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Systems, devices and methods for delivering one or more additives to smokeless tobacco

Systems, devices and methods for delivering one or more additives to smokeless tobacco description/claims

The present invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods that utilize porous plastic dispensing articles for delivering one or more additives to a smokeless tobacco product. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to porous plastic articles for dispensing one or more additives, such as, for example, flavorings, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, caffeine, other dietary supplements, water or combinations thereof, into a quantity of smokeless tobacco that is put into a container in contact with the article.

The term “smokeless tobacco” is used herein to refer to tobacco that is prepared, packaged and sold in a moist form, and that is used by a consumer by positioning the tobacco into his or her mouth and holding it there over an extended period of time, during which the user's saliva mixes with the tobacco and is then typically expectorated, or spit out, after the flavor is enjoyed for a desired period of time. Certain forms of smokeless tobacco, typically referred to as “chewing tobacco,” are commonly placed by a user in his or her cheek. Other forms of smokeless tobacco, typically referred to as “snuff” or “finecut” moist smokeless tobacco or “dip” tobacco, are commonly placed by a user at a location between his or her lower lip and gum. Another form of smokeless tobacco that is also typically placed by a user between his or her lower lip and gum is snuff or finecut or dip tobacco that is placed in small saliva-permeable pouches, and are retained in the small pouches during use. A common type of smokeless tobacco that is provided in this form is commonly identified as BANDITS™. Such smokeless tobacco pouches are encompassed within the meaning of the term “smokeless tobacco.”

Protocols used in the prior art to process and package smokeless tobacco include many steps that involve significant cost. One aspect of processing and packaging smokeless tobacco that adds to the overall cost of its manufacture involves the addition of flavorings to the tobacco. In this regard, smokeless tobacco users have come to expect and enjoy a wide variety of different tobacco flavors, such as, for example, wintergreen, cherry, mint and the like, as well as multiple custom flavors that are unique to various manufacturers. Not only does tobacco flavoring itself add to the cost of processing and packaging the product, but in addition, each different flavor must be uniquely packaged and labeled, thus adding further to the cost of these products. There is a strong motivation to reduce the manufacturing cost for smokeless tobacco products and, accordingly, there is a continuing need for further contribution in the technology used in the process.

In addition, it is well known that smokeless tobacco retains its optimum freshness and desirability only while it remains sufficiently moist. Indeed, when smokeless tobacco products are exposed to ambient conditions for an extended period, the moisture level thereof quickly falls (i.e., the tobacco becomes dried out) to a level that is undesirable. When such a circumstance arises, the product typically must be discarded and replaced. In view of these circumstances, great care is taken by tobacco manufacturers to make certain that containers holding smokeless tobacco products are well sealed prior to shipment into channels of trade, and that the containers are constructed in a manner whereby they can be easily re-sealed in a relatively air-tight manner after the original seal is broken. Most smokeless tobacco products referred to as “snuff” or “finecut” or “dip” tobacco are packaged and sold in circular cardboard and metal or molded plastic cans having a paper seal enclosing them prior to purchase and use by a consumer. This type of container is commonly referred to as a “can” or “tin.” When a user desires to use the product, the paper seal is broken, the top of the can removed, and the desired amount of smokeless tobacco removed for enjoyment. The lid is then replaced on the can until further use is desired.

Most smokeless tobacco products referred to as “chewing tobacco” are packaged and sold in a flexible container commonly referred to as a “pouch.” Such pouches are also constructed in a manner to allow for an air-tight seal to prevent loss of moisture during shipment and storage, and to allow for re-sealing after the initial seal is broken.

A problem often encountered when goods are packaged and stored in only temporary or intermittent moisture-tight conditions is that, after the moisture seal is broken, the goods undesirably can suffer excessive loss of moisture. For example, smokeless tobacco containers, once opened, are subject to frequent opening and closing. Even if the container is well sealed while closed, the moisture equilibrium inside the container is disturbed with each opening and must be re-established after each time the container is opened and closed. Specifically, each time a package is opened, the air in the container that has a relatively high moisture content is replaced with ambient air, which typically has a relatively lower moisture content. Thus, after the container is re-closed, moisture diffuses from the moist tobacco into the dry air in the container to re-establish moisture equilibrium in the container. This has the consequences of causing the moisture level of the tobacco to decrease toward an unacceptable level. Dealing with the problem of moisture loss adds significantly to the cost of manufacturing smokeless tobacco products because only small containers can be satisfactorily used when packaging smokeless tobacco. Only a limited number of cycles of opening and closing a package can occur before the tobacco therein becomes unacceptably dry, and packaging the product in larger packages would likely result in significant waste.

In light of the above, there is a continuing need for improvements in the manner by which packaged smokeless tobacco is kept from becoming too dry and there is also a continuing need for improvements in the manner by which flavoring is added to tobacco. The present invention addresses these needs, and also provides other advantages.

The present invention addresses these needs by providing methods, systems and devices for introducing one or more additives into smokeless tobacco. The term “additive” is used herein to refer to a composition to be introduced into a quantity of smokeless tobacco, whether by being absorbed by the tobacco, adsorbed to the tobacco, mixed with the tobacco, or otherwise. Indeed, an advantageous aspect of the invention is that the principles of the invention can be used to deliver a wide variety of compositions to the smokeless tobacco, not limited to flavorings and water. Examples of additives contemplated by the invention include, but are not limited to, flavorings, water, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, caffeine, other dietary supplements, or combinations thereof. An additive, also referred to herein as a “dispensate,” may be introduced into tobacco in accordance with the invention by simply placing the smokeless tobacco into contact with an inventive dispensing article and allowing the additive to wick from the article into the tobacco. The porous plastic material of which inventive articles are made defines a network of internal passages in fluid communication with pores on exposed surfaces of the article. The passages advantageously contain a dispensate and are operable to introduce the dispensate into a quantity of smokeless tobacco that contacts the article, i.e., smokeless tobacco that is packaged together with the article in a smokeless tobacco container.

In one advantageous form of the invention, the additive is water that is dispensed to the smokeless tobacco when necessary to maintain a desired level of moisture in the tobacco. In this way, the inventive article can act as a source and/or sink for moisture in the tobacco container. In another form of the invention, the article can be used to deliver a flavoring to the tobacco. In still other forms, the invention provides an excellent manner of delivering one or more other beneficial ingredients to consumers who use smokeless tobacco by using the tobacco as a delivery vehicle. This can be accomplished by introducing the one or more beneficial ingredients into the smokeless tobacco, which will operate as a carrier for the ingredient until a portion of the tobacco is put in the user's mouth, at which time the beneficial ingredient is delivered into the user's bloodstream by diffusion through his or her oral cavity membranes and into his or her bloodstream. In this way, medicaments, vitamins or other nutrients, herbal extracts or other dietary supplements, or the like, can be delivered to a smokeless tobacco user by providing same as a dispensate in an inventive article and then contacting the article to a quantity of smokeless tobacco to deliver the beneficial ingredient to the tobacco.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided an article for introducing a dispensate into a smokeless tobacco product. The article includes a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages; and a dispensate residing within the passages. The article is operable to contain the dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of the article contacts a quantity of smokeless tobacco, and then to release at least a portion of the dispensate into the smokeless tobacco. The article can advantageously be positioned in a container in contact with the tobacco.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for introducing a dispensate into a quantity of smokeless tobacco. The method includes: (1) providing an article comprising a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, wherein a dispensate is positioned within the passages; and (2) contacting the exposed surface of the article to a quantity of smokeless tobacco to cause the dispensate to be released into the tobacco. In one preferred manner of practicing the method, the contacting comprises placing the article and the tobacco in a container for a period of time effective to cause a desired amount of dispensate to be dispensed into the tobacco.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a packaged smokeless tobacco product that includes a sealable container defining a chamber for holding smokeless tobacco, a quantity of smokeless tobacco positioned within the chamber, and a porous plastic dispensing article positioned within the chamber. The article comprises a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defines pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages. A dispensate resides within the passages, and the article is operable to release at least a portion of the dispensate into the smokeless tobacco. The article is preferably in contact with the tobacco.

In one preferred embodiment, the container includes a body and a lid, the body having a lid-receiving portion and the lid having a body-engaging portion for sealingly cooperating with the lid-receiving portion. In this embodiment, the article can alternatively be attached to the lid or the body. In one preferred embodiment, the article is frictionally attached to the lid. In one manner of attaching the article to the lid of a container, the lid is formed to include a plurality of retention brackets extending from the lid's interior surface, and the article is attached to the lid by the retention brackets. In another manner of attaching the article to the lid of a container, the lid is formed to include at least one flange extending from the lid's interior surface, and the article is frictionally attached to the lid by contact with the at least one flange. In another preferred embodiment, the article is attached to the container body. In one manner of attaching the article to the body of a container, the body is formed to include a plurality of retention brackets extending from its interior surface, and the article is attached to the container by the retention brackets. In another manner of attaching the article to the body of a container, the body is formed to include at least one flange extending from its interior surface, and the article is frictionally attached to the container by contact with the at least one flange. In still yet another preferred embodiment, the article is not attached to the container.

In one embodiment, the porous plastic matrix comprises a thermoplastic polymer. In another embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene. In another embodiment, the thermoplastic polymer comprises polyethylene. In certain preferred embodiments, the pores on the exposed surface of the matrix have an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. In other preferred embodiments, the pores have an average size of from about 40 microns to about 150 microns. In yet other preferred embodiments, the pores have an average size of from about 134 microns to about 144 microns. While it is not intended that the invention be limited by any particular shape for the article, in certain preferred embodiments, the article comprises a disk shape.

In one preferred embodiment, the dispensate comprises an aqueous fluid. In another preferred embodiment, the dispensate comprises a non-aqueous fluid. The non-aqueous fluid can be selected, for example, from the group consisting of a gas and an oil. The dispensate can comprise, for example, a member selected from the group consisting of a flavoring, a pharmaceutical, a nutritional supplement, caffeine, a dietary supplement, water and combinations thereof. Where the dispensate includes a flavoring, excellent examples of flavorings that can be selected for use in accordance with the invention include wintergreen flavoring, cherry flavoring and mint flavoring.

It is an object of the invention to provide new methods, systems and devices for delivering one or more additives to smokeless tobacco using a porous plastic dispensing article.

Further objects, embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings and detailed description herein.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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