U.S. patent application number 12/598910 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for filter cigarillo.
This patent application is currently assigned to REEMTSMA CIGARETTENFABRIKEN GMBH. Invention is credited to Henning Seidel, Regine Wolfgramm.
Application Number | 20100132724 12/598910 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39185362 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100132724 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seidel; Henning ; et
al. |
June 3, 2010 |
FILTER CIGARILLO
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a filter cigarillo (1) which has
tobacco (4), a filter (8) at the mouth end of the filter cigarillo
(1), and a covering sheet (12) which extends over the whole length
of the filter cigarillo (1). A banderole-like marking (14), which
leaves free the mouth end (2) of the filter cigarillo (1), is
disposed at the mouth half of the covering sheet (12). Preferably,
below the covering sheet (12), the tobacco (4) is surrounded by a
surround sheet (6), and the filter (8) is connected to the surround
sheet (6) by means of a filter cover (10).
Inventors: |
Seidel; Henning;
(Mechtersen, DE) ; Wolfgramm; Regine; (Hamburg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY WILLIAMS LLP
10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 1000
Overland Park
KS
66210
US
|
Assignee: |
REEMTSMA CIGARETTENFABRIKEN
GMBH
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
39185362 |
Appl. No.: |
12/598910 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 21, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/03198 |
371 Date: |
January 18, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/334 ;
131/338; 131/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 1/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/334 ;
131/341; 131/338 |
International
Class: |
A24D 3/04 20060101
A24D003/04; A24D 3/06 20060101 A24D003/06; A24D 3/00 20060101
A24D003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2007 |
DE |
20 2007 006 565.5 |
Claims
1. A filter cigarillo presenting a mouth end and an opposite distal
end, and defining a length extending therebetween, said filter
cigarillo comprising: tobacco; a filter extending from the mouth
end of the filter cigarillo, a cover sheet extending over the
entire length of the filter cigarillo; and a banderole-like marking
arranged on a mouth-end half of the cover sheet that does not cover
the mouth end of the filter cigarillo.
2. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said tobacco being
enclosed by a surround sheet disposed beneath the cover sheet, said
filter being connected to the surround sheet with a filter
cover.
3. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said banderole-like
marking being configured as a band that extends over the entire
circumference of the cover sheet.
4. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 3, said band being
produced as an independent part and being subsequently fixed on the
cover sheet.
5. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 4, said band including
at least one material selected from the group consisting of paper,
reconstituted tobacco, film material, transparent film material,
cellophane, self-extinguishing material, alginates, cellulose, and
fire-retardant salts.
6. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 4, said band including
printing thereon.
7. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said banderole-like
marking being printed onto the cover sheet.
8. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 6, said banderole-like
marking being formed by at least one technique selected from the
group consisting of gravure printing, letterpress printing,
flexographic printing, stamping, offset printing, online printing,
and offline printing.
9. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said banderole-like
marking including at least one feature selected from the group
consisting of logo, warning, advertising, originality hint,
single-colored stripes running parallel to one another,
multi-colored stripes running parallel to one another, and
hologram.
10. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said banderole-like
marking presenting a width within a range of 3 mm to 16 mm, 3 mm to
5 mm, 5 mm to 7 mm, 7 mm to 9 mm, 9 mm to 12 mm, or 12 mm to 16
mm.
11. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, a portion of the
cover sheet disposed between the mouth end of the filter cigarillo
and the banderole-like marking presenting a width within a range of
10 mm to 30 mm, 10 mm to 23 mm, 10 mm to 14 mm, 14 mm to 20 mm, 18
mm to 23 mm, or 17 mm to 19 mm.
12. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 2, further comprising
a ventilation zone including ventilation openings.
13. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 12, said ventilation
zone providing a degree of ventilation within a range of 10% to
90%, 30% to 70%, 30% to 50%, 10% to 30%, or 70% to 90%.
14. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 12, said ventilation
zone being arranged in at least one area selected from the group
consisting of 9 mm to 30 mm from the mouth end of the filter
cigarillo, 9 mm to 23 mm from the mouth end of the filter
cigarillo, 9 mm to 15 mm from the mouth end of the filter
cigarillo, 12 mm to 14 mm from the mouth end of the filter
cigarillo, and 0 mm to 40 mm from a rod end of the filter and
disposed outside of a region of the filter.
15. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said filter
presenting a filter length within a range of 4 mm to 30 mm, 5 mm to
26 mm, 5 mm to 10 mm, or 7 mm to 8 mm.
16. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said filter
including at least one material selected from the group consisting
of cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose, cellulose, paper,
tobacco, compressed tobacco, adsorbent, activated carbon, and
ion-exchange material.
17. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said filter
including a hollow mouthpiece.
18. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said cigarillo
length being within a range of 65 mm to 120 mm, 80 mm to 105 mm, 83
mm to 85 mm, or 99 mm to 101 mm.
19. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said cigarillo
presenting a diameter within a range of 5 mm to 12 mm, 5 mm to 9
mm, 7 mm to 9 mm, 7.7 mm to 8.3 mm, or 10.5 mm to 11.5 mm.
20. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said tobacco
comprising deribbed mixed tobacco.
21. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said tobacco
comprising a mixture with Burley tobacco, Virginia tobacco, and
oriental tobacco.
22. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said tobacco
presenting a mass within a range of 0.5 g to 3.0 g, 0.5 g, to 2.0
g, 1.2 g, to 2.0 g, or 2.3 g to 3.0 g.
23. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, said cover sheet
being wound helically to present a helix angle relative to a
longitudinal axis of the filter cigarillo.
24. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 1, at least one of
said cover sheet the and said surround sheet comprising
reconstituted tobacco.
25. The filter cigarillo as claimed in claim 23, said helix angle
presenting an angular measurement of approximately 30.degree..
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a filter cigarillo having tobacco,
having a filter in the mouth end region, and having a cover sheet
which extends over the entire length of the filter cigarillo.
[0002] Conventional filter cigarillos have a tobacco rod which is
usually enclosed by a surround sheet and a cover sheet arranged
thereabove. At one end of the rod, the filter is connected to the
rod with the aid of a so-called tipping paper (filter cover). In
the case of such filter cigarillos, the end at which the filter is
arranged is evident at first glance, in which case the user can
easily light up the filter cigarillo at the correct end.
[0003] In accordance with a new regulation (EU guideline 2002/10/EC
dated Feb. 12, 2002), the cover sheet extends over the entire
length of the filter cigarillo. In the case of these products, the
filter with the tipping paper is fixed on the rod, which is wrapped
by the surround sheet, and then covered completely by the cover
sheet. This gives rise to the problem where the user has to look
very carefully at which end of the filter cigarillo the filter is
located. If the filter has, for example, cellulose acetate, which
is virtually white, the end with the filter can still be
distinguished from the other end of the filter cigarillo by the
color of the end side. Tobacco filters are also conceivable,
however, i.e. a filter made of tobacco, and this makes it difficult
to distinguish between the two ends of the filter cigarillo.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to make it possible to
distinguish readily between the two ends of a filter cigarillo even
when the cover sheet extends over the entire length of the filter
cigarillo.
[0005] This object is achieved by a filter cigarillo having the
features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention can
be found in the subclaims.
[0006] The filter cigarillo according to the invention contains
tobacco and, in its mouth-end region a filter. The outer wrapper
used is a cover sheet which extends over the entire length of the
filter cigarillo. Beneath the cover sheet, the tobacco is
preferably enclosed by a surround sheet, the filter being connected
to the tobacco rod, which is wrapped by the surround sheet, by
means of a filter cover. According to the invention, a band-like
marking (in the following generally: banderole-like marking) is
arranged on the mouth-end half of the cover sheet and leaves the
mouth end (or the mouth end region) of the filter cigarillo
free.
[0007] The position of the banderole-like marking readily indicates
the orientation of the filter cigarillo and the position of the
mouth end thereof. Since the mouth end itself is not covered by the
banderole-like marking, the properties of the filter cigarillo in
the end region, which is relatively important in respect of smoking
behavior, are not influenced by the banderole-like marking.
[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the banderole-like marking is
configured as a band which extends over the entire circumference of
the cover sheet. It is possible here for the band to be produced as
an independent part and to be fixed on the cover sheet, e.g. by
adhesive bonding, preferably by adhesive bonding to the cover sheet
over the entire surface area. It is also possible for the band to
be positioned tightly around the cover sheet to be fixed on itself,
so that it cannot slip or be drawn over the cover sheet. Examples
of possible materials for the band are paper, reconstituted tobacco
and film material, and also transparent film material, e.g.
cellophane. The band may also be rendered self-extinguishing, in
order to prevent the filter cigarillo from accidently burning right
down. This is achieved, for example, by the addition of fire
retardants (e.g. alginates, cellulose and salts). In preferred
embodiments of the invention, the band has printing on it.
[0009] The banderole-like marking need not be designed in the form
of an independent part; rather, it may also be printed onto the
cover sheet of the filter cigarillo.
[0010] Possible printing techniques for the banderole print, both
in the case of an independent band and in the case of a printed-on
marking, are gravure printing, offset printing and letterpress
printing (also flexographic printing and stamping). The banderole
printing can take place "online" in that, during production of the
filter cigarillo, the cover sheet, or a banderole which has already
been wound around the cover sheet and fastened thereon, has
printing applied to it in the desired manner. In the latter case,
it is also possible for the banderole already to have been provided
with other printing or marking prior to being applied to the cover
sheet. "Offline" printing is suitable, in particular, for
independent bands, which are printed continuously, for example on
sheets or endless strips and then are separated and fastened on the
cover sheet of the filter cigarillo.
[0011] The banderole-like marking is preferably configured in a
decorative manner, e.g. with a logo. It may also be printed with a
warning, advertising or an originality hint or be marked in some
other way. Other suitable markings are holograms. A simple
banderole-like marking, e.g. with a single color or with colored
stripes which run parallel to one another and extend over the
circumference of the filter cigarillo, is likewise conceivable.
[0012] The width of the banderole-like marking may lie, for
example, within the range of 3 mm to 16 mm. All intermediate values
are also disclosed herewith. A width of approximately 8 mm is
particularly advantageous. However, there is no need for the
longitudinal sides of the banderole-like marking (that is to say
the sides running in the circumferential direction of the filter
cigarillo) to be rectilinear or to run parallel to one another.
[0013] The zone of the cover sheet between the mouth end of the
filter cigarillo and the banderole-like marking may have, for
example, a width in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm, all intermediate
ranges also being disclosed herewith, e.g. 17 mm to 19 mm or
approximately 18 mm.
[0014] In preferred embodiments, the filter cigarillo has a
ventilation zone with ventilation openings. The ventilation
openings can be produced, for example, by laser perforation or
mechanical perforation. The ventilation zone may be arranged, for
example, in a region of 9 mm to 30 mm from the mouth end of the
filter cigarillo (which may also comprise a small subregion thereof
or, for example, a circumferentially running perforation line which
extends over the entire circumference or a subregion thereof) or
somewhere inbetweeen. In one embodiment, the ventilation zone is
located outside the filter region at a distance of 0 mm to 40 mm
(or somewhere inbetween) from the rod end of the filter, that is to
say from the end at which the tobacco rod begins. However, it need
not be restricted to the tobacco rod (rod ventilation); rather, it
may also be arranged in addition, or exclusively, in the filter
region. The ventilation zone may have, for example, one, two or
more than two circumferentially running perforation lines, but
other configurations are also conceivable.
[0015] The ventilation zone is preferably dimensioned such that the
filter cigarillo maintains or goes below target values or potential
regulatory limit values for smoking (in particular in accordance
with "Coresta recommended method" No. 64-67 and/or in accordance
with DIN/ISO). The degree of ventilation may lie within the range
of 10% to 90%, all intermediate values also being disclosed (e.g.
30% to 70%, 30% to 50%, 10% to 30% and 70% to 90%).
[0016] In some circumstances, a ventilation zone in the mouth end
region of the filter cigarillo is barely visible to the naked eye.
Wrapping with the cover sheet also means that it is not possible to
see the location at which the smokable tobacco rod ends and the
filter portion begins. Placement of the banderole-like marking,
however, means that the invention makes it possible for the smoker
to see the location at which the filtration region (with
ventilation zone and filtering material) begins and the region
envisaged for smoking ends.
[0017] The filter has, for example, a length in the range of 4 mm
to 30 mm, all intermediate ranges also being disclosed. A filter
length of approximately 7 mm to 8 mm is advantageous.
[0018] The filter may be produced from a conventional filter
material such as cellulose acetate, but may also have regenerated
cellulose (e.g. viscose). Examples of other conceivable materials
are cellulose and paper. It is also possible to provide additives,
e.g. an adsorbent, activated carbon or an ion-exchange material. A
particular advantage of the filter cigarillo according to the
invention is evident when the filter has tobacco, since in this
case the ends of the filter cigarillo are indistinguishable in
practice. A tobacco filter may also be produced for example in
that, during production of the filter cigarillo, the tobacco rod is
compressed in a region which is envisaged as the filter zone. The
filter may also have a hollow mouthpiece. Multi-part filters are
likewise conceivable.
[0019] For the overall length and diameter of the filter cigarillo,
wide ranges are possible in each case, e.g. 65 mm to 120 mm for the
overall length and 5 mm to 12 mm for the diameter. All intermediate
values are also disclosed herewith. Preferred values for the
overall length are approximately 84 mm and approximately 100 mm.
The diameter may be, for example, approximately 8 mm. In another
embodiment, the diameter is greater than or equal to 10.8 mm (i.e.
the circumference is greater than or equal to 34 mm).
[0020] The tobacco used can be any tobacco which is conventional
for cigarillos, e.g. deribbed mixed tobacco. In a preferred
embodiment, it is also possible to use mixtures which are typical
for cigarettes, e.g. mixtures with Burley, Virginia and/or oriental
tobacco, which can also be used in the form of deribbed mixed
tobacco.
[0021] The mass of the tobacco material contained in the filter
cigarillo lies, for example, within the range of 0.5 g to 3.0 g or
somewhere inbetween and is preferably either greater than (or equal
to) 1.2 g or greater than (or equal to) 2.3 g. The mass here
relates to the total amount of tobacco material, that is to say to
the tobacco in the tobacco rod intended for smoking and also any
tobacco (e.g. reconstituted tobacco) in the surround sheet and/or
cover sheet. Embodiments with a tobacco mass of 2.3 g or more are
particularly suitable for filter cigarillos which do not have any
surround sheet and in which the cover sheet is wound axially (that
is to say not helically); the diameter here is preferably at least
10.8 mm (i.e. the circumference is at least 34 mm).
[0022] The cover sheet of the filter cigarillo may (in the same way
as the surround sheet) have reconstituted tobacco. The cover sheet
is preferably wound helically. An advantageous helix angle of the
winding is approximately 30.degree. (measured in relation to the
longitudinal axis of the filter cigarillo; the helix angle here is
thus defined differently than in the case of a screw thread). It is
also conceivable for the cover sheet not to be wound helically. A
helically wound cover sheet may also be configured as a natural
cover sheet, that is to say in particular produced from a tobacco
leaf.
[0023] In the case of the filter cigarillo according to the
invention, the banderole-like marking makes it possible to
distinguish quickly and reliably between the end provided with the
filter and the end which is to be lit up. Furthermore, the
banderole-like marking can emphasize a ventilation zone, thus
ensuring that boundary values are maintained during smoking, and it
can show clearly the position of the filtration zone in relation to
the zone intended for smoking. Moreover, the banderole-like marking
makes it possible for the filter cigarillo to be configured in an
attractive manner or to be differentiated from cigarettes.
[0024] The invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow
by way of an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through an
embodiment of the filter cigarillo according to the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic longitudinal section of an
embodiment of a filter cigarillo 1. FIG. 1 is not true to scale;
for example, the materials are shown to be thicker than they really
are.
[0027] The filter cigarillo 1 has a mouth end 2 and a rod end 3. It
contains, as filling, a tobacco 4 formed into a tobacco rod. In the
exemplary embodiment, the tobacco 4 is a deribbed mixed tobacco, as
is used for filter cigarillos. The tobacco may be produced from a
mixture of Burley-, Virginia- and oriental tobacco.
[0028] The tobacco 4 is enclosed by a surround sheet 6 which, in
the exemplary embodiment, consists of reconstituted tobacco. The
surround sheet 6 is wound axially (that is to say not helically)
and is closed along a longitudinal seam, which is not shown in FIG.
1 and is configured as an adhesive-bonding seam.
[0029] That end of the tobacco rod which is directed away from the
rod end 3 has arranged on it a filter 8, which in the exemplary
embodiment has cellulose acetate. Other filter materials, e.g.
regenerated cellulose, paper or even tobacco, are likewise
conceivable. For fastening the filter 8 on the tobacco rod, which
is wrapped by the surround sheet 6, use is made of a filter cover
10 made of paper (tipping paper) which is longer in the axial
direction than the filter 8 and thus overlaps the surround sheet 6.
The filter cover 10 is adhesively bonded to the surround sheet 6.
The filter cover may also be produced from a material other than
paper, e.g. from reconstituted tobacco.
[0030] A cover sheet 12 is provided as an outer wrapper. In the
exemplary embodiment, the cover sheet 12 is likewise produced from
reconstituted tobacco. It is wound helically, as is indicated in
FIG. 1 by the oblique strokes. In accordance with recent
regulations, the cover sheet 12 covers over the filter cover 10 to
the full extent, as is the case in the embodiment according to FIG.
1, and thus extends from the mouth end 2 to the rod end 3 of the
filter cigarillo 1. The region of the cover sheet 12 in the
vicinity of the rod end 3 is not depicted in FIG. 1.
[0031] Apart from the fact that the cover sheet 12 also covers over
the filter cover 10, and to the extent considered thus far, the
filter cigarillo 1 is produced in a manner which is conventional
for filter cigarillos, and using materials which are conventional
therefor, as is known to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore,
the filter cigarillo 1 has a banderole-like marking, which in the
exemplary embodiment is configured as a band 14. The band 14 is
located in the mouth-end half of the filter cigarillo 1 and, in the
exemplary embodiment, is arranged in the vicinity of the filter 8.
In the exemplary embodiment, the band 14 is produced from paper,
extends over the entire circumference of the filter cigarillo 1 and
is adhesively bonded to the cover sheet 12 over the entire surface
area. The two ends of the band 14 here overlap to some extent
(approximately 2 mm to 4 mm). Configurations in which a gap remains
between the two ends of the band are likewise conceivable. The
adhesive used is an adhesive which is permissible for tobacco
products.
[0032] In the exemplary embodiment, the band 14 is printed with an
attractive originality hint. For printing purposes, for example a
paper roll having a width equal to a plurality of individual bands
14 is unwound, provided with the banderole print by gravure
printing and wound up again and then cut, as it were, in slices to
produce a plurality of endless rolls with bands 14 arranged one
behind the other. Upon production of the filter cigarillos, the
foremost band from a banderole roll can then be fed to a respective
filter cigarillo 1, and the band 14 is severed from the banderole
roll and, following application of adhesive at the location
envisaged for this purpose, wound around the filter cigarillo 1 and
adhesively bonded to the cover sheet 12.
[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the filter cigarillo 1 has an
overall length of 84 mm. The filter 8 has a length of 7 mm and the
band 14 has a width of 8 mm. The free zone between the mouth end 2
of the filter cigarillo 1 and the start of the band 14 has a length
of approximately 18 mm in the exemplary embodiment. Also provided
in this zone is a ventilation zone which extends in the form of a
single line of laser perforations around the circumference of the
filter cigarillo 1 and at a distance of 13 mm from the mouth end 2.
The total tobacco mass (that is to say the mass of the tobacco 4
plus the masses of the surround sheet 6 and of the cover sheet 12)
is somewhat more than 1.2 g.
* * * * *