Oral pouch products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000140-A1
Application number	US-201514789306-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pouched product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition adapted for oral use and having a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including a first plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a first direction, a second plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein the first plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers and the second plurality if continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers are bonded with a heated lamination process.

First claim

1 . A pouched product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, comprising:
an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition adapted for oral use, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch comprises a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a first direction.

2 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web comprises a second plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein the first plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers and the second plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers are bonded.

3 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers have a melting point of less than about 200° C.

4 . The pouched product of claim 4 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers have a melting point of less than about 140° C.

5 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise a biodegradable polymer.

6 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise an aliphatic polyester.

7 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate adipate, and copolymers thereof.

8 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven web is substantially free of a binder coating.

9 . The pouched product of claim 1 , wherein the composition within the cavity of the pouch comprises at least one of a particulate tobacco material, nicotine, particulate non-tobacco material that has been treated to contain nicotine and/or flavors, and fibrous plant material treated to contain a tobacco extract.

10 . A method of forming a pouched product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, comprising:
providing a continuous supply of an outer water-permeable pouch material in the form of a nonwoven web, wherein the nonwoven web comprises a plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a first direction; engaging lateral edges of the outer water-pouch material such that a longitudinally-extending seam is formed; sealing the longitudinally-extending seam such that a continuous tubular member is formed; inserting a composition adapted for oral use into the continuous tubular member; subdividing the continuous tubular member into discrete pouch portions such that each discrete pouch portion includes a charge of the composition adapted for oral use; and sealing each discrete pouch portion such that an outer water-permeable pouch is formed that encloses the composition charge.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the nonwoven web comprises a second plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers oriented substantially parallel to each other in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein the first plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers and the second plurality of continuous filament heat sealable binder fibers are bonded.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers have a melting point of less than about 200° C.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers have a melting point of less than about 140° C.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise a biodegradable polymer.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise an aliphatic polyester.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the heat sealable binder fibers comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate adipate, and copolymers thereof.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the nonwoven web is substantially free of a binder coating.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of a particulate tobacco material, nicotine, particulate non-tobacco material that has been treated to contain nicotine and/or flavors, and fibrous plant material treated to contain a tobacco extract.

Assignees

• Reynolds Tobacco Co R

Inventors

• Sebastian Andries Don
• Hunt Eric Taylor
• Bengtsson Bruce Alan
• Busbee Alton
• Mabe Jeremy Barrett
• Pu Yan

Classifications

• A24B13/00 Primary

  Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff (reconstituted tobacco products A24B3/14) · CPC title

• D04H3/16

  with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion · CPC title

• D04H3/04

  in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles · CPC title

• D04H3/14

  with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding · CPC title

• B65B29/00

  Packaging of materials presenting special problems · CPC title