Smokeless Tobacco

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco formulation includes particles or pieces of tobacco, and may include other ingredients, such as salts, sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, antioxidants, humectants, and preservatives. The moisture content of the particles of the tobacco may vary. Certain smokeless tobacco products have the form of tobacco compositions or formulations that result from casting or otherwise forming a slurry incorporating tobacco material and other components as a film or sheet. Certain smokeless tobacco products have the form of tobacco compositions or formulations that result from pressing, extruding or otherwise forming a mixture incorporating tobacco material and other components into a desired shape. The foregoing tobacco products, as well as snus-type products, can be packaged under conditions of controlled atmosphere. Smokeless tobacco products can be sealed in outer packaging materials that are virtually impervious to oxygen and/or moisture, and those packaging materials can be vacuum sealed or sealed such that the atmosphere therewithin is essentially inert.

1 . A smokeless tobacco product comprising a continual strip containing smokeless tobacco composition, successive portions of said strip being separable from each other by lines of perforation extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said strip and across said strip, said strip being formed into a roll and positioned within a container having an opening through which said strip can be extended in use to permit separation thereof along said lines of perforation. 
     
     
         2 . A smokeless tobacco product according to  claim 1  wherein said continual strip is formed of a smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         3 . A smokeless tobacco product according to  claim 1  wherein said continual strip is formed of a successive line of impermeable outer packages each containing a portion of said smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         4 . A smokeless tobacco product according to  claim 3  wherein each said outer package is a blister pack which is tightly sealed and contains a controlled atmosphere. 
     
     
         5 . A smokeless tobacco product comprising:
 a plurality of water-permeable pouches each containing a tobacco formulation and configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the tobacco formulation including granular tobacco;   an outer packaging material enveloping at least one of each of said pouches and being sealed so as to allow a controlled environment to be maintained within; and   the outer packaging material enveloping each of said one or more pouches being interconnected to form a tape-like assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 5  wherein the interconnections between the outer packaging material enveloping each of said one or more pouches are adapted to be readily separated for use by said user. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 6  wherein said interconnections each contain a line of perforations to facilitate separation. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 5  wherein said tape-like assembly is rolled up to facilitate handling by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 8 , wherein said rolled up tape-like assembly is packaged in a dispenser constructed to allow said tape-like assembly to be withdrawn and separated for use by said user. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 8  wherein said dispenser is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 9  including a second outer packaging material enveloping said dispenser and being sealed so as to allow a controlled environment to be maintained within. 
     
     
         12 . A smokeless tobacco product comprising:
 a tobacco formulation having a tape-like form and being rolled up to facilitate handling by the user,   said rolled up tape-like tobacco formulation being packaged in a dispenser constructed to allow said tape-like tobacco formulation to be withdrawn and separated into parts for use by said user.   
     
     
         13 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 12  having an outer packaging material enveloping said dispenser and being sealed so as to allow a controlled environment to be maintained within.