U.S. patent application number 12/263031 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for filtered cigarette with diffuse tipping material.
Invention is credited to Andrea P. Holland, Alan B. Norman.
Application Number | 20100108084 12/263031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42129943 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100108084 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Norman; Alan B. ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
FILTERED CIGARETTE WITH DIFFUSE TIPPING MATERIAL
Abstract
A filtered cigarette includes a smokable rod and a filter
element. The smokable rod is secured to the filter element using
tipping material. The tipping material includes at least one
flavorant providing a sensory characteristic. The cigarette may
include more than one layer of tipping material. An outer layer of
tipping material can overlie at least a portion of an underlying
inner layer of tipping material, and during use by the smoker, the
outer layer can be removed from the cigarette. Thus, it is possible
for a cigarette manufacturer to provide a cigarette that can be
used as such by the smoker, or that can be adapted by the smoker to
provide a different sensory experience (e.g., the visual,
organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic, and tactile characteristics of
the cigarette can be altered by removal of the outer tipping
material, and or by provision of a tipping material layer that is
treated with a flavorant and/or provides a desirable diffusivity).
The use of the outer layer of tipping material can be used to
improve the physical integrity of the cigarette.
Inventors: |
Norman; Alan B.; (Clemmons,
NC) ; Holland; Andrea P.; (Charlotte, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
42129943 |
Appl. No.: |
12/263031 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 1/02 20130101; A24D
3/04 20130101; A24D 3/048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/338 |
International
Class: |
A24D 3/04 20060101
A24D003/04 |
Claims
1. A filtered cigarette having a distal end and a proximal end, and
comprising: a smokable rod and a filter element having a distal
filter end and a proximal mouth end; the smokable rod being secured
to the distal filter end by a first tipping material that
substantially circumscribes the filter element along its
longitudinal periphery and circumscribes the smokable rod along a
proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery adjacent to the
filter element; wherein the tipping material comprises at least one
nonperforated diffuse region, the diffuse region comprising a
diffusivity of at least about 1 cm/sec.
2. The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a second tipping
material.
3. The cigarette of claim 2, wherein the second tipping material is
disposed overlying at least a portion of first tipping
material.
4. The cigarette of claim 3, wherein the second tipping material
comprises a diffusivity of less than about 1 cm/sec.
5. The cigarette of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the
second tipping material is removable from the cigarette.
6. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a diffusivity of at least about 1.5 cm/sec.
7. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a diffusivity of about 1 cm/sec to about 3 cm/sec.
8. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a paper material.
9. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a polymer sheet material.
10. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a moisture resistant material disposed at least on a
mouth-end region configured to contact the mouth of a smoker.
11. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the first tipping material
comprises a lip-release material disposed at least on a mouth-end
region configured to contact the mouth of a smoker.
12. The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive
contacting at least one side of the first tipping material, the
adhesive substantially disposed in a generally linear manner around
at least a portion of a circumferential inner surface of the
tipping material.
13. The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive
contacting at least one side of the first tipping material, the
adhesive substantially disposed in a generally linear manner along
a generally longitudinal portion of a circumferential inner surface
of the tipping material.
14. The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive
contacting at least one side of the first tipping material, the
adhesive being generally diffuse.
15. The cigarette of claim 14, wherein the diffusivity of the first
tipping material with adhesive is about 1 cm/sec to about 3
cm/sec.
16. The cigarette of claim 14, wherein the diffusivity of the first
tipping material with adhesive is about 2 cm/sec.
17. The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising at least one
perforated region of the first tipping material.
18. A filtered cigarette having a distal end and a proximal end,
and comprising: a smokable rod and a filter element having a distal
filter end and a proximal mouth end; the smokable rod being secured
to the distal filter end by a first tipping material that
substantially circumscribes the filter element along its
longitudinal periphery and circumscribes the smokable rod along a
proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery adjacent to the
filter element; wherein substantially the entire tipping material
comprises a nonperforated diffuse region, the diffuse region
comprising a diffusivity of at least about 1 cm/sec.
19. The cigarette of claim 18, wherein the first tipping material
comprises at least one fiber material configured to enhance its
structural integrity.
20. A filtered cigarette comprising: a distal end portion
comprising a tobacco rod and a proximal end portion comprising a
filter element having a distal filter end and a proximal mouth end;
the smokable rod being secured to the distal filter end by a
tipping material that substantially covers the outer surface of the
filter element along its longitudinal circumference and the
smokable rod along a proximal portion of its circumference adjacent
to the filter element; wherein the tipping material comprises at
least one nonperforated diffuse region, the diffuse region
comprising a diffusivity of at least about 1.5 cm/sec; and wherein
the tipping material comprises at least one flavorant applied
thereto in a pattern that covers less than an entire surface of the
tipping material and providing a sensory characteristic selected
from organoleptic sensation, taste sensation, aroma sensation,
trigeminal nerve stimulation sensation, and any combination
thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to smoking articles,
such as filtered cigarettes, and particularly to tipping paper
material used thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Popular smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a
substantially cylindrical rod shaped structure and include a
charge, roll, or column of smokable material such as shredded
tobacco (e.g., in cut filler form) surrounded by a paper wrapper
thereby forming a so-called "smokable rod" or "tobacco rod."
Normally, a cigarette has a cylindrical filter element aligned in
an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, a
filter element comprises cellulose acetate tow plasticized using
triacetin, and the tow is circumscribed by a paper material known
as "plug wrap." A cigarette can incorporate a filter element having
multiple segments, and one of those segments can comprise activated
charcoal particles. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,186 to
Veluz; PCT Pub. No. WO 2006/064371 to Banerjea; and U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. No. 2007/0056600, to Coleman III, et al.; each of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Typically, the filter element is
attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing
wrapping material known as "tipping paper," in order to provide a
so-called "filtered cigarette." It also has become desirable to
perforate the tipping material and plug wrap, in order to provide
dilution of drawn mainstream smoke with ambient air. Descriptions
of cigarettes and the various components thereof are set forth
Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.)
(1999). A cigarette is employed by a smoker by lighting one end
thereof and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker then receives
mainstream smoke into his/her mouth by drawing on the opposite end
(e.g., the filter or mouth end) of the cigarette.
[0003] Various attempts to alter the visual attributes of
cigarettes have been proposed. For example, there have been
attempts to alter the color of the wrapping materials that provide
the wrapping material of the tobacco rod (e.g., cigarettes marketed
under the tradename "More" by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
include cigarette rod wrapping papers exhibiting a brown color) and
tipping materials used to attach the tobacco rod to the filter
element (e.g., tipping materials have been printed so as to include
a "cork" appearance and/or to include at least one circumscribing
ring). In addition, there have been attempts to alter the general
appearance of the filter elements of cigarettes. See, for example,
the types of cigarette filter element formats, configurations and
designs set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,663 to Schultz; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,508,525 to Berger; U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,763 to Nichols; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,655,736 to Keith; U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,385 to Chumney,
Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al.; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,025,814 to Raker; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0215167, to
Crooks et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0004] The sensory attributes of cigarette smoke can be enhanced by
applying additives to tobacco and/or by otherwise incorporating
flavoring materials into various components of a cigarette. See,
Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R. J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company (1972). For example, one type of tobacco
flavoring additive is menthol. See, Borschke, Rec. Adv. Tob. Sci.,
19, p. 47-70, 1993. Various proposed methods for modifying the
sensory attributes of cigarettes have involved suggestion that
filter elements may be used as vehicles for adding flavor to the
mainstream smoke of those cigarettes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,174 to
Jupe et al. proposes the placement of adsorbent and
flavor-releasing materials in a cigarette filter. U.S. Pat. No.
6,584,979 to Xue et al. proposes the placement of fibers containing
small particle size adsorbents/absorbents in the filter. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,941,486 to Dube et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,905 to Green,
Jr. et al. propose manners and methods for the placement of a
flavor-containing pellet in each cigarette filter. Other
representative types of cigarettes incorporating flavorants at or
near the mouth end are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,335 to
Tiggelbeck et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,098 to Owens, Jr.; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,281,671 to Byrne; U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,205 to Redding et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,995 to Kallianos et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,715,390 to Nichols et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,391 to Woods et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,526 to Pryor; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,829 to
Thesing et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,285 to Rivers; and U.S. Pat.
No. 7,074,170 to Lanier, Jr. et al.; each of which is incorporated
herein by reference. See, also, the types of cigarette filter
technologies that are discussed in the background art section set
forth in U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2004/0261807 to Dube
et al.; which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition,
tipping paper products are available that include a
humidity-activated flavor- or aroma-releasing material from, for
example, Tannpapier (Austria).
[0005] It would be highly desirable to provide a smoker with the
ability to enhance his/her smoking experience, such as can be
accomplished by providing a filtered cigarette including a filter
element end having particular design features. That is, it would be
desirable to provide a cigarette including filter end components
that are employed in a manner such that the visual appearance of
the cigarette is aesthetically pleasing. It also would be desirable
to provide a cigarette including selected design features that can
be modified or otherwise controlled. In addition, it would be
desirable to provide a filter element for a cigarette that is
capable of enhancing the sensory attributes of the cigarette during
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention relates to filtered cigarettes. A
representative cigarette includes a smokable rod and a filter
element. The smokable rod, which contains filler material (e.g.,
tobacco cut filler) intended to be burned to yield drawn mainstream
tobacco smoke, is connected or otherwise secured to the filter
element using tipping material. The cigarette may include one or
more than one layer of tipping material. For example, the cigarette
can include an outer layer of tipping material that overlies at
least a portion of an underlying inner layer of tipping material,
and during use by the person desiring to smoke the cigarette, the
outer layer can be removed therefrom. Thus, it is possible for a
cigarette manufacturer to provide a single cigarette that can be
used by the smoker as provided, or that can easily be adapted by
the smoker to provide a different sensory experience (e.g., wherein
the visual, organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic and tactile
characteristics of the cigarette can be altered by removal of the
outer tipping material). Alternatively, an outer layer of tipping
material (e.g., a second layer of tipping material) may be used to
further improve the physical integrity of the cigarette. In yet
another regard, outer tipping material including printed indicia
(e.g., information printed on the inner surface of a removable
outer layer of tipping material) can be used for marketing purposes
(e.g., to identify each individual cigarette for purposes of
promotional or advertising campaigns, or to identify cigarettes for
purposes of discouraging counterfeiting).
[0007] In one aspect, a filtered cigarette of the present invention
may include a distal end portion comprising a tobacco rod and a
proximal end portion comprising a filter element having a distal
filter end and a proximal mouth end. The smokable rod is secured to
the distal filter end by a tipping material that substantially
covers the outer surface of the filter element along its
longitudinal circumference and that covers the smokable rod along a
proximal portion of its circumference adjacent to the filter
element. The tipping material includes at least one nonperforated
diffuse region, the diffuse region comprising a diffusivity of at
least about 1.5 cm/sec; and wherein the tipping material also
includes at least one flavorant applied thereto in a pattern that
covers less than an entire surface of the tipping material, where
the flavorant provides a sensory characteristic selected from
organoleptic sensation, taste sensation, aroma sensation,
trigeminal nerve stimulation sensation, and any combination
thereof.
[0008] In another aspect, a filtered cigarette of the present
invention may include a smokable rod and a filter element having a
distal filter end and a proximal mouth end, where the smokable rod
is secured to the distal filter end by a first tipping material
that substantially circumscribes the filter element along its
longitudinal periphery and that substantially circumscribes the
smokable rod along a proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery
adjacent to the filter element. The tipping material includes at
least one flavorant applied thereto in a pattern that covers less
than an entire surface of the tipping material and providing a
sensory characteristic selected from organoleptic sensation, taste
sensation, aroma sensation, trigeminal nerve stimulation sensation,
and any combination thereof.
[0009] In yet another aspect, the a filtered cigarette of the
invention may include a smokable rod and a filter element having a
mouth end terminus, the smokable rod and filter element being
secured to one another by a first tipping material that
circumscribes the filter element along its longitudinal periphery
and the smokable rod along a portion of its longitudinal periphery
in a region thereof adjacent to the filter element, the cigarette
further comprising a second tipping material overlying at least a
portion of first tipping material.
[0010] The two tipping materials can be substantially identical in
overall dimension, or the second tipping material can extend
further along the longitudinal periphery of the smokable rod than
the first tipping material, or the first tipping material can
extend further along the longitudinal periphery of the smokable rod
than the second tipping material. Each of the first and second
tipping materials can include a series of air dilution
perforations, or only the inner tipping material can include such
perforations.
[0011] In certain embodiments, all or at least a portion of the
second tipping material is removable from the cigarette. In certain
applications, the visual appearance, tactile characteristics, or
other properties of the two tipping materials can differ such that
removal of the second tipping material exposes the smoker to a
different property, such as a different flavor or aroma, a
different visual appearance, or a different tactile
characteristic.
[0012] The second tipping material can include, in certain
embodiments, features such as printed indicia on its inner face, a
perforated region adapted to facilitate removal of at least a
portion of the second tipping material, a tab region adapted for
grasping for removal of at least a portion of the second tipping
material, or combinations thereof.
[0013] There are several ways in which the two tipping materials
can be applied to the cigarette rod. For example, the first tipping
material and the second tipping material can be formed from a
single piece of tipping material wrapped around the filter element.
Alternatively, the two tipping materials can be preformed as a
tipping material laminate prior to application to the cigarette
rod. For example, the tipping material laminate can comprise a
first layer of tipping material having a first edge and a second
edge and a second layer of tipping material, wherein the first
layer and the second layer are offset such that, when wrapped
around a rod-shaped object, the first edge of the first layer of
tipping material can overlie the second edge of the first layer of
tipping material. The first edge of the first layer of tipping
material can be coextensive with a first edge of the second layer
of tipping material. Alternatively, a first edge of the second
layer of tipping material can extend beyond the first edge of the
first layer of tipping material, thereby forming a tab region of
the second layer of tipping material.
[0014] In a further embodiment, the second tipping material
comprises a first region proximal to the smokable rod, a second
region remote from the smokable rod, and a perforated region
therebetween, wherein one of the first and second regions is
securely affixed to the first tipping material and the other of the
first and second regions is configured to slidably engage the
filter element upon perforation of the perforated region. The first
region can be configured to slidably engage the filter element and
the smokable rod and, for example, can include a flavorant adapted
to alter the sensory characteristics of the cigarette before,
during, or after smoking. In other embodiments, the first region is
formed of a non-combustible material and is configured to
extinguish the cigarette when slidably engaged with the smokable
rod. Alternatively, the second region is configured to slidably
engage the filter element and extend beyond the mouth end terminus
of the filter element.
[0015] In yet another aspect, a filtered cigarette of the invention
may include a smokable rod and a filter element having a distal
filter end and a proximal mouth end, where the smokable rod is
secured to the distal filter end by a first tipping material that
substantially circumscribes the filter element along its
longitudinal periphery and circumscribes the smokable rod along a
proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery adjacent to the
filter element. The tipping material includes at least one
nonperforated diffuse region, the diffuse region comprising a
diffusivity of at least about 1 cm/sec. And, in still another
aspect, a filtered cigarette of the invention includes a distal end
and a proximal end with a smokable rod and a filter element, which
has a distal filter end and a proximal mouth end. The smokable rod
is secured to the distal filter end by a first tipping material
that substantially circumscribes the filter element along its
longitudinal periphery and circumscribes the smokable rod along a
proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery adjacent to the
filter element, wherein substantially the entire tipping material
includes a nonperforated diffuse region, the diffuse region
including a diffusivity of at least about 1 cm/sec.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In order to assist the understanding of embodiments of the
invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings,
which are not necessarily drawn to scale and in which like
reference numerals refer to like elements. The drawings are
exemplary only, and should not be construed as limiting the
invention. For the various figures, in order to clearly shown the
configurations of the various wrapping materials, the thicknesses
of those wrapping materials of the various filtered cigarettes are
exaggerated. Most preferably, the wrapping materials are tightly
wrapped around the filtered cigarettes to provide a tight or snug
fit, to provide a cigarette having acceptable physical integrity,
and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a
filtered cigarette of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a
"two-up" filtered cigarette of the invention;
[0019] FIGS. 2A and 2B each show a perspective view of a cigarette
embodiment from a "two-up" cigarette like that of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIGS. 3 through 5 are cross-sectional views of further
selected embodiments of filtered cigarettes of the invention;
[0021] FIGS. 6 and 7 are end views, viewed from the mouth end, of
selected embodiments of filtered cigarettes of the invention;
[0022] FIGS. 8 and 9 are side views of selected embodiments of
laminated tipping materials that are useful for the manufacture of
cigarettes of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is an end view, viewed from the mouth end, of one
embodiment of a filtered cigarette of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view of tipping material useful for the
manufacture of a cigarette of the generally type set forth in FIG.
10; and
[0025] FIG. 12 is a cigarette embodiment with a single layer of
tipping material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The present inventions now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing. The
invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy
applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements
throughout. As used in this specification and the claims, the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although preferred
embodiments of the invention include two layers of tipping
material, the invention also encompasses embodiments wherein three
or more layers of tipping material are applied to the
cigarette.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown components of a smoking
article 174 in the form of a filtered cigarette. The cigarette 174
includes a generally cylindrical rod 186 of a charge or roll of
smokable filler material 188 contained in a circumscribing wrapping
material 190 of the present invention. The rod 186 is
conventionally referred to as a "smokable rod" or "tobacco rod".
The ends of the tobacco rod are open to expose the smokable filler
material. At one end of the tobacco rod 186 is the lighting end
195, and at the other end is shown a filter element 200. The
cigarette 174 normally includes a filter element 200 or other
suitable mouthpiece positioned adjacent one end of the tobacco rod
186 such that the filter element and tobacco rod are axially
aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one
another. Filter element 200 has a generally cylindrical shape, and
the diameter thereof is essentially equal to the diameter of the
tobacco rod. The ends of the filter element are open to permit the
passage of air and smoke therethrough. The filter element 200
includes filter material 205 (e.g., plasticized cellulose acetate
tow) that is overwrapped along the longitudinally extending surface
thereof with circumscribing plug wrap material 206. The filter
element 200 can comprise two or more filter segments (not shown),
and/or flavor additives incorporated therein.
[0028] The filter element 200 is attached to the tobacco rod 186 by
a first tipping material 208 which circumscribes both the entire
length of the filter element and an adjacent region of the tobacco
rod. The inner surface of the first tipping material 208 is fixedly
secured to the outer surface of the plug wrap 206 and the outer
surface of the wrapping material 190 of the tobacco rod, using a
suitable adhesive (e.g., a water-based adhesive of the type
traditionally employed by cigarette manufacturers for application
of tipping paper during filtered cigarette manufacture). That is,
the first tipping material extends around the longitudinally
extending periphery of substantially the entire length of the plug
wrap, and a portion of the longitudinally extending periphery of
the wrapping material of the tobacco rod in a region of the tobacco
rod immediately adjacent to the filter element. A ventilated or
air-diluted smoking article may be provided with an air dilution
means, such as a plurality or series of perforations 210, each of
which extend through the tipping material 208 and plug wrap 206.
Most preferably, adhesive is applied to a longitudinally extending
seam line or lap zone (not shown) of the first tipping material,
such as is conventionally employed during cigarette
manufacture.
[0029] Typical wrapping material base sheets suitable for use as
the circumscribing wrappers of tobacco rods for cigarettes have
inherent porosities that can vary. Typical base sheets have
inherent porosities that are at least about 5 CORESTA units,
usually are at least about 10 CORESTA units, often are at least
about 15 CORESTA units, and frequently are at least about 20
CORESTA units. Typical base sheets have inherent porosities that
are less than about 200 CORESTA units, usually are less than about
150 CORESTA units, often are less than about 85 CORESTA units, and
frequently are less than about 70 CORESTA units. A CORESTA unit is
a measure of the linear air velocity that passes through a 1
cm.sup.2 area of wrapping material at a constant pressure of 1 cent
bar. See, CORESTA Publication ISO/TC0126/SC I N159E (1986). The
term "inherent porosity" refers to the porosity of that wrapping
material itself to the flow of air. A particularly preferred paper
wrapping material base sheet is composed of wood pulp and calcium
carbonate, and exhibits an inherent porosity of about 20 to about
50 CORESTA units.
[0030] Typical paper wrapping material base sheets suitable for use
as the circumscribing wrappers of tobacco rods for cigarettes
incorporate at least one type of fibrous material, and can
incorporate at least one filler material, in amounts that can vary.
Typical base sheets include about 55 to about 100, often about 65
to about 95, and frequently about 70 to about 90 percent fibrous
material (which most preferably is a cellulosic material); and
about 0 to about 45, often about 5 to about 35, and frequently
about 10 to about 30 percent filler material (which most preferably
is an inorganic material); based on the dry weight of that base
sheet.
[0031] The wrapping material typically incorporates a fibrous
material. The fibrous material can vary. Most preferably, the
fibrous material is a cellulosic material, and the cellulosic
material can be a lignocellulosic material. Exemplary cellulosic
materials include flax fibers, hardwood pulp, softwood pulp, hemp
fibers, esparto fibers, kenaf fibers, jute fibers and sisal fibers.
Mixtures of two or more types of cellulosic materials can be
employed. For example, wrapping materials can incorporate mixtures
of flax fibers and wood pulp. The fibers can be bleached or
unbleached. Other fibrous materials that can be incorporated within
wrapping materials include microfibers materials and fibrous
synthetic cellulosic materials. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,779,631 to Durocher and U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,153 to Ishino.
Representative fibrous materials, and methods for making wrapping
materials therefrom, are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,754,207 to
Schur et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,095 to Allen et al.; and PCT
WO 01/48318.
[0032] The wrapping material normally incorporates a filler
material. Preferably, the filler material has the form of
essentially water insoluble particles. Additionally, the filler
material normally incorporates inorganic components. Filler
materials incorporating calcium salts are particularly preferred.
One exemplary filler material has the form of calcium carbonate,
and the calcium carbonate most preferably is used in particulate
form. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,644 to Hampl; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,161,551 to Sanders; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,500 to Baldwin et
al.; and PCT WO 01/48,316. Other filler materials include
agglomerated calcium carbonate particles, calcium tartrate
particles, magnesium oxide particles, magnesium hydroxide gels;
magnesium carbonate-type materials, clays, diatomaceous earth
materials, titanium dioxide particles, gamma alumina materials and
calcium sulfate particles. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
3,049,449 to Allegrini; U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,151 to Martin; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,231,377 to Cline; U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,847 to Owens; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,779,631 to Durocher; U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,118 to Kaufman;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,306 to Bokelman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,876 to
Hayden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,811 to Paine; U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,288
to Bensalem; U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,461 to Bensalem; and U.S. Pat. No.
6,138,684 to Yamazaki; and European Pat. App No 357,359. Certain
filler-type materials that can be incorporated into the wrapping
materials can have fibrous forms. For example, components of the
filler material can include materials such as glass fibers, ceramic
fibers, carbon fibers and calcium sulfate fibers. See, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,012 to Lamm; U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,679 to Cline;
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,844 to Hayden et al.; PCT WO 01/41590; and
European Pat. Application 1,084,629. Mixtures of filler materials
can be used. For example, filler material compositions can
incorporate mixtures of calcium carbonate particles and
precipitated magnesium hydroxide gel, mixtures of calcium carbonate
particles and calcium sulfate fibers, or mixtures of calcium
carbonate particles and magnesium carbonate particles.
[0033] There are various ways by which the various additive
components can be added to, or otherwise incorporated into, the
base sheet. Certain additives can be incorporated into the wrapping
material as part of the paper manufacturing process associated with
the production of that wrapping material. Alternatively, additives
can be incorporated into the wrapping material using size press
techniques, spraying techniques, printing techniques, or the like.
Such techniques, known as "off-line" techniques, are used to apply
additives to wrapping materials after those wrapping materials have
been manufactured. Various additives can be added to, or otherwise
incorporated into, the wrapping material simultaneously or at
different stages during or after the paper manufacturing process.
Each of these and other embodiments of cigarettes of the present
invention most preferably include an aesthetically-pleasing
experience and present desirable visual, olfactory, taste, and
tactile sensations for a smoker.
[0034] The base sheets can be treated further, and those base
sheets can be treated so as to impart a change to the overall
physical characteristics thereof and/or so as to introduce a change
in the overall chemical compositions thereof. For example, the base
sheet can be electrostatically perforated. See, for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al. The base sheet also can be
embossed, for example, in order to provide texture to major surface
thereof. Additives can be incorporated into the wrapping material
for a variety of reasons. Representative additives and methods for
incorporating those additives to wrapping materials are set forth
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry, which is incorporated herein
by reference. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,884 to Baldwin et
al.
[0035] Certain components, such as alkali metal salts, can act a
burn control additives. Representative salts include alkali metal
succinates, citrates, acetates, malates, carbonates, chlorides,
tartrates, propionates, nitrates and glycolates; including sodium
succinate, potassium succinate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate,
sodium acetate, potassium acetate, sodium malate, potassium malate,
sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium
chloride, sodium tartrate, potassium tartrate, sodium propionate,
potassium propionate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium
glycolate and potassium glycolate; and other salts such as
monoammonium phosphate. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,568
to Matthews; U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,311 to Matthews; U.S. Pat. No.
4,622,983 to Matthews; U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,485 to Perfetti et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,541 to Perfetti et al.; and PCT WO 01/08514.
Certain components, such as metal citrates, can act as ash
conditioners or ash sealers. See, for example, European Pat. App.
No. 1,084,630. Other representative components include organic and
inorganic acids, such as malic, levulinic, boric and lactic acids.
See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,131 to Simon. Other
representative components include catalytic materials. See, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,755,207 to Frankenburg.
[0036] Typically, the amount of chemical additive does not exceed
about 3 percent, often does not exceed about 2 percent, and usually
does not exceed about 1 percent, based on the dry weight of the
wrapping material to which the chemical additive is applied. For
certain wrapping materials, the amount of certain additive salts,
such as burn chemicals such as potassium citrate and monoammonium
phosphate, preferably are in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.8
percent, based on the dry weight of the wrapping material to which
those additive salts are applied. Relatively high levels of
additive salts can be used on certain types of wrapping materials
printed with printed regions that are very effective at causing
extinction of cigarettes manufactured from those wrapping
materials. Exemplary flax-containing cigarette paper wrapping
materials having relatively high levels of chemical additives have
been available as Grade Names 512, 525, 527, 540, 605 and 664 from
Schweitzer-Mauduit International. Exemplary wood pulp-containing
cigarette paper wrapping materials having relatively high levels of
chemical additives have been available as Grade Names 406 and 419
from Schweitzer-Mauduit International. Porosity and diffusivity are
among the properties that may be controlled by these means, as well
as by printing or other application of films, film-forming
materials, inks, pigments, other materials, or any combination
thereof. Tipping materials can similarly be constructed and
treated. For example, specific porosity of a tipping material and
plug wrap combination may be modified by constructing and treating
the materials forming them. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,895 to
Muramatsu, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,318 to Snow, et al.
[0037] Flavoring agents and/or flavor and aroma precursors (e.g.,
vanillin glucoside and/or ethyl vanillin glucoside) also can be
incorporated into the paper wrapping material. See, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,002 to Herron; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,486 to
Dube et al. Flavoring agents also can be printed onto cigarette
papers. See, for example, the types of flavoring agents used in
cigarette manufacture that are set forth in Gutcho, Tobacco
Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and
Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972).
Films can be applied to the paper. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,889,145 to Adams; U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,675 to Milford et al., and
PCT WO 02/43513 and PCT WO 02/055294. Catalytic materials can be
incorporated into the paper. See, for example, PCT WO
02/435134.
[0038] In conventional cigarettes, adhesive is provided between
substantially the entire underside surface of the inner tipping
material 208 and the plug wrap 206 (or directly to the exterior of
a filter in cigarettes that do not include a plug wrap) on a
proximal mouth-end portion and the wrapping material 190 on a
distal portion (each relative to the tipping material). However, in
the embodiment of FIG. 1, the adhesive preferably is applied only
to specified regions. For example, the adhesive may be applied as a
proximal band 187 and a distal band 189. In the embodiment of FIG.
1, the tipping material preferably is a diffuse tipping material.
In diffuse tipping material embodiments, the diffusivity of tipping
material will most preferably be similar to that of standard
cigarette wrapping material such as, for example, the material 190
(e.g., diffusivity of about 2 cm/sec, or a base porosity of about
15 to about 80 CORESTA) or similar materials of the type commonly
used around a tobacco charge in a cigarette. Preferred embodiments
will have a single layer of diffuse tipping material and porous or
no plug wrap. Diffuse tipping material will be greater than 0
CORESTA and less than 100 CORESTA, with a preferred range between
about 5 to about 80 CORESTA, and a diffusivity of at least about 1
cm/sec, preferably at least about 1.5 cm/sec. These diffusivity
measures preferably apply to tipping material including any printed
formulations (e.g., lip release, adhesive, etc.). Diffusivity may
be measured using techniques such as, for example, those disclosed
in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. 2005/0087202 to Norman et al., which is
incorporated herein by reference. This differs significantly from
typical tipping materials, which may provide little or no
diffusivity (e.g., about 0 cm/sec, commonly less than about 1
cm/sec, or a base porosity of less than about 10 CORESTA). However,
other highly porous, highly porous tipping materials are also known
(e.g., 300-1200 CORESTA, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,895 to Muramatsu,
et al.), including some that are highly-perforated by, for example,
a laser.
[0039] The diffuse tipping material 208 may include one or more
perforations (e.g., a laser perforation 210). In preferred
embodiments, air flow through the longitudinal circumferential
surface area of the diffuse tipping material 208 between (and/or
through) adhesive bands 187, 189 provides desirable characteristics
to mainstream aerosol for a smoker. For example, the mainstream
aerosol at the mouth end may, under FTC smoking conditions, provide
for lower "tar" and CO content and a lower CO/tar ratio as compared
with a cigarette otherwise identical, but made with a conventional
low/no-diffusivity tipping material. This effect, along with flavor
intensity of mainstream aerosol may be varied by changing the
dilution percentage of the cigarette filter 200 by, for example,
laser perforations thereof.
[0040] For cigarette embodiments including diffuse tipping
material, the tipping material may be selected from a number of
paper or paper-like materials. In one example, a typical wrapping
material of the type commonly used to contain a tobacco charge may
be used. Such a wrapping material will most preferably include a
desirable diffusivity (e.g., sometimes greater than 1 cm/sec,
preferably greater than about 1.5 cm/sec, often about 1 to about 3
cm/sec, and frequently about 2 cm/sec). Preferably, to be used as a
tipping material, a paper or paper-like product will be configured
to include some features not typically present in a tobacco
wrapping material. For example, cellulose or polymer fibers (e.g.,
plastics) may be incorporated during manufacture and/or applied to
one or both surfaces to enhance it structural integrity by
providing, for example, columnar strength, resistance to moisture
(e.g., from the mouth of a smoker), and desirable lip-release
traits. (In the cigarette art, the term "lip-release" refers to
materials configured to promote easy release of contact between
human lips and the tipping-material-covered filter section of a
cigarette without substantial sticking, and the lip-release
material referred to herein may include any standard lip-release
formulations currently known and/or practiced in the art, or
developed in the future).
[0041] The diffuse tipping material may be formed as a weave, mesh,
paper, membrane, and/or other appropriate structure providing the
desired diffusivity. Its thickness and density may be determined
during manufacture or altered thereafter to provide desired
diffusivity, and a lower mass is generally preferred. Treatment of
the diffuse tipping material with, or inclusion therein of, fibers,
films, coatings, or other means for providing desired traits may be
localized to particular regions of the tipping material. For
example, lip-release and/or moisture-resistance may be provided
only on a proximal-most mouth end portion. As another example,
fibers or other means providing or promoting columnar strength may
be provided primarily or only in a region of the tipping paper that
will span the junction of a filter portion with a tobacco rod. As
one means for providing desirable lip-release, one or more
film-forming materials such as, for example, nitrocellulose, may be
applied to the tipping material or incorporated therein. Moisture
resistant papers and paper materials, including those that may
provide desirable columnar strength are known in the art, and may
readily be used within or adapted for use within the scope of the
present invention.
[0042] A mesh, a porous paper material other than a typical
wrapping material, or another paper-like material (e.g., a polymer
sheet) may be used to provide a diffuse tipping material. In
addition to diffusivity, desirable traits will include that the
diffuse tipping material should provide acceptable "mouth feel" to
a smoker (for at least that portion that will contact a smoker's
mouth) including lip-release. It should provide structural strength
sufficient for holding the filter and smokable rod together during
typical use (manufacturing, packaging, transport, lighting, and
smoking). It should not degrade or develop an unpleasant taste or
texture when in contact with a smoker's mouth. And it should
provide a neutral or positive flavor and contact sensation, if any,
to the smoker. A mixture of organic and/or inorganic fibers and/or
particles, formulated in any of many ways known in the paper-making
and membrane-making arts may be used to form the diffuse tipping
material.
[0043] Some or all of the tipping material may provide a desirable
diffusivity that is greater than traditional tipping materials. In
certain embodiments, the thickness and/or density of the tipping
material may be varied to provide a desired diffusivity and/or
flavor profile. For example, a very diffuse paper or mesh may be as
thick as, or thicker than, a typical tipping material to provide
desirable structural strength while also providing a desirable
diffusivity.
[0044] The cigarette 174 may also include a second tipping material
250. The second tipping material 250 provides an outer layer that
overlies and circumscribes the first tipping material 208. All or
selected portions of the inner surface of the second tipping
material 250 may fixedly be secured to the outer surface of the
inner or first tipping material 208. As such, in preferred
embodiments, the second tipping material 250 also overlies the
entire length of the filter element and the adjacent region of the
tobacco rod. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, both tipping
materials extend essentially equal distances along the region of
the tobacco rod that is adjacent the filter element. For certain
preferred cigarettes, the first and second tipping materials each
are substantially identical in overall dimension (e.g., those
tipping materials have comparable thicknesses, widths, and
lengths). In other embodiments, a ventilated or air-diluted smoking
article may be provided with an air dilution means, such as a
series of perforations 210, each of which extends through the outer
tipping material 250, the inner tipping material 208, and the plug
wrap 206.
[0045] Adhesive may be applied in to each of the tipping materials
using techniques generally similar to those employed conventionally
for tipping material application during cigarette manufacture. In
such a manner, one or two layers of tipping material can be applied
and secured using conventional adhesives, and the cigarette so
provided may be used with one (of a single-layer or double-layer
tipping) or both layers of tipping material attached thereto.
However, adhesive can be applied to a longitudinally extending seam
line or lap zone (not shown, see regions 600, 616 of FIG. 6) of a
second tipping material 250 rather than its entire underside
surface. In such a manner, a second tipping material 250 may be
adapted and applied to the cigarette such that the second tipping
material is purposefully removable from that cigarette. Thus, the
resulting filtered cigarette of acceptable quality can be employed
by leaving the second tipping material 250 intact. In another
embodiment, a second tipping material 250 can be removed from the
cigarette, while the first tipping material 208 provides an altered
filtered cigarette that also is of acceptable quality and that
preferably will provide a different, but desirable, flavor profile
or other characteristic for a smoker.
[0046] In one embodiment, an outer (e.g., second) tipping material
250, which is not configured or treated so as to provide for air
dilution to the cigarette, or which is treated in such a manner
such that the cigarette does not experience a high degree or level
of air dilution, can be removed from the cigarette. For example, as
shown in FIG. 5, a perforation 211 may extend only through the plug
wrap 206 and the inner tipping material 208. As such, the
underlying or first tipping material 208, which can be treated so
as to provide for a relatively high level of dilution to the
cigarette, can be exposed by removal of the overlying second
tipping to allow for a higher level of air dilution. As such, the
cigarette can be smoked with the second tipping material 250
intact, in order to provide for more flavorful mainstream smoke; or
that second tipping material can be removed, in order to provide
air diluted mainstream smoke that is less flavorful in character,
but may also reduce the presence and/or relative amounts of tar and
CO.
[0047] A representative manner or method for providing such a
cigarette involves suitable modification of the equipment and
methodologies employed by cigarette manufacturers to provide
so-called "banded" cigarettes for consumer research purposes. That
is, rather than applying a circumscribing band (e.g., a band of
about 1 cm width) around the cigarette in the general region where
the tobacco rod and filter element abut one another, a second
tipping material is applied as a circumscribing band over the
entire length of the filter element and a portion of the length of
the tobacco rod in a region of the tobacco rod adjacent to the
filter element. As such, there are provided filtered cigarettes
including one or two layers of tipping material that are
positioned, applied and aligned in a predetermined, desired
fashion, meaning that the position and alignment of each layer of
tipping material is predetermined by the manufacturer. Such
equipment is particularly suitable for applying two appropriately
aligned layers of tipping material to a cigarette, neither of which
layer of tipping material is designed for the purpose of removal
from the cigarette (e.g., because adhesive can be applied over
substantially the whole inner surface of the outer tipping material
for non-diffuse tipping materials, or for diffuse tipping materials
where the adhesive is also configured to allow a desirable
diffusivity). As such, the double-tipped cigarette of the invention
can exhibit improved physical integrity. Alternatively, such
equipment can be suitable for applying two appropriately aligned
layers of tipping material to a cigarette, the outer layer of which
is designed for the purpose of removal from the cigarette (e.g., by
using a release coating type of adhesive that can be applied to a
part of or substantially the entire inner surface of the outer
tipping material, or to the outer surface of the inner tipping
material).
[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a representative
"two-up" cigarette 400 that can be subdivided along hashed line
2A-2A in order to provide two filtered cigarettes 174, 409. In
addition, representative manners or methods for providing preferred
types of cigarettes are described with reference to FIG. 2. A
"two-up" filter segment 417 is provided. That representative filter
segment 417 includes filter material 205 circumscribed by plug wrap
206. Two tobacco rods 190, 428 are aligned at each end of the
"two-up" filter segment. A first layer of tipping material 208
(e.g., a so-called "patch" of tipping material) is wrapped around
the aligned components, such that the tipping material
circumscribes the entire length of the "two-up" filter segment 417,
and a portion of the length of each tobacco rod 190, 428 in the
respective regions thereof adjacent the filter segment. Typically,
that first layer of tipping material 208 circumscribes about 3 mm
to about 4 mm of the length of each tobacco rod. As such, a so
called "two-up" cigarette 400 is provided. For certain preferred
embodiments, the first layer of tipping material is selected from a
type of tipping material, and is applied in a type of manner, each
of which is comparable to that traditionally used for commercial
filtered cigarette manufacture. Or, the tipping material 208 may be
applied with one or more glue seams 187. The seam(s) may be
circumferentially (either partially or wholly, including being
oriented transverse/perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and/or
at an angle thereto), and/or may be longitudinally disposed.
