KR20120112869A - Flow control device for a smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

The flow control device 4 for smoking articles comprises a body having first and second body parts 7, 10 arranged in a longitudinal direction rotatable with respect to each other between the first and second positions. The first body portion 7 and the second body portion 10 have a first tobacco smoke flow path through the device 4 in a first position and a second tobacco smoke flow through the device 4 in a second position. And to adjust the tobacco smoke flow direction by the rotation from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the tobacco smoke to pass through the second tobacco smoke flow path.

Description

FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FOR A SMOKING ARTICLE}

The present invention relates to a flow control device for a smoking article, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a smoking article filter comprising a flow control device.

A cigarette filter comprising a rotatable filter segment having two tobacco smoke flow paths containing different flavor materials, wherein the filter segment is selected to select different longitudinal paths through the filter segment. It is known from EP 0317154A and US Pat. No. 4,677,995 to provide a filter for a cigarette through which tobacco smoke is passed to the consumer via this route. This allows the user to select a flavor or various levels of filtering depending on the angle of rotation of the filter segment.

The present invention provides a flow control device for a smoking article, the flow control device having first and second body portions disposed longitudinally rotatable relative to one another between the first and second positions. A main body, wherein the first and second body portions form a first tobacco smoke flow path through the device at the first position and a second tobacco smoke flow path through the device at the second position, and in a first position Is adapted to cause an adjustment to the tobacco smoke flow direction upon rotation from the second position to the second position, allowing the tobacco smoke to pass through the second tobacco smoke flow path.

Adjustment of the tobacco smoke flow direction allows for selectable control over various aspects of the consumer experience. For example, adjustments to the tobacco smoke flow direction may include directing tobacco smoke flow at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the device. This allows for an increased area of interaction with flavors or other smoke-modifying agents contained in the device, allowing for control of tobacco smoke relative to the longitudinal flow through the tobacco smoke-modifying agent.

Moreover, the second tobacco smoke flow path is preferably longer or vice versa than the second tobacco smoke flow path so that the suction resistance can be selectively changed by twisting the device from the first position to the second position. It provides a variety of smoking experiences by the relative angle of the body portion.

Preferably, a flavoring agent or other tobacco smoke control agent is provided in the longer tobacco smoke route. Thus, in order for the flavor to remain fresh, the flavor must take a longer path to spread out of the device.

The adjustment in the tobacco smoke flow direction can be, for example, a 180 ° adjustment or alternatively a 90 ° adjustment. Adjustment can be made in stages; For example, the 180 ° adjustment may include following the first 90 ° adjustment followed by an additional 90 ° adjustment.

Preferably, the tobacco smoke-modulating agent is a granular flavor contained within the chamber having a wall portion comprising smoke apertures formed in a size that can prevent the granular agent from exiting the chamber.

Optionally, adjusting the tobacco smoke flow direction includes reversing the tobacco smoke flow direction such that tobacco smoke flows through the tobacco smoke-regulating agent toward the tobacco end of the flow control device.

The device is preferably generally tubular, the second body part having an inlet channel at one end of the tubular device and the first body part having an outlet channel at the opposite end.

The first body portion may comprise a tobacco smoke-refluxing member aligned with the inlet tobacco smoke channel at the second position, the tobacco smoke reflux member receiving tobacco smoke from the inlet channel in the second position and smoking the tobacco smoke. And to cause the adjustment by reversing the flow direction.

Alternatively, the first body portion may have an insertion member received by the second body portion, and the insertion member may include a first peripheral region that is tobacco smoke permeable and a second peripheral region that is cigarette smoke impermeable. And the second peripheral region forms an inner wall of the inlet tobacco channel at the first position, and the first peripheral region forms an inner wall of the inlet tobacco smoke channel at the second position. The second peripheral region in the first position prevents tobacco smoke from passing through the second tobacco smoke flow path, and by rotation from the first position to the second position, the tobacco smoke passes through the first peripheral region. Peripheral regions can be configured to allow passage of the tobacco smoke flow path, preferably in the transverse direction, to adjust the tobacco smoke flow direction.

The present invention also provides a smoking article comprising a flow control device. The term "smoked article" as used herein refers to tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and heat-not-burn products. Or smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

The present invention also provides a smoking article filter comprising a flow control device. Preferably, the filter forms part of the smoking article.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.
1 shows a cigarette comprising a flow control device.
2 is an exploded perspective view of the flow control device.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the flow control device of FIG. 1 in a first position.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the flow control device in the second position.
5A is an exploded perspective view of the middle segment of the flow control device.
5B is a perspective view of the middle segment of the flow control device.
5C is an end view of the middle segment of the flow control device.
5D shows a retaining grid.
6A is an exploded perspective view of an alternative flow control device.
6B is a perspective view of a portion of the flow control device of FIG. 6A.
7 is a cross-sectional view of the flow control device of FIG. 6A in a first position.
8 is a cross-sectional view of the flow control device of FIG. 6A in a second position.
9 is a cutaway perspective view of the flow control device of FIG. 6A in a second position.

Referring to FIG. 1, the smoking article in the form of a cigarette 1 comprises a paper wrapped tobacco rod 2 in contact with the filter element 3. The filter element 3 is a plug of a flow control device 4 located at the mouth end of the filter element and a cellulose acetate tow 5 located at the tobacco end of the filter element. ) The filter element 3 may further comprise a plugwrap surrounding the device 4 and the plug 5. As shown, the tipping paper 6 surrounds the filter element 3 and the tobacco rod 2 to connect the filter element 3 and the tobacco rod 2 together.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flow control device 4 comprises a first body part 7 comprising a mouth-end part 8 fixed in position with respect to the intermediate part 9, and a first body part ( And a second body portion 10 rotatably mounted with respect to 7). The parts 8, 9, 10 are arranged on the same axis and are generally formed of a tubular and preferably molded plastic material. The parts 8, 9, 10 may have a diameter of approximately 7.8 millimeters, for example.

When the flow control device 4 is arranged in a cigarette as shown in FIG. 1, the first body portion 7 is free to rotate relative to the tobacco rod 2, while the second body portion 10 is tipping paper. It is attached to the tobacco rod 2 by (6). As will be explained in more detail below, the body parts 7, 10 are provided with a first rotational position in which tobacco smoke can pass through the flow control device 4 in the longitudinal direction toward the mouth end of the cigarette 1 ( Shown in FIG. 3). The body parts 7, 10 can be rotated from the first position to the second position (shown in FIG. 4), in which the tobacco smoke flow passes through the flavoring agent located in the intermediate body part 9. In the reverse direction and then redirected towards the mouth end of the cigarette 1, thus passing through the device 4. In this way, the tobacco smoke sucked out of the cigarette 1 causes the second body part 10 to be relative to (or to) the first body part 7 such that the body parts 7, 10 are located in the second position. Conversely) by rotation. Directing the tobacco smoke flow along the path shown in FIG. 4 increases the pressure drop across the filter element 3 compared to the tobacco smoke flow path shown in FIG. 3, thereby reducing the flavored tobacco smoke and increased suction resistance. Provide at the same time.

Referring now to the flow control device 4 in more detail, the body parts 8, 9, 10 are substantially kidney-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. It has channels 11, 12, 13, 14 having a for smoking tobacco passing through the parts 8, 9, 10 in the first and second positions. The channels 11, 12, 13, 14 may each have a cross sectional area of approximately 6.7 square millimeters, for example.

3 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 4 with the second body part 10 positioned in a first position with respect to the first body part 7. As shown, the inlet channel 11 in the second body part 10 is aligned with the channel 12 in the intermediate part 9 and the channel 13 in the mouth end part 8, thereby bringing the device 4 into place. Forms flavor-free tobacco smoke flow paths 11, 12, 13 that pass through.

As shown, the intermediate part 9 has internal tobacco smoke impermeable walls 15, 16 forming the flavor-containing chamber 17. The walls 15, 16 prevent tobacco smoke from passing into the flavor-containing chamber 17 when the body portions 7, 10 are positioned in the first position. When body portion 10 is rotated 180 ° from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 4, channel 11 in second body portion 10 is channel 14 in intermediate body portion 9. ) And the channel is aligned with a guiding recess (18) formed in the mouth end (8). The tobacco smoke guiding recesses 18 are formed to not pass completely through the component 8 but instead guide the tobacco smoke from the channel 14 into the flavor-containing chamber 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the tobacco smoke guide recess 18 provides for tobacco smoke to flow through the flavor chamber 17 in a direction opposite to the tobacco smoke flow direction through the channel 14. Results in backflow. The second portion 10 is provided with a similar but oppositely facing tobacco smoke guide recess 19 in which the tobacco smoke is guided from the flavor-containing chamber 17 to the channel 12 in the intermediate part 9. To reverse the direction of tobacco smoke flow such that tobacco smoke flows out through the mouth end of the device 4 through the channels 12 and 13 in the same direction as the passage through the channel 14. In this way, the tobacco smoke flow paths 11, 14, 18, 17, 19, 12, 13 are formed through the device 4 in the second position. Tobacco smoke passing through this path is directed by the flavourant in the chamber 17 and passes along a longer path than the cigarette smoke flow path in the first position, thereby increasing resistance to inhalation. Optionally, the channels 11, 12, 13, 14 and recesses 18, 19 are filled with tobacco smoke permeable material, for example cellulose acetate tow, so as to provide the device 4 in both the first and second positions. The resistance to inhale across the) is further increased, and the increase is greater for the second position because the cigarette smoke path is longer.

Advantageously, the flavor from the flavor-containing chamber 17 does not tend to spread out of the device 4 because of the long diffusion path to the device outlet. In this way, the flavor will not substantially spread from the filter element 3 to the cigarette 1 or to other cigarettes in the cigarette pack, which may be undesirable for the consumer.

3 and 4 illustrate the rotation of the body portion 10 relative to the body portion 7, but the consumer may remove one of the first or second body portions 7, 10 with one hand. It is possible to rotate between the first and second positions by holding in position and rotating the other body portion with the other hand, or by twisting in the direction facing the body portions 7, 10 in another way. Can be understood. In fact, the consumer may prefer to hold the tobacco rod 2 in place and to twist the mouth end body portion 7 rather than grasping the end body portion 7 and twisting the tobacco rod 2. .

The flavor-containing chamber 17 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D. As shown, both sides of the chamber 17 allow for tobacco smoke to enter the chamber 17 but retain the retaining grid 20, which is configured to prevent the flavourant, which may be in the form of granules, from exiting the chamber 17. 21) is provided. As shown in FIG. 5C, the intermediate part 9 has two pairs of locating holes 22, one pair for each of the grids 20, 21, and the retaining grid has a locating pin 23. A locating pin is provided, which is received in the locating hole 22 for securing the retaining grid in place. The flavor-containing chamber 17 can have a chamber size of approximately 0.03 cc, and the retaining grids 20, 21 can be adapted to provide an aeration area of approximately 3.5 square millimeters. Smaller smoke aperture sizes result in higher pressure drops across the device 24 and therefore the holes can be sized to achieve the desired pressure drop.

6 shows an alternative flow control device 24. As shown, flow control device 24 generally includes first and second tubular body portions 25, 26, which may be formed from molded plastic. As shown, the first body portion 25 includes two generally cylindrical tubular members 27, 28 formed integrally, the member 27 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the member 28. The second body portion 26 defines the first and second guide members 29, 30 on opposite sides of the second body portion forming a bore 31 formed to slidably receive the member 27. Have In this way, the first body portion 25 is fitted into the second body portion 26 so that it can rotate in the slot. The length of the second body portion 26 can be for example 6 millimeters and the total length of the device 24 can be 11 millimeters. The diameter of the device 24 may be 6.8 millimeters.

As shown, the guide members 29, 30 pass through the body portion 26 to further form a tobacco smoke channel 32, which is when the second body portion is not in place. It is open to the bore 31. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, which show cross-sectional views, second body portion 26 defines a front wall 33 having tobacco smoke holes 34 that allow tobacco smoke to pass into tobacco smoke channel 32. Have Cigarette smoke holes 34 may provide an inlet area of, for example, approximately 5.8 square millimeters.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 24 with the first body portion 25 snapped into place and rotated to the first position. As shown, in this position the tobacco smoke channel 32 is aligned with the tobacco smoke channel 35 formed in the annular wall 36 of the larger cylindrical tubular member 28 and passes through the device 24. To form a longitudinal tobacco smoke flow path.

The smaller tubular member 27 has an annular wall 37 and an anterior wall 38, and together with the annular wall 36 of the tubular member 28 a flavoring agent, for example a granular flavoring agent. The chamber 39 containing is formed. The chamber may for example be about 8 millimeters in length and may have a diameter of 3.5 millimeters. As shown in FIG. 6A, the chamber 39 is closed at its rear end by a perforated endcap 40 that fits tightly into a generally circular hole at the rear face of the chamber 39. The end cap 40 has a tobacco smoke hole 41 that is large enough to allow tobacco smoke to pass out of the device 24 but small enough to prevent flavor granules from escaping out of the chamber 39, for example For example, it can provide a total ventilation area of approximately 5.7 square millimeters.

As shown, the annular wall 37 has a peripheral section 42 having a plurality of cigarette smoke holes 43, while the remaining portion 44 of the annular wall 37 is tobacco smoke. Form a non-permeable barrier to. As shown in FIG. 7, the non-permeable portion 44 of the wall 37 in the first position forms an inner wall of the tobacco smoke channel 32, the inner wall of which smoke smoke-containing chamber 39. To prevent). As shown in FIG. 8, the first body portion 25 is rotated by 180 ° relative to the second position such that the cigarette smoke holes 43 in the peripheral region 42 mate with the channels 32 and are permeable to tobacco smoke. It provides a channel 32 with an inner wall. In this way tobacco smoke can flow from the channel 32 through the hole 43 and into the chamber 39. Preferably, the aperture 43 provides a total ventilation area of approximately eight square millimeters.

As shown in FIG. 8, the channel 32 is not aligned with the channel 35 such that the end of the channel 32 in the second position is blocked by the annular wall 36 of the member 28. Thus, the only path tobacco smoke can take in the second position is via the hole 43.

Arrow 45 in FIG. 8 shows the path of tobacco smoke through the device 24 in the second position. As shown, the smoke passes through the smoke opening 34 and enters the device 24 and passes into the channel 32. The tobacco smoke then passes through the tobacco smoke hole 43 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the device 24 and into the flavor containing chamber 39. The tobacco smoke then passes through the flavor-containing chamber 39 in the longitudinal direction, where the tobacco smoke is flavored. The flavored tobacco smoke then passes out through the holes 41 of the end cap 40.

Since the tobacco smoke passes into the chamber 39 in the transverse direction, the surface area where the tobacco smoke interacts with the granules is rather than by the cross-sectional area of the device 24 as is the case for the longitudinal tobacco smoke flow. It is limited by the dimensions of the transparent region 42. Thus, the surface area of the interaction can be increased and the flavor delivered can be stronger as compared to the case of longitudinal tobacco smoke flow.

Moreover, the cigarette smoke holes 43 and 41 can be sized to provide the desired suction resistance in the second position. Thus, for example, the cigarette smoke hole 43 can be made small enough so that there is a significant difference in pressure drop across the device 24 in the first and second positions, thereby depending on the orientation selected. Provide consumers with a variety of smoking experiences.

The holes 41 in the end cap 40 provide flavor to the other cigarettes in the remainder of the cigarette 1 and possibly in the cigarette pack before smoking, for example when the pack is opened, to provide for the cigarette. It can be applied to allow for smearing. Although this may not be desirable in some situations, as described above, some consumers may prefer that flavors flavored prior to smoking be provided to their cigarettes and that this choice may be provided by the device 24. Can be.

Advantageously, the first body portion 25, the second body portion 26 and the end cap 40 are formed of molded plastic and can be manufactured using known injection molding techniques. The assembly of the device 24 is easy by inserting the pieces 25, 26, 40 together by hand or by machine.

Various adjustments and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, although the filter element 3 has been described above as having a plug of a flow control device 4 located at its mouth end and a cellulose acetate tow 5 located at its tobacco end, an alternative, Alternatively or in addition, a plug of cellulose acetate tow may be located at the mouth end of the filter element 3. Therefore, the filter element 3 may optionally comprise a flow control device with a plug of cellulose acetate tow 5 located at each end. The cellulose acetate tow plug, flow control device and tobacco rod may be held together using a wrapper, for example a plugwrap and / or tipping paper. The wrapper may include a circumferential ring of the perforation to allow the filter element to twist. The wrapper may be pre-perforated or alternatively laser drilling may be performed after the filter element is wrapped.

