JP6629294B2 - Filter elements for smoking articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter element for smoking articles.

  Smoking articles such as cigarettes are well known in the art. Conventional cigarettes allow a user to suck smoke from a tobacco rod through a filter. While such off-the-shelf cigarettes are still widely used, a variety of modified cigarettes have also been produced that use additional components to alter the smoking experience.

  Some modified cigarettes known in the art have a capsule in the filter. The capsule can be crushed by the user before or during smoking, releasing additional components into the smoke stream and changing its physical properties. Capsules may contain flavoring or non-flavoring agents such as menthol, in liquid, gel or fine powder form.

  Encapsulated cigarettes have changed the smoking experience for users. By encapsulating the additional components, the user has been presented with a different experience from the usual smoking experience with conventional cigarettes. When using this encapsulated cigarette, the user crushes the capsule to release additional ingredients. Also, by encapsulating the flavored additional component, loss of volatile components such as flavoring agents can be prevented before the user crushes the capsule before or during smoking. However, at present, users have limited options for such cigarettes in capsules. The type and amount of the additional component are both predetermined, so that the user can change one or more types of additional components for each cigarette, or combine different types of additional components, and further enjoy the smoking experience of one's own. It is not possible to adjust the amount of additional components.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a smoking article in which the user selects the type, amount, and combination of the additional component, and enhances the smoking experience in accordance with personal preferences.

  The present invention meets this need with a filter element for smoking articles, the filter element comprising at least one filter material plug and a wrapping material at least partially surrounding the filter material plug. The material has an opening with a cover so that a user can open the cover to access the filter material plug and reseal the opening with the cover.

  The cover may include a tab that allows the cover to be resealable. The tab may be provided with a repeatable sealing adhesive. The tab and the adhesive are preferably configured such that the opening can be sealed with a cover so that the filter element is not unnecessarily ventilated. The packaging material may be composed of an inner layer and an outer layer. The tab may be formed with a cut in the outer layer such that the tab secures the outer layer to the inner layer when the cover is closed. The opening may be formed by cutting out an inner layer, the opening being slightly smaller than the cover such that the tab is applied over a portion of the inner layer that defines (defines) the frame or boundary of the opening. Preferably, it is formed.

  The filter element may include a cavity below the opening. The cavity may be shaped to fit within at least one filter material plug. Alternatively, the filter element may include at least two spaced apart plugs of filter material, and a cavity may be defined between the plugs and below the opening. The additional component can be inserted by a user into a cavity defined within or between one or more filter material plugs. This additional component can be a flavor material or some smoke modifier or filter material. The additional component may be provided in any form, such as a solid, liquid, powder, and the like. Preferably, the additional component can be encapsulated in a frangible capsule.

  The invention also provides a smoking article comprising a filter element according to the invention and a tobacco rod. Here, the packaging material connects one end of the tobacco rod and one end of the filter element. This packaging material may be a packaging material for the filter element or another packaging material.

  The filter element of the present invention enhances the freedom of using the product for a user who wants to enjoy a change in the smoking experience according to his or her taste or a user who wants a different smoking experience for each smoking article. Known smoking articles do not contain additional components, or even if they do, their types and amounts are fixed, and there is no room for change.

  According to the filter element of the present invention, the user selects the type of the additional component, selects the amount to be used for one smoking article, and further combines the plurality of additional components to design the smoking experience at will. It becomes possible.

  Such an opening and cover arrangement in the filter element of the present invention is easy to use. The user only has to select at least one additional component, open the cover, put the selected additional component inside, then close the cover and smoke as usual.

One example of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 is a perspective view of a smoking article 1 provided with a filter element 2 of the present invention. 2a to 2d are cross-sectional views of each smoking article 1 with a filter element 2 according to various embodiments of the present invention.

  The smoking article 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a cigarette comprising a filter element 2 and a tobacco rod 3. The filter element 2 comprises at least one filter material plug 6 wrapped with at least one outer wrapping material 13. This filter element is what is commonly known in the art as the tipping of smoking articles 1. One end of the tobacco rod 3 is connected to one end of the filter element 2 by overlapping the wrapping material 13 so that at least a part of the filter element 2 and an adhesive around the part of the tobacco rod 3 A durable collar that is secured using is formed. The filter material plug 6 may be made of any known filter material for smoking articles, for example, crimped cellulose acetate tow (fiber bundle), paper, synthetic fiber and / or natural fiber, or a mixed fiber thereof. May be.

  According to the invention, the filter element 2 comprises an opening 4 cut out in the packaging material 13. The opening 4 is defined at least by a resealable cover 5 formed by cutting the packaging material 13. Therefore, the opening 4 is defined by the surface portion of the cover 5 formed by cutting the packaging material. This cover 5 can reseal the opening, for example, by means of a repetitive sealing adhesive applied to the inside surface of the cover 5. The opening 4 may have any shape such as a rectangle, a circle, and an ellipse.

  In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the packaging material 13 is a laminate having at least an inner layer 8 and an outer layer 9. In this embodiment, the opening 4 is formed by cutting out the inner layer 8 and is smaller than the cover 5. Thereby, the cover 5 can cover the opening 4 and seal it. The cover 5 is formed by making a cut in the outer layer 9 and includes a tab 10 which is convenient for opening and closing the outer layer 9. In this example, the inner surface of the cover 5 is at least partially coated with a repeatable sealing adhesive, whereby the outer layer 9 adheres to the inner layer 8 around the opening 4.

  The inner layer 8 and the outer layer 9 preferably have different properties. For example, the inner layer 8 can be a polymer material and the outer layer 9 can be a paper material. Alternatively, the inner layer 8 and the outer layer 9 are both made of a paper material, and the outermost surface of the inner layer is coated with, for example, a varnish so that the cover 5 can be easily resealed on the inner layer 8 at least around the opening 4. Is also good.

  As shown in particular in FIGS. 2 a to 2 d, the filter element 2 according to the invention is formed below said opening 4 and inside at least one filter material plug 6 or between two filter material plugs 6. A cavity 7 may be provided. The user can insert a desired additional component into the cavity 7 through the opening 4. The additional component may be of any type or in any form as long as the smoke flow can be changed while the user uses the smoking article 1. These will be described below with reference to FIGS. The additional component is preferably a friable capsule 11, which is inserted by the user into the cavity 7 as shown in FIG. The capsule encapsulates, for example, a flavor composition or a non-flavor composition.

  The opening 4 is supplied to the user in a closed state or an open state. When the supply is performed with the opening 4 closed, the user must first open the opening 4.

  When the opening 4 is opened, a cavity 7 defined by the filter material plug 6 appears. The user can insert an additional component (sold separately) into the cavity 7. In another embodiment, a liquid additional component may be injected into another filter material that does not define a cavity. After insertion of the additional component, the user can close the opening 4. The user can reliably close the opening using the tab 10 and only has to close and push the cover 5. Thus, the cover adheres to the overlapping portion of the inner layer 8.

  Subsequently, the user starts smoking using the smoking article 1. If the additional ingredients are provided in the form of a capsule 11, the user may crush the capsule 11 at any point before or during smoking, releasing the contents and causing a change in the smoke flow.

  2a to 2d are cross-sectional views of the smoking article 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. Here, the opening 4 above the cavity 7 is closed by a cover 5 formed in the packaging material 13.

  In FIG. 2a, the filter element 2 has only one plug 6 of filter material, and the cavity 7 is shaped so as to fit inside the plug below the opening 4 provided in the packaging material. This cavity 7 does not penetrate the filter element 2 in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.

