CN219125366U

CN219125366U - Smoking article element, cooling element, filter element, and smoking article

Info

Publication number: CN219125366U
Application number: CN202122233046.6U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 巴功·乔恭叻; 保罗·莫里斯; 阿里耶夫·拉赫曼; 苏迪尔曼·维迪阿托; 米歇尔·格雷格
Original assignee: Essentra Filter Products Development Co Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Philtron Ltd; Zhongyan Yishenghua Xiamen Filter Rod Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-15
Filing date: 2021-09-15
Publication date: 2023-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-15
Also published as: CN220897977U

Abstract

The present utility model provides a smoking article element comprising a longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material; the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels extending over the whole length of the core with a depth of 0.2 to 1.2mm, wherein the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16 to 26 mm.

Description

Smoking article element, cooling element, filter element, and smoking article

Technical Field

The present utility model provides elements for use with smoking articles (i.e., smoking article elements). The smoking article may be a tobacco heating product, a product that is heated without combustion, or a conventional combustion cigarette.

Background

It is known to manufacture counterfeit smoking articles, such as counterfeit conventional combustion cigarettes. Thus, there is a need for a smoking article element that provides a smoking article with security features.

Tobacco heating products or products that are heated without combustion (HNBs) are well known. The concept of a tobacco heating product is to heat tobacco to a specific temperature (e.g., 350 ℃) without combustion. This releases the nicotine-containing vapour, but it is believed that heating without burning can avoid the production of combustion products that are harmful to the consumer.

The tobacco heating product includes a cooling element to cool the steam. Typically, these are made of polylactic acid (PLA). However, PLA sections have drawbacks in terms of usability, manufacturability, filtration performance (particularly phenolic related performance), feel, firmness, biodegradability and appearance. Thus, there is a need for improved cooling elements.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present utility model there is provided a smoking article element (e.g. for a tobacco heating product and/or a heating without combustion (HNB) product and/or a conventional cigarette) comprising a longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material (e.g. thermoformed); the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, said grooves or channels extending over the whole length of the core (of the outer surface), wherein the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16mm to 26 mm.

Preferably, the smoking article element is a cooling element or a filter element. Applicants have found that cellulose acetate smoking elements (e.g. cooling elements) can provide adequate cooling while providing a pleasing look and feel to the consumer. Furthermore, the applicant has found that a smoking element (e.g. a filter element) having a profiled outer surface provides a unique end appearance to the smoking article for anti-counterfeiting purposes.

It should be understood that the conventional cigarette according to the present utility model is the following cigarette: wherein the tobacco burns during smoking.

The smoking article element may further comprise an outer wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core, the outer wrapper defining, with the profiled outer surface of the core, 5 to 8 covered (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, the covered grooves or channels extending over the entire length of the core (of the outer surface). The outer wrapper may be paper (e.g. plug wrap), preferably paper with a basis weight of 40 to 160gsm (e.g. plug wrap), paper with a basis weight of 70 to 150gsm (e.g. plug wrap), paper with a basis weight of 70 to 140gsm (e.g. plug wrap). Preferably, the outer wrapper has a basis weight of 78 gsm. The outer wrapper extends beyond the end of the longitudinally extending core about which the outer wrapper is engaged to define a cavity at the end of the smoking article element.

The longitudinally extending core may be a longitudinally extending tubular core made of cellulose acetate material having an inner surface defining a hole (or aperture) extending longitudinally through the entire length of the tubular core and a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 (e.g. longitudinally extending) (e.g. C-shaped or U-shaped) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm extending over the entire length of the tubular core.

According to an aspect of the utility model there is provided a smoking article element (e.g. for a tobacco heating product and/or HNB product and/or a conventional cigarette) comprising a longitudinally extending tubular core made (e.g. thermoformed) of cellulose acetate material; a longitudinally extending tubular core made of cellulose acetate material has an inner surface defining an aperture extending longitudinally through the entire length of the tubular core and a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels (e.g. of U-shape) of depth (e.g. of maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm extending over the entire length of the tubular core (of the outer surface), wherein the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16mm to 26 mm.

