GB2184637A

GB2184637A - Smoking pipe

Info

Publication number: GB2184637A
Application number: GB08630094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Ralph Bale; Raymond Allen Bryant; Stephen John Garrett; Beresford Roy Gill; Trevor Cecil Jennings
Original assignee: IMP TOBACCO CO Ltd
Current assignee: IMP TOBACCO CO Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-19
Filing date: 1986-12-17
Publication date: 1987-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-17
Also published as: DK604986A; JPS62208263A; NO865154L; EP0227424B1; DK604986D0; DE3688784T2; GB8531341D0; GB2184637B; EP0227424A2; DE3688784D1; FI865198A0; GB8630094D0; FI865198A; ATE91851T1; EP0227424A3; NO865154D0

Abstract

A smoking pipe (10) which may be used to render smokeable an inherently unsmokeable preformed rod (30) of tobacco is disclosed. The pipe preferably comprises a ventilated tubular member consisting of a laminate (9) of an inner combustible permeable paper (12) with a ventilated incombustible layer (14). The laminate may further be wrapped in a ventilated incombustible foil (16). A filter (20) and a mouthpiece (22) may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB 2 184 637 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Improvements in or relating to smoking pipes 2 10 1 X This invention concerns improvements in or relating to smoking pipes. In particular it concerns a dispos able pipefor use with a preformed rod or plug of smoking material, the rod by itself being inherently unsmokeable.

A "pipe" in the context of this invention is a holder or containerfor a smoking material which holds or contains the smoking material during the smoking operation but is not itself wholly consumed during the smoking operation.

The smoking material envisaged bythis invention 80 includes tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, non cellulosic material, or any combination thereof; and a preformed rod made therefrom is made so as to be inherently unsmokeable until it has been inserted in the pipe.

According to the present invention there is provided a smoking pipe for use with a preformed rod of smoking material, the rod by itself being inherently unsmokeable, the pipe having a cylindrical portion adapted to receive and extend substantially overthe length of the rod when inserted in the pipe, said cylindrical portion being provided with an incombustible cylindrical component also adapted to extend substantially overthe length of the rod, and with ventilation means capable of sustaining static combustion of the rod when lit.

The pipe of the invention permitsthe combustion and smoking of preformed rods or plugs of tobacco or other smoking material, that bythemselves are in- herently unsmokeable, and combines ease of use and cleanliness with reduced sidestream smoke pro duction, lowfire ignition proclivity, retainmentof ash within the pipe, and reduced weight of tobacco or other smoking material.

The invention will be described now by way of ex- 105 ample only with reference to the accompanying non scale drawings in which Figure 1 is an oblique erspective view of a pipe according to the invention; Figure2 is an exploded view of the pipe of Figure 1 togetherwith a preformed rod of tobacco; and, Figures3 anc14 are each an oblique perspective view of second and third embodiments respectively of a pipe according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a smoking pipe 10 for a preformed plug or rod of tobacco 30, the pipe comprising a linear cylindrical structure adapted to enclosethe rod 30 and consisting of a laminate 9 comprising layers 12,14, and 16. Layer 12, the innermost layer of the laminate 9, is a sheet of permeable paper of permeability in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units. The paper of layer 12 is of controlled air permeability and burn rate.

A Coresta unit is defined as a flow rate of millilitres of air per minute persquare centimetre cross-section area of flow per 10 centimetres water gauge pressure.

Layer 14,the middle layerof the laminate 9, is a papersheetwith a substance of 40 - 200 g m-2 con- taining clay or other inorganicfillertreated with a fireproofing agentsuch as sodium silicate (waterglass) andlor disodium orthophosphate. Layer 14 is perforated mechanically with about 50 holes 18, each of an area of about 15 mm 2 and spaced regularly round the periphery of the pipe.

Layer 16, the outermost layer of the laminate 9, is a wrapperfor cosmetic purposes and comprises an embossed aluminium foil which is also provided with holes 19 corresponding in position to the holes 18 in layer 14 so that ventilating air may pass through the holes 19,18 and then through the permeable paper 12 into the interior of the pipe. Layer 16 may be omitted without affecting the function of the pipe.

The rod 30 is of a preformed construction, such as smoking tobacco moulded, extruded, pressed, or pelleted with an adhesive, or may be wrapped in an open or highly permeable cellulosicweb such as "teabag" tissue, and is characterised in that it is in- herently unsmokeable bythe user until it has been inserted within the pipe 10. When the rod 30 iswithin the pipe 10 itwill be covered bythe permeable paper 12 and, when litwill then be smokeable bythe user. Itwill be clearthatjor efficient and safe smoking,the dimensions of the rod 30 will be such that it is a close fit within the pipe 10.

Teabag tissue is a coarse woven cellulosic web consisting of a pattern ofthin areas, which in this context we shall refer to as "apertures". Typically, a teabag tissue may have about 25 "apertures" in a rectangular or diamond- shaped array per square centimetre, each "aperture" having dimensions of about 1 MM E 1 mm. The typical thickness of a teabag tissue. aperture" is 1 fibre, the regions ofthe web defining the boundaries ofthe "apertures" being several fibres thick. The teabag tissue may be strengthened by means of stri ps or strings of strengthening materials such as cotton, plastics, or impermeable paper.

Optionally, a smoke filter plug 20 integral with the pipe 10 is provided at the mouth end ofthe pipe and is inserted in an optional mouthpiece 22 made ofa plastics orceramic material.

Thefilter plug 20 is made oftellulose acetatefibre ortow, as is common in the art, but other materials or modes ofconstruction may be preferred. Thefilter plug 20 is spaced from the tobacco rod 30 by a cylindrical airspace.

Overlying the attachment between the mouthpiece 22 and the pipe 10 is provided a strip oftigarette paper 24 which is provided with ventilating apertures 26 to permit ventilating airto enter the spaces between the filter plug 20 and the tobacco rod 30. The size and number ofthe apertures 26 will depend on the smoking characteristics desired butwill typically provide diluting air in the range 0 - 80% ofthe volume of a puff. The strip of cigarette paper 24 is optional.

According to the smoking characteristics desired the holes 18 in layer 14 may be of any shape of individual area in the range 1 to 20 MM -2 andthe number of holes 10 may be from 20 to 200.

Layer 14 may alternatively be made from fireproof paper-like materials formed from glass fibre, cer- 2 GB 2 184 637 A 2 amicfibre orcarbon fibre in combination with cel lulosefibre oralone in combination with each other.

The permeable layer 12 may, if required, contain burn control and ash modifying additives such as sodium citrate or potassium citrate or di-ammonium phosphate.

The pipe 40 of Figure 3 is similar in most respects to the pipe 10 of Figure 1 exceptthat, instead of being a linear cylinder, the lower part 13 of the pipe 40that receives the rod 30 is at an obtuse angle to the upper part 11 of the pipe 40, and no filter plug is provided.

The lower part 13 is of the same general construction as the pipe 10 of Figures 1 and 2; that is, it is made of the ventilated laminate 9 described above. The upper part 11 is of a flattened cylindrical shape, and prov ides a mouthpiece similar to that of the mouth end of a traditional tobacco pipe.

The pipe 50 of Figure 4 is ofidentical shape to the pipe 40 of Figure 3. However, the lower part 13 is formedfromathinwalled(0.4-1 mm)solidceramic or glass fibretube 15 wherein the inherent per meability of the tube is in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units. In pipe 50 the provision of a controlled per meability inner layer 12 of paper is not necessaryto maintain combustion of the tobacco rod 30.

In a further embodiment of the invention the pipe of Figures 1 and 2 may be formed from a thin walied(O.4-1 mm) solid ceramic tube wherein the inherent permeability of the tube is within the range 5 - 200 Coresta units. In this embodiment the prov ision of a controlled permeability inner layer 12 of paper is not necessary to maintain combustion of the tobacco rod 30. As in the exemplified first embodi mentthe ceramic tube may incorporate a smoke fil ter plug and/or mouthpiece andlor ventilation holes.

In yet another embodiment of the invention the pipe 10 maybe constructed from a thin walled solid ceramic tube in which holes of any shape with an individual area in the range 1 to 20 MM2 areformed.

This embodimentwill require an inner liner 12 of controlled air permeability paper in orderto sustain adequate combustion of the tobacco rod 30.

In all embodiments the pipe 10 will typically have an external circumference in the range 23 - 35 mm and an overall length (not including the mouthpiece) in the range 7 - 120 mm. In the embodiments where the pipe has large perforations these may extend from 28to 70 mm from the lighting end and may numberfrom 20to 200, depending on the overall dimensions of the individual holes and of the pipe itself.

A small area of adhesive may be provided on the innerface of the pipe 10 so as to anchorthe tobacco rod 30 when the rod is inserted into the pipe.

The pipe of the invention may be provided with a flavour generation capsule, or it may itself be im pregnated with a flavour-generating substance.

The outside of the pipe may be provided with means such as thermochromic crystalsto indicate the temperature of the pipe and hence howfarthe smoker has smoked the tobacco within the pipe.

Ventilation of the rod in the pipeso as to maintain static combustion when lit may alternatively be prov ided by one or more channels between the rod and the pipe extending from the lit end towards the 130 mouth end. These channels mayor may not be combined with ventilation through the wall of the pipe. The channels maybe provided in the inner wal I of the pipe or maybe provided in the structure of the rod. The size of the channels wi I I be chosen so as to suit the smoker's requirements.

The laminated pipe of the invention may conveniently be made using known convolute tube making technology whereby one or more layers of paper or otherweb material are wound round a former and glued together with adhesive. It is convenient in the present invention to use a fire-proof silicate based adhesive.

Claims

1. A smoking pipe for use with a preformed rod of smoking material, the rod by itself being inherently unsmokeable, the pipe having a cylindrical por- tion adapted to receive and extend substantially over the length of the rod when the rod is inserted in the pipe, said cylindrical portion being provided with an incombustible cylindrical component also adapted to extend substantially over the length of the rod, and with ventilation means capable of sustaining static combustion of the rod when lit.

2. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ventilation is provided bythe combination of apertures in the incombustible cylindrical componentwith an innertubular memberthat is permeable and combustible.

3. A pipe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner tubular member is made of paper.

4. A pipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner tubular member is made of paper of permeability in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units.

5. A pipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the paper contains burn control and ash modifying additives.

6. A pipe as claimed in claim 5 wherein the burn control and ash modifying additives are selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, potassium citrate, and di-ammonium phosphate.

7. A pipe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component and the inner tubular membertogetherform a laminate.

8. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is enclosed in a ventilated wrapper.

9. A pipe as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ven- tilated wrapper comprises perforated aluminium foil.

10. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is made of a celluiosic material treated with a fire-proofing agent. 120

11. A pipe as claimed in claim 10 wherein the incombustible component is a paper sheet with a su bstance of 40 - 200 g m containing clay or other inorganief iller treated with a f ire-proofing agent.

12. A pipe as claimed in claim 11 wherein thefireproofing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate and disodium orthophosphate.

13. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is made from an inherently incombustible fibrous material.

14. A pipe as claimed in claim 13 wherein the in- A 3 t 7 GB 2 184 637 A 3 combustible component is made from a fire-proof sheet material formed from glass fibre, ceramic fibre or carbon fibre, alone, in combination with each other, or in combination with celiulosic fibre.

15. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the in combustible component comprise a thin walled solid ceramic tube, the inherent permeability of the tube being in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units.

16. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the in- combustible component is perforated.

17. A pipe as claimed in claim 16 wherein the incombustible component is provided with 20-200 holes,each of an area inthe range 1 -20 MM2.

18. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided adhesive means on the inside of the pipe to secure the rod when within the pipe.

19. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided in the pipe a filter plug downstream of the portion of the pipe that is adapted to contain the rod.

20. A pipe as claimed in claim 19 wherein the filter plug is positioned to provide a space between the plug and the rod when the rod is within the pipe.

21. A pipe as claimed in claim 20 wherein there is provided ventilation into the space between the plug andtherod.

22. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 including a mouthpiece.

23. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical portion of the pipe is at an obtuse angle to the remainder of the pipe.

24. A smoking pipe substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures land 2 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A smoking pipe substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A smoking pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ventilation means is proved by at least one channel between the pipe and the rod when the rod is within the pipe, said at least one channel extending from the lit end towards the mouth end of the pipe.

27. A smoking pipe as claimed in claim 26 wherein said at least one channel is provided in the innerwall of the pipe.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (UK) Ltd,5187, D8991685. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.