Oral pouch product and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An oral pouch product according to an embodiment may comprise: a packaging material at least a portion of the periphery of which is sealed to define a cavity therein; a filling material enclosed in the cavity and comprising an active ingredient; and a coating material applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material and comprising a sugar alcohol.

Description

Oral pouch product and method of manufacturing the same

[0001] The embodiments relate to an oral pouch product and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, they relate to an oral pouch product and a method for manufacturing the same in which the usage time can be perceived through the texture felt on the surface of the pouch product.

[0002] Oral pouch products are a type of smoking product that can be used by placing the product between the cheek and gum, or between the gum and lip, and maintaining it for a certain period of time.

[0003] Oral pouch products generally consist of a filling material containing an active ingredient and a packaging material that encloses the filling material. The packaging material is salivary permeable, so the active ingredient contained in the enclosed filling material is released by the user's saliva and can provide satisfaction to the user through microvessels of the oral mucosa, etc.

[0004] Oral pouch products vary in terms of the total weight of the pouch or the content of the active ingredient included in the filling material, depending on the release target of the active ingredient. Therefore, while recommended usage times are provided based on the release target, there is a problem in that users find it difficult to check this every time.

[0005] Furthermore, oral pouch products do not allow for checking the end time of use; therefore, if the product is kept in the mouth beyond the recommended duration, a foreign body sensation in the throat may occur, and the active ingredients may be absorbed through the digestive system, potentially causing gastrointestinal discomfort or nausea, which poses a problem.

[0006] The embodiments aim to solve the problems of the oral pouch product described above by providing an oral pouch product that allows the user to perceive the usage time through the texture felt on the surface of the pouch product during use.

[0007] The problems to be solved through the embodiments are not limited to those described above, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong from this specification and the attached drawings.

[0008] An oral pouch product according to one embodiment may comprise: a packaging material in which at least a portion of the periphery is sealed to define a cavity inside; a filling material enclosed in the cavity and containing an active ingredient; and a coating material applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material and containing a sugar alcohol.

[0009] A method for manufacturing an oral pouch product according to one embodiment comprises: a) providing a filling material containing an active ingredient; and b) sealing at least a portion of the periphery of a packaging material to encapsulate the filling material in an internal cavity of the packaging material; and may further comprise, prior to or after step b), c) applying a coating material containing a sugar alcohol to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material.

[0010] According to the oral pouch product and the method for manufacturing the same according to the embodiments, the end time of use can be easily and conveniently recognized without the need to check whether the recommended usage time has elapsed.

[0011] The oral pouch product according to the embodiments makes it easy to stop using the product before a foreign body sensation in the throat, gastrointestinal burden, or nausea occurs, by recognizing the usage time through the texture felt on the surface of the pouch product during use.

[0012] The effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an oral pouch product according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIGS. 2a and 2b are planar cross-sectional views of an oral pouch product according to the embodiments, cut along the AA' cross-sectional line of FIG. 1.

[0015] The terms used in the embodiments have been selected based on currently widely used general terms whenever possible, taking into account their functions; however, these may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, case law, or the emergence of new technologies. Additionally, in specific cases, the applicant has arbitrarily selected terms, and in such instances, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the embodiments must be defined not merely by their names, but based on their meanings and the overall context of the embodiments.

[0016] When a part of a specification is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0017] As used herein, when an expression such as "at least one" precedes an arranged component, it modifies the entire set of components rather than each individual component. For example, the expression "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, and c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0019] Throughout the specification, embodiments are any classifications intended to facilitate the description of the invention, and each embodiment is not required to be mutually exclusive. For example, configurations disclosed in one embodiment may be applied and / or implemented in other embodiments and may be applied and / or implemented with modifications to the extent that they do not depart from the scope of the disclosure.

[0020] Furthermore, the terms used in this disclosure are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. In this disclosure, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0021] As used throughout the specification, the term "oral pouch product" may refer to a filling material containing an active ingredient for oral use and a saliva-permeable pouch packaging the same. The oral pouch product may be used by a user placing the oral pouch product between the cheek and gum, or between the gum and lip, and maintaining it for a certain period of time. When the oral pouch product is used in the user's oral cavity, the filling material contains an active ingredient that is released by saliva without a crushing action such as chewing.

[0022] Below, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0023] Some components in the drawings may be depicted with their size or proportions slightly exaggerated. Additionally, components depicted in one drawing may not be depicted in another drawing.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an oral pouch product according to one embodiment.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the oral pouch product (100) has a size and structure that can comfortably fit between the user's cheek and gum, or between the gum and lip. The oral pouch product (100) can be formed in various sizes, including spherical, square, rectangular, crescent, elliptical, and cubic shapes. For example, it is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] According to an embodiment, an oral pouch product (100) comprising a packaging material (110), a filling material (120), and a coating material (130) may be provided. According to an embodiment, the oral pouch product (100) comprising all of the filling material (120), the packaging material (110), and the coating material (130) may have a total weight of 0.2 g to 1.5 g.

[0028] An oral pouch product (100) according to an embodiment may include: a packaging material (110) in which at least a portion of the periphery (111) is sealed to define a cavity inside; a filling material (120) enclosed in the cavity and containing an active ingredient; and a coating material (130) applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material (110) and containing a sugar alcohol.

[0029] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the peripheral portion (111) where the packaging material (110) is sealed may be both ends of the packaging material (110), but is not limited thereto.

[0030] The packaging material (110) for the oral pouch product (100) may be manufactured from a material having appropriate saliva permeability and a certain strength so as not to dissolve in saliva or tear. Additionally, the packaging material (110) for the oral pouch product (100) may be manufactured from a material having a softness sufficient for use in the user's oral cavity. Furthermore, the packaging material (110) for the oral pouch product (100) may be a material having a sealable characteristic to contain a filling material (120) in the internal space. For example, the packaging material (110) may be manufactured from a non-woven fabric material.

[0031] The packaging material (110) of the oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment may have at least a portion of the periphery (111) sealed to define a cavity inside, and a filling material (120) may be enclosed in the cavity of the packaging material (110). For example, the periphery (111) may be sealed through heat fusion or ultrasonic fusion.

[0032] The packaging material (110) according to the embodiment may be a nonwoven fabric made of fibers having a fineness of 1 denier or more or a diameter of 10 μm or more. As an example, the packaging material (110) may be a nonwoven fabric made of staple fibers having a fineness of about 2 to about 10 denier or a diameter of about 10 to about 30 μm. As another example, it may be a nonwoven fabric made of staple fibers having a fineness of about 3 to about 7 denier and a diameter of about 15 to about 25 μm. The staple fibers are fibers having discontinuous lengths and may be cut from a continuous filament.

[0033] The packaging material (110) according to the embodiment may have a basis weight of about 10 to about 50 g / m². Basis weight refers to weight per area, and if the basis weight of the packaging material (110) exceeds the above range, the moisture transport characteristics may be reduced, and if it is less than the above range, the strength of the pouch may be reduced.

[0034] The packaging material (110) according to the embodiment may have a thickness of about 50 μm to about 300 μm. If the thickness of the packaging material (110) exceeds the above range, the moisture transport characteristics may be reduced, and if it is less than the above range, the strength of the pouch may be reduced and the pouch may easily burst.

[0035] Meanwhile, the filling material (120) for the oral pouch product (100) may include an active ingredient. The active ingredient may be a component that dissolves when in contact with saliva. For example, the active ingredient may be nicotine. The nicotine content may be determined according to the desired strength of the nicotine pouch. As an example, the filling material (120) may include nicotine-containing granules.

[0036] Nicotine may be included in the form of a nicotine base and / or a nicotine salt. For example, the nicotine salt may be one or more selected from the group consisting of nicotine hydrochloride, nicotine dihydrochloride, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartartrate, nicotine bitartartrate dihydrate, nicotine sulfate, nicotine zinc chloride monohydrate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine benzoate, and nicotine polacrilex.

[0037] The filling material (120) of the oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment may include one or more selected from the group consisting of an active ingredient, a binder, a pH adjuster, and a flavoring agent.

[0038] According to the embodiment, a binder that may be included in the filling material (120) can prevent the active ingredient from degrading during storage and impart a desired release rate of the active ingredient. For example, the binder may include at least one selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

[0039] According to an embodiment, a pH adjuster that may be included in the filling material (120) can adjust the pH of the nicotine pouch filling material to a pH at which nicotine can be absorbed, so that the nicotine can be converted into a free-based nicotine form that can be rapidly absorbed when the nicotine pouch is inserted into the oral cavity. For example, the pH adjuster may be at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), but is not limited thereto.

[0040] According to the embodiment, the flavoring that may be included in the filling material (120) may include plant-based flavorings such as menthol, cinnamon, sage, herbs, chamomile, licorice, lavender, bergamot, lemon, orange, jasmine, ginger, vanilla, spearmint, peppermint, acacia, coffee, celery, sandalwood, and cocoa. The flavoring is added to satisfy the preferences of the smoker and is not limited to the flavorings described above.

[0041] The oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment may be dry or wet. This may be determined by the moisture content of the filling material (120). The filling material (120) may include one or more of a dry mixture and a wet mixture. The dry mixture may contain 3% by weight or less of moisture based on the total weight of the filling material (120). The wet mixture may contain 40% by weight or more of moisture based on the total weight of the filling material (120).

[0042] The coating material (130) for the oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment comprises a sugar alcohol and can be applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material (110) described above. For example, the sugar alcohol may be one or more selected from the group consisting of isomaltol, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the coating material (130) may be formed by spinning a coating solution containing a sugar alcohol onto at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material (110). The coating solution may be a molten sugar alcohol. Additionally, the coating solution may further contain a solvent to control viscosity or increase ease of manufacturing. For example, the solvent may be water and / or alcohol.

[0044] For example, the coating material (130) may be a coating liquid that has been extruded in a melt-blown manner. Specifically, as described above, when a coating liquid containing a molten sugar alcohol is extruded in the form of fine fibers using high-pressure air or a high-speed airflow, it can be cooled in the air and coated in the form of fibers on the surface of the packaging material (110).

[0045] According to an embodiment, the coating material (130) formed by spinning in a meltblown manner may be in the form of fine fibers. For example, the coating material (130) may have a fineness of about 0.5 to about 0.8 denier, or a fiber diameter of about 0.5 to about 1.0 μm. That is, the coating material (130) may include fibers spun with a fineness of about 0.5 to about 0.8 denier, or a diameter of about 0.5 to about 1.0 μm.

[0046] The oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment includes a coating material (130) applied in the form of fine fibers to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material (110), thereby providing a soft touch at the beginning of use and improving user satisfaction.

[0047] Additionally, as the sugar alcohol of the coating material (130) melts over time, it provides a difference in roughness between the coating material (130) and the packaging material (110), allowing the user to more easily recognize when use ends. That is, as the soft coating material (130) applied to the surface of the rough packaging material (110) melts, the user can recognize when use ends through touch.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the packaging material (110) may include fibers having a fineness of about 2 to about 10 denier or a diameter of about 10 to about 30 μm. By being manufactured with short fibers having characteristics within the above-described range, the difference in roughness with the coating material (130) can be increased.

[0049] The oral pouch product (100) according to the embodiment may apply a different amount of coating material (130) depending on the release target of the active ingredient, the solubility of the sugar alcohol in saliva, etc. For example, a small oral pouch product (100) of about 0.3 to 0.5 g may be applied so that most of the sugar alcohol dissolves in about 20 to 30 minutes, and a general oral pouch product (100) of about 1 g may be applied so that most of the sugar alcohol dissolves in about 1 hour. However, it is not limited thereto.

[0050] The coating material (130) may further include an edible softening agent. By further including a softening agent in the coating material (130), the difference in tactile sensation with the packaging material (110) can be increased. The softening agent can be included in the coating liquid and formed by being spun in a meltblown manner.

[0051] The softening agent may be selected to be edible and suitable for the meltblown process. For example, the softening agent may be one or more selected from the group consisting of citric acid, glycerin, gelatin, lecithin, alginate, pectin, guar gum, and agar.

[0052] FIGS. 2a and 2b are planar cross-sectional views of an oral pouch product according to the embodiments, cut along the AA' cross-sectional line of FIG. 1.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2a, the packaging material (110) may include a sealed periphery (111) and an unsealed remaining center (112). For example, the periphery (111) of the packaging material (110) may be both ends. For example, the center (112) of the packaging material (110) may refer to a portion in which a filling material (120) is enclosed.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the coating material (130) can be applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material (110).

[0055] Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 2a, the coating material (130) can be applied over the entire surface of the packaging material (110). That is, the coating material (130) can be applied to both the outer surface of the peripheral portion (111) and the outer surface of the central portion (112).

[0056] In an embodiment such as FIG. 2a, when a user begins using the oral pouch product (100), the sugar alcohol of the coating material (130) melts, and the user can sense the end of use by touch by perceiving the difference in surface roughness between the coating material (130) and the packaging material (110).

[0057] According to another embodiment, the coating material (130) may be applied in a larger amount to the outer surface of the center (112) than to the outer surface of the periphery (111). The coating material (130) may not be applied to the outer surface of the periphery (111) or may be applied in a smaller amount than to the center (112). Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 2b, the coating material (130) may be applied only to the surface of the center (112) of the packaging material (110).

[0058] According to the above-described embodiment, when a user of the oral pouch product (100) begins to use it, the sugar alcohol of the coating material (130) melts, allowing the user to perceive the difference in surface roughness between the coating material (130) and the packaging material (110). In addition, by perceiving the difference in surface roughness between the peripheral area (111) where the coating material (130) is applied sparingly or not applied, and the central area (112) where the coating material (130) is applied relatively heavily, the user can sense the end time of use by touch.

[0059] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment, a method for manufacturing an oral pouch product comprising the following steps is provided.

[0060] A method for manufacturing an oral pouch product according to one embodiment comprises: a) providing a filling material containing an active ingredient; and b) sealing at least a portion of the periphery of a packaging material to encapsulate the filling material in an internal cavity of the packaging material; and c) applying a coating material containing a sugar alcohol to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material prior to or after step b).

[0061] That is, a coating material containing sugar alcohol can be applied to the surface of the packaging material after the filling material is sealed in the internal cavity of the packaging material, or a filling material can be sealed in the internal cavity of the packaging material on which the coating material containing sugar alcohol is applied to the surface.

[0062] According to one embodiment, step c) may be performed by meltblown-spraying a coating solution containing a sugar alcohol onto the outer surface of the packaging material. The coating solution may be a molten sugar alcohol. Additionally, the coating solution may further include a solvent to control viscosity or increase ease of manufacturing. For example, water and / or ethanol may be used as the solvent.

[0063] Specifically, when a coating solution containing a molten sugar alcohol is released in the form of fine fibers using high-pressure air or a high-speed airflow, it is cooled in the air and can be coated in the form of fibers on the surface of a packaging material.

[0064] According to another embodiment, step c) may further include a softening agent in the coating solution. By further including an edible softening agent in step c), a softer coating material can be applied to the outer surface of the packaging material. The softening agent can be included in the coating solution and formed by being spun in a meltblown manner. By further including a softening agent in the coating solution and applying the coating material, the difference in tactile sensation with the packaging material can be increased.

[0065] The description of the embodiments described above is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, and all variations within the scope equivalent to that described in the claims should be interpreted as being included within the scope of protection determined by the claims.

Claims

1. As an oral pouch product, Packaging material in which at least a portion of the periphery is sealed to define a cavity inside; A filling material enclosed in the above cavity and containing an active ingredient; and An oral pouch product comprising a coating material containing a sugar alcohol, applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the above-mentioned packaging material.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above coating material is an oral pouch product formed by extruding a coating solution containing a sugar alcohol onto the outer surface of the packaging material in a melt-blown manner.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above coating material comprises fibers spun to have a fineness of about 0.5 to about 0.8 denier or a diameter of about 0.5 to about 1.0 μm, an oral pouch product.

4. In Paragraph 1, An oral pouch product in which the above sugar alcohol is one or more selected from the group consisting of isomaltol, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol.

5. In Paragraph 1, The above coating material is an oral pouch product that further includes a softening agent.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above-mentioned softener is one or more selected from the group consisting of citric acid, glycerin, gelatin, lecithin, alginate, pectin, guar gum, and agar, in an oral pouch product.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above packaging material includes a sealed periphery and the remaining center, and An oral pouch product having a larger amount of coating material applied to the outer surface of the center than to the outer surface of the periphery.

8. In Paragraph 7, An oral pouch product in which a coating material is not applied to the periphery and a coating material is applied to the center.

9. In Paragraph 1, The above packaging material comprises fibers having a fineness of about 2 to about 10 denier, or a diameter of about 10 to about 30 μm, for an oral pouch product.

10. In Paragraph 1, The above active ingredient is an oral pouch product containing nicotine.

11. In Paragraph 10, An oral pouch product in which the above nicotine is one or more selected from the group consisting of nicotine base, nicotine hydrochloride, nicotine dihydrochloride, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartartrate, nicotine bitartartrate dihydrate, nicotine sulfate, nicotine zinc chloride monohydrate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine benzoate, and nicotine polacrilex.

12. A method for manufacturing an oral pouch product, a) a step of providing a filling material containing an active ingredient; and b) a step of sealing at least a portion of the periphery of the packaging material to enclose the filling material in the internal cavity of the packaging material; comprising, c) A method for manufacturing an oral pouch product, further comprising the step of applying a coating material containing a sugar alcohol to at least a portion of the outer surface of the packaging material prior to or after step b).

13. In Paragraph 12, A method for manufacturing an oral pouch product, wherein step c) above is performed by meltblown-spraying a coating solution containing a sugar alcohol onto the outer surface of the packaging material. In Article 14.13, The above step c) is a method for manufacturing an oral pouch product, wherein the coating solution further comprises a softening agent.

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