US4683138A — Low moisture, sugarless, center-filled chewing gum

Claim 1

Independent Claim 159 words

A sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece having an outer sugarless chewing gum shell enclosing a cavity and a sugarless liquid center-fill within said cavity, said chewing gum piece comprising: A. a chewing gum shell containing not more than about 2% by weight thereof water; and B. a sugarless liquid center-fill comprising: 1. about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; 2. about 85% to about 93% by weight of a glycerin humectant; and 3. about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said liquid center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 159 words

A sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece having an outer sugarless chewing gum shell enclosing a cavity and a sugarless liquid center-fill within said cavity, said chewing gum piece comprising: A. a chewing gum shell containing not more than about 2% by weight thereof water; and B. a sugarless liquid center-fill comprising: 1. about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; 2. about 85% to about 93% by weight of a glycerin humectant; and 3. about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said liquid center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 79 words

The sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece according to claim 1 wherein said liquid center-fill comprises about 0.2% to about 0.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% by weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a watr-content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 80 words

The sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece according to Claim 1 wherein said liquid center-fill comprises about 1% to about 1.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% by weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a water content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece acording to claim 1 wherein, additionally, the center-fill contains a material selected from the group consisting of a flavoring agent, a sweetening agent and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece according to claim 4 wherein the flavoring agent is selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen (methylsalicylate), lemon oil, orange oil, grape oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, apple essence, strawberry essence, cherry essence, pineapple essence and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece according to claim 4 wherein the sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of saccharin salts, cyclamate salts, Acesulfame-K salts, dipeptide based sweeteners, dihydrochalcone sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

A sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece according to claim 1 wherein the liquid center-fill is incorporated into the chewing gum shell in an amount of about 11% to about 15% by weight of the chewing gum composition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 142 words

A sugarless liquid center-fill for incorporation into a cavity within a sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece, the shell of said chewing gum piece containing not more than about 2% by weight water, said center-fill comprising: A. about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; B. about 85% to about 93% by weight of glycerin humectant; and C. about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said sugarless center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 142 words

A sugarless liquid center-fill for incorporation into a cavity within a sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece, the shell of said chewing gum piece containing not more than about 2% by weight water, said center-fill comprising: A. about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; B. about 85% to about 93% by weight of glycerin humectant; and C. about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said sugarless center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 73 words

The sugarless, liquid center-fill according to claim 8 comprising about 0.2% to about 0.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% of weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a water-content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 73 words

The sugarless liquid center-fill according to claim 8 comprising about 1% to about 1.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% by weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a water-content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

The sugarless, liquid center-fill according to claim 8 wherein, additionally, the center-fill contains a material selected from the group consisting of a flavoring agent, a sweetening agent, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

The sugarless liquid center-fill according to claim 11 wherein the flavor is selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen (methylsalicylate), lemon oil, orange oil, grape oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, apple essence, strawberry essence, cherry essence, pineapple essence and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The sugarless, liquid center-fill according to claim 11 wherein the sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of saccharin salts, cyclamate salts, acesulfame K salts, dipeptide based sweeteners, dihydrochalcone sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 149 words

A process for preparing the sugarless liquid center-fill of claim 8 which comprises: A. mixing the natural or synthetic gum with the glycerin humectant in a weight ratio of from about 1:3 to about 1:24, based on the weight of gum to the weight of glycerin, for a time sufficient to disperse said gum in said glycerin; B. blending the additional water-miscible humectant with an equal weight of glycerin and heating the blend to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 80° C.; C. mixing the dispersion of (A) with the heated blend of (B) until a homogenous mixture is formed; and D. adding the remaining glycerin to (C) and mixing for a time sufficient to fully hydrate the natural or synthetic gum with the water present in the reaction mixture and obtain a center-fill having a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The process according to claim 14 wherein, in step (A) the natural or synthetic gum is a low viscosity carboxymethylcellulose gum and wherein the ratio of said gum to said glycerinis from about 1:3 to about 1:6.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The process according to claim 14 wherein, in step (A), the natural or synthetic gum is a high viscosity carboxymethylcellulose gum and wherein the ratio of said gum to said glycerin is from about 1:12 to about 1:24.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process according to claim 14 wherein, in step (B) the additional water-miscible humectant is sorbitol solution.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process according to claim 14 wherein the viscosity of the liquid center-fill is about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The process according to claim 14 wherein, additionally, a material selected from the group consisting of a flavoring agent, a sweetening agent, and mixtures thereof, is added to the mixture of step (D) in an amount sufficient to impart taste thereto.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 141 words

A process for preparing a sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece having a substantially anhydrous, sugarless outer chewing gum shell enclosing a cavity, which comprises incorporating within said cavity a sugarless liquid center-fill comprising: (A) about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; (B) about 85% to about 93% by weight of a glycerin humectant; and (C) about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said liquid center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 141 words

A process for preparing a sugarless center-filled chewing gum piece having a substantially anhydrous, sugarless outer chewing gum shell enclosing a cavity, which comprises incorporating within said cavity a sugarless liquid center-fill comprising: (A) about 0.2% to about 1.5% by weight of a natural or synthetic gum selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, pectin, propylene glycol alginates, agar and gum tragacanth; (B) about 85% to about 93% by weight of a glycerin humectant; and (C) about 6% to about 12% by weight of an additional water-miscible humectant ingredient selected from the group consisting of (a) sorbitol solution or (b) sorbitol solution and propylene glycol; wherein said liquid center-fill has a water content of about 6% to about 8%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 85,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 75 words

The process according to claim 20 wherein the liquid center-fill comprises about 0.2% to about 0.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% by weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a water-content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 75 words

The process according to claim 20 wherein the liquid center-fill comprises about 1% to about 1.5% by weight of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, about 89% to about 93% by weight of glycerin, and about 6% to about 10% by weight of sorbitol solution, said liquid center-fill having a water-content of about 6% to about 7.5%, based on the total weight of the liquid center-fill, and a viscosity of about 20,000 to about 80,000 centipoises at 25° C.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The process according to claim 20 wherein the liquid center-fill is incorporated into the chewing gum shell in an amount of about 11% to about 15% by weight of the chewing gum piece.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-07-27	1991-01-26	1991-07-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-07-27	1995-01-26	1995-07-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-07-27	1999-01-26	1999-07-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low moisture, sugarless, center-filled chewing gum

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