Claims for Patent: 4,800,903

Summary for Patent: 4,800,903

Title:	Nicotine dispenser with polymeric reservoir of nicotine
Abstract:	A nicotine dispenser comprising a polyolefin porous plug with reversibly retained nicotine therein. The dispenser is mounted in a tubular configuration to provide a cigarette-shaped product adapted to dispense nicotine vapor when air is drawn therethrough. The polymeric reservoir of nicotine comprises a polyolefin, preferably polyethylene or polypropylene, which reversibly absorbs nicotine.
Inventor(s):	Ray; Jon P. (San Antonio, TX), Turner; James E. (San Antonio, TX), Ellis; Michael P. (San Antonio, TX), Oldham; Ronald G. (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee:
Application Number:	06/738,120
Patent Claims:	1. A nicotine dispenser for non-pyrolytic use, adapted to release nicorine-bearing vapor into air drawn through the dispenser, said dispenser comprising: (a) a housing, said housing defining a passageway for air through the dispenser; and (b) interposed in the passageway, at least one porous plug comprising nicotine and a first polymeric substance, the first polymeric substance being able to absorptively and reversibly retain and release the nicotine,. 2. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein said housing is shaped as an elongated tube. 3. The nicotine dispenser of claim 2 wherein said elongated tube includes a first portion adapted to retain at least one porous plug and a second portion adapted to be a mouthpiece. 4. The nicotine dispenser of claim 3 wherein the second portion is defined further as having a band of generally cork-colored paper. 5. The nicotine dispenser of claim 4 wherein the corkcolored paper is defined further as having been subjected to a treatment to reduce nicotine absorbtivity. 6. The nicotine dispenser of claim 5 wherein the treatment is defined further as comprising exposure to ammonium hydroxide, dimethyldichlorosilane or polyvinylpyrrolidone. 7. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first polymeric substance consists essentially of a polyolefin. 8. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first polymeric substance consists essentially of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, poly-1-butene, polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, poly-4-methyl-1-pentene or combinations thereof. 9. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first polymeric substance is polyethylene or polypropylene. 10. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first polymeric substance is high density polyethylene. 11. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a second polymeric substance and the second polymeric substance is resistant to penetration by nicotine. 12. The nicotine dispenser of claim 11 wherein the second polymeric substance is polybutyleneterephthalate. 13. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the porous plug comprises a molded unit. 14. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the porous plug comprises a shaped mass of filaments. 15. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein also interposed in the passageway is a second porous plug, the second porous plug being resistant to the absorption of nicotine. 16. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one porous plug comprises a vaporizable flavorant such as menthol or tobacco extract.releasable into air drawn through the dispenser. 17. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the nicotine is defined further as being accompanied by an antioxidant. 18. The nicotine dispenser of claim 17 wherein the antioxidant is butylated hydroxyanisole propyl gallate, tertiary butylhydroxy-quinone butylated hydroxytoluene or mixtures thereof. 19. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the porous plug comprising nicotine is defined further as containing between about 1 mg and about 25 mg nicotine. 20. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the porous plug is defined further as releasing as a vapor between about 2.5 micrograms nicotine and about 12 micrograms nicotine when 35 cc of air are drawn through the dispenser at a temperature between about 0.degree. C. and about 40.degree. C. and at a flow rate between about 100 cc/min and about 2000 cc/min. 21. The nicotine dispenser of claim 1 wherein the porous plug is defined further as having been loaded with nicotine by contact with liquid nicotine, by exposure to nicotine vapor, or by contact with nicotine in a volatile liquid solvent. 22. Tobacco-free tubular non-pyrolytic nicotine dispensers comprising nicotine reversibly contained within an emplaced porous polymeric plug, said dispensers being packaged in a sealed film of oriented polyethylene terephthalate. 23. A composition consisting essentially of a solid polyolefin with from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent nicotine absorbed therein. 24. The composition of claim 23 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene. 25. A method of making a nicotine dispenser comprising: providing a tubular housing resistant to absorption of nicotine and defining a passageway for air; interposing in said passageway a porous plug comprising a polyolefin absorptive for nicotine; and exposing the porous plug to nicotine to load the porous plug with nicotine. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene. 27. The method of claim 25 wherein the polyolefin is high-density polyethylene. 28. A device simulating a cigarette for orally inhaling nicotine without tobacco combustion, the device comprising: a tubular housing substantially chemically inert to nicotine and substantially non-absorptive of nicotine, said housing defining a passageway and being adapted at one end to be held in the mouth of a person; and a source of absorptively retained nicotine interposed in said passageway, said source being capable of releasing nicotine into air inhaled through the passageway. 29. The device of claim 28 wherein the source comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 30. A device for orally inhaling nicotine without combustion of tobacco, the device comprising: a tubular housing, substantially non-sorbent toward nicotine and adapted at one end to be held in the mouth of a person; and a source of absorptively-retained nicotine capable of releasing nicotine into air drawn through said housing, said source comprising a porous solid-form polyolefin. 31. The device of claim 30 wherein the source comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 32. A device for the non-pyrolytic inhalation of nicotine, the device comprising: a tubular member adapted at one end to be held in the mouth for inhalation of air therethrough; and a quantity of porous solid-form polymer interposed in said member said polymer containing absorptively retained nicotine and being capable of releasing between about 2.5 micrograms and about 12 micrograms of nicotine into a 35 cc puff of air drawn through said member. 33. The device of claim 32 wherein the polymer is a polyolefin. 34. The device of claim 32 wherein the polymer is a polyethylene. 35. The device of claim 32 wherein the 35 cc puff of air is drawn through at a rate of about 1050 cc per minute. 36. A method of making a non-pyrolytic nicotine inhalant device, the method comprising: positioning in a tubular housing a portion of a nicotine-containing, porous, solid-form polymeric nicotine absorbent adapted to release nicotine upon he passage of air through said tubular housing. 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the polymeric nicotine absorbent comprises a polyolefin. 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the polymeric nicotine absorbent comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 39. The method of claim 36 wherein the passage of air through said tubular housing is also through the porous solid form polymeric nicotine absorbent.