Granted Patent B2

US 12,193,470 · App. 18/062,832 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Feng Gao (Midlothian, VA); Frank Scott Atchley (Midlothian, VA); Gregory James Griscik (Midlothian, VA); Christopher Joseph Dinovi (Ruther Glen, VA); Phillip M. Hulan (Midlothian, VA); Diane L. Gee (Chesterfield, VA); Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, VA); James Arthur Strickland (Richmond, VA)

Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC

A24B13/00

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. An oral product, comprising:

a body having a compressibility at 425 N ranging from 60% to 98% and a springiness of greater than 20%, the body including,

a mouth-stable polymer matrix including a mouth-stable polymer in an amount greater than or equal to 40 weight percent of the body;

tobacco embedded in the mouth-stable polymer matrix;

medium chain triglycerides;

a sweetener; and

a flavorant in an amount of less than 20 weight percent.

2. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein

the body further includes a fiber-polymer matrix including,

the mouth-stable polymer matrix, and

the tobacco, and

the fiber-polymer matrix is porous.

3. The oral product of claim 2 , wherein

the fiber-polymer matrix defines a first plurality of pores having a first diameter, the first diameter ranging from 40 microns to 60 microns, and

the fiber-polymer matrix defines a second plurality of pores having a second diameter, the second diameter ranging from 1 micron to 10 microns.

4. The oral product of claim 2 , wherein the fiber-polymer matrix is an extruded fiber-polymer matrix.

5. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the mouth-stable polymer includes polyurethane, silicon polymer, polyester, polyacrylate, polyethylene, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), any copolymer thereof, or any combination thereof.

6. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the mouth-stable polymer includes polyurethane.

7. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the body includes the mouth-stable polymer in an amount of greater than 60 weight percent.

8. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the medium chain triglycerides are present in an amount ranging less than 20 weight percent.

9. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the sweetener includes saccharine, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, or any combination thereof.

10. The oral product of claim 1 wherein the sweetener includes sucrose, honey, glucose, molasses, corn syrup, fructose, lactose, maltose, sorghum syrup, mannitol, sorbitol, fruit juice concentrate, or any combination thereof.

11. The oral product of claim 1 , further comprising:

nicotine, a nicotine derivative, or a combination of nicotine and a nicotine derivative.

12. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein

the tobacco is in the form of tobacco fibers, and

the body defines channels adjacent to the tobacco fibers.

13. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the springiness ranges from 75% to 95%.

14. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the body further includes an antioxidant.

15. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein the antioxidant is present in an amount ranging from 0.01 weight percent to 5.0 weight percent.

16. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein the antioxidant includes ascorbyl palmitate, BHT, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, monosterol citrate, tocopherols, propyl gallate, tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Vitamin E, or any combination thereof.

17. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a filler.

18. The oral product of claim 17 , wherein the filler includes starch, di-calcium phosphate, lactose, sorbitol, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, clays, silica, glass particles, sodium lauryl sulfate, glyceryl palmitostearate, sodium benzoate, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc, a stearate, a wax, a stabilizers, a disintegrating agent, a pH stabilizers, a preservative, or any combination thereof.

19. The oral product of claim 17 , wherein the body includes the filler in an amount ranging less than 10 weight percent.

20. The oral product of claim 1 , further comprising:

a coating on the body.

Continuity (5)

References Cited (212)