US4515769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Encapsulated flavorant material, method for its preparation, and food and other compositions incorporating same
Assignee: Firmenich SA
•
Filing: 1983-02-02
•
Granted: 1985-05-07
•
Expires: 2003-02-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides an encapsulated flavorant composition for use in food and other compositions intended for introduction into the mouth. This composition is prepared by the steps of forming an emulsion of flavoring agent in a partially hydrophilic matrix material comprising gelatin, a natural gum or albumin and plasticizer; drying the emulsion to a solid matrix; grinding to a solid base powder; and then coating the base powder with a water insoluble material which will prevent elution of flavor from the base powder and will not immediately dissolve under the hydrolytic condition of the mouth yet which, when chewed, or otherwise worked in the mouth, will give a substantial flavor "burst" and sustained flavor release as the hydrophilic base powder matrix is wetted in the mouth. The encapsulated flavorant composition may be used in chewing gum, candies and other foods, toothpaste, chewing tobacco and snuff.
Inventors
- 👤 Carleton G. Merritt
- 👤 Winston H. Wingerd
- 👤 David J. Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:32
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/02; A23G4/04; A23G4/043; A23G4/18; A23G4/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A method for preparing a solid encapsulated flavorant material for use in compositions intended to be placed in the mouth, the method comprising steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous emulsion of a flavorant ingredient, which flavorant ingredient comprises water distillable components, in an at least partially hydrophilic gelatin-based encapsulation material selected from the group consisting of a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer, and a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer; (b) drying said emulsion to produce a uniform solid matrix product having the flavorant ingredient containing substantially all of its water distillable components within a solid emulsion matrix of said encapsulation material; (c) milling said dried solid matrix to a particle size of less than 20 mesh to produce solid powder; and (d) coating said solid powder with a water insoluble material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, shellac, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose to produce an encapsulated flavorant material having a relatively thin water insoluble coating which delays release of said flavorant ingredient within the mouth for a controlled period of time and yet which will thereafter release substantially all of said flavorant ingredient's original flavor notes at desired flavor levels and over a sustained period of time without having significant amounts of said flavorant ingredient dissolved in the water insoluble coating material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A method for preparing a solid encapsulated flavorant material for use in compositions intended to be placed in the mouth, the method comprising steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous emulsion of a flavorant ingredient, which flavorant ingredient comprises water distillable components, in an at least partially hydrophilic gelatin-based encapsulation material selected from the group consisting of a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer, and a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer; (b) drying said emulsion to produce a uniform solid matrix product having the flavorant ingredient containing substantially all of its water distillable components within a solid emulsion matrix of said encapsulation material; (c) milling said dried solid matrix to a particle size of less than 20 mesh to produce solid powder; and (d) coating said solid powder with a water insoluble material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, shellac, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose to produce an encapsulated flavorant material having a relatively thin water insoluble coating which delays release of said flavorant ingredient within the mouth for a controlled period of time and yet which will thereafter release substantially all of said flavorant ingredient's original flavor notes at desired flavor levels and over a sustained period of time without having significant amounts of said flavorant ingredient dissolved in the water insoluble coating material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble coating is such that the delayed release of flavorant ingredient occurs after about two or more minutes of chewing in the mouth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) said solid powder is coated successively with layers of gelatin, polyvinyl acetate and gelatin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the encapsulation material comprises a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer and wherein the water insoluble material is shellac.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the albumin is egg albumin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the shellac is admixed with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flavorant ingredient is selected from the group consisting of essential oils, oleo resins, imitation flavors, fragrances and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the drying in step (b) is performed in a drum dryer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble coating comprises from about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of the flavorant composition and the water insoluble coating is such that the delayed release of flavorant ingredients occurs from 3-10 minutes after initial chewing of a gum containing said encapsulated flavorant material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the milled powder produced in step (c) is treated, prior to being subjected to step (d) with an aqueous solution of a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde and tannic acid to further seal the powder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the powder produced in step (c) is treated with an aqueous solution of gum arabic to further seal the powder prior to coating with the water insoluble material in step (d).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde and tannic acid is added to an emulsion of the water insoluble material, which emulsion is then used to form the water insoluble coating in step (d).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde and the water insoluble coating comprises polyvinyl acetate, and wherein step (d) is effected by spraying a glutaraldehyde and polyvinyl acetate emulsion is sprayed onto a fluidized bed of the powder produced in step (c).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gelatin used in step (a) is a gelatin having a Bloom of from 100-300.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble material is polyvinyl acetate and is present in the amount of about 2.5 to about 10.0% by weight of the final flavorant material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the polyvinyl acetate is sprayed in the form of an emulsion onto a fluidized bed of the powder produced in step (c).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of contacting the powder produced in step (c) with an aqueous solution of glutaraldehyde to cross-link the surface of the matrix and thereby provide a sealed particle for slower release and better subsequent coating with the polyvinyl acetate in step (d).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the powder produced in step (c) is coated with an aqueous solution of gum arabic to seal the powder for slower release and better subsequent coating with he polyvinyl acetate in step (d).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble material used in step (d) is shellac present in an amount of from about 2.5%-10.0% by weight of the final flavorant material and the coating in step (d) is effected by contacting the powder produced in step (c) with an alkaline aqeuous solution of shellac.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the aqueous alkaline solution comprises shellac dissolved in aqueous ammonia.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the alkaline aqueous solution of shellac is sprayed onto a fluidized bed of the powder produced in step (c).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of contacting the powder produced in step (c) with an aqueous solution of glutaraldehyde to cross-link the surface of the matrix and thereby provide a sealed particle for slower release and better subsequent coating with the shellac in step (d).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the powder produced in step (c) is coated with an aqueous solution of gum arabic to seal the powder for slower release and better subsequent coating with the shellac in step (d).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous emulsion prepared in step (a) also comprises a coloring material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasticizer comprises glycerol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
