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US 9,307,787 B2Granted
Tobacco granules and method of producing tobacco granules
AssigneeU.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
InventorsYan Helen Sun, Frank Scott Atchley
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AssigneeU.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
InventorsYan Helen Sun, Frank Scott Atchley
Estimating the term…
A smokeless tobacco product includes a plurality of orally disintegrable granules. Each granule has a core and at least one layer surrounding the core. The at least one layer includes tobacco particles and a binder. Also disclosed are methods of making tobacco granules that comprise a core and at least one layer having tobacco particles and a binder.
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a pouch comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, the granules each having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising snuff and a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, the plurality of granules being dispersed within the snuff, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a pouch comprising a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising snuff and a plurality of orally-disintegrable granules, the plurality of granules being dispersed within the snuff, each granule having:
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of spherical orally-disintegrable granules, each granule having a spherical core and at least one layer surrounding the core, the at least one layer of each granule comprising tobacco particles and a binder, the core of each granule being coated with the at least one layer by fluidizing the core within a fluid bed processor having a rotor, feeding a plurality of tobacco particles into the fluidized bed, and spraying a binder solution or suspension into the fluidized bed containing the fluidized cores, each core further comprising an additional layer concentrically surrounding the core, the additional layer comprising a different composition than the at least one layer with regard to tobacco particle concentration, type of tobacco particles, binder, flavorant, or combination thereof, wherein the smokeless tobacco product includes a flavor profile including two different flavors having peak flavor intensities being perceptible at different times during consumption in a standardized sensory evaluation.
A smokeless tobacco product comprising a plurality of orally disintegrable granules, each granule having a core and at least one layer surrounding the core, the at least one layer of each granule comprising tobacco particles and a binder, the core of each granule being coated with the at least one layer by fluidizing the core within a fluid bed processor having a rotor, feeding a plurality of tobacco particles into the fluidized bed, and spraying a binder solution or suspension into the fluidized bed containing the fluidized cores, wherein said core is coated by spraying a second binder solution or suspension into the fluidized bed after spraying said first binding solution to produce at least two concentric layers surrounding the core, each of the binding solutions or suspensions having a different composition, wherein the smokeless tobacco product includes a flavor profile including two different flavors having peak flavor intensities being perceptible at different times during consumption in a standardized sensory evaluation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes: by coating with a coating composition, encapsulation of tobacco particles
Tobacco for pipes, for cigars
Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes: of tobacco substitutes
The action of the chemical substances being delayed: by encapsulation of the chemical substances
About 6 years 5 months of term left · ends 26 Mar 2033 (estimated)
This invention relates to tobacco granules and a method of producing the same.
Smokeless tobacco products are orally consumed without subjecting the product to combustion. These products are manufactured in a variety of forms including chewing tobacco, dry snuff and moist snuff. Generally, these types of products are made as follows with the steps being in no particular order: cutting or grinding the tobacco into a suitable size; dipping or spraying the tobacco with a casing solution; partially drying the cased tobacco; holding the tobacco in containers for a period of time; and packaging the tobacco. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,528,993; 4,660,577; and 4,987,907.
Snuffs are often marked as either “dry” or “moist.” Dry snuffs are generally finely ground and have a typical moisture content of about 8% by volume. Moist snuffs can have a variety of particle sizes and typically have a moisture content of about 40% to about 60% by weight.
FIGS. 1A-1D depict cross-sectional views of orally disintegrable granules according to different embodiments.
FIGS. 2A and 2B depict flavor release profiles according to different embodiments.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
This disclosure describes a smokeless tobacco product that includes a plurality of orally disintegrable granules 10. Examples of orally disintegrable granules 10 are shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D. Each granule has a core 12 and at least one layer surrounding the core that contains tobacco particles 22 and a binder. In some cases, the core and the at least one layer are the same or similar material. Each granule can include more than one layer surrounding the core. Thus, the present disclosure describes granules having different arrangements, methods of making the granules, and smokeless tobacco products including these granules. It has been discovered that granules according to the instant disclosure can confer unique flavor profiles on smokeless tobacco products.
Cores 12 have a diameter of between 300 micrometers and 2 millimeters. In some embodiments, the cores have a diameter of between 500 micrometers and 1 millimeter (e.g., about 0.8 millimeter). In some embodiments, the cores can include a carbohydrate, a water soluble polymer, a flavorant, a salt, or a combination thereof. For example, a carbohydrate can include one or more sugars, such as glucose, lactose, or sucrose. For example, a water soluble polymer can include starches and cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the cores 12 are granulated sugar. Salts can include, for example, a citric acid salt or sodium chloride. Flavorants used as a core can include, for example, herbs, spices or teas. In some embodiments, the core is tobacco free. In other embodiments, the core can include tobacco. For example, the core can include a pressed core of tobacco powder. In other embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1D, the core can include tobacco particles 22 within a matrix of other constituents. In some embodiments, the cores can include sugar spheres formed from sucrose and starch, which can be obtained from the Paulaur Corporation, located in Cranbury, N.J.