Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A gum composition having improved resistance to staling, characterised in that it comprises a substantially anhydrous mixture of a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol and glycerin, said glycerin being present in an amount of from about 8% to about 10% by weight of said gum composition, and said gum composition containing no greater than 2%, by weight thereof, of water in any form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A gum composition having improved resistance to staling, characterised in that it comprises a substantially anhydrous mixture of a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol and glycerin, said glycerin being present in an amount of from about 8% to about 10% by weight of said gum composition, and said gum composition containing no greater than 2%, by weight thereof, of water in any form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A gum composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said glycerin is present in an amount of from about 8% to about 15% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gum composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said glycerin has a water content of less than 1.0% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said gum base is selected from chewing gum bases and bubble gum bases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said gum base is present in an amount of from aobut 15% to about 30% by weight of said gum composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said sum base has a water content of less than 3.5% by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said sugar alcohol is sorbitol alone, mannitol alone, xylitol alone, a mixture of sorbitol and mannitol, a mixture of sorbitol and xylitol, a mixture of mannitol and xylitol, or a mixture of sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said sugar alcohol is present in an amount of from about 40% to about 75% by weight of said gum composition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A gum composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein sorbitol is present in an amount not exceeding 70% by weight, mannitol is present in an amount not exceeding 15% by weight, and xylitol is present in an amount not exceeding 65% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said sugar alcohol has a water content of less than 0.7% by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A gum composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, further including at least one additive selected from sweeteners, plasticizers, flavourings, bulking agents, fillers, mineral adjuvants, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A gum composition as claimed in claim 11, wherien a flavouring is present in an amount of from about 0.6% to about 1.5% by weight of said composition.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for preparing.a gum composition having improved resistance to staling, characterised in that it comprises (a) providing, in substantially anhydrous form, a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol, and glycerin in an amount of from about 8% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition; (b) mixing said glycerin and said sugar alcohol with agitation and heating; (c) adding said gum base to the mixture produced by step (b) and continuing agitation to form a uniform mixture; (d) allowing the mixture to cool; and (e) forming the mixture into a final gum product.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for preparing.a gum composition having improved resistance to staling, characterised in that it comprises (a) providing, in substantially anhydrous form, a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol, and glycerin in an amount of from about 8% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition; (b) mixing said glycerin and said sugar alcohol with agitation and heating; (c) adding said gum base to the mixture produced by step (b) and continuing agitation to form a uniform mixture; (d) allowing the mixture to cool; and (e) forming the mixture into a final gum product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said glycerin and said sugar alcohol are mixed at a temperature of about 50°C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, prior to step (b), said sugar alcohol and said glycerin are dried to remove trace amounts of water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said sugar alcohol and said glycerin are dried at a temperature of from about 60° to about 70°C under vacuum, and for a period of time of the order of eight hours.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
44 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein said gum base is heated at a temperature of from about 80° to about 90°C and at a low vacuum, for a period of time just prior to the performance of step (c).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said gum base is heated for a period of time of about thirty minutes.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein said gum base is present in an amount, by weight of said gum composition, of from about 15% to about 30%.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 19, wherein sugar alcohol is selected from sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 20, wherein said sugar alcohol is present in an amount, by weight of said gum composition, of from about 40% to about 75%.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
55 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 21, wherein said gum base has a water content of less than 3.5% by weight, and /or wherein said glycerin has a water content of less than 1.0% by weight, and/ or wherein said sugar alcohol has a water content of less than 0.7% by weight.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to any of claims 13 to 22, wherein, after step (c), heating is discontinued and at least one flavouring is added to the mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according ot claim 23, wherein said flavouring is added in an amount, by weight of said composition, of from about 0.6% to about 1.5%.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein, after said flavouring is added and thoroughly mixed therewith, the resulting mixture is permitted to cool and is rolled in the presence of a dusting medium to form said gum product.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for inhibiting the staling and embrittlement of a chewing gum composition, comprising adding thereto a quantity of glycerin in an amount of from about 8% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition, including said glycerin, to remove substantially all water therefrom, and preparing said gum composition including said glycerin under substantially anhydrous conditions.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for inhibiting the staling and embrittlement of a chewing gum composition, comprising adding thereto a quantity of glycerin in an amount of from about 8% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition, including said glycerin, to remove substantially all water therefrom, and preparing said gum composition including said glycerin under substantially anhydrous conditions.