
multilayer composite made up of two or more nonwoven layers. Each
nonwoven layer can be formed by processes discussed above.
Multilayer structures that may be used according to the present
disclosure are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/484,956,
filed Sep. 12, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. In
particular, a multilayer web can comprise a hydrophilic layer and a
hydrophobic layer (compared to each other). The outer layer
specifically may be hydrophilic, and the inner layer specifically
may be hydrophobic. As such, the hydrophobic layer can, during
storage of the pouched product, retain any moisture in the
composition adapted for oral use such that flavors in the
composition are not lost due to moisture loss. However, capillaries
in the hydrophobic layer can wick out moisture into the mouth of
the user, such that flavors are released into the oral cavity when
used. In this manner, the pouch material can enhance storage
stability without significantly compromising the enjoyment of the
product by the end user. The two layers can be formed into a
multi-layer composite nonwoven material using any means known in
the art, such as by attaching the two layers together using
adhesive or stitching. The hydrophobicity of a textile material can
be evaluated, for example, by measuring the contact angles between
a drop of liquid and the surface of a textile material, as is known
in the art.
[0109] The hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers can be formed from
similar nonwoven web compositions (e.g., both are constructed of a
blend of viscose fibers with heat sealable binders fiber such as
PLA fibers), but wherein one of the nonwoven webs is treated to
enhance either hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity. For example, a
layer of the nonwoven web can be treated with a wet chemical
solution to confer hydrophilicity thereupon. In one such process, a
nonwoven web layer is treated with an aqueous alcohol solution
containing a food-grade surfactant. The surfactant may include, for
example one or more of sorbitan aliphatic acid ester, polyglycerin
aliphatic acid ester, or sucrose aliphatic acid ester (see, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,498,281 to Iwasaki et al., which is incorporated
herein by reference). In some embodiments, the fleece fabric layers
can be made hydrophilic or hydrophobic by changing the cellulose
fiber chosen. For example, predominantly hydrophobic cellulose
fibers are commercially available as Tencel.RTM. Biosoft from
Leming of Austria and as Olea Fiber from Kelheim of Germany. In
various embodiments, the hydrophilic layer can incorporate cationic
or anionic cellulose fibers that are also available from Kelheim of
Germany, for example. The hydrophilic layer can contain additives
such as polyethylene glycols, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl
cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose
phthalate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic
acids, gelatins, alginates, sulfosuccinates, and combinations
thereof. Any of the exemplified fibers may be used in forming a
single layer water-permeable fabric in some embodiments.
[0110] Various manufacturing apparatuses and methods can be used to
create a pouched product described herein. For example, US
Publication No. 2012/0055493 to Novak, III et al., previously
incorporated by reference, relates to an apparatus and process for
providing pouch material formed into a tube for use in the
manufacture of smokeless tobacco products. Similar apparatuses that
incorporate equipment for supplying a continuous supply of a pouch
material (e.g., a pouch processing unit adapted to supply a pouch
material to a continuous tube forming unit for forming a continuous
tubular member from the pouch material) can be used to create a
pouched product described herein. Representative equipment for
forming such a continuous tube of pouch material is disclosed, for
example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0101588
to Boldrini et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. The
apparatus further includes equipment for supplying pouched material
to the continuous tubular member such that, when the continuous
tubular member is subdivided and sealed into discrete pouch
portions, each pouch portion includes a charge of a composition
adapted for oral use. Representative equipment for supplying the
filler material is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. US 2010/0018539 to Brinkley, which is
incorporated herein by reference. In some instances, the apparatus
may include a subdividing unit for subdividing the continuous
tubular member into individual pouch portions and, once subdivided
into the individual pouch portions, may also include a sealing unit
for sealing at least one of the ends of each pouch portion. In
other instances, the continuous tubular member may be sealed into
individual pouch portions with a sealing unit and then, once the
individual pouch portions are sealed, the continuous tubular member
may be subdivided into discrete individual pouch portions by a
subdividing unit subdividing the continuous tubular member between
the sealed ends of serially-disposed pouch portions. Still in other
instances, sealing (closing) of the individual pouch portions of
the continuous tubular member may occur substantially concurrently
with the subdivision thereof, using a closing and dividing
unit.
[0111] An exemplary apparatus for manufacturing an oral pouch
product is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of U.S. Publication No.
2012/0055493 to Novak, III et al.; however, this apparatus is used
in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation. It should also be appreciated that the following
manufacturing process and related equipment is not limited to the
process order described below. In various embodiments of the
present invention, an apparatus similar to that described in U.S.
Publication No. 2012/0055493 can be configured to removably receive
a first bobbin on an unwind spindle assembly, the first bobbin
having a continuous length of a material, such as a pouch material,
wound thereon. When the first bobbin is engaged with the apparatus,
the pouch material can be routed from the first bobbin to a forming
unit configured to form a continuous supply of the pouch material
into a continuous tubular member defining a longitudinal axis.
