WO2009010176A2

WO2009010176A2 - Tobacco substitute, and molded tobacco substitute article

Info

Publication number: WO2009010176A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/005264
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kornelia Tebbe
Original assignee: Kornelia Tebbe
Priority date: 2007-07-14
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2009-01-22
Also published as: DE102007033083A1; WO2009010176A3; EP2170107A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a tobacco substitute comprising an air-penetrated carrier material (12) and at least one flavor and/or active substance (14) which is attached thereto and/or incorporated thereinto and can be entrained at least in part by an air flow. Also disclosed is a molded tobacco substitute article comprising a core (20) that is surrounded by an external layer (16) and at least partially encompasses tobacco substitute.

Description

Tobacco substitute and tobacco substitute molding

The invention relates to a tobacco substitute and a tobacco substitute molded article.

The smoking of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars or pipes in public is increasingly limited, in particular by legal requirements. In the future, not only in public buildings, but also in most catering establishments general smoking bans will have to be considered. For many smokers smoking restrictions are associated with lifestyle restrictions. These limitations can not be outweighed by the use of replacement agents, especially nicotine-containing chewing gums or nicotine patches, as these may require different handling and may not provide a substitute for the hand-held and mouth-guided cigarette.

The object of the invention is to provide a stimulant as an alternative to tobacco smoking, which can also be used in smoking-ban zones.

This task is accomplished by a tobacco substitute with the

Characteristics of claim 1 and by a tobacco substitute shaped body having the features of claim 9.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

When using the tobacco substitute described in claim 1, the consumer can in the usual way by inhaling an air flow, with the stored on and / or in the carrier material flavoring and / or the active ingredient in Has come to experience a taste experience comparable to smoking a cigarette, a cigarillos, a cigar or a pipe. Also, corresponding effects, such as occur in particular by inhalation of nicotine, can be achieved by active ingredients in the carrier material, which are delivered to the passing air.

In the interaction of the air inhaled during the inhalation process with the air-permeable carrier material, the aroma substance (s) and / or the active substance (s) held by the carrier material are entrained by the air flow. They are thus distributed to the consumer in the inhaled air. The decisive factor is that, in contrast to the smoking of tobacco, no incineration process that is stressful to the environment is necessary in order to effect the release of the aroma substances and / or the active ingredients and thus the desired taste experience.

The mixture of air and flavoring agents and / or active substances inhaled by the consumer is free of the fine dust fractions, tar components and other constituents normally encountered in the combustion of tobacco, which are to be regarded as undesired by-products of incineration and which are harmful to non-smokers and to Health hazard to nonsmokers and smokers.

The taste and the effect of cigarette, cigarillo, cigar or pipe smoke can at least be approximated by targeted selection of the carrier material, the aroma substance and / or the active ingredients. The harmful components of the smoke, however, are not or only partially available. Also, the feel and handling is largely the same as for the corresponding smoking product, so that sets a real smoke feeling.

In the development of the invention according to claim 2 is advantageous that hereby the typical flavorings and / or drugs that are inhaled during smoking, are also provided for the consumption of the tobacco substitute.

Preferably, the ingredients contained in the leaves of the tobacco plant are released by alcoholic extraction or by extraction with steam and can be coupled in a subsequent processing step to the carrier material of the tobacco substitute.

The leaves of the tobacco plant may be processed for the extraction of the flavoring agents and / or the active ingredients in the same way as is customary for use as cigarette, cigarillo, cigar or pipe tobacco. However, they can also be used in a particularly favorable form for digestion, e.g. Finely cut or powdered or pickled.

Additional process steps, such as roasting the tobacco or at least partially burning or blanching prior to performing the extraction, may be provided to better simulate the aroma of burned tobacco.

In the development of the invention according to claim 3 is advantageous that hereby a rounding or refinement of the taste experience for the consumer is achieved. For example, extracts from fruits, herbs, fruit or vegetable products, in particular menthol flavors, whiskey flavors, fig flavors, can be used as natural flavor carriers. 8 005264

These flavor carriers can either be added to the flavorings and / or active substances obtained from the tobacco plant before they are stored in the carrier material, or they can be stored separately or attached to the carrier material.

In the development of the invention according to the other variant of claim 3 is advantageous that additional, not available in nature flavoring and / or active ingredients can be introduced into the inhaled air, the

Improve the taste and / or the effect of the tobacco substitute.

A tobacco substitute according to claim 4 can also serve as a medicament or contribute to improving the condition of the user.

In the development of the invention according to claim 5 is advantageous that the proposed substances have a large capacity for accumulation and / or incorporation of flavorings and / or active ingredients and to procure or be produced inexpensively and have good permeability to air.

Another essential aspect of the listed substances is that they do not pose a serious health hazard even when inhaled, and that they do not release any further particles in addition to the aroma substances and active ingredients added or stored. In particular, the fiber materials can be configured to have a haptic appearance that is very close to real tobacco.

In the development of the invention according to claim 6 is advantageous that the flavoring and / or the active ingredient is stored long, so that a long-term stability of the Tobacco substitute is ensured when not in use.

For example, Aromatic substances and active substances present as liquids or pulverulent solids are enclosed, for example, by means of interfacial polymerization with a capsule shell. The capsule shell can be burst in particular by exerting mechanical pressure. Capsule shells that release the encapsulated ingredients when increased humidity or when exposed to light are also possible. The microencapsulated

Flavorings and active ingredients are attached to the carrier material, for example, by spraying or impregnating.

In the embodiment of the invention according to claim 7 is advantageous that a substantially uniform distribution of the flavoring and / or active ingredients can be ensured over a longer period, since the release of the substances with the resolution of the carrier matrix progresses. The carrier matrix can be designed such that it has a predefined degradation rate under given environmental conditions, for example a predefined air humidity.

In the development of the invention according to claim 8 is advantageous that the release of the flavorings and / or the active ingredients takes place at a time determinable by the consumer. By opening an airtight, in particular moisture-tight, and / or light-tight packaging, the consumer can provide for a supply of moisture and / or light to the carrier material and thus the

Release of the flavorings and / or the active ingredients effect. In addition or as an alternative, the consumer can exert the release of the aroma substances and / or the active substances by exerting forces on the carrier material. As long as no activation process takes place, the flavors are and / or the active ingredients are long-term stable and / or absorbed in the carrier material and the tobacco substitute is thus long storable.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a tobacco substitute shaped body having the features of claim 9 is provided. This can be handled like a traditional smoking product if it concerns cigarettes, cigarillos or cigars or if it is inserted into a pipe bowl.

On the one hand, an outer layer of the tobacco substitute shaped body provided according to claim 10 serves to guide the air stream inhaled by the consumer through the carrier material and can impart at least one dimensional rigidity to the shaped body. The outer layer is preferably sleeve-shaped and preferably itself at least dimensionally stable.

By the sleeve-shaped design, the shape of a cigarette, a cigarillos or a cigar is modeled, so that the consumer the usual handling feeling occurs. The airtight design of the outer shell serves to channel the air stream inhaled by the consumer, which thus predominantly flows through the carrier material received in the outer shell. This ensures the desired loading of the air stream with the flavorings and / or the active ingredients.

In addition, the outer layer also serves to seal off the tobacco substitute contained in the tobacco substitute molding against environmental influences that could lead to the premature release of the flavorings and / or active ingredients. The dimensional stability of the tobacco substitute shaped body can be achieved by the outer shell (claim 10), by the carrier material (claim 12) or by an interaction of outer shell and carrier material and is important for the handling of the tobacco substitute shaped body by the consumer. This should ideally not notice that he holds no tobacco, etc., but the tobacco substitute form body in the hand and leads to the mouth. This increases the authenticity of the taste perception of the flavorings and / or active ingredients.

In a tobacco substitute Formkδrper the outer layer can also form a shipping seal, so that a dense individual packaging can be omitted. In particular, by the action of heat can according to claim 11 for use of the product destroy the outer layer, at least to the extent that air can be sucked through the product.

In the development of the invention according to claim 13 is advantageous in that a surface of the carrier material forms the outer layer. This can be achieved, for example, when using foams as carrier material, in which the outer layer is a closed outer skin of the foam material.

This can be achieved, for example, by pouring the liquid foam raw material into suitable molds. Even with an extrusion of the foam material, a closed, in particular airtight, outer skin can be achieved by a suitable choice of the foam composition, the extrusion mold and the extrusion parameters. Since ^¬ through can be achieved cost-effective manufacture of the tobacco substitute-shaped body.

In the development of the invention according to the claim 14 It is advantageous that hereby the appearance of cigarettes, cigarillos or cigars can be replicated identically, which is subjectively of great importance for the taste experience, at least for some consumers.

For example, the carrier material may be pressed until it has approximately the elasticity and air permeability of finely cut tobacco leaves in cigarettes, etc., and may then be surrounded by a sleeve-like shaped outer layer of cigarette paper. An outer layer of a portion of a tobacco leaf for imitation of a cigarillos or a cigar for wrapping the carrier material may also be provided.

In the development of the invention according to claim 15 is advantageous that the outer layer in addition to the mechanical stabilization of the carrier material ensures a shield against environmental influences, so that premature release of the flavorings and / or active ingredients contained in the carrier material is prevented. At the end, the preferably sleeve-shaped outer layer may be closed by removable plugs which are removed by the user immediately before consumption in order to enable the release of the flavoring substances and / or the active substances from the carrier material.

In the development of the invention according to claim 16 is advantageous that the arranged in the first region tobacco cut can be burned in a conventional manner by igniting. The aroma substances and / or active substances released in this process are at least partially temporarily stored in the carrier material arranged downstream. After complete burning of the tobacco leaves in the first area, there is a continuing release of flavorings and / or active substances from the carrier material over several Inhalation cycles away.

The carrier material may be at least one substance from the group of fiber materials, foam materials and bulk materials which are used exclusively for temporary storage of the aroma substances and / or active substances released when burning the tobacco leaves and which are free of incorporated flavorings and / or active substances.

The handling of such a tobacco substitute molded article can be carried out such that the tobacco leaves arranged in the first region are smoked outside a smoking-prohibiting zone in the manner of a conventional cigarette, etc. After extinction of the tobacco leaves, a temporally downstream delivery of the flavorings and / or active substances temporarily stored in the carrier material takes place during further inhalation cycles.

In the embodiment of the invention according to claim 17 is advantageous that in addition to the flavorings and / or active substances that are released when burning the tobacco leaves, releasably held by the carrier material flavorings and / or agents can be released. This results in a balanced combination of taste and / or active ingredients in the inhalation of the air stream loaded with these substances by the consumer.

With Weitzerbildung according to claim 18 accidental ignition of the cigarette replacement is prevented or in case of accidental lighting a rapid, in particular immediate extinction of the cigarette substitute causes before harmful substances can be released and inhaled. The development according to claim 19 is advantageous with regard to a uniform loading of the shaped body with flavorings and / or active substances,

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing. Showing:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a tobacco substitute shaped body which has a carrier material made of foam material, in which a

Outer layer is formed as a single-material layer,

Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section through a tobacco substitute molded article with a dimensionally stable carrier material, which is surrounded by a sleeve-shaped outer layer, and

3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a tobacco substitute shaped body with a first area filled with finely cut tobacco leaves and a second area filled with carrier material.

A cigarette substitute 10, shown schematically in longitudinal section in FIG. 1, has an elongated cylindrical shape. The cigarette substitute 10 comprises a cigarette core 20 made of an open-cell foam material with cells 12, which are shown schematically as octagonal structures.

Between and in the foam cells 12 microcapsules 14 are added, which have a moisture-soluble membrane wall and which are filled with liquid flavorings.

On the outside, the open-pored cigarette core 12 is surrounded by a surrounded or non-air permeable outer layer 16, which may consist of the same material as the foam cells 12 or may be formed by a piece of cigarette paper.

An outer skin can form itself in the production of the cigarette core 20 by interaction with a mold wall, not shown, in particular an extrusion mold, and can be provided for example by printing with a Oberflächendekor and a brand, as usual in cigarettes. In addition, optically a filter mouthpiece of conventional length can be faked.

By sucking on the cigarette substitute 10, an air flow is caused from the normal pressure side to the negative pressure side. As soon as the open-pored foam cells 12 are flowed through by the air flow, there is an interaction between the moisture contained in the air and the microcapsules 14 arranged between the foam cells 12.

The moisture-sensitive membrane walls of the microcapsules 14 are burst by the humidity and release the stored, liquid or powdered content to the air flow. As a result, a loading of the air flow takes place with the aromatics taken up in the microcapsules 14, which are transported away with the air flow and inhaled by the consumer.

