Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cigarette filter with flavored particles
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a novel smoke-enhancing filter rod; a
smoking article comprising said smoke-enhancing filter rod; a method for the
preparation of said smoke-enhancing filter rod and of said smoking article
thereof.
(b) Description of Prior Art
[0002] In the United States patent no. 3,771,534 entitled "Combination filter
and cigarette holder", a filter cartridge is integrated to a cigarette holder.
Two
barrels are aligned and of their ends of similar diameter, one is connected to
the
cigarette to be smoked, and the other to a short length of cigarette acting as
a tip.
The filter cartridge can be impregnated with a volatile oil such as menthol or
mint in
order to flavor smoke, and the two barrels act as air chambers to cool it. The
aim of
such conception essentially resides in the double filters providing protection
against
infectious substances. However, the customer is presented with a poor
flavoring of
the smoke, the cooling of the smoke being an obstacle to the adhesion of the
flavor.
Moreover, it has been shown that menthol and volatile oils present an
unpleasant
aftertaste to certain groups of customers.
[0003] In United States patent no. 3,972,335 entitled "Mentholated cigarette
filter", a flavored cigarette filter made of granular activated carbon, known
for its
efficient capacity for filtering gas phase toxic agents in the smoke, is
treated so that
its shelf life and delivery rates of the flavoring-agent are improved. Indeed,
the
carbon is treated with sucrose, or any material capable of being absorbed and
retained by the activated carbon as well as act as a pore-modifying agent: its
effect
consists in blocking the most retentive portions of the carbon, so that the
less
retentive ones remain available for adsorption of the smoke-flavored agent
such as
menthol. Thus, the flavor agent is retained on the carbon during shelf life,
but is
released when cigarette smoke crosses the filter. However, such type of
cigarette
filters present many inconveniences for efficient flavoring of the smoke. The
pore-
blocking step by a pore-modifying agent is very intricate, as the quantities
of the
agent as well as the type of agent to be added to the carbon have to be
precisely
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measured and chosen so that only the most retentive pores are made
unavailable.
Such situation often ends up in inefficient filtering of the smoke's
deleterious agents
and very low delivery of the flavorants, the pore-modifying agent blocking
most of
the retentive spots on the carbon.
[0004] United States patent no. 4,620,554 entitled "Moderating agent of
cigarette taste ", a moderating agent of the cigarette taste is attached to
the top end
of the cigarette and providing both flavoring of the smoke but also
elimination of the
nicotine taste. Such moderating agent is constituted from a blend of powder
material. The purpose of such invention is to provide improvement of the
smoke's
nicotine taste and reduce the related irritancy. However, this invention is
mainly
intended to enhance the taste of tobacco as well as diminish and camouflage
the
unpleasant taste and aftertaste of the cigarette's smoke caused by nicotine
and
other components.
[0005] United States patent no. 4,889,144 entitled "Filter for tobacco
smoking" is based on the conception of a flavored cigarette filter. The filter
tip
comprises a space in its middle filled with flavored-sealed particles. Those
flavored-
sealing particles are made of a natural polysaccharide, a diluent agent as
well as
one or more flavor materials selected from a variety of powdered and oil-
soluble
flavors: some of the most popular ones are licorice, clove, cinnamon powder
and
vanilla, lemon, Japanese mint oil. Such encapsulation provides protection of
the
flavors against volatilization and deterioration. In order to release the
flavor, the
capsules have to be broken by the smoker by the application of a force on the
outer
surfaces of the filter that is greater than the one normally applied when
smoking,
such as twisting or pressing the filter. Destruction-accelerator particles,
which are
particles such as crystalline sugars and table salt with a greater hardness
than the
one of the flavor particles, can be added to increase speed of the flavor
particle
destruction. In conclusion, such product gives the smoker the ability to enjoy
either
a flavored cigarette or an original one by not breaking the flavor particles.
This
invention can be seen as a breakthrough in the cigarette flavoring industry:
however, the main problem with a filter tip comprising a cavity in its center
filled with
flavor particles is that very often, those particles tend to compact and that
the draw
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resistance increases. Thus, those cigarettes tend to be difficult to smoke and
customers disinterest themselves from such product.
[0006] United States patent application no. 2005/0070409 Al entitled
"Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters"
relates to the
conception of a new method for mechanically incorporating individual objects
in
cigarette filters. The resulting filter rods have objects imbedded in the web
filter
such as flavorant containing capsules.
[0007] It would be highly desirable to be provided with a cigarette
constructed
with a filter providing a certain level of protection, adding to the smoke's
natural
taste a desired flavor, enhancing its overall essence and offering a better
and more
subtle aftertaste. Indeed, the technologies presented in the prior art often
end up
overfiltering smoke to the point where its taste is altered and often has to
be re-
flavored through passage in a second filter containing flavorants. Such
inventions
are often intricate and many result in a diminution of the overall quality,
taste and
aftertaste of smoke and cigarette.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Herein we report smoke-enhancing filter rods produced through
different methods and comprising various smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles
as a means for enhancing the smoke of a smoking article. Indeed, the smoke-
enhancing filter rods of the present invention are made of a filtering-zone,
in which
smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles are present. Smoke-enhancing plant
flavour particles may be embedded or inserted in a cavity in the filter. The
filtering
zone is made of a material chosen from cellulose acetate tow, cellulose
acetate
web and paper. Such filter material can be dyed to conform to the color of the
smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles. The smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles may be flavorant plant particles chopped to a size suitable to be
embedded or inserted in a cavity in said filtering zone and chosen from mint,
vanilla,
peppermint, anise, basil, bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin,
ginger, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme, vanilla,
lavender,
licorice, coffee, tea, eucalyptus, clove, wintergreen, beefsteak plant,
curcuma,
turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, rose, bergamot and orange blossom. The mint
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particles may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha arvensis,
Mentha
c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha
piperita
c. v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolla, Memtha longifolia, Mentha
suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha
suaveolens. The smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles may also be a
combination of natural flavorant plant particles blended with menthol and/or
essential oils and/or one or more of their constituents. The smoke-enhancing
plant
flavour particles are prepared by finely chopping dry plant parts such as
leaves
and/or stems to a size of 10 to 80 meshes. The smoke-enhancing filter-rod is
prepared in one preferred embodiment by uniformly sprinkling a suitable amount
of
smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles on a tow traveling laterally on a
mechanical
support. The tow used for the preparation of such filter is a laterally
widened tow
and sprinkling of the smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles is effected
through
passage of said tow at a certain speed under an apparatus distributing said
particles. The sprinkled tow is then formed into a thin rod-shaped bundle,
coated
with lapping paper [plugwrap] and cut into rods of predetermined size in order
to
produce the smoke-enhancing filter rods. The resulting filter rod can either
be
prepared using a single segment of smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles
embedded in the filter material or a combination of segments of regular filter
material continuously linked with segments of smoke-enhancing embedded filter
material. The smoke-enhancing filter rod is also prepared, in a second
preferred
embodiment, by filling a cavity between two segments of regular filter
material with
smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles. Also filter rod can include multiple
segments some of which may contain other particles embedded therein, such as
charcoal and resin among others.
[0009] Those rods are hereinafter incorporated into a smoking article: the
filter is continuously connected to a tobacco rod, a cylindrical rod of
smokable filler
material, by wrapping the two axially aligned parts in an end-to-end
relationship with
tipping material.
[0010] For the purpose of the present invention, the following terms are
defined below.
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[0011] As used herein the terms `smoking material rod' or 'smoking material'
are merely intended to mean that part of the smoking article which is
contained
within the substantially non-combustible wrapper and should not have imported
therein any association as to the combustibility or otherwise of individual
components of the rod of the smoking material.
[0012] The term 'carbon' as used herein can be taken to cover a material
which is substantially solely carbon and any carbon precursors, such as
carbonaceous material. As used herein the term carbonaceous includes material
which has been pyrolysed, which material preferably contains carbon, although
some incomplete combustion products may still be present. Ready pyrolysed
coconut fibre may, for example, be the carbonaceous material from which carbon
is
derived.
[0013] As used herein, the term 'smoking material' means any material which
can be used in a smoking article. It does not necessarily mean that the
material
itself will necessarily sustain combustion. The smoking material is usually
produced
as a sheet, then cut. The smoking material may then be blended with other
materials to produce a smokable filler material.
[0014] The term "smoke-enhancing" is referring to an ability to provide
improved features to the smoke of a smoking article. Such features are the
result of
the presence of specific particles in the filter of a smoking-device:
depending on the
type of particles, as smoke passes through the filter, it can be flavored,
improve
aftertaste's quality and/or add a refreshing taste.
[0015] The expression "smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles" is referring
to natural flavorant plant particles and to a combination of natural flavorant
plant
particles blended with menthol and/or essential oils.
[0016] The expression "flavorant" is referring to the ability of smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles to flavor the smoke produced by a smoking-
device
as it drawn through the filter in which they are embedded which releases,
produces,
neutralises, masks or alters odours, for example a perfume or deodorant.
[0017] The term "smoking article" is referring to an apparatus for smoking
tobacco comprising a rod of smokable material, such as tobacco, enclosed in a
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circumscribing material connected to a filter by wrapping material. Such
smoking
article, when lit, produces the smoke that will be drawn through the filter.
Such
smoking articles include cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos. Other smokable
materials,
include reconstituted tobacco, and tobacco substitutes, and alternative
smoking
products in which the material is not smoked/burned as such.
[0018] The term "natural flavorant plant particles" is referring to particles
of
any plant parts having flavorant properties, which can be used in order to
flavor the
smoke of a smoking article. Those flavoring plant parts comprise, but are not
limited
to, flowers, beans, fruits, leaves, stems and roots.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Smoking Article Structure
[0020] The length of the smoking material rod is advantageously at least 60
mm and the rod should preferably yield not less than six puffs, and more
preferably
not less than seven puffs when smoked under standard machine smoking
conditions. The rod is preferably of uniform cross-sectional shape and
dimensions
throughout the length of the rod.
[0021] Filter
[0022] Advantageously the smoking article incorporates a filter
element which may be conventional fibrous cellulose acetate, polypropylene or
polyethylene material or gathered paper material. Multiple filter elements may
also
be utilised. Filter elements having particular pressure drop characteristics,
such as
the filter sold by Filtrona and known as The Ratio Filter, may also be
utilised.
Disposed upon or within the material of the filter element may be further
flavouring
materials, as described above, which are released or eluted from the filter
element
by the aerosol generated by the heated or burnt aerosol generation means.
[0023] Preferably the filter element may further contain particulate material,
such as granular carbon, which may suitably be activated carbon. Preferably
the
activated carbon is activated coconut carbon. The filter containing
particulate
material may be a dual filter comprising, for example, a cellulose acetate
mouth
section and a dalmatian rod at the tobacco end of the filter. A paper section
may
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also form part of a multiple filter. Alternatively, the filter may be the
filter
manufactured in accordance with the structural design of the filter known as
the
Active Patch filter (manufactured by Filtrona International) as described in
UK
Patent Specification No. 2249936. In a yet further alternative, the filter
element may
be cavity filter comprising two end sections with a central cavity containing
granular
material.
[0024] The filter element may alternatively be a selective reduction filter as
described in co-pending US Provisional Patent Applications Serial Nos.
60/309,388
and 60/309,435 both filed on 1 st August 2001.
[0025] The mouth end located filter plug may be made from a variety of
material, for example, cellulose acetate tow, cellulose, paper, cotton,
polypropylene
web, polypropylene tow, polyester web, polyester tow or combinations thereof.
[0026] In addition, the pressure drop and/or mechanical filtration efficiency
of
the filter plug sections can be selected to achieve the desired smoking
mechanics
and filtration characteristics as may be required with the specific product
design
desired.
[0027] A further filter construction that may be useful in the present
invention
is that described in our co-pending International Patent Application No.
PCT/GB02/005603. The grooved arrangement of the filter described therein
provides for ventilating air to enter grooves extending towards the tobacco
end and
then be re-directed towards the mouth end. The result is a decrease in the
CO/tar
ratio. In combination with particulate additives that selectively reduce
vapour
phases a significant reduction in vapour phase constituents can be achieved.
[0028] It is much by preference that a first portion of the tobacco smoke
filter
comprises an adsorbent material. Preferably the adsorbent material is a
general
adsorbent. The general adsorbent material is preferably selected from a group
of
relatively high surface area materials, such as activated charcoal, which are
capable of adsorbing a range of chemical compounds without a high degree of
specificity.
[0029] It is much by preference that the second portion of the smoke filter of
the present invention comprises a conventional smoke filtration material.
Suitable
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conventional materials include cellulose acetate, paper, polypropylene and
other
materials that will be well known to persons skilled in the art and capable of
retaining at least a portion of the particulate phase of smoke.
[0030] Preferably the first and second portions of the smoke filter of the
present invention are arranged in co-axial alignment.
[0031] Wrapper
[0032] The wrapper enwrapping the smoking article may comprise a bum
additive, such as sodium and/or potassium citrate, for example. Other suitable
burn
additives, such as sodium or potassium salts, such as acetate and tartrate;
mono-
ammonium phosphate, and di-sodium hydrogen phosphate, for example, will be
known to the skilled man. Advantageously the burn additive is present in the
range
of 0.5-2.5% by weight of the wrapper. The wrapper may also have a basis weight
in
the range of 20-40g/m2.
[0033] The wrapper of the smoking article may alternatively or in addition be
a non-paper wrapper, such as the wrappers described in International Patent
Applications, Publications Nos. WO 96/07336 and WO 01/41590. Such wrappers
assist in the reduction of sidestream smoke components, but still provide a
smoking
article which has burning and ashing characteristics similar to conventional
products, i.e. the wrappers allow the smoking article to burn down and ash in
a
similar way to conventional products.
[0034] The wrapper may suitably be a paper wrapper or a substantially non-
combustible wrapper, such as that described in WO 96/07336.
The wrapper thereof advantageously contains at
least 65% inorganic particulate filler material, such as those inorganic
materials
described above.
[0035] A conventional cellulose pulp paper wrapper may have a permeability
in the range 2-300 CU and preferably less than 100 CU. Such a wrapper may also
be a low total filler paper such as disclosed in European Patent Application
No. 0
404 580 and comprising less than 14% magnesium oxide or hydroxide, for
example.
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[0036] Smokable Material
[0037] Preferably the smokable material is a tobacco material. Suitably the
tobacco material comprises one or more of stem, lamina, tobacco dust. It is
preferred that the tobacco material comprises one or more of the following
types:
Virginia or flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco,
reconstituted
tobacco. It is much by preference that the smokable material comprises a blend
of
tobacco material. Advantageously the smokable material comprises 10-80%
Virginia tobacco, 10-60% Burley tobacco, 0-20% Oriental tobacco, 0-120%
reconstituted tobacco and 0-30% expanded tobacco.
[0038] The smoking material of smoking articles according to the subject
invention preferably comprises or consists of cut tobacco, a proportion of
which
tobacco may be expanded tobacco. The smoking material may comprise
reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitute material.
[0039] The smokable filler material may also comprise a burn additive to
enhance the smoking properties of the filler material. Depending on the
properties
of the filler the burn additive is either a burn promoter or a burn retardant.
Suitable
burn additives may be selected from one or more of salts of Group I or II
metals
such as acetates, citrates and other burn promoters known to the skilled man.
Suitable burn retardants include magnesium hydroxide, mono-ammonium
phosphate or magnesium chloride, for example.
[0040] The smokable filler material may also comprise an ash improver,
which is advantageously present in the filler in the range of 0-5%.
Appropriate ash
improvers include one or more of mica, perlite, clays, such as, for example,
vermiculite, kaolinites, talcs, saponites, bentonites, as well as ash
improvers such
as disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, sodium carbonate or diammonium
phosphate, for example.
[0041] Inorganic Filler Material
[0042] Advantageously the inorganic filler material is one or more of perlite,
alumina, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate (chalk), vermiculite, magnesium
oxide, magnesium sulphate, zinc oxide, calcium sulphate (gypsum), ferric
oxide,
pumice, titanium dioxide, calcium aluminate or other insoluble aluminates, or
other
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inorganic filler materials. The density range of the materials is suitably in
the range
of 0.1-5.7 g/cm3. Advantageously, the inorganic filler material has a density
that is
less than 3 g/cm3, and preferably less than 2.5 g/cm3, more preferably less
than 2.0
g/cm3 and even more preferably less than 1.5 g/cm3. An inorganic filler having
a
density of less than 1 g/cm3 is desirable. A lower density inorganic filler
reduces the
density of the product, thus improving the ash characteristics.
[0043] Organic Filler Material
[0044] The smokable filler material may also comprise an organic filler.
Advantageously the organic filler material is inert or relatively inert when
alone i.e.
will not readily maintain burning, but in a mixture may become more
combustible,
i.e. will maintain burning. Suitable organic fillers include insoluble
alginates, such
as calcium or magnesium alginate, calcium pectinate or alginic acid, as well
as non-
modified cellulose, such as treated or non-treated wood pulp or alpha
cellulose, for
example. Mixtures of inert organic fillers and inorganic fillers may also be
used.
[0045] Aerosol Generating Means
[0046] The aerosol generating source preferably comprises aerosol forming
means, such as glycerol and/or other aerosol forming compounds illustrated in
our
co-pending PCT Application No. WO 96/07336. These include polyhydric alcohols,
propylene glycol and triethylene glycol, esters such as triethyl citrate,
triacetin or
triethylene glycol diacetate (TEGDA), or high boiling point hydrocarbons.
Other
suitable aerosol forming means will be known to those skilled in the art.
[0047] Binders
[0048] Advantageously, if the binder is a mixture of alginate and non-alginate
binders, then preferably the binder is comprised of at least 50% alginate,
preferably
at least 60% alginate and even more preferably at least 70% alginate. The
amount
of combined binder required may suitably decrease when a non-alginate binder
is
utilised. The amount of alginate in a binder combination advantageously
increases
as the amount of combined binder decreases. Suitable alginic binders include
soluble alginates, such as ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, sodium calcium
alginate, calcium ammonium alginate, potassium alginate, magnesium alginate,
triethanol-amine alginate and propylene glycol alginate. Other organic binders
such
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as cellulosic binders, gums or gels can also be used in combination with
alginic
binders. Suitable cellulosic binders include cellulose and cellulose
derivatives, such
as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose,
hydroxyethyl cellulose ethers. Suitable gums include gum arabic, gum ghatti,
gum
tragacanth, Karaya, locust bean, acacia, guar, quince seed or xanthan gums.
Suitable gels include agar, agarose, carrageenans, furoidan and furcellaran.
Starches can also be used as organic binders. Other suitable gums can be
selected by reference to handbooks, such as Industrial Gums, E. Whistler
(Academic Press).
[0049] Colouring Agents
[0050] Colouring means, such as food grade dyes, for example, or colourants
such as liquorice, caramel or malt, or extracts thereof, may be used to darken
the
colour of the filler material. The presence of vermiculite or other inorganic
material,
such as iron oxide, may also give a darker colour to the filler material of
the
smoking article.
[0051] Suitable colourant materials include cocoa, liquorice, caramel,
chocolate or toffee, for example. Finely ground, granulated or homogenised
tobacco may also be used. Industry approved food colourants may also be used,
such as E150a (caramel), E151 (brilliant black BN), E153 (vegetable carbon) or
E155 (brown HT). Other casing materials may also be suitable. In the
alternative,
the presence of vermiculite or other inorganic filler materials may give a
darker
colour to the smoking material.
[0052] Preferably the colourant is present from 0-10% and may be as much
as 5-7% by weight of the final smoking material. Advantageously the colourant
is
less than 7% preferably less than 6% and more preferably less than 5% of the
final
smoking material. Much preferred is use of colourant at less than 4%, less
than 3%
and less than 2%. Cocoa may suitably be present in a range of 0-5% and
liquorice
may be present in a range of 0-4%, by weight of the final smoking material.
When
the colourant is cocoa or liquorice, for example, the minimum amount of cocoa
to
obtain the desired sheet colour is about 3% and for liquorice is about 2%, by
weight
of the final smoking material. Similarly, caramel may suitably be present in a
range
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of 0-5%, preferably less than about 2% by weight of the final smoking
material, and
more preferably about 1.5%. Other suitable colourants include molasses, malt
extract, coffee extract, tea resinoids, St. John's Bread, prune extract or
tobacco
extract. Mixtures of colourants may also be used.
[0053] A range of tests made on a panel of smokers and evaluating the
smoking properties and overall acceptability of cigarettes made with such
smoke-
enhancing filters have shown favorable results in comparison with already
marketed
products. Compared to mentholated cigarettes, prepared with natural menthol
crystals or synthetic menthol crystals, this invention presents multiple
advantages.
Indeed, here is provided smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles embedded or
inserted in a cavity, such as mint particles, in the filter [this could be
clearer,
perhaps by referring simply to the particles being in the filter, with further
additional
possibility that they may be embedded in the filter material itself or may be
provided
in a cavity of the filter] providing a minty flavor and a refreshing taste and
aftertaste
to the smoke as it passes through it, comparatively with the overly intense
taste and
cooling aftertaste of the mentholated product.
[0054] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a smoke-
enhancing filter rod for use in a smoking article through connection to a
tobacco
rod. Such smoke-enhancing filter rod comprises smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles embedded or inserted in a cavity in a filtering zone, wherein said
smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles are flavorant plant particles and or a blend
of
flavorant plant particles with menthol and/or essential oils and/or one or
more of
their constituents incorporated in the filter.
[0055] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the
dried particles to be embedded in the filtering zone of the smoke-enhancing
filter
are chopped to a predetermined size and chosen from any mint varieties. Known
mint varieties include Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha
piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c. v., Mentha piperita c. v, Mentha spicata
crispa,
Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha
pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens. The preferred mint
variety
used in accordance with the present invention is Mentha Arventis.
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[0056] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the
type of material used for the filtering zone of the smoke-enhancing filter is
chosen
from any cellulose acetate tow, cellulose acetate web and paper. The preferred
material used in the present invention is cellulose acetate. The filtering
material is
usually in the form of a fibrous tow, but may also be in other physical forms
such as
crimped sheet in the case of paper.
[0057] In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention,
the type of smoking article to be attached to the smoke-enhancing filter can
be
chosen from cigarette, cigars and cigarillos.
[0058] The present invention will be described with reference to the various
stages of production of the final product comprising a method for fabricating
the
smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles, the smoke-enhancing filter rod and
the
smoking article containing said filter.
[0059] The smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles consist of flavorant plant
particles or flavorant plant particles blended with menthol and/or essential
oils
and/or one or more of their constituents. The main aim associated with the use
of
plant particles in the smoke-enhancing filter rods instead of artificial
purified agents
is to provide the consumers with natural flavorant agents, in combination or
not with
menthol and/or essential oils and/or one or more of their constituents, and
thus a
product with a refreshing taste and improved aftertaste. The plant particles
comprise every usable part of a chosen plant such as the roots, leaves,
flowers,
stems or buds. They are collected, dried and mechanically chopped to a
suitable
size to be embedded in the filter rod. The preferred humidity percentage of
the
particles to be incorporated being from 10 % to 20 %, whereas the normal
degree of
humidity of a cigarette being from 10 to 14 % obtained by either drying or
not. In
one preferred embodiment, natural mint particles are being used for flavoring
the
smoke. Various studies comparing the use of natural mint particles in a filter
of a
smoking-device were conducted to compare the smoking article with a
commercially available menthol cigarette. First, studies on loading, flavor
retention
and overall taste in a prolonged amount of time of natural greenhouse and
field mint
particles when incorporated in a filter were conducted. Those tests
demonstrated
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that natural mint particles presented different flavoring properties than the
already
marketed flavoring products. Moreover, smoke tests established that the
characteristic taste and aftertaste of natural mint, which is the result of a
combination of a multitude of components is providing a refreshing taste and
improved aftertaste compared to a strong cooling effect of a current menthol
product.
[0060] Flavorant particles can be incorporated in a filter rod through various
techniques: the particles can be contained within a cavity in the filter rod
or applied
on and/or in the filter material.
[0061] "Dalmatian-filters" may be made according to known techniques. For
example, "Dalmatian-filters" consist of filtering material through which smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles have been sprinkled before it has been
folded and
wrapped in wrapping material. Various steps are needed to lead to the
conception
of such filter: first, the filter material is wound in a roll from which it is
continuously
drawn. The laterally widened, flat material is brought to a smoke-enhancing
particle
dispersing section by a mechanical support. A hopper is provided above the
rotary
dispersion roller and a guide case is provided in front of it. The smoke-
enhancing
plant flavour particles fed in the hopper are uniformly applied to the filter
material
that is being continuously fed below the rotary dispersion roller. One
important
detail to be noted here is that the filter material on which smoke-enhancing
plant
flavour particles are sprinkled can be dyed for aesthetic reasons.
[0062] After the dispersion of the particles is completed, the filter material
is
brought to a second section wherein the folding operation is effected. A
filter
material folding section is used to fold the filter material. A retainer plate
projecting
from the machine body is provided horizontally through a gap corresponding to
a
thickness of the filter material above another upper surface of a receiving
plate
projecting from the same machine body. A pair of curved rods obliquely closed
to
each other on the front side of the retainer space are provided on a mount rod
projecting from the machine body. A curved portion of each rod is provided in
order
to depress downwardly both edge portions of the filter material. A pair of
clamping
thin plates are provided on both sides on the upper surface of the retainer
plate for
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clamping, folding and gathering at the center the edge portions, downwardly
depressed and inwardly pressed by the curved portions of the curved rods. The
clamping thin plates are arranged so as to intersect with each other, the
distance
between the clamping plates and the retainer plate is increased toward the
rear side
and the opposite edge portions are drawn inwardly to each other by the feed of
the
material. At the same time, the edge portions are overlapped to form the
overlapping portion which is fed in this state. Accordingly, the opposite edge
portions of the filter material lap the smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles, which
is led to the sleeve portion of the forming section. After introduction of the
filter
material into the sleeve portion, it is gathered into a thin rod shaped-bundle
containing the embedded particles and subsequently coated with a lapping paper
(plug wrap), porous or non-porous. Thereafter, the filter is cut into rods of
predetermined length in the cutter section.
[0063] Filters can also be configured as a combination of segments of
various filter materials, physical forms and/or composition wherein smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles are present in different locations along the
length
of the rod. Such construction can provide various advantages compared to the
regular "dalmatian filter" in terms of general appearance, resistance to draw.
These
particular filter rods are made of two types of segments present in
alternation in the
rod and maintained together by lapping paper. Indeed, a combination of two to
five
segments of either filter material embedded with flavorant particles or
regular filter
material are continuously connected in the rod and, depending on the total
number
of segments, are known as "dual-dalmatian filter", "triple-dalmatian filter",
"quadruple-dalmatian filter" and "quintuple-dalmatian filter". The filters may
be
symmetrical, when the segments are all of the same size, or asymmetrical, when
two or more of the segments are of different lengths.
[0064] The first type of segmented filter rods is the "dual-dalmatian filter"
comprising a segment of smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles embedded
filter
material as well as a segment of regular filter material. The segment of the
filter
located adjacent to tobacco rod is the segment comprising embedded smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles in order to flavor the smoke being drawn
through,
whereas the segment located at mouth end is made of regular filter material,
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produced exactly as the "dalmatian-filter" but without the step consisting of
sprinkling smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles. Such a construction is
interesting for two reasons. First, the presence of a segment of regular
filter material
at the mouth end of the cigarette prevents the smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles to fall out of the cigarette during manipulation by the consumer.
[0065] A second configuration of segmented filter rods consists of "triple-
dalmatian filter rods". This type of filter, comprising two or three different
segments,
one configuration option is as follows: the segments adjacent to the tobacco
rod
and to the mouth end are both made of regular filter material whereas the
segment
located between the later two is made of filter material embedded with smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles. Therefore, the smoke is flavored as it
passes
through the filter and the appearance of the product is the same as the one of
regular cigarettes.
[0066] Another filter configuration is a triple-dalmatian filter where the
mouth
end segment is a regular filter, the middle segment is embedded with mint
particles
and the tobacco rod segment is embedded with charcoal and/or resin particles
among others.
[0067] One variety of triple filter distinguishes itself from already
described
"triple-dalmatian filter rods". Indeed, the "cavity filter" constitutes an
alternative for
the flavoring of the smoke as it is conceived as a filter rod comprising 2
segments
separated by a cavity containing smoke-enhancing plant flavour particles.
Therefore, instead of two regular segments separated by a particles embedded
segment, the segments are separated by pure free smoke-enhancing plant flavour
particles inserted in a cavity in the filter. Such construction is again
appealing for
consumers because the product has the same appearance as regular cigarettes
and has interesting flavoring properties.
[0068] "Quadruple-dalmatian filter" and "quintuple-dalmatian filter" are
filter
rods having a configuration option in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention consisting of an alternation of four or five segments of
regular
filter material and of filter material embedded with smoke-enhancing plant
flavour
particles. The various segments are disposed in the filter rod in such an
order that a
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segment of regular filter material is present at the mouth end. The presence
of a
multitude of segments in the filter rod makes it possible to present consumers
with a
variety of products. Indeed, the various segments embedded with smoke-
enhancing
plant flavour particles can be prepared using either a variety or identical
smoke-
enhancing plant flavour particles and/or charcoal and resin, among others.
Therefore, the resulting product can present a smoke that is more concentrated
in
flavor or a smoke characterized by a blend of flavors, thus permitting better
modulation of its taste and aftertaste.
[0069] As previously established, a variety of smoking articles can be
attached to this type of filter and the procedure is the following. The
smoking article
is prepared by filling a cylindrical open-ended rod with smokable filler
material. Such
material normally consists of a blend of shredded tobacco which composition
can
vary, the existing varieties being flue-cured, burley, Oriental, Maryland,
dark, dark-
fired and Rustica tobaccos as well as rare and specialty tobacco. The
circumscribing wrapping material of the tobacco rod can vary in composition
and
properties. One end of the tobacco rod is the lighting end whereas the other
one is
adapted to be linked to the filter. The filter and the tobacco rod are
prepared with
similar diameter and are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship before
being
attached to one another by tipping material. Filter ventilation can be done
through
preperforated tipping or laser perforation on line.
[0070] While the invention has been described in connection with specific
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further
modifications
and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations
of the
invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including
such
departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary
practice
within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the
essential
features hereinbefore set forth, and as follows in the scope of the appended
claims.
