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US4317838A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for applying sugarless coating to chewing gum and confections

Assignee: Life Savers Inc
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Filing: 1981-02-23
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Granted: 1982-03-02
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Expires: 2001-02-23
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Abstract

Abstract An improved method for applying a sugarless coating containing sorbitol to chewing gum pieces and confections by using a single coating syrup containing sorbitol and/or other non-sugar sweetener, an adhesion or binder component, such as gum arabic, a filler-anti-stick component, such as calcium carbonate, and a dispersing agent, such as titanium dioxide.

Inventors

  • 👤 Subraman R. Cherukuri
  • 👤 Dominick R. Friello

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 12:40
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/02; A23G4/025; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/20; A23G3/2076; A23G3/34; A23G3/343; A23G4/18; A23G4/20; A23P; A23P20/00; A23P20/10; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/20; A61K9/28; A23G2200/00; A23G2200/06; A23G2210/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A method for preparing a sugarless coated chewing gum or candy, which comprises the steps of applying to center portions of said chewing gum or candy a coating syrup comprising an aqueous solution of from about 30 to about 70% by weight of a normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomaltitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and mixtures thereof, from about 5 to about 30% by weight of a binder, from about 3 to about 15% by weight of an anti-sticking compound, and from about 2 to about 12% by weight of a dispersing agent and applying to said so-treated center portions a coating dusting mix comprising said normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material in dry form, at least a portion of said dry hygroscopic material being absorbed on the coating syrup applied to said center portions to form a coating on said center portions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 150 words
A method for preparing a sugarless coated chewing gum or candy, which comprises the steps of applying to center portions of said chewing gum or candy a coating syrup comprising an aqueous solution of from about 30 to about 70% by weight of a normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomaltitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and mixtures thereof, from about 5 to about 30% by weight of a binder, from about 3 to about 15% by weight of an anti-sticking compound, and from about 2 to about 12% by weight of a dispersing agent and applying to said so-treated center portions a coating dusting mix comprising said normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material in dry form, at least a portion of said dry hygroscopic material being absorbed on the coating syrup applied to said center portions to form a coating on said center portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said steps of applying said coating syrup and then applying said coating dusting mix are repeated, as necessary, to build up a coating of desired thickness on the center portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 73 words
The method as defined in claim 2 further including the step of applying said coating syrup as the last 2 to 4 coats to said center portions previously coated with said coating syrup and said coating dusting mix, said lastly applied coating syrup comprising said normally sweet hygroscopic material and serving to smooth out and providing a shine to the coating of said normally sweet hygroscopic material previously applied to said center portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating dusting mix contains a moisture absorbing agent, an anti-sticking agent, and a dispersing agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating syrup comprises liquid sorbitol, gum arabic solution, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and mannitol, and said coating dusting mix comprises sorbitol powder, mannitol powder, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion comprises chewing gum or candy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is sugarless chewing gum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating syrup further includes a film-forming agent which comprises gelatin, methyl cellulose, hydroxy-propyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and/or carboxymethyl cellulose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder for imparting cohesivity to the coating ingredients is gum arabic, xanthan gum, gum tragacanth, tapioca dextrin, or modified food starch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said anti-sticking agent is calcium carbonate, talc, or magnesium trisilicate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispersing agent is titanium dioxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is candy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is chewing gum and said coating applied is comprised of sorbitol as said hygroscopic material, gum arabic as a binder, calcium carbonate as an anti-sticking-diluent compound, titanium dioxide as a dispersing agent and mannitol as a moisture absorbing agent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2305960A Cited
US2304246A Cited
US3554767A Cited
US4127677A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-03-01 1985-08-31 1986-03-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-03-01 1989-08-31 1990-03-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-03-01 1993-08-31 1994-03-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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