U.S. patent application number 11/248274 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for low flame-spreading cigarette.
This patent application is currently assigned to Japan Tobacco Inc.. Invention is credited to Takashi Kominami, Takaaki Matsufuji, Keigo Miura, Takeo Tsutsumi, Ken Uyama.
Application Number | 20060027243 11/248274 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33295905 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027243 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsufuji; Takaaki ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Low flame-spreading cigarette
Abstract
A cigarette includes a tobacco filler material rod and a
cigarette paper wrapping the rod. The cigarette paper has an
inherent air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA units but 80
CORESTA units or less and contains a loading material in an amount
of 1.0 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2.
Inventors: |
Matsufuji; Takaaki;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Tsutsumi; Takeo;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Kominami; Takashi;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Miura; Keigo; (Yokohama-shi,
JP) ; Uyama; Ken; (Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Japan Tobacco Inc.
|
Family ID: |
33295905 |
Appl. No.: |
11/248274 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP04/05254 |
Apr 13, 2004 |
|
|
|
11248274 |
Oct 13, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/365 |
International
Class: |
A24D 1/02 20060101
A24D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 14, 2003 |
JP |
2003-108995 |
Claims
1. A cigarette comprising a tobacco filler material rod and a
cigarette paper wrapping the rod, wherein the cigarette paper has
an inherent air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA units but 80
CORESTA units or less and contains a loading material in an amount
of 1.0 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2.
2. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
has an inherent air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA units but
60 CORESTA units or less.
3. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
has an inherent air permeability of 25 to 55 CORESTA units.
4. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains the loading material in an amount of 1.4 to 3.7
g/m.sup.2.
5. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains the loading material in an amount of 1.6 to 3.3
g/m.sup.2.
6. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains the loading material in an amount of 6 to 25% by
weight.
7. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains the loading material in an amount of 7 to 21% by
weight.
8. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains the loading material in an amount of 8 to 17% by
weight.
9. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
has a basis weight of 17 to 28 g/m.sup.2.
10. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
has a basis weight of 18 to 25 g/m.sup.2.
11. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
has a basis weight of 18 to 22 g/m.sup.2.
12. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains a burn adjusting agent in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0% by
weight.
13. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains a burn adjusting agent in an amount of 0 to 0.6% by
weight.
14. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette paper
contains a burn adjusting agent in an amount of 0.1 to 0.6% by
weight.
15. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco filler
material is loaded at a loading density of 130 to 260
mg/cm.sup.3.
16. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco filler
material is loaded at a loading density of 140 to 230
mg/cm.sup.3.
17. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco filler
material comprises shredded tobacco.
18. The cigarette according to claim 17, wherein the shredded
tobacco has a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
19. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the loading
material is selected from the group consisting of calcium
carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium hydroxide and magnesium
hydroxide.
20. A cigarette comprising a tobacco filler material rod, and a
cigarette paper wrapping the rod, wherein the cigarette paper has
an inherent air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA units but 80
CORESTA units or less, contains a loading material in an amount of
1.4 to 3.7 g/m.sup.2 and also contains a burn adjusting agent in an
amount of 0 to 0.6% by weight, and the tobacco filler material is
loaded at a loading density of 130 to 230 g/cm.sup.3.
21. The cigarette according to claim 20, wherein the cigarette
paper has an inherent air permeability of 25 to 55 CORESTA units,
contains the loading material in an amount of 1.6 to 3.3 g/m.sup.2
and also contains the burn adjusting agent in an amount of 0.1 to
0.6% by weight, and the tobacco filler material is loaded at a
loading density of 140 to 230 g/cm.sup.3.
22. The cigarette according to claim 1, which exhibits a low flame
spread property such that, when left to stand on a substrate after
static burn over a prescribed distance, a median value of a moving
distance of a char line of the cigarette paper in an axial
direction of the cigarette until the burn of the cigarette is
stopped is not larger than 8 mm.
23. The cigarette according to claim 20, which exhibits a low flame
spread property such that, when left to stand on a substrate after
static burn over a prescribed distance, a median value of a moving
distance of a char line of the cigarette paper in an axial
direction of the cigarette until the burn of the cigarette is
stopped is not larger than 8 mm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No.
PCT/JP2004/005254, filed Apr. 13, 2004, which was published under
PCT Article 21(2) in Japanese.
[0002] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-108995,
filed Apr. 14, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a low flame-spreading
cigarette that is unlikely to cause flame spread from the kindling
to the surroundings so as not to allow the ignited cigarette to
cause fire by, for example, the carelessness of the smoker.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Cigarettes have been proposed, including, for example, a
cigarette having a cellulose paper band, which is 2 to 20 mm wide,
formed on the cigarette paper to impart self-extinguishing property
(see Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 63-85200), and a
cigarette in which a band coated with a flame retardant substance
is formed on the cigarette paper (see Japanese Patent Disclosure
(Kokai) No. 7-300795), in order to prevent the spread of flame from
the kindling to, for example, the floor, where the cigarette is
dropped onto, for example, the floor by the carelessness of the
smoker. Further, a cigarette paper having a nonflammable substance
pasted thereto is also known. These technologies are based on the
idea that a region having high flammability and another region
having low flammability are formed in the cigarette paper such that
ordinary smoking can be performed in the region having high
flammability and that the cigarette is extinguished in the region
having low flammability.
[0007] It is also known well in the art that, if the burn rate of
the cigarette is lowered in an attempt to decrease the amount of
the sidestream smoke per hour, it is possible to provide a
cigarette that can be self-extinguished. As such a cigarette, a
cigarette has been proposed, in which shredded tobacco are wrapped
with a cigarette paper having a small amount of loading material
used an inner paper and with an ordinary cigarette paper used as an
outer paper (see Japanese Patent No. 2,572,488). Also, as a
cigarette with a low sidestream smoke, a cigarette has been
proposed, in which a smoking material rod having a loading density
of 100 to 260 mg/cm.sup.3 is wrapped by a wrapping paper having an
air permeability not higher than 7 CORESTA units (see Japanese
Patent No. 3,001,582). Further, a cigarette has been proposed, in
which the burn rate is lowered by using a wrapping paper having a
low air permeability (7 CORESTA units), having a small amount of
loading material, and having a small basis weight (see
International Publication WO 01/48316).
[0008] However, in the case of using a cigarette paper including a
nonflammable region, the tobacco burn is made nonuniform because
the cigarette paper includes a flame retardant region and a
flammable region. Also, the smoking taste is made nonuniform. Also,
in the method of lowering flame spread by lowering the burn rate,
the flame spread is lowered by lowering the air permeability of the
cigarette paper for this purpose. As a result, the ventilation
effect produced by the cigarette paper is lowered so as to increase
the amount of the carbon monoxide (CO) contained in the mainstream
smoke, increasing the carbon monoxide/tar ratio (C/T ratio).
Further, if the air permeability of the cigarette paper is lowered,
the taste of the tobacco is changed so as to give rise to the
problem that an ordinary smoker is caused to feel an
incompatibility.
[0009] On the other hand, it is known that a cigarette using a
cigarette paper having a low mixing ratio of loading material is
lowered in the burn rate. However, it is experimentally known that
the cigarette goes out during static burn, and thus the amount of
loading material cannot be decreased excessively.
[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a cigarette, which is substantially equal to an ordinary cigarette
in smoking behavior and in the burn rate, and which permits
improving the C/T ratio in the mainstream smoke and exhibits low
flame spread.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] As a result of research conducted in an effort to develop a
low flame-spreading cigarette, the present inventors have found
that a cigarette achieving the above object can be obtained merely
by setting the inherent air permeability of the cigarette paper
wrapping the tobacco filler material rod and the amount of the
loading material mixed in the cigarette paper at prescribed values.
The amount of loading material can be decreased as much as possible
within the range of maintaining the static burn by setting the
inherent air permeability of the cigarette paper to fall within a
prescribed range. The present invention is based on these
findings.
[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided a
cigarette comprising a tobacco filler material rod and a cigarette
paper containing pulp and a loading material, wherein the cigarette
paper has an inherent air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA
units but 80 CORESTA units or less and contains the loading
material in an amount of 1.0 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2.
[0013] The cigarette of the present invention maintains static
burn, and can exhibit a low flame spread property such that, when
left to stand on a substrate after static burn over a prescribed
distance, a median value of a moving distance of a char line of the
cigarette paper in an axial direction of the cigarette until the
burn of the cigarette is stopped is not larger than 8 mm.
[0014] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a cigarette comprising a tobacco filler material
rod and a cigarette paper wrapping the rod, wherein the cigarette
paper has an air permeability of more than 20 CORESTA units but 80
CORESTA units or less, contains a loading material in an amount of
1.4 to 3.7 g/m.sup.2 and also contains a burn adjusting agent in an
amount of 0 to 0.6% by weight, and the tobacco filler material is
loaded at a loading density of 130 to 230 mg/cm.sup.3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention will be described in more detail
below.
[0016] A cigarette according to the present invention comprises a
tobacco filler material rod and a cigarette paper wrapping the
tobacco filler material rod. The cigarette of the present invention
has an outer appearance and shape similar to those of an ordinary
cigarette.
[0017] The tobacco filler material rod used in the cigarette of the
present invention is formed of, e.g., ordinary shredded tobacco.
The shredded tobacco may contain expanded tobacco and regenerated
tobacco, and the central vein of tobacco leaf. It is preferable
that the loading density of the shredded tobacco is 130 to 260
mg/cm.sup.3. If the loading density fails to fall within the range
given above, it may sometime become difficult to suppress
sufficiently the flame spread even if the tobacco rod is wrapped in
the cigarette paper of the present invention. It is more preferable
that the loading density of the tobacco filler material is 130 to
230 mg/cm.sup.3, further preferably 140 to 230 mg/cm.sup.3. It
suffices for the shredding width of the shredded tobacco to be
equal to that of ordinary shredded tobacco. However, in view of low
flame spread, it is desirable for the shredding width to be
relatively large, i.e., 0.5 to 1.5 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 1.2
mm.
[0018] The cigarette paper used in the present invention is based
on ordinary pulp such as flax pulp used for forming ordinary
cigarette paper and, thus, contains pulp. The cigarette paper used
in the present invention has an inherent air permeability (the air
permeability of the cigarette paper without any perforations made
therein) of more than 20 CORESTA units (C.U.) but 80 CORESTA units
or less. If the inherent air permeability of the cigarette paper
sheet is not higher than 20 CORESTA units, the C/T ratio is
increased in the cigarette mainstream smoke that is generated
during the smoking stage. On the other hand, if the inherent air
permeability of the cigarette paper exceeds 80 CORESTA units, the
nonuniformity of the air permeability is increased. The inherent
air permeability of the cigarette paper is desirably more than 20
CORESTA units but 60 CORESTA units or less, and is more desirably
25 to 55 CORESTA units. Incidentally, the cigarette paper may be
perforated mechanically or electrically by the ordinary method. The
air permeability of the wrapping paper having such holes is not
particularly limited.
[0019] The cigarette paper of the present invention contains
loading materials. The loading materials that are generally used
can be used, including a carbonate salt such as calcium carbonate
or potassium carbonate and a hydroxide such as calcium hydroxide or
magnesium hydroxide. The loading material is contained in the
cigarette paper in an amount of 1.0 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2. If the amount
of the loading material is smaller than 1.0 g/m.sup.2, the
cigarette goes out during static burn. Also, if the loading
material is contained in an amount exceeding 5.0 g/m.sup.2, low
flame spread cannot be achieved. It is desirable for the amount of
the loading material to be 1.4 to 3.7 g/m.sup.2, more desirably,
1.6 to 3.3 g/m.sup.2. Also, the amount of loading material in the
cigarette paper is preferably 6 to 25% by weight, more preferably 7
to 21% by weight, and furthermore preferably 8 to 17% by
weight.
[0020] The basis weight of the cigarette paper is preferably 17 to
28 g/m.sup.2. If the basis weight is smaller than 17 g/m.sup.2, it
tends to be difficult to stably manufacture the cigarette paper
sheet. Also, if the basis weight exceeds 28 g/m.sup.2, flame spread
tends to be promoted. The basis weight of the cigarette paper is
more preferably 18 to 25 g/m.sup.2, furthermore preferably 18 to 22
g/m.sup.2.
[0021] It is possible to add a burn adjusting agent such as citric
acid or its salt (such as sodium salt or potassium salt) to the
cigarette paper. The content of the burn adjusting agent is
preferably 0 to 1.0% by weight. If the amount of burn adjusting
agent exceeds 1.0% by weight, the C/T ratio tends to become high.
The amount of burn adjusting agent is more preferably 0 to 0.6% by
weight, furthermore preferably 0.1 to 0.6% by weight.
[0022] Incidentally, the cigarette paper of the present invention,
by having a tensile strength of 10 to 20 N/15 mm or more, can make
cigarettes, without difficulty, even if applied to a high-speed
cigarette making machine that permits manufacturing cigarettes at a
rate of 8,000 to 12,000 cigarettes/min. The tensile strength of the
cigarette paper can be controlled by controlling the beating degree
of the pulp or by controlling the amount of pulp used for
manufacturing the cigarette paper sheet. The tensile strength of
the cigarette paper increases with increase in the amount of pulp
per unit area of the cigarette paper or in the beating degree of
the pulp.
[0023] According to the present invention, a cigarette low in flame
spread, and generating mainstream smoke having a small C/T ratio is
obtained in spite of the relatively high inherent air permeability
of the cigarette paper by setting the inherent air permeability of
the cigarette paper and the amount of the loading material
contained in the cigarette paper to fall within the ranges given
above. Also, the cigarette of the present invention permits
exhibiting a burn rate substantially equal to that of an ordinary
cigarette. The low flame-spreading property of the cigarette of the
present invention may be such that, when left to stand on a
substrate (10 superposed filter paper sheets) after static burn
over a prescribed distance, a median value of a moving distance of
a char line of the cigarette paper in an axial direction of the
cigarette until the burn of the cigarette is stopped is not larger
than 8 mm, preferably 4 mm or lees (measured according to ASTM E
2187-02b method). In a plurality of cigarettes of the present
invention, the most frequently obtained value of the moving
distance of the char line noted above may be 8 mm or less,
preferably 4 mm or less.
[0024] The present invention will now be described with reference
to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
EXAMPLES AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES
[0025] Shredded tobacco was wrapped in a flax pulp cigarette paper
having the specification shown in Table 1 such that the shredded
tobacco had the loading density shown in Table 1 so as to fabricate
40 cigarettes for each case. Calcium carbonate was used as the
loading material, and sodium citrate was used as the burn adjusting
agent. Flue-cured shredded tobacco or blended shredded tobacco were
used as the shredded tobacco. Table 1 also shows the inherent air
permeability and the tensile strength of the cigarette paper.
Incidentally, the tensile strength shown in Table 1 was measured by
using a tensile strength tester STROGPAPHE-S manufactured by Toyo
Seiki K.K. in accordance with the method specified in Japanese
Industrial Standards (JIS) P 8113-1998 (the size of test piece:
15.0 mm X about 250 mm, the gripping distance: 180.+-.2 mm, and the
pulling rate: 50 mm/min).
[0026] The static burn rates of the cigarettes thus fabricated were
measured by the ordinary method in respect of the fabricated
cigarette. Also, the percent full length burn on 10 superposed
filter paper sheets was measured by the method specified in ASTM
E2187-02b. Further, measurement was made of the median value of the
moving distance of the char line of the cigarette paper in the
axial direction of the cigarette after the ignited cigarette was
placed on the filer papers until the cigarette burning is stopped
(or went out). Table 2 shows the results.
[0027] Further, measurement by the ordinary method was made of the
amount of total particulate matter (TPM), the amount of carbon
monoxide and the amount of tar contained in the tobacco mainstream
smoke that was generated during burning of each cigarette, and the
C/T ratio was calculated. Also measured was the number of puffs.
