A POUCHED PRODUCT FOR ORAL USE

Abstract

Described is a pouched product for oral use that includes a liquid permeable cover material and a portion sized amount of a filling material has a water insoluble particulate material, the filling material being enclosed by the liquid permeable cover material. The particles of the water insoluble particulate material have an average particle size within the range of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm, a particle density in the range of from 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.7 g/cm.sup.3 and a pre-use moisture content of from 1% by weight of the filling material to 35% by weight of the filling material.

Claims

1. A pouched product for oral use comprising a liquid permeable cover material and a filling material comprising a water insoluble particulate material consisting of water insoluble particles, the filling material being enclosed by the liquid permeable cover material, characterized in that, the particles of the water insoluble particulate material have an average particle size within the range of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm, a particle density within the range of from 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.7 g/cm.sup.3 and a pre-use moisture content of from 1% by weight of the filling material to 35% by weight of the filling material, the filling material being free from tobacco material or the filling material comprising tobacco material in an amount within the range of from 0.05 wt % to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the filling material; and in that the liquid permeable cover material is a nonwoven material.

2. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the water insoluble particulate material contains less than 0.5% of particles which are small enough to pass through a sieve having a mesh size of 250 m.

3. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the particles of the water insoluble particulate material are particles having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape, a spherical or substantially spherical shape, or are particles having an elongated rounded or substantially rounded shape.

4. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the particles of the water insoluble particulate material have a spherical or substantially spherical shape and a sphericity in the range of from 0.7 to 1.0.

5. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the water insoluble particulate material comprises water insoluble particles.

6. A pouched product according to claim 5, wherein the water insoluble particles constitute 75% by dry weight to 99% by dry weight of the filling material.

7. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the water permeable outer cover material has an air permeability of from 4,000 l/m.sup.2/s to 10,000 l/m.sup.2/s, when measured according to the EDANA test method WSP070.1.R3.

8. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the water permeable outer cover material has a basis weight in the range of from 10 g/m.sup.2 to 30. g/m.sup.2.

9. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable cover material is a dry-formed nonwoven material.

10. A pouched product according to claim 9, wherein the staple fibres in the nonwoven material are staple fibres of regenerated cellulose.

11. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the particles of the water insoluble particulate material have a sphericity within the range of from 0.7 to 1.0 and a diameter of from 0.3 mm to 3 mm.

12. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the filling material comprises nicotine, the nicotine being added in the filling material in the form of a nicotine compound.

13. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein the filling material comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of a flavouring agent, a sweetener, a humectant, and any mixture thereof.

14. A pouched product according to claim 13, wherein the additive comprises a flavouring agent.

15. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein one or more water soluble component of the filling material is present on an outer surface of at least some of the particles of the water insoluble particulate material.

16. A pouched product according to claim 1, wherein one or more water soluble component of the filling material is present in interstices between the particles of the water insoluble particulate material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The present invention will be further explained hereinafter by means of non-limiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a pouched product for oral use;

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section taken along the line II-II through the pouched product of FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 3 shows generally spherical particles suitable for use in the oral pouched products as disclosed herein;

[0064] FIGS. 4a-4d show examples of alternative particle shapes;

[0065] FIG. 5 shows the dimensions for a flat-out pouch for use in the particle redistribution test as disclosed herein; and

[0066] FIG. 6 shows test equipment for use in the particle redistribution test as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] It is to be understood that the drawings are schematic and that individual components are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0068] The pouched product 1 for oral use which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a liquid permeable cover material 2 and a portion sized amount of a filling material 3 comprising a water insoluble particulate material constituted by a plurality of water insoluble particles 4 enclosed by the liquid permeable cover material 2. The cover material 2 may be any suitable type of cover material as disclosed herein and is formed into a generally rectangular pouch into which the filling material 3 has been inserted.

[0069] A common way of making a pouched product having a generally rectangular pillow-like shape, such as the pouched product 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is either to provide the cover material as a seamless and endless tube or to form a flat web of cover material into an endless tube which is provided with a continuous seal in the longitudinal direction of the endless tube. The endless tube is subsequently intermittently sealed in the transverse direction of the endless tube while filling the endless tube with filling material into pockets which are created between the transverse seals. Individual pouched products are severed from the filled and sealed tube of cover material and are usually packed in user containers. Sealing of the cover material may be made with any suitable method or combination of methods, such as by means of adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, needling, etc. Heat sealing and ultrasonic welding require the cover material to contain at least a functional amount of thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic fibres or thermoplastic binders.

[0070] The longitudinal seal created during manufacturing appears as a longitudinal seal 6 extending along the length l of the pouched product 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. No such seal will be present if the cover material is provided in the form of an endless seam-less tube. The transverse seals form end seals 7 which define the width w of the pouched product 1. The pouched product 1 has a first main surface 8 and a second main surface 9 and a thickness t being defined as the greatest perpendicular distance between the first main surface 8 and the second main surface 9.

[0071] The particles 4 of the water insoluble particulate material may constitute a very high proportion of the total dry weight of the filling material 3, such as 75% by dry weight to 99% by dry weight of the filling material, as set out herein.

[0072] The filling material 3 further comprises one or more water soluble components 11, such as flavours, sweeteners, active ingredients such as nicotine, etc. as disclosed herein.

[0073] A part of a filling material 3 for an oral pouched product as disclosed herein is shown in FIG. 3, the filling material 3 comprising a plurality of generally spherical, preferably water insoluble particles 4.

[0074] The particles 4 of the filling material have a relatively large average particle size within the range of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm. By using large water insoluble particles for the particles 4 of the water insoluble particulate material in the filling material 3, a major part of the water soluble components 11, i.e. components which are soluble in water and saliva, may to a large extent be present in the filling material 3 on surfaces of the particles 4 which are facing interstices 12 between the particles 4. In this manner, any water soluble components 12 may be substantially concealed within the mass of the filling material 3 where they do not add or do not substantially add to the volume of the filling material 3.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows only a very small number of particles 4. In a full portion of filling material 3 for an oral pouched product 1, the number of particles 4 in the water insoluble particulate material is considerably higher, such as in the order of 150 particles or more which means that a large majority of the particle surfaces will be located in the interior of the filling material 3.

[0076] As disclosed herein, the particles 4 of the water insoluble particulate material may be dense, non-porous particles having a particle density in the range of from 0.8 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.7 g/cm.sup.3, such as from 1.0 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.5 g/cm.sup.3, such as from 1.1 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3. In such dense non-porous particles, no, or substantially no water soluble components 11 are present within the particles 4 themselves.

[0077] FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d illustrate some alternative shapes for the particles 4 of the filling materials 3 as disclosed herein.

[0078] The particles 4 which are shown in FIG. 4a have a substantially cubic shape, the particles 4 which are shown in FIG. 4b are grain-shaped, the particles 4 which are shown in FIG. 4c have a substantially cylindrical shape and the particles 4 which are shown in FIG. 4d have an irregular shape. The particles 4 in FIG. 4a, has an aspect ratio w/l which is approximately 1, while the particles 4 shown in FIGS. 4b-4d have a smaller aspect ratio.

[0079] For the oral pouched products 1 as disclosed herein, particle shapes having circular or oval cross-sections such as those shown in FIGS. 3, 4b, and 4c may be particularly preferred. Irregular smoothly curved shapes such as shown in FIG. 4d are generally preferred over irregular shapes having sharp protrusions.

EXAMPLES AND DESCRIPTION OF TEST METHODS

Method for Determining Moisture Content, Loss on Drying (LOD)

[0080] The moisture content as referred to herein may be determined by using a method based on literature references Federal Register/vol. 74, no. 4/712-719/Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009/Notices Total moisture determination and AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemics), Official Methods of Analysis 966.02: Moisture in Tobacco (1990), Fifth Edition, K. Helrich (ed). In this method, the moisture content is determined gravimetrically by taking 2.50.25 g sample and weighing the sample at ambient conditions, herein defined as being at a temperature of 22 C. and a relative humidity of 60%, before evaporation of moisture and after completion of dehydration. Mettler Toledo's Moisture Analyzer HB43, a balance with halogen heating technology, is used (instead of an oven and a balance as in the mentioned literature references) in the experiments described herein. The sample is heated to 105 C. (instead of 99.50.5 C. as in the mentioned literature references). The measurement is stopped when the weight change is less than 1 mg during a 90 second time frame. The moisture content as weight percent of the sample is then calculated automatically by the Moisture Analyzer HB43.

Method for Determining Dynamic Friction Between Particles and Cover Material

[0081] The measurements were performed according to ASTM1894 using an Instron Coefficient of Friction Fixture.

[0082] The tests were carried out by applying a sample cover material on a test area of the horizontal test plate of the test apparatus having an extension of 215130 mm. A sample of 40 g of the filling material to be tested was applied on the cover material and was distributed evenly in the test area. A three-walled enclosure of plastic bars was used to prevent spilling over of the filling material at the sides and rear of the test plate, while allowing motion of the test sled in the motion direction of the tow line. The same cover material as the cover material on the horizontal plate of the test apparatus was applied to the friction sled and the sled was slid across the filling material yielding the dynamic coefficient of friction.

[0083] The tested filling materials were:

[0084] Reference 1 was the filling material from the commercial product sold under the name ZYN Slim from Swedish Match North Europe AB. The moisture content in the filling material was approximately 39%, the filling material containing particles of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) having an average particle size of 180 m, and bamboo fibres, in a 50/50 mix by dry weight.

[0085] Reference 2 was the filling material from the commercial product sold under the name ZYN Dry citrus 3 mg from Swedish Match North Europe AB. The filling material was constituted by approximately 84% by dry weight of a combination of granules of microcrystalline cellulose and maltitol. The moisture content in the filling material was approximately 3%.

[0086] Example 1 was a filling material constituted by approximately 78% by weight of the total weight of the filling material of particles of microcrystalline cellulose having an average particle size of 945 m, a sphericity of 0.90.05, a particle density of 1.3 g/cm.sup.3 and a bulk density of 0.78 g/cm.sup.3, and approximately 9% by weight of additional components based on the total weight of the filling material. The moisture content in the filling material was 13% by weight of the filling material.

[0087] Example 2 was a filling material constituted by approximately 78% by weight of the total weight of the filling material of particles of microcrystalline cellulose having an average particle size of 445 m, a sphericity of 0.90.05, a particle density of 1.3 g/cm.sup.3 and a bulk density of 0.72 g/cm.sup.3, and approximately 9% by weight of additional components based on the total weight of the filling material. The moisture content in the filling material was 15% by weight of the filling material.

[0088] Example 3 was a filling material constituted by approximately 78% by weight of the total weight of the filling material of particles of microcrystalline cellulose having an average particle size of 1200 m, a sphericity of 0.90.05, a particle density of 1.3 g/cm.sup.3 and a bulk density of 0.72 g/cm.sup.3, and approximately 9% by weight of additional components based on the total weight of the filling material. The moisture content in the filling material was 15% by weight of the filling material.

[0089] The cover material used in all three tests was a viscose nonwoven web having a basis weight of 29 g/m.sup.2 and comprising 40 wt % binder. The fibres in the nonwoven web were 100% viscose staple fibres having a linear density of 1.7 decitex and a fibre length of 40 mm.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Dynamic coefficient of friction Reference 1 0.23 Reference 2 0.19 Example 1 0.10 Example 2 0.17 Example 3 0.07

[0090] As is evident from Table 1, the large, dense particles of Examples 1, 2 and 3 in a filling material according to the invention, showed a considerably lower coefficient of friction than the Reference filling materials when measured against the same cover material.

Method for Determining Particle Redistribution in an Oral Pouched Product

Sample Preparation:

[0091] Pouches 1 were manually prepared from a strip of nonwoven pouch material which was sealed with a longitudinal seal 6 as shown in FIG. 1, to form a nonwoven tube having a flat width of 14 mm. The longitudinal seal 6 may be made e.g., in a Merz Packer. The length of the tube should be sufficient to produce a pouch 1 having the flat dimensions shown in FIG. 5, i.e., a width of 14 mm and an inner length between the end seals 7, 7 of 32 mm.

[0092] The nonwoven tube was then provided with a first transverse end seal 7 and markings were made on the tube at 22 mm and 32 mm from the first end seal 7. The tube was filled from the open end with filling material 3 up to the 22 mm mark. A second transverse end seal 7 was then formed at the 32 mm mark, such that the filling material was completely enclosed between the end seals 7, 7. Five samples were prepared for each of the tested filling materials.

[0093] The reference filling materials were obtained from commercially available products which were cut open and emptied of filling material. The tested reference fillings were obtained from:

[0094] Helwit Violet from Yoik AB. According to the ingredient list on the packaging, the bulk of the filling material is cellulose. The filling material further contains, glycerol, propylene glycol, nicotine, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, flavour additives, mannitol, and sucralose. The moisture content in the filling material was 12.7% of the total weight of the filling material.

[0095] Nordic Spirit Spearmint Intense from Nordic Spirit AB. According to the ingredient list on the packaging, the bulk of the filling material is maltitol and cellulose. The filling material further contains chewing gum base, glycerol, propylene glycol, nicotine, sodium carbonate and flavour additives. The moisture content in the filling material was 7.8% of the total weight of the filling material.

[0096] Shiro Sweet Mint from AG Snus. According to the ingredient list on the packaging, the bulk of the filling material is cellulose. The filling material further contains, glycerol, flavour additives, sodium chloride, nicotine, sodium carbonate, potassium sorbate and guar gum. The moisture content in the filling material was 20.5% of the total weight of the filling material.

[0097] Four filling materials according to the invention were tested:

[0098] Sample 1 was the filling material of Example 1 in the friction test above, having a moisture content in the filling material of 13% by weight of the filling material.

[0099] Sample 2 was the filling material of Sample 1, but with a moisture content of approximately 20% by weight of the filling material.

[0100] Sample 3 was the filling material of Sample 1, but with a moisture content of approximately 30% by weight of the filling material.

[0101] Sample 4 was a filling material of the same composition as in Sample 1, but with microcrystalline cellulose particles having an average particle size of 445 m.

Test Procedure:

[0102] The tests were carried out at ambient conditions, as defined herein. The tested sample pouches 1 were applied in the frame 20 shown in FIG. 6 with the first transverse end seal 7 placed below the second transverse end seal 7. The pouches 1 were attached to the frame 20 by means of a double-sided tape applied to the first transverse end seal 7. The frame 20 was designed to support the filled pouch 1 without compressing it. Following application of the filled pouch in the frame, the shortest distance between the upper surface of the filling material 3 and the first transverse seal 7, i.e., the height of the filling material 3 in the pouch 1, was determined using a digital tabletop caliper device having a resolution of 0.01 mm. A background LED light was directed at the pouch 1 for improving content discernability. Care was taken not to agitate or shake the filled pouch 1 during application of the pouch in the frame. The frame was then turned 180 whereby the first transverse end seal 7 is placed above the second transverse end seal 7. The amount of filling material present in the lower part of the pouch 1 after turning of the pouch 1 was measured as the shortest distance from the lower second transverse end seal 7 to the upper surface of the filling material which had relocated to the now lower part of the pouch 1. Similarly, the amount of filling material 3 present in the upper part of the pouch 1 after turning of the pouch was measured as the shortest distance from the first transverse end seal 7 downward to the lower surface of the filling material which remained in the now upper part of the pouch.

