GB2573996A

GB2573996A - A filter

Info

Publication number: GB2573996A
Application number: GB1807948.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rushforth David
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-16
Filing date: 2018-05-16
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Also published as: GB201807948D0

Abstract

A filter 2 comprises a filter element 3, an exhaled aerosol flow path, and a valve 6 configured to open in response to exhalation by a user through a mouth end 9 of the filter 2, wherein the filter 2 further comprises an organoleptic substance 8 for imparting an organoleptic characteristic to the exhaled aerosol, and the valve 6 is located downstream of the organoleptic substance 8 in the exhaled aerosol flow path. The valve 6 may be formed in a portion of tipping paper 5, wherein the filter 2 may also comprise plug wrap 14 which comprises an aperture 15 to allow exhaled aerosol to flow out of the filter 2 through the valve 6. The valve 6 may comprise a flap 10, wherein the flap 10 may be integrally formed with or attached to the tipping paper 5. The organoleptic substance 8 may be applied to a carrier (i.e. a molecular sieve 18 pre-treated with the substance 8), and may be in solid, power or gel form. A flow guide 17 may extend at least partially across aperture 15 to prevent inhaled aerosol contacting the organoleptic substance 8.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a filter. The present invention also relates to a tobacco 5 industry product comprising the filter.

Background

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, are known. Cigarettes generally comprise a tobacco rod and a filter joined in end-to-end relation with tipping paper. During smoking, a 10 consumer inhales through the filter having placed their lips over a mouth end of the filter remote from the tobacco rod.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the embodiment(s) described herein, there is provided a filter 15 comprising a filter element, an exhaled aerosol flow path, and a valve configured to open in response to exhalation of a user through a mouth end of the filter so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter through the valve, wherein the filter includes an organoleptic substance configured to impart an organoleptic characteristic to the exhaled aerosol flowing along the exhaled aerosol flow path and wherein the valve is 20 located downstream of the organoleptic substance in the exhaled aerosol flow path.

Advantageously, the valve prevents air from entering the part of the filter section where the organoleptic substance is located so that the organoleptic substance cannot be removed from the filter unless the valve is opened when the user exhales into the filter. 25 The positioning of the valve in the filter prevents unwanted leakage of the organoleptic substance from the filter. Therefore, the characteristic of the organoleptic substance is released when the user exhales through the filter and provide a pleasant end of user experience for the user.

Preferably, the exhaled aerosol flow path comprises a flow path of lower flow resistance than a path through the filter element for the flow of exhaled aerosol towards the valve. The exhaled aerosol flow path may comprise a channel.

Preferably, the organoleptic substance is in the channel between a mouth end of the 35 filter and the valve.

The filter may further comprise a tipping paper wrapped about the filter element, wherein the valve is formed in a portion of the tipping paper.

The positioning of the valve in the tipping paper prevents unwanted leakage of the organoleptic substance from the filter. Therefore, the characteristic of the organoleptic substance is only released into the atmosphere when the user exhales through the filter.

Preferably, the channel extends along a part of the length of the filter element from a mouth end of the filter to the valve. In one embodiment, the channel is between the 10 filter element and the tipping paper. In another embodiment, a channel is located in the filter element.

The filter may further comprise a plug wrap between the filter element and the tipping paper. In one embodiment, the channel is located between the filter element and the 15 plug wrap. In another embodiment, the channel is located between the tipping paper and the plug wrap.

In one embodiment, the plug wrap comprises an aperture positioned to allow exhaled aerosol to flow out of the filter through the valve.

Therefore, the exhaled aerosol exits through the valve and passes the element treated with the organoleptic substance instead of exiting the filter without passing the element. This ensures that the characteristic of the organoleptic substance on the element is transported with the exhaled aerosol from the filter. Furthermore, the user 25 does not have to blow too hard when exhaling into the filter which reduces the risk of ash being blown from the smoking article.

The filter may further comprise a flow guide extending at least partially across the aperture to prevent aerosol that is inhaled from contacting the organoleptic substance.

In one embodiment, the organoleptic substance is applied to the tipping paper which forms a part of a side wall of the channel. In another embodiment, the organoleptic substance is applied to the plug wrap which forms a part of a side wall of the channel.

In one embodiment, the organoleptic substance is applied to a carrier located in the flow path. Therefore, the exhaled aerosol flow has to pass the organoleptic substance

-3and transfers the organoleptic characteristic to the atmosphere at it passes through the valve. Therefore, a user can enjoy his smoking article without the additional organoleptic characteristic that is provided in the filter for the benefit of others. Furthermore, the flow guide may prevent the organoleptic substance escaping from the 5 filter during smoking so that the filter is not depleted of the organoleptic substance before the user exhales into the filter.

The carrier may be a molecular sieve pre-treated with the organoleptic substance. The molecular sieve maybe located in the aperture in the plug wrap.

In some embodiments, the organoleptic substance may be in solid or powder form. The organoleptic substance maybe, for example, menthol. In another embodiment, the organoleptic element may comprise a gel, for example, aerosol forming gel or stearate.

The valve may comprise a movable flap which is configured to open around a hinge line and the valve also has an edge remote from said hinge line. Preferably, the hinge line is shorter than said edge of the flap remote from the hinge line.

Therefore, the area of the flap distal to the hinge line is larger than the area of the flap 20 proximate to the hinge line which allows for a larger opening of the valve for a given rotation about the hinge line when a user exhales into the filter.

In one embodiment, the hinge line of the flap is further from a mouth end of the filter than said edge.

Preferably, the flap is configured to open outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter.

In one embodiment, the flap is integrally formed with the tipping paper. In an alternative embodiment, the flap is attached to the tipping paper.

In one embodiment, the filter element is configured to prevent the flap opening inwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter when the user inhales through the filter.

-4Preferably, the valve is closer to the mouth end of the filter than the valve is to the opposite end of the filter.

In one embodiment, there maybe a plurality of valves configured to open in response to exhalation of aerosol by a user through a mouth end of the filter so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter through the plurality of valves. The plurality of valves may be located evenly about a circumference of the filter.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a tobacco industry product comprising a filter having a filter element, an exhaled aerosol flow path, and a valve configured to open in response to exhalation of a user through the filter so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter through the valve, wherein the filter includes an organoleptic substance configured to impart an organoleptic characteristic to the exhaled aerosol flowing along the exhaled aerosol flow path and wherein the valve is located downstream of the organoleptic substance in the exhaled aerosol flow path.

The tobacco industry product may further comprise a rod of smokeable material, wherein a tipping paper is wrapped about the filter element of the filter and the rod of smokeable material to join the filter element and the rod of smokeable material together in end to end relation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

So that the invention may be more fully understood embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-section about the longitudinal axis of symmetry of a first embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention having an element 30 comprising a molecular sieve pre-treated with an organoleptic substance;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the smoking article shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-section about the longitudinal axis of symmetry of a second embodiment of the smoking article;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-section about the longitudinal axis of symmetry of a third embodiment of the smoking article;

-5Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-section about the longitudinal axis of symmetry of a fourth embodiment of the smoking article having an element comprising an aerosol forming gel;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an example of the smoking article comprising a filter shown in Fig. 1 when a user inhales through the smoking article; and

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an example of the smoking article shown in Fig. 4 when a user exhales into the filter.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7, a first embodiment of a tobacco industry product 1 is shown. The tobacco industry product 1 may be, for example, but not limited to, a smoking article such as a cigarette. The tobacco industry product 1 comprises a filter including a filter element 3, and a rod of smokeable material 4. The filter 2 also comprises an exhaled aerosol flow path, and a valve 6 configured to open in response to exhalation of a user through the filter 2 so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter 2 through the valve 6. The filter 2 further comprises an organoleptic substance 8 configured to impart an organoleptic characteristic into the exhaled aerosol flowing out of the filter 2 through the valve 6. The valve 6 is located downstream of the organoleptic substance 8 in the exhaled aerosol path.

By providing an organoleptic substance 8 in the filter 2 of the tobacco industry product 1, and a valve 6 in the filter 2, an organoleptic characteristic, such as a pleasant aroma, may be released into the atmosphere through the valve 6 when a consumer exhales through the mouth end 9 of the tobacco industry product 1.

The filter 2 further comprises a tipping paper 5 wrapped about the filter element 3. In the present embodiment, the valve 6 is formed in a portion of the tipping paper 5 that extends over the filter element 3.

The filter element 3, shown in Fig. 1, is configured to filter substances out of the smoke flow during smoking. The filter element 3 has a mouth end 9 about which a user places their lips to draw flow through the tobacco industry product 1. The filter element 3 extends the length of the filter 2 and may be formed from, for example, but not limited to, cellulose acetate. Furthermore, the filter element 3 may be impregnated with, for example, but not limited to activated carbon, to more effectively filter out harmful

-6substances from the smoke flow. In an alternative embodiment, the filter element 3 may comprise multiple portions. The portions may have various compositions.

The tipping paper 5 encompasses the circumference of the filter element 3 and one end of the rod of smokeable material 4. That is, the tipping paper 5 extends from the mouth end 9 of the filter element 3 and beyond the opposing end of the filter element 3. Therefore, the tipping paper 5 connects the filter 2 to the rod of smokeable material 4, to form the tobacco industry product 1.

The valve 6 is formed in the tipping paper 5. Preferably, the valve 6 is in an end of the tipping paper 5 that is distal to the mouth end 9 of the filter element 3 so that it is not covered when the filter 2 is placed in a user’s mouth. Aerosol exhaled by the user into the filter 2 is able to leave the filter 2 via the valve 6.

The valve 6 may be a one-way valve. The one-way valve 6 is configured to open when the user exhales aerosol into the filter 2 but to remain closed when a user draws on the mouth end 9 of the filter 2. In some embodiments the valve 6 may comprises a plurality of one-way valves 6 which are circumferentially spaced around the outer surface of the tipping paper 5. The valves 6 may be symmetrically positioned around the filter 2. That is, the valves 6 may be evenly spaced around the circumference of the filter 2.

As the valve 6 only opens when a user exhales into the filter 2, the organoleptic substance 8 does not lose its organoleptic characteristics to the atmosphere through the tipping paper 5 because the positioning of the valve 6 in the tipping paper 5 prevents leakage.

Referring to Fig. 2, in the present embodiment, the valve 6 comprises a flap 10. The flap 10 is formed by a cut or slit in the tipping paper 5. Alternatively, the flap 10 may be formed by a perforated line (not shown) which is separated from the rest of the tipping paper 5 when a user exhales into the filter 2 or is manually separated from the rest of the tipping paper 5.

The flap 10 is movable. Therefore, the flap 10 can open when the user exhales into the filter 2. In the present embodiment, the flap 10 is configured to open outwardly about a hinge line 11, illustrated by a dotted line in Fig. 2. That is, an edge 12 of the flap 10 opposite the hinge line 11 is rotated away from the filter element 3 of the filter 2 when a

-7user exhales into the mouth end 9 so that the free edge 12 of the flap 10 is at a greater radial distance from the centre of the filter 2 than the hinge line 11. When the flap 10 is rotated away from the filter element 3 a hole 13 is created in the tipping paper 5 by the absence of the flap 10. The hole 13 allows aerosol exhaled into the filter 2 to escape the filter 2 via the hole 13 in the tipping paper 5 formed by the open flap 10.

In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the hinge line 11 is remote from the mouth end 9 of the filter 2. Preferably, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Fig.

2, the hinge line 11 is shorter than the maximum flap width. More preferably, the hinge 10 line 11 is shorter than the opposing free edge 12 of the flap 10. This results in the area of the flap 10 distal to the hinge line 11 being larger than the area of the flap 10 proximate to the hinge line 11. Therefore, a larger opening of the flap 10 is achieved for a given rotation about the hinge line 11 when a user exhales into the filter 2. The flap 10 may be, for example, but not limited to, a trapezoid shape or generally semi-circular.

In an alternative embodiment, the flap 10 may be formed separately from the tipping paper 5. In such an embodiment, the flap 10 may be secured to the outer surface of the tipping paper 5 in any way known to a person skilled in the art, for example, but not limited to, gluing an end of the flap 10 to the tipping paper 5 to cover a hole 13 in the tipping paper 5 through which exhaled aerosol blown into the mouth end 9 of the filter can exit the filter 2.

Referring back to Fig. 1, the filter 2 comprises a plug wrap 14 which is located between the filter element 3 and the tipping paper 5. The plug wrap 14 encompasses the filter 25 element 3. That is, the plug wrap 14 encompasses the circumference of the filter element 3 and extends from the mouth end 9 of the filter element 3 to the opposing tobacco rod end. The tipping paper 5 encompasses the plug wrap 14 and the filter element 3. Preferably, the plug wrap 14 is non-porous and therefore, is able to prevent air being drawn or exhaled through it.

The plug wrap 14 comprises an aperture 15. The aperture 15 is aligned with the valve 6 and arranged radially inwards thereof. Therefore, the aperture 15 is located distal to the mouth end 9 of the filter 2. The aperture 15 is positioned to allow exhaled aerosol to pass through the plug wrap 13 and flow through the valve 6 from the filter element 3. As 35 the aperture 15 is aligned with the flap 10 shown in Fig. 1, aerosol exhaled into the

-8mouth end 9 of the filter element 3 can exit the filter 2 via the aperture 15 by opening the flap 10 outwards about the hinge line 11.

In some embodiments there may be a plurality of apertures 15 that are spaced around the circumference of the plug wrap 14. The apertures 15 may be symmetrically spaced in the plug wrap 14. That is, the apertures 15 maybe evenly spaced around the circumference of the plug wrap 14. The aperture 15 may be any shape such as, for example, but not limited to circular, triangular, rectangular, or a trapezium to match the shape of the valve 6.

In at least some embodiments, the filter 2 further comprises an exhaled aerosol flow path of lower flow resistance than the flow path through the filter element 3 material for the flow of exhaled aerosol towards the valve 6. As shown in Fig. 1, the exhaled aerosol flow path comprises a channel 16. The channel 16 extends from the mouth end 15 9 of the filter 2 to the valve 6. The channel 16 is a flow path of lower resistance which is configured to direct aerosol exhaled into the filter 2 towards the valve 6. In the present embodiment, the channel 16 is located in the filter element 3.

In an alternative embodiment, the plug wrap 14 may be embossed. The embossed plug 20 wrap 14 may create a channel (not shown) that runs generally longitudinally along the filter 2 from the mouth end 9 to the aperture 14. The channel 16 provides an exhaled aerosol flow path of lower resistance than through the filter element 3. The channel 16 makes it easier for a user to open the flap 10 in the tipping paper 5 when exhaling into the filter 2 and reduces the resistance to flow in a direction along the filter 2 extending 25 from the mouth end.

One of the aforementioned alternative embodiments is illustrated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the plug wrap 14 is embossed such that the channel 16 is formed radially inside of the plug wrap 14. That is, the channel 16 is located between the plug wrap 14 and the filter 30 element 3. The organoleptic substance 8 is received in the exhaled aerosol flow path between the mouth end 9 of the filter 2 and the valve 6. As shown in Fig. 3, the organoleptic substance 8 is located in the aperture 15 of the plug wrap 14.

Another of the aforementioned alternative embodiments is illustrated in Fig. 4. In Fig. 35 4, the plug wrap 14 is embossed such that the channel 16 is formed radially outside of the plug wrap 14. That is, the channel 16 is formed between the tipping paper 5 and the

-9plug wrap 14. The organoleptic substance 8 is received in the exhaled aerosol flow path between the mouth end 9 of the filter 2 and the valve 6. In this embodiment, an aperture 15 in the plug wrap 14 is not needed.

In one embodiment, there may be a plurality of channels 16. Each channel 16 may lead to an individual aperture 15 in the plug wrap 14 or directly to an individual valve 6 in the tipping paper 5.

In some embodiments, such as those shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, the filter 2 may further 10 comprise a flow guide 17. The flow guide 17 extends across the aperture 15 and is configured to prevent the taste of the inhaled smoke stream being tainted by the organoleptic substance 8 by preventing the inhaled smoke from contacting the organoleptic substance 8. Therefore, the flow guide 17 prevents leakage of the organoleptic substance 8 so that the organoleptic substance 8 is not depleted when the 15 user exhales into the filter 2. The flow guide 17 may be, for example, but not limited to, a wall configured to prevent inhaled smoke coming into contact with the organoleptic substance or a one way valve. When there is no air flow from the valve 6, inhaled smoke and other aerosols will not flow past the organoleptic substance 8. In some embodiments, ventilation may be provided downstream of the organoleptic substance 8 20 in order to further the prevention of inhaled aerosols contacting the organoleptic substance 8.

The flow guide 17 may be, for example, a barrier that extends into the filter material 3 from the plug wrap 14, as shown in Fig. 1. The barrier may form a guide from the filter 25 material 3 to the aperture 15. The angle at which the barrier extends may prevent inhaled smoke from flowing past the organoleptic substance 8 and so prevents the inhaled smoked being tainted with the organoleptic characteristic. In addition, the oneway valve 6 prevents air being drawn into the filter 2 past the organoleptic substance 8 to ensure that the inhaled smoke flow is not tainted. The angle at which the barrier 30 extends into the filter material 3 is configured to direct exhaled aerosol flow into the filter 2 radially outwards towards the aperture 15 to exit through the valve 6 after passing the organoleptic substance 8 and acquiring the organoleptic characteristic.

The organoleptic substance 8 is located radially inwards of the flap 10 in the tipping 35 paper 5. The organoleptic substance 8 is located in the exhaled aerosol flow path between the aperture 15 and the flap 10. Therefore, exhaled aerosol blown into the filter

- 10 2 by a user must pass the organoleptic substance 8 on its way out of the filter 2 via the flap io. The organoleptic substance 8 is configured to impart an organoleptic characteristic to the exhaled aerosol blown in to the filter 2 by a user to give a pleasant end of use experience.

As illustrated in Figs. 1,3, and 5, the organoleptic substance 8 maybe located in the aperture 15 above, or radially outwards, of the flow guide 17. Therefore, either the filter element 3 or organoleptic substance 8 prevents the inward movement of the flap 10 when the user draws on the mouth end 9 of the filter 2 to inhale smoke. As no smoke flows past the organoleptic substance 8 when the user draws on the mouth end 9 of the filter 2, the smoke is not tainted by the organoleptic characteristic of the organoleptic substance 8.

In the first, second, and third embodiments of the filter 2, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 15 and 4, the organoleptic substance 8 is applied to a carrier located in the exhaled aerosol flow path. In these embodiments the carrier is a molecular sieve 18. The molecular sieve 18 is pre-treated with an organoleptic substance 8. The organoleptic substance 8 maybe provided in a solid or powder form on the molecular sieve 18. This is possible because organoleptic substances 8 such as menthol vaporise at low pressure and temperature. The molecular sieve 18 comprises a mesh with gaps that are dimensioned so that the organoleptic substance 8 cannot pass through it but exhaled aerosols can. This prevents the organoleptic substance 8 falling into the filter element 3 or channel 16 but allows aerosol to pass through and carry the organoleptic substance 8 out into the atmosphere through the valve 6.

In the fourth embodiment of the filter 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the organoleptic substance 8 may be formed in an aqueous gel 19 such as, for example, an aerosol forming gel or a non-aqueous gel such as, for example, a stearate. The aqueous gel 19 or non-aqueous gel maybe in the form of a capsule. The aqueous gel 19 maybe an aerosol 30 forming gel comprising, for example, but not limited to, K-Carrageenan, Ticagel 121AGF, Agaroid®, polysorbate 20, or Span® 80. The non-aqueous gel may comprise, for example, but not limited to, a sodium stearate and either, by way of example, isopropyl myristate, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol, or limonene. The aqueous gel 19 or non-aqueous gel comprises the organoleptic substance 8 and releases 35 volatile compounds out of the gel 19 when exhaled aerosol flow flows past the capsule and exits through the flap 10 in the tipping paper 5 when the user exhales into the

- 11 mouth end 9 of the filter 2. However, it will be understood that in an alternative embodiment, the organoleptic substance 8 maybe impregnated in the filter element 3 or applied to the plug wrap 14 or tipping paper 5 so that it is in the exhaled aerosol flow path of lower resistance.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the tobacco industry product 1 referred to above is illustrated with the flaps 10 in their closed position when a user inhales smoke through the filter 2 from the rod of smokeable material 4 such as a tobacco rod. A user places the mouth end 9 of the filter 2 in his mouth and lights the opposing end of the tobacco rod. During 10 smoking, the user draws on the mouth end 9 of the tobacco industry product 1 to inhale smoke and when the user is finished smoking, can exhale into the mouth end 9 to blow aerosol out of the flaps 10 to release the organoleptic characteristic held in the organoleptic substance 8, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, to give a pleasant end of use experience to the user and those around him. Fig. 7 shows the tobacco industry product 15 1 illustrated with the flaps 10 in their open position when a user exhales aerosol into the filter 2.

As used herein, the term “tobacco industry producte” includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, 20 expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn (HnB) products, and other nicotine delivery products such as aerosol generation devices including e-cigarettes.

As used herein, the terms organoleptic substance or characteristic refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired aroma for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or

- 12 breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder. In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiment in which the claimed invention(s) 5 may be practiced and provide for a superior filter. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or inclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be 10 considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitation on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, 15 parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claims, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A filter comprising a filter element, an exhaled aerosol flow path, and a valve configured to open in response to exhalation of aerosol by a user through a mouth end

5 of the filter so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter through the valve, wherein the filter includes an organoleptic substance configured to impart an organoleptic characteristic to the exhaled aerosol flowing along the exhaled aerosol flow path and wherein the valve is located downstream of the organoleptic substance in the exhaled aerosol flow path.

io

2. The filter according to any one of claim i, wherein the exhaled aerosol flow path comprises a flow path of lower flow resistance than a path through the filter element for the flow of exhaled aerosol towards the valve.

15

3· The filter according to claim 2, wherein the exhaled aerosol flow path comprises a channel.

4. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the organoleptic substance is in the channel between the mouth end of the filter and the

20 valve.

5. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tipping paper wrapped about the filter element, wherein the valve is formed in a portion of the tipping paper.

6. The filter according to claim 4, wherein the channel extends along a part of the length of the filter element from the mouth end of the filter to the valve.

7. The filter according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the channel is between the

30 filter element and the tipping paper.

8. The filter according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the channel is located in the filter element.

35

9. The filter according to claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising a plug wrap between the filter element and the tipping paper.

10. The filter according to claim 9, wherein the channel is located between the filter element and the plug wrap.

5

11. The filter according to claim 9, wherein the channel is located between the tipping paper and the plug wrap.

12. The filter according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the plug wrap comprises an aperture positioned to allow exhaled aerosol to flow out of the filter

10 through the valve.

13. The filter according to claim 12, further comprising a flow guide extending at least partially across the aperture to prevent aerosol that is to be inhaled by a user from contacting the organoleptic substance.

14. The filter according to claim 7 or claim 11, wherein the organoleptic substance is applied to the tipping paper which forms a part of a side wall of the channel.

15. The filter according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the organoleptic substance 20 is applied to the plug wrap which forms a part of a side wall of the channel.

16. The filter according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the organoleptic substance is applied to a carrier located in the exhaled aerosol flow path.

25

17. The filter according to claim 16, wherein the carrier is a molecular sieve pretreated with the organoleptic substance.

18. The filter according to claim 17, when claims 16 is dependent on one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the molecular sieve is located in the aperture in the plug wrap.

19. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the organoleptic substance is in solid or powder form.

20. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the organoleptic

35 substance comprises a gel.

-ι5-

21. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve comprises a movable flap configured to open around a hinge line, the flap having an edge remote from the hinge line.

5

22. The filter according to claim 21, wherein the hinge line is shorter than the edge of the flap remote from the hinge line.

23. The filter according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the hinge line is further from the mouth end of the filter than the edge.

24. The filter according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the flap is configured to open outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter.

25. The filter according to any one of claims 21 to 24 when dependent on claim 2, 15 wherein the flap is integrally formed with the tipping paper.

26. The filter according to any one of claims 21 to 24 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the flap is attached to the tipping paper.

20

27. The filter according to any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the filter element is configured to prevent the flap opening inwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the filter when the user inhales through the filter.

28. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve is 25 closer to the mouth end of the filter than the valve is to the opposite end of the filter.

29. The filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are a plurality of valves configured to open in response to exhalation of aerosol by a user through a mouth end of the filter so that exhaled aerosol flows out of the filter through

30. The filter according to claim 29, wherein the plurality of valves is located evenly about a circumference of the filter.

35

31. A tobacco industry product comprising a filter according to any one of claim 1 to claim 30.

-1632. The tobacco industry product according to claim 31, further comprising a rod of smokeable material, wherein a tipping paper is wrapped about the filter element of the filter and the rod of smokeable material to join the filter element and rod of smokeable 5 material together in end to end relation.

30 the plurality of valves .