Table 3 shows the results. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Cigarette Paper
Amount of loading material in Burn Shredded Tobacco Basis cigarette
adjusting Inherent air Tensile Shredding Loading weight paper agent
permeability strength width density Ex. No. (g/m.sup.2) (g/m.sup.2)
(% by weight) (C.U.) (N/15 mm) (mm) (mg/cm.sup.3) Comp. Ex. 1-1 26
7.7 1.0 35 14 0.8 230 (Ordinary Cig. 1) Comp. Ex. 1-2-1 30 8.7 0 10
>14 0.8 220 Comp. Ex. 1-2-2 1.2 Comp. Ex. 1-3-1 21 1.9 0 9 24
0.8 220 Comp. Ex. 1-3-2 1.2 Ex. 1-1-1 21 2.4 0.2 34 17 0.8 220 Ex.
1-1-2 1.2 Ex. 1-2-1 21 3.3 0.2 52 14 0.8 220 Ex. 1-2-2 1.2 Comp.
Ex. 1-2 26 7.7 1.0 35 14 0.8 185 (Ordinary Cig. 2) Ex. 1-1-3 21 2.4
0.2 34 17 1.2 185 Comp. Ex. 1-2-3 30 8.7 0 10 >14 1.0 140 Comp.
Ex. 1-3-3 21 1.9 0 9 24 1.0 140 Ex. 1-1-4 21 2.4 0.2 34 17 1.0 140
Ex. 1-2-3 21 3.3 0.2 52 14 1.0 140
[0028] TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Cigarette Properties Static Percent
Static weight full Median value (mm) burn burn length of moving
distance rate rate burn of char line until Ex. No. (mm/min)
(mg/min) (%) cigarette went out Comp. Ex. 1-1 4.5 45 100 --
(Ordinary Cig. 1) Comp. Ex. 1-2-1 3.2 32 30 4 Comp. Ex. 1-2-2 33 33
18 12 Comp. Ex. 1-3-1 Went out 0 -- Comp. Ex. 1-3-2 Went out 0 --
Ex. 1-1-1 3.2 36 8 4 Ex. 1-1-2 2.9 34 0 5 Ex. 1-2-1 3.2 37 18 6 Ex.
1-2-2 3.2 37 18 5 Comp. Ex. 1-2 5.5 51 100 -- (Ordinary Cig. 2) Ex.
1-1-3 4.1 38 10 6 Comp. Ex. 1-2-3 4.6 31 0 3 Comp. Ex. 1-3-3 Went
out 0 -- Ex. 1-1-4 4.0 27 0 3 Ex. 1-2-3 4.2 29 0 4
[0029] TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Components in Mainstream Smoke Number
of puffs Ex. No. TPM (mg/cig.) Tar (mg/cig.) CO (mg/cig.) C/T ratio
(times/cig.) Comp. Ex. 1-1 30 23 15 0.64 7.6 (Ordinary Cig. 1)
Comp. Ex. 1-2-1 38 28 18 0.64 8.6 Comp. Ex. 1-2-2 37 28 18 0.64 8.8
Comp. Ex. 1-3-1 45 33 21 0.59 9.9 Comp. Ex. 1-3-2 45 33 20 0.64
10.2 Ex. 1-1-1 42 31 17 0.56 9.1 Ex. 1-1-2 42 30 17 0.55 9.6 Ex.
1-2-1 40 28 15 0.54 8.9 Ex. 1-2-2 41 29 15 0.53 9.0 Comp. Ex. 1-2
28 19 11 0.57 5.3 (Ordinary Cig. 2) Ex. 1-1-3 36 25 13 0.51 6.9
Comp. Ex. 1-2-3 36 25 13 0.51 6.2 Comp. Ex. 1-3-3 37 26 13 0.51 6.8
Ex. 1-1-4 33 19 10 0.45 6.0 Ex. 1-2-3 26- 23 9 0.47 5.4
[0030] As is apparent from the results given in Tables 2 and 3, the
cigarette fabricated by using the cigarette paper specified in the
present invention and tobacco filler materials exhibits excellent
low flame spread and a small C/T ratio.
[0031] As described above, the present invention provides a
cigarette, which permits a smoking behavior similar to that of an
ordinary cigarette, also permits a burn rate substantially equal to
that of an ordinary cigarette, further permits exhibiting a low
flame spread, and is small in C/T ratio in the generated mainstream
smoke. Also, since a special band and a special flame retardant
substance are not used in the present invention, the cigarette of
the present invention continues to produce a prescribed taste under
ordinary smoking behavior.
* * * * *