Systems, devices and methods for delivering one or more additives to smokeless tobacco

Abstract

Provided are systems, devices and methods that utilize porous plastic dispensing articles for delivering one or more additives to a smokeless tobacco product. A porous plastic article for dispensing one or more additives, such as, for example, flavorings, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, caffeine, other dietary supplements, water or combinations thereof, is placed into contact with a quantity of smokeless tobacco, for example, in a re-sealable smokeless tobacco container.

1 . A packaged smokeless tobacco product, comprising:
 a container defining a chamber for holding smokeless tobacco;   a quantity of smokeless tobacco positioned within said chamber; and   a porous plastic dispensing article positioned within said chamber, the article comprising (1) a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, and (2) a dispensate residing within the passages;   wherein the article is operable to release at least a portion of the dispensate into the smokeless tobacco.   
   
   
       2 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said article is in contact with said tobacco. 
   
   
       3 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said container includes a body and a lid, the body having a lid-receiving portion and the lid having a body-engaging portion for sealingly cooperating with the lid-receiving portion. 
   
   
       4 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said article is attached to a member selected from the group consisting of said lid and said body. 
   
   
       5 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said article is frictionally attached to said lid. 
   
   
       6 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said lid has an interior surface and comprises a plurality of retention brackets extending from said interior surface; and wherein said article is attached to said lid by said retention brackets. 
   
   
       7 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said lid has an interior surface and comprises at least one flange extending from said interior surface; and wherein said article is frictionally attached to said lid by contact with said at least one flange. 
   
   
       8 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said container has an interior surface and comprises a plurality of retention brackets extending from said interior surface; and wherein said article is attached to said container by said retention brackets. 
   
   
       9 . The product in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said container has an interior surface and comprises at least one flange extending from said interior surface; and wherein said article is frictionally attached to said container by contact with said at least one flange. 
   
   
       10 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the pores have an average size of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. 
   
   
       11 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the pores have an average size of from about 40 microns to about 150 microns. 
   
   
       12 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the pores have an average size of from about 134 microns to about 144 microns. 
   
   
       13 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensate comprises an aqueous fluid. 
   
   
       14 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensate comprises a non-aqueous fluid. 
   
   
       15 . The product in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the non-aqueous fluid is selected from the group consisting of a gas and an oil. 
   
   
       16 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the dispensate comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a flavoring, a pharmaceutical, a nutritional supplement, caffeine, a dietary supplement, water and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The product in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the flavoring is a member selected from the group consisting of wintergreen flavoring, cherry flavoring and mint flavoring. 
   
   
       18 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the matrix comprises a thermoplastic polymer. 
   
   
       19 . The product in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene. 
   
   
       20 . The product in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises polyethylene. 
   
   
       21 . The product in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the article comprises a disk shape. 
   
   
       22 . A method for introducing a dispensate into a quantity of smokeless tobacco, comprising:
 providing an article comprising a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages, wherein a dispensate is positioned within the passages; and   contacting the exposed surface of the article to a quantity of smokeless tobacco to cause the dispensate to be released into the tobacco.   
   
   
       23 . The method in accordance with  claim 22  wherein said contacting comprises placing the article and the tobacco in a container for a period of time effective to cause a desired amount of dispensate to be dispensed into the tobacco. 
   
   
       24 . An article for introducing a dispensate into a smokeless tobacco product, comprising:
 a porous plastic matrix defining an internal network of passages and defining pores on the exposed surface of the matrix in fluid communication with the passages; and   a dispensate residing within the passages;   wherein said article is operable to contain said dispensate within the passages until the exposed surface of said article contacts a quantity of smokeless tobacco, and then to release at least a portion of the dispensate into the smokeless tobacco.   
   
   
       25 . The article in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said article is positioned in a container in contact with said tobacco.