U.S. patent application number 16/306778 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-02 for a smoking article and attachable unit therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. Invention is credited to Barry DIMMICK, Karl KALJURA.
Application Number | 20190124974 16/306778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56508292 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190124974 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DIMMICK; Barry ; et
al. |
May 2, 2019 |
A Smoking Article and Attachable Unit Therefor
Abstract
An attachable unit (3) to be attached to a smoking article rod
(2) by a user to modify one or more properties of an aerosol
generated by the smoking article rod. The attachable unit can
include a recess (30) to receive at least a portion of the smoking
article rod and a raised area (50) extending around an inner
surface of the recess for contacting an outer surface of the
smoking article rod. The attachable unit can include a tubular
element (31) to receive at least a portion of the smoking article
rod. The attachable unit can include an element (20) arranged to be
inserted at least partially into a recess (13) of the smoking
article rod and the attachable unit can also be arranged to form a
further recess (330) for receiving at least a portion of the
smoking article rod.
Inventors: |
DIMMICK; Barry; (London,
GB) ; KALJURA; Karl; (London, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
56508292 |
Appl. No.: |
16/306778 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
June 8, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2017/051675 |
371 Date: |
December 3, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 7/04 20130101; A24D
3/18 20130101; A24D 3/061 20130101; A24D 1/045 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24D 1/04 20060101
A24D001/04; A24D 3/18 20060101 A24D003/18; A24F 7/04 20060101
A24F007/04; A24D 3/06 20060101 A24D003/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2016 |
GB |
1610049.7 |
Claims
1. An attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod by a
user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod, the
attachable unit comprising: a cylindrical element; and a tubular
element, wherein the cylindrical element and tubular element are
aligned on a longitudinal axis and connected together by a sheet
material wrapping at least a portion of the cylindrical element and
tubular element and wherein the tubular element defines a recess to
receive at least a portion of the smoking article rod when the
attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod.
2. An attachable unit according to claim 1, wherein the tubular
element comprises a resiliently deformable material.
3. An attachable unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the
tubular element has a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm,
between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, between 0.2 mm and 1 mm or between 0.2 mm
and 0.4 mm.
4. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the tubular element has an internal diameter of between 4
mm and 10 mm and a manufacturing tolerance for said internal
diameter of less than +/-0.1 mm, +/-0.05 mm, +/-0.04 mm, +/-0.03 mm
or +/-0.02 mm.
5. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking
article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and
wherein a longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical element is
arranged to abut a longitudinal end surface of the smoking article
rod when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article
rod.
6. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein the element comprises filtration material.
7. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the element comprises fibrous filtration material.
8. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the element comprises a flavour modifying agent.
9. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
further comprising a raised area extending from an inner surface of
the recess for contacting an outer surface of the smoking article
rod when the at least a portion of the smoking article rod is
received in the recess.
10. An attachable unit according to claim 9, wherein the raised
area is annular and extends circumferentially around the inner
circumferential surface of the recess.
11. A kit comprising an attachable unit according to any one of the
preceding claims and a smoking article rod, the attachable unit to
be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
12. A smoking article comprising: a smoking article rod; and an
attachable unit according to any one of the preceding claims
attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a portion of
the smoking article rod is received in the recess defined by the
tubular element.
13. An attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod by a
user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod, the
attachable unit comprising: a recess to receive at least a portion
of the smoking article rod when the attachable unit is attached to
the smoking article rod; and a raised area extending from an inner
surface of the recess for contacting an outer surface of the
smoking article rod when the at least a portion of the smoking
article rod is received in the recess.
14. An attachable unit according to claim 13, further comprising a
sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve defines the
recess.
15. An attachable unit according to claim 14, wherein the
attachable unit further comprises: a cylindrical element; and a
sheet material at least partially surrounding the cylindrical
element and forming the sleeve.
16. An attachable unit according to claim 15, wherein the
attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking article rod and
attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the
attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein
the recess of the attachable unit is formed by the sheet material
extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the
cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an
inner surface of the sheet material.
17. An attachable unit according to claim 15, wherein the
attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking article rod and
attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the
attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein
the recess of the attachable unit is formed by a tubular element
held within a portion of the sheet material extending
longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical
element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner
surface of the tubular element.
18. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 17,
wherein the raised area is annular and extends circumferentially
around the inner circumferential surface of the recess.
19. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 18,
wherein the raised area is for contacting an outer circumferential
surface of the smoking article rod when the at least a portion of
the smoking article rod is received in the recess.
20. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 19,
wherein the raised area comprises a seal which is configured to
restrict the ingress of air into the smoking article between the
inner surface of the recess of the attachable unit and the outer
surface of the smoking article rod.
21. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 20,
wherein the raised area comprises a deformable material.
22. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 21,
wherein the raised area comprises a resiliently deformable
material.
23. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 22,
wherein the raised area comprises an adhesive.
24. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 23,
wherein the element comprises filtration material.
25. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 24,
wherein the element comprises fibrous filtration material.
26. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 25,
wherein the element comprises a flavour modifying agent.
27. A kit comprising an attachable unit according to any one of
claims 13 to 26 and a smoking article rod, the attachable unit to
be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
28. A smoking article comprising: a smoking article rod; and an
attachable unit according to any one of claims 13 to 26 attached to
the smoking article rod, wherein at least a portion of the smoking
article rod is received in the recess and the raised area is in
contact with the outer surface of the smoking article rod.
29. An attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod by a
user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod, the
smoking article rod comprising a first recess, the attachable unit
comprising: an element arranged to be inserted at least partially
into the first recess of the smoking article rod; and a second
recess arranged to receive at least a portion of the smoking
article rod.
30. An attachable unit according to claim 29, wherein the second
recess surrounds the element.
31. An attachable unit according to claim 29 or 30, further
comprising an outer sleeve surrounding the element, wherein: the
element comprises a cylindrical element; and the second recess is
formed between the cylindrical element and the outer sleeve.
32. An attachable unit according to claim 31, further comprising a
cylindrical body of material surrounded by the sleeve, the
cylindrical body of material having a diameter greater than the
cylindrical element and the cylindrical element arranged coaxially
with the cylindrical body of material and extending from an end
thereof.
33. An attachable unit according to claim 32, wherein the
attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking article rod and
attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the
attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein
the cylindrical body of material has a longitudinal end surface
which is arranged to abut a longitudinal end surface of the smoking
article rod when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking
article rod.
34. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 29 to 33,
wherein the element comprises filtration material.
35. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 29 to 34,
wherein the element comprises a flavour modifying agent.
36. An attachable unit according to any one of claims 29 to 35,
further comprising a raised area extending from an inner surface of
the second recess for contacting an outer surface of the smoking
article rod when the at least a portion of the smoking article rod
is received in the second recess.
37. A kit comprising an attachable unit according to any one of
claims 29 to 36 and a smoking article rod, the attachable unit to
be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
38. A smoking article comprising: a smoking article rod comprising
a first recess; and an attachable unit according to any one of
claims 29 to 36 attached to the smoking article rod, wherein the
element of the attachable unit is inserted at least partially into
the first recess of the smoking article rod and at least a portion
of the smoking article rod is received in the second recess of the
attachable unit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a smoking article and an attachable
unit therefor.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cigarettes and other smoking articles produce an aerosol,
smoke in the case of cigarettes, which is inhaled by a user.
Separate filter units may be attached to smoking articles to modify
the aerosol before it reaches the user's mouth.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided an attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod
by a user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article
rod, the attachable unit comprising a recess to receive at least a
portion of the smoking article rod when the attachable unit is
attached to the smoking article rod, and a raised area extending
from an inner surface of the recess for contacting an outer surface
of the smoking article rod when the at least a portion of the
smoking article rod is received in the recess.
[0004] The attachable unit can further comprise a sleeve, wherein
at least a portion of the sleeve defines the recess. The attachable
unit can further comprise a cylindrical element and a sheet
material at least partially surrounding the cylindrical element and
forming the sleeve.
[0005] The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking
article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and
wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by the sheet
material extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the
cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an
inner surface of the sheet material.
[0006] The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking
article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and
wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by a tubular
element held within a portion of the sheet material extending
longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical
element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner
surface of the tubular element.
[0007] The raised area can be annular and/or can extend
circumferentially around the inner circumferential surface of the
recess.
[0008] The raised area can be for contacting an outer
circumferential surface of the smoking article rod when the at
least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the
recess.
[0009] The raised area can comprise a seal which is configured to
restrict the ingress of air into the smoking article between the
inner surface of the recess of the attachable unit and the outer
surface of the smoking article rod.
[0010] The raised area can comprise a deformable material such as a
resiliently deformable material.
[0011] The raised area can comprise an adhesive. The element can
comprise filtration material such as fibrous filtration
material.
[0012] The element can comprise a flavour modifying agent.
[0013] According to the first aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a kit comprising an attachable unit according to
the first aspect of the invention and a smoking article rod, the
attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a
user.
[0014] According to the first aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod
and an attachable unit according to the first aspect of the
invention attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a
portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess and
the raised area is in contact with the outer surface of the smoking
article rod.
[0015] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided an attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod
by a user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article
rod, the attachable unit comprising a cylindrical element and a
tubular element, wherein the cylindrical element and tubular
element are aligned on a longitudinal axis and connected together
by a sheet material wrapping at least a portion of the cylindrical
element and tubular element and wherein the tubular element defines
a recess to receive at least a portion of the smoking article rod
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article
rod.
[0016] The tubular element can comprise a resiliently deformable
material. The tubular element can have a wall thickness of between
0.2 mm and 5 mm, between 0.2 mm and 2 mm, between 0.2 mm and 1 mm
or between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm. The tubular element can have an
internal diameter of between 4 mm and 10 mm and a manufacturing
tolerance for said internal diameter of less than +/-0.1 mm,
+/-0.05 mm, +/-0.04 mm, +/-0.03 mm or +/-0.02 mm.
[0017] The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking
article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and
wherein a longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical element is
arranged to abut a longitudinal end surface of the smoking article
rod when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article
rod.
[0018] The element can comprise filtration material, such as
fibrous filtration material.
[0019] The element can comprise a flavour modifying agent.
[0020] The attachable unit can further comprise a raised area
extending from an inner surface of the recess for contacting an
outer surface of the smoking article rod when the at least a
portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess.
[0021] The raised area can be annular and can extends
circumferentially around the inner circumferential surface of the
recess.
[0022] According to the second aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a kit comprising an attachable unit according to
the second aspect of the invention and a smoking article rod, the
attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a
user.
[0023] According to the second aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod
and an attachable unit according to the second aspect of the
invention attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a
portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess
defined by the tubular element.
[0024] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided an attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod
by a user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article
rod, the smoking article rod comprising a first recess, the
attachable unit comprising an element arranged to be inserted at
least partially into the first recess of the smoking article rod
and a second recess arranged to receive at least a portion of the
smoking article rod.
[0025] The second recess can surround the element.
[0026] The attachable unit can further comprise an outer sleeve
surrounding the element, wherein the element comprises a
cylindrical element and the second recess is formed between the
cylindrical element and the outer sleeve.
[0027] The attachable unit can further comprise a cylindrical body
of material surrounded by the sleeve, the cylindrical body of
material having a diameter greater than the cylindrical element and
the cylindrical element arranged coaxially with the cylindrical
body of material and extending from an end thereof.
[0028] The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking
article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis
when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and
wherein the cylindrical body of material has a longitudinal end
surface which is arranged to abut a longitudinal end surface of the
smoking article rod when the attachable unit is attached to the
smoking article rod.
[0029] The element can comprise filtration material such as fibrous
filtration material.
[0030] The element can comprise a flavour modifying agent.
[0031] The attachable unit can further comprise a raised area
extending from an inner surface of the second recess for contacting
an outer surface of the smoking article rod when the at least a
portion of the smoking article rod is received in the second
recess.
[0032] According to the third aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a kit comprising an attachable unit according to
the third aspect of the invention and a smoking article rod, the
attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a
user.
[0033] According to the third aspect of the invention, there is
further provided a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod
comprising a first recess and an attachable unit according to the
third aspect of the invention attached to the smoking article rod,
wherein the element of the attachable unit is inserted at least
partially into the first recess of the smoking article rod and at
least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the
second recess of the attachable unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a side-on cross sectional view of an example of an
attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be attached to
form a smoking article;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example
of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be
attached to form a smoking article;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a side-on cross sectional view of a further
example of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can
be attached to form a smoking article; and
[0038] FIG. 4 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example
of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be
attached to form a smoking article.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes
combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and
cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded
tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also
heating devices such as heat-not-burn (HnB) devices, which release
compounds from substrate materials, such as tobacco, without
burning the substrate material, and other nicotine delivery
products such as aerosol generation devices including e-cigarettes.
The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous
flow drawn by the smoker.
[0040] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and their formats are
often named according to the cigarette length: "regular" (typically
in the range 68-75 mm, e.g. from about 68 mm to about 72 mm),
"short" or "mini" (68 mm or less), "king-size" (typically in the
range 75-91 mm, e.g. from about 79 mm to about 88 mm), "long" or
"super-king" (typically in the range 91-105 mm, e.g. from about 94
mm to about 101 mm) and "ultra-long" (typically in the range from
about 110 mm to about 121 mm).
[0041] They are also named according to the cigarette
circumference: "regular" (about 23-25 mm), "wide" (greater than 25
mm), "slim" (about 22-23 mm), "demi-slim" (about 19-22 mm),
"super-slim" (about 16-19 mm), and "micro-slim" (less than about 16
mm). Accordingly, a cigarette in a king-size, super-slim format
will, for example, have a length of about 83 mm and a circumference
of about 17 mm. Cigarettes in the regular, king-size format are
preferred by many customers, namely with a circumference of from 23
to 25 mm and an overall length of from 75 to 91 mm.
[0042] Each format may be produced with filters of different
lengths, smaller filters being generally used in formats of smaller
lengths and circumferences. Typically the filter length will be
from about 15 mm, associated with short, regular formats, to 30 mm,
associated with ultra-long super-slim formats. The tipping paper
will have a greater length than the filter, for example from 3 to 1
to mm longer, such that the tipping paper covers the filter and
overlaps the tobacco rod to connect the filter to the tobacco
rod.
[0043] Smoking articles described herein can be made in, but are
not limited to, any of the above formats.
[0044] In the figures described herein, like reference numerals are
used to illustrate equivalent features, articles or components.
[0045] FIG. 1 is a side-on cross sectional view of an example of an
attachable unit 3 and a smoking article rod 2 which can be attached
or coupled together by a user to form a smoking article 100. The
attachable unit 3 is configured to modify one or more properties of
an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2.
[0046] The attachable unit 3 comprises a recess 30 into which at
least a portion of the smoking article rod 2 can be received when
the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article rod 2. In
the present example, the attachable unit 3 comprises a cylindrical
element 21 which is surrounded by a sheet material 22 forming a
sleeve around the cylindrical element 21. In alternative examples,
the sleeve can be formed in other ways, for instance from plastic
or other materials. In the present example, the cylindrical element
21 comprises filter material, in the present case cellulose acetate
tow, circumferentially wrapped in the sheet material 22, although
the attachable unit 3 can be formed in other ways. In the present
case, the sheet material 22 comprises stiff paper.
[0047] The attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking
article rod 2 and attachable unit 3 are aligned on a longitudinal
axis when the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article
rod 2.
[0048] The cylindrical element 21 comprises first and second
longitudinal ends 23, 24, which, in the present example are
exposed, allowing smoke or other aerosols to pass longitudinally
through the cylindrical element 21. As illustrated, to form the
recess 30, the sheet material 22 extends longitudinally beyond the
first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21.
The recess 30 is formed by the first longitudinal end surface 23 of
the cylindrical element 21 together with the inner surface of the
portion of the sheet material 22 which extends longitudinally
beyond the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical
element 21. The sheet material 22 extends up to the second
longitudinal end surface 24 of the cylindrical element 21, although
can alternatively extend beyond the second longitudinal end surface
24, forming a further recess (not shown), or can be arranged to
stop short of the longitudinal end surface 24, such that the sheet
material 22 does not surround the full length of the cylindrical
element 21.
[0049] A raised area 50 extends at least substantially around an
inner surface of the recess 30, in the present example around the
inner surface of the sheet material 22. The raised area 50 in the
present example is annular, i.e. it forms a ring extending
circumferentially around the inner surface of the sheet material
22. The raised area 50 may comprise, but is not limited to, one or
more layers of material such as one or more adhesive layers or one
or more layers of paper, moulded pulp material, card, rubber or
plastic material. The raised area 50 may be made out of a
deformable material such as a resiliently deformable material
and/or a material which is impermeable to air, restricts or
substantially restricts the passage of air through the material.
The raised area 50 can be formed by embossing the sheet material 22
such that a region of the material 22 protrudes into the recess
30.
[0050] The smoking article rod 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a tobacco rod
4 longitudinally connected, end-on, to a filter 6. An external end
surface 16 of the filter 6 at the end opposite to the end of the
filter 6 facing the tobacco rod 4 defines a mouth end surface 16 of
the smoking article rod 2. The smoking article rod 4 can be a
conventional smoking article, such as a cigarette, including any of
the smoking articles and smoking article formats described herein.
In the present example, the tobacco rod 4 is wrapped in a wrapping
material 5, in this case cigarette paper. The filter 6 is, in the
present example, formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in a
plug wrap 9. The tobacco rod 4 and filter 6 are connected by a
tipping material 14 overlaying the filter 6 and partially
overlaying the wrapping material 5. The filter 6 may comprise two
or more filter sections forming the filter 6, which can be
connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior to
connection of the filter 6 to the tobacco rod 4 using the tipping
material 14.
[0051] In use, the smoking article 100 can be provided to users
with the attachable unit 3 and smoking article rod 2 as separate
components, for instance packaged separately or packaged together
as a kit of parts for producing a smoking article 100. Prior to a
user first using the smoking article rod 2, the attachable unit 3
can be attached to the smoking article rod 2 by inserting the
mouth-end of the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30 of the
attachable unit 3. When the attachable unit 3 is attached to the
smoking article rod 2, the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the
cylindrical element 21 abuts the mouth end surface 16 of the filter
6 of the smoking article rod 2. Alternatively, the attachable
member 3 may be attached to the smoking article rod 2 so that there
is a gap between the longitudinal end surface 23 and the mouth end
surface 16. The raised area 50 contacts an outer surface of the
smoking article rod 2, in particular a circumferential outer
surface, when the smoking article rod 2 is received in the recess
30.
[0052] The user can select whether or not to attach the attachable
unit 3 to the smoking article rod 2 prior to smoking the smoking
article 100, and can in this way control the length of filter of
the smoking article 100 and therefore the level of filtration of
the aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2. The attachable
unit 3 can also include additives or agents for modifying the
aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the smoking
article rod 2. For instance, in the present example, a capsule
containing a flavour additive (not shown) is located within the
cylindrical element 21. The capsule has a liquid centre and a
frangible outer shell which can be broken by a user by squeezing
the attachable unit 3, to thereby release the flavour additive. The
flavour additive is transferred to the aerosol generated by the
smoking article rod 2 as the smoking article 100 is smoked. In
alternative examples, the attachable unit 3 may include alternative
additives or agents for modifying the aerosol generated by the
smoking article rod 2, such as granules of activated carbon or
other adsorbents, humectants, diluents and suchlike.
[0053] In the present example, the raised area 50 comprises an
adhesive to attach the attachable unit 3 to the smoking article rod
2. Suitable adhesive materials for the raised area 50 include a
natural adhesive (bio-adhesive) and/or a synthetic adhesive. The
synthetic adhesive may be based on any of: an elastomer material; a
thermoplastic material; an emulsion and a thermosetting material
such as epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate or acrylic. The adhesive
may be any non-reactive adhesive such as: a drying adhesive, a
pressure sensitive adhesive, a contact adhesive, a hot adhesive.
The adhesive may be a reactive adhesive. The adhesive may be a
permanently tacky adhesive, for instance allowing the attachable
unit 3 and smoking article rod 2 to be separated and repositioned.
The parts of the sheet material 22 on which the raised area 50 is
disposed may be pressed against the outer surface of the smoking
article rod 2 by the user, in order to adhere the attachable unit 3
to the smoking article rod 2.
[0054] The raised area 50 can alternatively or additionally form a
seal or sealing element used to seal at least a part of the
interface between the sheet material 22 and the smoking article rod
2 and inhibit the ingress of gases (such as air) that would
normally enter into the smoking article too via a gap between the
outer surface of the smoking article rod 2 and the inner surface of
the sheet material 22. In this case, the raised area 50 may
comprise a body which is air impermeable in at least one direction
and/or resiliently deformable. Due to limitations in the
manufacturing tolerance of the components of a smoking article, the
distance between surfaces such as the outer surface of the portion
of the smoking article rod 2 inserted into the recess 30 and the
inner surface of the recess 30 can vary. If external air is allowed
to enter the smoking article 100 between the attachable unit 3 and
the smoking article rod 2, this can result in a level of
ventilation exhibited by the smoking article 100 which cannot be
accurately controlled from one article to another. Restricting the
ingress of air therefore provides a greater degree of control of
the airflow into and through the smoking article 100. For instance,
ventilation can be provided into the filter 6 using perforations
through the plug wrap 9 and tipping 14 in the conventional
manner.
[0055] The raised area 50 may comprise any suitable thickness (i.e.
the distance between the inner surface of the sheet material 22 and
the innermost surface 50a of the raised area 50), for example
between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, or between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. The raised
area can, for instance, have a thickness of 0.5 mm.
[0056] In practice, the correspondence between the dimensions of
the recess 30 and those of the smoking article rod 2 will depend on
the materials used to form these components and the desired
closeness of the fit between them. It is likely to be preferable
that the dimensions of the recess 30 are slightly larger than the
dimensions of the smoking article rod 2, to facilitate insertion of
the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30.
[0057] In the example of FIG. 1, the recess 30 has an internal
diameter of 8.2 mm and the smoking article rod 2 has an external
diameter of 7.8 mm. In alternative examples, the internal diameter
of the recess 30 can have other values, for instance diameters in
the range from 4 mm to 10 mm. In the example of FIG. 1, the recess
30 has an internal length of 12 mm. In alternative examples, the
internal length of the recess 30 can have other values, for
instance values in the range from 5 mm to 30 mm.
[0058] The longitudinal end surface 23 is configured to at least
partially face the mouth end surface 16 of the smoking article rod
2 when the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article rod
2.
[0059] The raised area 50 can be formed by a resiliently deformable
material, so that it can deform to receive the smoking article rod
2 when the smoking article rod 2 is inserted into the recess
30.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example
of an attachable unit 203 and a smoking article rod 2 which can be
attached to form a smoking article 200. As with the previous
example, the attachable unit 203 is arranged to be attached to the
smoking article rod 2 by a user to modify one or more properties of
aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2. The attachable unit
203 comprises a cylindrical element 21 and a tubular element 31.
The cylindrical element 21 and tubular element 31 are aligned on a
common longitudinal axis (not shown) and connected together by a
sheet material 22, in the present case wrapping at least a portion
of the cylindrical element 21 and tubular element 31. The tubular
element 31 defines a recess 30 which is arranged to receive at
least a portion of the smoking article rod 2 when the attachable
unit 203 is attached to the smoking article rod 2.
[0061] The smoking article rod 2 shown in FIG. 2 is substantially
the same as the smoking article rod 2 described in relation to FIG.
1, and so detailed description of its structure is omitted.
Furthermore, the dimensions of the recess 30 described with
reference to FIG. 1 also apply to the recess 30 illustrated in FIG.
2. However, in the present example, the recess 30 is formed by the
inner surface of the tubular element 31 together with the end
surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21. The tubular element 31 is
selected to have a manufacturing tolerance with regards to its
internal diameter which is smaller than that achievable by the
sheet material 22 of the example of FIG. 1. For instance, the
tubular element 31 can have an internal diameter of between 4 mm
and 10 mm and a manufacturing tolerance for said internal diameter
of +/-0.1 mm or less, +/-0.05 mm or less, +/-0.04 mm or less,
+/-0.03 mm or less or +/-0.02 mm or less. Accordingly, the use of a
tubular element 31 enables deviations in the diameter of the recess
30 to be reduced, facilitating insertion of the smoking article rod
2 into the recess 30 and minimising the variation in the distance
between the outer surface of the portion of the smoking article rod
2 inserted into the recess 30 and the inner surface of the recess
30.
[0062] The tubular element 31 may be made of a deformable material,
such as a foamed material, rubber or a plastic material. This
allows the tubular element 31 to deform when receiving the smoking
article rod 2.
[0063] The attachable unit 3 may be attached to the smoking article
rod 2 in any suitable way. This may include forming an interference
fit between the inner surface of the tubular element 31 and the
outer surface of the smoking article rod 2. In this case, the
interference fit is such that a seal is formed at the interface
between the inner surface of the tubular member 31 and the outer
surface of the smoking article rod 2, which inhibits the ingress of
gases (such as air) that would normally enter into the smoking
article 200 via a gap between the outer surface of the smoking
article rod 2 and the inner surface of the tubular member 31. The
amount of air entering into a smoking article between two
neighbouring surfaces may be variable and/or unwanted. Restricting
the ingress of air therefore provides a degree of control of the
airflow into and/or through the smoking article 200.
[0064] The attachable unit 203 can include additives or agents for
modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the
smoking article rod 2, in the same way as the attachable unit 3
described with reference to FIG. 1 above.
[0065] In use, the smoking article 200 can be provided to users
with the attachable unit 203 and smoking article rod 2 as separate
components, for instance as a kit of parts. Prior to a user first
using the smoking article 200, the attachable unit 203 can be
attached to the smoking article rod 2 by inserting the smoking
article rod 2 into the recess 30 of the attachable unit 203.
[0066] When the attachable unit 203 is attached to the smoking
article rod 2, the longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical
element 21 may abut the mouth end surface 16 of the filter 6.
Alternatively, the attachable unit 203 may be attached to the
smoking article rod 2 so that there is a gap between the
longitudinal end surface 23 and the mouth end surface 16.
[0067] The user can select whether or not to attach the attachable
unit 203 to the smoking article rod 2 prior to smoking the smoking
article 200, and can in this way control the length of filter of
the smoking article 200 and therefore the level of filtration of
the aerosol generated by the smoking article 200, as well as other
properties of the aerosol in the case that the attachable unit 203
includes one or more additives or agents for modifying the
aerosol.
[0068] FIG. 3 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example
of an attachable unit 303 and a smoking article rod 302 which can
be attached to form a smoking article 300.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 3, the attachable unit 303 is arranged to
be attached to a smoking article rod 302 by a user. The smoking
article rod 302 in the present example comprises a first recess 13.
As with the attachable units 3, 203 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the
attachable unit 303 is configured to modify one or more properties
of an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 302. The
attachable unit 303 includes an element arranged to be inserted at
least partially into the first recess 13 of the smoking article rod
302 and a second recess 330 to receive at least a portion of the
smoking article rod 302.
[0070] In the present example, the smoking article 300 is a
cigarette and the smoking article rod 302 includes a tobacco rod 4
wrapped in a wrapping material 5, in this case cigarette paper. The
smoking article rod 2 includes a filter 306 at its mouth end
comprising a first section 7 located at the tobacco rod end of the
filter 306. The first filter section 7 is, in the present example,
formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in a first plug wrap 9.
The filter 306 also includes a second section 10 located downstream
of the first section 7 and comprising a tubular element 11 wrapped
in a second plug wrap 12.
[0071] The tubular element 11 is, in the present example, open at
the mouth end of the smoking article rod 302 and defines the first
recess, or cavity, 13 at that end. A mouth end surface 316 of the
tubular element 11 is exposed at the mouth end of the smoking
article rod 302. The tubular element 11 can be formed from fibrous
filtration material such as cellulose acetate having a relatively
high plasticiser level, for instance between and 21% by weight of
the cellulose acetate. The tobacco rod 4 and first and second
filter sections 7, 10 are connected by a tipping material 14
overlaying the first and second filter sections 7, 10 and partially
overlaying the wrapping material 5. The first and second filter
sections 7, 10, and any other sections forming the filter 306, can
be connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior
to connection of the filter 306 to the tobacco rod 4 using the
tipping material 14.
[0072] The cylindrical element 20 of the attachable unit 303 is
wrapped in a plug wrap 26 which is substantially impermeable to
air, for instance having a permeability of greater than 50 Coresta
Units or greater than 100 Coresta Units. However, the cylindrical
element 20 may alternatively be unwrapped.
[0073] The cylindrical element 20 of the attachable unit 303 has
adjacent first and second portions 20a, 20b, each extending
partially along the length of the cylindrical element 20. In the
present example, the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element
20 extends from an insertion end of the cylindrical element 20 to
an intermediate position 25 along the length of the cylindrical
element 20. In the present example, the second portion 20b of the
cylindrical element 20 extends from a mouth end of the cylindrical
element and ends at the intermediate position 25 along the length
of the cylindrical element 20.
[0074] In the present example, the cylindrical element 20 is 25 mm
in length and the intermediate position 25 is 12.5 mm along the
length of the cylindrical element 20 from the insertion end. The
first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 is arranged to be
inserted, by a user, into the recess 13 at the mouth end of the
smoking article rod 302.
[0075] The attachable unit 303 further comprises an annular element
27 which is arranged around the periphery of the second portion 20b
of the cylindrical element 20. The annular element 27 has a larger
external diameter than the internal diameter of the recess 13. The
annular element 27 has a longitudinal end surface 29 which,
together with the inner surface of the sheet material 22 and the
outer surface of the cylindrical element 20, defines the second
recess 303.
[0076] The longitudinal end surface 29 of the annular element 27 is
arranged to face the smoking article rod 302 when the attachable
unit 303 is attached to the smoking article rod 302. The
longitudinal end surface 29 may abut the mouth end surface 316 of
the tubular element 11 when the attachable unit 303 is attached to
the smoking article rod 302, as described below. Additionally or
alternatively, a longitudinal end surface 29' of the cylindrical
element 20 may abut a mouth end surface 17 of the first filter
section 7 when the attachable unit 303 is attached to the smoking
article rod 302.
[0077] The first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 is
arranged to be inserted into the first recess 13 in the smoking
article rod 302, in the present case into the recess 13 formed by
the tube section 11. The internal diameter and/or length of the
recess 13 and the external diameter and/or length of the first
portion 20a of the cylindrical element are arranged to
substantially correspond such that the first portion 20a of the
cylindrical element 20 can be received within and substantially
fill the recess 13. For instance, the internal diameter of the
recess 13 can be substantially the same as the external diameter of
the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20. Furthermore,
the length of the recess 13 can be substantially the same as the
length of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20
protruding proud of the annular element 27.
[0078] In practice, the correspondence between the dimensions of
the recess 13 and those of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical
element 20 will depend on the materials used to form these
components and the desired closeness of the fit between them. It is
likely to be preferable that the recess dimensions are slightly
larger than the dimensions of the first portion 20a, to facilitate
insertion of the cylindrical element 20 into the recess 13.
[0079] In the example of FIG. 3, the recess 13 has an internal
diameter of 4 mm and the cylindrical element 20 has an external
diameter of 3.8 mm. In alternative examples, the internal diameter
of the recess 13 and external diameter of the cylindrical element
20 can have other values, for instance diameters in the range from
2 mm to 6 mm. In the example of FIG. 3, the recess 13 has an
internal length of 12 mm and the first portion 20a of the
cylindrical element 20 has a length of 12 mm. In alternative
examples, the internal length of the recess 13 and the length of
the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 can have other
values, for instance values in the range from 5 mm to 20 mm.
[0080] In the present example, the annular element 27 is attached
to the cylindrical element 20 using an adhesive (not shown). The
annular element 27 may be attached to the cylindrical element 20 by
means other than an adhesive, for example by mechanical means such
as a friction fit or other locking arrangement.
[0081] The attachable unit 303 can include additives or agents for
modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the
smoking article rod 302, in the same way as the attachable unit 3
described with reference to FIG. 1 above.
[0082] In use, the smoking article 300 can be provided to users
with the attachable unit 303 and smoking article rod 302 as
separate components. Prior to a user first using the smoking
article rod 302, the attachable unit 303 can be attached to the
smoking article rod 302 by inserting the first portion 20a of the
cylindrical element 20 into the recess 13, so that the end portion
of the smoking article rod 302 is received by the recess 330. When
the attachable member 303 is attached to the smoking article rod
302, the longitudinal end surface 29 of the annular element 27 may
abut the end surface 316 of the tubular element 11.
[0083] The user can select whether or not to attach the attachable
unit 303 to the smoking article rod 302 prior to smoking the
smoking article 300, and can in this way control the length of
filter of the smoking article 300 and therefore the level of
filtration of the aerosol generated by the smoking article 300, as
well as other properties of the aerosol in the case that the
attachable unit 303 includes one or more additives for modifying
the aerosol.
[0084] In the present example, the annular element 27 and tubular
element 11 comprise fibrous filtration material, formed into a tube
and circumferentially wrapped in a wrapper 12 (not shown for
annular element 27), in the present case plug wrap material,
leaving the longitudinal ends unwrapped. In alternative embodiments
the annular element 27 and/or tubular element may be formed in
other ways. For instance, the annular element 27 and/or tubular
element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials.
The annular element 27 and/or tubular element also need not be
wrapped in a wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a
wrapper such as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) tube formed from
cellulose acetate fibres.
[0085] FIG. 4 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example
of an attachable unit 403 and a smoking article rod 302 which can
be attached to form a smoking article 400. The smoking article rod
302 is the same as the smoking article rod described with reference
to FIG. 3 above. The attachable unit 403 is the same as the
attachable unit 303 described above with reference to FIG. 3 herein
except that it also includes the tubular element 31 as described
with reference to FIG. 2 herein, arranged between the sheet
material 22 and the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element
20, and attached to the sheet material 22. In addition, the tubular
element 31 includes a raised area 50 on an inner surface thereof
which defines the second recess 330, the raised area 50 being the
same as that described with reference to FIG. 1 herein.
[0086] The fibrous filtration material forming the tubes, and that
forming other components of the attachable units 3, 203, 303, 403
and filter 6, 306 described herein may comprise cellulose acetate
fibres and/or other materials used to form fibres, such as
polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone
(PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene
adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), starch based materials, paper,
cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers
or a combination thereof. The annular element 27 may alternatively
be formed from a sheet material, such as tipping paper, wrapped
around the cylindrical element 20 to form a single or multiple
layers of the sheet material around the cylindrical element 20. The
annular element 27 and/or tubular element 11 may alternatively be
formed from plastic or another moulded material.
[0087] The cylindrical element of any of the above examples may
comprise fibrous filtration material. In alternative examples, the
cylindrical element may be formed in other ways. The cylindrical
element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials
and can be arranged to have a different construction. The
cylindrical element may, for instance, be formed from stiff paper,
plastic, card or other materials as an open or closed ended hollow
tube. The cylindrical element also need not be wrapped in a
wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a wrapper such
as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) plug formed from cellulose acetate
fibres. The fibrous filtration material may comprise cellulose
acetate fibres and/or other materials used to form fibres, such as
polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone
(PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene
adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), starch based materials, paper,
cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide
polymers.
[0088] Filter plasticisers operate by softening the fibrous filter
material from which a filter element is constructed such that the
individual fibres can bond to each other to form a more rigid
structure. A filter plasticiser such as glycerin triacetate, also
referred to as triacetin, can, for instance, be used in the
cylindrical element and/or annular element of any of the above
examples when these elements are formed from a fibrous filtration
material such as cellulose acetate. A higher level of plasticiser
than is usually used in a filter element can be used to provide
additional firmness to either component. For instance, greater than
7%, greater than 10%, greater than 12% or greater than 15%
plasticiser can be used in any of the components described herein,
by weight of the fibrous filtration material used.
[0089] Any of the attachable units described above may include a
flavour modifying agent or additive or flavour source. The flavour
modifying agent may, for instance, be disposed in a cylindrical
element of the attachable unit. For example, an attachable unit may
be provided in which the cylindrical element comprises a frangible
capsule containing a liquid payload comprising a flavourant, such
as menthol. The user can squeeze the attachable unit to cause a
pressure to be exerted on the capsule such that it breaks to
release the flavourant contained therein, to thus modify aerosol
drawn through the attachable unit. In other examples the attachable
unit may comprise other flavour releasing components or flavour
modifying agents.
[0090] The features of the examples described herein can be
combined. For instance, the raised area 50 of the example of FIG. 1
can be applied to the inner surface of the tubular element 31 of
the example of FIG. 2, or to the inner surface of the sheet
material 22 of the example of FIG. 3, to perform an equivalent
function as that described with reference to FIG. 1. Also, the
tubular element 31 of FIG. 2 can be applied to the attachment unit
303 of FIG. 3.
[0091] In use, the smoking articles described herein can be
provided to users with the attachable units described herein and
smoking article rods described herein as separate components, for
instance packaged separately or packaged together as a kit of parts
for producing a smoking article.
[0092] A tubular filter component, such as the tubular element 11
described with reference to FIG. 3, can be provided as an
additional component at the mouth-end of any of the attachable
units 3, 203, 303, 403 described herein.
[0093] In order to address various issues and advance the art, the
entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various
embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and
provide for superior smoking articles and attachable units
therefor. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a
representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive
and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in
understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be
understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are
not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by
the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that
other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure.
Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements,
components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the
disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but
which may be claimed in future.
* * * * *