US4775537A — Sequentially flavored chewing gum composition

Claim 1

Independent Claim 171 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; (B) one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said water soluble flavoring agents, said water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (C) one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said oil soluble flavoring agents, said oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (D) optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; and (E) an effective amount of a sweetening agent; wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 171 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; (B) one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said water soluble flavoring agents, said water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (C) one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said oil soluble flavoring agents, said oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (D) optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; and (E) an effective amount of a sweetening agent; wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said gum base is comprised of polymers selected from the group consisting of chicle, jelutong, gutta percha, crown gum, butadiene-styrene copolymers, isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyvinylacetate, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said gum base is present in amounts of about 5% to about 45% by weight of the total composition.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said water soluble flavoring agent is selected from the group consisting of vanilla, lemon, orange, grape, lime, grapefruit, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, apricot, coffee, cranberry, black currant, licorice, carob, mixed fruit, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said oil soluble flavoring agents are selected from the group consisting of spearmint, cinnamon, wintergreen, peppermint, clove, bay, anise, eucalyptus, thyme, nutmeg, sage, bitter almonds, cinnamon mint, corn mint, cardamom, ginger, cola, rum, peanut butter and chocolate flavors, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said water soluble flavoring agent is coffee.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said oil soluble flavoring agents are selected from the group consisting of cinnamon, chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, rum flavors, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said water soluble flavoring agents and said oil soluble flavoring agents are each present in amounts within the range about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the composition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 55 words

The composition of claim 8 wherein said water soluble flavoring agents are present in amounts within the range of about 0.5% to about 3.0% by weight of the total composition and said oil soluble flavoring agents are present in amounts within the range of about 0.05% to about 2.0% by weight of the total composition.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble sweeteners, water-soluble artificial sweeteners, water-soluble sweeteners derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweeteners, dipeptide based sweeteners, protein based sweeteners and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

The composition of claim 10 wherein said water-soluble sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of sucrose, fructose, glucose, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, corn syrup solids and mixtures thereof; wherein said water-soluble sweetener derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of soluble saccharin salts, acesulfame-K, and mixtures thereof; wherein said water-soluble sweeteners is a chlorinated derivative of sucrose; wherein said dipeptide based sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, L-α-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4,-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide hydrate, and mixtures thereof; and wherein said protein based sweetener is thaumatin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The composition of claim 1 further comprising a maltodextrin in an amount of about 2% to about 8% by weight of the total composition.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The composition of claim 1 wherein said water soluble flavoring agents are present within the range of about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of the total composition.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 174 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) from about 5% to about 45% by weight of the total composition of gum base; (B) from about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of the total composition of one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (C) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the total composition of one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (D) from about 0.01% to about 90% by weight of the total composition of a sweetening agent; and (E) optionally, effective amounts conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said (A)-(E) totals 100%; and wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 174 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) from about 5% to about 45% by weight of the total composition of gum base; (B) from about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of the total composition of one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (C) from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the total composition of one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; (D) from about 0.01% to about 90% by weight of the total composition of a sweetening agent; and (E) optionally, effective amounts conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said (A)-(E) totals 100%; and wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The composition of claim 14 wherein one water soluble flavoring agent is used and one oil soluble flavoring agent is used.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 150 words

The composition of claim 14 wherein said water soluble flavoring agents are selected from the group consisting of vanilla, lemon, orange, grape, lime, grapefruit, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, apricot, coffee, cranberry, black currant, licorice, carob, mixed fruit, and mixtures thereof; wherein said oil soluble flavoring agents are selected from the group consisting of spearmint, cinnamon, wintergreen, peppermint, clove, bay, anise, eucalyptus, thyme, nutmeg, sage, bitter almonds, cinnamon mint, corn mint, cardamom, ginger, cola, rum, peanut butter and chocolate flavors, and mixtures thereof; wherein said sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble sweeteners, water-soluble artificial sweeteners, water-soluble sweeteners derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweeteners, dipeptide based sweeteners, protein based sweeteners and mixtures thereof; and wherein said gum base is comprised of polymers selected from the group consisting of chicle, jelutong, gutta percha, crown gum, butadiene-styrene copolymers, isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyvinylacetate, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 123 words

The composition of claim 16 wherein said water soluble flavoring agent is coffee; wherein said oil soluble flavoring agent is selected from the group consisting of cinnamon, chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, and rum flavors, and mixtures thereof; wherein said water-soluble sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup solids, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, and mixtures thereof; wherein said watersoluble artificial sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of soluble saccharin salts, acesulfame-K, and mixtures thereof; wherein said water soluble sweetener derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweeteners is a chlorinated derivative of sucrose; wherein said dipeptide based sweeteners are selected from the group consisting of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, L-α-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4,-tetra-methyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide hydrate, and mixtures thereof; and wherein said protein based sweetener is thaumatin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The composition of claim 17 further comprising a maltodextrin in an amount of about 2% to about 8% by weight of the total composition wherein the percentage of the components (A)-(E) and the maltodextrin equals 100%.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The composition of claim 14 wherein said water soluble flavoring agents are present within the range of about 0.05% to about 5.0% by weight of the total composition.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 206 words

A process for making a chewing gum composition comprising: mixing a gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; with one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said water soluble flavoring agents, said water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; with one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said oil soluble flavoring agents, said oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; with an effective amount of a sweetening agent; with, optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said gum base and said flavoring agents are mixed together at a temperature below the volatilization temperature of said flavoring agents, thereby forming a chewing gum composition having sequentially releasable flavoring agents wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 206 words

A process for making a chewing gum composition comprising: mixing a gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; with one or more non-confined water soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said water soluble flavoring agents, said water soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; with one or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents in an amount sufficient to give the flavor perception of said oil soluble flavoring agents, said oil soluble flavoring agents having the same or different solubilities and the same or different rates of release; with an effective amount of a sweetening agent; with, optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said gum base and said flavoring agents are mixed together at a temperature below the volatilization temperature of said flavoring agents, thereby forming a chewing gum composition having sequentially releasable flavoring agents wherein said water soluble flavoring agents, upon chewing said composition, release first to provide distinct flavor perceptions, and said oil soluble flavoring agents release subsequent to the release of said water soluble flavoring agents to provide flavor perceptions distinct from said water soluble flavoring agents' flavor perceptions.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 20 wherein one water soluble flavoring agent is utilized and one oil soluble flavoring agent is utilized.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 75 words

The process of claim 20 wherein said gum base is used in amounts of about 5% to about 45% by weight of the total composition; and wherein said water soluble flavoring agents are used in amounts within the range of about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of the total composition, and said oil soluble flavoring agents are used in amounts within the range of about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the composition.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 75 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; (B) effective amounts of two or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents wherein at least two flavoring agents have different solubilities and different rates of release; (C) an effective amount of a sweetening agent; and (D) optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said flavoring agents release sequentially to provide distinct flavor perceptions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 75 words

A sequentially flavored chewing gum composition comprising: (A) gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition; (B) effective amounts of two or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents wherein at least two flavoring agents have different solubilities and different rates of release; (C) an effective amount of a sweetening agent; and (D) optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said flavoring agents release sequentially to provide distinct flavor perceptions.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The composition of claim 23 wherein said sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble sweeteners, water-soluble artificial sweeteners, water-soluble sweeteners derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweeteners, dipeptide based sweeteners, protein based sweeteners and mixtures thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 102 words

A process for making a chewing gum composition comprising: mixing a gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition, with effective amounts of two or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents wherein at least two flavoring agents have different solubilities and different rates of release, with an effective amount of a sweetening agent, with optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said gum base and flavoring agents are mixed together at a temperature below the volatilization temperature of said flavoring agents, thereby forming a chewing gum composition having sequentially releasable flavoring agents providing distinct flavor perceptions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 102 words

A process for making a chewing gum composition comprising: mixing a gum base in an amount sufficient to form a chewing gum composition, with effective amounts of two or more non-confined oil soluble flavoring agents wherein at least two flavoring agents have different solubilities and different rates of release, with an effective amount of a sweetening agent, with optionally, effective amounts of conventional chewing gum additives; wherein said gum base and flavoring agents are mixed together at a temperature below the volatilization temperature of said flavoring agents, thereby forming a chewing gum composition having sequentially releasable flavoring agents providing distinct flavor perceptions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-10-04	1992-04-04	1992-10-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-10-04	1996-04-04	1996-10-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-10-04	2000-04-04	2000-10-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sequentially flavored chewing gum composition

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