The membrane walls of the microcapsules 14 need for the

Release of the aromatics contained in the microcapsules 14 a certain amount of moisture that is absorbed from the air flow. As a result, the moisture content of the air stream is reduced from the normal pressure side to the negative pressure side of the cigarette replacement 10. This ensures that a release of the aroma substances takes place over several inhalation cycles, since a bursting of the microcapsules 14 is ensured in accordance with the adjusting concentration gradient of the air humidity in the cigarette substitute 10.

In practical terms, this means that initially the microcapsules 14 arranged directly on the normal pressure side burst open, since here the air sucked in has the highest moisture content. In the direction of the negative pressure side, the moisture concentration decreases, so that initially there is not required for bursting the membrane walls humidity. In subsequent inhalation cycles, the microcapsules 14, which are arranged in the direction of the negative pressure side, increasingly burst because the membrane walls of the already burst microcapsules 14 can no longer absorb moisture in the region of the normal pressure side. This means that there is a shift in the concentration gradient of the air humidity in the direction of the vacuum side and thus a delayed release of the

Flavorings and / or the active ingredients instead.

An additional elongation of the charge is obtained when using a mixture of microcapsules with different wall thicknesses.

In the second embodiment of a cigarette substitute 100 according to FIG. 2, the microcapsules 114 are accommodated between fibers 118, which are mechanically interlocked or frictionally connected with one another and form a substantially dimensionally stable cigarette core 120.

The cigarette core 120 is surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve-shaped outer shell 122, which gives the cigarette replacement 100 the appearance of a commercially available cigarette and the same early contributes to the stabilization of the cigarette core 120. The outer shell 122 is preferably made of a thin air and moisture impermeable impregnated paper.

At the end 100 caps 124 are attached to the cigarette replacement, which are made like the outer shell 122 from air and moisture impermeable impregnated paper. These prevent moisture from entering the cigarette core 120.

Before the use of the cigarette substitute 100, the frictionally applied cover caps 124 are removed, then in the same way as in the embodiment of Figure 1 by inhalation an air flow through the cigarette core 120 can be caused, which leads to the release of the aroma contained in the microcapsules 114 ,

In a further embodiment of the invention, not shown, the aroma substances are contained directly in the fibers of the cigarette core. Suitable fibers for this purpose may in particular be made of cotton or wood. An impregnation of the fibers with the desired during inhalation flavorings and / or active ingredients can already be made by the manufacturer.

It is also conceivable that the consumer introduces a certain amount of liquid flavorings into the cigarette core immediately before use of the cigarette substitute in order subsequently to experience the desired taste experience by inhaling an air stream flowing through the cigarette core. The soaking can be done by wicking the fiber core 120 out of a storage bottle. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the cigarette substitute 200 is subdivided into two regions. Finely cut tobacco leaves 226 are arranged in a first region, while in a second region fibers 218 are mechanically or using a food-grade binder to a cigarette core 220 connected. Between the fibers 218 microcapsules 240 are included, which contain liquid or powdery flavorings in a moisture-sensitive membrane casing.

The cigarette core 220 and the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 are surrounded by a substantially airtight outer shell 222 made of conventional cigarette paper. The outer shell is provided in the region of the cigarette core 220 with a refractory impregnation.

Between the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 and the cigarette core 220, an air gap 228 is provided. The air gap 228 serves to prevent heat transfer between the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 and the

Cigarette core 220, since it is intended to ignite the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 and burn in the manner of a conventional cigarette.

The resulting smoke is through the cigarette core

220 inhaled by the consumer. The cigarette core 220 has the task about to save a part of the ingredients contained in the resulting flue gas temporarily and release them after burning off the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 for further inhalation cycles of Konsu ^¬ ments again.

In addition, after completion of the burning process of the finely cut tobacco leaves 226 due to the increasing humidity a bursting of the cigarette in the cigarette tenkern 220 arranged microcapsules 214, whereby additional flavorings can be released.

Preferably, the microcapsules 214 also contain additives which facilitate detachment of the constituents of the flue gas adhering to the fibers 218 of the cigarette core 220, so that the impression of a conventional flue gas composition of a cigarette is aroused by the consumer over several inhalation cycles, although none at this time further burning of tobacco leaves takes place.

