US3683937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco expansion process
Assignee: Arjay Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1970-12-24
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1990-12-24
Abstract
Abstract The filling capacity of tobacco is increased by contacting tobacco with the vapors of a volatile organic solvent which is inert to the tobacco and has an atmospheric boiling point of between - 50* and 80* C. The tobacco treated is free of any liquid or solid form of the solvent when contacted by the vapors and is maintained at a temperature above the boiling point of the said compound at the pressure prevailing during the contacting. Thereafter, without cooling the tobacco below the said boiling point, the pressure is rapidly reduced or the temperature rapidly increased to provide vapor releasing conditions and expansion of the tobacco.
Inventors
- 👤 James D Fredrickson
- 👤 Ella Sue Hickman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:48
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/18; A24B3/182; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which the compound is a relatively non-polar organic material substantially immiscible with water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 in which the compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and halogenateD hydrocarbons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 in which the compound is trichloromonofluoromethane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 in which the compound is dichlorodifluoromethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 in which the compound is pentane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 in which the compound is isopentane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said atmospheric pressure boiling point is between about -40* and +40* C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the moisture content of the tobacco contacted with the vapors is between about 10 and 30 percent by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the step of subjecting the tobacco to vapor expanding conditions includes the step of rapidly reducing the ambient pressure on the vapor-impregnated tobacco.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 10 in which the reduction in ambient pressure is at least 50 percent and is effected over a period of less than about 1 minute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the step of subjecting the tobacco to vapor expanding conditions includes the step of rapidly increasing the temperature of the impregnated tobacco.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 12 in which the temperature increase is at least 25* C. and is effected in less than about 10 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process recited in claim 1 in which the amount of vapor in the tobacco when subjected to the vapor releasing and expanding conditions is at least 5 percent by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the tobacco during said contacting is at least about 1* C. above the boiling point of said compound at the pressure prevailing during said contacting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which said tobacco is shredded tobacco.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 in which the vapors are present in a gaseous atmosphere in a concentration in excess of 2 percent by volume.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |