BRPI0813791B1 - multi-component filter for a smoking article - Google Patents

Description

(54) Title: MULTIPLE COMPONENT FILTER FOR A SMOKING ARTICLE (51) Int.CI .: A24D 3/02 (30) Unionist Priority: 17/08/2007 EP 07 253246.8 (73) Holder (s): PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA

(72) Inventor (s): CLÉMENT BESSO; YVES JORDIL; CHARLES KUERSTEINER (85) National Phase Start Date: 12/30/2009

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Invention Patent Descriptive Report for MULTIPLE COMPONENT FILTERS FOR A SMOKING ITEM. [001] The present invention relates to a multi-component filter for a smoking article and to a smoking article comprising such a multi-component filter.

[002] Cigarettes provided with a filter typically comprise a tobacco-cut filling rod surrounded by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter aligned end to end with the wrapped tobacco rod and connected to it by tip-forming paper . Ventilation in the form of circumferential perforations is commonly provided at a location along the filter, to mix the exhaled smoke produced during the combustion of the tobacco rod surrounded with the ambient air.

[003] In conventional filter cigarettes, the filter usually consists of a cellulose acetate fiber plug wrapped in a porous plug wrap. However, cigarettes provided with a filter with multi-component filters comprising two or more segments of filtration material for the removal of particulate and gaseous components from the exhaled smoke are well known. To enhance the aroma of the exhaled smoke, it is known to provide cigarettes with a filter with filters that include flavorings. In particular, it has been proposed to include flavorings in the form of plant material, such as leaves, seeds or roots, from one or more aromatic plants. In a known example, a filter-fitted cigarette is proposed with a multi-component filter featuring an aroma-releasing segment containing a mixture of plant materials, including licorice plant material, ginger root and fragmented peppermint leaf .

[004] The incorporation of tobacco plant material into the filter of a smoking article is also known. For example, WO-APetição 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 4/31

2/22

2006/090290 shows a filter including tobacco beads in the filter. Tobacco beads optionally including flavorings in addition to tobacco particles.

[005] It would be desirable to provide a multi-component filter for a smoking article that, in use, provides a greater aroma enhancement, and in particular a better dispensing of mint and menthol aroma in the exhaled smoke, as it it is swallowed from a rod of smokable material through the filter by a consumer. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a multi-component filter for a smoking article comprising an aroma release segment that minimizes aroma loss during storage. [006] In accordance with the present invention, a multi-component filter is provided for a smoking article comprising: a mouth end segment, and an aroma release segment upstream of the mouth end segment, wherein the aroma release segment comprises plant leaf and a filter plasticizer.

[007] According to the invention, there is also provided a smoking article comprising a rod wrapped in smokable material and a multi-component filter according to the present invention, connected to the rod of smokable material, preferably by forming paper cutting edge. Preferably, the smoking article is a cigarette provided with a filter.

[008] Throughout the specification, the terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of segments of the multi-component filter of the invention in relation to the direction of the exhaled smoke swallowed from a rod of smokable material through the multi-filter components during use. For example, in the filter of the present invention the aroma release segment is upstream of the mouth end segment, which means that the smoke

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 5/31

3/22 exhaled is swallowed first through the aroma release segment and then through the mouth end segment.

[009] The term filter plasticizer refers to any compound suitable for use as a plasticizer in a conventional fibrous cigarette filter plug. In conventional fibrous filter plugs, the role of a filter plasticizer is to bond the fibers of the plug together, so that the stiffness of the plug, and therefore its resistance to compression, is increased. The plasticizer is typically a solvent for the fiber material and acts by softening the outer surfaces of the fibers, such that they are adhered to each other. Glycerol triacetate is commonly used as the filter plasticizer for a cellulose acetate fiber.

[0010] Preferably, the filter plasticizer used in the present invention is glycerol triacetate.

[0011] The term plant leaf is used to indicate a material consisting of leaves from a plant, which have preferably been cut or fragmented to provide particulate material.

[0012] The aroma release segment can include any plant leaf that is capable of releasing aroma in the exhaled smoke swallowed through the multi-component filter. Preferably, the plant leaf is non-tobacco plant leaf. The aroma release segment may include leaf from one or more plants. In preferred embodiments, the aroma released from the plant leaf is provided by volatile compounds, such as oils, contained therein, which are volatilized during smoking. The exhaled smoke enriched with the volatile oils from the plant leaf flows downstream through the mouth end segment of the multi-component filter into the consumer's mouth. [0013] Before smoking, volatile oils remain trapped within the plant leaf. This advantageously ensures that the loss of aroma during storage of the multi-component filters

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4/22 and smoking articles, according to the present invention, is minimized, and thus increases the aroma release for the smoke exhaled during smoking.

[0014] Preferably, the plant leaf in the aroma release segment is fragmented, cut or otherwise reduced in size. More preferably, the plant leaf has a cut width of between about 0.25 mm and about 3 mm. More preferably, the plant leaf has a cut width of between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

[0015] Preferably, the plant leaf is dried at a moisture content of between about 8% and about 10%.

[0016] Preferably, the plant leaf in the aroma release segment comprises grass leaf.

[0017] The term herb leaf is used to indicate the leaves of a herbaceous plant. A herbaceous plant is an aromatic plant without woody tissue, the leaves of which are used for medicinal, culinary or aromatic purposes and are capable of releasing aroma in the exhaled smoke swallowed through the multi-component filter. The aroma release segment may comprise grass leaf from one or more perennial or annual herbaceous plants. For example, the aroma release segment may comprise herb leaf from herbaceous plants including, but not limited to peppermint, lemon balm, basil, lavender, chives, coriander, basil, lavender, to sage, tea, thyme and caraway.

[0018] In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the plant leaf in the aroma release segment comprises peppermint leaf. Preferably, the oil content of the peppermint leaf is at least about 0.6% by weight. The inclusion of peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 7/31

5/22 of the multi-component filters according to the present invention advantageously provides an improved way of imparting aromas of mint and menthol to the smoke exhaled from a smoking article. Smoking articles according to the present invention with multi-component filters comprising peppermint leaf advantageously provide enhanced mint and menthol aromas compared to conventional menthol cigarettes.

[0019] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the plant leaf in the aroma release segment is peppermint leaf and the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. It was surprisingly found that the inclusion of peppermint leaf and glycerol triacetate in the aroma release segment of the multi-component filters and smoking articles, according to the present invention, advantageously enhances the mint and menthol aroma provided by the release menthol and other volatile oils from the peppermint leaf. This is illustrated, for example, by the results shown in Table 1, below.

[0020] Table 1 shows the amounts of specific aroma compounds released in the smoke exhaled from peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment of cigarettes provided with a filter (Samples 1 and 3), according to the invention, presenting the general construction shown in Figure 1. The aroma release segment consists of a cellulose acetate fiber plug with peppermint leaf and glycerol triacetate distributed in it. Table 1 also shows the amounts of aroma compounds released from the peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment of cigarettes provided with a filter (Samples 2 and 4), not according to the invention, presenting the same construction as the Samples 1 and 3, but in which the aroma release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate. Each sample contains 40 mg of peppermint leaf. Not all

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6/22 compounds released from the peppermint leaf are measured.

[0021] Each of the samples is smoked under ISO conditions and the smoke extracts obtained are analyzed using a single ion monitoring method CG-MS in order to determine the levels of volatile compounds in the smoke. A full scan analysis with a scan range of 30 to 400 m / z (uranium-mass ratio) is performed.

[0022] As can be seen from Table 1, the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment of the filter-provided cigarettes, according to the present invention, results in higher levels of compounds of aroma being released from the peppermint leaf in the smoke exhaled during smoking compared to cigarettes provided with a filter, not according to the invention, in which the aroma release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate.

Table 1

Amos tra 1 Amos tra 2 Amos tra 3 Amos tra 4 Tar, mg / cigarette 1 1 6 6 Glycerol triacetate content of aroma release segment,% 5 0 5 0 Amount of menthol released in smoke exhaled during smoking, mg / cigarette 0.70 0.25 3.63 1.79 Amount of mentone released in the smoke exhaled during smoking, mg / cigarette 0.45 0.36 1.19 0.87 Amount of menthol acetate released in the smoke exhaled during the smoking, mg / cigarette na na 0.187 0.052

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Amos tra 1 Amos tra 2 Amos tra 3 Amos tra 4 Amount of neomenthol released in the smoke exhaled during smoking, mg / cigarette 0.050 0.018 0.254 0.124 Amount of α-pinene released in the smoke exhaled during smoking, mg / cigarette na na 0.032 0.030 Amount of β-pinene released in the smoke exhaled during smoking, mg / cigarette na na 0.050 0.049

(na = not determined) [0023] During the smoking of a smoking article comprising a multi-component filter, according to the invention, in which the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate, acetic acid and glycerin are released into the aroma release segment of the filter as a result of hydrolysis of glycerol triacetate. Consequently, the levels of acetic acid released in the filter during smoking are significantly higher than for a smoking article, not according to the invention, as illustrated by the results shown in Table 2 below. Table 2 provides the dimensions and properties of a filtered cigarette (Sample 5), according to the present invention, presenting the general construction shown in Figure 1. The mouth end segment of the filtered cigarette consists of a cellulose acetate fiber buffer and the aroma release segment consists of a cellulose acetate fiber buffer with peppermint leaf and glycerol triacetate distributed in it. Table 2 also gives the dimensions and properties of a cigarette with a filter (Sample 6), not according to the present invention, which has the same construction as Sample 5, but in which the

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 10/31

8/22 aroma does not contain glycerol triacetate.

[0024] As can be seen from Table 2, the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment of the multi-component filter of the cigarette provided with the filter, according to the present invention (Sample 5), results in a significantly higher level of acetic acid that is released in the filter compared to the cigarette provided with a filter, not according to the present invention (Sample 6), in which only the mouth end segment contains glycerol triacetate.

Table 2

Sample 5 Sample 6 Tar, mg / cigarette 6.1 6.2 RTD, total mmH2O 93 92 Ventilation, % 35 36 Cigarette length, mm 84.0 84.0 End segment length mouth, mm 15.0 15.0 Release segment length aroma, mm 12.0 12.0 RTD filter, mmH2O 92.7 91.2 Glycerol triacetate content of mouth,% 7.0 7.0 Glycerol triacetate content of aroma release,% 5.0 0.0 Peppermint leaves content, mg 40.0 40.0 Acetic acid concentration, ppm (based on cigarette weight = 920mg) 221 57

[0025] Preferably, the entire length of the smoking articles according to the present invention is between about 70 mm and about 128 mm, more preferably about 84 mm.

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 11/31

9/22 [0026] Preferably, the outside diameter of the multi-component filters and smoking articles according to the present invention is between about 5 mm and 8.5 mm, more preferably about 7.9 mm .

[0027] Preferably, the entire length of the multi-component filters according to the present invention is between about 18 mm and about 36 mm, more preferably about 27 mm.

[0028] The mouth end segment of multi-component filters according to the present invention can, in some embodiments, advantageously prevent the plant leaf of the aroma-releasing segment from reaching the consumer's mouth during smoking. Preferably, the mouth end segment comprises filtration material. Most preferably, the mouth end segment comprises filtration material which substantially has no phase filtration efficiency or very low particulate phase filtration efficiency. The mouth end segment may, for example, comprise cellulosic material, such as cellulose acetate fiber, or other suitable fibrous filtration material of low filtration efficiency.

[0029] When the mouth end segment comprises filtration material, the length of the mouth end segment will preferably be between about 3 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 8 mm.

[0030] The multi-component filters according to the present invention can additionally comprise a rod end segment upstream of the aroma release segment. Preferably, the stem end segment comprises fibrous filtration material. The rod end segment, for example, comprises cellulosic material, such as cellulose acetate fiber, or other suitable fibrous filtration materials, such as

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10/22 paper. The inclusion of a rod end segment comprising filtration material advantageously provides additional filtration efficiency.

[0031] Alternatively or additionally, the rod end segment may comprise at least one sorbent capable of removing at least one gas phase component from the exhaled smoke swallowed through the filter. Preferably, at least one sorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, active aluminum, zeolites, sepiolites, molecular sieves and silica gel.

[0032] The stem end segment may include one or more flavorings, preferably one or more liquid flavorings, to further enhance the aroma dispenser for the consumer during smoking.

[0033] For example, the rod end segment may comprise a plug of filter material including one or more filaments impregnated with liquid flavoring. One or more filaments may be formed from cellulose acetate yarn, rayon, cotton, or any other hydrophilic textile or non-textile material capable of absorbing or adsorbing the liquid flavoring. The filaments can be colored, for example, to indicate the type of flavoring impregnated in it. If more than one filament is provided, the filaments may be the same or different colors and may be impregnated with the same liquid flavorings or different liquid flavorings. Preferably, the filaments are between about 0.6 mm and about 2.0 mm in diameter, more preferably about 0.8 mm in diameter. Filter buffers comprising flavoring filaments suitable for use in rod end segments of multi-component filters according to the present invention, and methods and apparatus for producing such buffers, are described in US Patent Nos. 4,281,671 and 7,074,170, and are available from American Filtrona

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Company, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

[0034] Alternatively, the stem end segment may include a plurality of globules impregnated with liquid flavoring. The globules can be formed, for example, from a cellulosic material bonded to a polyvinyl acetate binder, or from tobacco powder bonded with microcrystalline cellulose. Globules suitable for use in rod end segments of multi-component filters according to the present invention are manufactured and sold under the Viscopearls® brand by Rengo Co. Ltd., Japan. Methods and apparatus for producing such globules are also described in Japanese Patent Application No. 10182842. The globules may have the same or different diameters and colors. The color of the globules can, for example, indicate the type of flavoring with which they are impregnated. Preferably, the globules are between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm in diameter.

[0035] Liquid flavorings for use in the stem end segments of multi-component filters, according to the present invention, may include one or more flavor ingredients to create a certain type of flavor and may be natural extracts, synthetic flavors, or a combination of them. Liquid flavorings and types of flavor that can be included in the stem end segment of multi-component filters according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, mint, coffee, tea, spices (such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger), coconut, vanilla and fruit flavorings. In preferred embodiments of the present invention in which the plant leaf in the aroma-releasing segment is peppermint leaf, the stem end segment of the multi-component filter preferably comprises a liquid menthol flavoring. In

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 14/31

12/22 such embodiments, the provision of a menthol flavoring in the stem end segment advantageously enhances the aroma released in the exhaled smoke swallowed through the filter during smoking and complements the menthol and mint aromas released downstream in the smoke exhaled by the peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment.

[0036] The mouth end segment may comprise at least one flavoring, such as those previously described above for the stem end segment. Preferably, if a flavoring is provided, the mouth end segment will include one or more filaments impregnated with liquid flavoring. [0037] Multi-component filters according to the present invention can include mouth end segments that comprise at least one flavor or stem end segments that comprise at least one flavor or mouth end segments that comprise at least one a flavoring and stem end segments comprising at least one flavoring. When the mouth end segment and the stem end segment comprise at least one flavoring, at least one flavoring in the mouth end segment may be the same or different from at least one flavoring in the stem end segment.

[0038] In use, as the exhaled smoke is swallowed from a rod of smokable material through the multi-component filter, the aroma is released into the exhaled smoke from the plant leaf in the aroma release segment. In embodiments of the present invention, in which at least one flavoring is provided in the base end segment, the flavor is also released upstream of the flavor-releasing segment, as previously described above. ConPetition 870180030944, of 04/17/2018, p. 15/31

13/22 creations of the present invention in which at least one flavoring is alternatively or additionally provided in the mouth-end segment, the aroma is also released downstream of the aroma-releasing segment. Multi-component filters according to the present invention can therefore provide a double or triple aroma enhancement for the exhaled smoke swallowed through the filter during smoking.

[0039] Multi-component filters according to the present invention can be produced by forming separate continuous rods comprising multiple units from each individual segment of the multi-component filter and then combining these separate rods in a known manner in one or more stages to form a continuous filter rod comprising multiple multi-component filter units. The continuous filter rod can then subsequently be separated at regular intervals by a cutting mechanism to produce a succession of discrete multi-component filters according to the invention.

[0040] Preferably, the smoking articles according to the present invention comprise a rod wrapped with tobacco cut filler.

[0041] Preferably, smoking articles according to the present invention have a total nicotine-free dry matter (NFDPM) or tar dispensing of up to about 10 mg. More preferably, the tar dispensing is between 1 mg and 10 mg and, more preferably, about 6 mg.

[0042] Smoking articles according to the present invention can be packaged in containers, for example, in flexible packages or hinged lid packages, with an internal coating coated with one or more flavorings.

[0043] In a first aspect of the present invention, the foil

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14/22 plant in the aroma release segment is distributed through a plug of fibrous filtration material, preferably a cellulose acetate fiber. The filter plasticizer is applied to the fibrous filtration material in a conventional manner, by spraying it on the separated fibers, preferably before applying the plant leaf to the filtration material.

[0044] Preferably, the plant leaf is substantially uniformly distributed over the length of the fibrous filter material plug. The peppermint leaf loading in the aroma release segment is preferably between about 1 mg and about 4 mg per mm of the aroma release segment for a multi-component filter having a diameter of between about 7.5 mm and about 7.8 mm.

[0045] The amount of filter plasticizer can be between 1% and 9% by weight of the fibrous filter material buffer, preferably 5% or less by weight of the fibrous filter material buffer. If glycerol triacetate is used as the filter plasticizer, the amount of glycerol triacetate is preferably about 5% by weight of the cellulose acetate fiber or other fibrous filtration material. This level of glycerol triacetate was considered to provide an acceptable stiffness of the fibrous filtration material buffer of the aroma release segment without obstructing the aroma release from the peppermint leaf. It is noticeably lower than the amount of glycerol triacetate in conventional cellulose acetate fiber filter plugs, which is typically about 7% by weight.

[0046] In smoking articles, according to the first aspect of the invention, the aroma segment is preferably between about 5 mm and about 22 mm in length, more preferably between about 10 mm to about 15 mm in length , more preferably about 12 mm in length.

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 17/31

In smoking articles, according to the first aspect of the invention, the mouth end segment may comprise a hollow or recessed tube. The hollow or recessed tube may be formed when the multi-component filter is connected to a rod of smokable material, for example, by tip forming paper to form a smoking article according to the present invention. In such smoking articles, the downstream end of the aroma release segment is visible at the mouth end of the multi-component filter through the hollow tube or recess, allowing the consumer to see the plant leaf distributed in the filter material plug. fibrous. When the mouth end segment comprises a hollow or recessed tube, the length of the mouth end segment will preferably be between about 3 mm and about 4 mm.

[0048] In a second aspect of the invention, the aroma release segment comprises a plant leaf plug, preferably compressed plant leaf, coated with a filter plasticizer. The buffer preferably does not comprise any other materials. The filter plasticizer can be applied to the plant leaf before, or after the plug is formed.

[0049] The amount of filter plasticizer is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of the plant leaf. If the aroma release segment comprises a peppermint leaf plug coated with glycerol triacetate, the amount of glycerol triacetate is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of the mint leaf -chili. In such smoking articles, a much lower level of glycerol triacetate is required than in smoking articles in which the peppermint leaf is distributed in a plug of fibrous filtration material, since glycerol triacetate is only required for aroma enhancement and not to stiffen the filter plug.

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[0050] In smoking articles, according to a second aspect of the invention, the mouth end segment preferably comprises a fibrous filtration material in order to prevent the loss of peppermint leaf from the filter.

[0051] In smoking articles, according to a second aspect of the invention, the aroma release segment is preferably between about 3 mm and about 12 mm in length.

[0052] In a third aspect of the invention, the multi-component filters according to the present invention additionally comprise a second aroma release segment between the mouth end segment and the aroma release segment described above. The inclusion of a second aroma release segment further enhances the aroma dispenser for the consumer during smoking.

[0053] Preferably, the second aroma release segment comprises tobacco leaf. The tobacco leaf can be fragmented, cut, or otherwise reduced in size. Preferably, the tobacco leaf is finely cut and, more preferably, the tobacco leaf has a cutting width of about 0.4 mm.

[0054] Preferably, the tobacco leaf in the second aroma release segment is dried. Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco leaf is about 15% or less by weight.

[0055] Preferably, the length of the second aroma release segment is between about 6 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably, between about 6 mm and about 10 mm.

[0056] The second flavor release segment may include tobacco leaf to which a wrapper comprising, for example, sugars or humectants has been applied.

[0057] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 19/31

Figures 1 to 3 show side views of three cigarettes provided with a filter comprising multi-component filters, according to the first, second and third embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention;

Figures 4 to 7 show schematic longitudinal cross-sections of the four cigarettes provided with a filter comprising multi-component filters, according to the embodiments of the fourth to the seventh, respectively, of the first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 8 shows a side view of a cigarette provided with a filter comprising a multi-component filter, according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention; and Figure 9 shows a side view of a cigarette provided with a filter comprising a multi-component filter, according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention. [0058] The cigarettes provided with a filter shown in Figures 1 to 9 have several components in common and these components received the same reference numerals. In each of the side views, portions were broken to illustrate internal details of the multi-component filter.

[0059] Each cigarette provided with a filter generally comprises an elongated cylindrical wrapped tobacco rod 2 connected at one end to an elongated, axially aligned cylindrical multi-component filter 4. The wrapped tobacco rod 2 and the multi-component filter 4 they are connected in a conventional manner by tip forming paper 6, which circumscribes the entire length of the multi-component filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 2. To vent the exhaled smoke produced during the combustion of the wrapped tobacco rod 4 with ambient air, a plurality of annular perforations 8 is provided through the tip forming paper 6

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18/22 at a location along the multi-component filter 4. [0060] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 10, according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, includes two segments in contiguous relation from end to end, a mouth end segment 12, away from the enveloped tobacco rod 2, and an aroma release segment 14, located upstream of the mouth end segment 12 and adjacent and adjacent to the enveloped tobacco rod 2 The mouth end segment 12 comprises a low efficiency cellulose acetate fiber plug of plasticized filtration with glycerol triacetate. The aroma release segment 14 comprises a cellulose acetate fiber plug with dried peppermint leaf having a cut width of between 1 mm and 2 mm substantially uniformly distributed therethrough. The cellulose acetate fiber buffer includes 5% by weight of glycerol triacetate plasticizer.

[0061] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the mouth end segment 12 of the multi-component filter 4 shown in Figure 1 is replaced by a recess, which has substantially no filtration efficiency, formed by the paper cutting edge training 6.

[0062] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 20 shown in Figure 2 is similar in construction to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 10 shown in Figure 1 and described above. However, the mouth end segment 12 of the cigarette provided with a filter 20 shown in Figure 2 additionally comprises a central cotton filament 22 loaded with menthol which extends axially through the cellulose acetate fiber plug, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. fitted with a filter 20.

[0063] The cigarette provided with filter 30 shown in Figure 3 presents

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19/22 a multi-component filter 4 which includes three segments in contiguous end-to-end relationship, a mouth end segment 12, away from the tobacco rod 2, an aroma releasing segment 14 located upstream of the end segment mouthpiece, and a stem end segment 32, located upstream of the aroma release segment 14 and adjacent to the wrapped tobacco rod 2. The mouth end segment 12 and the aroma release segment 14 have the same construction as those previously described for the cigarette with filter 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0064] The stem end segment 32 comprises a medium to high filtration efficiency cellulose acetate fiber plug, which, in use, partially filters the particulate phase components of the exhaled smoke.

[0065] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 40 shown in Figure 4 is similar in construction to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, the mouth end segment 12 of the cigarette provided with filter 40 shown in Figure 4 additionally comprises a central cotton filament 22 loaded with menthol which extends axially through the cellulose acetate fiber plug, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. fitted with a filter 40.

[0066] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 50 shown in Figure 5 also has a construction similar to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, the stem end segment 32 of the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 50 shown in Figure 5 comprises a central cotton filament 52 loaded with menthol which extends axially through the parallel cellulose acetate fiber plug to the longitudinal axis of the

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20/22 cigarette with filter 50.

[0067] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 60 shown in Figure 6 is again of similar construction to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, both the stem end segment 32 and the mouth end segment 12 of the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 60 shown in Figure 6 comprise an axially extending central cotton filament 22, 52 loaded with menthol. through the cellulose acetate fiber plug, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette provided with a filter 60.

[0068] In alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the stem end segments 32 of the multi-component cigarette filters provided with filter 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 can additionally comprise at least one sorbent capable of removing gas phase components from the exhaled smoke swallowed through filters 4. At least one sorbent is, for example, activated carbon, activated aluminum, zeolites or sepiolites provided in the cellulose acetate fiber.

[0069] The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 70 shown in Figure 7 is similar in construction to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 50 shown in Figure 5 and described above. However, the stem end segment 32 of the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette provided with filter 70 shown in Figure 7 comprises a plurality of Viscopearls® loaded with menthol, in place of the central cotton filament 52.

[0070] In the alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the mouth end segments 12 of the multi-component filters 4 of the cigarettes provided with a filter 30, 40, 50, 60, shown in Figures 3 to 7 are replaced by a recess, which

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21/22 substantially does not present any filtration efficiency, formed by the tip forming paper 6.

[0071] The cigarette with filter 80 shown in Figure 8 has a multi-component filter 4 similar in construction to the multi-component filters 4 of cigarettes with filter 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 3 to 6, which includes three segments in contiguous end-to-end relationship, a mouth end segment 12, away from the tobacco rod 2, an aroma release segment 14 located upstream of the mouth end segment, and a stem end segment 32, located upstream of the aroma release segment 14 and adjacent and adjacent to the wrapped tobacco rod 2. The mouth end segment 12 and the rod end segment 14 have the same construction as those previously described for cigarettes provided filters 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 3 to 6. The aroma release segment 14 comprises a thinly sliced peppermint leaf plug, which is coated with glyc triacetate wax and compressed, in place of the cellulose acetate fiber buffer with peppermint distributed through it. The amount of glycerol triacetate is between about 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the peppermint leaf. [0072] It will be appreciated that each or both of the mouth end 12 and stem end 42 segments of the filter-provided cigarette 80 shown in Figure 8 may include a flavoring as previously described above for the filter-provided cigarettes 30, 40 , 50, 60 shown in Figures 3 to 6.

[0073] The cigarette provided with filter 90 shown in Figure 9 has a multi-component filter 4 that includes four segments in contiguous end-to-end relationship, a mouth end segment 12, distant from the tobacco rod 2, a first segment of aroma release 92 located upstream of the

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22/22 mouth end, a second aroma release segment 14 located upstream of the first aroma release segment, and a stem end segment 32, located upstream of the second and adjacent and contiguous aroma release segment 14 to the wrapped tobacco rod 2. The mouth end segment 12, the second aroma release segment 14 and the stem end segment 32 have the same construction as the mouth end segment, the aroma release segment and the stem end segment previously described for cigarettes provided with filter 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 shown in Figures 3 to 7. The second aroma release segment 92 comprises a densely packed fine-cut tobacco plug.

[0074] To form cigarettes provided with filter 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, according to the embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 9, the multi-component filters 4 are produced and then attached to the wrapped tobacco rods 2, which are produced in a conventional manner, by the tip forming paper 6 using cigarette making equipment provided with a known filter.

[0075] To produce each multi-component filter 4, separate continuous rods comprising multiple units of each segment 12, 14, 32, 92 of the multi-component filter 4 are produced in a known manner and then combined to form a continuous filter rod comprising multiple multi-component filter units 4. The continuous filter rod is then separated at regular intervals by a cutting mechanism to produce a succession of discrete multi-component filters.

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Claims (10)

1. Multi-component filter (4) for a smoking article comprising: a mouth end segment (12); and an aroma release segment (14) upstream of the mouth end segment (12), characterized by the fact that the aroma release segment (14) comprises a plug of fibrous filter material, peppermint leaf distributed by the fibrous filter material and a filter plasticizer applied to the fibrous filter material, where the amount of filter plasticizer in the aroma release segment (14) is up to 5% by weight of the fibrous filter material. 2. Multi-component filter (4) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. 3. Multi-component filter (4) according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the amount of glycerol triacetate is between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the peppermint leaf. 4. Multi-component filter (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the aroma release segment (14) comprises a cellulose acetate fiber plug with the mint leaf. pepper distributed in it. Multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises a rod end segment (32) upstream of the aroma release segment (14). 6. Multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises a second aroma release segment between the mouth end segment (12) and the mouth segment Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 26/31 2/2 aroma release (14). Multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mouth end segment (12) comprises filtration material. Multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mouth end segment (12) comprises at least one liquid flavoring. 9. Smoking article (10) (20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80) characterized by the fact that it comprises: a rod wrapped in smokable material (2); and a multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, connected to the rod of smokable material (2) by the tip forming paper (6). 10. Smoking article (10) (20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80), according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the mouth end segment (12 ) of the multi-component filter (4) is a hollow or recessed tube. Petition 870180030944, of 4/17/2018, p. 27/31 1/3 Fig 3 2/3 Fig 6 3/3 SSSSSS & gSSSSgSS ^ SSgS ^ SgSSg ^^^ S ^ SSSSj