US4962774A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco reconstitution process
Assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
•
Filing: 1988-11-16
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Granted: 1990-10-16
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Expires: 2008-11-16
Abstract
Abstract Reconstituted Tobacco has ammonia incorporated therein. Tobacco is extracted with water to yield an insoluble portion and an aqueous portion containing water soluble tobacco components. The aqueous portion is contacted with ammonia to yield an ammoniated extract. The extract is applied to the insoluble portion which has been formed into a sheet-like shape. The resulting tobacco composition is dried to yield a reconstituted tobacco material treated with ammonia.
Inventors
- 👤 James S. Thomasson
- 👤 Elwood L. Williams, Jr.
- 👤 Barry L. Bryant
- 👤 Cynthia H. Curtis
- 👤 Thomas W. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:50
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B15/00; A24B15/18; A24B15/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A process for providing a reconstituted tobacco material, the process comprising the steps of: (a) extracting components from tobacco material using a liquid solvent having an aqueous character thereby providing (i) a liquid solvent having extracted tobacco components therein, and (ii) a tobacco portion insoluble in the solvent; and then (b) separating at least a portion of the liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components therein from the insoluble tobacco portion; and then (c) forming the insoluble tobacco portion into a predetermined shape; and (d) contacting the liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components with an effective amount of ammonia so as to ammoniate the extracted tobacco components; and then (e) contacting the insoluble tobacco portion of step (c) with ammoniated liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components of step (d).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for providing a reconstituted tobacco material, the process comprising the steps of: (a) extracting components from tobacco material using a liquid solvent having an aqueous character thereby providing (i) a liquid solvent having extracted tobacco components therein, and (ii) a tobacco portion insoluble in the solvent; and then (b) separating at least a portion of the liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components therein from the insoluble tobacco portion; and then (c) forming the insoluble tobacco portion into a predetermined shape; and (d) contacting the liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components with an effective amount of ammonia so as to ammoniate the extracted tobacco components; and then (e) contacting the insoluble tobacco portion of step (c) with ammoniated liquid solvent and extracted tobacco components of step (d).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the solvent and extracted tobacco components are contacted with anhydrous ammonia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 or 2 whereby the insoluble tobacco portion is formed into a sheet-like shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the tobacco material provided in step (e) is dried to a moisture content of about 10 to about 15 weight percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the amount of ammonia contacted with the extracted tobacco components ranges from about 0.1 to about 5 percent, based on the total weight of the extracted tobacco components within the solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the amount of ammonia contacted with the extracted tobacco components ranges from about 2.5 to about 3.5 percent, based on the total weight of the extracted tobacco components within the solvent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 or 2 whereby the solvent and extracted tobacco components therein includes more than about 20 percent extracted tobacco components, based on the weight of the extracted tobacco components and solvent, prior to step (d).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the contact of the solvent and extracted tobacco components with ammonia occurs at a temperature of about 100° F. to about 200° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 whereby the contact of the solvent and extracted tobacco components with ammonia occurs at a temperature of about 110° F. to about 140° F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 or 4 whereby the moisture content of the insoluble tobacco portion of step (c) ranges from about 40 to about 80 percent, based on the weight of the insoluble tobacco portion and moisture. wei
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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) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |