Nicotine packaging materials

• US 5,268,209 A
• Filed: 10/21/1991
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dunn, John T., Hunt, James A., Nelson, Melinda K., Roth, Nathan, Osborne, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lesmes, George F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DYE, RENA
• Application Number:
  US07/779,682
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 428/34.3, 428/35.2, 428/35.3, 428/35.4, 428/462, 428/424.8, 428/216, 428/461, 428/424.7, 428/425.8, 428/344, 428/347, 428/349, 428/354, 424/449, 424/448, 206/484, 206/440, 206/229, 206/441
• US Class Current: 428/34.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/703 characterised by shape or structure; Details concerning release liner or backing; Refillable patches; User-activated patches
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/24 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles closures therefor B32B2435/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/26 Articles or materials wholly enclosed in laminated sheets or wrapper blanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1307 Bag or tubular film [e.g., pouch, flexible food casing, envelope, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1338 Elemental metal containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1341 Contains vapor or gas barrier, polymer derived from vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, or polymer containing a vinyl alcohol unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2804 Next to metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2826 Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31583 Nitrile monomer type [polyacrylonitrile, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31587 Hydrocarbon polymer [polyethylene, polybutadiene, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31605 Next to free metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31696 : Including polyene monomers [e.g., butadiene, etc.]

Abstract

The invention herein pertains to methods and materials for producing a nicotine maintenance pouch. Laminates comprising a nicotine barrier layer and a nicotine degradation agent barrier layer are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the nicotine barrier layer comprises a nitrile rubber modified acrylonitrilemethyl acrylate copolymer. An especially preferred nicotine barrier material comprises, by weight percent, 75% acrylonitrile, and 25% methyl acrylate with 10% butadiene (AN-MA/B). The nicotine degradation agent barrier layer is preferably aluminum foil. In an especially preferred embodiment, the laminate comprises a layer of AN-MA/B adhered to a layer of aluminum foil, which in turn is adhered to a layer of paper stock.

Pouches comprising a self-sealed nicotine barrier layer and a nicotine degradation agent barrier layer are disclosed. These pouches are preferably formed from the laminates above.

A method for production of pouches comprises: (a) providing a laminate including a self-sealable nicotine barrier layer and a nicotine degradation agent barrier layer; and (b) sealing the self-sealable nicotine barrier layer to enclose a nicotine device.

Claims

1. A laminate for forming a self-sealed nicotine maintenance pouch, said laminate comprising a heat sealable nitrile rubber modified acrylonitrile methyl acrylate copolymer nicotine nitrile rubber modified acrylonitrile methyl acrylate copolymer nicotine barrier layer, a nicotine degration agent barrier layer, an adhesive layer bonding said degradation agent barrier layer to said nicotine barrier layer, a protective layer and an adhesive layer bonding said nicotine degration agent barrier layer to said protective layer.

2. The laminate according to claim 1 wherein the nicotine barrier layer comprises a graft copolymer formed from 73-77% acrylonitrile and from 23-27% methyl acrylate copolymerized in the presence of 8-10 parts by weight of butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers containing approximately 70% by weight of polymer units derived from butadiene.

3. The laminate according to claim 1 wherein the nicotine degradation agent barrier layer is a metal foil.

4. The laminate according to claim 2 wherein the nicotine degradation agent barrier layer is aluminum foil.

5. The laminate according to claim 1 wherein said protective layer is paper.

6. The laminate of claim 5 wherein the thickness of said nicotine barrier layer is in the range of 0.8-2.5 mil.

7. The laminate of claim 6 wherein said metal foil is aluminum foil having a thickness in the range of 0.35-1.0 mil.

8. A nicotine maintenance pouch having opposing sides enclosing and sealing an internal volume for containing nicotine, said sides being formed from a laminate comprising a heat sealable nitrile rubber modified acrylonitrile methyl acrylate copolymer nicotine barrier layer, a nicotine degradation agent barrier layer, an adhesive layer bonding said degradation agent barrier layer to said nicotine barrier layer, a protective layer and an adhesive layer bonding said nicotine degradation agent barrier layer to said protective layer said internal volume being defined in its entirety by said nicotine barrier layer.

9. The pouch according to claim 8 wherein the nicotine barrier layer comprises a graft copolymer formed from 73-77% acrylonitrile and from 23-27% methyl acrylate copolymerized in the presence of 8-10 parts by weight of butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers containing approximately 70% by weight of polymer units derived from butadiene.

10. The pouch according to claim 8 wherein the nicotine degradation agent barrier layer is a metal foil.

11. The pouch according to claim 9 wherein the nicotine degradation agent barrier layer is aluminum foil.

12. The pouch of claim 8 wherein protective layer is paper.

13. The pouch of claim 8 further comprising a protective layer forming at least a portion of the external surface of said pouch and adhesive layer bonding said protective layer to said metal foil.

14. The pouch of claim 11 further comprising a paper layer forming at least a portion of the external surface of said pouch and adhesive layer bonding said paper layer to said aluminum foil.

15. The pouch of claim 14 wherein the thickness of said nicotine barrier layer is in the range of 0.8-2.5 mil.

16. The pouch of claim 15 wherein the thickness of said aluminum foil is in the range of 0.35-1.0 mil.