Snacks of orally soluble edible films

• US 20030224090A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edizone LC (Edizone)
• Original Assignee: Edizone LC (Edizone)
• Inventors: Pearce, Tony M., Pearce, Terry V.
• Application Number:
  US10/325,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/89
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/36 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/368 containing vitamins, antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/50 characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. products with supported structure
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/54 Composite products, e.g. layered, coated, filled
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/79 in the form of films
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/20 Making of laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs, e.g. by wrapping in preformed edible dough sheets or in edible food containers
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/16 Taste affecting agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/222 Emulsifier
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/056 Tartaric acid
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/242 Acesulfame K, acetylsulfame
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/2482 Aspartam
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/264 Sucralose, halogenated sugar
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5036 Carrageenan
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5076 Pullulane
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5118 Starch
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/54246 Casein
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5432 Gelatine
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/6406 Glycerol
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/642 : Sorbitol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 : Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/085 : liquid, jellylike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 : specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/08 : Liquid cores; Plastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 : with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 23/008 : Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 5/005 : Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 65/463 : Edible packaging materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2201/0444 : Salts

Abstract

Various embodiments of snacks of orally soluble edible films are disclosed. The snacks may include one or more layers of film that is orally soluble and disintegrates quickly upon placement in a human mouth without leaving substantial residue that can be felt by the human tongue or which needs to be swallowed or ejected from the mouth.

Claims

1. A snack of orally soluble edible film comprising:

one or more layers of film,

said film being orally soluble such that it disintegrates quickly upon placement in a human mouth without leaving substantial residue that can be felt by the human tongue or which needs to be swallowed or ejected from the mouth;

at least one flavoring present in said film, said flavoring providing a strong flavor sensation to a person who places the snack on his or her tongue.

2. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a sweetener present in said film, said sweetener providing a strong sensation of sweetness to a person who places the snack on his or her tongue.

3. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an encasement layer formed from at least a portion of said film,

said encasement layer being formed to at least partially enclose another material desired to be present in said snack.

4. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an encasement layer formed from at least a portion of said film, and

an acidic layer formed on the exterior surface of said film, said acidic layer tending to enhance the tartness sensation experienced by a person who places the snack on his or her tongue.

5. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an exterior tartness layer presented on at least a portion of the exterior of said film,

said tartness layer begin formed of a material which tends to introduce a sharp or sour flavor sensation to a person who places the snack on his or her tongue.

6. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an optical representation on or in said film, said optical representation serving a purpose selected from the group consisting of;

(i) increasing the attractiveness of the snack to a consumer in a retail location,

(ii) encouraging the consumer to experience a pleasant thought while consuming the snack, or

(iii) advertising products or services unrelated to the snacks themselves.

7. A snack as recited in claim 6 wherein said optical representation is selected from the group consisting of:

embossing located on the exterior of said film,

an image located within said film,

an image applied to the exterior said film, and

an image sculpted in said film.

8. A snack as recited in claim 7 wherein said optical image is selected from the group consisting of text, words, figures, logos, graphics, characters, art, advertising and educational materials.

9. A snack as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an optical representation on or in said film,

said optical representation being selected from the group consisting of;

embossing located on the exterior of said film,

an image located within said film,

an image applied to the exterior said film, and

an image sculpted in said film, and

wherein said optical image being selected from the group consisting of text, words, figures, logos, graphics, characters, art and advertising.

10. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.0005 to about 0.100 inches.

11. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.001 to about 0.002 inches.

12. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein length and width of said snack are chosen so that the snack fits easily on a human tongue without folding.

13. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein length and width of said snack are each less than a maximum of about 1.5 inches.

14. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film is substantially free of L-Menthol.

15. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film has been formed without use of L-Menthol as a plasticizer.

16. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film is brightly colored.

17. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film has multiple colors.

18. A snack as recited in claim 16 or 17 wherein consumption of said snack causes the consumer'"'"'s tongue to assume a color other than its natural color.

19. A snack as recited in claim 1 wherein said film includes a glow in the dark ingredient.

20. A snack as recited in claim 19 wherein consumption of the snack causes the consumer'"'"'s tongue to glow in the dark.

21. A sweetened non-medicated snack of orally soluble edible film comprising:

at least one layer of film,

said film being orally soluble such that it disintegrates quickly upon placement in a human mouth without leaving substantial residue that can be felt by the human tongue or which needs to be swallowed or ejected from the mouth;

at least one flavoring present in said film, said flavoring providing a strong flavor sensation to a person who places the snack on his or her tongue;

at least three sweeteners being present in said film, said sweeteners being present in equal amounts of sweetness without regard to equal amounts of mass or equal amounts of volume;

wherein said film forming agent is selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthan gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrin, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, polysaccharides, natural gums, polypeptides, polyacrylates, starch, karaya gum, gum arabic;

guar gum;

locust bean gum;

carageenan gum;

acacia;

karaya;

ghatti;

tragacanth agar;

tamarind gum;

xanthan gum;

gelatin;

hydrocolloid flour;

guar gum;

locust bean;

microcrystalline cellulose;

tara;

cellulose ethers;

seaweed extract, alginates;

carageenans;

konjac;

pectin;

arabinoglactan;

modified starches;

natural gums;

edible polymers;

hydrocolloid flours;

seaweed extracts;

land plant extracts;

derivatives thereof; and

combinations thereof.

22. A sweetened non-medicated snack of orally soluble edible film as recited in claim 21 further comprising a film forming agent;

and wherein said film forming agent is present in said film in an amount ranging from about 30 to about 80 weight percent of the finished film.

23. A sweetened non-medicated snack of orally soluble edible film as recited in claim 21 further comprising a film forming agent;

and wherein said film forming agent is a cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose;

ethylcellulose;

hydroxymethylcellulose;

hydroxyethylcellulose;

hydroxypropylmethylcellulose;

carboxymethylcellulose; and

derivatives thereof and combinations thereof.