US4244381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Upgraded tobacco stem material and its method of preparation
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc
•
Filing: 1978-08-02
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Granted: 1981-01-13
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Expires: 1998-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of upgrading tobacco by-product material, such as stems, into a smokable filler component such that it can beneficially be blended with conventional tobacco filler to impart a mild smoke with low impact and no undesirable "woody taste" is disclosed. The method for producing this upgraded tobacco by-product material comprises subjecting the material to a heat treatment step such that it experiences a weight loss of at least 10% and a water extraction step such that water soluble constituents contained within the material are removed therefrom. The smoking material obtained by such method is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew T. Lendvay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:03
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B15/00; A24B15/18; A24B15/24; A24B15/10; A24B15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of upgrading tobacco by-product material which comprises subjecting the by-product material to an uncatalyzed heat treatment step such that it experiences a weight loss of at least 10% but no more than 35% and a water extraction step such that water soluble constituents contained within the by-product material are removed therefrom wherein either of the said steps may be carried out prior to the other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of upgrading tobacco by-product material which comprises subjecting the by-product material to an uncatalyzed heat treatment step such that it experiences a weight loss of at least 10% but no more than 35% and a water extraction step such that water soluble constituents contained within the by-product material are removed therefrom wherein either of the said steps may be carried out prior to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tobacco by-product material is selected from the group consisting of tobacco stems, dust, fines and blends thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the tobacco by-product material is Burley stem material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment step is carried out at a temperature of from 150° to 370° C. and for a time of about two seconds to five hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heating source for the heat treatment step is derived from radiant heat, gas heat, oil heat, steam, electricity or microwave energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment step is carried out in an inert atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the inert atmosphere is comprised of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, or a vacuum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein as a result of the water extraction step, nitrate salts are removed from the tobacco by-product material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 8, wherein potassium nitrate is removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, which further includes the step of removing the nitrate salts from the water subsequent to the water extraction step and recombining the remaining water soluble constituents with the tobacco by-product material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the water extraction step is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 0.5° to 99° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature is in the range of from 10° to 80° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of water added to the tobacco by-product material during the water extraction step is in the range of from about 5 to 40 times the weight of the tobacco by-product material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the amount of water is in the range of from about 10 to 30 times the weight of the tobacco by-product material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treated tobacco by-product material is combined with reconstituted tobacco sheet material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the treated tobacco by-product material is combined with natural leaf tobacco.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The upgraded tobacco by-product material produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
10 words
The smoking material produced by the method of claim 15.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The smoking material produced by the method of claim 16.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A smoking article containing the upgraded tobacco by-product material produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of producing an upgraded reconstituted tobacco material comprising: (a) adding Burley stem material to a tobacco by-product slurry; (b) casting the slurry into sheet form; and (c) subjecting the sheet to a heat treatment step such that it experiences a weight loss of at least 10% and a water extraction step such that the water soluble constituents contained within the Burley stem material and the tobacco by-product material are removed therefrom.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of producing an upgraded reconstituted tobacco material comprising: (a) adding Burley stem material to a tobacco by-product slurry; (b) casting the slurry into sheet form; and (c) subjecting the sheet to a heat treatment step such that it experiences a weight loss of at least 10% and a water extraction step such that the water soluble constituents contained within the Burley stem material and the tobacco by-product material are removed therefrom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 21, which further includes the step of removing the nitrate salts from the water subsequent to the water extraction step and recombining the remaining water soluble constituents with the reconstituted tobacco material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The upgraded reconstituted tobacco material produced by the method of claim 21.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |