Fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10905151-B2
Application number	US-201916380095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:
smokeless tobacco; and
a fabric surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the fabric including,
polymeric fibers having a basis weight of less than 30 grams per square meter (gsm), the polymeric fibers including,
a polymer, and
a filler, the filler being configured to increase a hydraulic permittivity of the fabric.

2. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises a colorant.

3. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 2 , wherein the colorant comprises a brown colorant.

4. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a mouth-stable polymer.

5. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 4 , wherein the mouth-stable polymer comprises an elastomer.

6. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 5 , wherein the elastomer comprises polyurethane.

7. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than 30 microns.

8. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 7 , the diameter ranges from 0.5 microns to 5 microns.

9. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the diameter ranges from 10 nanometers to 1 micron.

10. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise melt-blown polymeric fibers.

11. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the basis weight is less than 25 gsm.

12. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco has an average length ranging from 0.1 inch to 1 inch.

13. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco has an average width ranging from 10 cuts per inch to 110 cuts per inch.

14. An oral product comprising:
a non-tobacco plant material; and
a fabric surrounding the non-tobacco plant material, the fabric including,
polymeric fibers having a basis weight of less than 30 grams per square meter (gsm), the polymeric fibers including,
a polymer, and
a filler, the filler being configured to increase a hydraulic permittivity of the fabric.

15. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein the non-tobacco plant material comprises tea leaves, red clover, coconut flakes, mint leaves, citrus fiber, bamboo fiber, ginseng, apple, corn silk, grape leaf, basil leaf, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof.

16. The oral product of claim 14 , further comprising:
a tobacco extract including nicotine.

17. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein the polymer comprises a mouth-stable polymer including an elastomer.

18. The oral product of claim 17 , wherein the elastomer includes polyurethane.

19. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise melt-blown polymeric fibers.

20. The oral product of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the polymeric fibers have diameter of less than 30 microns.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Carroll Andrew Nathan
• Black Shannon Maxwell
• Sun Yan Helen
• Burke William J

Classifications

• B65D85/808

  for immersion in the liquid {to release part or all of their contents}, e.g. tea bags · CPC title

• B65D85/8061

  Filters · CPC title

• A24F23/02

  Tobacco pouches · CPC title

• A24B15/14

  made of tobacco and a binding agent not derived from tobacco · CPC title

• B05B13/0221

  characterised by the means for moving or conveying the objects or other work, e.g. conveyor belts (B05B13/0207 takes precedence; conveyors in general B65G) · CPC title