RU2711275C1 - Filter element for a smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking accessories.

SUBSTANCE: filtering element (10) for use in smoking article (80) is made of common filtering material (20), such as acetyl cellulose. Filtering element (10) contains cavity (30), which has no filtering material (20), at that the surface of the filter element facing cavity (30) is at least partially provided with at least one adsorbent (40).

EFFECT: disclosed is a smoking article filter element.

10 cl, 11 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a filter element for a smoking article and to a smoking article comprising such a filter element.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Filter elements for smoking articles are well known in the art. Such filter elements are mainly used for screening filterable materials in smoke generated during smoking.

[0003] The invention generally relates to filter elements for conventional smoking articles, such as cigarettes. However, in the present invention, the terms “smoking article” and “smoking” are intended to encompass both conventional smoking articles, such as cigarettes in which tobacco is burned to form respirable smoke, and electronic smoking and vaping devices, such as electronic cigarettes or hookahs in which the corresponding liquid is vaporized or atomized to form respirable vapor. Such steam below is also called "smoke".

[0004] Filter elements can affect the smoking experience in various ways. An object of the present invention is to provide a new filter element that provides an effective filtering effect and a satisfactory smoking experience.

[0005] The problem is solved using a filter element with the features of an independent claim. Preferred embodiments and further improvements are described in the dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter element for use in a smoking article. The filter element is made of a conventional filter material, such as cellulose acetate. The filter element contains a cavity that does not have a filter material, the surface of the cavity, i.e. the surface of the filter element facing the cavity is at least partially provided with at least one adsorbent.

[0007] According to the first modification, the corresponding surface is partially or fully provided with one adsorbent.

[0008] According to an alternative second modification, the surface of the filter element facing the cavity may be provided with a first adsorbent in a first surface area and a second adsorbent different from the first adsorbent in a second surface area that is at least partially different from the first area.

[0009] The adsorbent may be at least one adsorbent from the group of adsorbents, including activated carbon, zeolites, alumina, silica, silica gel, ion exchange resins, polyester resins, sepiolite and varieties of coal, such as impregnated carbon, activated carbon fibers or activated carbon high activation coal. Additional known suitable adsorbents and / or catalysts may be used to filter smoke or remove components from smoke.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the cavity forms a channel that extends into the filter element at least partially along its longitudinal direction. In a preferred embodiment, the cavity or channel extends along a direction along which smoke is drawn during operation of the smoking article containing the filter element, i.e. when the user inhales or puffs on a smoking article. Regarding the location of the filter element in the smoking article according to the first modification, the cavity or channel extends into the filter element from the side of the mouthpiece. According to an alternative second modification, the channel or cavity may extend into the filter element from the side of the rod. According to one embodiment, the channel extends completely through the filter element, preferably along the longitudinal direction of the filter element.

[0011] A cavity or channel that does not have a filter material during smoking allows at least some smoke to pass through the filter material without filtering, i.e. with an original taste that has not changed when passing through the material of the filter element. In this way, the feeling of smoking can be improved.

[0012] On the other hand, due to the provision of an adsorbent on the inner surface of the filter element facing the cavity, some filtering or some retention action can still be provided with respect to the part of the smoke that passes through the cavity or channel, and not through the filter material, surrounding cavity or channel. In addition, providing an adsorbent on the inner surface of the cavity without incorporation into the filter material leads to a slight pressure drop compared to the solution in which the adsorbent is integrated in the filter material.

[0013] The shape and size of the cavity and channel may be different. Of course, the above effect of the cavity or channel increases in proportion to the size or volume of the cavity with respect to the size and volume of the filter element, i.e. filter material surrounding the cavity or channel. It is also possible to provide more than one cavity or channel. Thus, in particular, the region of the active surface, i.e. the surface provided by the adsorbent can be increased, which increases the retention effect of the adsorbent.

[0014] For example, one or more channels may extend in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the filter element, which generally has a circular cylindrical shape. The channel or channels can also have a circular cylindrical shape and, in particular, can be made in the form of a blind hole or completely in the form of a through hole, pass into or through the filter element.

[0015] According to the first embodiment, the cavity or channel is formed directly in the filter element, i.e. the surface of the filter element facing the cavity is formed by the filter material. With regard to this, an embodiment of the adsorbent is directly deposited on the inner surface of the cavity, i.e. on filter media in this area.

[0016] According to the second embodiment, the cavity or channel is a tube that is made of preferably self-supporting sheet material of the tube. According to this embodiment, the cavity or channel has a wall separated from the filter material of the filter element. In general, the tube material is different from the filter material. However, the tube may also be made of the same material, for example cellulose acetate. Early provision of such a tube may provide simplification of the manufacture of the proposed filter element. The tube can be made as a single central or inner core of the filter element, which is surrounded by a filter material in the final filter element.

[0017] Suitable tube materials are, for example, paper materials or polymeric materials known in the art. The tube material may include one or many layers, for example, from two to three paper layers.

[0018] According to a first modification, at least the inner surface of the tube material facing the tube cavity is at least partially provided with an adsorbent. The adsorbent may be applied to the appropriate surface by any suitable application method.

[0019] According to a second modification, the tube material may already include an adsorbent. In particular, carbon paper can be used as a tube material or as a layer of a multilayer tube material. In the case where the tube material contains many layers, at least the innermost layer of the many layers, i.e. the layer that faces the pipe cavity contains an adsorbent.

[0020] According to a third embodiment, the cavity or channel directly formed in the filter element may be partially coated with a coating material corresponding to the material of the tube. The adsorbent can be applied to or integrated into the coating material as described above with respect to the tube material.

[0021] According to yet another embodiment, to provide visual distinctiveness and recognition, coloring or printing on the tube material or coating material can be performed, at least on the surface facing the cavity.

[0022] The proposed smoking article comprises the above-described filter element.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the smoking article, in the form of a regular cigarette, comprises a wrapped tobacco rod and a filter. The filter consists of at least one of the proposed filter elements or contains them. The wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are connected by rim paper into which the filter and a portion of the wrapped tobacco rod are wrapped.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the filter comprises at least a first filter element and a second filter element of the type described above, wherein the surface of the first filter element facing the cavity of the first filter element is provided with a first adsorbent and the surface of the second filter element facing the cavity of the second the filter element is provided with a second adsorbent, which is different from the first adsorbent.

[0025] The features, features and advantages of the present invention and the method in which they are obtained as described above will become more apparent and more understood in conjunction with the following description of examples of embodiments that are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the drawings, the same designations of elements indicate the same elements in each of the types:

[0027] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a first embodiment;

[0028] In FIG. 1B shows the filter element of FIG. 1A in front view;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a second embodiment;

[0030] In FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a first modification of the third embodiment;

[0031] In FIG. 3B is a schematic sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a second modification of the third embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a fourth embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element according to a fifth embodiment;

[0034] In FIG. 5B shows the filter element of FIG. 5A in front view;

[0035] FIG. 6A is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article comprising a filter element of FIG. 4;

[0036] In FIG. 6B is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article containing a filter element of FIG. 4 as a first filter element and a modification of the filter element according to FIG. 4 as a second filter element; and

[0037] FIG. 6C is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article comprising a filter element of FIG. 2.

[0038] The drawings in general are not shown to scale, but only by way of example show the elements of the respective filter elements and smoking articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view of an example of a filter element 10 according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1B shows the filter element 10 of FIG. 1A in front view.

[0040] The filter element 10 is made of a conventional filter material 20, such as cellulose acetate. Similarly, other filter materials known in the art can be used. The filter material 20 may be wrapped in fitzella (not shown). The filter element 10 has a circular cylindrical shape. Similar forms may also be used. The length of the filter element 10 (in the longitudinal direction L) can vary from about 5 mm to 40 mm, preferably from 6 mm to 30 mm. The diameter D of the filter element 10 can also vary from about 2 mm to 15 mm, preferably from 4 mm to 10 mm.

[0041] The filter element 10 comprises a cavity (or channel) 30 that extends into the filter element 10 along the longitudinal direction L. The cavity 30 does not have a filter material 20. The shape and size of the cavity may be different. The cavity 30 may be, for example, in the form of a blind hole, as in FIG. 1A, and extend into the filter element to a certain depth depending on the length of the filter element. In a preferred embodiment, the depth of the cavity 30 is at least 1/3 of the length of the filter element 10. The cavity may also be circular in cylindrical shape. The inner diameter d may be different, depending on the diameter D of the filter element 10. It is necessary that the cross-sectional area of the cavity 30 is at least 3 mm ² , preferably from 10 mm ² to 30 mm ² . In other words, in the case of a circular cylindrical cavity, it is necessary that the diameter of the cavity is at least 1 mm, preferably from 3 mm to 7 mm.

[0042] At least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity 30 is provided with an adsorbent 40. One or more adsorbents can be provided on the surface of the cavity 30. The adsorbents may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolites, alumina, silica, silica gel, ion exchange resins, polyester resins, sepiolite, and carbon species such as impregnated carbon, activated carbon fibers, or highly activated carbon. Additional suitable adsorbents and / or catalysts known in the art can be used to filter smoke or remove components from smoke.

[0043] The adsorbent 40 may be deposited on the inner surface of the filter element facing the cavity by any suitable application method, the surface being formed by the filter material 20.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element 110 according to a second embodiment.

[0045] The filter element 110 of FIG. 2 mainly differs from the filter element 10 in FIG. 1A in that the cavity 130 in this case forms a channel that extends completely through the filter element 110 along the longitudinal direction. In addition, not only part of the inner surface of the cavity 130 is provided with an adsorbent, but essentially the entire surface.

[0046] FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views of first and second modifications of an example of the filter element 210 according to the third embodiment.

[0047] In contrast to the filter elements 10, 110 of FIG. 1 and 2, in the filter elements 210, 210 'according to FIG. 3A, 3B, the cavity 130 is provided with a tube made of tube material 50. The tube forms a single central or inner core of the filter element 210, 210 ′ surrounded by filter material 20. The tube material 50 may be, for example, paper material or a suitable polymeric material.

[0048] According to a first modification shown in FIG. 3A, the inner surface of the tube material facing the tube cavity is provided with one adsorbent 40.

[0049] On the contrary, according to the second modification shown in FIG. 3B, a first region of the inner surface of the tube material 50 facing the cavity of the tube is provided with a first adsorbent 40, and a second region of the inner surface of the tube material facing the cavity is provided with a second adsorbent 40 'different from the first adsorbent 40. The first region and the second region may partially overlap.

[0050] Of course, corresponding modifications, including various surface areas of the filter element facing the cavity and provided with various adsorbents 40, 40 ', are also applicable to the embodiments of FIG. 1, 2 described above, and the embodiments described below with reference to FIG. 4, 5. The number of different regions / different absorbents may be different and not limited to two.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the material of the tube 50 is self-supporting, so that the tube can be made in advance and has a predetermined fracture stability. The thickness of the material of the tube 50, which defines the wall thickness of the tube, can be different, for example, from about 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element 310 according to a fourth embodiment.

[0053] This embodiment is different from the embodiments in FIG. 3A, 3B in that in the filter element 310, the adsorbent 40 is not only deposited on the inner surface of the tube material facing the tube, but the tube material 150 itself already contains absorbent 40, i.e. the adsorbent 40 is embedded or embedded in the material of the tube 150. For example, the corresponding material of the tube 150 will be carbon paper.

[0054] In FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a filter element 410 according to a fifth embodiment. In FIG. 5B shows the filter element of FIG. 5A in front view.

[0055] The filter element 410 of FIG. 5 differs from the filter element 310 of FIG. 4 (and other filter elements described above) in that a plurality of cavities or channels 230, 231, 231, 233 are included in the filter element 410. The number of cavities or channels can be different, for example, from 1 to 5. When using multiple channels, the sum of the areas the surface of the channels can be increased in comparison with providing only one channel having the same cross-section as the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the plurality of channels.

[0056] Of course, also in the embodiments of FIG. 1-3B, a plurality of channels or cavities may be included in respective filter elements.

[0057] FIG. 6A is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article comprising a filter element of FIG. 4;

in FIG. 6B is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article containing a filter element of FIG. 4 as the first filter element, and a modification of the filter element according to FIG. 4 as a second filter element; and

in FIG. 6C is a schematic sectional view of an example of a smoking article comprising a filter element of FIG. 2.

[0058] FIG. 6A shows, in longitudinal form, a smoking article 80 in the form of a cigarette. The cigarette contains a wrapped tobacco rod 60, which contains some tobacco blend wrapped in cigarette paper (not shown), and a filter. The filter consists of filter elements 510 and 310, the filter element 310 being the filter element described above with reference to FIG. 4. The filter element 510 simply consists of a suitable filter material, for example, the filter material 20 described above, for example cellulose acetate, which can be wrapped in ficella (not shown).

[0059] The filter 510, 310 is connected to the wrapped tobacco rod 60 by the rim paper 70 into which the filter is wrapped, i.e. filter elements 510, 310, and a portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 60. As shown in FIG. 6A, the filter can be made in the form of a filter having more than one segment, namely filter elements 510, 310. The order of the arrangement of these filter elements along the longitudinal direction of the smoking article can be changed. In addition, any of the filter elements 10, 110, 210, 410, 510 can be used instead of the filter element 310 in the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

[0060] A smoking article 180 shown in FIG. 6B differs from the smoking article of FIG. 6A in that instead of the filter element 510 (without a cavity), the second filter element 310 'of the invention forms a filter part. The filter element 310 'differs from the filter element 310 by the adsorbent 40' contained in the tube material 150 ', which is different from the adsorbent 40 contained in the tube material 150 of the filter element 310. According to this embodiment, various results that can be obtained by various adsorbents can to be combined.

[0061] It is also apparent that more than two filter elements containing different adsorbents can be combined in this way. In this context, filter elements without tube material can also be used, as described, for example, with reference to FIG. 2, and / or filter elements in which the adsorbent is applied only to the tube material (as shown in FIG. 3A).

[0062] As shown in FIG. 6C with respect to the smoking article 280, the filter may also contain only one filter element, for example, the filter element 110 of FIG. 2 (or any other filter element described above). To ensure a result similar to that achieved in the embodiment of FIG. 6B, instead of the filter element 110 of FIG. 1, a filter element may be used, as described with reference to FIG. 3B, i.e. a filter element in which different surface areas of the filter element facing the cavity or channel are provided with various adsorbents.

[0063] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with what is considered practical embodiments in this case, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent structures included in the scope of protection encompassed by the claims .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10, 110, 210, 210 ', 310, 410, 510 filter element

20 filter media

30, 130, 230, 231, 232, 233 cavity

40, 40 'adsorbent

50, 150, 150 'tube material

60 tobacco rod

70 rim paper

80, 180, 280 smoking article

L longitudinal direction

D, d diameter

Claims (18)

1. The filter element (10; 110; 210; 210 ’; 310; 410; 510) for use in a smoking article (80) made of a filter material (20), such as cellulose acetate, moreover, the filter element (10) contains a cavity (30; 130), which does not have a filter material (20), moreover, the cavity (30; 130) forms a channel that passes completely through the filter element (10; 110) along the longitudinal direction (L) of the filter element (10; 110), the channel (130) is a tube made of material (50; 150) of the tube, which differs from the filter material, moreover, at least the inner surface of the tube material facing the cavity of the tube is provided with an adsorbent (40), and the tube is made in the form of a single central core of the filter element (210; 310). 2. The filter element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent (40) is at least an adsorbent from the group of adsorbents including activated carbon, zeolites, alumina, silica, silica gel, ion exchange resins, polyester resins, sepiolite and coal species such as impregnated carbon, activated carbon fibers or highly activated carbon. 3. The filter element (210; 310) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the material (50; 150) of the tube is a paper material or a polymeric material. 4. The filter element (310) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the material (150) of the tube contains an adsorbent (40). 5. The filter element according to claim 4, in which the tube material contains many layers, of which the innermost layer, which faces the tube cavity, contains an adsorbent. 6. The filter element (310) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which the material (150) of the tube contains paper based on charcoal or consists of it. 7. The filter element according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the filter element (410) contains many cavities (230; 231; 232; 233) that do not have a filter material (20), the surface of the filter element facing at least one of the cavities (230; 231; 232; 233) is provided with an adsorbent (40). 8. A smoking article (80; 180; 280) containing a filter element (10; 110; 210; 210 ’; 310; 410; 510) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7. 9. A smoking article (80) according to claim 8, comprising a wrapped tobacco rod (60) and a filter (510, 310) containing a filter element (310), moreover, the wrapped tobacco rod (60) and the filter (510, 310) are connected by rim paper (70), into which the filter (510, 310) and a part of the wrapped tobacco rod (60) are wrapped. 10. A smoking article (180) according to claim 9, wherein the filter (310, 310 ’) comprises at least a first filter element (310) and a second filter element (310’) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, moreover, the surface of the first filter element (310) facing the cavity of the first filter element (310) is provided with a first adsorbent (40), and the surface of the second filter element (310 ') facing the cavity of the second filter element (310') is provided with a second adsorbent (40 '), which is different from the first adsorbent (40).

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