US5496574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Encapsulated sensory agents
Assignee: Nestec SA
•
Filing: 1995-02-01
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Granted: 1996-03-05
•
Expires: 2015-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A process for encapsulating an aroma or flavour for a beverage. An oil-in-water emulsion is formed from a hydrolyzed vegetable oil, an aqueous medium, and a water-soluble, carbohydrate-based, film forming agent. A sufficient amount of the film forming agent is added so that the aqueous phase of the emulsion contains at least 50% by weight of the film forming agent. The oil-in-water emulsion is sprayed onto a soluble beverage powder whereupon the aqueous layer of each droplet rapidly desiccates to form the capsules; the moisture content of soluble beverage powder after spraying being less than 5% by weight. In use, the soluble beverage powder is dissolved in hot water to release the aroma or flavour.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean F. Rushmore
- 👤 Oliver Chmiel
- 👤 Marc Furrer
- 👤 Richard T.-S. Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:53
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/46; A23F5/48; A23F5/486; A23L; A23L27/00; A23L27/70; A23L27/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A process for encapsulating a sensory agent, the process comprising: forming an oil-in-water emulsion from a hydrolyzed vegetable oil, an aqueous medium, and water-soluble, carbohydrate-based, film forming agent, the aqueous phase of the emulsion containing at least 50% by weight of the film forming agent and the emulsion containing the sensory agent, and spraying the oil-in-water emulsion onto soluble beverage powder; the moisture content of the soluble beverage powder after spraying being less than 5% by weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for encapsulating a sensory agent, the process comprising: forming an oil-in-water emulsion from a hydrolyzed vegetable oil, an aqueous medium, and water-soluble, carbohydrate-based, film forming agent, the aqueous phase of the emulsion containing at least 50% by weight of the film forming agent and the emulsion containing the sensory agent, and spraying the oil-in-water emulsion onto soluble beverage powder; the moisture content of the soluble beverage powder after spraying being less than 5% by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the oil-in-water emulsion is prepared by combining the hydrolyzed vegetable oil and the aqueous medium to form a water-in-oil emulsion and then adding the film forming agent to cause a phase inversion to provide the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 2 in which the film forming agent is added in the form of a concentrated extract or in the form of dried, powdered, soluble solids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the oil-in-water emulsion is prepared by dissolving the film forming agent in the aqueous medium and then mixing in the hydrolyzed vegetable oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the oil-in-water emulsion is prepared by adding a mixture of the aqueous medium and film forming agent to the hydrolyzed vegetable oil until the aqueous phase becomes the continuous phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the concentration of the film forming agent in the aqueous phase is in the range of 50 to 75% by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 6 in which the film forming agent is in the form of soluble coffee solids, the sensory agent is coffee aroma and the hydrolyzed vegetable oil is hydrolyzed coffee oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 7 in which the amount of hydrolyzed coffee oil in the oil-in-water emulsion is in the range of about 5 to 20% by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the sensory agent is incorporated in the hydrolyzed vegetable oil, in the components of the aqueous phase, or both, prior to formation of the emulsion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the sensory agent is incorporated into the emulsion after the formation of the emulsion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the film forming agent is in the form of soluble coffee solids, the sensory agent is coffee aroma and the hydrolyzed vegetable oil is hydrolyzed coffee oil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 11 in which the amount of hydrolyzed coffee oil in the oil-in-water emulsion is in the range of about 5 to 20% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of homogenizing the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the oil-in-water emulsion is sprayed through an atomizing nozzle which atomizes the emulsion into droplets of size in the range of about 0.4 to about 1 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 14 in which the beverage powder is agitated while the emulsion is sprayed on it.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the total moisture added to the beverage powder by the emulsion is less than about 1% by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the hydrolyzed vegetable oil comprises about 60% to about 85% free fatty acids and about 40% to about 15% mono-, di- and/or triglycerides.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for encapsulating coffee aroma, the process comprising: forming an oil-in-water emulsion from (i) a hydrolyzed coffee oil which comprises about 60% to about 85% free fatty acids and about 40% to about 15% mono-, di- and/or triglycerides, (ii) water, and (iii) water-soluble coffee solids, the oil-in-water emulsion containing the coffee aroma and about 5 to 20% by weight of the hydrolyzed coffee oil and the aqueous phase of the oil-in-water emulsion containing about 50 to 75% by weight of the water-soluble coffee solids; and spraying the oil-in-water emulsion in droplets of size in the range of about 0.4 to about 1 mm onto soluble coffee powder; the moisture content of the soluble coffee powder after spraying being less than 4% by weight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for encapsulating coffee aroma, the process comprising: forming an oil-in-water emulsion from (i) a hydrolyzed coffee oil which comprises about 60% to about 85% free fatty acids and about 40% to about 15% mono-, di- and/or triglycerides, (ii) water, and (iii) water-soluble coffee solids, the oil-in-water emulsion containing the coffee aroma and about 5 to 20% by weight of the hydrolyzed coffee oil and the aqueous phase of the oil-in-water emulsion containing about 50 to 75% by weight of the water-soluble coffee solids; and spraying the oil-in-water emulsion in droplets of size in the range of about 0.4 to about 1 mm onto soluble coffee powder; the moisture content of the soluble coffee powder after spraying being less than 4% by weight.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A soluble beverage powder comprising particles of soluble beverage having a moisture content of less than 5% by weight and to which are attached capsules; each capsule comprising an encapsulating layer of a water-soluble, carbohydrate-based, film forming agent about a core of hydrolyzed vegetable oil containing a sensory agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A soluble beverage powder comprising particles of soluble beverage having a moisture content of less than 5% by weight and to which are attached capsules; each capsule comprising an encapsulating layer of a water-soluble, carbohydrate-based, film forming agent about a core of hydrolyzed vegetable oil containing a sensory agent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A soluble beverage powder according to claim 19 in which the film forming agent is in the form of soluble coffee solids.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A soluble beverage powder according to claim 20 in which the hydrolyzed vegetable oil is hydrolyzed coffee oil.
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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) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |