WO2009007258A1

WO2009007258A1 - Filter-tipped smoking article with a removable cap

Info

Publication number: WO2009007258A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/058256
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Kaljura
Original assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Priority date: 2007-07-12
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Also published as: TW200932131A; CL2008002007A1; AR067518A1; GB0713607D0

Abstract

A smoking article with a filter unit is provided with a removable protective cap, the cap covering the end surface and at least part of the side surface of the filter unit, and secured to the side surface of the smoking article by at least one region of adhesive. The adhesive may be non-permanent so that the cap can be fully removed from the smoking article. Alternatively, a permanent adhesive may be combined with a line of weakness around the cap along which the cap can be divided so that part of the cap can be removed. The cap can be fabricated from sheet material which is wrapped around the smoking article to give an overhanging part that is folded over the cover the end surface of the filter unit.

Description

FILTER-TIPPED SMOKING ARTICLE WITH A REMOVABLE CAP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a removable cap for the filter end of a smoking article.

Smoking articles such as cigarettes often comprise a filter tip at one end, in the form of a filter unit joined to the tobacco rod of the smoking article. The filter unit comprises one or more sections of filter material, typically acetate tow with possible other materials such as activated carbon particles, wrapped around its circumference by a permeable filter wrap material and secured to the tobacco rod by a tipping paper wrapped over the filter wrap and the join between the filter unit and the tobacco rod.

During smoking, the filter unit is placed in the mouth of the smoker. Since smoking articles, in particular cigarettes, are often supplied without any individual wrapping, there is a possibility or simply a perception that the filter unit may become contaminated with particulate or bacterial contaminants. These may collect on the exterior surface of the filter unit, or be absorbed by the filter material. In either event, any contaminants may impair the taste of the smoke, or be taken into the body through the mouth during smoking.

In an effort to prevent this, and for other protective purposes, various removable caps for the ends of cigarettes have been proposed. For example, GB 810,759 describes wrapping both ends of a filterless cigarette in paper or foil folded over to cover the ends of the cigarette, thereby forming snugly- fitting caps to maintain the correct moisture level of the tobacco and to prevent loss of tobacco. RU 2,061,396 describes a cap or sleeve for the filter end of cigarette made by winding paper, foil or other material around the filter unit. Some embodiments have an overhanging part of -J-

the cap material folded inwards over part of the end of the filter unit. CN 1,640,333, CN 2,689,719 and CN 2,294,579 disclose simple protective caps for cigarette filters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a smoking article having a filter unit and comprising a removable protective cap, the cap covering the end surface and at least part of the side surface of the filter unit, and secured to the smoking article by at least one region of adhesive. The use of adhesive between the cap and the smoking article ensures that the cap remains securely in position until a consumer desires to smoke the smoking article. In addition, the adhesive can be arranged so as to provide effectively a sealed protective cap or cover, thus preventing the ingress of contaminates under the cap.

The cap may be secured to any part of the smoking article which it covers or overlaps. In some embodiments, however, the cap is secured to the side surface of the smoking article by the at least one region of adhesive.

According to some embodiments, the cap is fabricated from sheet material. This offers a range of options for assembling the cap, so that the cap can be fabricated separately and then fitted over the smoking article, or alternatively the cap can be assembled around the smoking article.

For example, the sheet material may be wrapped around the filter unit such that a portion of the sheet material overhangs the end of the filter unit, the overhanging portion folded over to cover the end surface of the filter unit.

In some embodiments, the adhesive is disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of the cap remote from the end surface of the filter unit. The adhesive may be deposed in a continuous or discontinuous circumferential ring, or in one or more discrete regions. The adhesive may be a non-permanent adhesive that allows the cap to be fully removed from the smoking article. Alternatively, the adhesive may be a permanent adhesive that allows part of the cap to be removed from the smoking article to uncover at least the end surface of the filter unit. Thus, two options are available for configuring the removable cap, both of which provide the advantages of a cap which is adhered to its smoking article.

For a cap having permanent adhesive and secured to the side surface of the smoking article, the cap may comprise a substantially circumferential line of weakness positioned between the adhesive and the end of the filter unit, along which the cap can separate to allow part of the cap to be removed from the filter unit. The line of weakness may be positioned adjacent to the adhesive.

For any configuration of cap, the cap may comprise a graspable tab portion to facilitate removal of the cap from the smoking article.

The cap may be fabricated from at least one of foil, paper, cardboard, or plastics materials.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a smoking article with a removable protective cap, comprising: providing a smoking article having a filter unit; providing a portion of sheet material; applying adhesive to one or more regions on the sheet material and/or the side surface of the smoking article; wrapping the sheet material around the side surface of the filter unit to secure the sheet material to the side surface of the smoking article such that at least part of the side surface of the filter unit is covered and part of the sheet material overhangs the end of the filter unit; and folding the overhanging sheet material over to cover the end surface of the filter unit. The adhesive may be applied such that when the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, the sheet material is secured to the side surface of the smoking article. However, for any securing location, the adhesive may be applied to the sheet material or to the smoking article. The adhesive may be applied such that when the -A-

sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, the adhesive is disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of the sheet material remote from the end surface of the filter unit. The adhesive may be disposed in a continuous or discontinuous circumferential ring, or in one or more discrete regions. The adhesive may be a non-permanent adhesive that allows the cap to be fully removed from the smoking article, or the adhesive may be a permanent adhesive that allows part of the cap to be removed from the smoking article to uncover at least the end surface of the filter unit. In the latter case, the sheet material may comprise a line of weakness which, after the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, forms a circumferential line positioned between the adhesive and the end of the filter unit, along which the cap can separate to allow part of the cap to be removed from the filter unit. The line of weakness may be positioned adjacent to the adhesive.

The sheet material may be configured to provide a graspable tab portion after it is wrapped around the filter unit, to facilitate removal of the cap from the smoking article. The sheet material may comprise at least one of foil, paper, cardboard, or plastics materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference is now made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view through a smoking article having a removable cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an end of the smoking article of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the end of the smoking article of Figure 1 after removal of the cap; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the end of the smoking article of Figure 1 after removal of the cap;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of sheet material suitable for fabricating the cap of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the end of a smoking article having a removable cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the end of the smoking article of Figure 6 after removal of the cap;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of sheet material suitable for fabricating the cap of Figure 6; and

Figures 9 and 10 show plan views of sheet material suitable for fabricating caps according to further embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view through a smoking article having a removable cap according to an embodiment of the invention. The smoking article 10 is filter-tipped and of a conventional construction, having a tobacco rod 12 coupled to a filter unit 14 by a tipping paper (not shown). Additionally, and in accordance with the embodiment, the smoking article 10 also comprises a protective cap 16. The cap 16 is fitted over the filter end of the smoking article so as to cover the end surface of the filter unit 14 and to extend along the side surface of the smoking article 10 to cover at least part of the side surface of the filter unit 14. The cap 16 is secured to the side surface of the smoking article 10 by adhesive 18 disposed between the side surface of the smoking article 10 and the inner surface of the cap 16. In this example, the adhesive 18 is arranged in a region adjacent to the edge of the cap 16 which is remote from the end of the filter unit 14, and extends around the smoking article in a circumferential ring. According to this embodiment, the cap 16 has a circumferential line of weakness 20, such as a line of perforations or a ring of thinned material, positioned between the adhesive 18 and the end of the filter unit 14, and substantially adjacent to the adhesive 18.

The cap 16 is made from a portion of thin flexible sheet material which is wrapped around the filter unit end of the smoking article 10 such that a part 22 of the sheet material extends beyond, or overhangs, the end of the filter unit. The overhanging part 22 is folded over to cover the filter unit end. Hence, the overhanging part 22 is preferably slightly longer than the radius of the smoking article 10, so that the folded part can completely cover the end of the filter unit to better protect it from contaminants. The adhesive 18 secures the sheet material to the side surface of the smoking article 10.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the smoking article 10 with its removable cap 16 in place. Although the cap 16 is illustrated with shading, this is merely to distinguish it from the conventional paper wrap 24 of the smoking article. In reality, the cap 16 may be made from sheet material that is the same type and/or colour as the cigarette paper 24, or a different colour, or transparent, or it may be decorated with a pattern or brand logo, or be printed with instructions for removing the cap 16.

In this embodiment, the adhesive 18 is a permanent adhesive, in that it forms a substantially permanent bond between the cap 18 and the smoking article 10. To remove the cap 16 preparatory to consuming the smoking article 10, the consumer grips the outer surface of the cap 16 and pulls in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article 10. The pulling force thus applied causes the cap 16 to separate along the circumferential line of weakness 20, into two parts. The part covering the end of the filter unit is not adhered to the smoking article 10, and can be slid off the end of the smoking article 10 to expose the end surface and at least part of the side surface of the filter unit 14. Alternatively, the cap material may be unwrapped by pulling in a tangential direction so that it tears or divides around the line of weakness 20. The part remote from the end of the filter unit is adhered to the smoking article 10, and thus remains in position, as a band of material around the smoking article. The cap 16 is thus partially removable in this embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the end of the smoking article 10 after partial removal of the cap 16. The filter unit 16 is fully exposed so that the smoking article is ready for consumption, and the remaining band 26 of cap 16 is still adhered to the side surface of the smoking article.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the end of the smoking article 10 after partial removal of the cap 16.

The cap 16 should be configured with regard to the final position and size of the remaining band 26 of material after partial removal of the cap 16. These parameters are determined by the overall length of the cap along the side surface of the smoking article and the distance of the line of weakness 20 from the edge of the cap 16. If the band 26 is located over the tobacco rod 12, it should be made from combustible material so that it does not interfere with the combustion of the tobacco rod during smoking. If the band 26 is located over the filter unit 14, consideration should be given to whether its radial thickness and position are such as to make the presence of the band 26 a discomfort or distraction to the smoker when the filter unit is placed in the mouth. In either case, it is also preferable that the band does not overlay and hence block any ventilation holes provided in the cigarette paper or tipping paper of the smoking article, as this will undesirably reduce the ventilation of the smoking article 10.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a portion of sheet material 28 suitable for fabricating a cap 16 in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The sheet material 28 is substantially rectangular with a width sufficient for the sheet material to completely encircle the circumference of the smoking article 10, possibly with an overlapping edge. The length of the sheet material 28 comprises the length of the part A intended to be folded over the end surface of the filter unit, which must exceed the radius of the smoking article, and the length of the part B which is intended to be wrapped around the outer surface of the smoking article. The length B determines the distance by which the cap 16 extends along the smoking article, and may be sufficient to fully or partially cover the side surface of the filter unit, also having regard to the desired position of the band of material that will remain after partial removal of the cap, as discussed in the preceding paragraph.

A region of adhesive 18 is applied across the width of the sheet material 28 along the edge of the part B, which will be remote from the end of the filter unit in the assembled cap. A line of weakness 20 extends across the width of the sheet material 28, adjacent to the adhesive 18. Alternatively, the line of weakness 20 may be spaced apart from the adhesive 18. In this example, the line of weakness 20 is straight. However, it may be a zig-zag or other non-linear line, which will give a decorative edge to the band of material remaining around the smoking article after partial removal of the cap.

As an alternative, the adhesive may be applied to the outer surface of the smoking article, rather than to the sheet material.

In either case, after application of the adhesive, the sheet material is wrapped tightly around the smoking article to cover at least part of the side surface of the filter unit and to form an overhanging part of sheet material. The overhanging part is then folded over to enclose the end surface of the filter unit. Any folding pattern may be used, for example a series of overlapping folds, or an "envelope" fold comprising four folds in which opposite folds are formed sequentially.

Any suitable method may be used to apply the adhesive, apply the sheet material to the smoking article and wrap it around the smoking material, and then fold the overhanging part. A variety of methods and techniques for wrapping foldable paper around a smoking article and folding an overhanging part of the paper to close the tobacco end of the smoking article are described in our co-pending applications GB 0622687.2 filed on 14 November 2006 and GB 0703785.6 filed on 27 February 2007 (both entitled "Smoking article with closed end and methods and apparatus for manufacture thereof). These methods and techniques are equally suitable for applying and folding sheet material to the filter end of a smoking article to form a cap in accordance with the present invention.

For a cap fabricated according to the first embodiment, by wrapping and folding, any sheet material that is suitably thin and flexible for the necessary manipulation may be used. Examples include foil, paper, cardboard, plastics materials, and laminates combining these materials.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the end of a smoking article provided with a removable cap according to another embodiment. The cap 16 is formed in the same way as the cap of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, by wrapping a sheet material around the filter end of the smoking article 10 and folding an overhanging part 22 to cover the end surface of the filter unit. In this example, however, there is no line of weakness around the cap 16. Instead, to allow removal of the cap 16, the adhesive is a non-permanent adhesive which does not produce a permanent bond between the cap 16 and the smoking article 10 but allows these two components to be pulled apart and separated. Thus, the cap 16 can be completely removed from the smoking article 16 to expose the filter unit before consumption of the smoking article 10.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the smoking article 10 of Figure 6, after removal of the cap 16, showing that the cap is now wholly absent and the filter unit 14 is fully exposed.

The cap 16 may be removed by pulling longitudinally so that it slides off the smoking article, or by unwrapping the cap material from around the smoking article so that it unpeels. A protruding tab may be provided to facilitate removal of the cap, the tab being graspable for the purpose of pulling or unwrapping the cap.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a portion of sheet material 28 suitable for making a cap according to the embodiment of Figure 6. Like the sheet material shown in Figure 5, the sheet material 28 has a band of adhesive applied along one edge, and comprises a part B that is to be wrapped around the smoking article and a part A that will overhang and be folded over the end of the filter unit. However, this sheet material does not have a line of weakness, and the adhesive 18 is of a non-permanent type. Also, a tab 30 extends from one edge of the sheet material 28. When the sheet material 28 is formed into a cap, the tab 30 is arranged on the outer surface of the cap and can be lifted up, grasped and used to pull the cap off the smoking article. The tab is optional and may be omitted if preferred, or may have a different shape and/or position.

A graspable tab for removing the cap may also be provided in caps which are only partially removable, such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The completely removable nature of the cap of Figure 6 removes the design constraints relating to the material, size and position of the band of material which is left behind on the smoking article from a partially removable cap. Therefore, a fully removable cap may extend along the smoking article by any amount, determined only by how much of the smoking article side surface is to be protected.

The adhesive 18 may be applied in patterns other than the continuous band of the examples of Figures 5 and 8. The continuous band may be replaced by a broken band or a line of discrete regions of adhesive, such as is shown in Figure 9, which illustrates a portion of sheet material 28 having adhesive applied in three separate regions spaced along its edge. An arrangement like this may be preferred for a completely removable cap using non-permanent adhesive, because a smaller area of adhesive will make the cap easier to remove. Also, the adhesive need not be confined to an area along the edge of the sheet material; it may be a continuous or non- continuous band spaced apart from the edge. This reduces the risk of adhesive being squeezed out from under the edge when the sheet material is applied to the smoking article.

For a partially removable cap, the adhesive should be confined generally to the part of the cap remote from the end of the filter unit so that the removable part of the cap is sufficiently large to expose a usuable amount of the filter unit. However, if the cap is fully removable, the non-permanent adhesive can be applied anywhere that the cap overlaps the side surface of the smoking article. For example, a series of spaced- apart dots of adhesive can be used across the overlapping surface. Where the adhesive is applied to the sheet material and not to the smoking article, this removes the need to ensure that the sheet material is in the correct orientation before it is wrapped around the smoking article. For any pattern of adhesive, the adhesive can be applied either to the sheet material or to the smoking article, or to both.

Also, the invention is not limited to caps made as described above, by wrapping and folding a portion of sheet material. Other techniques for assembling a cap around a smoking article can be used. Alternatively, the cap can be assembled first, and then fitted over the end of a smoking article. In the latter case, the cap can be made from material other than sheet material, for example by moulding.

Claims

1. A smoking article having a filter unit and comprising a removable protective cap, the cap covering the end surface and at least part of the side surface of the filter unit, and secured to the smoking article by at least one region of adhesive.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, in which the cap is secured to the side surface of the smoking article by the at least one region of adhesive.

3. A smoking article filter according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cap is fabricated from sheet material.

4. A smoking article according to claim 3, in which the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit such that a portion of the sheet material overhangs the end of the filter unit, the overhanging portion folded over to cover the end surface of the filter unit.

5. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the adhesive is disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of the cap remote from the end surface of the filter unit.

6. A smoking article according to claim 5, in which the adhesive is disposed in a continuous or discontinuous circumferential ring.

7. A smoking article according to claim 5, in which the adhesive is disposed in one or more discrete regions.

8. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the adhesive is a non-permanent adhesive that allows the cap to be fully removed from the smoking article.

9. A smoking article according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which the adhesive is a permanent adhesive that allows part of the cap to be removed from the smoking article to uncover at least the end surface of the filter unit.

10. A smoking article according to claim 9, in which the cap comprises a substantially circumferential line of weakness positioned between the adhesive and the end of the filter unit, along which the cap can separate to allow part of the cap to be removed from the filter unit.

11. A smoking article according to claim 10, in which the line of weakness is positioned adjacent to the adhesive.

12. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , in which the cap comprises a graspable tab portion to facilitate removal of the cap from the smoking article.

13. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the cap is fabricated from at least one of foil, paper, cardboard, or plastics materials.

14. A method of providing a smoking article with a removable protective cap, comprising: providing a smoking article having a filter unit; providing a portion of sheet material; applying adhesive to one or more regions on the sheet material and/or the side surface of the smoking article; wrapping the sheet material around the side surface of the filter unit to secure the sheet material to the smoking article such that at least part of the side surface of the filter unit is covered and part of the sheet material overhangs the end of the filter unit; and folding the overhanging sheet material over to cover the end surface of the filter unit.

15. A method according to claim 14, in which the adhesive is applied such that when the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, the sheet material is secured to the side surface of the smoking article.

16. A method according to claim 14 or claim 15, in which the adhesive is applied to the sheet material.

17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, in which the adhesive is applied such that when the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, the adhesive is disposed substantially adjacent to an edge of the sheet material remote from the end surface of the filter unit.

18. A method according to claim 17, in which the adhesive is disposed in a continuous or discontinuous circumferential ring.

19. A method according to claim 17, in which the adhesive is disposed in one or more discrete regions.

20. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, in which the adhesive is a non-permanent adhesive that allows the cap to be fully removed from the smoking article.

21. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, in which the adhesive is a permanent adhesive that allows part of the cap to be removed from the smoking article to uncover at least the end surface of the filter unit.

22. A method according to claim 21 , in which the sheet material comprises a line of weakness which, after the sheet material is wrapped around the filter unit, forms a circumferential line positioned between the adhesive and the end of the filter unit, along which the cap can separate to allow part of the cap to be removed.

23. A method according to claim 22, in which the line of weakness is positioned adjacent to the adhesive.

24. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, in which the sheet material is configured to provide a graspable tab portion after it is wrapped around the filter unit, to facilitate removal of the cap from the smoking article.

25. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, in which the sheet material comprises at least one of foil, paper, cardboard, or plastics materials.