US4562076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chewing gum with coating of thaumatin or monellin and method
Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
•
Filing: 1983-12-01
•
Granted: 1985-12-31
•
Expires: 2003-12-01
Abstract
Abstract The application of thaumatin or monellin to the surface of a chewing gum composition comprising gum base, sweetener and flavoring provides flavor and sweetness potentiation. The thaumatin or monellin is present in an amount within the range of from about 0.5 to about 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition and is conveniently applied as a rolling compound to the surface of the gum.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd W. Arnold
- 👤 Mansukh M. Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:36
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/14; A23G4/10; A23G4/18; A23G4/20; A23G2200/00; A23G2200/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A chewing gum composition having a core portion comprising chewable gum base, sweetener and flavoring, and further having deposited on the surface of said the core portion, a rolling compound comprising a sweet protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin, the protein constituting at least 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A chewing gum composition having a core portion comprising chewable gum base, sweetener and flavoring, and further having deposited on the surface of said the core portion, a rolling compound comprising a sweet protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin, the protein constituting at least 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the protein is thaumatin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the protein is monellin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the protein constitutes from about 3 to about 20 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 0.25% to about 10.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 1.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the sweetener in the core portion comprises a high-potency sweetener.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the sweetener in the core portion comprises a dipeptide sweetener.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the sweetener in the core portion comprises aspartame in an amoung ranging from about 0.025% to about 2.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 9 wherein the protein constitutes from about 3 to about 20 ppm and the aspartame constitutes about 0.1% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 9 wherein the protein is thaumatin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 9 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 0.25% to about 10.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 9 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 1.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A chewing gum composition having a core portion comprising chewable gum base and flavoring and further having deposited on the surface of the core portion, a rolling compound comprising a protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin, the protein constituting at least 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A chewing gum composition having a core portion comprising chewable gum base and flavoring and further having deposited on the surface of the core portion, a rolling compound comprising a protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin, the protein constituting at least 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 14 wherein the composition further comprises a high-potency sweetener.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 15 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 15 wherein the dipeptide sweetener is aspartame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 15 wherein the high-potency sweetener is applied to the surface of the core portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 14 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 0.25% to about 10.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of sweetening a chewing gum composition comprising chewable gum base and flavoring, the method comprising the step of applying to the surface of the gum composition a rolling compound comprising a sweet protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin in an amount greater than 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of sweetening a chewing gum composition comprising chewable gum base and flavoring, the method comprising the step of applying to the surface of the gum composition a rolling compound comprising a sweet protein selected from the group consisting of thaumatin and monellin in an amount greater than 0.5 but less than 100 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the chewing gum composition further comprises a sweetener.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the protein is thaumatin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the protein is monellin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 0.25% to about 10% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the rolling compound is dusted onto the surface of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20 and the additional step of co-drying the protein with a food-grade carrier prior to application of the protein to the surface of the gum composition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the carrier is a carbohydrate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the carrier is a sugar alcohol.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the carrier is a protein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 and the additional step of spraying the protein onto the surface of the gum composition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the rolling compound constitutes from about 0.25% to about 10% by weight of the chewing gum composition, and wherein the rolling compound is dusted onto the surface of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 and the additional steps of preparing a solution of the protein and spraying the solution onto the gum composition.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the protein constitutes from about 3 to about 20 ppm by weight of the chewing gum composition.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the chewing gum composition comprises aspartame in an amount ranging from about 0.025% to about 2.0% by weight of the chewing gum composition.
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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) | 1988-12-30 | 1989-07-01 | 1989-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-30 | 1993-07-01 | 1993-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-07-01 | 1997-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |