公开(公告)号：US10645968B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-12

申请号：US16449805

申请日：2019-06-24

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Tommy C. Holland ,  Jason Andrew Macko ,  Christopher Joseph Dinovi

IPC: A24B13/00 ,  A24B15/18

Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

公开(公告)号：US10285439B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15266502

申请日：2016-09-15

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jason Andrew Macko ,  James Lindsay Clark ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Srinivasan Janardhan

IPC: A24F23/00 ,  A24B13/00 ,  B65B7/28 ,  B65B29/00 ,  B65B63/02

Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include a container including a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape and integrity during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. One or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products are compressed between a lid and a base of the container to hinder movement of the one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products within the container. Each preformed smokeless tobacco product can include a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

公开(公告)号：US20180338521A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-29

申请号：US16042221

申请日：2018-07-23

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Yan Helen Sun ,  William J. Burke ,  Christopher Joseph Dinovi ,  David Phillips ,  Jason Andrew Macko ,  Robert Smith

IPC: A24B13/00 ,  D04H13/00 ,  A24B15/28 ,  A24B15/18

Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.

公开(公告)号：US20170224012A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-10

申请号：US15266502

申请日：2016-09-15

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jason Andrew Macko ,  James Lindsay Clark ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Srinivasan Janardhan

IPC: A24F23/00 ,  B65B63/02 ,  B65B29/00 ,  A24B13/00 ,  B65B7/28

CPC classification number: A24F23/00 ,  A24B13/00 ,  B65B7/28 ,  B65B29/00 ,  B65B63/02

Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include a container including a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape and integrity during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. One or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products are compressed between a lid and a base of the container to hinder movement of the one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products within the container. Each preformed smokeless tobacco product can include a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

公开(公告)号：US12295403B2

公开(公告)日：2025-05-13

申请号：US17887686

申请日：2022-08-15

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Yan Helen Sun

IPC: A24B13/00 ,  A24B3/14 ,  A24B15/14 ,  A24B15/18 ,  A24B15/28 ,  A24B15/30

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product described herein includes at least one tobacco bead. Tobacco beads described herein include a core and at least one tobacco-containing layer surrounding the core. Each tobacco-containing layer can include less than 10 weight percent tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have a diameter of at least 1 millimeters. Tobacco bead described herein can have at least 5 mg tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have an oven volatiles content of between 2 weight percent and 10 weight percent. Tobacco bead described herein can have an outer shell.

公开(公告)号：US12161147B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-10

申请号：US17831830

申请日：2022-06-03

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Yan Helen Sun ,  William J. Burke ,  Robert Smith

IPC: A24B15/18 ,  A24B3/14 ,  A24B13/00 ,  A24B15/14 ,  A24B15/28 ,  A24B15/40 ,  A24F23/02 ,  B05B13/02 ,  B65G15/24 ,  B65G15/44 ,  B65G51/02 ,  D01D5/00 ,  D01D5/098 ,  D01D5/18 ,  D01D11/06 ,  D04H13/00

Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.

公开(公告)号：US11882866B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-30

申请号：US17306154

申请日：2021-05-03

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Yan Helen Sun ,  William J. Burke

IPC: A24B15/18 ,  A24B13/00 ,  A24B15/28 ,  D04H13/00

CPC classification number: A24B15/186 ,  A24B13/00 ,  A24B15/283 ,  D04H13/00

Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 10 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.

公开(公告)号：US10905151B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-02

申请号：US16380095

申请日：2019-04-10

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black ,  Yan Helen Sun ,  William J. Burke

IPC: A24B15/18 ,  A24B3/14 ,  A24F23/02 ,  A24B13/00 ,  D01D11/06 ,  D01D5/18 ,  D01D5/098 ,  D01D5/00 ,  B65G15/44 ,  B65G51/02 ,  B65G15/24 ,  A24B15/28 ,  D04H13/00 ,  A24B15/14 ,  A24B15/40 ,  B05B13/02

Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.

公开(公告)号：US10827777B2

公开(公告)日：2020-11-10

申请号：US15715806

申请日：2017-09-26

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Yan Helen Sun

IPC: A24B15/14 ,  A24B13/00 ,  A24B15/28 ,  A24B15/18 ,  A24B3/14 ,  A24B15/30

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product described herein includes at least one tobacco bead. Tobacco beads described herein include a core and at least one tobacco-containing layer surrounding the core. Each tobacco-containing layer can include less than 10 weight percent tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have a diameter of at least 1 millimeters. Tobacco bead described herein can have at least 5 mg tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have an oven volatiles content of between 2 weight percent and 10 weight percent. Tobacco bead described herein can have an outer shell.

公开(公告)号：US10239089B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-26

申请号：US14657000

申请日：2015-03-13

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： James David Evans ,  Andrew Nathan Carroll ,  Shannon Maxwell Black

IPC: B05D1/12 ,  A24B15/18 ,  A24F23/02 ,  B05B7/14 ,  B05D1/06 ,  A24B13/00 ,  B05B12/36

Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include a polymer spray head arranged to direct a plurality of polymeric fibers in an upward direction and levitate product portions in a polymer enrobing zone above the polymer spray head. Polymeric fibers produced by the polymer spray head can wrap around the product portions levitated in the polymer enrobing zone to create an enrobed product. Side guide structure(s) and/or air knife(s) can be provided adjacent to the polymer enrobing zone to inhibit levitated product portions from falling out of the polymer enrobing zone and/or to guide levitated product portions along a desired path. Exemplary enrobed products include smokeless tobacco products.