Effervescent composition for forming a gelled composition, tablet for forming a gelled composition, and method of making a gelled composition

Abstract

A method of making a gelled composition that includes combining water and an effervescent tablet in a vessel, the effervescent tablet including at least 200 mg gelatin and an effervescent couple that includes an acid and a base, heating an aqueous composition (e.g., in a microwave oven), optionally adding cold water to the heated composition, and chilling the composition for a period sufficient for the composition to form a gel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a gelled composition, the method comprising:
 combining a tablet comprising at least 200 mg gelatin with water to form an aqueous composition; and   allowing the aqueous composition to thicken.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining comprises combining the tablet and heated water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining comprises combining the tablet and water having a temperature of at least 70° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining comprises combining the tablet and water having a temperature of at least 80° C. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining comprises adding water to a vessel that includes the tablet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combining comprises adding heated water to a vessel that includes the tablet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising chilling the aqueous composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chilling occurs in an environment having a temperature of no greater than 8° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous composition forms a set gel in less than two hours when chilled at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 8° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adding cold water having a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 25° C. to the aqueous composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein adding cold water comprises adding from about 1 ounce to about 3 ounces of cold water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein combining the water and the tablet comprises placing from about 1 ounce to about 3 ounces of water in a vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein combining the water and the tablet comprises placing from about 1 ounce to about 3 ounces of heated water in a vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet comprises at least about 400 mg gelatin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet comprises at least about 1000 mg gelatin. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet comprises at least about 1500 mg gelatin. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet comprises from about 1000 mg to about 5000 mg gelatin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising heating the water. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the heating occurs water prior to, during, or after the combining. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet further comprises
 from about 5% by weight to about 40% by weight binder; and   from at least 0.5% by weight to about 1% by weight lubricant.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet has a hardness of at least 3 Kp. 
     
     
         22 . A tablet comprising:
 from about 5% by weight to about 40% by weight binder;   from at least 0.1% by weight to no greater than about 10% by weight lubricant;   at least 200 mg gelatin; and   a medicament.   
     
     
         23 . The tablet of  claim 22 , wherein the tablet has a hardness of at least 3 Kp. 
     
     
         24 . The tablet of  claim 22 , wherein the medicament comprises a prescription drug. 
     
     
         25 . The tablet of  claim 22 , wherein the medicament comprises an over the counter drug. 
     
     
         26 . A packaged dosage form comprising:
 a sealed package;   at least 200 mg gelatin; and   a medicament   the gelatin and the medicament disposed in the sealed package.   
     
     
         27 . A method of making a single serving of a gelled product, the method comprising:
 adding heated water to a single serving vessel that includes a particulate comprising at least 200 mg gelatin.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the vessel is a cup. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the vessel is plastic. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising chilling the single serving.