Furthermore, although flavored tobacco smoke using flavoring additives has been described above, any tobacco smoke-control may be selectively used through the use of suitable tobacco smoke-controlled additives. For example, additionally or alternatively to flavoring agents, humectants may be used to change the moisture content of tobacco smoke.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to ingredients permitted by local law, which materials may be used to produce the desired taste or aroma in a product. Flavors and flavoring agents include extracts such as licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, Menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple (apple), Dramboui, Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, Spearmint, Peppermint, Lavender, Cardamon, Celery , Cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil ( lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel , Piment, raw Peppermint oil, flavor masking agents, bitterness receptor site blockers extracted from any species of ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint. ), Receptor site enhancers, sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose ), Sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol, and aschlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or oral cavity And other additives such as breath freshening agents. Flavors and flavoring agents may be of simulated, synthetic or natural ingredients or mixtures thereof. Flavors and flavoring agents may be in any suitable form, for example oil, liquid or powder.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additional adjustments and variations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (19)

A body having first and second body portions arranged in a longitudinal direction rotatable relative to each other between a first position and a second position, wherein the first and second body portions are adapted to move the device in the first position. In the tobacco smoke flow direction by forming a first tobacco smoke flow path passing through and a second tobacco smoke flow path passing through the device at the second position and by rotation from the first position to the second position. Configured to cause adjustment for the cigarette, allowing tobacco smoke to pass through the second tobacco smoke flow path,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method of claim 1,
The adjustment to the cigarette smoke flow direction comprises directing the cigarette smoke flow at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the device,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the second tobacco smoke flow path is longer than the first tobacco smoke flow path
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A smoke-modifying agent arranged along the second tobacco smoke flow path such that tobacco smoke is selectively regulated by rotation of the body portions relative to each other from the first position to the second position. Further comprising,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The tobacco smoke-controlling agent is a flavor
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to claim 4 or 5,
The tobacco smoke-modifying agent is granular,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to claim 6,
The tobacco smoke-regulating agent is contained in a chamber having a wall portion comprising tobacco smoke apertures, the tobacco smoke apertures sized to prevent the granular agent from exiting the chamber;
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Adjusting the tobacco smoke flow direction includes reversing the tobacco smoke flow direction such that tobacco smoke flows through the tobacco smoke-regulating agent toward the tobacco end of the flow control device;
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The second body portion comprises an inlet tobacco smoke channel and the first body portion comprises a smoke-refluxing member aligned with the inlet channel in the second position; The member is arranged to receive the tobacco smoke from the inlet channel at the second position and cause the adjustment by reversing the tobacco smoke flow direction;
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method of claim 9,
The second body portion is configured to receive tobacco smoke from the first body portion in the second position and to direct tobacco smoke toward a mouth end of the flow control device. ),
Flow control device for smoking articles.
11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the first body portion further comprises an outlet channel aligned with the inlet channel in the first position and the tobacco smoke backflow recess of the second body portion in the second position,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method of claim 11,
The first cigarette smoke flow path comprises a path through the inlet cigarette smoke channel and a path through the outlet cigarette smoke channel;
The second tobacco smoke flow path passes through the inlet tobacco smoke channel, through the tobacco smoke backflow member of the first body portion, and through the tobacco smoke-backflow recess of the second body portion. A path through the outlet and said outlet tobacco smoke channel,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
Wherein the tobacco smoke backflow member of the first body portion comprises a tobacco smoke channel and a tobacco smoke backflow recess;
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The second body portion has a tobacco smoke channel;
The first body portion has an insertion member received by the second body portion, the insertion member comprising a first peripheral region that is tobacco smoke permeable and a second peripheral region that is cigarette smoke impermeable; The second peripheral region forms an inner wall of the tobacco smoke channel in the first position and the first peripheral region forms an inner wall of the tobacco smoke channel in the second position;
The second peripheral region in the first position prevents tobacco smoke from passing through the second tobacco smoke flow path and rotation from the first position to the second position causes the tobacco smoke to flow in the second tobacco smoke flow. Allowing passage through the first peripheral region through the path, thereby adjusting the tobacco smoke flow direction,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
15. The method of claim 14,
Having a chamber for containing a tobacco smoke-controlling agent, at least a portion of the chamber being included in the insert and wherein the tobacco smoke in the second position can pass into the chamber via the first peripheral region,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
The method of claim 15,
At least a portion of the chamber comprises a tubular cavity formed in the insertion member,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
Wherein the first and second body portions are formed of molded plastic,
Flow control device for smoking articles.
A smoking article comprising the flow control device as claimed in claim 1.
A smoking article filter comprising the flow control device as claimed in claim 1.

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