Test Results:

Reference 1; Helwit Violet

[0103] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, almost all filling material remained in the now upper part of the pouch and only a trickle of filling material was visible at the bottom of the pouch. The distance between the second transverse end seal 7 at the lower part of the pouch and the filling material was not quantifiable i.e., the distance was not measurable by the digital tabletop caliper, as an insufficient amount of filling material was present for determining an upper surface of the filling material.

Reference 2: Nordic Spirit Spearmint Intense

[0104] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, almost all filling material remained in the now upper part of the pouch and only a trickle of filling material was visible at the bottom of the pouch. The distance between the second transverse end seal at the lower part of the pouch and the filling material was not quantifiable i.e., the distance was not measurable by the digital tabletop caliper, as an insufficient amount of filling material was present for determining an upper surface of the filling material.

Reference 3: Shiro Sweet Mint

[0105] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, almost all filling material remained in the now upper part of the pouch and only a trickle of filling material was visible at the bottom of the pouch. The distance between the second transverse end seal at the lower part of the pouch and the filling material was not quantifiable i.e., the distance was not measurable by the digital tabletop caliper, as an insufficient amount of filling material was present for determining an upper surface of the filling material.

Sample 1: Filling with Particles of Microcrystalline Cellulose Having an Average Particle Size of 945 m and a Moisture Content of 13% by Weight of the Filling Material.

[0106] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, a major part of the filling material had dislocated from the top end of the pouch and had fallen to the bottom end of the pouch. On average, 69.5% of the filling material, determined as the filling height of the pouch, had relocated after the 180 turn, leaving the upwards directed end of the pouch nearly void of filling material.

Sample 2: Filling with Particles of Microcrystalline Cellulose Having an Average Particle Size of 945 m and a Moisture Content of 20% by Weight of the Filling Material.

[0107] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, a major part of the filling material had dislocated from the top end of the pouch and had fallen to the bottom end of the pouch. On average, 71.0% of the filling material, determined as the filling height of the pouch, had relocated after the 180 turn, leaving the upwards directed end of the pouch nearly void of filling material.

Sample 3: Filling with Particles of Microcrystalline Cellulose Having an Average Particle Size of 945 m and a Moisture Content of 30% by Weight of the Filling Material.

[0108] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, a major part of the filling material had dislocated from the top end of the pouch and had fallen to the bottom end of the pouch. On average, 67.3% of the filling material, determined as the filling height of the pouch, had relocated after the 180 turn, leaving the upwardly directed end of the pouch nearly void of filling material.

Sample 4: Filling with Particles of Microcrystalline Cellulose Having an Average Particle Size of 445 m and a Moisture Content of 13% by Weight of the Filling Material.

[0109] After turning of the frame-mounted pouch 180, a major part of the filling material had dislocated from the top end of the pouch and had fallen down to the bottom end of the pouch. On average, 56.1% of the filling material, determined as the filling height of the pouch, had relocated after the 180 turn, leaving the upwards directed end of the pouch nearly void of filling material.

[0110] The tests show that the commercially available filling materials when filled in pouches with identical proportions and made from the same nonwoven material would not relocate to any appreciable extent under the influence of gravitational forces. In contrast thereto, the filling materials according to the invention were shown to readily relocate inside the pouch when turned upside-down.

[0111] With the tested prior art filling materials, substantially all filling material remained at the first transverse end seal 7 and did not fall down to the opposite end at the second transverse end seal 7 after turning the sample pouch upside-down. Hence, the propensity of the prior art filling materials to relocate inside the pouch in response to the gravitational force was found to be minimal, indicating that a much higher force would be necessary to reshape a pouch filled with such conventional filling materials.

[0112] In contrast thereto, the filling materials of the invention were found to readily relocate inside the pouch when exposed to a gravitational force. The high propensity for relocating inside the pouch reflects the ability of the oral pouched products of the invention to reshape and to fit snugly and comfortably in the space between a user's gum and lip.