US4671967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carbohydrate syrups and methods of preparation
Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
•
Filing: 1985-10-16
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Granted: 1987-06-09
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Expires: 2005-10-16
Abstract
Abstract Carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer compositions for use in chewing gums to improve flexibility and methods of preparing the compositions are disclosed. The syrup comprises carbohydrate solids and water, with less than 30% of the solids having a degree of polymerization (DP) of 1 and more than 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater. The ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent in the composition is between 0.5:1 and 100:1 and the total water content of composition is less than 20%. The syrup-plasticizer composition is prepared by providing a carbohydrate syrup or combined syrups with the proper carbohydrate solids distribution, combining a plasticizer such as glycerine or propylene glycol and evaporating water from the combined syrup composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Mansukh M. Patel
- 👤 Michael A. Reed
- 👤 William J. Wokas
- 👤 Vasek J. Kures
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:20
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/10; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/04; A23G3/34; A23G3/346; A23L; A23L27/00; A23L27/30; A23L27/33; A23L27/35; A23L29/00; A23L29/30; A23G2200/00; A23G2200/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of preparing a syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum formulation comprising the steps of: (a) combining a syrup, comprising carbohydrate solids having less than about 30% solids with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 1 and at least about 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater, with a plasticizing agent consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol or a mixture thereof in a weight ratio of between about 0.5:1 to about 100:1 carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent; and (b) evaporating moisture in the syrup-plasticizer mixture so that the total water content of the evaporated syrup-plasticizer composition is less than about 20% by weight.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of preparing a syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum formulation comprising the steps of: (a) combining a syrup, comprising carbohydrate solids having less than about 30% solids with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 1 and at least about 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater, with a plasticizing agent consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol or a mixture thereof in a weight ratio of between about 0.5:1 to about 100:1 carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent; and (b) evaporating moisture in the syrup-plasticizer mixture so that the total water content of the evaporated syrup-plasticizer composition is less than about 20% by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least 20% of the moisture initially present in the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizing agent combination is evaporated therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least 50% of the moisture initially present in the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizing agent combination is evaporated therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least 75% of the moisture initially present in the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizing agent combination is evaporated therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the final moisture level of the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition is not more than 14% by weight thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the final moisture level of the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition is not more than 10% by weight thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the final moisture level of the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition is not more than 5% by weight thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise corn syrup solids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolysate solids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise a mixture of corn syrup solids and hydrogenated starch hydrolysate solids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the evaporating step is carried out by agitating and heating the syrup-plasticizing agent combination in an agitated heated kettle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the evaporating step is carried out by passing the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizing agent combination through a thin film evaporator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasticizing agent is glycerine at a weight ratio of from about 0.75:1 to about 40:1 carbohydrate solids to glycerine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to glycerine is between about 2:1 and about 30:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise less than about 20% carbohydrates having a DP of 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrates solids comprise less than about 10% carbohydrates having a DP of 1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolysates with about 24% of the carbohydrates having a DP of 4 or greater.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise corn syrup solids with about 30% or more of the carbohydrates having a DP of 4 or greater.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein about 35% to 40% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolysate solids containing about 6% oligosaccharides of a DP of 1, about 52% with a DP of 2, about 18% with a DP of 3 and about 11% with a DP of 10 or greater.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate solids are corn syrup solids comprising not less than about 20% by weight maltose.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the carbohydrate syrup comprises a mixture of 20% to 80% by weight of a syrup with a D.E. of greater than 40 and 20% to 80% of a syrup with a D.E. of less than 40.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising the steps of: (a) combining a carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids with a plasticizer selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof at a weight ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizer of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1 (b) said carbohydrate solids comprising less than about 20% by weight carbohydrates with a DP of 1 and at least about 20% carbohydrates with a DP of 4 or greater; and (c) evaporating moisture from the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer mixture to reduce its moisture content to less than about 20% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising the steps of: (a) combining a carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids with a plasticizer selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof at a weight ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizer of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1 (b) said carbohydrate solids comprising less than about 20% by weight carbohydrates with a DP of 1 and at least about 20% carbohydrates with a DP of 4 or greater; and (c) evaporating moisture from the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer mixture to reduce its moisture content to less than about 20% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolysates.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise corn syrup solids.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum formulation comprising the steps of: (a) providing a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 24% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof at a weight ratio of total carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (c) evaporating water from the resulting mixture until there is less than 14% water in the mixture.