In a further embodiment of the invention, not shown, the cigarette substitute is fire-resistant impregnated at least at no real tobacco ends or provided with a plastic material which foams when exposed to heat (intumescent) and / or emits stored moisture. This prevents the cigarette substitute from being ignited accidentally or causes a rapid, in particular immediate extinguishment of the cigarette replacement in the event of accidental lighting, before substances hazardous to health can be released and inhaled.

In yet another embodiment, not shown, the molded body has the shape of a slender cup. In this way, when the carrier material is loaded, a flavoring agent and / or active ingredient can also readily reach those material regions which are removed from the end of the shaped article.

Claims

claims

1. A tobacco substitute characterized by an air-flowable carrier material (12; 118; 218) and at least one flavoring agent and / or active substance (14; 114; 214) held by the latter, which is at least partially separated by the carrier material (12; 118; 218). flowing air is entrained.

2. Tobacco substitute according to claim 1, characterized in that the flavoring and / or the active ingredient (14; 114; 214) comprises an extract of vegetable material, in particular leaves of the tobacco plant.

Tobacco substitute according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the flavoring agent (14; 114; 214) comprises at least one natural flavoring agent, in particular a plant-based flavoring agent, or a synthetically produced flavoring agent.

4. Tobacco substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active ingredient

(14; 114; 214) comprises a drug or a drug, in particular nicotine or alcohol.

5. Tobacco substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier material (12; 118; 218) comprises at least one substance from the following group: fiber material, in particular cotton fibers, wood fibers, plastic fibers, metal fibers; Foam material, in particular polystyrene, polypropylene, polyurethane; Bulk material, in particular porous Bulk material such as montmorillonite, dolomite, kieselguhr; Fibrous fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwovens, felts of the aforementioned fibers.

6. Tobacco substitute according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the flavoring and / or the active ingredient (14; 114; 214) is microencapsulated, wherein the walls of the microcapsules are preferably destructible by an environment parameter such as temperature, humidity, mechanical pressure.

7. Tobacco substitute according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flavoring agent and / or the active substance (14; 114; 214) is held by a carrier matrix degrading under the influence of ambient conditions.

8. Tobacco substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flavoring agent or the active substance by an activation process, in particular by energy, in particular heat, moisture or mechanical influences such as pressing or walking, can be released.

A tobacco substitute shaped body, characterized in that it comprises a volume of a carrier material (12, 118;

218) which can receive at least one flavoring and / or active ingredient, in particular in the manner according to one of claims 1 to 8, and which is substantially dimensionally stable.

10. Tobacco substitute molding according to claim 9, characterized in that the dimensional stability of the support material (12; 118; 218) is at least partially given by an outer layer (16; 122; 222) which is preferably itself dimensionally stable and preferably sleeve-shaped.

11. Tobacco substitute molding according to claim 10, characterized in that the outer layer (16; 122; 222) is destructible, in particular destructible by heat, in particular meltable at the ignition flame temperature.

12. A tobacco substitute shaped article according to claim 9, characterized in that the instability of the carrier material (12; 118; 218) is at least partially given by a binder or by mechanical entanglements in the material.

13. A tobacco substitute shaped body according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the outer layer (16) is formed as a single-material layer on the carrier material (12), which is preferably produced in situ.

14. Tobacco substitute molding according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the outer layer (122; 222) has lower air permeability than the carrier material, in particular as an at least substantially air-impermeable coating on the carrier material (118; 218) is applied ,

15. tobacco substitute molding according to any one of claims

10 to 14, characterized in that the outer layer (16; 122; 222) is at least substantially moisture-impermeable and / or opaque to light.

16. tobacco substitute molding according to any one of claims

9 to 15, characterized in that finely cut tobacco leaves (226) are arranged in the sleeve-shaped outer layer in a first region and carrier material (218) for storing at least one flavor substance and / or active substance in a second region.

17. A tobacco substitute shaped article according to claim 16, characterized in that the carrier material (118; 218) at least partially comprises a tobacco substitute according to one of claims 1 to 8.

18. A tobacco substitute shaped body according to any one of claims 9 8 to 17, characterized in that it at least at no real tobacco ends having fireproof imprä- gned or provided with a plastic material which foams when exposed to heat and / or emits stored moisture.

19. tobacco substitute shaped body according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that it is a hollow body, wherein it is preferably open at one end and closed at the other.