U.S. patent number 3,773,053 [Application Number 05/220,084] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-20 for cigarette with controlled smoking profile.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Philip Morris Incorporated. Invention is credited to William K. Stephens, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,773,053 |
Stephens, Jr. |
November 20, 1973 |
CIGARETTE WITH CONTROLLED SMOKING PROFILE
Abstract
The smoking profile or delivery of particulate matter as a
component of smoke in respect of each puff during the smoking of a
cigarette is controlled by providing the paper wrapping enclosing
the tobacco cylinder with one or more ventilation passages at
either the inner or outer surface of the wrapper. The ventilation
passages are provided by a strip of combustible material which is
secured to the wrapping and has formed therein a number of grooves
or channels, the grooves defining with the wrapping the respective
ventilation passages. Blocking means are provided in the respective
ventilation passages and prevent dilution air from entering the
mouth end of the cigarette until a predetermined length of the
cigarette has been smoked. The opening of the respective
ventilation passages occurs at different times in correspondence to
the increasingly higher levels of particulate matter produced as
smoking proceeds, the increasing level of ventilation thereby
provided controlling the smoking profile to flatten out the curve
of particulate matter delivered with each puff.
Inventors: |
Stephens, Jr.; William K.
(Mechanicsville, VA) |
Assignee: |
Philip Morris Incorporated (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22821985 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/220,084 |
Filed: |
January 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/336; 131/339;
131/364 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D
1/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A24D
1/00 (20060101); A24d 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;131/9,8R,1A,15B,10.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Grieb; Wm. H.
Assistant Examiner: Pitrelli; John F.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an elongated smoking article which includes a cylinder of
tobacco, and a cylindrical wrapping of combustible material closely
enclosing said tobacco cylinder and being longitudinally
coextensive with said tobacco cylinder, said smoking article having
opposite ends constituting, respectively, a mouth end and a smoking
end, a strip of combustible material having a plurality of separate
elongated channels formed therein secured to said wrapping, said
channels defining with said wrapping a corresponding plurality of
separate ventilation passages extending longitudinally of said
wrapping, said ventilation passages extending in one direction to
outlet at the mouth end of said article and in an opposite
direction toward the smoking end of said article, unblockable
blocking means in each ventilation passage at a location spaced a
predetermined distance from the smoking end of said article, the
blocking means in each ventilation passage being spaced at a
predetermined distance from the smoking end of said article which
is different than the spacing of the blocking means in any other
ventilation passage from said smoking end, said blocking means
being rendered unblocked responsive to smoking of said article,
said ventilation passages being communicated with atmosphere when
said tobacco cylinder has been smoked to the location of the
blocking means therein whereby ventilating streams of air are
thereafter drawn through said ventilation passages concurrently
with puffing of said article during continued smoking of the
same.
2. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical wrapping
has a generally smooth inner surface, said strip of combustible
material being secured to said smooth inner surface.
3. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical wrapping
has a generally smooth outer surface, said strip of combustible
material being secured to said smooth outer surface.
4. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said strip of combustible
material and the elongated channels therein are longitudinally
coextensive with said cylindrical wrapping.
5. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said strip of combustible
material and the elongated channels therein extend longitudinally
of said cylindrical wrapping from the mouth end of said article in
the direction of the smoking end of said article a distance which
is greater than the distance at which the blocking means in each is
disposed from said mouth end.
6. The smoking article of claim 5, wherein said blocking means
comprises a crimp formed in the strip material of each channel in
said strip of combustible material.
7. The smoking article of claim 5 wherein said blocking means
comprises a solid material disposed in passage blocking disposition
in each passage and is selected from one of heat meltable and heat
disintegratable materials.
8. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said strip of combustible
material and the elongated channel therein extend longitudinally of
said cylindrical wrapping from the mouth end of said article in the
direction of the smoking end of said article a predetermined
distance, said channel merging with said wrapping at said
predetermined distance to provide said blocking means.
9. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein the elongated channels
formed in said strip of combustible material are substantially
arcuate in transverse section configuration.
10. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said strip of
combustible material is a stiffened paper, said strip being
adhesively secured to said cylindrical wrapping.
11. The smoking article of claim 10 wherein said strip of
combustible material is glassine paper.
12. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein the plurality of
channels formed in said strip of combustible material extend
longitudinally of said strip from the mouth end of said article in
the direction of the smoking end of said article but terminate at
locations spaced from said smoking end, the terminus of each
channel being at a distance from said smoking end different than
that of any other channel, the terminus of each channel comprising
the blocking means of the ventilation passage associated
therewith.
13. A ventilation type cigarette comprising an elongated cylinder
of shredded tobacco, a cylindrical wrapping of combustible material
closely enclosing said tobacco cylinder and being longitudinally
coextensive with said tobacco cylinder, means disposed at one end
of said wrapping enclosed tobacco cylinder providing a mouthpiece
in said cigarette, said mouthpice having at least one flow through
course extending therethrough, a strip of combustible material
having a plurality of separate elongated channels formed therein
secured to said wrapping, said channels defining with said wrapping
a corresponding plurality of separate ventilation passages
extending longitudinally of said wrapping and secured to said
wrapping, said ventilation passages extending in one direction to
outlet at said one end of said wrapping enclosed tobacco cylinder
and being in communication with the flow through course in said
mouthpiece, said ventilation passages extending in an opposite
direction toward the other end of said tobacco cylinder,
unblockable blocking means in each ventilation passage disposed
therein at a location spaced a predetermined distance from said
other end of said tobacco cylinder, the blocking means in each
ventilation passage being spaced at a predetermined distance from
the smoking end of said article which is different than the spacing
of the blocking means in any other ventilation passage from said
smoking end, said blocking means being rendered unblocked
responsive to smoking of said cigarette, said ventilation passages
being communicated with atmosphere when said tobacco cylinder has
been smoked to the location of the blocking means therein whereby
ventilating streams of air are thereafter drawn through said
ventilation passages and said mouthpiece flow through course
concurrently with puffing of said article during continued smoking
of the same.
14. In an elongated smoking article which includes a cylinder of
tobacco, and a cylindrical wrapping of combustible material closely
enclosing said tobacco cylinder and being longitudinally
coextensive with said tobacco cylinder, said smoking article having
opposite ends constituting, respectively, a mouth end and a smoking
end, means forming a plurality of separate ventilation passages
extending longitudinally of said wrapping and secured to said
wrapping, said ventilation passages extending in one direction to
outlet at the mouth end of said article and in an opposite
direction toward the smoking end of said article, unblockable
blocking means in each ventilation passage at a location spaced a
predetermined distance from the smoking end of said article, the
blocking means in each ventilation passage being spaced at a
predetermined distance from the smoking end of said article which
is different than the spacing of the blocking means in any other
ventilation passage from said smoking end, said blocking means
being rendered unblocked responsive to smoking of said article,
said ventilation passages being communicated with atmosphere when
said tobacco cylinder has been smoked to the location of said
blocking means whereby ventilating streams of air are thereafter
drawn through said ventilation passages concurrently with puffing
of said article during continued smoking of the same.
15. The smoking article of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical
wrapping has generally smooth inner and outer surfaces, the means
forming said ventilation passage comprising a tube of combustible
material secured to one of said surfaces.
16. The smoking article of claim 15 wherein said tube of
combustible material is longitudinally coextensive with said
cylindrical wrapping.
17. The smoking article of claim 15 wherein said tube of
combustible material extends longitudinally of said cylindrical
wrapping from the mouth end of said article in the direction of the
smoking end of said article a distance which is greater than the
distance at which said blocking means is disposed from said mouth
end.
18. The smoking article of claim 17, wherein said blocking means
comprises a crimp formed in said tube.
19. The smoking article of claim 17 wherein said blocking means
comprises a solid material disposed in said passage.
20. The smoking article of claim 19 wherein said solid material is
one which melts responsive to the presence of heat from the burning
coal of the smoking article during smoking of the same.
21. The smoking article of claim 15 wherein said tube of
combustible material is a paper, said tube being adhesively secured
to said cylindrical wrapping.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide cigarettes with ventilation features which
function during the course of smoking the cigarette to admit
certain quantities of diluting streams of air for the purpose of
effecting a certain concomitant reduction of the delivery of
particulate matter in the smoke stream. Such ventilation preferably
is made of more pronounced magnitude during the latter stage of
smoking of the cigarette since it is in such latter smoking stage
that the higher quantities of particulate matter are generated and
hence delivered in the smoke stream. Representative of such known
forms of cigarette ventilation are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,992,647;
3,511,247 and 3,526,904. The aforementioned patents all disclose
providing ventilation holes or apertures in the tobacco cylinder
paper wrapping at specified locations and covering the apertures
with a film or like barrier which is removed in advance of arrival
of the burning coal at such locations. Removal of the barrier can
be achieved in various ways, e.g., by melting of the barrier
material at only slightly elevated temperatures, or by softening
and disintegration of the barrier material under the influence of
the components of the smoke. Such forms of ventilation described
aforesaid are difficult to control when embodied in mass produced
cigarettes. Variations in such factors as film thickness, molecular
weight of the film substance, smoke temperature, moisture content
of the tobacco in the cigarette being smoked and possibly the
environment in which the smoking occurs can lead to precipitous
melting, softening or disintegration of the barrier material, thus
providing the cigarette with dilution characteristics which are not
satisfactory in that there can be measurable variability of such
characteristics from one cigarette to another. Since the salutary
ends of providing dilution as a means for reducing particulate
matter delivery should be effected in conjunction with the
provision of acceptable taste and flavor in the cigarette which is
not subject to variation from one to another cigarette, it is
desirable that a more easily controlled dilution system be employed
in cigarettes manufactured on high speed cigarette making
machines.
It is also possible to achieve ventilation of the cigarette without
use of barrier means of the type described above by providing an
inner sleeve in the cigarette between the tobacco cylinder and the
tobacco cylinder paper wrapper thus to define ventilation courses
through which air can enter once the coal of the cigarette has
burned down to the beginning of the sleeve, such form of device
being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,892. However, the transition
from a no-ventilation to a full-ventilation condition which occurs
with such type of cigarette ventilation is relatively abrupt,
whereas if it is desired to provide certain flavor and taste
enhancement, it is preferable to progressively increase ventilation
concurrently with smoke particulate matter delivery increase.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with dilution or ventilation of
a cigarette with streams of air in such manner as effectively
controls the smoking profile of the cigarette, such smoking profile
being represented by a plot of the total particulate matter
delivered versus the number of puffs taken on the cigarette during
smoking. The achievement of a relatively level delivery profile is
made while at the same time a satisfying taste and flavor character
is retained in the cigarette. In accordance with the present
invention, a cigarette having a cylindrical paper wrapping of
combustible material enclosing a cylinder of tobacco is provided at
either the inner or outer side of such paper wrapping with a strip
of combustible material having at least one elongated channel or
groove therein, with the combustible material strip being secured
to the wrapping such that the channel defines therewith at least
one ventilation passage extending longitudinally of the wrapping in
one direction toward outlet at the mouth end of the cigarette and
in an opposite direction toward the smoking end of the cigarette.
An unblockable blocking means is provided in the ventilation
passage at a location spaced a predetermined distance from the
smoking end of the cigarette with the blocking means being of a
type which is rendered unblocked responsive to smoking of the
article. When the tobacco cylinder has been smoked to the location
of the blocking means and the latter unblocked, a ventilating
stream of air is drawn through the ventilation passage concurrently
with puffing of the cigarette and functions to dilute the smoke
stream lessening the delivery of total particulate matter in the
smoke stream. The strip of combustible material can be made from
any suitable material form such as stiffened paper and be
adhesively secured to the cylinderical paper wrapping enclosing the
tobacco cylinder. The blocking means can be provided in various
ways, as for example, blocking can be effected with a solid
material disposed in the passage which melts or disintegrates
responsive to the presence of heat from the burning coal of the
smoking article, or the blocking means can be provided by forming a
crimp in the strip material of each channel in the combustible
strip material. When the cigarette has been smoked to the location
of the crimp in the channel, the crimp burns away opening the
ventilation passage to atmosphere.
In accordance with the invention, the ventilation passages can be
provided by one or more relatively thin tubes of combustible
material secured to the tobacco cylinder wrapping, such tubes
embodying blocking means in the same manner above described.
The present invention is applicable to both filter type and
non-filter type cigarettes. When embodied in non-filter type
cigarettes, the ventilation passage outlets at the end of the
tobacco cylinder. On the other hand when used in a filter type
cigarette, the ventilation passages may outlet at the mouth end of
the cigarette to the filter plug or to suitable ventilation
passages formed around the periphery of a mouthpiece if such is
provided in conjunction with or in addition to the filter plug.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,
combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be
exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope
of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention will be had from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a cigarette provided with a
number of ventilation passages formed at the inner side of the
tobacco cylinder paper wrapping, formed by the stiffened paper
strip depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, the respective passages being
blocked at different distances from the smoking end of the
cigarette, the ventilation passages at the mouth end of the
cigarette outletting directly to a filter plug, certain portions of
the cigarette being cut away for purposes of clarity of depiction
of the cigarette construction.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view as taken along the line II--II in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of a cigarette similar to FIG. 1
except that the ventilation passages are formed at the outer side
of the tobacco cylinder wrapping, with such passages outletting at
the mouth end of the cigarette to communication with peripheral
grooves formed in a tubular mouthpiece, access to said grooves
being through apertures provided in a conventional air-impervious
mouth-piece wrap.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view on enlarged scale as taken along the
line IV--IV in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view of a cigarette embodying one or
more tubes therein which are secured to the tobacco cylinder
wrapping to provide ventilation passages, the tubes being secured
to the inner surface of the wrapping.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view on slightly enlarged scale as taken
along the line VI--VI in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a longitudinal section of a conventional
cigarette wrapping paper to which has been adhesively secured a
strip of stiffened paper, the stiffened paper having a number of
longitudinally extending grooves formed therein which together with
the paper wrapping define corresponding ventilation passages in the
cigarettes depicted in FIGS. 1-4.
FIG. 8 is a section view as taken along the line VIII--VIII in FIG.
7.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are graphs depicting the smoking profile of
cigarettes provided, respectively, with two and one internal flutes
and as compared with non-ventilated cigarettes.
FIGS. 11 and 12 depict, respectively, the delivery profile plotted
graphically of two cigarettes provided with two and one external
flutes or ventilation passages as compared with non-ventilated
control cigarettes.
Throughout the following description like reference numerals are
used to denote like parts in the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is concerned generally with the reduction in
the quantity of total particulate matter (TPM) delivered during the
smoking of a cigarette, and specifically ventilating a cigarette in
such manner as to flatten out the curve obtained by plotting TPM
versus puff count. The invention is applicable to use in cigarettes
of both non-filter and filter types, including filter and
non-filter type cigarettes fitted with mouthpieces. As is known,
the introduction of diluting or ventilating streams of air into a
cigarette during the course of the smoking of the same contributes
to a reduction in the quantity of total particulate matter
delivered to the smoker's mouth with each puff. It is also known
further that the quantity of total particulate matter delivered per
puff increases substantially in the latter stages of smoking of the
cigarette. Accordingly, it is desirable that means for levelling
off the cigarette delivery profile be embodied in cigarettes. Such
means desirably function to increase dilution commensurate with the
development of increased levels of total particulate matter in the
cigarette.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a cigarette 10
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention and wherein ventilation passages 12a, 12b and 12c are
provided at the inner surface of the tobacco cylinder paper
wrapping 14. The cigarette 10 includes an elongated cylinder of
shredded tobacco 16 which in usual manner is enclosed in a
cylindrical wrapping of paper 14, the latter being the conventional
combustible type paper wrapping used in making cigarettes. Disposed
at one end of the wrapped tobacco cylinder and defining therewith a
mouth end for the cigarette, is a filter plug 18 of suitable
filtering material such as cellulose acetate, which in common
practice is enclosed by a paper wrapping 20, the wrapped plug in
turn being joined to the wrapped tobacco cylinder by means of an
overtip 22 or combining wrap which commonly is a thickened
relatively smooth air-impervious paper. The opposite end of the
cigarette constitutes the smoking end from whence smoking is
initiated. Secured to the inner surface of the tobacco cylinder
wrapping 14 is an elongated strip 24 of a suitable combustible
material, as for example, a stiffened paper. The stiffened paper
strip 24 preferably is secured to the inner surface of the
cylindrical wrapping 14 by means of any suitable hot-melt or like
adhesive 26, the strip 24 being of suitable length, e.g.,
coextensive with wrapping 14. The combustible strip 24 of stiffened
paper provides the structure with which the ventilation passages
12a, 12b and 12c can be formed at the inner surface of the wrapping
14. For this purpose, the stiffened paper may be provided with a
corresponding number of longitudinally directed grooves 28 which
can be formed in the combustible strip in any suitable manner, as
for example, by folding of the stiffened paper along a longitudinal
crease line or by corrugating the same in a roller set. While the
ventilation passages defined by the grooves 28 and the tobacco
cylinder wrapping 14 are depicted as being coextensive in length
with the tobacco cylinder, it is not necessary that such grooves
extend the full length of the wrapping 14. Such grooves can be made
of lesser lengths in correspondence to the location at which
admission of dilution or ventilating air streams to the cigarette
should enter to compensate for the increasing level of particulate
matter delivered during the course of puffing of the cigarette.
Within each ventilation passage 12a, 12b, 12c, there is provided a
suitable removable or unblockable blocking means 30, arranged in
such passages in the manner depicted in FIG. 1 and at different
distances from the smoking end of the cigarette. In this manner the
respective ventilation passages will upon removal or unblocking of
the blocking means, open at correspondingly later times during the
course of the smoking of the cigarette.
The unblockable blocking means 30 can be provided in various ways.
For example, such blocking means can be provided by crimping of the
material defining the groove in the combustible strip 24 to an
extent that an air-impervious blockage of the passage is created.
On the other hand, a suitable solid material can be disposed in
each ventilation passage 12a, 12b, 12c at the requisite
predetermined distance from the smoking end of the cigarette. Solid
components suitable for functioning as blocking means include heat
disintegratable as well as fusible type materials including various
forms of waxes. While the unblockable blocking means may comprise
suitable disintegratable or fusible components, it is not necessary
that in fact the latter be consumed or changed in state by reason
of the advance of the heated coal to the location of the blocking
means 30 during the course of smoking, since the combustible
material encircling the blocking means may be consumed during the
course of smoking and while the blocking means may remain following
the arrival and passage of the burning coal beyond such blocking
means location, the ventilation passage downstream of such
locations will be open to admit ventilating or dilution air.
The positioning of the blocking means 30 at predetermined locations
from the smoking end of the cigarette are in accordance with the
requirements for levelling the profile delivery of the cigarette.
Accordingly, such positioning can vary. For example, the first
blocking means may be located a distance approximately 25 mm. from
the smoking end of the article to admit first streams of dilution
air to the ventilation passage 12a, which is sufficient to maintain
a relatively flattened particulate matter delivery profile for the
cigarette during the early stages of smoking since such particulate
matter levels are not particularly excessive at that time. The
second ventilation passage 12b can be designed to open when the
cigarette has been smoked a distance of 40 mm. from the smoking end
and accordingly, the blocking means is placed at such location.
Similarly, the blocking means in the third ventilation passage 12c
is positioned at somewhat a greater distance, as for example, 65
mm. from the smoking end. In this manner the respective ventilation
passages 12a, 12b, 12c open successively in accordance with the
need for the delivery of dilution or ventilation air to maintain
the particulate matter delivery at intended levels. It will be
apparent that following opening of the third ventilation passage
12c, all three ventilation passages 12a-12c are employed for
delivering dilution or ventilation air to the mouth end of the
cigarette and for this purpose, the ventilation passages in one
direction extend to the mouth end of the cigarette where they
outlet directly to the smoker's mouth in the case of a non-filter
type cigarette, or to the filter of a filter type cigarette or the
mouthpiece of the cigarette if such device is employed.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a somewhat different embodiment of cigarette 110
wherein the ventilation passages 112a, 112b and 112c rather than
being disposed at the inner side of the tobacco cylinder wrapping
114 adjacent the tobacco filler 116 are located on the outer
surface thereof. In the cigarette 110 depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4,
the ventilation passages are provided by means of a strip of
combustible material 124 which is adhesively secured to the outer
surface of the tobacco cylinder wrapping 114 with the blocking
means 130 being provided in the same fashion as in the cigarette 10
shown in FIG. 1.
In the cigarette 110, the same is illustrated as being a type which
is provided with a mouthpiece at the mouth end. The mouthpiece 140
comprises a cylindrical thermoplastic component which has a number
of axially directed flutes 142 formed at the periphery thereof in
an encircling course around the mouthpiece extending axially
thereof in the fashion depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,247 and
providing axial flow courses at the mouthpiece periphery. The
thermoplastic mouthpiece 140 in turn is enclosed by a cylindrical
wrapping 144 of an air-impervious paper which has a number of
apertures extending around the periphery thereof as at 146. The
mouthpiece 140 and its air-impervious wrapping 144 in turn are
secured as a unit to the tobacco cylinder by means of an overtip
148 in conventional manner.
The ventilation passages 112a, 112b and 112c formed at the outer
side of the tobacco cylinder wrapping 114 extend longitudinally of
the latter, and underlay the overtip wrapping 148 so that outlet
from such passages at the mouth end of the cigarette is beneath the
overtip 148. Thus, the passages 112a, 112b, 112c are placed in
communication with the apertures 146 in the air-impervious paper
144 and consequently are in communication with the longitudinal
passages 150 in the plastic mouthpiece 140 defined by the flutes
142 and wrapping 144. In the latter manner, any dilution air or
ventilating stream drawn through the passages 112a, 112b and 112c
are conveyed to the smoker's mouth during the course of
smoking.
FIGS. 7 and 8 depict a length drawn from a continuous stock of
cigarette wrapping 14 which can be provided with ventilation
passage defining means in accordance with the principles of the
present invention. Thus, the strip of wrapping 14 has adhesively
secured thereto a strip of stiffened or similar texture paper 24
such as glassine which is provided with a number of longitudinal
grooves 28 in correspondence to the number of ventilating passages
12a, 12b, 12c which are to be provided in the cigarettes. The
longitudinal grooves 28 can be formed as indicated earlier in
various ways in the stiffened paper, for example, the paper can be
folded along longitudinal fold lines to produce the grooves therein
which face away from the paper wrapping 14 when attached thereto to
define therewith the respective ventilation passages, or such
grooves can be formed by an embossing operation in suitable
embossing equipment.
FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a further embodiment of cigarette 200 made in
accordance with the principles of the present invention. The
cigarette 200 includes a conventional cylindrical paper wrapping
214 enclosing a cylinder of tobacco 216 and provided at the mouth
end with a filter unit depicted generally at 222. Ventilation
passages 212a, 212b and 212c are provided at either the inner or
outer surface of the wrapping 214, such passages being formed by
elongated thin-walled tubes or hollow cylinders 213 of a
combustible material. Such tubes 213 can be formed in any
convenient manner, e.g., from rolled paper and are secured to the
wrapping 214 by means of suitable adhesive, e.g., a hot melt type.
Further, each tube 213 is provided at a location along the length
thereof with removable blocking means 230 such as a crimp of the
tube material to prevent flow through the respective passage until
the cigarette has been smoked to a predetermined length.
EXAMPLE 1
Lengths of glassine paper were coated at one side with a thin layer
of heat-sealing adhesive and then were folded so that two
longitudinal flutes were raised toward the uncoated side providing
correspondingly two grooves facing the coated side. Each piece of
glassine paper then was heat-sealed to conventional cigarette
wrapper paper with a heating iron. Each groove was crimped flat at
one point with the heated iron, to block the flow course or passage
defined by the flute and cigarette wrapper paper. Cigarette filler
was placed on the paper on the fluted side (to provide internal
ventilation passages) and cigarette rods were rolled by hand. These
rods were cut to 65 mm. length and attached to 20 mm. cellulose
acetate filter plugs as used on commerical cigarettes. The
attachment was such that the blocks in the respective passages were
approximately 25 and 45 mm. from the lighting or smoking end of the
cigarettes.
These cigarettes were smoked on a machine capable of separating the
delivery from each puff (a "puff-by-puff" smoking machine, e.g., of
the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,054). Control cigarettes
were made from the same components but without the ventilation
passages and also were smoked. Comparative TPM results are
tabulated in Table I and shown graphically in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9,
the vertical bars indicate the times at which the ventilation
passages appear to be opening and also the times at which the
ventilation starts to become insufficient to counteract the trend
toward higher delivery. It will be seen that the cigarettes
ventilated according to the present invention do not deliver more
TPM than the initial puff of the control cigarettes until the final
two puffs (Nos. 14 and 15) of the former. The TPM delivery of the
control cigarettes are appreciably higher (at least 10 percent) for
all but one puff after the fourth.
TABLE I
Puff-by-Puff TPM Delivery: Two Internal Flutes
TPM, mg. Puff No. Fluted Cig. Control 1 1.5 1.7 2 1.5 1.8 3 1.1 1.6
4 1.4 1.8 5 1.7 1.9 6 1.6 1.9 7 1.2 1.9 8 1.1 1.8 9 1.4 1.9 10 1.7
2.2 11 1.3 2.3 12 1.4 1.9 13 1.8 2.7 14 2.3 2.8 15 2.3 2.7
EXAMPLE 2
Glassine paper coated with adhesive at one side was folded to form
longitudinal flutes and attached to cigarette wrapper paper as in
Example 1, each flute being crimped at one point to block the
ventilation passage formed therewith. The dimensions of the passage
were slightly larger than in Example 1, but still less than 2 mm.
square. Cigarette filler was placed on the paper on the side
opposite the flutes (to provide external ventilation passages) and
cigarette rods were rolled. These rods were cut to 65 mm. and
attached to 20 mm. filter plugs (acetate) enclosed in a fluted
mouthpiece which in turn were covered with tube wrapper having a
double row of vent holes encircling the tubes. The attachment of
the rods was made with overtip paper (30 mm.) in such a way that
the flutes defining the ventilation passages were somewhat
flattened but not closed off, while the overtip area outside such
flutes was pressed against the wrap to prevent leaks. Blocks were
approximately 30 and 45 mm. from the lighting end, respectively.
Control cigarettes were hand made as in Example 1, without glassine
flutes. Puff-by-puff machine smoking gave delivery profiles as
shown in FIG. 11. The levelling effect of the ventilation flutes is
evident after the seventh puff.
EXAMPLE 3
Experimental cigarettes were made as in Example 1, but with only
one ventilation passage formed with the attached combustible strip.
This was blocked approximately 30 mm. from the lighting end of the
cigarette. Control cigarettes, identical in all respects but
lacking the ventilation passage, also were made. The comparative
delivery profiles are shown in FIG. 10 from puff-by-puff machine
smoking. The single ventilation passage gives predictable
ventilation and while it does not level the profile as well as two
such passages, there is a noticeable diminution of TPM delivery as
compared with the control.
EXAMPLE 4
Externally fluted cigarettes were made as in Example 2, but with
one rather than two flutes; attachment to the filter plug was made
in the same way. The block was about 30 mm. from the lighting end.
Control cigarettes were prepared as for Example 2. The results from
machine smoking show (FIG. 12) a maximum 15 percent increase of TPM
delivery over that for the initial control puff, until the last two
puffs (Nos. 11 and 12) for the fluted cigarette.
While the degree of control is less than was obtained with two
flutes (Example 2), a discernible decrease of TPM delivery as
compared with the control is achieved.
While the present invention has been described in terms pertaining
to cigarettes, it will be understood that it has broader
applicability to all kinds of smoking articles, including
cigarillos and the like.
While there is above disclosed but some embodiments of the
ventilation type cigarette with controlled delivery profile, it is
possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from
the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed, and
accordingly, it should be understood that all matter contained in
the above description and accompanying drawings should be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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