[0049] FIG. 2A shows a cigarette 409 in a partial perspective view
as having been cut along the line 2A-2A from a two-up cigarette of
the type shown in FIG. 2. However, the cigarette 409, as shown, is
provided with only a single layer of tipping material, or has had a
second layer (e.g. tipping layer 250) removed therefrom. As shown
by broken lines and stippling, adhesive seams 187 are disposed
longitudinally and circumferentially (both continuously and
discontinuously) between the tipping material 208 and the plug wrap
206. Specifically, the regions 187 delineated by broken lines and
stippling show an adhesive that contacts the tipping material in a
generally linear manner along a circumferential inner surface near
each end and along a generally longitudinal inner surface. The
tipping material may be a diffuse tipping material. Various methods
for specific placement of continuous and discontinuous adhesive
seams during manufacturing processes are commonly used, and new
methods are forthcoming as well (see, e.g., U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/101,529 to Pipes et al.). Although placement of
adhesive in this manner may use adhesives that limit or diminish
diffusivity in a region where applied, it will be appreciated that
one or more "diffuse as applied" adhesives may be used on part or
all of the inner surface of tipping material that do not
significantly limit or diminish diffusivity of the tipping material
in a region where applied. Such adhesives preferably provide a
porous or otherwise diffuse surface allowing passage of air
therethrough while simultaneously providing desirable adhesive
traits. In some embodiments, the combined diffusivity of the
tipping material and adhesive may be greater than 1 cm/sec,
preferably greater than about 1.5 cm/sec, often about 1 to about 3
cm/sec, and frequently about 2 cm/sec.
[0050] That cigarette can be air diluted (e.g., using laser
perforation techniques) by applying at least one circumscribing
ring of perforations 210, 455 though the first layer of tipping
material 208 and underlying plug wrap 206. Then, the "two-up"
cigarette so provided can be transferred to a second tipping
assembly. There, a second layer of tipping material 250 (e.g., a
second "patch" of tipping material) is wrapped around the "two-up"
cigarette 400, such that the second layer of tipping material
overlies the first layer of tipping material 208. That cigarette
may be air diluted (e.g., using laser perforation techniques) by
applying at least one circumscribing ring of perforations 210, 455
though the second layer of tipping material 250, first layer
tipping material 208 and underlying plug wrap 206. Thus, for the
embodiment shown, air dilution perforations can be absent, provided
through both layers of tipping materials, or provided through only
the first layer of tipping material. Then, the "two-up" combined
segment including two layers of tipping material is cut in half,
perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, to provide two finished
cigarettes 174, 409. As such, the two finished cigarettes 174, 409
are both characterized by a smooth mouth end, wherein the mouth end
terminus of the filter material 205, plug wrap 206, and tipping
materials 208, 250 are all in the same plane. If desired, the two
types of "patches" used for tipping materials 208, 250 can be
substantially identical to one another (e.g., in terms of overall
visual appearance, width, length, thickness, physical properties
and/or composition). As such, there are provided filtered
cigarettes including two layers of tipping material that are
positioned, applied and aligned in a pre-determined, desired
fashion.
[0051] Preparation of a double tipped "two-up" cigarette in the
foregoing fashion is particularly suitable for applying two
appropriately aligned layers of tipping material to a cigarette,
neither of which layer of tipping material is designed for the
purpose of being, or intended to be, removed from the cigarette
(e.g., because adhesive can be applied over substantially the whole
inner surface of the outer tipping material). Alternatively, such a
methodology can be suitable for applying two appropriately aligned
layers tipping material to a cigarette, an outer layer of which (if
present) is configured to be easily removable from the cigarette
(e.g., by using a release coating type of adhesive that can be
applied over substantially the whole inner surface of the outer
tipping material, or the outer surface of the inner tipping
material).
[0052] If desired, the inner and/or outer tipping material can be
applied so as to include adhesive on only selected regions thereof,
such as can be carried out using so-called "skip gap" types of
tipping adhesive application techniques. As such, adhesive can be
registered at one or more desired locations on each tipping patch.
For an outer patch of a multi-layer tipping, sufficient adhesive
can be applied so as to provide for a longitudinally extending
strip to tack to the underlying region of the cigarette (e.g., to
the first layer of tipping material) as well as a longitudinally
extending strip to tack onto itself (e.g., to allow the folded over
outer layer of tipping material to form a type of seam). When "skip
gap" types of adhesive application are employed, adhesive
application may be absent at either or both ends of the adhesive
strip on the region of the tipping patch that provides the outer
seam of the outer tipping material; and as such, either or both
longitudinal end of the outer tipping material can be provided with
a type of tab that can be used to grasp the outer tipping material
for the purpose of tearing that tipping material away from the
remainder of the cigarette. Such tabs may commonly have widths that
are at least comparable to that of the seam line, and lengths of
about 2 mm to about 5 mm.
[0053] Preparation of a double tipped "two-up" cigarette also can
be carried out using a single "patch" of tipping material. In such
a manner, a tipping "patch" having an extended length (e.g., at
least sufficient in length to allow for that "patch" to be wrapped
twice around the relevant region of the "two-up" cigarette) can be
employed. For example, the "patch" of tipping material can be
wrapped around the "two-up" cigarette to form an inner tipping
portion or layer that extends around that "two-up" cigarette. This
may be used to produce cigarettes with single-layer tipping
material. Or, the "two-up" cigarette can be turned a second time in
order that it can be wrapped with the remaining length of the
"patch" and thereby provide an outer tipping portion or layer. In
one embodiment, adhesive can be applied to the entire inner surface
of the elongated "patch." In another embodiment, adhesive can be
applied to the entire inner surface of the "patch" that forms the
inner (or only) tipping layer, and "skip gap" techniques can be
employed such that only a strip of adhesive (e.g., so as to provide
a seam) is applied to the portion of that "patch" that forms the
outer tipping layer. Or, "skip gap" or other techniques as
described herein, as known in the art, and/or as may yet be
developed, may be used during application of the inner (or only)
tipping material layer.
[0054] Alternative representative manners or methods for providing
certain preferred types of cigarettes also are described with
reference to FIG. 2. A "two-up" filter segment 417 including filter
material 205 circumscribed by plug wrap 206 is provided. Two
tobacco rods 190, 428 are aligned at each end of the "two-up"
filter segment. A first layer of tipping material 208 and an outer
second layer of tipping material 250 are provided as a double layer
of tipping material (e.g., as a laminate). That laminated layer of
first and second layers of tipping material 208, 250 is wrapped
around the aligned components, such that the laminated layer of
those two tipping materials circumscribes the entire length of the
"two-up" filter segment 417, and a portion of the length of each
tobacco rod 190, 428 in the respective regions thereof adjacent the
filter segment. As such, the so called "two-up" cigarette 400 is
provided. That cigarette may be air diluted (e.g., using laser
perforation techniques) by applying at least one circumscribing
ring of perforations 210, 455 though the second or outer layer of
tipping material 250, the first layer or inner layer of tipping
material 208, and underlying plug wrap 206. Then, the "two-up"
combined segment including two layers of tipping material is cut in
half perpendicular to its longitudinal axis to provide two finished
cigarettes 174, 409. As such, there are provided filtered
cigarettes including two layers of tipping material that are
positioned, applied and aligned in a pre-determined, desired
fashion.
[0055] Cigarette rods typically are manufactured using a cigarette
making machine, such as a conventional automated cigarette rod
making machine. Exemplary cigarette rod making machines are of the
type commercially available from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber
& Co. KG. For example, cigarette rod making machines of the
type known as MkX (commercially available from Molins PLC) or
PROTOS (commercially available from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co.
KG) can be employed. A description of a PROTOS cigarette making
machine is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand, at col. 5,
line 48 through col. 8, line 3, which is incorporated herein by
reference. Types of equipment suitable for the manufacture of
cigarettes also are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,203 to La Hue;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,100 to Holznagel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,416 to
Gentry; U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,169 to Holmes et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,191,906 to Myracle, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,870 to Blau
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,449 to Kitao et al.; and U.S. Pat. No.
6,904,917 to Kitao et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,486 to Hartman; U.S.
Pat. No. 7,275,548 to Hancock et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,540 to
Barnes et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,471 to Fitzgerald et al.;
each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0056] A variety of components and operation of conventional
automated cigarette making machines are commonly used. For example,
descriptions of the components and operation of several types of
chimneys, tobacco filler supply equipment, suction conveyor systems
and garniture systems are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,147 to
Molins et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,176 to Heitmann et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,291,713 to Frank; U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,816 to Rudszinat;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,754 to Heitmann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,506
to Pinck et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,665 to Heitmann; U.S. Pat. No.
5,012,823 to Keritsis et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,751 to Fagg et
al.; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2003/0136419 to Muller; each of
which is incorporated herein by reference. The automated cigarette
making machines of the type set forth herein provide a formed
continuous cigarette rod or smokable rod that can be subdivided
into formed smokable rods of desired lengths.
[0057] Various types of cigarette components, including tobacco
types, tobacco blends, top dressing and casing materials, blend
packing densities and types of paper wrapping materials for tobacco
rods, can be employed. See, for example, the various representative
types of cigarette components, as well as the various cigarette
designs, formats, configurations and characteristics, that are set
forth in Johnson, Development of Cigarette Components to Meet
Industry Needs, 52.sup.nd T.S.R.C. (September, 1998); U.S. Pat. No.
5,101,839 to Jakob et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,944 to Arzonico et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,530 to
Kraker; U.S. Pat. No. 7,237,559 to Ashcraft et al.; U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. Nos. 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al.; 2006/0272655 to Thomas et
al. and 2007/0246055 to Oglesby; each of which is incorporated
herein by reference. Most preferably, the entire smokable rod is
composed of smokable material (e.g., tobacco cut filler) and a
layer of circumscribing outer wrapping material.
[0058] Components for filter elements for filtered cigarettes
typically are provided from filter rods that are produced using
traditional types of rod-forming units, such as those available as
KDF-2 and KDF-3E from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. Typically,
filter material, such as filter tow, is provided using a tow
processing unit. An exemplary tow processing unit has been
commercially available as E-60 supplied by Arjay Equipment Corp.,
Winston-Salem, N.C. Other exemplary tow processing units have been
commercially available as AF-2, AF-3, and AF-4 from Hauni-Werke
Korber & Co. KG. In addition, representative manners and
methods for operating a filter material supply units and
filter-making units are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,671 to
Byrne; U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,905 to Green, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,060,664 to Siems et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,285 to Rivers; and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,170 to Lanier, Jr. et al. Other types of
technologies for supplying filter materials to a filter rod-forming
unit are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al. and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,814 to Raker; which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0059] The filter material can vary, and can be any material of the
type that can be employed for providing a tobacco smoke filter for
cigarettes. Preferably a traditional cigarette filter material is
used, such as cellulose acetate tow, gathered cellulose acetate
web, polypropylene tow, gathered cellulose acetate web, gathered
paper, strands of reconstituted tobacco, or the like. Especially
preferred is filamentary tow such as cellulose acetate, polyolefins
such as polypropylene, or the like. One filter material that can
provide a suitable filter rod is cellulose acetate tow having 3
denier per filament and 40,000 total denier. As another example,
cellulose acetate tow having 3 denier per filament and 35,000 total
denier can provide a suitable filter rod. As another example,
cellulose acetate tow having 8 denier per filament and 40,000 total
denier can provide a suitable filter rod. For further examples, see
the types of filter materials set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,172
to Neurath; U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,745 to Cohen et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,925,602 to Hill et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,277 to Takegawa et
al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,419 to Arzonico et al.; each of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
[0060] Normally a plasticizer such as triacetin is applied to the
filamentary tow in traditional amounts using known techniques.
Other suitable materials or additives commonly used in connection
with the construction of the filter element may also be used within
the scope of the present invention. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,387,285 to Rivers.
[0061] The plug wrap can vary. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,174,719 to Martin. The plug wrap may be a porous or non-porous
paper material. In embodiments of cigarettes of the present
invention that include a diffuse tipping material, it is highly
preferable to use a porous plug wrap rather than a non-porous plug
wrap. Suitable plug wrap materials are commercially available.
Exemplary plug wrap papers ranging in porosity from about 1,100
CORESTA units to about 26,000 CORESTA units are available from
Schweitzer-Mauduit International as Porowrap 17-M1, 33-M1, 45-M1,
70-M9, 95-M9, 150-M4, 150-M9, 240M9S, 260-M4 and 260-M4T; and from
Miquel-y-Costas as 22HP90 and 22HP150. Non-porous plug wrap
materials typically exhibit porosities of less than about 40
CORESTA units, and often less than about 20 CORESTA units.
Exemplary non-porous plug wrap papers are available from Olsany
Facility (OP Paprina) of the Czech Republic as PW646; Wattenspapier
of Austria as FY/33060; Miquel-y-Costas of Spain as 646; and
Schweitzer-Mauduit International as MR650 and 180. Plug wrap paper
can be coated, particularly on the surface that faces the filter
material, with a layer of a film-forming material. Such a coating
can be provided using a suitable polymeric film-forming agent
(e.g., ethylcellulose, ethylcellulose mixed with calcium carbonate,
nitrocellulose, nitrocellulose mixed with calcium carbonate, or a
so-called lip release coating composition of the type commonly
employed for cigarette manufacture). Alternatively, a plastic film
(e.g., a polypropylene film) can be used as a plug wrap material.
For example, non-porous polypropylene materials that are available
as ZNA-20 and ZNA-25 from Treofan Germany GmbH & Co. KG can be
employed as plug wrap materials.
[0062] Cigarette filter rods can be used to provide multi-segment
filter rods. Such multi-segment filter rods then can be employed
for the production of filtered cigarettes including multi-segment
filter elements. An example of a two-segment filter element is a
filter element including a first cylindrical segment incorporating
activated charcoal particles dispersed within cellulose acetate tow
(e.g., a "dalmation" type of filter segment) at one end, and a
second cylindrical segment that is produced from a filter rod
produced essentially of flavored, plasticized cellulose acetate tow
filter material at the other end. The production of multi-segment
filter rods can be carried out using the types of rod-forming units
that traditionally have been employed to provide multi-segment
cigarette filter components. Multi-segment cigarette filter rods
can be manufactured using a cigarette filter rod making device
available under the brand name Mulfi from Hauni-Werke Korber &
Co. KG of Hamburg, Germany. Representative types of filter designs
and components, including representative types of segmented
cigarette filters, are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,990 to
Lawrence et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,829 to Thesing et al.; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,025,814 to Raker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,074, 320 to Jones et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,838 to White et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,271,419 to Arzonico et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,909 to Gentry et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,718,250 to Banerjee et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,174 to Jupe et
al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0261807 to Dube et al.;
2005/0066981 to Crooks et al.; and 2007/0056600 to Coleman III, et
al.; PCT Pub. Nos. WO 03/009711 to Kim, and WO 03/047836 to Xue et
al.; which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0063] The length of the filter element of each cigarette can vary.
Typically, the overall length of a filter element is about 20 mm to
about 40 mm, and often about 25 mm to about 35 mm. For a typical
dual-segment filter element, the downstream or mouth end filter
segment often has a length of about 10 mm to about 20 mm; and the
upstream or tobacco rod end filter segment often has a length of
about 10 mm to about 20 mm.
[0064] Filter elements, or filter segment components of combination
filters, typically are provided from filter rods that are
manufactured using traditional types of cigarette filter rod making
techniques. For example, so-called "six-up" filter rods, "four-up"
filter rods and "two-up" filter rods that are of the general format
and configuration conventionally used for the manufacture of
filtered cigarettes can be handled using conventional-type or
suitably modified cigarette rod handling devices, such as tipping
devices available as Lab MAX, MAX, MAX S or MAX 80 from Hauni-Werke
Korber & Co. KG. See, for example, the types of devices set
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,600 to Erdmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,281,670 to Heitmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,187 to Reuland et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,301 to Greene, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,229,115 to Vos et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,578 to Read, Jr.,
and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2005/0103355 to Holmes and
2006/0169295 to Draghetti, each of which is incorporated herein by
reference. Various manners and methods for applying adhesives to
tipping materials during automated cigarette manufacture are
commonly known and used in the art of cigarette design and
manufacture. For example, a filtered cigarette can be tipped with a
first layer of tipping material in an essentially traditional
manner using a Lab MAX tipping device that is available from
Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG, and that tipped cigarette can be
collected and tipped again using that device (e.g., using the
device in an essentially traditional manner, or in a suitably
modified manner to provide a desired pattern of adhesive
application) in order to provide a filtered cigarette including two
layers of tipping material.
[0065] The first layer of tipping material most preferably extends
over the entire length of the filter element, and about 2 mm to
about 6 mm, often about 3 mm to about 5 mm, and frequently about 4
mm over the length of the adjacent region of the tobacco rod. The
second layer of tipping material most preferably extends over the
entire length of the filter element, and about 2 mm to about 6 mm,
often about 3 mm to about 5 mm, and frequently about 4 mm over the
length of the adjacent region of the tobacco rod.
[0066] The tipping material that is used for any of the tipping
material layers can vary. In certain preferred embodiments, the
material used to construct both tipping material layers has the
characteristics and qualities commonly associated with cigarette
tipping materials known in the art. As such, both layers can be
constructed of the types of material conventionally used as tipping
material in the manufacture of cigarettes. Typical tipping
materials are papers exhibiting relatively high opacities.
Representative tipping materials have TAPPI opacities of greater
than about 81 percent, often in the range of about 84 percent to
about 90 percent, and sometimes greater than about 90 percent.
Typical tipping materials are printed with inks, typically
nitrocellulose based, which can provide for a wide variety of
appearances and "lip release" properties. Representative tipping
papers materials have basis weights ranging from about 25 g/m.sup.2
to about 60 g/m.sup.2, often about 30 g/m.sup.2 to about 40
g/m.sup.2. Representative tipping papers are available as
Tervakoski Reference Nos. 3121, 3124, TK 652, TK674, TK675, A360,
A362, TK696 (36-gsm white), and TK604 (cork); and
Schweitzer-Mauduit International Reference Nos. GSR270 and
GSR265M2. See also, for example, the types of tipping materials,
the methods for combining cigarette components using tipping
materials, and techniques for wrapping various portions of
cigarettes using tipping materials, that are set forth in U.S. Pat.
App. Pub. No. 2007/0215167 to Crooks et al.
[0067] Adhesives used to secure tipping materials to each other or
to other filtered cigarette components can vary. Typical exemplary
adhesive formulations that are used for application of tipping
material to other cigarette components in commercial filtered
cigarette manufacturing operations are water-based emulsions
incorporating mixtures of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers and
polyvinylacetate. Representative adhesives that are useful for
applying tipping materials to cigarette components are available as
Reference Nos. 32-2049 and 32-2124 from National Starch &
Adhesives Corp. See also, for example, Skeist, Handbook of
Adhesives, 2.sup.nd Edition (1977); Schneberger, Adhesive in
Manufacturing (1983); Gutcho, Adhesives Technology Developments
Since 1979 (1983); Landrock, Adhesives Technology Handbook (1985);
and Flick, Handbook of Adhesives Raw Materials, 2.sup.nd Edition
(1989).
[0068] Pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used to provide for
adhesion of the outer tipping material to the remaining components
of the cigarette (e.g., particularly for manufacture, handling,
packaging, shipping, storage and initial use of the cigarette), as
well as for providing the ability to readily release (e.g.,
particularly so that the outer tipping can be readily removed from
the cigarette when desired). That is, suitable preferred
pressure-sensitive adhesives provide a satisfactory but temporary
bond between the outer tipping material and the remaining
components of the cigarette, and that adhesive is such that the
outer tipping material or a portion thereof can be peeled away, and
hence removed from the cigarette, most preferably without leaving
to any significant or readily noticeable degree, any adhesive
residue on the underlying cigarette components. In addition,
suitable preferred pressure-sensitive adhesives, though providing
sufficient adhesion so that a double tipped cigarette can be used
as desired without adhesive failure (i.e., so as to avoid
undesirable premature release of portions of the outer tipping from
the cigarette), is most preferably such that purposeful removal of
the outer tipping material does not cause any significant or
noticeable structural failure to the underlying cigarette
components. That is, most preferably, after purposeful removal of
the outer tipping material, the resulting cigarette does not
include any significant visual or structural damage resulting from
the presence and removal of that outer tipping material. If
desired, the outer surface of the underlying first tipping material
may be coated with a lacquer, or other suitable coating material,
in order to provide a propensity for substantially all the
pressure-sensitive adhesive to be removed along with the outer
tipping material. Representative pressure-sensitive adhesives are
commercially available from a wide variety of sources, such as 3M,
Rohm & Haas Company, and Ashland Specialty Chemical Company.
See, also, for example, Satas, Handbook of Pressure-Sensitive
Adhesive Technology (1982), and Satas, Advances in Pressure
Sensitive Adhesive Technology 2 (1995).
[0069] Cigarettes can be air diluted. Tipping materials can be
pre-perforated, or air diluted on-line using laser perforation
techniques. For cigarettes that are air diluted or ventilated, the
amount or degree of air dilution or ventilation can vary.
Frequently, the amount of air dilution for an air diluted cigarette
is greater than about 10 percent, generally is greater than about
20 percent, often is greater than about 30 percent, and sometimes
is greater than about 40 percent. Typically, the upper level for
air dilution for an air diluted cigarette is less than about 80
percent, and often is less than about 70 percent. As used herein,
the term "air dilution" is the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of
the volume of air drawn through the air dilution means to the total
volume and air and smoke drawn through the cigarette and exiting
the extreme mouth end portion of the cigarette. For certain
preferred air diluted cigarettes, the cigarettes are air diluted in
such a manner that the cigarette exhibits substantially identical
levels of air dilution when the second layer is present on the
cigarette and when the second layer is removed from the cigarette
(e.g., by laser perforating relevant regions of a "two-up"
cigarette after that cigarette has the second layer of tipping
material applied thereto).
[0070] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a further embodiment of
a filtered cigarette 174. A first tipping material 208
circumscribes both the entire length of the filter element and an
adjacent region of the tobacco rod. The inner surface of the first
tipping material 208 is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the
plug wrap 206 and the outer surface of the wrapping material 190 of
the tobacco rod, using a suitable adhesive. The cigarette 174 also
includes a second tipping material 250. The second tipping material
250 provides an outer layer that overlies and circumscribes the
first tipping material 208. The inner surface, or some portion
thereof, of the second tipping material 250 can be fixedly secured
to the outer surface of the inner or first tipping material 208. As
such, the second tipping material 250 also can overlie the entire
length of the filter element and the adjacent region of the tobacco
rod. A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article may include an air
dilution means, such as a series of perforations 210, each of which
extends through the outer tipping material 250, the inner tipping
material 208, and the plug wrap 206. The cigarette 174 is shown as
having one optional printed band 202 printed on wrapping material
190, and that band entirely circumscribes the cigarette rod in a
direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
That is, the band provides a cross-directional region relative to
the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The band most preferably is
applied to the inner surface of the wrapping material (i.e., facing
the smokable filler material), but can be applied to the outer
surface of the wrapping material. Although the cigarette shown
includes wrapping material having one band, the cigarette also can
include wrapping material having spaced bands numbering two, three,
or more. The band 202 may comprise additive materials of a coating
formulation, which may confer, for example, flavor,
burn-retardation, altered diffusivity, and/or other traits.
[0071] A diffuse area of a tipping material may comprise less than
the entire surface area. For example, about 30 percent or more of
the surface area of tipping material as applied to a cigarette may
be generally non-diffuse, while preferably up to about 70 percent
of the area is diffuse. For example, in one example of a cigarette,
the tipping material may have about 40 percent of its surface area
being generally non-diffuse (i.e., low-porosity) and about 60
percent of its surface area generally more diffuse (i.e.,
higher-porosity). The non-diffuse area may have that property due
to inherent construction of the tipping material (e.g., as formed
based on thickness and/or density, as treated with--for
example--fillers or films of the types described above with
reference to wrapping materials) and/or due to the positioning of
adjacent material in the cigarette (e.g., a non-porous adhesive
applied to attach the tipping material to another cigarette
portion).
EXAMPLE 1
Comparison of Standard Tipping Material with a Porous Tipping
Material
[0072] Cigarettes were tested to assess impact of a more diffuse,
porous tipping material compared to a typical less diffuse,
low-porosity tipping material. Both the experimental and the
standard/control cigarettes were constructed with a standard 31 mm
filter covered by a standard high-porosity plug wrap. For the
experimental cigarettes, a special glue roller was used to apply
adhesive only to a proximal/mouth end and the distal/tobacco-rod
end of the tipping material to secure it to the filter and a
tobacco rod covered with a standard wrapping material (where the
tipping paper was the means for attaching the filter to the tobacco
rod). The standard/control cigarettes were made with a conventional
tipping paper (about 0 CORESTA, 0 cm/sec diffusion capacity) and
glue roller. The experimental cigarettes were made using a standard
cigarette paper (80 CORESTA, 2 cm/sec diffusion capacity). Both
groups of cigarettes were perforated with an on-line laser to
provide a range of ventilation levels. Finished cigarettes were
tested to determine yields of tar and CO at FTC smoking conditions.
Table 1, below, shows a summary of the data:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Filter Tipping Dilution Tar CO CO/tar
Percent Paper (%) (mg/cig) (mg/cig) ratio Change Standard/ 0.0 14.2
16.0 1.13 -- Control 33.8 10.4 11.3 1.09 -- Cigarettes 50.5 8.0 5.8
1.06 -- Experimental 19.2 11.7 11.6 0.99 -12.0 Cigarettes 53.0 6.6
6.1 0.92 -14.9 62.7 4.7 4.2 0.89 -15.9
[0073] As shown in Table 1, cigarettes with the more-porous, more
diffuse tipping material reduced both the tar and CO yields
relative to the standard/control cigarette, as well as the CO/tar
ratio.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of a
filtered cigarette 174. A first tipping material 208 circumscribes
both the entire length of the filter element and an adjacent region
of the tobacco rod. The inner surface of the first tipping material
208 is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the plug wrap 206
and the outer surface of the wrapping material 190 of the tobacco
rod, using a suitable adhesive. The cigarette 174 also includes a
second tipping material 250. The second tipping material 250
provides an outer layer that overlies and circumscribes the first
tipping material 208. The second tipping material 250 extends
further upstream along the cigarette as does the first tipping
material 208, and as such, a portion of the length of the wrapping
material 190 of the tobacco rod that is not covered or overwrapped
by the first tipping material is circumscribed by the second
tipping material 250. The second tipping material 250 does not
extend as far upstream along the cigarette as does the first
tipping material 208, and as such, a portion of the length of the
first tipping material is not covered or overwrapped by the second
tipping material 250. The inner surface, or some portion thereof,
of the second tipping material 250 can be fixedly secured to the
outer surface of the inner or first tipping material 208, and
preferably, the wrapping material 190 in that upstream region
thereof that is not circumscribed by the first tipping material. As
such, the second tipping material 250 also can overlie the entire
length of the filter element and the adjacent region of the tobacco
rod. A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article may include an air
dilution means, such as a series of perforations 210, each of which
extends through the outer tipping material 250, the inner tipping
material 208, and the plug wrap 206.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown yet another embodiment
of a filtered cigarette 174. A first tipping material 208
circumscribes both the entire length of the filter element 200 and
an adjacent region of the tobacco rod 186. The inner surface of the
first tipping material 208 is fixedly secured to the outer surface
of the plug wrap 206 and the outer surface of the wrapping material
190 of the tobacco rod, using a suitable adhesive. The cigarette
174 also includes a second tipping material 250. The second tipping
material 250 provides an outer layer that overlies and
circumscribes the first tipping material 208. A ventilated or
air-diluted smoking article may include an air dilution means, such
as a series of perforations 210, each of which extends through the
outer tipping material 250, the inner tipping material 208, and the
plug wrap 206. The second tipping material 250 includes a line or
ring of a plurality of perforations 545 that extends around the
cigarette essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
that cigarette. As such, the second tipping material 250 can be
subdivided about the line of perforations in order to provide two
pieces of outer tipping material, one outer piece or segment 550
located at the extreme mouth end of the cigarette, and the other
outer piece 555 located upstream from that mouth end segment.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown the mouth end region of
a filtered cigarette 174, such as a filter cigarette of the type
described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5. The
filter material 205 is circumscribed by plug wrap 206, which
includes a lap or seam region 600 where a portion of the plug wrap
overlies itself. The lap zone for the plug wrap typically is about
2 mm to about 4 mm in width. Overlying the plug wrap 206 is a layer
of first tipping material 208, which includes a lap or seam region
606 where a portion of that tipping material overlies itself. The
lap zone for the first tipping material typically is less than
about 4 mm, often less than about 3 mm, and is frequently about 1.5
mm to about 2.5 mm in width. Overlying the first tipping material
208 is a layer of second tipping material 250, which includes a lap
or seam region 616 where a portion of that tipping material
overlies itself. The lap zone for the second tipping material
typically is less than about 4 mm, often less than about 3 mm, and
is frequently about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm in width. In addition,
beyond the seam region 616 of the second tipping material 250, that
tipping material may include an extended region 620, which
preferably is not adhered back onto itself, but rather, lies over
its underlying outer surface and is sufficiently free to act as a
tab that can be grasped by the fingers of the smoker. The extended
region, which preferably extends along a portion of the length of
the cigarette, and for the entire length of the second tipping
material, has a width that can vary. For example, the extended
region often can have a width of about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and
often about 2 mm to about 4 mm. If desired, printed indicia on the
outer surface of the second tipping material can provide indication
of the location of the extended region.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown the mouth end region of
a filtered cigarette 174, such as a filter cigarette of the type
described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5. The
filter material 205 is circumscribed by plug wrap 206, which
includes a lap or seam region 600 where a portion of the plug wrap
overlies itself. Overlying the plug wrap 206 is a double layer, and
most preferably, a laminated layer, of first and second tipping
materials 208, 250. The double layer of tipping materials includes
a lap or seam region 630 where a portion of the bottom or inner
face of the first tipping material 208 overlies a portion of the
its upper or outer face. That lap zone for the first tipping
material typically is less than about 4 mm, often less than about 3
mm, and is frequently about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm in width. The
double layer of tipping materials may include (though not
preferable) lap or seam region 635 where a portion of the bottom or
inner face of the second tipping material 250 overlies a portion of
the its upper or outer face, and wherein the lap or seam region may
include an adhesive for securing the second tipping material to
itself. That lap zone for the second tipping material, if present,
typically is less than about 4 mm, often less than about 3 mm, and
is frequently about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm in width. In addition,
beyond the seam region 635, the second or outer tipping material
250 includes an extended region 680, which preferably does not have
adhesive applied to its inner face, but rather, lies over its
underlying outer surface and is sufficiently free to act as a tab
that can be grasped by the fingers of the smoker. The extended
region, which preferably extends along a portion of the length of
the cigarette, and for the entire length of the second tipping
material, has a width that can vary. For example, the extended
region often can have a width of about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and
often about 2 mm to about 4 mm. If desired, printed indicia on the
outer surface of the second tipping material can provide indication
of the location of the extended region.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a side view of a
representative laminated tipping material including layers provided
by a first tipping material 208 and a second tipping material 250.
The configuration of those tipping materials 208, 250 is such that
the laminated layer of tipping material can be used to provide a
filtered cigarette of the type described previously with reference
to FIG. 7. The layers of tipping material 208, 250 are offset
relative to one another, such that a portion of the second layer
250 does not overlie the first layer 208 at one side, and a portion
of the first layer 208 does not overlie the second layer 250 at the
opposite side. As such, the laminate can be folded over itself so
as to provide a generally circular arrangement with the first layer
of tipping material forming the inner region and the second layer
of tipping material forming the outer tipping region. For the
embodiment shown, the inside right face 684 of the inner tipping
material 208 can overlap and be adhered to outside left face 686 of
the left side of the inner tipping material in that region that is
not overlapped by the outer tipping material 250. As such, right
side 680 of the outer tipping material 250 can act as the so-called
extended region or tab that can be used to pull the removable
tipping material away from the rest of the filtered cigarette
within which it is incorporated.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a side view of a further
embodiment of a laminated tipping material including layers
provided by a first tipping material 208 and a second tipping
material 250. The configuration of those tipping materials 208, 250
is such that the laminated layer of tipping material can be used to
provide a filtered cigarette generally of the type described
previously with reference to FIG. 7. The layers of tipping material
208, 250 are offset relative to one another, such that a portion of
the second layer 250 does not overlie the first layer 208 at one
side 686. For the embodiment shown, the inside right face 684 of
the inner tipping material 208 can overlap and be adhered to
outside left face 686 of the left side of the inner tipping
material in that region that is not overlapped by the outer tipping
material 250. As such, the laminate can be folded over itself so as
to provide a generally circular arrangement with the inner tipping
material forming the inner region and the outer tipping material
forming the outer tipping region.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown the mouth end region of
a filtered cigarette 174, such as a filter cigarette of the type
described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5. The
filter material 205 is circumscribed by plug wrap 206, which
includes a lap or seam region 600 where a portion of the plug wrap
overlies itself. Overlying the plug wrap 206 is a double layer of
first and second tipping materials 208, 250 that are provided
encircling the cigarette twice with a single piece of tipping
material 890. The first layer of tipping material 208 preferably is
adhered to the underlying plug wrap 206, and also includes a lap or
seam region 630 where a portion of the bottom or inner face of that
inner tipping material 208 overlies a portion of its upper or outer
face. A line of perforations 900, extending along the longitudinal
length of the filter element, extends across that tipping material,
and as such, defines a type of demarcation between the inner and
outer tipping materials 208, 250. The tipping material extends
around the cigarette to provide the second layer of tipping
material 250. The second layer of tipping material 250 preferably
includes a lap or seam region 920 where a portion of the bottom or
inner face of that outer tipping material 250 overlies a portion of
its upper or outer face and can be adhered thereto. That lap zone
or region 920 for the second tipping material 250 is typically less
than about 4 mm, often less than about 3 mm, and is frequently
about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm in width. In addition, beyond the seam
region 920, the second or outer tipping material 250 includes an
extended region 680, which preferably does not have adhesive
applied to its inner face, but rather, lies over its underlying
outer surface and is sufficiently free to act as a tab that can be
grasped by the fingers of the smoker. The extended region, which
preferably extends along a portion of the length of the cigarette,
and for the entire length of the second tipping material, has a
width that can vary. For example, the extended region often can
have a width of about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and often about 2 mm to
about 4 mm.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a single piece of
"patch" of tipping material 890 that can be used to form the double
wrapped tipping material shown in FIG. 10. The representative
single piece is at least roughly twice the length of a conventional
piece or "patch" of tipping material. Thus, the tipping material
piece 890 can form an inner layer 208 and an outer layer 250 when
that tipping material is wrapped twice around the relevant regions
of cigarette components. The inner face of the inner region 208 can
have adhesive 950 applied thereto, in order to adhere that portion
of the tipping material 890 to relevant regions of cigarette
components. The line of perforations 900 allows the tipping
material 890 to be separated into two pieces. A line of adhesive
can be placed in the lap or seam region 920 (e.g., which can be
applied by "skip gap" techniques) provides for fastening, securing,
or connecting the outer layer of tipping material 250 in place. The
tab region 680 will, if present, extend beyond the adhesive line of
the lap region 920.
[0082] For various embodiments of the present invention, depending
upon the selection of the tipping materials, the first (i.e.,
inner) tipping material and the second (i.e., outer) tipping
material can be different from one another (e.g., in terms of
visual appearance, composition, physical properties or
characteristics such as basis weight, sizing level, inherent
porosity, opacity, sensory characteristics, and/or general
dimensions). Alternatively, those inner and outer tipping materials
can be substantially identical to one another.
[0083] In some embodiments, a flavorant may be printed onto or
otherwise applied to the tipping material (e.g., a single layer of
tipping material, or one or more layers of a multi-layer tipping
material where one or more of those layers may be removable). The
flavorant may impart flavor directly to a smoker's lips and/or
tongue via contact with the tipping material. Instead, or in
addition, flavor may be provided by releasing an odor--whether
passively, upon contact with a smoker, or upon being heated by
passage of, for example, mainstream aerosol. Release of
flavor-affecting material (whether by or to the mouth and/or nose
of the smoker) can be activated or intensified by heating the
flavorant when a smoker draws mainstream aerosol through the filter
such that the mainstream aerosol is proximate the flavorant.
Moisture may also serve as a releasing means for flavor (e.g., from
contact with a smoker's lips and/or tongue).
[0084] As used here, "flavorant" includes any material that may be
applied to or incorporated into the tipping material--preferably by
printing--and that provides one or more of a selected organoleptic
sensation, a sensation of one or more tastes/flavors and/or
scents/aromas that may be transmitted orally and/or olfactorily,
trigeminal nerve stimulation sensation, and may include a cool,
warm, spicy, tangy, salty, tingly, or tart sensation for a smoker,
or any combination of any of these sensations. Flavorants may be
encapsulated or added directly. They may be printed together with,
under, or on top of the inks that are commonly applied to tipping
materials to provide a particular appearance (e.g., appearance of
cork, lettering and/or logos, visible patterns, etc.). Flavorants
may also be applied with lip-release (in the cigarette art, the
term "lip-release" refers to materials configured to promote easy
release of contact between human lips and the
tipping-material-covered filter section of a cigarette without
substantial sticking, and the lip-release material referred to
herein may include any standard lip-release formulations currently
known and/or practiced in the art, or developed in the future). A
flavorant will provide a smoker with at least one oral and/or
olfactory sense beyond a tactile contact with and other normal
sensation associated with a tipping material lacking a
flavorant.
[0085] Flavorants applied to other parts of a cigarette such as,
for example, use of flavorants applied to wrapping material
surrounding the tobacco, which are released upon burning (see,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,190 to Stokes et al.). Flavorants have
also been applied to the filter tow and/or plug wrap (see, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,098 to Owens, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,277
to Gonterman, et al.). However, the present application of
flavorants to tipping paper provides a new approach. The flavorants
used on, and released upon burning of, wrapping materials are
expected to have different flavor profiles than the unburned
flavorants of the present application. In addition, rather than
exhibiting a primary impact upon the flavor or other sensations of
mainstream aerosol, the present application of flavorants to
tipping paper will primarily have a direct impact upon the smoker
through the lips, tongue, and/or nose, even though the smoker may
also enjoy an effect upon the mainstream aerosol from certain
flavorants entering the aerosol stream from air passage through the
tipping paper. It is expected that a smoker's main sensory input
from the flavorant may not come in the mainstream aerosol being
drawn through the filter of a cigarette, although the tastes and/or
other sensations will complement the smoker's appreciation of the
mainstream aerosol.
[0086] The flavorant(s) may include or be included in a variety of
substrates for application to the tipping material such as, for
example, inks, films, or other compositions that may include one or
more pigments, fillers, and/or optical brightening agents. In a
preferred embodiment, the flavorant composition is formulated to be
printed on one or both sides of tipping material before, during, or
after assembly of a smoking article such as a cigarette. However,
the formulation may also be applied by other means including, for
example, misting, spraying, or soaking the tipping material. One or
more flavorant compositions may be incorporated into tipping
material during its manufacture.
[0087] At least one layer of flavorant, and possibly several layers
of one or more flavorants (in each layer-applied together, or
separately), is applied to a wrapping material, preferably using a
printing process. Most preferably, the coating formulation is
applied using intaglio processes. As such, gravure coating
techniques, such as rotogravure printing techniques, are
particularly preferred. Other techniques for the coating
formulation to the wrapping material include blade coating,
air-knife coating, roll-coating and shaft coating techniques.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the layers of coating
formulation can be applied by spraying, ink jet coating, or other
similar printing techniques. A printed wrapping material will
thereby be provided with a pattern by application of at least one
flavorant material to a tipping material. The pattern preferably
may be applied to the tipping material in a so-called offline
fashion (i.e., offline relative to the manufacture of that wrapping
material).
[0088] Gravure printing techniques involve printing from the
continuous surface of a met al cylinder engraved mechanically or
etched chemically so as to possess minute grooves or cells below
the surface of that cylinder. A typical printing cylinder surface
is provided by etching a smooth, polished copper surface and
plating that etched surface with chrome. Those recessed cells or
grooves hold liquid (or liquid dispersion) formulations form
impressions, layers or "bumps" to be deposited onto the desired
location of a substrate, such as a continuous web of paper wrapping
material. Rotogravure printing presses have been commercially
available from Bobst Champlain, Inc.; from Cerutti S.p.A.; from
Rotomek, S.p.A.; from Intra-Roto, Inc.; as Merkur Heliostar from
Wirdmoller & Holscher, and KBA TR 7B from Albert-Frankenhal AG.
Gravure printing techniques are described in Pocket Pal, published
by International Paper Company (1970); Scarlett et al., What the
Printer Should Know About Ink (1984); and Gravure, Process and
Technology, Grav. Educ. Fdn. and Grav. Assoc. Amer. (1991). Thus,
the selection and operation of gravure printing equipment as
commonly used in the art may be practiced within the scope of the
present invention. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,867 to
Peterson et al. and 6,997,190 to Stokes et al., both of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Equipment and
techniques for applying coatings and inks to paper wrapping
materials suitable for the manufacture of tobacco rods for
cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,675 to Milford et
al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,753 to Peterson et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
5,878,754 to Peterson et al.; and PCT Pub. No. WO 02/37991. See,
also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,110 to Rosner.
[0089] Other printing techniques may be used as well, including
flexographic, ink-jet, thermal-transfer (including laser), screen
printing, or any other method for transferring a composition to a
paper or paper-like material such as tipping material. Different
solvents may be selected to carry the flavorant during application.
Most solvents preferably will evaporate and/or will not have a
negative impact upon the flavorant (including a smoker's experience
thereof). Preferably, the solvent will not disrupt or damage the
structure of the wrapping material (e.g., by weakening it) or
negatively affecting its appearance, nor will it confer any
undesirable flavor. Solvents used with gravure printing or
flexographic printing may include water, methylated spirits, ethyl
acetate, isopropanol, and/or n-propyl acetate. Solvents used with
screen printing may include cyclohexanone, butoxyethanol, aromatic
distillates, butyrolactone, and/or methoxypropanol acetate.
Solvents used with ink jet printing may include methanol, ethanol,
methylethylketone, ethylacetate, acetone, and/or ethyl lactate.
Solvents used with printable ink resins may include acrylics,
alkyds, cellulose derivatives, rubber resins, ketone, maleics,
formaldehydes, phenolics, epoxides, fumarics, polyurethanes,
polyvinylbutyrals, polyamines, and/or shellac. Solvents used with
pigment dispersants in inks (with or without flavorant) may include
monomeric cationic, anionic, or amphoteric surfactants as well as
various homopolymers or copolymers that may be random block
copolymers or graft copolymers such as comb copolymers. Printing
may form one or more patterns or may cover substantially an entire
surface of the tipping material.
[0090] In addition to the printing-type and other applications
described herein, smoking articles also can incorporate at least
one flavor component within an adhesive used to apply the tipping
material. Some examples of flavorants that may be printed or
otherwise applied to the tipping material or in the adhesive
include methyl cyclopentenolone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, inulin,
4-parahydroxyphenyl-2-butanone, gamma-undecalactone,
2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol,
5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, methyl salicylate, clary
sage oil and sandalwood oil. These flavor components may be
employed in amounts of about 0.2 percent to about 6.0 percent,
based on the total weight of the adhesive and flavor components.
Other flavorants (including flavor and aroma precursors) include,
for example, vanillin glucoside and/or ethyl vanillin glucoside.
See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,002 to Herron; and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,941,486 to Dube et al., each of which in incorporated herein
by reference. Other types of flavorants used in cigarette
manufacture are set forth in Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances
and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al.,
Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972), each of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Other flavorants may include, for
example, ethyl vanillin, caryophyllene oxide, sugars (e.g.,
rhamnose), and different flavor precursors that will produce a
flavor and/or aroma when contacted by the lips or tongue of a
smoker and/or heat and/or moisture from mainstream aerosol. Inks
useful as flavorants providing a scent, aroma, or other olfactory
sensation include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,947 to
Malloy et al and U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,842 to Vernardakis et al.
[0091] Flavorants may be incorporated by means other than printing
one or both surfaces of tipping material. For example, tipping
material may be dipped into a flavorant material such that it will
be absorbed thereby and/or will adsorb to surfaces of material
making up the tipping material. As another example, microcapsules
may be incorporated into the tipping material and configured to
release flavorant(s), for example, upon contact with moisture
and/or warmth of a smoker's lips, or, for example, in an embodiment
with a multi-layer tipping material, upon removal of an outer layer
of tipping material. For examples of synthetic capsules and
biologically-derived "capsules" (e.g., yeast organisms as a
delivery means) and methods that may be used within the scope of
the present invention, see Kondo, Microcapsule Processing and
Technology, ISBN 0824768574 (1979); Iwamoto et al., AAPS Pharm.
Sci. Tech. 2002 3(3): article 25; U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,598 to
McGlumphy and U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,455 to Takada et al.; U.S. Pat.
App. Pub. Nos. 2006/0096605 to Karles, et al.; 2006/0135335 to
Dawson, et al.; 2006/0144412 to Mishra et al.; 2006/0174901 to
Karles, et al.; 2007/0012327 to Karles, et al.; and 2007/0095357 to
Besso, et al., each of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Representative types of capsules and components thereof also are
set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,558 to Waterbury; U.S. Pat. No.
3,390,686 to Irby, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,521 to Dock;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,914 to Brooks et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,144
to Tateno et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,722 to MacAdam et al.; U.S
Pat. Pub. Nos. 2004/0261807 to Dube et al.; and PCT App. No. WO
03/009711 to Kim; which are incorporated herein by reference. See
also, the types of capsules and components thereof set forth in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,185 to Takei et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,093 to
Takei; U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,680 to Suzuki et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,719,933 to Nakamura et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,256 to Fonkwe
et al.; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0224020 to Schoenhard;
2005/0123601 to Mane et al.; 2005/0196437 to Bednarz et al. and
2005/0249676 to Scott et al.; which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0092] Printing and other formulations incorporating flavorants can
be applied over an entire surface of the tipping material, over
portions of one or both surfaces of the tipping material. It may be
applied, for example, in single- or multi-layer bands, in other
printed patterns (decorative patterns, letters, etc), some or all
of which may include flavorant(s). For examples of methods and
materials useful in providing multilayered bands, see U.S. Pat. No.
6,976,493to Chapman, et al. Some preferred flavorants will exhibit
sensory characteristics that can be described as having notes that
are sweet, woody, fruity, or some combination thereof. The
flavorants preferably are employed in amounts that depend upon
their individual detection thresholds. In one aspect, the
flavorants may be employed in sufficient amounts to mask or
ameliorate any off-tastes or malodors associated with burning
paper. Combinations of flavorants may be used to provide one or
more desired sensory characteristics to the experience of a smoker
from the smoking articles incorporating those flavorants. In some
applications, those flavorants may be employed in amounts and
manners so that their sensory characteristics are barely detectable
so they do not adversely affect the overall sensory characteristics
of smoking article into which they are incorporated. In other
aspects, a strong or at least distinctive flavor may be desirable
to satisfy a particular taste of a smoker.
[0093] For example, some flavorings will provide a unique sensation
to a smoker that may include, but go beyond one or more of taste,
smell, and tactile sensation. For example, such flavorants may
include menthol, menthanes, menthones, sweet proteins (e.g.,
thaumatin, monellin), essential oils containing menthol or
menthol-like compounds (e.g., peppermint), other essential oils
(wintergreen, spearmint), succinate esters, capsaicin, cinnamon, or
any commercially-available (or future-developed) "cooling
compounds" or "spicy compounds" (e.g., Evercool.RTM. (Givaudan
Flavors Corp.); WS-3, WS-5, & WS-23 (Wilkinson Sword Ltd.);
Frescolat.RTM. MGA (Haarmann & Reimer)), and other sources of
flavorant compounds. See also the flavorants and methods described
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,118 to Watson et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
4,060,091 to Watson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,098 to Owens, Jr.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,592 to Rainer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,576
van der Loo et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,390 to Nichols et al.; and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,277 to Gonterman, et al.
[0094] Preferred flavorants may be incorporated into printing
formulations, will have low vapor pressures, will not have a
tendency to migrate or evaporate under normal ambient conditions,
and will be stable under the processing conditions experienced by
tipping materials of the present invention. Exemplary flavorants
that provide sweet notes include ethyl vanillin, vanillin, inulin
(a fructose oligomer), heliotropin, methylcyclopentenolone; and
those flavorants typically are employed in amounts of 0.001 to
about 0.01 percent, based on the total weight of the printing
formulation into which they are incorporated. An exemplary
flavorant that provides woody notes includes caryophyllene oxide;
and that flavorant typically is employed in amounts of 0.2 to about
0.6 percent, based on the total weight of the printing formulation
into which it is incorporated. Exemplary flavorants that provide
fruity notes include ketones such as 4-hydroxphenyl-2-butanone and
lactones such as gamma-dodecalactone; and those flavorants
typically are employed in amounts of 0.001 to about 0.1 percent,
based on the total weight of the printing formulation into which
they are incorporated. Other flavorants are well known within the
tobacco, food-preparation, and confectionary arts, and it will be
appreciated that such flavorants may be used within the scope of
the present invention.
[0095] For example, confectionary inks are known in the art
including those, for example, those available from Sherwood Brands
(in Candicraft Pens). Edible inks that may include flavor are not
new and have been used with foodstuffs (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
3,961,082 to Winkler, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,122 to Lyon; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,030,134 to Stewart; U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,938 to Stewart;
PCT Pub. No. WO/2004/057985 to Pearce et al.; and U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. Nos. 2005/0003048 to Pearce et al. and 2007/0222830 to
Moynihan et al.).
[0096] For embodiments of the present invention including more than
one layer of tipping material, one or more flavorants will be
included in at least one layer of tipping material and may be
included in a plurality of layers. In a cigarette embodiment having
a plurality of tipping material layers, a first layer may include a
first flavorant, and a second layer may include a second flavorant,
wherein the flavorants may impart the same, similar, or different
sensations, and wherein--if different--the sensations may be
complementary or contrasting. In a multi-layer tipping material
embodiment where one or more outer layers are removable, a smoker
may have a selection option of flavors (e.g., an inner tipping
material layer having a first flavorant, and an outer tipping
material layer having a second flavorant, such that the smoker may
select to use the product with both layers in place providing a
combined sensation from the inner layer flavorant(s) and outer
layer flavorant(s), or to remove the outer layer with its
flavorant(s) and experience only the flavorant(s) of the inner
tipping material layer).
[0097] FIG. 2B shows a cigarette 409 in a partial perspective view
as having been cut along the line 2A-2A from a two-up cigarette of
the type shown in FIG. 2. However, the cigarette 409, as shown, is
provided with only a single layer of tipping material, or has had a
second layer (e.g. tipping layer 250) removed therefrom. This
embodiment includes a pattern of flavorant 287 applied to an
exterior surface as a plurality of bands that are disposed
generally longitudinally and circumferentially (both continuously
and discontinuously). The tipping material 208 substantially
circumscribes the filter element 205 along its longitudinal
periphery and a smokable rod covered by wrapping material 190 along
a proximal portion of its longitudinal periphery adjacent to the
filter element 205. Specifically, the flavorant bands 287 are
designated by stippled regions, which may be easily visible to a
user, or which may be clear or color-matched to the tipping
material such that they are not readily visible. The stippled
flavorant band region may be disposed in or on the tipping
material, and may include capsules (e.g., each stipple or set of a
plurality of stipples may represent a capsule such as a
microcapsule) or other flavorant means. The pattern may take any
number of other forms as will readily be apparent (e.g., other
banded patterns, checked patterns, zigzags, geometric or
non-geometric patterns, images, lettering, etc.), and may be
applied to the underside of the tipping material alone, or in
combination with a pattern on the upper side of the tipping
material.
[0098] In one embodiment, the first tipping material can be one
color or of one type of appearance (e.g., white in appearance), and
the second tipping material, which preferably can be removable from
the cigarette, can be another color or of another type of
appearance (e.g., printed so as to have a brown cork-type of
appearance or printed with other indicia). Other cosmetic
differences can be provided by using one type of tipping material
that is smooth, high opacity, shiny, or of high luster in
appearance, and one type of tipping material that is rough, low
opacity, dull or satiny in appearance. Other visual effects can be
provided by using different graphics on each of the two tipping
materials. Thus, there is provided a manner or method by which the
smoker can, by removing the second tipping material from the
cigarette during use, select the desired general appearance or of a
cigarette.
[0099] In one embodiment, the first tipping material can be
selected so as to include one type of tactile character, and the
second tipping material, which preferably can be removable from the
cigarette, can include a difference type of tactile character. For
example, the inner tipping material can include an outer surface
that can be characterized as wavy, rough, variegated, including
folds or creases, having an accordion-type or bellows-type
configuration, or the like; while the outer tipping material can
include an outer surface that can be characterized as smooth,
slick, or the like. In that regard, suitable coating agents (e.g.,
a lacquer) that provide a slick, smooth feel to the outer surface
of the outer tipping material can be employed. Alternatively, the
inner tipping material can be highly perforated (e.g., from the
bottom face outwards), embossed, subjected to fillagraining
processing, printed with coatings (e.g., ink formulations or
starch-based materials that provide raised or textured surface
properties), or treated with particulate material within an
adhesive film). For example, sugar crystals, salt crystals,
rupturable flavor-containing microcapsules, cellulosic fibers,
particles of calcium carbonate, or the like, can be secured to the
outer surface of the inner tipping material using an over-layer or
patterned over-layer of a suitable adhesive.
[0100] Tipping materials that each can provide a mouth end region
that can exhibit a different feeling when placed in the lips of the
smoker also can be accomplished through the use of two types of
laminated tipping materials. For example, the inner face of the
outer tipping material can be coated with a suitable release
coating; and the outer face of the inner tipping material can
treated so as to have regions that provide for desired adhesion to
the release coating as well as regions that provide the desired
surface texture. Thus, there is provided a manner or method by
which the smoker can, by removing the second tipping material from
the cigarette during use, select the tactile sensation provided by
the outer mouth end region of that cigarette.
[0101] In one embodiment, the first tipping material can be
selected so as to include certain other physical properties, and
the second tipping, which preferably can be removable from the
cigarette, can include different physical properties. For example,
the tipping materials can differ is terms of basis weight,
thickness, tensile strength, wet strength, moisture porosity, air
permeability, flexibility, general or overall hardness, general or
overall softness, or the like.
[0102] In one embodiment, the first tipping material can be
selected so as to include the ability to secure the filter element
to the tobacco rod. Such can be provided by selection of a material
having desired surface properties, ability to seal, ability to
accept adhesive, and the like. The second tipping material can be
selected so as to provide desirable visual, tactile and sensory
properties. As such, cigarettes of both highly desirable sensory
quality and good physical integrity can be provided.
[0103] In one embodiment, the first tipping material can be
selected so as to exhibit one type of aroma or flavor sensation,
and the second tipping material, which can be removable from the
cigarette, can be selected so as to exhibit another type of aroma
or flavor sensation. In one aspect, the amount of aromatic or
flavorant carried by one of the tipping materials can differ from
that amount carried by the other. Thus, for example, an outer
tipping material carrying a relatively low level of aromatic or
flavorant can provide one type of sensation; while an inner tipping
material carrying a relatively high level of aromatic or flavorant
can, when the outer tipping material is removed from the cigarette,
provide impact in terms of the delivery of that aromatic or
flavorant to the lips and mouth of the smoker. In certain
embodiments, the outer tipping material can be adapted to prevent
flavorants incorporated in between the tipping materials or within
the inner tipping material from escaping prior to use of the
cigarette, or can be adapted to mask the flavorant prior to
cigarette use. At the time of use, the smoker can remove the outer
wrapping material to expose the flavorant.
[0104] Exemplary manners and methods for providing encapsulated
materials, such as microencapsulated flavorants, are set forth in
Gutcho, Microcapsules and Microencapsulation Techniques (1976) and
Gutcho, Microcapsules and Other Capsules Advances Since 1975
(1979). Exemplary types of microcapsules can have diameters of less
than 100 microns, an often can have outer shells that are gelatin
based, cyclodextrin based, or the like. Microcapsules have been
commercially available, and exemplary types of microcapsule
technologies are of that type set forth in Kondo, Microcapsule
Processing and Technology (1979); Iwamoto et al., AAPS Pharm. Sci.
Tech. 2002 3(3): article 25; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,598 to
McGlumphy and U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,455 to Takada et al.
[0105] In one embodiment, releasable flavoring or aromatic agents,
such as are provided by encapsulated flavor materials, can be
incorporated into either or both of the first and second tipping
materials. For example, microcapsules can be positioned in the
region between the layers of tipping materials; and such flavors
can be released by application of pressure or peeling of the outer
tipping material from the inner tipping material. Alternatively, or
in addition, capsules (including microcapsules) could be placed on
the underside of the tipping material, the top surface thereof, or
embedded therein (as well as any combination, or being placed
between the tipping material and the plug wrap and/or filter). As
used herein, capsules or microcapsules refer to crushable or
otherwise disruptable or disintegrable components that may be
formed from, for example, a gel with a skin, a rigid or semi-rigid
shell with a liquid, aromatic, or semi-liquid core (that may be
contained in one or more inner capsules), or another capsule
construction. They may be crushed or otherwise disrupted to release
a flavorant. The capsules may be applied with an adhesive, in a
suspension, or incorporated into a tipping material. The capsules
may be configured to be crushed or otherwise disrupted by a
smoker's fingers (e.g., by pinching or rolling the cigarette), by
mouth contact (e.g., heat, pressure, moisture of the mouth), and/or
smoking process.
[0106] Exemplary flavorants suitable for use in the invention may
be natural or synthetic, and the character of these flavors can be
described, without limitation, as fresh, sweet, herbal,
confectionary, floral, fruity or spice. Specific types of flavors
include, but are not limited to, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, cream,
mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, wintergreen, lavender,
cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey,
jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple,
peach, lime, cherry, and strawberry. See also, Leffingwill et al.,
Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company (1972). Flavorings also can include components that are
considered moistening, cooling or smoothening agents, such as
eucalyptus. These flavors may be provided neat (i.e., alone) or in
a composite (e.g., spearmint and menthol, or orange and cinnamon).
Composite flavors may be combined in a single capsule as a mixture,
or as components of multiple capsules. The flavoring material may
cover an entire surface of the tipping material.
[0107] In one embodiment, the tipping materials can include printed
indicia for marketing or other purposes. For example, markings or
indicia on either or both of the tipping materials can aid in
identification of properly manufactured cigarettes so as to assist
in identifying or recognizing counterfeit cigarettes. As another
example, markings on the inner or outer face of a removable outer
tipping material can be used to identify product, act as a coupon
or ticket, act a game piece, or the like.
[0108] In one embodiment, the tipping materials can be used to
enhance the degradability of spent cigarette portions, such as
cigarette butts. For example, outer tipping materials, which might
be desirable for providing certain sensory characteristics, can be
removed after the cigarette is smoked. That portion of the outer
tipping material removed from the cigarette butt can be disposed of
separately from the remainder of the cigarette butt. As such,
absence of that tipping material within the cigarette butt can
provide for enhanced degradability of the remaining butt
components.
[0109] In certain embodiments, the outer tipping material can be
constructed of a paper having characteristics and qualities, such
as combustibility, commonly associated with cigarette paper used as
smokable rod wrapping material 190. In such embodiments, the outer
tipping material is designed to be removed from the inner tipping
material though use of, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive
or skip gap adhesive application between the inner and outer
tipping material that provides sufficient adhesive strength to
maintain the outer tipping material in place prior to use by the
smoker, but which can be removed from the inner tipping material
when desired. As such, the outer tipping material can be removed to
expose the inner tipping material prior to smoking. Alternatively,
the smoker may, in certain embodiments, slide the outer tipping
material down to the smokable rod portion of the cigarette such
that a portion of the smokable rod has a double layer of wrapping
material. The presence of the double wrapping on a portion of the
smokable rod can reduce visible sidestream smoke or alter the
sensory characteristics (e.g., the flavor or aroma characteristics
of the smoke) or chemistry of the smoke generated by the cigarette.
For example, the outer tipping material may include any of the
flavoring or aroma agents discussed herein, including, for example,
the flavor and aroma precursors discussed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,941,486 to Dube et al., which is incorporated by reference
herein. In this manner, the smoker can selectively alter the
sensory characteristics of the smoke as desired or simply remove
the outer tipping material.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 12, there are shown components of a
smoking article 300 in the form of a filtered cigarette. The
cigarette 300 includes a generally cylindrical rod 320 of a charge
or roll of smokable filler material 308 contained in a
circumscribing wrapping material 318 of the present invention. The
rod 320 is conventionally referred to as a "smokable rod" or
"tobacco rod". The ends of the tobacco rod are open to expose the
smokable filler material. At one end of the tobacco rod 320 is the
lighting end 304, and at the other end is shown a filter element
302. The cigarette 300 is shown as having one optional printed band
322 printed on wrapping material 318, and that band entirely
circumscribes the cigarette rod in a direction transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the cigarette. That is, the band provides a
cross-directional region relative to the longitudinal axis of the
cigarette. The band most preferably is applied to the inner surface
of the wrapping material (i.e., facing the smokable filler
material), but can be applied to the outer surface of the wrapping
material. Although the cigarette shown includes wrapping material
having one band, the cigarette also can include wrapping material
having spaced bands numbering two, three, or more. The band 322 may
comprise additive materials of a coating formulation, which may
confer, for example, flavor, burn-retardation, altered diffusivity,
and/or other traits.
[0111] The cigarette 300 normally includes a filter element 302 or
other suitable mouthpiece positioned adjacent one end of the
tobacco rod 320 such that the filter element and tobacco rod are
axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting
one another. Filter element 302 has a generally cylindrical shape,
and the diameter thereof is essentially equal to the diameter of
the tobacco rod. The ends of the filter element are open to permit
the passage of air and smoke therethrough. The filter element 302
includes filter material 308 (e.g., plasticized cellulose acetate
tow) that is overwrapped along the longitudinally extending surface
thereof with circumscribing plug wrap material 310. The filter
element 302 can comprise two or more filter segments (not shown),
and/or flavor additives incorporated therein.
[0112] The filter element 302 is attached to the tobacco rod 320 by
a tipping material 312 which circumscribes both the entire length
of the filter element and an adjacent region of the tobacco rod.
The inner surface of the tipping material 312 is fixedly secured to
the outer surface of the plug wrap 310 and the outer surface of the
wrapping material 318 of the tobacco rod, using a suitable adhesive
(e.g., a water-based adhesive of the type traditionally employed by
cigarette manufacturers for application of tipping paper during
filtered cigarette manufacture). That is, the first tipping
material extends around the longitudinally extending periphery of
substantially the entire length of the plug wrap, and a portion of
the longitudinally extending periphery of the wrapping material of
the tobacco rod in a region of the tobacco rod immediately adjacent
to the filter element. A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article
may be provided with an air dilution means, such as a plurality or
series of perforations 314, each of which extend through the
tipping material 312 and plug wrap 310. Most preferably, adhesive
is applied to a longitudinally extending seam line or lap zone (not
shown) of the first tipping material, such as is conventionally
employed during cigarette manufacture. As with the embodiments
described above that include more than one layer of tipping
material, the tipping material 312 may be printed or otherwise
treated with a flavorant using one or more of the methods and/or
materials described above. As one example, the tipping material 312
may be printed with bands 323 of a flavorant formulation as
described above. As another example, one or both surfaces of the
tipping material 312 may be printed with a pattern that may cover
some or substantially all of said surface with a flavorant, and/or
one of the other means described above may be used to incorporate
or apply flavorant into/onto the tipping material.
[0113] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the
foregoing description; and it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that variations and modifications of the present invention
can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the claims, which define the invention.
Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation.
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