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US4851394A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition and film prepared therefrom

Assignee: UNI FOOD SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-29
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Granted: 1989-07-25
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Expires: 2006-12-29
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Abstract

Abstract The invention provides a composition having a complex network structure that is formed by mixing glucomannan and optionally another natural polysaccharide with a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or a concentrated water solution thereof in the presence or absence of an alkali. When dissolved in water, this composition forms an aqueous solution which can be shape and dried into a film. This film may be eaten directly. Alternatively, it may serve as the shell of a soft capsule or may be used as a food packaging material that is edible together with the food being packaged. The film can also be used as a semipermeable membrane for separating a low-molecular weight substance from a high-molecular weight substance. Other uses of the film include a casing for use in the manufacture of smoked food products and a wound dressing.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masao Kubodera

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 07:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L26/00; A61L26/0009; A61L26/0023; A22; A22C; A22C13/00; A22C13/0013; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/48; A61K9/4816; A61L15/00; A61L15/16; A61L15/22; A61L15/28; B; B01; B01D; B01D71/00; B01D71/06; B01D71/08; C; C08; C08B; C08B37/00; C08B37/006; C08B37/0087; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/04; C08K5/05; C08K5/053

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 23 words
A glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition prepared by uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 23 words
A glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition prepared by uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein said solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol has a concentration of 30-100 wt%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition prepared by uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of a least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition prepared by uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of a least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
A composition according to claim 3 wherein said solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol has a concentration of 3-100 wt%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
A film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; forming the solution into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 49 words
A film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; forming the solution into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
A film according to claim 5 which is an edible food packaging material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 5 which is a casing for smoked food products.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
A film according to claim 7 which is a casing film reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 5 which is a shell for a soft capsule.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
A film according to claim 5 which is a semipermeable membrane for separating a high-molecular weight substance from a low-molecular weight substance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 10 which is reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
A film according to claim 5 which is a wound dressing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 12 which is reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 55 words
A film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; forming the solution into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 55 words
A film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; forming the solution into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 13 words
A film according to claim 14 which is an edible food packaging material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 14 which is a casing for smoked food products.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 16 which is reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 14 which is a shell for a soft capsule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 22 words
A film according to claim 14 which is a semipermeable membrane for separating a high-molecular weight substance from a low-molecular weight substance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 19 which is reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 11 words
A film according to claim 14 which is a wound dressing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 14 words
A film according to claim 21 which is reinforced with a thin fibrous product.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 63 words
An edible film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one group of polyhydric alcohol; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; mixing the solution with a food material to obtain a mixture; forming the mixture into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 63 words
An edible film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one group of polyhydric alcohol; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; mixing the solution with a food material to obtain a mixture; forming the mixture into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 22 words
An edible film according to claim 23 wherein the solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol has a concentration of 30-100 wt%.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 67 words
An edible film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; mixing the solution with a food material to obtain a mixture; forming the mixture into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 67 words
An edible film prepared by a process comprising the steps of: uniformly mixing glucomannan and other natural polysaccharides with a concentrated solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol in the presence of an alkali; dissolving the resulting glucomannan/polyhydric alcohol composition in water to obtain a solution; mixing the solution with a food material to obtain a mixture; forming the mixture into a film; and drying the film.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 22 words
An edible film according to claim 25 wherein the solution of at least one polyhydric alcohol has a concentration of 30-100 wt%.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-24 1993-01-23 1993-07-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-24 1997-01-23 1997-07-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-24 2001-01-23 2001-07-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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