Chewing article for oral tobacco delivery

Abstract

A chewing article for oral tobacco delivery includes a mouth portion and a handle portion. Preferably, the mouth portion includes a mouthpiece containing tobacco material and a cap. The mouthpiece includes at least one perforation that selectively releases the enclosed tobacco material when chewed, sucked, or manipulated. The handle portion is attached to the mouth portion.

1 . A chewing article comprising:
 a mouth portion including an impermeable mouthpiece having at least one perforation therein and an internal chamber; and   tobacco material contained within said internal chamber;   wherein said at least one perforation opens to selectively release said tobacco material when said mouthpiece is deformed, and wherein said tobacco material is a gel, liquid, and/or semi-liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said mouth portion further includes a cap, which preserves the tobacco material. 
     
     
         3 . The chewing article of  claim 2 , wherein said mouthpiece and said cap are tubular and fit closely together. 
     
     
         4 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said tobacco material further includes beads, capsules and/or microcapsules containing at least one additive. 
     
     
         5 . The chewing article of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of flavorants, chemesthesis agents, antioxidants, vitamins, nutrients, functional ingredients, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The chewing article of  claim 4 , wherein said beads, capsules and/or microcapsules provide controlled release of tobacco or other flavor. 
     
     
         7 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said chewing article is cigarette-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said mouthpiece is a perforated chewable tube made of a food grade, elastomeric material. 
     
     
         9 . The chewing article of  claim 8 , wherein said food grade, elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, plastic, rubber, latex, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein (i) said chewing article holds about 0.5 cc to about 10.0 cc of said tobacco material, and/or (ii) said chewing article is about 60 mm to about 140 mm in length and has a diameter of about 3 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said chewing article further includes a handle portion. 
     
     
         12 . The chewing article of  claim 11 , wherein (i) said handle portion is made of paper, plastic, metal, wood, and/or ceramic, (ii) said handle portion includes an internal handle support, which supports the mouth portion and/or attaches the mouth portion to the handle portion, (iii) said handle portion includes a transport mechanism operable to transport the tobacco material to the at least one perforation, (iv) said handle portion functions as a second mouth portion, (v) said handle portion and/or said mouth portion is textured, colored, and/or includes indicia printed thereon, (vi) said handle portion is circular in cross-section and has the same or different diameter as the mouth portion, (vii) said handle portion and/or said mouth portion includes embedded electronics, and/or (viii) said handle portion is a hollow handle portion operable to provide storage. 
     
     
         13 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one perforation is stuffed with at least one bead, capsule and/or microcapsule. 
     
     
         14 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , further including an air passage, operable to allow a user to inhale air, and/or a supply of additives operable to provide flavorants and/or chemesthesis agents. 
     
     
         15 . The chewing article of  claim 14 , wherein said supply of additives includes volatile flavorants. 
     
     
         16 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said mouthpiece portion is disposable and/or replaceable. 
     
     
         17 . The chewing article of  claim 1 , wherein said mouthpiece portion includes a coating. 
     
     
         18 . The chewing article of  claim 17 , wherein said coating is made of a soluble polysaccharide, optional flavorants, and/or optional chemesthesis agents. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a chewing article comprising:
 filling a perforated mouthpiece including an internal chamber and an open end by loading tobacco material into the open end;   plugging said open end of said internal chamber with a plug; and   placing a cap over said mouthpiece to form a mouth portion.