Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Variable Ventilation Smoking Article with Flavour Source
Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to a smoking article, a filter section for
a smoking article
and a method of manufacturing a smoking article.
Background
Cigarettes can include a filter section for filtering mainstream smoke. It is
known to provide
cigarettes with a flavour source, such as a flavour capsule, within the filter
section, to add
.. additional flavour to the smoke generated by the cigarette.
Summary
Embodiments of the invention provide, in a first aspect, a smoking article
comprising: a filter
section for receiving at least one of smoke and other aerosol generated by
said smoking
article, the filter section comprising filtration material; a variable
ventilation arrangement
configured to provide a user controllable level of ventilation into the filter
section wherein the
smoking article comprises a first part and a second part and the level of
ventilation is
selectable by selecting a position of the second part relative to the first
part; and a flavour
source disposed in the filtration material of the filter section and
configured to provide a user
controllable release of flavour to said at least one of smoke and other
aerosol generated by
said smoking article at a location in said at least one of smoke and other
aerosol upstream of
said ventilation arrangement, wherein the smoking article is configured such
that the level of
ventilation is controllable independently of the release of flavour.
The flavour source can comprise one or more capsules. The one or more capsules
can each
have a diameter of from 2mm to 6mm.
The flavour source can comprise at least one selected from plant material, a
thread loaded
with flavourant, flavourant dispersed in filter tow, flavour impregnated
particles and a sheet
material comprising a flavourant. The flavour source can be located within
said filter section.
The smoking article can further comprise a further ventilation arrangement
configured to
provide a level of ventilation into the filter section which is not user
controllable.
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The level of ventilation provided by the further variable ventilation
arrangement can be
within the range of from 5% to 50% of the volume of smoke and/or other aerosol
generated
by said smoking article passing through the filter section when said variable
ventilation is at
its minimum level.
The variable ventilation arrangement can provide ventilation which is user
controllable
within a sub-range within the range of from o% to 90% of the volume of smoke
and/or other
aerosol generated by said smoking article passing through the filter section.
The filter section can form at least a component of a first part of the
smoking article and the
smoking article can further comprise a second part movable relative to the
first part in order
to control the level of ventilation provided by the variable ventilation
arrangement. The first
or second part can comprise a sleeve configured to move relative to the other
of the first or
second part to control the level of ventilation provided by the variable
ventilation
arrangement. The sleeve can be rotatable with respect to the filter section,
and the level of
ventilation is varied by altering an angular position of the sleeve relative
to the filter section.
The filter section can comprise a first filter section having a length of 5 to
25 mm, and/or the
smoking article can further comprise a second filter section having a length
of 5 to 25 mm,
and/or the variable ventilation arrangement can provide ventilating air at a
position between
6 and 20 mm from a mouth end of the smoking article.
The filter section can comprise a first filter section and the smoking article
can further
comprise a second filter section, the second filter section being located
downstream of the
first filter section, and wherein a resistance to gaseous flow through the
length of the second
filter section is lower than a resistance to gaseous flow through the length
of the first filter
section and the resistance to gaseous flow through the length of the filter
arrangement
remains substantially constant as the level of ventilation is varied.
The first and second filter sections can comprise tow filaments, and the first
filter section can
differ from the second filter section by one or more of: tow weight, number of
tow filaments
in unit volume, cross-section of tow filaments and degree of crimping.
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The second filter section can comprise at least one air passage extending
longitudinally
through the length thereof. The second filter section can comprise fibrous
filtration material
formed having an annular cross section.
The second filter section can comprise a tube of fibrous filtration material
and the air passage
extends along a central longitudinal axis through the length of the second
filter section.
The smoking article can comprise a cigarette.
/o Embodiments of the invention provide, in a second aspect, a filter
section for a smoking
article for receiving at least one of smoke and other aerosol generated by
said smoking article,
the filter section comprising: filtration material; a variable ventilation
arrangement
configured to provide a user controllable level of ventilation into the filter
section wherein the
filter section comprises a first part and a second part and the level of
ventilation is selectable
/5 by selecting a position of the second part relative to the first part;
and a flavour source
disposed in the filtration material and configured to provide a user
controllable release of
flavour to said at least one of smoke and other aerosol generated by said
smoking article at a
location in said at least one of smoke and other aerosol upstream of said
ventilation
arrangement, wherein the filter section is configured such that the level of
ventilation is
20 controllable independently of the release of flavour.
Embodiments of the invention provide, in a third aspect, a method of
manufacturing a
smoking article, the method comprising: forming a filter section for receiving
at least one of
smoke and other aerosol generated by said smoking article, the filter section
comprising
25 filtration material; providing a variable ventilation arrangement
configured to provide a user
controllable level of ventilation into the filter section wherein the smoking
article comprises a
first part and a second part and the level of ventilation is selectable by
selecting a position of
the first part relative to the second part; and providing a flavour source in
the filtration
material of the filter section configured to provide a user controllable
release of flavour to
30 said at least one of smoke and other aerosol generated by said smoking
article at a location in
said at least one of smoke and other aerosol upstream of said ventilation
arrangement
wherein the smoking article is configured such that the level of ventilation
is controllable
independently of the release of flavour.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example
only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part of a smoking article
according to a
first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the smoking article illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3a is a plan view of a blank for forming a wrapper for a smoking
article according to a
./o second embodiment;
Figure 3b is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoking article
according to the second
embodiment;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the smoking article according to the second
embodiment;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a smoking article according to a third
embodiment; and
Figure 6 is a schematic flow diagram showing a method of manufacturing a
smoking
article.
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Detailed Description
As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokeable products such as
cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco
derivatives,
expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-
not-burn
products and other nicotine delivery devices capable of generating an aerosol
for
delivery to a consumer. Such smoking articles may be provided with a filter
for the
gaseous flow drawn by the smoker.
io 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 -
9imm, 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 im mm) and "ultra-long"
(typically
/5 in the range from about rio mm to about 121 mm).
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).
20 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.
25 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 15mm, associated with short, regular formats, to 3omm,
associated
with ultra-long super-slim formats. The tipping paper will have a greater
length than
the filter, for example from 3 to lomm longer.
Smoking articles and filters described hereinafter can be manufactured in any
of the
above formats. The smoking article can, for instance, be from 70 to roomm in
length
and from 14 to 25mm in circumference.
The terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' used herein are relative terms defined
in
relation to the direction of mainstream smoke (or other aerosol) drawn though
a
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smoking article in use.
Figure 1 illustrates a smoking article 10 according to a first embodiment. The
smoking
article 10 is a cigarette in the present example. However, other smoking
articles can be
used.
The smoking article 10 comprises a source of smokable material, such as
tobacco,
attached to a filter arrangement which comprises a first filter section 12 and
a second
filter section 14. The source of smokable material is in the form of a tobacco
rod
io which is attached to the first filter section 12. The second filter
section 14 is located
downstream of the first filter section 12 and tobacco rod ii. A ventilation
arrangement
17 provides a user controllable variable level of ventilation into the first
filter section 12,
as described in more detail below.
/5 The first filter section 12 comprises a flavour source configured to
release flavour to the
smoke and/or other aerosol generated by the smoking article m at a location
upstream
of the ventilation arrangement 17. In the present example, the flavour source
comprises plant flavour particles, although other flavour sources as described
herein
can be used. Plant-based flavourants and plant flavour particles are referred
to
20 respectively as botanicals and botanical particles, and will be
described in more detail
below.
The smoking article lo comprises a first part comprising the tobacco rod ii
and the first
filter section 12. The tobacco rod ii and first filter section 12 are
connected with a
25 covering layer to affix the first filter section to the tobacco rod,
which is formed of
tipping paper. The tobacco rod ii and first filter section 12 are referred to
as a tobacco
unit. The elongate tobacco rod ii and first filter section 12 define a
longitudinal axis of
the smoking article.
30 A second part of the smoking article comprises the second filter section
14 and a sleeve
13 which is movable relative to the first part of the smoking article. The
sleeve 13 is in
the form of a tube extending around the circumference of the tobacco rod ii
and/or
first filter section 12. The tube can be cylindrical. The sleeve 13 is formed
of paper in the
present example, although other materials can be used. The first and second
filter
35 sections 12,14 each comprise filtration material which is wrapped in a
sheet material,
which may be paper, e.g. plugwrap. The first and second filter sections 12, 14
form a
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filter arrangement. The first filter section 12 is upstream of the second
filter section 14.
The second filter section 14 is at a mouth end of the sleeve 13, adjacent to,
and separate
from, the first filter section 12.
The tobacco rod 11 and attached first filter section 12 are connected by
tipping paper
(not shown). The tipping paper is a standard tipping paper, or a relatively
thick
recessed tipping paper, or a board type tipping paper.
The ventilation arrangement 17 is configured to allow adjustment of a
ventilation level
ro of the smoking article 10. The ventilation arrangement 17 comprises one
or more first
ventilation areas 15 on the sleeve 13. In the present example, the first
ventilation areas
are at a location closer to the downstream end of the first filter section 12
than to the
upstream end. The smoking article further comprises one or more second
ventilation
areas 16 around the first filter section 12. For example, the one or more
second
r5 ventilation areas 16 are defined by a layer(s) of sheet material around
the first filter
section 12 or around the filtration material of the first filter section 12.
The ventilation
arrangement 17 provides for ventilating air to enter into the first filter
section.
Ventilation areas 15,16 are formed as ventilation apertures or air permeable
material.
In some embodiments, when ventilation areas 15 on the sleeve 13 are exposed,
air can
flow into the body of the smoking article 10. When first ventilation areas 15
on the
sleeve 13 and the corresponding second ventilation areas 16 around the second
filter
section 12 are aligned, air can flow into the body of the smoking article 10.
Ventilation
areas 15,16 are aligned by rotation of the first part of the smoking article
relative to the
second part. In particular, the ventilation is controlled by rotation of the
sleeve 13
relative to the first filter section 12. The ventilation arrangement 17
provides a
selectable variable level of ventilation controlled by adjusting the overlap
of the first
ventilation area 15 with the second ventilation area 16. The amount of
ventilation
depends on the effective ventilating area, which is determined by the area of
the overlap
of the first and second ventilation areas. The level of ventilation can be
selected by
selecting a position of the second part relative to the first part e.g. by
rotation of the
second part relative to the first part. Thus, the ventilation arrangement 17
provides for a
variable size of effective ventilation area, providing a variable intake of
air.
The first filter section 12 and second filter section 14 are made of a known
filtration
material. The filtration material for both filter sections can be tow, for
example,
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cellulose acetate tow. The filtration material of the first filter section is
homogenous,
and independently, the filtration material of the second filter section is
homogenous.
The term "homogenous" is used to mean that the filtration material is
substantially
uniform throughout each filter section, and in particular, is uniform in a
longitudinal
and/or radial direction through each of the first and second filter sections
12,14. At
least one physical property of the homogenous first filter section may be
different to the
homogenous second filter section.
The first and second filter sections both comprise fibrous material,
comprising tow
filaments. The tow weight is a measure of the amount of tow fibres in a
certain volume.
The tow weight can provide an indication of the density of a fibrous material
within the
filter section. The first and second filter sections are manufactured using
filtration
material formed or treated to have required properties, for example, providing
a
different pressure drop per unit length for the first and second filter
sections.
The first filter section 12 comprises botanical particles (not shown) embedded
in the
fibrous material. The first filter section 12 is similar to a "Dalmatian" type
filter,
comprising fibrous filtration material through which botanical particles have
been
sprinkled before the fibrous material is folded and wrapped in a wrapping
material. The
botanical particles are comprised of dried and chopped plant materials, and
may be
formed from botanicals such as menthol, juniper, coffee, anise or any other
botanical
having suitable taste and aroma characteristics. Any part of a chosen plant,
for example
the roots, leave, flowers, stems, or buds, can be used in the formation of
botanical
particles.
The plurality of botanical particles in the first filter section 12 impart a
taste and/or
aroma to the smoke which passes through the first filter section 12. As the
level of
ventilation is varied the level of dilution of the flavoured smoke is changed.
The amount
of flavoured smoke which reaches the mouth end of the smoking article can
therefore
be controlled, resulting in an overall smoking article 10 in which both smoke
intensity
and secondary flavour intensity can be simultaneously controlled.
As illustrated in Figure 2, the tobacco rod ii and first filter section 12 are
dimensioned
to rotate as a unit around a longitudinal axis with the second filter section
14 positioned
within the sleeve 13. A restraining means (not shown) retains the first part
and second
part in a fixed longitudinal arrangement, and prevents extension of the
smoking article
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10. Thus, the first part cannot slide longitudinally relative to the second
part, i.e. the
sleeve is not movable longitudinally relative to the second filter section 14.
The level of ventilation can be selected by selecting an angular position of
the sleeve 13
relative to the second filter section 14.
