U.S. patent application number 10/411507 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for tobacco product and system for identifying tobacco products.
Invention is credited to Brooks, Andrew.
Application Number | 20040200492 10/411507 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33131002 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040200492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brooks, Andrew |
October 14, 2004 |
Tobacco product and system for identifying tobacco products
Abstract
A system for tracking tobacco products includes a reader and an
associated wireless communication device which is embedded within
the tobacco product. The wireless communication device is disposed
underneath the outer wrapper layer of the tobacco product and
preferably located within the butt portion of the tobacco product.
The wireless communication device may be a radio frequency
identification device. When queried, the device provides the reader
with identifying information for the tobacco product including the
brand and the manufacturer. The device aids in identifying and
tracking tobacco products to prevent counterfeit.
Inventors: |
Brooks, Andrew; (Toronto,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HODGSON RUSS LLP
ONE M & T PLAZA
SUITE 2000
BUFFALO
NY
14203-2391
US
|
Family ID: |
33131002 |
Appl. No.: |
10/411507 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/364 ;
131/361 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 1/02 20130101; G06K
19/07749 20130101; A24C 1/42 20130101; G06K 19/041 20130101; G06K
19/07758 20130101; A24F 47/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/364 ;
131/361 |
International
Class: |
A24B 001/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tobacco product having a main body portion and a butt portion,
comprising: (a) filler tobacco; (b) at least one outer layer
wrapped around said filler tobacco; and (c) a wireless
communication device embedded within the tobacco product, said
wireless communication device having identification information
encoded therein.
2. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless
communication device is a radio frequency identification
transponder.
3. The tobacco product claimed in claim 2, wherein said radio
frequency identification transponder includes an antenna and an
integrated circuit coupled to said antenna.
4. The tobacco product claimed in claim 3, wherein said transponder
includes a paper substrate and wherein said antenna is printed upon
said paper substrate with conductive ink.
5. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless
communication device is disposed between said outer layer and said
filler tobacco.
6. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer
includes a binder layer and a wrapper layer wrapped around said
binder layer, and wherein said wireless communication device is
disposed between said binder layer and said wrapper layer.
7. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer
includes a binder layer and a wrapper layer wrapped around said
binder layer, and wherein said wireless communication device is
disposed between said binder layer and said filler tobacco.
8. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless
communication device is disposed within said butt portion.
9. The tobacco product claimed in claim 1, wherein said tobacco
product is a cigar.
10. A system for identifying a tobacco product, the tobacco product
having a main body portion and a butt portion, comprising: (a) the
tobacco product, including (i) filler tobacco, (ii) at least one
outer layer wrapped around said filler tobacco, and (iii) a
wireless communication device embedded within the tobacco product,
said wireless communication device having identification
information encoded therein; and (b) a reader including a
transmitter portion for transmitting an interrogation signal to
said wireless communication device and a receiver portion for
receiving a response signal; wherein said wireless communication
device includes an antenna for receiving said interrogation signal
and an electronic device for modulating said interrogation signal,
thereby creating said response signal, and wherein said response
signal includes said identification information.
11. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said wireless
communication device is a radio frequency identification
transponder.
12. The system claimed in claim 11, wherein said transponder
includes a paper substrate and wherein said antenna is printed upon
said paper substrate with conductive ink.
13. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said wireless
communication device is disposed between said outer layer and said
filler tobacco.
14. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer layer
includes a binder layer and a wrapper layer wrapped around said
binder layer, and wherein said wireless communication device is
disposed between said binder layer and said wrapper layer.
15. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer layer
includes a binder layer and a wrapper layer wrapped around said
binder layer, and wherein said wireless communication device is
disposed between said binder layer and said filler tobacco.
16. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said wireless
communication device is disposed within said butt portion.
17. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said tobacco product is
a cigar.
18. A method of making a tobacco product having a main body portion
and a butt portion, comprising the steps of: (a) providing filler
tobacco; (b) wrapping at least one outer layer around said filler
tobacco; and (c) embedding a wireless communication device within
the tobacco product, said wireless communication device having
identification information encoded therein.
19. The method of making a tobacco product claimed in claim 18,
wherein said step of embedding includes placing said wireless
communication device into said filler tobacco prior to said step of
wrapping.
20. The method of making a tobacco product claimed in claim 18,
wherein said step of wrapping includes wrapping a binder layer
around said filler tobacco and wrapping a wrapper layer around said
binder layer and said step of embedding includes placing said
wireless communication device between said binder layer and said
wrapper layer prior to wrapping said wrapper layer around said
binder layer.
21. The method of making a tobacco product claimed in claim 18,
wherein said step of wrapping includes wrapping a binder layer
around said filler tobacco and wrapping a wrapper layer around said
binder layer and said step of embedding includes placing said
wireless communication device between said filler tobacco and said
binder layer prior to wrapping the binder layer around said filler
tobacco.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to tobacco products and a
system for identifying tobacco products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An increase in the consumption of cigars and related tobacco
products has created a heightened awareness of the disparate
quality of tobacco products amongst different cigar manufacturers.
With consumers becoming sensitive to the wide range of quality in
tobacco products, there is an associated increase in the level of
consumer brand awareness in the cigar market. This has led to a
greater degree of counterfeit activity as inferior cigar products
are passed off as higher quality brands. Inferior cigars may be
packaged in containers having the markings of the higher quality
brands or inferior cigars may be adorned with ring labels copied
from higher quality brands.
[0003] Identifying counterfeit tobacco products, such as cigars, is
difficult because the inferior and superior products themselves are
not easily distinguishable on visual inspection. The brand markings
are usually only applied to packaging or ring labels. If an
inferior product bears a ring label or is packaged so as to
resemble a higher quality brand, it may require expert analysis of
the product itself to identify it as counterfeit. To be successful,
this visual inspection may also require destruction of the product,
i.e. the cigar will need to be unwrapped to analyze its
contents.
[0004] It would be advantageous to have a tobacco product and
system for identifying tobacco products which address these and
other shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a tobacco product that
includes a transponder embedded within the tobacco product itself.
The transponder includes encoded identification information which
it provides to a corresponding reader when queried.
[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a tobacco
product having a main body portion and a butt portion. The tobacco
product includes filler tobacco, at least one outer layer wrapped
around the filler tobacco, and a wireless communication device
embedded within the tobacco product, the wireless communication
device having identification information encoded therein.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a system
for identifying a tobacco product, the tobacco product having a
main body portion and a butt portion. The system includes the
tobacco product and a reader. The tobacco product includes filler
tobacco, at least one outer layer wrapped around the filler
tobacco, and a wireless communication device embedded within the
tobacco product, the wireless communication device having
identification information encoded therein. The reader includes a
transmitter portion for transmitting an interrogation signal to the
wireless communication device and a receiver portion for receiving
a response signal, wherein the wireless communication device
includes an antenna for receiving the interrogation signal and an
electronic device for modulating the interrogation signal, thereby
creating the response signal, and wherein the response signal
includes the identification information.
[0008] Other aspects and features of the present invention will
become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review
of the following description of specific embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the present
invention, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a cigar according to embodiments
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an unwrapped cigar
according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a cigar according to
the embodiments of present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a cigar according to
further embodiments of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a reader and cigars
according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] Similar numerals are used in different figures to denote
similar features or components.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which shows a side view
of an embodiment of a tobacco product and, in particular, a cigar
10 according to the present invention.
[0017] The cigar 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and features
a main body portion 12 and a shorter butt portion 14. The main body
portion 12 has an end 16 distant from the butt portion 14. The butt
portion 14 may sometime be referred to as the "head" of the cigar
10 and the end 16 of the cigar 10 is often referred to as the
"foot".
[0018] The user of the cigar 10 applies a flame (not shown) to the
end 16 so as to initiate the burning of the cigar 10. The butt
portion 14 of the cigar 10 often terminates in a tip 18 or rounded
cap made of wrapper leaf, which the user clips or pierces prior to
lighting the cigar 10. The tip 18 may also be finished by a tapered
point. Using his or her mouth at the area of the removed tip 18,
the user draws air through the end 16 while a flame is held in
close proximity to the end 16, thereby drawing the flame into the
main body 12 and igniting the cigar 10. As a user smokes the cigar
10, the main body 12 is gradually consumed and converted to ash.
The user typically extinguishes the cigar 10 once the main body 12
has been consumed, leaving the butt portion 14 as waste.
[0019] In some embodiments, the cigar 10 includes a ring label 20.
The ring label 20 encircles the body of the cigar 10 and is
typically positioned where the main body portion 12 and the butt
portion 14 of the cigar 10 meet. The ring label 20 is often formed
from paper onto which insignia, trade-marks or other information
has been printed, although the ring label 20 may be made of other
material. The ring label 20 is typically easy to remove from the
cigar 10 simply by sliding it off the cigar 10 body.
[0020] The cigar 10 also includes a wireless communication device,
which may also be referred to as a transponder 22. In one
embodiment, the transponder 22 is a passive radio frequency
identification device (RFID). The transponder 22 is associated with
a reader 50 (FIG. 5) which transmits an interrogation signal to
query the transponder 22. The transponder 22 includes encoded
identification information.
