Preformed smokeless tobacco product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9237768-B2
Application number	US-201414162209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2014
Priority date	Apr 14, 2010
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a container including a lid and a base that defines an interior space; and
a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products having a substantially similar shape and being disposed in the interior space of the container, each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products comprising loose tobacco and a binder compressed into the substantially similar shape such that at least a portion of the loose tobacco is exposed along exterior surfaces of each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products, the preformed smokeless tobacco products having an average individual product friability of between 1 weight percent and 4 weight percent, wherein the preformed smokeless tobacco products have an average three point bend strength of between 0.25 N and 4.0 N, wherein the preformed smokeless tobacco products have an average texture profile hardness of between 2.0 N and 12.0 N, wherein each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products comprises at least 40 weight percent moisture, wherein each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products comprises between 0.5 weight percent and 5 weight percent binder.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a whole package friability of less than 20 weight percent.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products has a substantially similar shape, having at least one pair of opposing, generally parallel exterior surfaces.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products comprises a flavorant.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl containing compound, a dextrin or dextrin derivative, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, konjac, collagen, inulin, soy protein, whey protein, casein, wheat gluten, carrageenan, alginates, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan, dextrin, pullulan, curdlan, gellan, locust bean gum, guar gum, tara gum, gum tragacanth, pectin, agar, zein, karaya, gelatin, psyllium seed, chitin, chitosan, gum acacia, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, xanthan, cellulose, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum, cellulose, and xanthan.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the preformed smokeless tobacco products comprises between 0.5 weight percent binder and 1.5 weight percent binder.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the loose tobacco is moist loose, cured, fermented tobacco.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the loose tobacco comprises tobacco prepared from plants having less than 20 μg of DVT per cm 2 of green leaf tissue.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products each have a thickness that is at least 50 percent of an internal height of the container.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco is long-cut tobacco.

14. A preformed smokeless tobacco product comprising a shaped smokeless tobacco body having a defined shape, the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprising tobacco and a binder, the shaped smokeless tobacco body having an individual product friability of between 0.5 weight percent and 10 weight percent, wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body has a three point bend strength of at least 0.25 N and less than 4.0 N, wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body has a texture profile hardness of at least 2.0 N and less than 12.0 N. wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprises at least 40 weight percent moisture and between 0.5 weight percent and 1.5 weight percent binder.

15. The product of claim 14 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, xanthan, cellulose, and combinations thereof.

16. The product of claim 14 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum, cellulose, and xanthan.

17. The product of claim 16 , wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprises between 0.6 and 0.8 weight percent binder.

18. The product of claim 14 , wherein the tobacco is moist long-cut fermented cured tobacco.

19. The product of claim 14 , wherein the tobacco is long-cut tobacco.

20. A preformed smokeless tobacco product comprising a shaped smokeless tobacco body having a defined shape, the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprising tobacco and a binder, the shaped smokeless tobacco body has an individual product friability of between 1.7 and 2.1 weight percent, a three point bend strength of between 0.25 N and 0.8 N, and a texture profile hardness of between 4.5 N and 5.5 N, wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprises between 50 and 61 weight percent oven volatiles, wherein the shaped smokeless tobacco body comprises between 0.5 weight percent and 1.5 weight percent binder.

21. The product of claim 20 , wherein the tobacco is long-cut tobacco.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Carroll Andrew Nathan
• Black Shannon Maxwell
• Holland Tommy C
• Macko Jason Andrew
• Dinovi Christopher Joseph

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

• A24B15/18

  Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes · CPC title