US4673577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shellac encapsulant for high-potency sweeteners in chewing gum
Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
•
Filing: 1985-06-12
•
Granted: 1987-06-16
•
Expires: 2005-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A food-grade shellac is used as an encapsulating agent for high potentcy sweeteners in chewing gum compositions. The shellac provides an impermeable, hydrophobic coating which is substantially insoluble in the chewing gum base.
Inventors
- 👤 Mansukh M. Patel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:08
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/10; A23G4/18; A23G4/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
24 words
A chewing gum composition comprising gum base, particles of a high-potency sweetener, and a food grade shellac encapsulant surrounding said particles of the sweetener.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
A chewing gum composition comprising gum base, particles of a high-potency sweetener, and a food grade shellac encapsulant surrounding said particles of the sweetener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 2 wherein the dipeptide sweetener is aspartame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 3 wherein the aspartame is present in an amount ranging from about 0.025% to about 2.0% by weight of the gum composition and the encapsulating agent is present in an amount ranging from about 5.0% to about 90.0% by weight of the aspartame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chewing gum composition of claim 4 wherein the shellac encapsulant is present in an amount of about 25.0% by weight of the aspartame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3741795A
Cited
US3962463A
Cited
US3914439A
Cited
EP0024297A1
Cited
FR2476986A1
Cited
US4384004A
Cited
US4384004B1
Cited
US4515769A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-12-15 | 1991-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-15 | 1994-12-15 | 1995-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-15 | 1998-12-15 | 1999-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |