Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Tongue

Thomas M. Tongue has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7078052
    Abstract: Methods and chewing gums for delivering a medicament or agent to an individual are provided. The chewing gum includes a medicament or agent. The medicament or agent is present within the chewing gum composition (the water soluble portion and/or insoluble base portion). It has been found that by chewing the gum, the medicament or agent is released from the chewing gum. Continuing to chew the chewing gum creates a pressure within the buccal cavity forcing the agent or medicament directly into the systemic system of the individual through the oral mucosa contained in the buccal cavity. This greatly enhances the absorption of the drug into the systemic system as well as the bioavailability of the drug within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Christine L. Corriveau, William J. Wokas, Thomas M. Tongue, Jr., Michael J. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 6949264
    Abstract: A method for producing a chewing gum with a controlled release active agent, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by physically modifying the release properties of the active agent, such as a nutraceutical or nutritional supplement, by coating and drying. The active agent is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, and absorption. The coated active agent is preferably then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified active agent for use in chewing gum. The active agent may also be used in a coating on a chewing gum product, as part of a rolling compound applied to the chewing gum product, or as a part of the liquid in a liquid-center chewing gum product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Gordon N. McGrew, David G. Barkalow, Sonya S. Johnson, David W. Record, Mansukh M. Patel, Jack D. Nimz, Steven E. Zibell, Robert J. Yatka, Michael J. Greenberg, Rebecca A. Aumann, Daniel J. Zyck, Daniel J. Sitler, Jeffrey S. Hook, James R. Maxwell, Michael A. Reed, Victor V. Gudas, Philip G. Schnell, Henry T. Tyrpin, Michael P. Russell, David L. Witkewitz, Joo H. Song, Donald J. Townsend, Donald A. Seielstad, Ronald L. Ream, Christine L. Corriveau, William J. Wokas, Thomas M. Tongue
  • Publication number: 20040180007
    Abstract: Methods and chewing gums for delivering a medicament or agent to an individual are provided. The chewing gum includes a medicament or agent. The medicament or agent is present within the chewing gum composition (the water soluble portion and/or insoluble base portion). It has been found that by chewing the gum, the medicament or agent is released from the chewing gum. Continuing to chew the chewing gum creates a pressure within the buccal cavity forcing the agent or medicament directly into the systemic system of the individual through the oral mucosa contained in the buccal cavity. This greatly enhances the absorption of the drug into the systemic system as well as the bioavailability of the drug within the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Christine L. Corriveau, William J. Wokas, Thomas M. Tongue, Michael J. Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20020192353
    Abstract: Structured particulate systems of active solid organic components in a matrix in a weight ratio of 99:1 to 1:99 and a mean weight diameter of 25 to 500 microns wherein the active organic component is selected from the group consisting of oleanoic acid, ursolic acid, folic acid, policosanol, phytosterols, or derivatives or salts thereof are novel and can be used to improve the oral properties and/or the homogeneity of the organic, solid, active component in a food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick William Cain, Gerald Patrick McNeill, Thomas M. Tongue
  • Publication number: 20020176923
    Abstract: The invention concerns with an edible anhydrous fat-based fat system which comprises
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick William Cain, Gerald Patrick McNeill, Thomas M. Tongue
  • Publication number: 20020172746
    Abstract: Our novel invention concerns with a method for improving the oral properties and/or the homogeneity of a solid, active component in a food product by incorporating in the food product an effective amount, preferably 1 to 70 wt % on food product of a structured particulate system comprising one or more active component(s) in a matrix in a weight ratio of 1:99 to 99:1 and wherein the mean weight diameter of the particles of the structured particulate system ranges from 25 to 500 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Frederick William Cain, Gerald Patrick McNeill, Thomas M. Tongue
  • Patent number: 6024988
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved chewing gum composition that includes caffeine. The chewing gum composition includes a specific particle size distribution for the caffeine such that the perceived bitterness of traditional caffeine gums is reduced. Additionally, the present invention provides methods of mixing a caffeine chewing gum composition that likewise reduces bitterness by selecting specific processing times and sequences for the mixing of the various ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Christine L. Corriveau, Thomas M. Tongue, Jr.