Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Tongue, Jr.

Thomas M. Tongue, Jr. 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: 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.