In some examples, the first ventilation areas 15 are configured to increase in
size non-
linearly with respect to angular position. The first and second ventilation
areas 15, 16
are configured such that the level of ventilation has a substantially linear
dependence
/o on the angular position of the sleeve 13 relative to the second filter
section 14.
In some aspects, the one or more first and second ventilation areas 15, 16
maintain a
fixed longitudinal position relative to the first and second filter sections,
when the
sleeve 13 is rotated relative to the second filter section 14.
In the present embodiment, the second filter section 14 is securely attached
and fixed
within the sleeve 13. Rotation of the second filter section 14 relative the
first filter
section 12 therefore causes rotation of the first filter section 12 within the
sleeve 13.
By selecting a different angular position of the second filter section 14
relative to the
first filter section 12, the registry between the first ventilation areas 15
in the sleeve 13
and the second ventilation areas 16 in the sheet material or plugwrap around
the first
filter section 12 can be selectively increased or decreased. The level of
ventilation in the
smoking article 10 can therefore be increased or decreased.
The first filter section 12 comprises botanical particles which lie upstream
of the
ventilation areas 15. The level of ventilation in the smoking article 10
controls the
dilution of smoke which passes through the first part of the smoking article
10 with air
which enters the smoking article 10 through the ventilation areas 15.
Therefore the level
of ventilation also controls the dilution of flavoured smoke which has passed
over the
botanical particles with unflavoured air which enters the smoking article
through the
ventilation areas 15. The level of flavour in the smoking article can
therefore be
increased or decreased.
Figure 3a is a plan view of a blank 30 forming a wrapper for a smoking article
according
to a second embodiment. Figure 3b is longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
smoking
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article 32 to which the blank 30 of Figure 3a has been applied. The smoking
article 32
comprising the blank 30 has substantially the same functions as described
above.
Features have the same arrangement and function unless otherwise described.
Referring to Figure 3b, the rod article 32 includes a tobacco rod ii, similar
to that
previously described, and first and second filter sections 12, 14 downstream
of the
tobacco rod ii. The second filter section 14 is provided downstream of the
first filter
section 12 and tobacco rod 11, at the mouth end of the smoking article. The
first filter
section 12 is provided between the second filter section 14 and the tobacco
rod ii. The
io first filter section 12 comprises botanical particles 18, as described
with respect to the
first embodiment. The first filter section 12 is divided into a first part 12'
and a second
part 12" by a cut 12", allowing the first part 12' of the first filter section
12 to move
relative to the second part 12".
/5 The blank 30 is configured to wrap twice, and in the present example
twice only,
around the whole circumference of the rod article 32. The blank 30 has a first
section
3oa which first wraps around the rod article 32 forming an inner layer and a
second
section 30b which then wraps around the first section 3oa, forming an outer
layer. The
blank 30 is therefore configured to define two complete layers extending
around the
20 circumference of the rod article 32, and comprises areas 3oa, 30b to
define an inner
layer and an outer layer.
The first section 3oa of the blank 30 comprises a first end portion 3oa'
connected to the
second filter section 14 and to the first part 12' of the first filter section
12, and therefore
25 connecting the second filter section 14 and the first part 12' of the
first filter section 12
together. The first section 3oa of the blank 30 also comprises a second end
portion
3oa" connected to the second part 12" of the first filter section 12 and to
the tobacco rod
11. The second section 30b of the blank 30 is separated into a first part 30b'
and a
second part 30b" by a cut 31.
The blank 30 comprises, on the first section 3oa, a control element 34 movable
in a
circumferentially extending channel 36, configured to control ventilation and
limit
movement.
The control element 34 is movable circumferentially within a limited range.
The control
element 34 is movable between a first engaging surface and a second engaging
surface.
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The first engaging surface and second engaging surface define the
circumferentially
extending channel 36 in which the control element 34 is movable.
The control element 34 defines first and second limiting surfaces 34a, 34b at
the edges
of the control element in the direction of movement, i.e. at the
circumferential edge of
the control element 34. Contact of the first and second limiting surfaces 34a,
34h of the
control element 34 with the first engaging surface and the second engaging
surface of
the circumferentially extending channel 36 limits relative rotation between
the first and
second parts of the smoking article.
The first and second limiting surfaces 34a, 34b extend at an angle to a
longitudinal axis
of the smoking article. The first and second engaging surfaces also extend at
an angle to
the longitudinal axis of the smoking article, and/or at an angle to the axis
of movement
of the control element. The first and second engaging surfaces extend at the
same angle
f5 and/or have a complementary shape to the first and second limiting
surfaces 34a, 34b.
A longitudinal movement restricting arrangement 35 comprises a sliding element
37
which is arranged to move between first and second restricting elements 38a
and 38b.
Sliding element 37 is attached to first and second restricting elements 38a
and 38b with
a frangible connection. The frangible connection is a circumferentially
extending line of
perforations. The part of the blank including the sliding element 37, control
element 34,
first and second restricting elements 38a and 38b and circumferentially
extending
channel 36 extends one time around the whole circumference of the smoking
article,
e.g. to form a tube. The sliding element 37 is attached to first part 30b' of
the second
.. section 30b of the blank 30, together with the first part 3oa' of the first
section 3oa of
the blank, and therefore moves, together with the first part 3oa' of the first
section 3oa,
the second filter section 14 and the first part 12' of the first filter
section 12, relative to
the second part 3oa" of the first section 3oa of the blank 30 and the second
part 12" of
the first filter section 12 and the tobacco rod fr.
The second section 30b of the blank 30 forming the outer layer, comprises a
ventilation
area 39' at a location 39 on the blank. In some examples, the ventilation area
39'
comprises a single aperture. Alternatively, the ventilation area 39' comprises
a plurality
of discrete permeable areas or apertures. For example, the apertures are
formed by
electroperforation (EP). The ventilation area 39' is arranged to align with
the channel
36 when the blank 30 is wrapped around the rod article 32.
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The control element 34 has a further function in controlling the ventilation
of the
smoking article. In particular, the control element 34 directly controls the
ventilation of
the smoking article by selectively blocking one or more ventilation areas. The
control
element 34 is configured to be movable relative to one or more ventilation
areas in a
radially adjacent, and integrally formed, part of the smoking article. The
control
element 34 is formed of a material which is substantially impermeable to air,
in
particular, paper which is not permeable to air. The control element 34 is
configured to
move between the ventilation area 39' and the underlying rod article 32 of the
smoking
article, such that ventilation air cannot enter the smoking article through
the channel
36 which is blocked by the control element 34. The control element is
impermeable to
air between the first and second limiting surfaces 34a, 34h. The first and
second
limiting surfaces 34a, 34h define both the limits of rotation and define the
amount of
ventilation area which is covered or uncovered.
Thus, the control element 34 has the dual function of both directly
controlling a level of
ventilation by covering a part of a ventilation area and limiting relative
movement of
the first and second parts of the smoking article between maximum and minimum
levels of ventilation.
In some embodiments, the first filter section 12 comprises flavourant in the
form of
botanical particles. However, the first filter section 12 can comprise other
forms of
flavourant, such as one or more capsules, a thread loaded with flavourant,
flavourant
dispersed in filter tow, flavour impregnated particles or a sheet material
comprising a
flavourant, which lie upstream of the ventilation area 39'. The level of
ventilation in the
smoking article 10 controls the dilution of smoke which passes through the
first part of
the smoking article io with air which enters the smoking article 1.0 through
the
ventilation area 39'. Therefore the level of ventilation also controls the
dilution of
flavoured smoke which has passed through the flavourant with unflavoured air
which
enters the smoking article through the ventilation area 39'. The level of
flavour in the
smoking article can therefore be increased or decreased.
In some aspects, the blank 30 comprises a further ventilation area (not shown)
at a
location 33 on the blank downstream of the variable ventilation arrangement
39'. The
further ventilation area comprises a plurality of discrete ventilation areas
or apertures,
for example, in a circumferentially extending line. The further ventilation
area can be
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formed by a laser. Generally, one or more of the ventilation areas comprise a
plurality
of discrete ventilation areas or apertures. The further ventilation area
provides a
constant minimum level of ventilation which is unaffected by the variable
amount of
ventilation from the ventilation area 39'. The amount of ventilation provided
by the
further ventilation area can be predetermined in the manufacture of the
smoking article
and is, for instance, between 5% to 50% of the volume of smoke and/or other
aerosol
generated by said smoking article passing through the filter section when said
variable
ventilation is at its minimum level. The variable ventilation arrangement 39',
36 can be
arranged to provide ventilation which is user controllable within a sub-range
within the
io range of from 0% to 90% of the volume of smoke and/or other aerosol
generated by
said smoking article passing through the filter section, for instance from 0%
to 50%
ventilation.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the smoking article 32 according to the
second
/5 embodiment.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a smoking article 40 according to a third
embodiment,
which is the same as the smoking article 32 of the second embodiment, except
that in
the third embodiment, the first filter section 12 comprises a user activated
flavour
release component in place of the botanical particles 18. The flavourant
release
component is preferably in the form of a capsule 41 which comprises an outer
wall and
an inner volume filled with fluid flavourant. The flavourant can be
selectively released
by the user of the smoking article 40 into the adjacent filtration material by
squeezing
the outside of the filter to deform or rupture the outer wall of the capsule
41. In the
present example, the capsule has a diameter of 3.mm, although other sizes can
be
used, for instance diameters of 2.5, 3, 4 or 4.5 mm, micro capsules or macro
capsules
with diameters in the range from imm to 7mm or larger.
The capsule 41 defines a cavity having a volume which is filled with
flavourant. The
outer wall or shell may be formed using gelatin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
(HPMC), a polysaccharide, polysaccharide derivative or any other suitable
material,
using methods known in the art. The outer shell surrounds and encapsulates the
flavourant. The capsule 41 is configured to release all of the flavourant
contents when
the outer wall is ruptured. The outer shell is frangible on compression, and
is
configured to break apart over substantially the whole surface of the outer
shell, or
alternatively rupture only in a predefined area when compressed.
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Alternatively, capsule 41 is configured to release only a part of the
flavourant on inward
pressure from a user, such that the flavourant contents are released in a
plurality of
discrete deliveries. The outer shell is resiliently deformable and may be
configured to
rupture in a predetermined area, or over a part of the surface area only, to
form one or
more slits or apertures when compressed.
The outer shell may be formed from a single part, or a plurality of parts
sealed together.
An outer shell formed from two parts may be configured to rupture at a
weakened
region, for example along a longitudinal or circumferential seam joining the
two parts,
which opens under pressure to define a slit. The capsule 41 may only release a
part of
the contents through the slit when the capsule 41 is compressed before
returning at
least partially to its original shape, when the compression of the capsule 41
ceases.
Additionally, the capsule 41 may comprise a substrate, which is a body of
absorbent
material impregnated with the flavourant. The substrate is a porous matrix
with an
open structure, in particular, an open cell structure, e.g. an open cell foam
structure.
The substrate is configured to be progressively compressible and configured to
release
at least a part, and preferably only a part, of the flavourant contents when
partly
compressed. The flavourant is distributed within the substrate, and
preferably,
absorbed by the substrate. The substrate is preferably formed of a filtration
material,
for example, cellulose acetate. The filtration material may be in the form of
a known
tow of filtration material suitable as a filter. The outer shell does not
inhibit release of
the flavourant once ruptured. The substrate may be at least partially
resiliently
deformable and may at least partially return towards the original shape, when
the
compression of the capsule 49 ceases. In the partial expansion of the
substrate
following release of the compressive force, the substrate may re-absorb a part
of the
released flavourant. References to release of the flavourant are therefore
intended to
refer to the net release of flavourant after the compressive force has ended.
The substrate may be formed by extrusion of the material containing the
flavourant,
which is then cut to a suitable length. A closed cell foam substrate may not
require an
outer shell to retain the flavourant, and so may form the capsule 41 without
an outer
shell. Alternatively, the capsule 41 may comprise the closed cell foam
substrate
encapsulated in an outer shell.
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- 14 -
The first filter section 12 comprises one or more capsules 41 which lie
upstream of the
variable ventilation area 39'. The level of ventilation in the smoking article
40 controls
the dilution of smoke which passes through the first part of the smoking
article with air
which enters the smoking article 40 through the ventilation area 39'. After
the
flavourant has been released from the one or more capsules by compression of
the first
filter section, the level of ventilation also controls the dilution of
flavoured smoke which
has passed through the first filter section with unflavoured air which enters
the
smoking article through the ventilation area 39'. The level of flavour in the
smoking
article can therefore be increased or decreased.
In the embodiments described herein, a flavour source is provided upstream of
a
variable ventilation arrangement. In addition, a further flavour source can be
provided
downstream of the variable ventilation arrangement. For instance, the first
filter
section 12 can comprise one or more first flavour release components and the
second
/5 filter section 14 can comprise one or more second flavour release
components. The first
and second flavour release components can each be any of the flavour sources
described herein. As described above, the amount of flavour provided by the
flavour
source which lies upstream of the variable ventilation areas 17, 39' can be
increased or
decreased by varying the level of ventilation of the smoking article. The
amount of
flavour provided by the second flavour release component can be predetermined
and is
substantially unaffected by the level of ventilation of the smoking article.
In this way, a
baseline amount of flavour can be provided by the second flavour release
component as
a minimum level. The total amount of flavour can be increased to a maximum
level by
reducing the amount of ventilating air which dilutes the flavour of the first
flavour
release component. Accordingly, the amount of flavour provided by the smoking
article
may be varied over a wide range to suit the taste of a user.
In some embodiments, a first flavour release component comprises a first
capsule and a
second flavour release component comprises a second capsule.
Figure 6 illustrates schematically a method of manufacturing smoking articles
according to the invention. The method comprises forming a filter section
(step Si), in
the present example from a known filtration material, for example, cellulose
acetate
tow. A variable ventilation arrangement, for instance an arrangement as
described
herein, is provided (step S2) which is configured to provide a user
controllable level of
ventilation into the filter section. The variable ventilation arrangement can
be
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- 15 -
provided, for instance, by inner and outer wrappers having selectably
overlapping
ventilation areas.
A flavourant source is provided (step S3) to release flavour at a location
upstream of the
ventilation arrangement. In some embodiments, the flavourant source is a
plurality of
botanical particles, as described herein, and these are applied to the filter
tow of a filter
section upstream of the filter section into which the variable ventilation is
applied. In
alternative embodiments, other flavour sources as described herein can be
used, for
instance capsules or flavour loaded threads.
The first and second filter sections may be longitudinally aligned with a
source of
smokeable material.
Any other known filter components can be added to the smoking articles
described
herein. Examples of further filter components include a third filter section,
for instance
a filter section with particulate material such as carbon, activated charcoal
or
particulate flavourant, or an additional hollow section having an air passage
therethrough. The first and/or second filter sections can each be considered
as
comprising one or more discrete filter sections. The filter sections can be
considered as
generally upstream and downstream of the variable ventilation area.
In a further embodiment, the second filter section, located downstream of the
first filter
section, can be arranged such that a resistance to gaseous flow through the
length of the
second filter section is lower than a resistance to gaseous flow through the
length of the
first filter section. The resistance to gaseous flow through the length of the
filter
arrangement remains substantially constant as the level of ventilation is
varied. The
first filter section can for instance, differ from the second filter section
by one or more
of: tow weight, number of tow filaments in unit volume, cross-section of tow
filaments
and degree of crimping. The second filter section can, for instance, be a
tubular section
having at least one air passage extending longitudinally through the length
thereof.
The second filter section could, for instance, comprise fibrous filtration
material formed
having an annular cross section, in particular a tube of fibrous filtration
material with
the air passage extending along a central longitudinal axis through the length
of the
second filter section.
- 16 -
Wrapping material is applied to the smoking article assembly to attach the
component parts.
The paper wrapping material is tipping paper. In addition, a sleeve is wrapped
around the
smoking article. The sleeve is configured to move relative to the first filter
section and,
optionally, is securely attached to the second filter section.
The smoking article is configured to allow the ingress of a selectively
variable amount of air
upstream of the second filter section. For example, ventilation apertures are
formed in the
outermost layer of paper wrap and/or the paper sleeve. The ventilation
apertures are formed
by a mechanical cutting tool or a laser. The ventilation apertures are formed
in the wrapping
io material prior to the assembly of the smoking article (i.e. pre-
perforated apertures) or,
optionally, when the smoking article is assembled.
The ventilation has been described by entering the smoking article upstream of
the second
filter section, and in particular, into the first filter section.
Alternatively, the ventilation can
be at least partially into the second filter section, e.g. adjacent an
upstream end of the second
filter section.
The smoking article can comprise one or more ventilation areas providing a
base level of
ventilation. Such ventilation areas are not variable in size.
In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this
disclosure
illustrates by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed
invention(s) may
be practiced and provide for a superior smoking article. 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. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially of,
various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts,
steps, means,
etc.
CA 2966446 2018-09-25
