Oral Tobacco Product

Abstract

A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product is disclosed which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N, and method of manufacturing the same. Also disclosed is a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tobacco product and, more particularly, to a non-smokeable tobacco product for oral use and a method of manufacturing the same.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to United Kingdom Patent Application GB 1206402.8, filed Apr. 11, 2012, entitled “Oral Tobacco Product.” The entire contents of the aforementioned application are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco products for smokeless use include snuff, snus and other tobacco compositions. Snus can be in the form of loose tobacco particles or in pre-portioned fleece pouches. Smokeless oral-use tobacco products also include tobacco mixed with various additives including binding agents, and processed to produce a hardened tobacco product.

SUMMARY

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N. The mouldable tobacco product may, in further embodiments, exhibit an increased malleability and/or ductility as well as a corresponding reduction in brittleness.

The oral tobacco product may comprise a cellulose derivative as a binding agent, for example carboxymethyl cellulose. In some embodiments, the binding agent may consist exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.

The binding agent may be provided in a proportion of greater than 1% by weight, between 1%-10% by weight, between 1%-7% by weight, between 1%-5% by weight, or between 2%-4% by weight, depending on the embodiment.

The oral tobacco product may have a three-point bending strength of between 1N and 4N, between 1N and 3.5N, between 1N and 3N, between 1N and 2.5N, between 1.5N and 3.5N, between 2N and 4N, between 2.5N and 4N, between 3N and 4N, or around 2.5N, depending on the embodiment.

The oral tobacco product may be substantially stable in water, for example such that it does not break down or dissolve in water in less than 30 minutes, does not break down or dissolve in water in less than 1 hour, or does not break down or dissolve in water in less than 2 hours.

The oral tobacco product may exhibit a percentage weight loss after 30 minutes in water of less than 25%, less than 10%, between 4%-7%, or less than 6%, depending on the embodiment.

The mouldable oral tobacco product may exhibit a friability value of less than 0.5%, less than 0.4%, between 0.1% and 0.4%, between 0.1% and 0.35%, between 0.1% and 0.3%, between 0.15% and 0.4%, or between 0.2% and 0.4%, depending on the embodiment.

The oral tobacco product may not exhibit any brittleness, and may in some embodiments have a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.

The oral tobacco product of the present disclosure may comprise any non-mutually exclusive combination of features defined above, or may comprise any of the features defined above individually.

Also provided is a method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent to form a mixture, and providing individual portions thereof, for example by extrusion of the mixture and dividing said extruded mixture into the individual portions.

The binding agent may comprise a cellulose derivative, for example carboxymethyl cellulose, and in some embodiments may consist exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.

The method may further comprise kneading the mixture before the extruding step, and may comprise kneading the mixture for a duration of between 5-20 minutes, between 5-15 minutes, between 5-10 minutes, between 15-20 minutes, between 10-20 minutes, between 7-15 minutes, or around 10 minutes, depending on the embodiment.

The method may, in some embodiments, further comprise heating the mixture before the extruding step.

The oral tobacco product may have a three-point bending strength of less than 3N, less than 2.5N, less then 0.5N, or less than 0.25N, depending on the embodiment.

Embodiments comprising heating the mixture before the extruding step may further comprise heating the mixture to between 5° C. and 70° C. or between 50° C.-60° C. Alternatively, the method may comprise not heating the mixture and the process may take place at an ambient temperature, which may be between 5° C. and 20° C., between 5° C. and 15° C., between5° C. and 10° C., between 10° C. and 20° C., or between 15° C. and 20° C., depending on the embodiment.

Some embodiments of the present invention also provide a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a negative force greater than −0.1N in a three-point bending strength test. In still further embodiments, the oral tobacco product may exhibit a negative force of between −0.1N to −0.9N, or more specifically between −0.4N to −0.6N, in a three-point bending strength test.

Some embodiments of the present invention also provide a preformed oral tobacco product comprising tobacco and a cellulose derivative as a binding agent.

The binding agent may, for example, partially or exclusively comprise carboxymethyl cellulose.

The binding agent may, in some embodiments, be provided in one of the proportions as defined above.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and is stable in water. Such an oral tobacco product may further comprise any feature or characteristic or non-mutually exclusive combination thereof, as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plurality of continuous lengths of tobacco product of the invention being formed by an extruder;

FIG. 2 shows a partial view of the continuous lengths of tobacco product of FIG. 1 having been cut into individual portions;

FIG. 3 shows one individual portion of tobacco product of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows three-point bend test results of a number of test tobacco product formulations, including product formulations according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a wide continuous belt of tobacco product material being formed by an extruder;

FIG. 6 shows the continuous belt of tobacco product material of FIG. 4 having been processed by a cutter/scorer roller to divide the belt into individual tobacco product portions;

FIG. 7 shows a double roller apparatus for producing individual portions of tobacco product of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 shows a friability test drum used to measure the friability physical property of the tobacco products of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a soft and mouldable oral tobacco product comprising tobacco combined with a binding agent and extruded into continuous rods which are then cut into individual portions. Optionally, the product may additionally include further additives, such as, for example, flavourants, humectants, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, a method is provided for producing such an oral tobacco product, the method comprising combining moist snus tobacco with carboxymethyl cellulose (‘CMC’) as a binding agent at a proportion of 3% by weight. The snus tobacco typically includes a number of additional components already mixed therewith, which may include salt, soda, humectants such as propylene glycol and/or glycerol, flavouring, water, and/or the like. The moisture content of the snus may be around 55%. However, the moisture content is not limited to this value and may be between 30%-60%, between 45%-60%, or between 50%-58%. The mixture is then heated to around 60° C. and kneaded for around 10 minutes. The mixture is then extruded through a multiple orifice extruder (see FIG. 1)—though other extruder configurations are within the scope of the invention—to form elongate strips of tobacco composition which are subsequently cut into individual portions (see FIGS. 2 and 3). It is to be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited to such a method including a heating step, and this step may be omitted.

A second embodiment for producing oral tobacco products comprises feeding tobacco, and optionally other dry additives, into an extruding machine. The tobacco may be milled or ground tobacco, or may be tobacco processed in any other way. The tobacco feeds into an extruder that heats the tobacco (and dry additives, if applicable), and combines water and CMC as a binding agent, and, optionally, other liquid additives, with the dry ingredients. CMC as a binding agent is included at a proportion of 3% by weight. The heated mixture is then fed through a die to form a continuous length of moist tobacco composition which is subsequently cut to desired lengths or into individual portions. The first extruder may be a gravimetric counter-rotating twin-screw extruder, or a single screw extruder. The second extruder may be a twin-screw co-rotating extruder with variable heat zones and screw configurations, or a single screw with one heat zone. However, these extruders are only exemplary and are not limiting to the scope of the invention. The heat zones may be controllable to between 25° C.-150° C. Alternatively, it is contemplated that this method may not include any heating of the mixture from an external heat source, in which case the mixing process would occur at ambient temperature, for example 5° C.-20° C.

The resulting portions of tobacco product produced by the aforementioned embodiments are soft and malleable, allowing them to easily be moulded by a user into a desired shape prior to insertion into the mouth for use. The product may exhibit a reduction in, or a lack of, brittleness.

The physical characteristics of a number of tobacco products made using the above processes, but using a variety of different binding agents, were tested. In particular, each product of different composition was tested for hardness and bending properties using a Three-Point Bending test (hereafter “TPB test”), a known test which measures how much force is required to bend/break a product into two or more pieces. The test involves a portion of product being placed on two spaced supports, and a probe presses against the upper surface of the product at the mid-point between the supports and moves at a rate downwards towards the two supports. The reactionary force exerted back by the test product on the probe is recorded as the probe moves and as the product deforms between the supports and point of force application, until the product breaks or the test concludes.

A number of samples of oral tobacco products of the invention were also tested for the physical property of “friability”. Friability is a measurement of the tendency of an object to be reduced to smaller pieces when subjected to pressure or friction. A numerical value for friability is the weight percentage of material lost when an individual product sample is placed within a friability drum and rotated at 25 rpm for 100 revolutions, which is equal to 4 minutes of rotation. A friability drum is a standard test apparatus comprising a drum with a diameter of 152 mm and a paddle which lifts and drops the sample product on each rotation of the drum. In the tests conducted, the friability test drum was a Copley 1000 tester drum, as shown in FIG. 8. Brittle products that have a tendency to chip or break will have a higher friability percentage value, whereas soft, mouldable products which do not readily chip or shatter exhibit much lower friability percentage values.

The numerical results of the friability of two exemplary sets of a number of samples of oral tobacco products prepared according to the present disclosure are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. The first sample set was also subjected to TPB tests and these values are additionally shown in Table 1. In addition to these test results, the results of further TPB tests of samples of oral tobacco products of the invention having differing compositions are shown in the graph of FIG. 4, which includes tobacco composition products with various binding agents including pectin, carrageennan, gellan, guar, hamulsion, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), locust bean gum (LBG), sodium alginate, xanthan, agar, and CMC.

TABLE 1
Sample set 1 - Friability and TPB test results
	Weight	Weight				Three Point
	before	after			Three Point	Bending -
Sample	friability	friability	Difference	Friability	Bending -	Maximum
Number	test (g)	test (g)	(g)	(%)	Minimum (N)	(N)
1	30.1085	30.0588	0.0497	0.17%	—	—
2	30.2742	30.2225	0.0517	0.17%	—	—
3	30.2483	30.1959	0.0524	0.17%	—	—
4	29.8301	29.7434	0.0867	0.29%	−0.302	2.8478
5	29.4287	29.3633	0.0654	0.22%	−0.3176	2.6677
6	29.7334	29.6665	0.0669	0.22%	−0.348	2.6945
7	29.6188	28.1016	1.5169	5%	−0.3506	2.6925
8	29.4723	29.4080	0.0643	0.22%	−0.3469	2.5659
9	29.4714	29.4005	0.0709	0.24%	−0.3406	2.5679
10	29.5698	29.4974	0.0724	0.24%	—	—
11	29.4400	29.3926	0.0474	0.16%	—	—
12	29.5254	29.4737	0.0517	0.18%	−0.3498	1.8336
13	29.5676	29.5199	0.0477	0.16%	−0.3626	1.9415
14	29.5371	29.4890	0.0481	0.16%	−0.3628	1.8474
15	29.8202	29.7750	0.0452	0.15%	−0.3008	1.9203
16	29.8016	29.7498	0.0518	0.17%	−0.3206	1.9037
17	29.9204	29.8657	0.0547	0.18%	−0.3144	1.7754
18	29.6358	29.5853	0.0505	0.17%	−0.2937	1.5397
19	29.4904	29.4478	0.0426	0.14%	−0.2951	1.421
20	29.5131	29.4522	0.0609	0.21%	−0.3037	1.5787
21	28.7602	28.7035	0.0567	0.20%	−2956	2.2142
22	28.6516	28.6095	0.0421	0.15%	−0.2994	2.2862
23	28.9318	28.8785	0.0533	0.18%	−0.3185	2.3265
24	28.8972	28.8469	0.0503	0.17%	−0.2925	2.7956
25	29.1156	29.0540	0.0616	0.21%	−0.394	2.6525
26	28.9331	28.8758	0.0573	0.20%	−0.3975	2.5926
27	29.2892	29.2276	0.0616	0.21%	−0.3684	2.6506
28	29.7568	29.7004	0.0564	0.19%	−0.436	2.8467
29	29.5851	29.5184	0.0667	0.23%	−0.4232	2.7604
30	29.3904	29.3485	0.0419	0.14%	−0.3262	1.6799
31	29.2997	29.2583	0.0414	0.14%	−0.3297	1.7266
32	29.3207	29.2725	0.0482	0.16%	−0.3274	1.6928
33	29.2014	29.1476	0.0538	0.18%	−0.3242	1.7774
34	29.4028	29.3533	0.0495	0.17%	−0.3267	1.71
35	29.1155	29.0653	0.0502	0.17%	−0.3436	1.5883
36	29.4176	29.3774	0.0402	0.14%	−0.4845	2.9047
37	29.4210	29.3748	0.0462	0.16%	−0.4244	2.9382
38	29.3874	29.3360	0.0514	0.17%	−0.4293	2.7686
39	29.5111	29.4608	0.0503	0.17%	−0.3012	3.4808
40	29.7908	29.7428	0.0480	0.16%	−0.2256	3.4973
41	28.3111	28.2657	0.0454	0.16%	−0.3949	3.2675
42	29.7870	29.6899	0.0971	0.33%	−0.3022	1.6538
43	29.6391	29.5626	0.0765	0.26%	−0.3081	1.6347
44	29.6853	29.5987	0.0866	0.29%	−0.31	1.6526
45	29.6924	29.6352	0.0572	0.19%	−0.368	2.7362
46	29.2403	29.1959	0.0444	0.15%	−0.3958	2.8025
47	29.7833	29.7276	0.0557	0.19%	−0.3701	2.7801
48	29.0826	29.0255	0.0571	0.20%	−0.2761	2.7155
49	29.7832	28.7369	0.0463	0.16%	−0.2527	2.6535
50	28.9325	28.8851	0.0474	0.16%	−0.2376	2.5916
51	29.9879	29.9208	0.0671	0.22%	−0.331	2.516
52	29.6288	29.5642	0.0646	0.22%	−0.3424	2.6502
53	29.8454	29.7838	0.0616	0.21%	−0.3263	2.5361
54	29.6387	29.5482	0.0905	0.31%	−0.3248	2.4527
55	30.1406	30.0436	0.0970	0.32%	−0.2852	2.7934
56	29.9599	29.9027	0.0572	0.19%	−0.3251	2.4198
57	30.1920	30.1220	0.0700	0.23%	−0.2775	2.6153
58	29.8984	29.8370	0.0614	0.21%	−0.2714	2.668
59	28.0844	28.0248	0.0596	0.21%	−0.3372	2.3507
60	29.3232	29.2622	0.0610	0.21%	−0.3635	2.5247
61	29.0555	28.9990	0.0565	0.19%	−0.3197	2.1457
62	27.8569	27.7890	0.0679	0.2%	−0.3015	2.3744
63	29.2768	29.2110	0.0658	0.22%	−0.3094	2.3606

TABLE 2
Sample set 2 - Friability and TPB test results
	Weight before	Weight after
Sample	friability test	friability test	Difference	Friability
Number	(g)	(g)	(g)	(%)
1	30.0930	30.0496	0.0434	0.14%
2	30.2595	30.2139	0.0456	0.15%
3	30.1713	30.1276	0.0437	0.14%
4	29.9503	29.9038	0.0465	0.16%
5	30.0988	30.0528	0.0460	0.15%
6	29.8706	29.8143	0.0563	0.19%
7	30.3218	30.2557	0.0661	0.22%
8	30.0644	30.0057	0.0587	0.20%
9	30.1581	30.0960	0.0621	0.21%
10	30.3498	30.2930	0.0568	0.19%
11	30.2619	30.2131	0.0488	0.16%
12	29.1994	29.1426	0.0568	0.19%
13	29.7700	29.7289	0.0411	0.14%
14	28.6369	28.5906	0.0463	0.16%
15	30.5005	30.4414	0.0591	0.19%
16	30.3697	30.2922	0.0775	0.255%
17	30.4545	30.3680	0.0865	0.28%
18	30.8266	30.7425	0.0841	0.27%
19	31.0328	30.9338	0.0990	0.32%
20	30.8475	30.7640	0.0835	0.27%
21	30.8582	30.7803	0.0779	0.25%
22	30.3752	30.3029	0.0723	0.24%
23	30.3466	30.2708	0.0758	0.25%
24	30.5830	30.4921	0.0909	0.30%

Referring first to the graph of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the graph plot for many compositions of tobacco product and binding agent have a curve profile which initially increases to a peak force value, after which point, the force plot drops. This signifies a product with an initial hardness before breaking, the peak of the graph being the break point, and indicates a brittleness to the products, after which break point, the force is reduced.

Conversely to the above, some of the plots for tobacco products of embodiments of the invention steadily increase in force value over time with no decrease in force value, illustrating that these products do not break and exhibit no brittleness, but instead, are malleable and continue to deform as increasing force is applied. Therefore, these tobacco products exhibit the desirable physical properties of being mouldable by a user into a desired shape prior to insertion into the mouth, or mouldable once in the mouth, without breaking into smaller chunks as would a harder or brittle product. The height of the curves for these tobacco products indicates the force required to mould the product. It can be seen from the graphs for these products that differing tobacco blends result in products which require different degrees of force to be applied in order to be moulded. One of the binding agents that results in a mouldable product is CMC. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent, and other binding agents may also demonstrate similar properties, such as, for example, xanthan gum, pectin, locust bean gum, gellan, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), guar gum, agar, carrageenan, tragacanth, sodium alginate or maltodextrin.

Referring to the test results in Table 1, it can be seen that, with the exception of sample 7 which has a friability value far outside the remaining sample range and so can be excluded from consideration as a test anomaly, the samples tested exhibited a friability percentage value within the range of 0.14%-0.33%, with a sample set average of 0.20%. These samples also exhibited a maximum TPB test force value within the range of 1.42N-3.50N, with a sample average of 2.37N. The low friability values illustrate the physical characteristics of the sample products as being soft, mouldable, and not exhibiting any brittleness. The relatively low maximum TPB test force values also indicate a mouldable and malleable product.

