Breakable capsules and methods of forming thereof
AssigneeAltria Client Services LLC
InventorsMunmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
Claims20
A breakable capsule comprising:
- a outer shell that defines an inner core, the outer shell including, a cross-linked agar matrix, the cross-linked agar matrix including, a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and
- a filler dispersed throughout the cross-linked agar matrix, the filler including,
- a first mixture including 0.05 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % locust bean gum, 3 wt. % to 5 wt. % pullulan, 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. % glycerin, sorbitol, or both glycerin and sorbitol, and 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. % sodium chloride,
- a second mixture including 0.05 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % locust bean gum, 3 wt. % to 5 wt. % hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, maltodextrin, or both hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and maltodextrin, and 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. % glycerin, sorbitol, or both glycerin and sorbitol, or
- a third mixture including 0.05 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % locust bean gum, 4 wt. % to 4.5 wt. % pullulan, 1 wt. % glycerin, and 1 wt. % sodium chloride;
- and
- a flavor-enhancing agent, a non-flavorant agent, or both a flavor-enhancing agent and a non-flavorant agent in the inner core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.