Patent FR998816A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4609403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Foam soft gelatin capsules and their method of manufacture
Assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
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Filing: 1984-03-12
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Granted: 1986-09-02
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Expires: 2004-03-12
Abstract
Abstract Single piece capsules, produced, filled and sealed in a single operation, also known as soft shell capsules, having a special foam wall structure, obtained by a microdispersion of a gas in an aqueous mixture of dry gelatin and one or more plasticizers. The capsules are formed by processing, on soft shell capsule manufacturing machines, foamed ribbons, cast from a film forming mixture obtained by a microdispersion of a gas in an aqueous mixture of gelatin and one or more plasticizers; optionally with the inclusion of a coloring agent, an opacifying agent, a foam stabilizer, a gelatin extender, a preservative, a flavoring agent, a sweetening agent, or a drug. By a suitable choice of the gas proportion in the capsule wall and its microdispersion level, it is possible, within certain limits, to control the capsule wall disintegration speed and its opacity. Also, the inclusion of gas bubbles in the capsule wall decreases the gelatin material required for foam soft gelatin capsules and provides energy saving during production due to a faster drying of the capsule wall, thereby achieving lower costs for the production of said foam soft gelatin capsules over conventional soft gelatin capsules.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz Wittwer
- 👤 Jean-Philippe Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:47
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/30; A; A61; A61J; A61J3/00; A61J3/07; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/48; A61K9/4816; A61K9/4825; A61J2205/00; A61J2205/20; C08J2389/00; C08J2389/04; C08J2389/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S424/00; Y10S424/14; Y10S424/15; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for the production of foam soft gelatin capsules, which method comprises the steps of: A. mixing dry gelatin and one or more plasticizers with water to make an aqueous mixture; B. melting the aqueous mixture at a temperature range of between 65° to 95° C. to make a gelatin melt; C. mixing a gas into the gelatin melt to make a gaseous gelatin melt; D. microdispersing the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt to make a gelatin foam to provide a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 200 microns; and E. molding the gelatin foam into foam soft gelatin capsules having a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 200 microns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for the production of foam soft gelatin capsules, which method comprises the steps of: A. mixing dry gelatin and one or more plasticizers with water to make an aqueous mixture; B. melting the aqueous mixture at a temperature range of between 65° to 95° C. to make a gelatin melt; C. mixing a gas into the gelatin melt to make a gaseous gelatin melt; D. microdispersing the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt to make a gelatin foam to provide a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 200 microns; and E. molding the gelatin foam into foam soft gelatin capsules having a bubble diameter of 0.1 to 200 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the gelatin is in a pH range of between about 4.0 to 10.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the gelatin is in a pH range of between about 4.0 to 7.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the ratio by weight of water to gelatin in the aqueous mixture is in a range of between about 0.8 to 1.6.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the ratio by weight of water to gelatin in the aqueous mixture is in a range of between about 1 to 1.3.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of: poly-hydroxy-alcohols consisting of glycerol, sorbitol, and mannitol; dialkylphthalates preferably where alkyl is butyl; lower alkyl citrates wherein lower alkyl has 1 to 6 carbon atoms; glycols and polyglycols consisting of polyethyleneglycol with a molecular weight range of about 200 to 40,000 dalton, methoxy-propylene-glycol, and 1,2-propyleneglycol; esters of polyhydroxy-alcohols consisting of mono-, di- and tri-acetate of glycerol; ricinoleic acid and esters thereof; and mixtures of the above.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A the ratio by weight of dry plasticizer to dry gelatin in the aqueous mixture is in a range of between about 0.3 to 1.8.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A, the ratio by weight of dry plasticizer to dry gelatin in the aqueous mixture is in a range of between about 0.4 to 0.75.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step C the gas is a gas selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, oxygen, air, nitrogen, argon or a mixture thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step C the gas is air.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the microdispersion of the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt is accomplished mechanically by beating or whipping equipment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the microdispersion of the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt is accomplished by simultaneous treatment of controlled quantities of the gas and the gaseous melt respectively in a continuous pressure beater.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the microdispersion of the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt is accomplished by a centrifugal emulsifier combined with a controller to regulate addition of gas and of water into the gelatin foam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the microdispersion of the gas into the gaseous gelatin melt is accomplished within a container fitted with a heat exchanger-cooling system to avoid premature gelling of foam or degradation thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the gelatin foam is characterized by a gas content range between about 10 to 66% by volume, a viscosity range between about 1,000 to 30,000 centipoises when measured at 60° C., and by air bubbles having a diameter range between about 0.1 to 200 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the gelatin foam is characterized by a gas content range between about 23 to 56% by volume, a viscosity range between about 5,000 to 15,000 centipoises when measured at 60° C., and by air bubbles having a diameter range between about 1 to 50 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the gelatin foam is maintained at a temperature range between about 40° to 95° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step D the gelatin foam is maintained at a temperature range between about 55° to 70° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a foam stabilizing agent is added having a concentration range of between about 0.01 to 5.0% based upon the weight of the dry gelatin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a preservative is added having a concentration range of between about 0.01 to 2% based upon the weight of dry gelatin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a coloring agent is added having a concentration range of between about 0.001 to 10% based upon the range of the gelatin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a flavoring agent is added having a concentration range of between about 0.01 to 6% based upon the weight of the dry gelatin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a sweetening substance is added having a concentration range of between about 0.1 to 15% based upon the weight of the dry gelatin.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in any of the steps A, B, C or D a medicament is added.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step A a gelatin extender is added having a concentration range of between about 2 to 40% based upon the total weight of dry gelatin and dry gelatin extender.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the gelatin extender is selected from a group of proteins consisting of sunflower proteins, soybean proteins, cotton seed proteins, peanut proteins and rape seed proteins.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the proteins are defatted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the gelatin extender is selected from starches consisting of native starches and derivatives thereof, including pre-gelatinized starches, thin-boiling starches, dextrins and hydroxyalkyl starches.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules comprising gelatin and one or more plasticizers and having a gas microdispersed therein with bubbles of 0.1 to 200 microns.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules comprising gelatin and one or more plasticizers and having a gas microdispersed therein with bubbles of 0.1 to 200 microns.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules of claim 29 for the dosage of liquid, pasty or solid contents.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules of claim 29 for the dosage of pharmaceutical, fertilizer, seed, candy, cosmetic, food or dyestuff contents.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules of claim 29 for oral, rectal, vaginal, topical or ophthalmic applications.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
Foam soft gelatin capsules of claim 29 for chewable applications.
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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) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |