Patent US4863745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4863745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chewing gum containing zein coated high-potency sweetener and method
Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Co
•
Filing: 1987-12-18
•
Granted: 1989-09-05
•
Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method for producing a chewing gum with a delayed release high-potency sweetener as well as the chewing gum so produced. The delayed release high-potency sweetener is obtained by mixing a quantity of previously coated high-potency sweetener particles with a limited quantity of a solution of zein. Preferably, the zein is dissolved in water with a pH between about 11.5 and about 12.1. The quantity of the zein solution being added is limited to thereby produce a damp mix which is characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly. The damp mix is dried and then particle sized to thereby produce twice-coated particles of the high-potency sweetener within a predetermined particle size range. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf-stability of the sweetener and/or produce a delayed release when the gum is chewed.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven E. Zibell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:33
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/06; A23G4/14; A23G4/02; A23G4/10; A23G4/18; A23G4/20; A23L; A23L27/00; A23L27/30; A23L27/31; A23L27/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S426/00; Y10S426/804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for producing chewing gum with a twice-coated high-potency sweetener comprising the following steps: measuring a quantity of high-potency sweetener particles coated with a material selected from the group consisting of modified cellulose, gums, shellac, maltodextrins, gelatins, starches, and lactose, as well as mixtures thereof; preparing a solution of zein having a zein content between about 1 and about 50 percent by weight; slowly adding said zein solution to said coated high-potency sweetener particles while mixing until a coated, dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly damp mix is obtained; drying the zein coated damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain twice-coated particles of the high-potency sweetener within a particle size range suitable for use in chewing gum; and adding a quantity of said twice-coated particles to a chewing gum formulation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for producing chewing gum with a twice-coated high-potency sweetener comprising the following steps: measuring a quantity of high-potency sweetener particles coated with a material selected from the group consisting of modified cellulose, gums, shellac, maltodextrins, gelatins, starches, and lactose, as well as mixtures thereof; preparing a solution of zein having a zein content between about 1 and about 50 percent by weight; slowly adding said zein solution to said coated high-potency sweetener particles while mixing until a coated, dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly damp mix is obtained; drying the zein coated damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain twice-coated particles of the high-potency sweetener within a particle size range suitable for use in chewing gum; and adding a quantity of said twice-coated particles to a chewing gum formulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the high-potency sweetener is mixed with a bulking agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the chewing gum comprises an aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said zein solution comprises zein dissolved in water having a pH of between about 11.5 and about 12.1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content between about 5 and about 20 percent by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content between about 13 and about 18 percent by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content of about 16 percent by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a pH between about 11.6 and 11.9.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the chewing gum comprises an aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the zein solution comprises zein dissolved in an alcohol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the zein solution comprises zein dissolved in ethanol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the ethanol solution of zein has a zein content between about 10 and about 50 percent by weight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the ethanol solution of zein has a zein content between about 20 and about 45 percent by weight.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the chewing gum comprises and aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzalehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for producing chewing gum with a twice-coated high-potency sweetener comprising the following steps: mixing a quantity of a high-potency sweetener with a quantity of a first coating material selected from the group consisting of modified cellulose, gums, shellac, maltodextrins, gelatins, starches, and lactose, as well as mixtures thereof together with a limited quantity of solvent for the first coating material to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain particles of the high-potency sweetener coated with the first coating material; preparing a solution of zein having a zein content between about 1 and about 50 percent by weight; slowly adding said zein solution to said coated high-potency sweetener particles while mixing until a coated, dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly damp mix is obtained; drying the zein coated damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain twice-coated particles of the high-potency sweetener within a particle size range suitable for use in chewing gum; and adding a quantity of said coated particles to a chewing gum formulation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for producing chewing gum with a twice-coated high-potency sweetener comprising the following steps: mixing a quantity of a high-potency sweetener with a quantity of a first coating material selected from the group consisting of modified cellulose, gums, shellac, maltodextrins, gelatins, starches, and lactose, as well as mixtures thereof together with a limited quantity of solvent for the first coating material to produce a damp mix, the damp mix being characterized as being dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly; drying said damp mix; particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain particles of the high-potency sweetener coated with the first coating material; preparing a solution of zein having a zein content between about 1 and about 50 percent by weight; slowly adding said zein solution to said coated high-potency sweetener particles while mixing until a coated, dust free, non-flowing, and crumbly damp mix is obtained; drying the zein coated damp mix; and particle sizing said dried mix to thereby obtain twice-coated particles of the high-potency sweetener within a particle size range suitable for use in chewing gum; and adding a quantity of said coated particles to a chewing gum formulation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the high-potency sweetener is mixed with a bulking agent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the chewing gum comprises an aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said zein solution comprises zein dissolved in water having a pH of between about 11.5 and about 12.1.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content between about 5 and about 20 percent by weight.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content between about 13 and about 18 percent by weight.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a zein content of about 16 percent by weight.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution of zein has a pH between about 11.6 and 11.9.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the zein solution comprises zein dissolved in an alcohol.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the chewing gum comprises an aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the zein solution comprises zein dissolved in ethanol.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the high-potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, sucralose, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, thaumatin, and monellin, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the high-potency sweetener is a dipeptide sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame and combinations thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the ethanol solution of zein has a zein content between about 10 and about 50 percent by weight.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the ethanol solution of zein has a zein content between about 20 and about 45 percent by weight.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the chewing gum comprises an aldehyde containing flavor component.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the aldehyde containing flavor component is selected from the group consisting of cinamaldehyde, benzaldehyde, citral, citronellal, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, acetaldehyde, undecanal, and dodecanal, as well as combinations thereof.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 10.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 11.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 12.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 20.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 21.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 33.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 34.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 35.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
11 words
A chewing gum made according to the method of claim 44.
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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) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |