US4514422A — Non-staling gum composition and method of prepara…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling, comprising a substantially anhydrous mixture of a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol and glycerin present in an amount ranging from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of the chewing gum composition, wherein the gum base possesses a water content of less than 3.5% by weight, the glycerin possesses a water content of less than 1% by weight, the sugar alcohol possesses a water content of less than 0.7% and wherein said chewing gum composition contains no greater than 2% by weight thereof, of water in any form.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling, comprising a substantially anhydrous mixture of a gum base, at least one sugar alcohol and glycerin present in an amount ranging from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of the chewing gum composition, wherein the gum base possesses a water content of less than 3.5% by weight, the glycerin possesses a water content of less than 1% by weight, the sugar alcohol possesses a water content of less than 0.7% and wherein said chewing gum composition contains no greater than 2% by weight thereof, of water in any form.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein said glycerin is present in an amount ranging from greater than about 10% to about 15% by weight.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein said gum base is selected from the group consisting of chewing gum bases and bubble gum bases.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The chewing gum composition of claims 1 or 3 wherein said gum base is present in an amount ranging from about 15% to about 30% by weight of said gum composition.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein said sugar alcohols are selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 5 wherein said sugar alcohols comprise a mixture of sorbitol and mannitol.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 5 wherein said sugar alcohols comprise sorbitol alone.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The chewing gum composition of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said sugar alcohols are present in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 75% by weight of said chewing gum composition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 1 further including at least one additive selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, plasticizers, flavorings, bulking agents, fillers, mineral adjuvants, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The gum composition of claim 9 wherein a flavoring is present in an amount ranging from about 0.6% to about 1.5% by weight of said composition.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 102 words

A chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling, consisting essentially of a substantially anhydrous mixture of the following ingredients, expressed in weight percent: a. from about 15% to about 30% by weight of a gum base; b. from greater than about 10% to about 15% by weight of glycerin; c. from about 40% to about 75% by weight of a sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and mixtures thereof; and d. from about 0.6% to about 1.5% by weight of a flavoring; wherein said chewing gum composition contains a maximum of 2% by weight of water.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 102 words

A chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling, consisting essentially of a substantially anhydrous mixture of the following ingredients, expressed in weight percent: a. from about 15% to about 30% by weight of a gum base; b. from greater than about 10% to about 15% by weight of glycerin; c. from about 40% to about 75% by weight of a sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and mixtures thereof; and d. from about 0.6% to about 1.5% by weight of a flavoring; wherein said chewing gum composition contains a maximum of 2% by weight of water.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 11 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 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The chewing gum composition of claim 11 wherein said sugar alcohol comprises sorbitol in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 75% by weight.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 147 words

A method for preparing a chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling comprising: a. providing in substantially anhydrous form a gum base possessing a water content of less than 3.5% by weight; at least one sugar alcohol possessing a water content of less than 0.7% by weight; and glycerin in an amount of from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of said chewing gum composition, said glycerin possessing a water content of less than 1% by weight; b. mixing said glycerin and said sugar alcohol under agitation and at a temperature of about 50° C.; c. adding said gum base to the mixture of step b and continuing agitation to form a uniform mixture; d. allowing the mixture to cool; and e. forming the mixture into a chewing gum product containing no greater than 2% by weight thereof, of water in any form.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 147 words

A method for preparing a chewing gum composition having improved resistance to staling comprising: a. providing in substantially anhydrous form a gum base possessing a water content of less than 3.5% by weight; at least one sugar alcohol possessing a water content of less than 0.7% by weight; and glycerin in an amount of from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of said chewing gum composition, said glycerin possessing a water content of less than 1% by weight; b. mixing said glycerin and said sugar alcohol under agitation and at a temperature of about 50° C.; c. adding said gum base to the mixture of step b and continuing agitation to form a uniform mixture; d. allowing the mixture to cool; and e. forming the mixture into a chewing gum product containing no greater than 2% by weight thereof, of water in any form.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 14 wherein, prior to Step b, said sugar alcohols and said glycerin are dried to remove trace amounts of water.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said sugar alcohols and said glycerin are dried at a temperature ranging from about 60° to about 70° C. under vacuum, and for a period of time on the order of eight hours.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said gum base is heated at a temperature ranging 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 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said gum base is heated for a period of time of about thirty minutes.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 33 words

The method of any one of claims 14-17 or 18, wherein said chewing gum base is present in an amount by weight of said gum composition, ranging from about 15% to about 30%.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14 wherein sugar alcohol is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and mixtures thereof.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 33 words

The method of any one of claims 14-17 or 20 wherein said sugar alcohols are present in an amount by weight of said chewing gum composition, ranging from about 40% to about 75%.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 19 wherein said sugar alcohols are present in an amount by weight of said gum composition, ranging from about 40% to about 75%.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 14 wherein after Step c, heating is discontinued and at least one flavoring is added to the mixture.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said flavoring is added in an amount by weight of said composition, ranging from about 0.6% to about 1.5%.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 24 wherein, after said flavoring 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 29

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for inhibiting the staling and embrittlement of chewing gum compositions, comprising adding thereto a quantity of glycerin in an amount ranging from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition, treating the ingredients 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 30

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for inhibiting the staling and embrittlement of chewing gum compositions, comprising adding thereto a quantity of glycerin in an amount ranging from greater than about 10% to about 18% by weight of said gum composition, treating the ingredients 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.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-04-29	1988-10-29	1989-04-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-04-29	1992-10-29	1993-04-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-04-29	1996-10-29	1997-04-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Non-staling gum composition and method of preparation

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