A pouched product for oral use comprising a particulate filling material

Abstract

Described is a pouched product for oral use that includes a liquid permeable cover material and a portion sized amount of a filling material comprising a first type of particles, the filling material being enclosed by the liquid permeable cover material, the pouched product having a first main surface and a second main surface and a thickness between the first main surface and the second main surface. The particles of the first type of particles have an average particle size within the range of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm and a pre-use moisture content of from 1% by weight of the filling material to 35% by weight of the filling material. The first type of particles are water insoluble particles. The filling material has one or more water soluble components. The pouched product has a pre-use thickness (t 1 ) and a post-use thickness (t 2 ) and a ratio (t 2/ t 1 ) between the post-use thickness (t 1 ) and the pre-use thickness (t 1 ) which is in the range of from 1.0 to 1.5.

1 . A pouched product for oral use comprising a liquid permeable cover materialand a filling material, the filling material comprising a first type of particles, the first type of particlesbeing water insoluble particles, the filling materialbeing enclosed by the liquid permeable cover material, the pouched product having a first main surface and a second main surface and a thickness between the first main surfaceand the second main surface characterized in that the filling material is free from tobacco material or the filling material comprises tobacco material in an amount within the range of from 0.05 wt % to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the filling material, the particles of the first type of particleshave an average particle size within the range of from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm, the filling materialhas a pre-use moisture content of from 1% by weight of the filling materialto 35% by weight of the filling material, and the filling materialcomprises one or more water soluble components, the pouched product having a pre-use thickness (t 1 ) determined as the maximum distance between the two main surfaces of the oral pouched product at an applied pressure force of 0.5 N and a post-use thickness (t 2 ) determined as the maximum distance between the two main surfaces of the oral pouched product at an applied pressure force of 0.5 N after a use period of 10 minutes according to the test procedure disclosed herein, and a ratio (t 2 /t 1 ) between the post-use thickness (t 1 ) and the pre-use thickness (t 1 ) being in the range of from 1.0 to 1.5. 
     
     
         2 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the first type of particlesare particles of microcrystalline cellulose, water insoluble starch or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the first type of particles constitutes 75% by dry weight to 99% by dry weight of the filling material. 
     
     
         4 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the water insoluble first type of particles defines the volume of the filling material, with any additional component or components of the filling material contributing by less than 5% to the volume of the filling material. 
     
     
         5 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling materialcomprises tobacco material in an amount within the range of from 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % based on the total weight of the filling material. 
     
     
         6 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the product increases by up to 50% during use. 
     
     
         7 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the particles of the first type of particles have a particle density in the range of from 0.8 g/cm 3  to 1.7 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         8 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling material comprises nicotine which is added in the filling material in the form of a nicotine compound. 
     
     
         9 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling material comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of a flavouring agent, a sweetener, a humectant, and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A pouched product according to  claim 9 , wherein the additive comprises a flavouring agent. 
     
     
         11 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling material in addition to the water insoluble first type of particlescomprises a second type of particles, the second type of particles having an average particle size which is less than the average particle size of the first type of particles. 
     
     
         12 . A pouched product according to  claim 11  wherein the second type of particles are water soluble particles. 
     
     
         13 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more water soluble components is present on an outer surface of at least some of the particles of the first type of particles. 
     
     
         14 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more water soluble components is present in interstices between the particles of the first type of particles. 
     
     
         15 . A pouched product according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid permeable cover materialis a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         16 . A pouched product according to  claim 15 , wherein the liquid permeable cover materialhas a basis weight in the range of from 10 g/m 2  to 28 g/m 2 .