[0021] In one embodiment, the transponder 22 is disposed within the
butt portion 14 of the cigar 10. Advantageously, if the transponder
22 is located in the butt portion 14 of the cigar 10, then the
transponder 22 will not be burned in the course of smoking the
cigar 10; however, the present invention is not limited to cigars
10 having the transponder 22 in the butt portion 14.
[0022] The transponder 22 is embedded in the cigar 10, meaning that
it cannot be removed without unwrapping, and therefore damaging,
the cigar 10.
[0023] A reader 50 for use with the transponder 22 transmits an
interrogation signal. If the cigar 10 is within range of the
interrogation signal, then the transponder 22 senses the signal and
modulates it so as to create a response signal. The response signal
provides the reader with the identification information encoded in
the transponder 22. Accordingly, the reader will be able to
identify the cigar 10 based upon the response from the transponder
22. This permits the RFID reader to query one or more cigars 10 and
obtain detailed information about each cigar 10 and its maker.
[0024] The identification information may include a data string
having one or more data fields containing information about the
cigar 10. For example, the identification information may identify
the manufacturer by name, the model of the cigar 10, the factory at
which it was produced, the ring gauge, the length of the cigar 10,
the name of the roller, the date of production, or any other
information about the cigar 10, its production, or its distribution
which may be useful in identifying or tracking the cigar 10.
[0025] Those of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with
appropriate RFID transponders (sometimes called "tags") and
readers. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transponder 22 includes an
antenna 44 and an electronic device 40. The antenna 44 and the
electronic device 40 are mounted upon a substrate 42. In one
embodiment, the antenna 44 includes a conductive material such as
aluminum and the electronic device 40 is an integrated circuit
created upon a silicon chip. The electronic device 40 includes
memory which is encoded with the identification information. The
identification information may be encrypted, in which case the
associated reader includes a decryption module to read the
encrypted identification information.
[0026] In another embodiment, the substrate 42 is a flexible paper
and the antenna 44 is created by printing upon the paper with
conductive ink. The electronic device 40, in the form of a silicon
chip, is coupled to the antenna 44 by contacting it with the
conductive ink before the ink dries and sets. Those of ordinary
skill in the art will be familiar with other RFID systems and
methods of manufacture appropriate for use in accordance with the
present invention.
[0027] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 2 shows a
perspective view of an embodiment of a partially unwrapped cigar
according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 show
cross-sectional views of embodiments of the cigar 10 of FIG. 1
taken along the line A-A.
[0028] The cigar 10 is composed of a filler tobacco 24 around which
is wrapped a binder layer 26. A wrapper layer 28 is wrapped around
the binder layer 26. The binder layer 26 and the wrapper layer 28
are formed from tobacco leaves.
[0029] Depending upon the model, the filler tobacco 24 is typically
a blend of between two and four different tobacco leaves. In
constructing the cigar 10, the filler tobacco 24 is formed into a
"bunch". The binder layer 26 is used to hold or pre-form the
"bunch" before placement into a wooden press or mould, which
reinforces the cigar's 10 cylindrical shape. The wrapper layer 28
is usually formed from a wrapper leaf carefully selected for its
colour, uniformity, and sheen, since it is the principal part of
the cigar 10 that is seen by the consumer.
[0030] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
transponder 22 is embedded in the cigar 10 between the binder layer
26 and the filler tobacco 24. In another embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 4, the transponder 22 is embedded in the cigar 10 by placing
it between the binder layer 26 and the wrapper layer 28. In yet
another embodiment, the transponder 22 may be embedded within the
filler tobacco 24 itself. Any other manner of incorporating the
transponder 22 into the cigar 10 during the wrapping process may be
employed.
[0031] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which shows a system for
identifying tobacco products, in accordance with the present
invention.
[0032] A carton 52 contains a plurality of cigars 10. Each of the
cigars 10 includes one of the transponders 22. A reader 50
transmits an interrogation signal which is received by the
transponders 22 and modulated with the identification information
to produce a response signal. The reader 50 receives the response
signal and demodulates it to obtain the identification information.
The reader 50 and the transponders 22 may incorporate suitable
anti-collision mechanisms to enable the reader 50 to manage
communications with multiple transponders 22 within its range.
[0033] Although above-described embodiments of the present
invention have included a passive RFID transponder, it will be
understood that the present invention is not limited to any
particular type of wireless communication device. Wireless
communication devices are available that communicate in a wide
range of frequencies and modes. The present invention is not
limited to passive devices powered by the interrogation signal
transmitted by the reader and may feature an active device having
its own power source.
[0034] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential
characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of
the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being
indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
* * * * *