111 words
An encapsulated flavorant material for use in compositions intended to be placed in the mouth and comprising a hydrophilic core and a water insoluble coating surrounding the hydrophilic core, said hydrophilic core comprising a flavorant ingredient having water distillable components dispersed within a solid matrix of a gelatin-based encapsulation material selected from the group consisting of a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer and a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer, and said water insoluble coating comprising a water insoluble material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, shellac, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
An encapsulated flavorant material for use in compositions intended to be placed in the mouth and comprising a hydrophilic core and a water insoluble coating surrounding the hydrophilic core, said hydrophilic core comprising a flavorant ingredient having water distillable components dispersed within a solid matrix of a gelatin-based encapsulation material selected from the group consisting of a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer and a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer, and said water insoluble coating comprising a water insoluble material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, shellac, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the encapsulation material comprises a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer and wherein the water insoluble material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the encapsulation material comprises a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer and wherein the water insoluble material comprises shellac.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The material of claim 29 wherein the albumin is egg albumin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The material of claim 29 wherein the water insoluble material comprises a mixture of shellac and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The material of claim 27 where the water insoluble coating comprises from about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of the flavorant composition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the outer part of the hydrophilic core adjacent the water insoluble coating is at least partially cross-linked, while the central part of the hydrophilic core is substantially free of cross-linking.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The material of claim 27 wherein a coating of a sealant selected from the group consisting of gelatin and gum arabic surrounds the hydrophilic core and lies between the hydrophilic core and the water insoluble coating.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the gelatin in the hydrophilic core has a Bloom of from 100 to 300.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The material of claim 27 where the water insoluble material is polyvinyl acetate and is present in an amount of about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of the encapsulated flavorant material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the core further comprises a coloring material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
10 words
The material of claim 27 wherein the plasticizer comprises glycerol.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flavored composition for introduction into the mouth, the composition comprising a non-toxic material selected from the group consisting of food products, chewing tobacco, snuff and toothpaste, and an encapsulated flavorant material according to claim 26.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
52 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein the encapsulation material comprises a mixture of gelatin, a natural gum and a plasticizer and wherein the water insoluble material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, zein, high Bloom gelatin having a Bloom of over 100 to 300 and ethylcellulose.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein the encapsulation material comprises a mixture of gelatin, an albumin and a plasticizer and wherein the water insoluble material comprises shellac.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein the water insoluble coating of the encapsulated flavorant material comprises from about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of the encapsulated flavorant material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein, in the encapsulated flavorant material, the outer part of the hydrophilic core adjacent the water insoluble coating is at least partially cross-linked, while the central part of the hydrophilic core is substantially free of cross-linking.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein, in the encapsulated flavorant material, a coating of a sealant selected from the group consisting of gelatin and gum arabic surrounds the hydrophilic core and lies between the hydrophilic core and the water insoluble coating.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein at least some of the cores of the encapsulated flavorant material comprise a coloring material.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein said non-toxic material further comprises at least one additional flavorant ingredient in conventionally available form.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein said non-toxic material comprises a chewing gum base, said flavored composition thus being a chewing gum.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flavored composition of claim 47 wherein said chewing gum base comprises at least one additional flavorant ingredient in conventionally available form.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
The flavored composition of claim 48 wherein the additional flavorant ingredient is a spray-dried encapsulated flavorant oil.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
51 words
The flavored composition of claim 47 wherein said encapsulated flavorant material has its water insoluble coating of such a thickness that release of flavorant ingredient from the cores of the encapsulated flavorant material is delayed until the flavored composition has been chewed in the mouth for about two or more minutes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
The flavored composition of claim 47 wherein the water insoluble coating of the encapsulated flavorant material comprises from about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of the encapsulated flavorant material.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flavored composition of claim 47 wherein, in the encapsulated flavorant material, the outer part of the hydrophilic core adjacent the water insoluble coating is at least partially cross-linked, while the central part of the hydrophilic core is substantially free of cross-linking.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein, in the encapsulated flavorant material a coating of a sealant selected from the group consisting of gelatin and gum arabic surrounds the hydrophilic core and lies between the hydrophilic core and the water insoluble coating.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
12 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein said non-toxic material comprises toothpaste.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The flavored composition of claim 54 wherein at least some of the cores of the encapsulated flavorant material comprise a coloring material.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein said non-toxic material comprises chewing tobacco.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
12 words
The flavored composition of claim 39 wherein said non-toxic material comprises snuff.
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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) | 1988-05-06 | 1988-11-05 | 1989-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-06 | 1992-11-05 | 1993-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-06 | 1996-11-05 | 1997-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |