Wax-free chewing gum base

• US 5,286,500 A
• Filed: 06/30/1992
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Synosky, Steven, Reed, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, JEANETTE M
• Application Number:
  US07/906,921
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3-6
• US Class Current: 426/3
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/00 Chewing gum
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/02 Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of chewing gum
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/04 for moulding or shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/06 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/066 characterised by the fat used
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/08 of the chewing gum base
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/10 characterised by the carbohydrates used, e.g. polysaccharides containing dairy products A23G4/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/804 Low calorie, low sodium or hypoallergic

Abstract

A chewing gum base is provided which is free of wax as well as a method for producing same. In an embodiment, a wax-free gum base is provided having flavor release characteristics at least as good as similar bases including wax comprising an elastomer, polyvinyl acetate, an elastomer plasticizer, and a sufficient amount of oil to achieve flavor release characteristics that are at least as good as a similar gum base including wax.

Claims

1. A wax-free chewing gum base having flavor release characteristics at least as good as similar bases including wax comprising:

an elastomer;

polyvinyl acetate;

an elastomer plasticizer; and

a sufficient amount of oil having a capillary melting point between 40°

C. and 70°

C. to achieve flavor release characteristics that are at least as good as a similar gum base that includes wax.

2. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein at least a majority of the oil is hydrogenated.

3. The wax-free chewing base of claim 1 wherein the oil has a capillary melting point between approximately 60°

C. and 70°

C.

4. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 comprising at least 12% oil.

5. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 comprising:

about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer;

0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer;

about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer;

about 4 to about 35 weight percent filler;

about 12 to about 35 weight percent softener.

6. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes at least one natural elastomer selected from the group consisting of jelutong, lechi caspi, perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero, rosindinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, smoked or liquid latex, guayule, and combinations thereof.

7. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes at least one synthetic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, butadiene-styrene copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate copolymer, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, and combinations thereof.

8. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of glycerol esters of rosin, glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, partially hydrogenated methyl esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin, methyl esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, terpene resin, and combinations thereof.

9. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 including a filler selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, talc, ground limestone, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, titanium dioxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphates, cellulose, and combinations thereof.

10. A wax-free chewing gum having chew characteristics at least substantially as good as a similar chewing gum including wax comprising:

a water soluble bulk agent;

one or more flavoring agents;

a water insoluble gum base comprising;

an elastomer;

an elastomer plasticizer;

polyvinyl acetate; and

a softener wherein the softening point of the gum base is at least 5°

C. less than a similar gum base having wax.

11. The chewing gum of claim 10 wherein the softener is chosen from the group consisting of cottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut oil.

12. The chewing gum of claim 10 wherein the elastomer includes natural rubber.

13. The chewing gum of claim 10 wherein the softener includes a hydrogenated oil having a capillary melting point between approximately 60°

C. and 70°

C.

14. The chewing gum of claim 10 wherein the base includes a sufficient amount of a hydrogenated oil to reduce the softening point by at least 5°

C. as compared to a similar gum base having wax.

15. The chewing gum of claim 10 wherein the base includes, at most, approximately 10% by weight, with respect to the entire base, a partially hydrogenated oil.

16. A method for creating a wax-free gum base for creating a gum having chew characteristics at least substantially similar to a gum created from a wax containing gum base comprising the steps of:

creating a gum base from at least an elastomer, an elastomer plasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and oil; and

choosing the percent and type of oil so as to create a gum base having a softening point that is lower than the softening point of the gum base had wax been present.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the softening point of the no-wax base is at least 5°

C. lower.

18. A method for creating a wax-free gum base for creating a gum having chew characteristics at least substantially similar to a gum created from a wax containing gum base comprising the steps of:

creating a gum base from at least an elastomer, an elastomer plasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and a softener; and

choosing the percent and type of at least the softener or the elastomer plasticizer to create a gum base having characteristics substantially similar to a similar gum base including wax.

19. A method for eliminating wax from a gum base formula that initially uses approximately 5% or less by weight wax and includes at least an elastomer, polyvinyl acetate, an elastomer solvent, and oil comprising the steps of:

a) eliminating wax from the formula and increasing at least a majority of the remaining components approximately proportionately;

b) testing a resultant gum base; and

c) if the characteristics of the resultant gum base are not satisfactory, modifying the oil ratios or content of the gum base.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the oil content is modified by increasing the oil content in the gum base.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the oil ratios in the gum base are modified by selecting oils of different capillary melting points.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the gum base is tested by formulating a chewing gum and testing same to determine if the chew characteristics are satisfactory.

23. The method of claim 19 including the steps of:

testing a resultant gum base from step c) and if the characteristics are not satisfactory, modifying the elastomer plasticizer ratios or content of the gum base.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the elastomer plasticizer ratios are modified by selecting elastomer plasticizers of different ring and ball softening points.

25. A method for eliminating wax from a gum base formula comprising approximately 5% or more wax by weight and including at least an elastomer polyvinyl acetate, elastomer solvent, and an oil comprising the steps of:

a) eliminating wax from the formula and increasing approximately proportionately the content of the oil in the base;

b) testing a resultant base; and

c) if the characteristics of the resultant base are not satisfactory, modifying the oil content of the resultant gum base.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the oil content is modified by changing the oil content in the gum base.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the oil ratios in the gum base are modified by selecting oils of different capillary melting points.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the gum base is tested by formulating a chewing gum and testing same to determine if the chew characteristics are satisfactory.

29. The method of claim 25 including the steps of:

testing a resultant base of step c) and if the characteristics are not satisfactory, modifying the elastomer plasticizer content or ratios of the gum base.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the elastomer plasticizer ratios are modified by selecting elastomer plasticizers of different ring and ball softening points.