Oral pouch product with flavored wrapper

• US 20080202536A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Torrence, Karen M., Winterson, Warren D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/275
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 19/00 Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof marmalades, jams, jellies or the like A23L21/10; treating harvested fruit or vegetables in bulk A23N
• 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 15/16 of tobacco substitutes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/02 Packaging of substances, e.g. tea, which are intended to be infused in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/02 Forming flat bags from individual sheets or blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/10 Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof welding of plastics per se B29C65/02; closing plastic tube ends in general B29C57/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/804 Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ , i.e. without having been previously removed from the package B65D65/46 takes precedence; tea infusers A47G19/16; spoons or stirrers comprising beverage additives A47G21/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Abstract

Provided is an oral pouch flavor product with a fibrous flavored wrapper that encloses an inner filling material. Preferably, the fibrous flavored wrapper includes embedded flavorants. The fibrous flavored wrapper may also include a softening agent, colorants, and/or browning inhibitors. The inner material may include non-tobacco, plant material fibers and preferably has a low moisture content so as to prevent the need for preservatives or refrigeration.

Claims

1. An oral pouch product comprising:

a single-layer, fibrous flavored wrapper including at least one embedded flavorant; and

a inner filling material including non-tobacco, plant material fibers enclosed in said fibrous flavored wrapper, the inner filling material optionally having a moisture content of less than about 15% by weight of the inner filling material.

2. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said fibrous flavored wrapper is made of paper and/or fabric.

3. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said fibrous flavored wrapper includes a browning inhibitor so as to inhibit discoloration of the wrapper.

4. The oral pouch product of claim 3, wherein said browning inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C, calcium chloride, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium bisulfite, and combinations thereof.

5. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said fibrous flavored wrapper includes a softening agent so as to soften the fibrous flavored wrapper.

6. The oral pouch product of claim 5, wherein said softening agent is selected from the group consisting of humectants, flavored oils, and combinations thereof.

7. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said at least one flavorant is a flavored oil.

8. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said fibrous flavored wrapper includes colorants.

9. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said inner filling material does not include preservatives.

10. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said at least one flavorant is in the form of spray dried flavors, essential oils, encapsulated flavors, coacervated flavors, suspensions, and/or solutions.

11. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said at least one flavorant comprise microencapsulated beads providing controlled release of the flavorants.

12. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said at least one flavorant is added in an amount of about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per flavored wrapper and/or in an amount of about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the inner filling material.

13. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said pouch product weighs about 200 mg to about 600 mg.

14. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said non-tobacco, plant material fibers include tea, spice, herb, fruit, and/or vegetable fibers.

15. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said inner filling material has a water activity level in an amount of about 0.5 aw to about 0.75 aw.

16. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said oral pouch product is a rectangular shaped wrapper and has a length of about 20 mm to about 35 mm, a width of about 10 mm to about 20 mm, and a thickness of about 3 mm to about 6 mm.

17. The oral pouch product of claim 1, wherein said oral pouch product is elliptical shaped and has a major axis of about 20 mm to about 35 mm, a minor axis of about 10 mm to about 25 mm, and a thickness of about 3 mm to about 6 mm, and wherein said elliptical shaped pouch is truncated along at least one axis.

18. A method of making an oral pouch product comprising:

forming a flavored wrapper by applying flavorants to a single-layer, fibrous wrapper;

forming the flavored wrapper into a pouch;

filling said pouch with an inner filling material; and

applying a seal around said inner filling material to form an oral pouch product,

wherein said inner filling material includes non-tobacco, plant material fibers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said flavorants are applied to said fibrous flavored wrapper by spraying, coating, immersing, embossing, and/or dispersing.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said inner filling material has a moisture content of less than about 15% by weight of the inner filling material.