The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
May. 26, 1999
Victor V. Gudas, Oak Lawn, IL (US);
Michael A. Reed, Merrillville, IN (US);
Philip G. Schnell, Downers Grove, IL (US);
Henry T. Tyrpin, Palos Park, IL (US);
David L. Witkewitz, Bridgeview, IL (US);
Michael J. Greenberg, Northbrook, IL (US);
Fred R. Wolf, West Des Moines, IA (US);
WM. Wrigley Jr. Co., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method for producing a chewing gum with a controlled release of a bitterness inhibitor, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by physically modifying the release properties of the bitterness inhibitor by coating and drying. The bitterness inhibitor is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, and absorption. The coated bitterness inhibitor is preferably then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified bitterness inhibitor for use in chewing gum. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to produce a fast release or a delayed release when the gum is chewed. The preferred bitterness inhibitor is sodium gluconate.