Non-tobacco product having polyurethane structural fibers

• US 10,448,669 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Atchley, Frank Scott, Rossman, James M., Mishra, Munmaya K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordray, Dennis R
• Application Number:
  US15/728,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 13/00 Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff reconstituted tobacco products A24B3/14
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/28 by chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 23/02 Tobacco pouches
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0223 Vinyl resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0238 Vinyl halide, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0246 Acrylic resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 Polyolefin fibres vinyl or acrylic copolymers B32B2262/0223 or B32B2262/0246
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/04 Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/062 Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/065 Lignocellulosic fibres, e.g. jute, sisal, hemp, flax, bamboo
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/12 Conjugate fibres, e.g. core/sheath or side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/14 Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7163 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/734 Dimensional stability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/06 : characterised by a fibrous or filamentary layer mechanically connected, e.g. by needling to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 : Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/02 : comprising animal or vegetable substances , e.g. cork, bamboo, starch
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/047 : made of fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 2/00 : Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/04 : from fleeces or layers composed of fibres having existing or potential cohesive properties, e.g. natural fibres, prestretched or fibrillated artificial fibres felting apparatus D04H17/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 : characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/425 : Cellulose series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4258 : Regenerated cellulose series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4291 : Olefin series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4374 : using different kinds of webs, e.g. by layering webs
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43828 : sheath-core
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43832 : side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43838 : Ultrafine fibres, e.g. microfibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/46 : by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres D04H1/45 takes precedence; needling machines D04H18/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/48 : in combination with at least one other method of consolidation
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/49 : entanglement by fluid jet in combination with another consolidation means
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/492 : by fluid jet D04H1/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/498 : entanglement of layered webs
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/728 : by electro-spinning electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/005 : Synthetic yarns or filaments D04H3/013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/105 : by needling needling machines D04H18/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/11 : by fluid jet
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/16 : with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 5/02 : strengthened or consolidated by mechanical methods, e.g. needling needling machines D04H18/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 5/03 : by fluid jet
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 5/08 : characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres or yarns
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/00 : Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds D06M10/00, D06M14/00 take precedence; treatment with complexes of organic amines with inorganic substances D06M11/59; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/005 : Compositions containing perfumes; Compositions containing deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/06 : cellulosic

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

Claims

1. A non-tobacco product comprising,

a non-tobacco material having fibrous structures and a total oven volatiles content of about 20% by weight or greater;

and

two layers of melt-blown polyurethane structural fibers positioned on opposite sides of the non-tobacco material such that one layer of the melt-blown polyurethane structural fibers is positioned on each of the opposite sides, the melt-blown polyurethane structural fibers having a diameter of 100 microns or less.

2. The non-tobacco product of claim 1, wherein each layer of melt-blown polyurethane structural fibers comprises a basis weight of about 30 grams per square meter (gsm).

3. The non-tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the non-tobacco material comprises a herbal composition.

4. The non-tobacco product of claim 3, wherein the herbal composition comprises a culinary herb, thyme, lavender, rosemary, coriander, dill, mint, peppermint, a medicinal herbs, dahlia, cinchona, foxglove, meadowsweet, Echinacea, elderberry, willow bark, or combinations thereof.

5. The non-tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the non-tobacco material is selected from the group consisting of tea leaves, red clover, coconut flakes, mint leaves, ginseng, apple, corn silk, grape leaf, basil leaf, and combinations thereof.