Tobacco Product And Method For Manufacture
First Claim
1. A tobacco product in a form suitable for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising:
- tobacco and a thermoplastic binder system, the amount of the thermoplastic binder system being present in an amount less than about 30 weight percent of the dry weight of the tobacco product.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The tobacco products incorporate binder systems. The binder systems exhibit thermoplastic properties, characteristics, or behaviors. The binder system can incorporate at least one type of binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic properties. Additionally, the binder system can incorporate materials to provide a binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic characteristics, for example at least one thermoplastic binding material in combination with a plasticizer. Also, tobacco products can incorporate a plasticizer blend. Tobacco products are produced by contacting tobacco, with other desired ingredients, in the presence of a binder system, and forming the resulting mixture into a shape. Of particular interest are processing conditions that involve exposing a tobacco formulation to less than about 100° C. during processing, using relatively low amounts of a binding agent that exhibits desirable thermoplastic behavior at such processing temperatures, and using relatively low to moderate amounts of liquid processing aids. Other processing conditions include adding a plasticizer blend to the tobacco formulation.
142 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A tobacco product in a form suitable for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising:
- tobacco and a thermoplastic binder system, the amount of the thermoplastic binder system being present in an amount less than about 30 weight percent of the dry weight of the tobacco product.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for making a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
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contacting tobacco material and a thermoplastic binder system to provide a mixture; subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature; forming the mixture into a desired shape of a tobacco product; and cooling the tobacco product. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A tobacco product in a form suitable for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising:
- tobacco, a binder system, and a plasticizer blend, wherein the plasticizer blend is melted prior to mixing with the tobacco and the binder system.
- View Dependent Claims (28)
Specification