Referring to the test results in Table 2, it can be seen that the samples tested exhibited a friability percentage value within the range of 0.14%-0.32%, with a sample set average of 0.21N, very close to, and consistent with, the friability test results obtained from the first sample set in Table 1, again, illustrating the physical characteristics of the sample products as being soft, mouldable and not exhibiting any brittleness.

Another desirable physical property demonstrated by the tobacco composition products of the invention is that the preformed product does not, or substantially does not, stain the fingers of the user when being moulded and manipulated prior to use.

In addition to the above, with CMC as a binding agent at 3%, the tobacco composition products of the various formulations exhibit a maximum TPB test force of less than around 400 g, equating to around 4N, consistent with the results in Table 1 discussed above. The highest maximum TPB test value of the products tested was achieved with the product made from coarse stem tobacco. The three products produced using coarse lamina tobacco, fine grade lamina and stem tobacco (“Granit Fine”) and mixed grade lamina and stem tobacco (“Granit Mixed”), produced tobacco product formulations in which the three-point bending strength was less than 250 g, or 2.5N, whilst all being soft, malleable products.

The tobacco products of the present disclosure are not limited to such values, however, and some embodiments, with varying types of dry tobacco and CMC binding agent percentage by weight, may have a three-point bending strength less than 2.5N, less than 0.5N, or less than 0.25N.

The loose tobacco used in the manufacture of the tobacco products of the inventions and in the embodiments described above, may be relatively fine in size, and snus tobacco or other fine grade tobacco may be employed.

The tobacco products of some embodiments are also stable in water for at least 30 minutes, and in some cases one hour, and do not break down, dissolve, or otherwise lose product mass as a result of exposure to water, as do some known smokeless oral tobacco products. This results in a product which maintains its integrity and shape during three phases of consumer use (insertion into a user's mouth, use, and removal from a user's mouth), making it convenient to use and also clean and convenient to dispose of after use.

The above property of resistance to disintegration in water of the tobacco products of the present disclosure was tested using the following methodology. Five fleeces were identity marked WC (Wet Control) Replicate sample 1,2,3 and DC (Dry Control). Four flat bottomed round 150 ml flasks were identified WC, 1, 2, 3. Five aluminium boats were identified WC, 1, 2, 3, DC. Samples WC, 1, 2, 3 were weighed (“weight 1”—see Table 3 below) and put into corresponding flasks. 100 mls of de-ionized water was dispensed into each flask and stoppered. Flasks 1, 2, 3 were placed on a shaker for 30 minutes at 155 rpm. The WC flask was not shaken. Samples 1, 2, 3 and WC were then drained through a sieve on top of their respective fleece. Sample DC was then weighed (“weight 1”). All samples were then arranged on a sieve and placed in an oven at 29 degrees Celsius. Samples were then dried for over 12 hours (22 actual). Samples were then weighed, and the data was recorded (“weight 2”—see Table 3 below).

The weight loss for each sample (weight 1-weight 2) was then calculated and recorded. The percentage weight loss for each sample was then compared with that for the wet control, using an “average portion weight” (APW) value of finished products. This APW value had previously been calculated from 20 sample products as being 1.5211 g. The percentage weight loss was calculated using the following formula:

{[weight difference(R₁−R₃)−weight difference(WC)]/APW}×100

Table 3 below shows the results of the above test and the percentage weight loss values of those replicate samples 1-3:

TABLE 3
Disintegration test 1 results
				weight loss compared
	Weight	Weight	Differ-	to WC using Average
	1	2	ence	Portion Weight (APW)
	(g)	(g)	(g)	(%)
Dry Control (DC)	4.0932	3.5148	0.5784
Wet Control (WC)	4.1190	3.3639	0.7551
Replicate 1	4.1274	3.2900	0.8374	5.4
Replicate 2	4.0922	3.2676	0.8246	4.6
Replicate 3	4.1341	3.2825	0.8516	6.3

The above results show that the tested products exhibit a weight loss percentage value of between 4.6%-6.3% and an average weight loss value of less than 6%. The property of resistance to disintegration in water of the tobacco products was also tested using a second test methodology which is in accordance with recognised standard European Pharmacopoeia, Pharmaceutical Technical Procedures 2.9.1—Disintegration of Tablets and Capsules. This test determines whether tablets or capsules can disintegrate within a prescribed time when placed in a liquid medium. In this test, product samples are placed within a tube, in a liquid-filled container and agitated within the liquid. When tested using this methodology, tobacco products of embodiments of the invention were found to be substantially stable in water for at least 30 minutes, and showed stability in water for at least 1 hour, and further were substantially stable in water for at least 2 hours.

Referring again to the graph of FIG. 4, a further property exclusive to certain tobacco product formulations of the present disclosure is shown, in that the end of the graphs dip below the zero on the Force x-axis at the end of the test when the force of the test probe stops moving. This indicates an elasticity in the product which exceeds that of other formulations of other known tobacco products that were tested with other binding agents. In the tested range of products, the negative force in the three-point bend test ranged between approximately −10 g (−0.1N) to around −90 g (−0.9N). The greatest negative value was exhibited by the formulation in which course stem tobacco was used, with other product formulations exhibiting a negative value of around −40 g to −60 g (−0.4N to −0.6N). One binding agent that was used to form a product which exhibited such desirablephysical characteristics is CMC, although the disclosure is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent, and other binding agents, including those listed above, may also demonstrate such desirable properties.

A further advantage of the tobacco products of the invention is that they may provide a flavour delivery comparable to that of loose snus without the inconvenience of small particles being spread around the inside of the mouth which can get caught in the gums/teeth, and the messy disposal after use, as is the case with loose snus and hard smokeless tobacco products. Furthermore, the products provide the convenience of pouched snus but without the requirement for the tobacco product to be contained within a pouch and the disadvantages that may be associated with pouched snus products.

It is noted that, while the mixture is described in some embodiments as being heated to around 60° C., this temperature may take on other values or ranges, for example between 5° C. and 70° C., or 50° C. In another embodiment, the mixture may not require heating at all, and the heating step of the process may be omitted entirely. In such a case, the mixture is processed at an ambient temperature, for example between 5° C. and 20° C.

Furthermore, although the kneading step is described in some embodiments as being performed for around lo minutes, the process of the invention is not intended to be limited to this duration and other kneading times may be used, for example, between 3-20 minutes, or between 7-15 minutes. Additionally, although the binder is described in some embodiments as being added at a proportion of around 3% by weight, other proportions are also contemplated, for example between 1%-5%, or between 2%-4%. It has been found that a binding agent proportion less than 1% does not bind the tobacco together in the finished product to the required level, whereas a binding agent proportion more than 5% may result in undesirable product characteristics. The above binding agent proportions apply to CMC as a binding agent but the disclosure is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent, and other binding agents, including but not limited to those listed above, and in the same or similar proportions, may also demonstrate such desirable properties.

The extruding of the continuous lengths of tobacco product may alternatively be different to that of the processes described above, and may alternatively comprise extruding a wide belt of material (see FIG. 5) and subsequently shaping it using a cutter/scorer (see FIG. 6). In a further embodiment, the product may be shaped and formed into individual dosages by being passed through double rollers (see FIG. 7). In yet another embodiment, the product may be shaped and formed into individual dosages by being extruded into half-dies then pressed together.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior oral tobacco products and methods of manufacture. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Additional embodiments include:

A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N; an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N, and which comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent; an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N, which comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, and wherein the binding agent consists exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.

An oral tobacco product wherein the binding agent is provided as a proportion of greater than 1% by weight, between 1%-10% by weight, between 1%-7% by weight, between 1%-5% by weight, or between 2%-4% by weight, depending on the embodiment; an oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness, and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N, e.g., between 1N and 3.5N; an oral tobacco product according to any preceding embodiment which is substantially stable in water and does not substantially break down or dissolve in water in less than 30 minutes, less than 1 hour, or less than 2 hours; and an oral tobacco product according to any preceding embodiment which is substantially stable in water and does not substantially break down or dissolve in water in less than 30 minutes, less than 1 hour, or less than 2 hours, and which exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in water, of less than 25%, less than 10%, between 4%-7%, or an average weight loss of less than 6%.

A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%, less than 0.4%, or between 0.1% and 0.4%; an oral tobacco product having a friability value of less than 0.5% which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N; an oral tobacco product having a friability value of less than 0.5% which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N, and having a three-point bending strength of between 1N and 3.5N; and a pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5% and comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, wherein the binding agent is, in some embodiments, exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.

A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5% and comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, wherein the binding agent is provided as a proportion of greater than 1% by weight, between 1%-10% by weight, between 1% and 7% by weight, between 1% and 5% by weight, or between 2% and 4% by weight; a pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5% which is substantially stable in water and does not substantially break down or dissolve in water in less than 30 minutes, less than 1 hour, or less than 2 hours; and an oral tobacco product according to the previous embodiment which exhibits a percentage weight loss in water over 30 minutes of less than 25%, less than 10%, or between 4%-7%, or which exhibits an average weight loss of less than 6%.

A method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions thereof; a method according to the previous embodiment wherein the binding agent comprises a cellulose derivative, for example partially or exclusively comprising carboxymethyl cellulose; a method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions thereof, and further comprising kneading the mixture before an extruding step, and wherein kneading the mixture may occur for between 7 and 15 minutes, e.g., 10 minutes; and a method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions thereof, and further comprising heating the mixture before an extruding step.

A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a maximum negative force greater than −0.1N in a three-point bending strength test; an oral tobacco product according to the previous embodiment which exhibits a negative force of between −0.1N to −0.9N, e.g., between −0.4N and −0.6N, in a three-point bending strength test; a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a maximum negative force greater than −0.1N in a three-point bending strength test, comprising cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent; a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a maximum negative force greater than −0.1N in a three-point bending strength test, comprising cut tobacco and wherein the binding agent is exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose; an oral tobacco product according to embodiment 25 wherein the binding agent consists exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose; a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a maximum negative force greater than −0.1N in a three-point bending strength test and a friability value of less than 0.4%, e.g., between 0.1% and 0.4%; and an oral tobacco product according to any of the preceeding embodimentswhich does not exhibit any brittleness and which exhibits a maximum three-point bending strength of less than 4N.

Claims

1. A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising:

a mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a binding agent,

wherein the portion does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.

2. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1,

wherein the tobacco is cut tobacco, and

wherein the binding agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

3. The oral tobacco product according to claim 2,

wherein the binding agent further comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.

4. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1,

wherein the binding agent is provided in a proportion by weight of greater than 1%.

5. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1, having a three-point bending strength of between 1N and 3.5N.

6. The oral tobacco product according to claim 1,

wherein the portion is stable in water, and

wherein the portion is resistant to one of breaking down and dissolving, in water, in less than 30 minutes.

7. The oral tobacco product according to claim 6,

wherein the portion exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in water, of less than 25%.

8. A pre-formed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising:

a mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a binding agent,

wherein the portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%.

9. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8,

wherein the portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.4%.

10. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8,

wherein the portion does not exhibit any brittleness and

wherein the portion has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.

11. The oral tobacco product according to claim 10,

wherein the portion has a three-point bending strength of between 1N and 3.5N.

12. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8,

wherein the tobacco comprises cut tobacco, and

wherein the binding agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

13. The oral tobacco product according to claim 12,

wherein the binding agent comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.

14. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8,

wherein the binding agent is provided in a proportion by weight of greater than 1%.

15. The oral tobacco product according to claim 8,

wherein the portion is stable in water; and

wherein the portion is resistant to one of breaking down and dissolving, in water, in less than 30 minutes.

16. The oral tobacco product according to claim 15,

wherein the portion exhibits a percentage weight loss, after 30 minutes in water, of less than 25%.

17. A method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising:

combining tobacco with a binding agent to form a mixture; and

providing individual portions thereof.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the binding agent comprises a cellulose derivative.

19. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the binding agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

20. The method according to claim 19,

wherein the binding agent comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising kneading the mixture before an extruding step.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising kneading the mixture for between 7 and 15 minutes.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising heating the mixture before an extruding step.

24. A preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising:

a mouldable, orally consumable portion comprising: tobacco; and a binding agent,

wherein the portion exhibits a maximum negative force greater than

0.1N in a three-point bending strength test.

25. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24,

wherein the portion exhibits a negative force of between −0.1N and −0.9N in a three-point bending strength test.

26. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24,

wherein the tobacco comprises cut tobacco, and

wherein the binding agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

27. The oral tobacco product according to claim 26,

wherein the binding agent comprises exclusively carboxymethyl cellulose.

28. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24,

wherein the portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.5%.

29. The oral tobacco product according to claim 28,

wherein the portion exhibits a friability value of less than 0.4%.

30. The oral tobacco product according to claim 24,

wherein the portion does not exhibit any brittleness, and

wherein the portion exhibits a maximum three-point bending strength of less than 4N.