  2b, 2c and 2d, the cavity 7 is defined by two filter material plugs 61,62. These filter material plugs 61 and 62 may have the same or different dimensions, and may have the same or different compositions. One filter material plug 61 forms the mouth end of the filter element 2, and the other filter material plug 62 forms the cigarette side end of the filter element 2. In a first embodiment, both plugs 61, 62 may be made of crimped cellulose acetate tow. In another embodiment, the mouth end plug 61 is made of crimped cellulose acetate tow and the tobacco end plug 62 is crimped with a plasticizer, mixed with an adsorbent such as activated carbon. It may be made of cellulose acetate tow composed of fibers or randomly oriented fibers. The cavity 7 penetrates the filter element 2 in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.

  2a to 2c, the cavity 7 contains one or several independent capsules 11. The capsule 11 may contain additional components such as flavors in liquid or gel form. Prior to or during smoking, the user crushes the capsule 11 to release the additional ingredients contained therein, altering the nature of the smoke stream and creating a different smoking experience.

  In FIG. 2c, the cavity 7 is filled with two or more capsules 11. This gives the user the freedom to choose the amount of additional component that he wants to use for each smoking article 1. This additional component is supplied independently of the filter element 2 so that the user can select one or more additional components for each smoking article 1. This also allows the user to adjust one or both of the dosage and properties of the additional components for each smoking article 1.

  In FIG. 2 d, the cavity 7 is filled with additional components in the form of a fine powder or a microencapsulation 12. Some of the additional components do not need to be encapsulated, such as natural leaf cuts, adsorbent powders, granules, fine particles, and the like. Since the cavity 7 may be filled with something other than capsules, according to the present invention, the user can select and try additional components, and change his / her smoking experience according to his / her preference. be able to.

  The filter element 2 and smoking article 1 of the present invention provide the user with the freedom to individually design and change his smoking experience. The filter element 2 of the present invention is simple to manufacture and use, and in combination with the tobacco rod 3, allows the user to change the smoking experience by using the preferred additional components for the familiar smoking article 1.

Claims (15)

A filter element for a smoking article, comprising: a filter material plug;
Packaging material at least partially surrounding the filter material plug,
A filter element, wherein the wrapping material comprises a covered opening so that a user can open the cover to access the filter material plug and reseal the opening with the cover. The filter element of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a tab arranged to open and close the cover. 3. The filter element of claim 2, wherein at least one of the cover and the tab comprises a repeatable adhesive. The filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wrapping material comprises at least an inner layer and an outer layer. 5. The filter element of claim 4, wherein the cover is formed on the outer layer and is resealed over the inner layer above the opening. The filter element according to claim 1 , further comprising a cavity inside the filter material plug and below the opening. The filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein a cavity is formed so as to fit in the filter material plug. The filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising a second filter material plug, wherein a cavity is defined between the two filter material plugs and below the opening. 9. The filter element according to claim 8, wherein each said filter material plug is made of the same material, preferably cellulose acetate. Filter element according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the filter material plugs comprises an adsorbent, preferably activated carbon. 11. The filter element according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the filter material plugs comprises a fiber. A smoking article comprising a filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and a tobacco rod, wherein the wrapping material overlaps the tobacco rod, one end of the tobacco rod and the filter element. A smoking article connected to one end of the 12. A method of manufacturing a filter element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one filter material plug is formed; cutting the packaging material to form a resealable covered opening. Wrapping the filter material plug with the wrapping material so that a user can open the cover to access the filter material plug, and reseal the cover to close the opening. How to prepare. Prior to wrapping the filter material plug with the wrapping material, the method further comprises the step of defining a cavity in the filter material plug, wherein the step is such that the opening and the cover are registered with the cavity. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter material plug is wrapped in a wrapper. 13. A method for producing a smoking article according to claim 12, comprising supplying a filter element and a tobacco rod according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein one end of the filter element and one end of the tobacco rod are provided. The method further comprising connecting one end with a wrapper overlying the one end of both the filter element and the tobacco rod.

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