[0112] As such, as the pouch material is unwound from the first
bobbin, the pouch material can be directed around an arrangement of
roller members, otherwise referred to herein as a dancer assembly.
A forming unit can be configured to cooperate with the first bobbin
and the dancer assembly to take up slack in the pouch material and
to maintain a certain amount of longitudinal tension on the pouch
material as the pouch material is unwound from the first bobbin and
fed to the forming unit, for example, by a drive system. One of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, between the first
bobbin and the forming unit, the pouch material can be supported,
routed, and/or guided by a suitably aligned series of any number
of, for example, idler rollers, guideposts, air bars, turning bars,
guides, tracks, tunnels, or the like, for directing the pouch
material along the desired path. Typical bobbins used by
conventional automated pouch making apparatuses often contain a
continuous strip of pouch material of which the length may vary. As
such, the apparatus described herein can be configured so as to
handle bobbins of that type and size.
[0113] The forming unit can include one or more roller members
configured to direct the pouch material about a hollow shaft such
that the continuous supply of the pouch material can be formed into
a continuous tubular member. The forming unit can include a sealing
device configured to seal, fix, or otherwise engage lateral edges
of the pouch material to form a longitudinally-extending seam,
thereby forming a longitudinally-extending continuous tubular
member. In various embodiments, an insertion unit can be configured
to introduce charges of the composition adapted for oral use into
the continuous tubular member through the hollow shaft. The
insertion unit may be directly or indirectly engaged with the
hollow shaft.
[0114] A leading edge or end (also referred to as a
laterally-extending seam) of the continuous tubular member can be
closed/sealed such that a charge of composition adapted for oral
use inserted by the insertion unit, is contained within the
continuous tubular member proximate to the leading end. The leading
end can be closed/sealed via a closing and dividing unit configured
to close/seal a first portion of the continuous tubular member to
form the closed leading end of a pouch member portion. The closing
and dividing unit can also be configured to form a closed trailing
edge or end of a previous pouch member portion. In this regard, the
closing and dividing unit can also be configured to close a second
portion of the continuous tubular member to form the closed
trailing end of the pouch member portion. In this regard, the
closing and dividing unit can close the ends, by heat-sealing, or
other suitable sealing mechanism.
[0115] As discussed above, a binder coating is not necessary for
embodiments of the present invention, Instead, a heat sealable
binder fiber incorporated into the nonwoven web of the pouch
material can act as a heat sealable binder to seal the pouch once
the composition adapted for oral use is inserted within the outer
water-permeable pouch.
[0116] As illustrated in FIGS. 20-22 of U.S. Publication No.
2012/0055493 to Novak, III et al., the closing and dividing unit
can be configured to divide the continuous tubular member, between
the closed trailing end and the closed leading end of
serially-disposed pouch member portions, along the longitudinal
axis of the continuous tubular member, and into a plurality of
discrete pouch member portions such that each discrete pouch member
portion includes a portion of the oral composition from the
insertion unit. In this regard, the closing and dividing unit can
include a blade, heated wire, or other cutting arrangement for
severing the continuous tubular member into discrete pouch member
portions. For example, the closing and dividing unit can include
first and second arm members configured to interact to close and
divide the continuous tubular member.
[0117] In operation, a charge of the composition adapted for oral
use (i.e., an amount suitable for an individual pouch member
portion) can be supplied to the pouch member portion by an
insertion unit after a leading end has been closed, but prior to
the closing of a trailing end. In various embodiments, after
receiving the charge of the oral composition, the discrete
individual pouch member portion can be formed by closing the
trailing end and severing the closed pouch member portion from the
continuous tubular member such that an individual pouched product
is formed.
[0118] The amount of material contained within each pouch may vary.
In smaller embodiments, the dry weight of the material within each
pouch is at least about 50 mg to about 150 mg. For a larger
embodiment, the dry weight of the material within each pouch
preferably does not exceed about 300 mg to about 500 mg. In some
embodiments, each pouch/container may have disposed therein a
flavor agent member, as described in greater detail in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,861,728 to Holton, Jr. et al., which is incorporated herein
by reference. For example, at least one flavored strip, piece or
sheet of flavored water dispersible or water soluble material
(e.g., a breath-freshening edible film type of material) may be
disposed within each pouch along with or without at least one
capsule. Such strips or sheets may be folded or crumpled in order
to be readily incorporated within the pouch. See, for example, the
types of materials and technologies set forth in U.S. Pat. No.
6,887,307 to Scott et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,981 to Leung et
al.; and The EFSA Journal (2004) 85, 1-32; which are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0119] In various embodiments, the nonwoven web can be sufficiently
tacky so as to create issues with high-speed pouching equipment.
Therefore, in certain embodiments, a Teflon coating, or similar
material, can be applied to one or more surfaces of the pouching
equipment that touch the nonwoven web such as, for example,
rollers, cutting instruments, and heat sealing devices in order to
reduce and/or alleviate any problems associated with the pouch
material sticking to the pouching equipment during processing.
[0120] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended
to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although
specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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