Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Normally noningestible chewable material or process of... – Containing addition type polymer
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-23
2001-02-20
Corbin, Arthur L. (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Normally noningestible chewable material or process of...
Containing addition type polymer
C426S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190706
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to. chewing gum compositions and methods of making same. More specifically, the present invention relates to gum bases that create a chewing gum that has a reduced adhesion to environmental surfaces.
For hundreds of years, gum like substances have been chewed. In the late 1800's the predecessor to today's chewing gum compositions were developed. Chewing gum is enjoyed daily by millions of people worldwide.
Chewed gum cuds can be disposed of in a number of substrates by wrapping the substrate around the chewed gum. In fact, chewed gum is easily disposed of in the wrapper that initially houses the chewing gum.
But, chewed gum cuds when carelessly discarded, can adhere to environmental surfaces. Such surfaces include concrete, brick, wood, carpets, and fabrics. This is due to the fact that chewing gum, due to its formulation, typically has an adhesive-like characteristic after it is chewed. Therefore, a chewed gum cud can stick to surfaces on which it is placed or onto which it is discarded. Chewed gum cuds that adhere to environmental surfaces can be an unsightly nuisance. Such gum cuds can be difficult, time consuming, and expensive to remove.
There is therefore a need for chewing gum that will not adhere, or will have a reduced adherence, to environmental surfaces such as concrete, brick, wood, carpet and fabrics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides improved gum base and chewing gums made from the gum bases. These gum bases are less adhesive, creating chewed gum cuds that are easier to remove than conventional chewed gum cuds, but retain desirable chewing characteristics.
To this end, in an embodiment, the present invention provides a gum base comprising a siloxane polymer and a polar polymer.
In an embodiment, the gum base further comprises a filler.
In an embodiment, the siloxane polymer is polydimethylsiloxane.
In an embodiment, the siloxane polymer has an average molecular weight of approximately 200,000 to 1,000,000.
In an embodiment, the siloxane polymer includes substituted alkyl groups.
In an embodiment, the average molecular weight of the siloxane polymer is at least 50,000.
In an embodiment, the siloxane polymer comprises approximately 8% to about 95% by weight of the gum base.
In an embodiment, the siloxane polymer comprises approximately 30% to about 90% by weight of the gum base.
In an embodiment, the polar polymers comprise approximately 5% to about 80% by weight of the gum base.
In an embodiment, the polar polymers comprise approximately 10% to about 60% by weight of the gum base.
In an embodiment, the polar polymers are chosen from the group consisting of polyvinylacetate, ethylenevinylacetate polymer, vinylacetate-vinyllaurate copolymers, vinylester polymers, methacrylates, ethacrylates, and thermoplastic or elastomeric polyesters such as polyesters of multifinctional acids such as diacids, triacids, etc.
In an embodiment, the thermoplastic or elastomeric polyesters are chosen from the group consisting of polyesters of multifunctional acids or multifunctional esters, such as those including edibles produced through a reaction of at least one alcohol chosen from a group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and 1,3 butane diol, and at least one acid chosen from the group consisting of citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, dodecanedioic acid, glucaric acid, glutamic acid, glutaric acid, azelaic acid and tartaric acid.
In an embodiment, the ratio of siloxane polymer to polar polymer is approximately 20:80 to about 95:5.
In an embodiment, the filler comprises approximately 15 to about 50% by weight of the base.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a chewing gum is provided comprising a water soluble gum portion and a water insoluble base portion that includes a siloxane polymer and a polar polymer.
In an embodiment, the insoluble base portion further comprises a filler.
In another embodiment, the gum base comprises approximately 5% to about 95% of the chewing gum.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing gum base is provided comprising the steps of using a siloxane polymer and polar polymer to produce a gum base.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides chewing gum compositions that have reduced adhesive characteristics while retaining desirable chewing gum texture.
Furthermore, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved gum base.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a gum base that provides chewing gums that produce chewed gum cuds having reduced adhesiveness to environmental surfaces.
Still, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a chewing gum composition that after being chewed can easily be removed from physical surfaces.
Moreover, another advantage of the present invention is to provide a chewing gum composition that even if improperly discarded, will not create environmental concerns.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the Detailed Description of the Presently Preferred Embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides improved chewing gum compositions, gum bases for making chewing gum compositions, and methods for making same. Pursuant to the present invention, gum bases are provided that create chewing gums that produce chewed gum cuds having less adhesive characteristics. Thus, the resultant chewing gum cuds are easier to remove than conventional chewed gum cuds; because the gum base reduces adhesion of improperly discarded gum cuds to environmental surfaces such as wood, concrete, fabric, carpet, metal, and other sources. But, the chewing gums retain their desirable chewing characteristics. Pursuant to the present invention, the gum base includes a siloxane polymer, a polar polymer, and optionally a filler.
Polysiloxanes are polymers that include alternating silicon and oxygen atoms in the polymeric backbone. Typically, each silicon atom carries two alkyl side groups. Most commonly, these side groups are methyl groups. In such cases these polymers are known as polydimethylsiloxane. More commonly these polymers are known as silicones.
The selection and frequency of substituted alkyl groups is an important aspect of the present invention. By substituted alkyl groups, it is meant that alkyl groups other than methyl are substituted for at least some of the methyl groups in the polydimethylsiloxane. If the substituted side groups are too long or too frequent, the adhesion of the gum cud may not be reduced and compatibility problems with the polar polymer may result. In general, linear alkane groups of 1 to 5 carbons are preferred with 1 to 3 carbons being most preferred. However, the presence of small quantities of higher alkyl groups may not pose any concern. The preferred siloxane polymer is polydimethylsiloxane.
While linear polysiloxanes are preferred, branched and cross-linked polysiloxanes may be used.
The average molecular weight of the siloxane polymer may be an important consideration. Generally, siloxane polymers having an average molecular weight in the range of 50,000 or higher are preferred with an average molecular weight of approximately 200,000 to about 1,000,000 being most preferred. The average molecular weight should be high enough that the polymer is substantially solid rather than a viscous liquid at room temperature. At the other extreme, siloxane polymer having an excessive molecular weight may result in an excessively hard chew.
The siloxane polymer may comprise approximately 8% to about 95% by weight of the base. Preferably, the siloxane polymer can comprise approximately 30% to about 90% by weight of the base. Most preferably, the siloxane polymer comprises approximately 40% at about 80% of the base.
In addition to siloxane polymer, the base of the present invention includes polar polymers. A polar polymer, as that term is used in the
Bunczek Michael T.
Urnezis Philip
Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLC
Corbin Arthur L.
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
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