Moisture-Permeable Pouch With Breakable Capsule For Smokeless Tobacco

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for an enjoyable and innovative form of smokeless tobacco product that provides altered sensory properties through the use of a powdered or granular tobacco formulation within a moisture-permeable container, which includes flavor agents that are released upon physical destruction or moisture exposure.

Innovation Solution

A smokeless tobacco product featuring a powdered or granular tobacco formulation contained in a moisture-permeable pouch with integrated liquid-filled capsules or flavor sheets that release their contents when the pouch is acted upon by moisture or physically broken, providing enhanced flavor and sensory experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional smokeless tobacco product is used, then the basic tobacco flavor is provided, but the sensory experience is limited and not extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensory experienceVSAvoidproduct structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds liquid-filled capsules containing flavor agents inside the tobacco pouch. The capsules are nested within the pouch structure, allowing the flavor agents to be released into the tobacco formulation when the pouch is placed in the mouth and moisture is applied. This nesting approach extends the sensory experience without significantly increasing external product complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The flavor agents are pre-encapsulated in liquid-filled capsules before being placed in the pouch. This preliminary preparation ensures that the flavor agents are protected during storage and will only be released when the pouch is activated by moisture in the user's mouth, providing an extended and controlled sensory experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the pouch is made non-permeable to retain flavor, then flavor retention is improved, but moisture penetration and dissolution are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflavor retentionVSAvoidmoisture penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed with selective permeability characteristics, allowing moisture to penetrate through the pouch material to contact the tobacco formulation and capsules, while the capsules themselves provide localized protection for the flavor agents until moisture triggers their release. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between flavor retention and moisture penetration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the container is made non-dissolvable to allow disposal, then disposal convenience is improved, but ingestion safety is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal convenienceVSAvoidingestion safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed as a disposable container that can be conveniently discarded after use. The pouch material is chosen to be inexpensive and suitable for single-use, allowing users to simply dispose of the entire pouch after consuming the tobacco formulation without requiring complex disposal procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The product offers an enjoyable and extended sensory experience by releasing flavor agents within the mouth, allowing for convenient disposal of the pouch and potentially ingesting both the tobacco formulation and container, enhancing user satisfaction and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a moisture-permeable container... The outermost container preferably has the form of a pouch or bag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

The liquid center region, which is released when the outer shell undergoes some type of physical destruction, breakage, or other loss of physical integrity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical destruction: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 3

the container may be manufactured from a water dissolvable or dispersible material, such that the tobacco formulation and the container may be ingested by the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS7861728B2Smokeless tobacco composition having an outer and inner pouch

Publication Date: 2011.01.04 R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY

AI summary

A smokeless tobacco product includes a powdered or granular smokeless tobacco formulation that is contained within a moisture-permeable packet or pouch. The smokeless tobacco formulation may include finely ground particles of tobacco in powder-like form and other ingredients such as sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring ingredients, disintegration aids, antioxidants and preservatives. The tobacco formulation may have a dry or moist form. The container has the form of a pouch or bag, such as is the type commonly used for the manufacture of snus products. The container preferably contains at least one capsule, such as a spherical breakable capsule. The container is intended to be placed in the mouth of the tobacco user, such that the tobacco formulation within the container may be enjoyed by the user. After the tobacco user is finished using the smokeless tobacco product, the container is removed from the user's mouth for disposal. Alternatively, the container is dissolvable or dispersible in the mouth of the user.