The smoking article element may further comprise an outer wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending tubular core, the outer wrapper defining, with the profiled outer surface of the core, 5 to 8 covered (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, the covered grooves or channels extending over the entire length of the tubular core (of the outer surface). The outer wrapper may be paper (e.g. plugwrap), preferably paper with a basis weight of 40 to 160gsm (e.g. plugwrap), e.g. paper with a basis weight of 70 to 150gsm (e.g. plugwrap), e.g. paper with a basis weight of 70 to 140gsm (e.g. plugwrap). Preferably, the outer wrapper has a basis weight of 78 gsm.

The outer wrap may be a rigid outer wrap. Preferably, the rigid outer wrapper comprises a rigid paper, such as a rigid plug wrap (plug wrap). The hard outer wrap may be paper (e.g., plugwrap) having a basis weight of about 60 to 120 gsm. As is known in the art, the hard outer wrap may be a lighter weight paper (e.g., plug wrap), such as a paper having a basis weight of 30 to 90gsm to which additives have been applied to stiffen it, or a paper that has been processed or formulated to produce a structure that is stiffer than conventional plug wrap (e.g., plug wrap). Hard papers, such as hard plug wrap, are well known in the art.

The outer wrap may include a venting portion, such as a venting area. The outer wrap may include the following venting areas: the ventilation zone comprises at least one ventilation hole annulus or ring around the circumference of the smoking article element.

Preferably, the longitudinally extending core does not comprise a further wrapper (e.g. an air impermeable wrapper) following (e.g. adhered to) the contour of the profiled outer surface. In other words, it is preferred that no further wraps are present between the profiled outer surface of the downstream core and the inner surface of the (e.g. hard) outer wrap.

The profiled outer surface defines 5 to 8 (e.g. 5, or 6, or 7 or 8) (e.g. longitudinally extending) channels having a depth of 0.2mm to 1.2mm. The channels are preferably longitudinally extending grooves or channels extending over the entire length (of the outer surface) of the (e.g. tubular) core. However, the channels may be helical, while still extending the entire length (of the outer surface) of the (e.g. tubular) core. The depth (e.g., maximum depth) of each channel is 0.2mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 1.1mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 1.0mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.9mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.8mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.7mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.6mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.5mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.4mm, e.g., 0.2mm to 0.3mm, e.g., 0.3mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.4mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.5mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.6mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.7mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.8mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 0.9mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 1.0.2 mm to 1.2mm, e.g., 1.2mm to 1.2mm. Preferably, the depth (e.g., maximum depth) of each channel is 0.2mm, or 0.3mm, or 0.4mm, or 0.5mm, or 0.6mm, or 0.7mm, or 0.8mm, or 0.9mm, or 1.0mm, or 1.1mm, or 1.2mm.

The width (e.g., maximum width) of each channel is 1.0 to 3.0mm, such as 1.30 to 2.1mm, preferably 1.35 to 2mm, such as 1.4 to 1.9mm, such as about 1.2mm.

Preferably, the length of the smoking article element is from 5mm to 25mm, for example from 7mm to 20mm, for example 7mm, or for example 18mm.

Preferably, the circumference of the smoking article element is from 17mm to 25mm, for example from 18mm to 24mm, for example from 19mm to 23mm, for example from 20mm to 22mm. The term "circumference" when used with reference to a grooved/channeled smoking article element refers to an imaginary circular line extending around the outer (circular) portion of the smoking article element but ignoring the channel.

Preferably, the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a uniform axial cross section.

Preferably, the longitudinally extending tubular core (in the case of a tubular core) made of cellulose acetate material has a uniform axial cross section. The holes are preferably circular, but may have different shapes, e.g. a hollow star-shaped cross-section, e.g. a 5-point hollow star-shaped cross-section, e.g. a toothed cross-section, e.g. a 6-point toothed cross-section, e.g. a petal-shaped cross-section, e.g. a 6-point petal-shaped cross-section.

Preferably, the holes have a diameter of 1 to 5mm, such as 1 to 4mm, such as 2mm to 3mm.

The smoking article element may comprise more than one aperture.

The smoking article element may be thermoformed from cellulose acetate by methods known in the art. Cellulose acetate may also include plasticizers (e.g., triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate (TEGDA) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other plasticizers, or mixtures of plasticizers).

Smoking article elements according to the utility model may comprise additional longitudinally aligned cores. For example, a smoking article element may comprise a downstream longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material and another core longitudinally aligned therewith, the downstream longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material having a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, said grooves or channels extending over the entire length of (the outer surface of) the core, wherein the downstream longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16mm to 26 mm.