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum formulation comprising the steps of: (a) providing a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 24% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof at a weight ratio of total carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (c) evaporating water from the resulting mixture until there is less than 14% water in the mixture.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a low water content carbohydrate syrup comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 30% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1, and greater than about 20% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agen selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof in a ratio of between about 0.75:1 and 40:1 carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent; and (c) evaporating water from the combined syrup-plasticizing agent mixture until the water content of the mixture is less than about 14% by weight.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of preparing a low water content carbohydrate syrup comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 30% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1, and greater than about 20% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agen selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof in a ratio of between about 0.75:1 and 40:1 carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent; and (c) evaporating water from the combined syrup-plasticizing agent mixture until the water content of the mixture is less than about 14% by weight.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27 wherein conventional evaporting equipment is used to evaporate water from the mixture.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolyosates with about 24% of more of the carbohydrates having a DP of 4 or greater.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent is between about 2:1 and about 30:1.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the water in the mixture of plasticizing agent and syrup is evaporated to less than about 10%.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
A carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising: (a) a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 30% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof; (c) wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent is between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (d) wherein the water content of the carbohydrate syrup plasticizer composition is less than 20%.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
111 words
A carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising: (a) a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 30% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater; (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof; (c) wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent is between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (d) wherein the water content of the carbohydrate syrup plasticizer composition is less than 20%.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
74 words
A carbohydrate syrup composition comprising: (a) carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 1 and greater than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 4 or greater, (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, proplyene glycol and mixtures thereof at a ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (c) less than about 20% water.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
74 words
A carbohydrate syrup composition comprising: (a) carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 1 and greater than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 4 or greater, (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, proplyene glycol and mixtures thereof at a ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1; and (c) less than about 20% water.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 33 wherein the carbohydrate solids comprise hydrogenated starch hydrolysates with about 24% or more of the carbohydrates having a DP of 4 or greater.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 33 wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent is between about 0.75:1 and about 40:1.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 33 comprising less than about 14% water.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
85 words
A carbohydrate syrup mixture for use in a chewing gum composition for improved flexibility retention, the mixture comprising water in an amount not greater than about 20% by weight of the mixture, starch hydrolysate solids having less than 30% solids with a DP of 1 and at least about 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater, and a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol and propylene glycol and constituting from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
85 words
A carbohydrate syrup mixture for use in a chewing gum composition for improved flexibility retention, the mixture comprising water in an amount not greater than about 20% by weight of the mixture, starch hydrolysate solids having less than 30% solids with a DP of 1 and at least about 20% solids with a DP of 4 or greater, and a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol and propylene glycol and constituting from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The syrup mixture of claim 37 wherein the amount of plasticizing agent is about 3% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The syrup mixture of claim 37 wherein the amount of water is not greater than about 14% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The syrup mixture of claim 37 wherein the starch hydrolysate solids comprise not less than about 20% by weight maltose.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The syrup mixture of claim 37 wherein the starch hydrolysate solids comprise not less than about 10% by weight of saccharides having DP of 10 or greater.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
The syrup mixture of claim 37 wherein the starch hydrolysate solids comprise about 32% by weight maltose and about 20% by weight of saccharides having DP of 10 or greater.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
116 words
A carbohydrate syrup mixture for use in a chewing gum composition to improve the flexibility and extend the shelf-life thereof, the syrup mixture comprising: (a) a high D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not less than about 40; (b) a low D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not greater than about 40; (c) not greater than 20% by weight water; and (d) a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol and propylene glycol and constituting from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
116 words
A carbohydrate syrup mixture for use in a chewing gum composition to improve the flexibility and extend the shelf-life thereof, the syrup mixture comprising: (a) a high D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not less than about 40; (b) a low D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not greater than about 40; (c) not greater than 20% by weight water; and (d) a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol and propylene glycol and constituting from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mixture.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The syrup mixture of claim 43 wherein the high D.E. syrup contains from about 40% to about 50% maltose by weight of dry solids.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
59 words
The syrup mixture of claim 43 wherein the high D.E. syrup has a D.E. of about 50 and constitutes about 55% by weight of the mixture; the low D.E. syrup has a D.E. of about 20 and constitutes about 42.5% by weight of the mixture; and the high D.E. syrup contains about 44% maltose by weight of dry solids.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The syrup mixture of claim 43 wherein the water content of not greater than about 14% by weight of the mixture.
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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) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-12-08 | 1991-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-08 | 1994-12-08 | 1995-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-12-08 | 1999-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |