GB2111369A - Filter-tip cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

Two portions of a cigarette filter (2) are separated by a gap (3) where tar is collected, one side of the gap being provided with a diaphragm (5) made from paper, plastic or other material, and having a series of holes (7) for the passage of smoke, and the other side of the gap (3) being provided with a surface (4) upon which the smoke impinges. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Filter-tip cigarettes Much research has been devoted to reducing the inhalation by cigarette smokers of the harmful tar produced by combustion of tobacco.

There have been changes in the blend of the tobacco and the development of more efficient filter. In addition several types of pipe with devices for filtering the tar are now available.

Changing the blend of the tobacco can often make the cigarettes less satisfying to the smokers, while the use of a pipe is not acceptable to many smokers.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter-tip for restraining the tar of cigarette tobacco.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a filter-tip for a cigarette, the filter comprising at least one diaphragm, the or each diaphragm bearing one or more holes for the passage of smoke and being disposed between two portions of a filter material, a space being provided between the said filter portions for the collection of the tar and wherein, following the said tar collection space, there is provided a surface for the impact of the smoke.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a first filter-tip cigarette embodying the invention, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second filter-tip cigarette embodying the invention, Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of several illustrative arrangements of the holes in the diaphragms incorporated in the filter-tips of Figure 1 or Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 1, a cigarette 1 is provided with a filter-tip 2, the tip having two air gaps 3 for the storage of tar. One side of each gap is provided with a diaphragm 5 made from paper, scum polyester, plastic, or any other suitable material.

Each diaphragm 5 includes a number of holes, the diameter and the number of holes being such that smoking is unaffected but the number being as limited as possible so that the filter is more effective.

At the opposite side of each gap 3 there is provided a surface 4 which receives the impact of the smoke, the surface 4 being made from any suitable material. To simplify the construction, the surface 4 can be omitted so that the smoke impinges directly on the conventional material of the filter 2 itself.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 2, the diaphragm has sufficient thickness that it provides space for the storage of the tar. The diaphragm and the space for the storage of the tar are thus provided in a single structure 6 made from any material such as scum polyester.

The cigarette is manufactured so that the smoke passes exclusively through the holes 7 of the diaphragm 5, 6 without any side leakages. The addition of the novel diaphragms provides the possibility of replacing the usual filter material with any other material which allows the smoke to pass, does not block the holes of the diaphragm and which can form a surface for the impact of the smoke.

The novel diaphragm 5, the space 3 for storage of the tar, and the impact surface 4 can comprise a single structure incorporated in a conventional filter-tip.

1. A filter-tip for a cigarette, the filter comprising at least one diaphragm, the or each diaphragm bearing one or more holes for the passage of smoke and being disposed between two portions of a filter material, a space being provided between the said filter portions for the collection of tar and wherein following the said tar collection space, there is provided a surface for the impact of the smoke.

2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the space for the collection of the tar is provided within the diaphragm itself.

3. A filter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the diaphragm together with the space for the collection of tar and the impact surface comprise a single structure.

4. A filter-tip for a cigarette substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A filter-tip for a cigarette substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A filter-tip cigarette incorporating a filter-tip according to any one of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Filter-tip cigarettes Much research has been devoted to reducing the inhalation by cigarette smokers of the harmful tar produced by combustion of tobacco. There have been changes in the blend of the tobacco and the development of more efficient filter. In addition several types of pipe with devices for filtering the tar are now available. Changing the blend of the tobacco can often make the cigarettes less satisfying to the smokers, while the use of a pipe is not acceptable to many smokers. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter-tip for restraining the tar of cigarette tobacco. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a filter-tip for a cigarette, the filter comprising at least one diaphragm, the or each diaphragm bearing one or more holes for the passage of smoke and being disposed between two portions of a filter material, a space being provided between the said filter portions for the collection of the tar and wherein, following the said tar collection space, there is provided a surface for the impact of the smoke. By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a first filter-tip cigarette embodying the invention, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second filter-tip cigarette embodying the invention, Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of several illustrative arrangements of the holes in the diaphragms incorporated in the filter-tips of Figure 1 or Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, a cigarette 1 is provided with a filter-tip 2, the tip having two air gaps 3 for the storage of tar. One side of each gap is provided with a diaphragm 5 made from paper, scum polyester, plastic, or any other suitable material. Each diaphragm 5 includes a number of holes, the diameter and the number of holes being such that smoking is unaffected but the number being as limited as possible so that the filter is more effective. At the opposite side of each gap 3 there is provided a surface 4 which receives the impact of the smoke, the surface 4 being made from any suitable material. To simplify the construction, the surface 4 can be omitted so that the smoke impinges directly on the conventional material of the filter 2 itself. According to the embodiment of Fig. 2, the diaphragm has sufficient thickness that it provides space for the storage of the tar. The diaphragm and the space for the storage of the tar are thus provided in a single structure 6 made from any material such as scum polyester. The cigarette is manufactured so that the smoke passes exclusively through the holes 7 of the diaphragm 5, 6 without any side leakages. The addition of the novel diaphragms provides the possibility of replacing the usual filter material with any other material which allows the smoke to pass, does not block the holes of the diaphragm and which can form a surface for the impact of the smoke. The novel diaphragm 5, the space 3 for storage of the tar, and the impact surface 4 can comprise a single structure incorporated in a conventional filter-tip. CLAIMS

1. A filter-tip for a cigarette, the filter comprising at least one diaphragm, the or each diaphragm bearing one or more holes for the passage of smoke and being disposed between two portions of a filter material, a space being provided between the said filter portions for the collection of tar and wherein following the said tar collection space, there is provided a surface for the impact of the smoke.

2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the space for the collection of the tar is provided within the diaphragm itself.

3. A filter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the diaphragm together with the space for the collection of tar and the impact surface comprise a single structure.

4. A filter-tip for a cigarette substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A filter-tip for a cigarette substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A filter-tip cigarette incorporating a filter-tip according to any one of the preceding claims.