Another core made of cellulose acetate material may be upstream of a downstream core made of cellulose acetate material. Preferably, the (downstream end of the) other core made of cellulose acetate material is longitudinally aligned with and abuts (the upstream end of the) downstream core made of cellulose acetate material.

According to the present utility model there is provided a smoking article (e.g. a tobacco heating product and/or an HNB product and/or a conventional cigarette) comprising a smoking article element as described herein.

It will be appreciated that the smoking article element may be used in any multi-segment filter or consumable. The filter configuration may be two, three, four or more sections. The filter may be attached to a tobacco rod (which may be made of any form of tobacco, including reconstituted tobacco). The filter may have other segments including capsules, carbon, CPS, tubes, acetate, paper, menthol, and the like.

According to another aspect of the utility model there is provided a smoking article (e.g. a tobacco heating product, HNB product) comprising: a hollow tubular member (e.g., formed of a cellulose acetate material) having a bore of diameter a; and a cooling element abutting the hollow tubular element, the cooling element comprising a longitudinally extending core made of a cellulose acetate material (e.g., thermoformed); a longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels (e.g. C-shaped or U-shaped) of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, which grooves or channels extend over the entire length of the core (of the outer surface), wherein the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16mm to 26 mm; wherein the diameter a is sufficiently large such that a portion of the bore of the tubular element is aligned with at least a portion of the grooves (channels), preferably with each groove (channel).

The smoking article may further comprise an outer wrapper engaged around the hollow tubular element having a bore of diameter a, and a cooling element. The outer wrap together with the profiled outer surface of the core of the cooling element defines a plurality of covered (e.g. longitudinally extending) grooves or channels of depth 0.2mm to 1.2mm which extend over the entire length (of the outer surface) of the tubular core of the cooling element. The outer wrapper may be paper (e.g. plugwrap), preferably paper with a basis weight of 40 to 160gsm (e.g. plugwrap), paper with a basis weight of 70 to 150gsm (e.g. plugwrap), paper with a basis weight of 70 to 140gsm (e.g. plugwrap). Preferably, the outer wrapper has a basis weight of 78 gsm. The applicant has surprisingly found that the cooling element according to this aspect of the utility model may provide effective cooling of the vapour together with other components of the mouthpiece. This is particularly surprising given the conventional wisdom that the cellulose acetate segment cannot perform this function. It is believed that the interaction between the hollow cellulose acetate tube and the cooling element provides various pathways for steam to flow through the cellulose acetate cooling element, thereby providing adequate cooling.

According to another aspect of the utility model there is provided a smoking article (e.g. a conventional combustion cigarette) comprising a filter element comprising: a downstream longitudinally extending core made of a cellulose acetate material, the core having a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 (e.g. longitudinally extending) (e.g. C-shaped or U-shaped) grooves or channels of depth (e.g. maximum depth) of 0.2mm to 1.2mm, said grooves or channels extending over the entire length of the core (of the outer surface), wherein the downstream longitudinally extending core made of a cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16mm to 26 mm; and another core of cellulose acetate material longitudinally aligned with the downstream longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material; wherein the cores are joined to a wrapped tobacco rod with one end (upstream end) of the filter element facing the tobacco. The filter element may be joined to the wrapped tobacco rod by an annular attachment portion that engages around only the adjacent ends of the (wrapped) filter and rod, leaving a substantial portion of the filter wrapping exposed. The filter element may be joined by an integral tipping overwrap that engages around the entire filter length and adjacent ends of the tobacco rod.

Drawings

The utility model will now be discussed in more detail with reference to figure 1, figure 1 showing (not to scale) an axial cross-section of a smoking article element according to the utility model; fig. 2 shows (not to scale) an axial cross-section of a cooling element different from the cooling element of fig. 1, which cooling element is also a cooling element of the utility model.

Detailed Description

The smoking article element 4 comprises a longitudinally extending tubular core of thermoformed cellulose acetate material of length 7 mm. A longitudinally extending tubular core made of cellulose acetate material is thermoformed to have an inner surface defining a bore (or aperture) 8 of diameter 2mm extending longitudinally through the entire length of the tubular core and a profiled outer surface comprising five longitudinally extending channels or grooves 9 of generally shallow U-shaped cross section having a maximum depth of 1.1mm and a width of 1.2mm, the five longitudinally extending channels or grooves 9 extending over the entire length of the tubular core. Five channels 9 are equally spaced around the periphery of the profiled outer surface (as can be seen from figure 1). As shown in fig. 1, the longitudinally extending tubular core made of cellulose acetate material has a uniform axial cross section. It will be appreciated that the smoking article element 4 may be considered to be generally annular in cross-section, wherein five grooves or channels 9 of shallow U-shape are equally spaced around the periphery of the smoking article element 4. The term "circumference" when used with reference to a grooved/channeled smoking article element refers to an imaginary circular line extending around the outer (circular) portion of the cooling element but ignoring the channel; thus, the perimeter of the element is about 19.8mm. The smoking article element 4 is thermoformed using a steam bonding process, as is well known in the art. The cellulose acetate tow is processed and then fed into a steam die having an introduction but tapered down to a desired cross-sectional size and shape (e.g., the cross-section shown in fig. 1). As the tow passes through the die, the tow is shaped and partially cured to form the desired shape. More than one steam die may be provided, which may be followed by a plurality of drying stations that blow hot air onto the rod to eliminate any excess steam/moisture from the rod. The rod was then fed onto the following apparatus: at the device, the rod is pulled through and cut to the desired length.

Fig. 2 shows (not to scale) an axial cross section of a different cooling element 40', which cooling element 40' is also a cooling element of the utility model.

The smoking article element 40' comprises a longitudinally extending core of thermoformed cellulose acetate material having a length of 7 mm. A longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material is thermoformed to have a profiled outer surface comprising five longitudinally extending channels or grooves 90 'of generally shallow U-shaped cross section having a maximum depth of 1.1mm and a width of 1.2mm, said five longitudinally extending channels or grooves 90' extending the entire length of the core. Five channels 90' are equally spaced around the periphery of the profiled outer surface (as can be seen in fig. 2). As shown in fig. 2, the longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material has a uniform axial cross section. It should be appreciated that the smoking article element 40' may be considered to be generally annular in cross-section, wherein five grooves or channels 90' of shallow U-shape are equally spaced around the periphery of the smoking article element 40 '. The term "circumference" when used with reference to a grooved/channeled smoking article element refers to an imaginary circular line extending around the outer (circular) portion of the cooling element but ignoring the channel; thus, the perimeter of element 40' is about 19.8mm. The smoking article element 40' is thermoformed using a vapor bonding process, as is well known in the art. The cellulose acetate tow is processed and then fed into a steam die having an introduction but tapered down to a desired cross-sectional size and shape (e.g., the cross-section shown in fig. 2). As the tow passes through the die, the tow is shaped and partially cured to form the desired shape. More than one steam die may be provided, which may be followed by a plurality of drying stations that blow hot air onto the rod to eliminate any excess steam/moisture from the rod. The rod was then fed onto the following apparatus: at the device, the rod is pulled through and cut to the desired length.

The smoking article element 4 or the smoking article element 40' may be incorporated as a cooling element into a tobacco heating product. It will be appreciated that when the cooling element according to the present utility model is incorporated into a tobacco heating product, the applicant has found that the cooling element provides improved cooling while also providing a pleasing look and feel to the consumer.

Alternatively, the smoking article element 4 or the smoking article element 40' may be incorporated as a filter element into a conventional cigarette. It will be appreciated that when the filter element according to the present utility model is incorporated into a conventional cigarette, the applicant has found that such a filter element provides the conventional cigarette with a unique end appearance for anti-counterfeiting purposes.

Claims

1. A smoking article element comprising a longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material; the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels extending the entire length of the core with a depth of 0.2 to 1.2mm, wherein the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16 to 26mm, wherein the smoking article element further comprises an outer wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core, the outer wrapper comprising a ventilation zone comprising at least one ventilation hole annulus or ring around the circumference of the smoking article element.

2. A smoking article element according to claim 1, wherein the outer wrapper together with the profiled outer surface of the core defines 5 to 8 covered grooves or channels extending the entire length of the core, of depth 0.2mm to 1.2mm.

3. A smoking article element according to claim 1, wherein the profiled outer surface defines 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 channels having a depth of 0.2mm to 1.2mm.

4. A smoking article element comprising a longitudinally extending tubular core of cellulose acetate material; the longitudinally extending tubular core of cellulose acetate material has an inner surface defining a bore extending longitudinally through the entire length of the tubular core and a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels extending the entire length of the tubular core with a depth of 0.2 to 1.2mm, wherein the smoking article element further comprises an outer wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending tubular core, the outer wrapper comprising a ventilation zone comprising at least one ventilation hole annulus or ring around the circumference of the smoking article element.

5. A smoking article element according to claim 4, wherein the outer wrapper together with the profiled outer surface of the tubular core define 5 to 8 covered grooves or channels of depth 0.2mm to 1.2mm extending the entire length of the tubular core.

6. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the smoking article element is a cooling element or a filter element.

7. A smoking article element according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the aperture has a diameter of 2mm to 3mm.

8. A smoking article element according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the aperture has a substantially circular cross-section, or wherein the aperture has a differently shaped cross-section, the differently shaped cross-section being a hollow star-shaped cross-section, or a 5-point hollow star-shaped cross-section, or a toothed cross-section, or a 6-point toothed cross-section, or a petal-shaped cross-section, or a 6-point petal cross-section.

9. The smoking article element of claim 4, wherein the outer wrap is a rigid outer wrap comprising rigid paper, or rigid plug wrap.

10. A smoking article element according to claim 9, wherein the rigid outer wrapper is paper having a basis weight of about 60 to 120 grams per square meter, or paper having a basis weight of 30 to 90 grams per square meter, to which an additive has been applied to stiffen the paper, or which has been processed or formulated to produce a stiffer structure than conventional plug wrap.

11. A smoking article element according to claim 2 or 5, wherein the outer wrapper extends beyond the end of the longitudinally extending core about which the outer wrapper is engaged to define a cavity at the end of the smoking article element.

12. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the depth of each channel is 0.2mm to 1.1mm, or 0.2mm to 1.0mm, or 0.2mm to 0.9mm, or 0.2mm to 0.8mm, or 0.2mm to 0.7mm, or 0.2mm to 0.6mm, or 0.2mm to 0.5mm, or 0.2mm to 0.4mm, or 0.2mm to 0.3mm.

13. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the depth of each channel is 0.3mm to 1.2mm, or 0.4mm to 1.2mm, or 0.5mm to 1.2mm, or 0.6mm to 1.2mm, or 0.7mm to 1.2mm, or 0.8mm to 1.2mm, or 0.9mm to 1.2mm, or 1.0mm to 1.2mm, or 1.1mm to 1.2mm.

14. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the depth of each channel is 0.2mm, or 0.3mm, or 0.4mm, or 0.5mm, or 0.6mm, or 0.7mm, or 0.8mm, or 0.9mm, or 1.0mm, or 1.1mm, or 1.2mm.

15. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the length of the smoking article element is 5 to 25mm, or 7mm, or 18mm.

16. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the smoking article element has a circumference of 17mm to 25mm, or 18mm to 24mm, or 19mm to 23mm, or 20mm to 22mm.

17. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the smoking article element is thermoformed from cellulose acetate.

18. A smoking article element according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the smoking article element comprises one or more additional longitudinally aligned cores.

19. A cooling element for tobacco heating products and/or products that are heated without combustion, characterized in that the cooling element comprises a longitudinally extending core made of cellulose acetate material; the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels extending over the entire length of the core with a depth of 0.2 to 1.2mm, wherein the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16 to 26mm, wherein the cooling element further comprises an outer wrapper engaged around the longitudinally extending core, the outer wrapper comprising a venting zone comprising at least one venting annulus or ring around the circumference of the cooling element.

20. A filter element for a conventional cigarette, the filter element comprising a longitudinally extending core made of a cellulose acetate material; the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a profiled outer surface comprising 5 to 8 grooves or channels extending over the entire length of the core with a depth of 0.2 to 1.2mm, wherein the longitudinally extending core of cellulose acetate material has a circumference of 16 to 26mm, wherein the filter element further comprises an outer wrap engaged around the longitudinally extending core, the outer wrap comprising a venting zone comprising at least one venting annulus or ring around the circumference of the filter element.

21. A smoking article, characterized in that it comprises a smoking article element according to any one of claims 1 to 18.