# US 12,342,848 B2 · Smokeless tobacco article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,342,848 B2 - Document ID: US12342848B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/449,308 - Filed: 2023-08-14 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2025-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Gregory James Griscik; Carl Gregory Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12342848B2 ## CPC - A24B 3/14: Forming reconstituted tobacco products, e.g. wrapper materials, sheets, imitation leaves, rods, cakes; Forms of such products (delustering A24C1/40) - A23G 4/068: {containing plants or parts thereof, e.g. fruits, seeds, extracts (containing gums A23G4/10)} - A24B 13/00: Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff (reconstituted tobacco products A24B3/14) - A24B 15/18: Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes - A24B 15/30: by organic substances {(A24B15/281 takes precedence)} - B29C 43/003: {characterised by the choice of material} - B29C 43/006: {Pressing and sintering powders, granules or fibres} - B29C 43/52: Heating or cooling - B29K 2021/003: {Thermoplastic elastomers} - B29K 2511/00: Use of natural products or their composites, not provided for in groups {B29K2401/00 - B29K2509/00,} as filler - B29L 2031/7414: {Smokers'' requisites, e.g. pipe cleaners (cigar holders B29L2023/14)} - A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A method for making a smokeless tobacco article can include combining thermoplastic polymer particles with tobacco particles to form a mixture of particles, compressing the mixture of particles within a pressing apparatus to form the mixture into a predetermined shape, separating the mixture from the pressing apparatus such that it retains the predetermined shape, and heating the mixture outside of the pressing apparatus to at least partially melt at least some of the thermoplastic polymer particles and form a matrix of polymer and tobacco particles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making an oral product comprising: compressing thermoplastic polymer particles within a pressing apparatus to form the thermoplastic polymer particles into a desired shape; releasing pressure on the thermoplastic polymer particles, the thermoplastic polymer particles being configured to retain the desired shape; heating the thermoplastic polymer particles to at least partially melt at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer particles to form a porous matrix, the heating configured to provide the porous matrix with a shore M hardness of at least 85; and adding at least one additive to the porous matrix to form an oral product, the at least one additive including an energizing agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additive further includes nicotine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing the desired shape from the pressing apparatus prior to the heating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating is performed at atmospheric pressure, and the compressing is performed at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to 25° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the compressing is performed at a force of at least 1 kN. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the force is at least 6 kN. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the force is at least 8 kN. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shore M hardness is at least 90. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating is performed in a convection oven. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of less than 20° C. greater than a melting temperature of a thermoplastic polymer of the thermoplastic polymer particles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer particles include polyethylene. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer particles include ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer particles have an average diameter ranging from 10 microns to 230 microns. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the average diameter ranges from 10 microns to 20 microns. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adding a flavorant to the oral product. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the adding a flavorant includes absorbing the flavorant into the porous matrix. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to the compressing, mixing the thermoplastic polymer particles with a filler. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic polymer particles include ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and the filler includes silica. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adding is performed at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to 25° C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: mixing the thermoplastic polymer particles with a sweetener.