Fabric having tobacco entangled with structural fibers

• US 10,736,354 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2019
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• 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:
  US16/599,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20200046019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 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 smokeless tobacco product comprising:

smokeless tobacco; and

a pouch surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the pouch being porous and including,

elastomeric fibers, the elastomeric fibers including polyurethane.

2. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the pouch includes a fabric including the elastomeric fibers.

3. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric fibers include non-woven elastomeric fibers.

4. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 2, wherein the fabric has a basis weight ranging from 1 gram per square meter (gsm) to 350 gsm.

5. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 4, wherein the basis weight is 30 gsm.

6. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 4, wherein the basis weight is 21 gsm.

7. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 4, wherein the basis weight is 15 gsm.

8. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric fibers have diameters of less than 30 microns.

9. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 8, wherein the diameters range from 0.5 microns to 30 microns.

10. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 9, wherein the diameters range from 0.5 microns to 5 microns.

11. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric fibers have diameters ranging from 1 micron to 50 microns.

12. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric fibers include melt-blown fibers.

13. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the smokeless tobacco is present in an amount ranging from 0.25 grams to 4 grams.

14. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the smokeless tobacco has a total oven volatiles content of greater than 20% by weight.

15. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1, further comprising:

a flavorant in at least one of the smokeless tobacco or the pouch.

16. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 15, wherein the flavorant includes Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, cardamon, Apium graveolens, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, licorice, a mint oil from a species of the genus Mentha, or any combination thereof.

17. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:

long-cut smokeless tobacco; and

a pouch surrounding the long-cut smokeless tobacco, the pouch including, a porous fabric including,

non-woven fibers including polyurethane, the non-woven fibers having diameters of less than 30 microns.

18. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 17, wherein the long-cut smokeless tobacco is present in an amount ranging from 0.25 grams to 4 grams.

19. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:

smokeless tobacco including long-cut tobacco having a width ranging from 10 cuts per inch to 110 cuts per inch and a length ranging from 0.1 inch to 1 inch; and

a pouch surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the pouch being porous and including,

elastomeric fibers.