ELONGATED SMOKING ARTICLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elongated smoking article (100) (100) that extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and comprises a cylindrical smoking body (10) with a combustible material (11) that is surrounded by a wrapping paper (12). The smoking article (100) further comprises a filter element (20) that is configured to reduce substances from combustion gases drawn through the filter element (20) from the burning smoking body (10). A first base area of the filter element faces a base area of the smoking body (10) and a second base area (26) is an open base area. A tipping paper (30) is circumscribing the smoking body (10) and the filter element (20) and is attached to external surfaces (13, 21) of the smoking body (10 and the filter element (20). According to the invention, a flavoring (80) is disposed in or on the tipping paper (30) spaced apart from the second base (26) area in the longitudinal direction and with a distribution that varies in a longitudinal direction (L) of the tipping paper (30), such that the amount and/or type of flavoring (80) contacting a smoker's lips (90) depends on a translational state of the elongated smoking article (100) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L).

Claims

1. Elongated smoking article extending in a longitudinal direction, comprising: a cylindrical smoking body with a combustible material surrounded by a wrapping paper; a filter element configured to reduce substances from combustion gases drawn through the filter element from the burning smoking body, wherein a first base area of the filter element faces a base area of the smoking body and a second base area is an open base area; and a tipping paper enclosing the smoking body and the filter element and being attached to external surfaces of the smoking body and the filter element, wherein a flavoring is disposed in or on the tipping paper spaced apart from the second base area in the longitudinal direction and with a distribution that varies in a longitudinal direction of the tipping paper.

2. Elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the amount and/or type of flavoring contacting a smoker's lips depends on a translational state of the elongated smoking article with respect to the longitudinal direction.

3. Elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter element has a cylindrical shape and the tipping paper is disposed on the cylindrical surface of the filter element.

4. Elongated smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the flavoring is disposed within a first section of the tipping paper, the first section being a cylindrical surface segment of the tipping paper, the first section being spaced apart from the second base area for at least 3 mm in the longitudinal direction.

5. Elongated smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the flavoring is disposed within a plurality of cylindrical surface segments of the tipping paper, the cylindrical surface segments being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

6. Elongated smoking article according to claim 5, wherein the width of the cylindrical surface segments varies along the longitudinal direction.

7. Elongated smoking article according to claim 5, wherein the spacing between the cylindrical surface segments varies along the longitudinal direction.

8. Elongated smoking article according to claim 5, wherein the concentration of flavoring differs in different cylindrical surface segments.

9. Elongated smoking article according to claim 5, wherein different flavorings are disposed within different cylindrical surface segments.

10. Elongated smoking article according to claim 4, wherein the remaining tipping paper does not comprise any flavoring.

11. Elongated smoking article according to claim 10, wherein a concentration of flavoring changes continuously along the longitudinal direction of the tipping paper.

12. Elongated smoking article according to claim 11, wherein the distribution of the flavoring further varies in a circumferential direction of the tipping paper and wherein the amount and/or type of flavoring contacting a smoker's lips further depends on rotational state of the elongated smoking article with respect to the circumferential direction.

13. Elongated smoking article according to claim 12, wherein the flavoring is disposed in and/or on the tipping paper by applying a solution of flavoring to the tipping paper.

14. Elongates smoking article according to claim 13, wherein the flavoring is disposed on the tipping paper by applying at least one layer of flavoring material on the tipping paper.

15. Tipping paper for an elongated smoking article according to claim 1.

16. Elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of flavoring changes continuously along the longitudinal direction of the tipping paper.

17. Elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the distribution of the flavoring further varies in a circumferential direction of the tipping paper and wherein the amount and/or type of flavoring contacting a smoker's lips further depends on rotational state of the elongated smoking article with respect to the circumferential direction.

18. Elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring is disposed in and/or on the tipping paper by applying a solution of flavoring to the tipping paper.

19. Elongates smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring is disposed on the tipping paper by applying at least one layer of flavoring material on the tipping paper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Further features of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 (A) illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article and (B) illustrates a schematic cross section side view of an elongated smoking article;

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a filter element of an elongated smoking article according to a first embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the interaction of the filter element of the first embodiment with the lips of a smoker in (A) a first configuration and (B) a second configuration;

[0042] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the circumference of filter elements of an elongated smoking articles according to (A) a second embodiment, (B) a third embodiment and (C) a fourth embodiment; and

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates filter elements of elongated smoking articles according to (A) a fifth embodiment, (B) a sixth embodiment, and (C) a seventh embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0044] With reference to FIG. 1, a filter cigarette is shown as an example of an elongated smoking article 100 in (A) a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article and (B) a schematic cross section side view. The filter cigarette 100 includes a cylindrical rod of combustible material 11 the cylindrical surface of which is surrounded by a wrapping paper 12. The wrapping paper 12 typically incorporates a fibrous material, such as a cellulosic material, e.g. a lignocellulosic material. Exemplary cellulosic materials include flax fibers, hardwood pulp, softwood pulp, hemp fibers, esparto fibers, kenaf fibers, jute fibers and sisal fibers. Mixtures of two or more types of cellulosic materials can be employed.

[0045] The combustible material 11 within the wrapping paper 12 is referred to as smoking body 10 and one base area of the smoking body 10 is open to expose the combustible material 11. At one base area of the smoking body 10 the combustible material 11 can be lightened and at the other base area a filter element 20 is positioned. The filter element 20 may be at least partially formed of a weave, mesh, paper, membrane, and/or other appropriate structure providing the desired diffusivity. Its thickness and density may be determined during manufacture or altered thereafter to provide desired diffusivity.

[0046] The filter element 20 and the smoking body 13 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship along a longitudinal relationship L of the filter cigarette. The filter element 20 has a generally cylindrical shape with a diameter that is essentially equal to the diameter of the smoking body 10. The base areas 25, 26 of the filter element 20 are open to permit the passage of air and smoke therethrough. One of these base areas, i.e., the first base area 25, contacts the smoking body 10 and the other base area opposite the first base area, i.e., the second base area 26, forms a mouthpiece for a user. The filter element 20 includes a filter material, such as e.g. plasticized cellulose acetate or a biodegradable material, which is configured to reduce substances in combustion gases that are drawn by a smoker from the burning smoking body 10 through the mouthpiece base area of the filter element 20. Further, the filter material is circumferentially wrapped in a paper plug wrap 24.

[0047] The filter element 20 is fixed to the smoking body 10 via a tipping paper 30 that is circumscribing both, the filter element 20 and the smoking body 10. The tipping paper 30 is wrapped over the filter element 20 and the smoking body 10 along the longitudinal direction L and is attached by an adhesive to an external surface 13 of the smoking body 10 and to an external surface 21 of the filter element 20. Thus, the tipping paper 30 provides a force closure between smoking body 10 and filter element 20 via an indirect adhesive bond using a suitable adhesive, such as e.g., a water-based adhesive of the type traditionally employed by cigarette manufacturers for application of tipping paper during filtered cigarette manufacture. In other words, the tipping paper 30 extends around the longitudinally extending periphery of substantially the entire length of the filter element 20 and around a portion of the longitudinally extending periphery of the wrapping paper 12 of the combustible material 11 in a region of the smoking body 10 immediately adjacent to the filter element 20.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a filter element 20 of an elongated smoking article 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Therein the filter element 20 has a circular cross section 23 and the tipping paper 30 has a circular ring cross section 33 and is disposed on the cylindrical surface of the filter element 20. A flavoring 80 is disposed in and/or on a first section 31 of the tipping paper 30. Further, no flavoring 80 is disposed in or on the remaining tipping paper 30 outside the first section 31, particularly no flavoring 80 is disposed within a specific distance from the second base area 26 (open base area) into the longitudinal direction towards the smoking body 10. The first section 31 is a first cylindrical segment of the tipping paper 30 that is enclosed by a first and a second circular ring circumscribing the filter element 20. The first section 31 is positioned at a distal end of the filter element 20 near the first base area 25 of the filter element 20 opposite to a mouthpiece of the filter element 20 near the second base area of the filter element 20.

[0049] In FIG. 3 the interaction of the filter element 20 of the filter cigarette 100 according to the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 with the lips of a smoker 90 is shown in (A) a first configuration and (B) a second configuration. In the first configuration (A), the first section 31 containing the flavoring 80 is shifted outside the mouth of a consumer and thus the lips 90 of the consumer does thus not contact the first section 31 with the flavoring 80 but only contact the filter element 20 along the specific distance from the second base area 26 in the longitudinal direction along which no flavoring is present in or on the tipping paper 30. Hence, the consumer experiences no gustatory or olfactory sensation based on the flavoring 80. However, by shifting (translating) the elongated smoking article 100 into the mouth of the consumer, the first section 31 is brought in contact with the lips 90 of the consumer as illustrated in the configuration of FIG. 3 (B). Hence, the flavoring 80 disposed in the first section 31 is brought into contact with the lips 90 of the consumer and the consumer thus experiences a gustatory sensation based on the flavoring. By shifting the filter cigarette 100 along the longitudinal direction into or out of the mouth, the consumer can thus decide on whether or not he or she wants to experience the sensation of the flavoring 80.

[0050] Further embodiments of the tipping papers 30 of elongated smoking articles 100 according to embodiments of the invention are illustrated in FIG. 4 illustrating front views of cylindrical filter elements 20. Therein, the longitudinal direction L of the filter elements 20 equals the downward vertical direction in FIG. 4 and the upper ends of the filter elements 20 are the mouthpiece ends of the filter elements 20, i.e., the second base areas 26 of the filter elements 20, and the lower ends of the filter elements 20, i.e., the first base areas 25 of the filter elements 20, are the ones contacting the smoking bodies 10.

[0051] In a second embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4 (A), a flavoring 80 is disposed in a total of four cylindrical sections 31, 32, 33, 34 that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L of the filter element 20. Therein, the width of the cylindrical sections 31, 32, 33, 34 decreases along the longitudinal direction. Hence, the user can adjust the intensity of the flavoring 80 by shifting the filter element 20 further inside or outside his mouth, wherein the gustatory experience of the flavoring 80 is more intensive, the closer the lips of the consumer touch the filter element 20 to the mouthpiece end thereof.

[0052] In a third embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4 (B), a flavoring 80 is disposed on the tipping paper 30 circumscribing the filter element 20 with a continuous concentration gradient. Therein, a concentration of the flavoring 80 is highest at the first base area 25, i.e., opposite the mouthpiece end (second base area 26) of the filter element 20 and fades continuously towards the mouthpiece end, i.e., the second base area 26 of the filter element 20. Hence, FIG. 4 (B) provides the same effect as the embodiment of FIG. 4 (A) but with a continuous gradient of flavoring 80 instead of a four-fold discrete gradient of flavoring 80 based on a changing width of sections 31 to 34. Hence, a user can even more freely set the amount of experienced flavoring by shifting the filter element 20. However, the continuous concentration gradient could also have a reversed direction, i.e., increasing from the first base area 25 towards the second base area 26.

[0053] In a fourth embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4 (C), a first flavoring 81 is disposed in first cylindrical section 31 close to the second base area 26 of the filter element 20 and a third flavoring 83 is disposed in third cylindrical section 33 close to the first base area 25 of the filter element 20. Further, a second flavoring 82 is disposed in second cylindrical section 32 in between the first 31 and the third cylindrical section 33. Hence, the user can adjust the type of the flavoring 81, 82, 83 by shifting the filter element 20 further inside or outside his mouth.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates filter elements 20 with a circumscribing tipping paper 30 according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment (A), a sixth embodiment (B), and a seventh embodiment (C). These embodiments have in common that a distribution of a flavoring 80 further varies in a circumferential direction C of the tipping paper 30. Therein the amount and/or the type of flavoring 80 that is contacting a smoker's lips 90 further depends on rotational state of the elongated smoking article 100 with respect to the rotation axis 22.

[0055] In the filter element 20 of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 5 (A), the cylindrical section comprising the flavoring 80 does not extend along the whole circumference of the filter element 20. On the contrary, the cylindrical section is divided in a first angular section 31 and a second angular section 32. Each of the first and second angular sections 31, 32 extends only partially in the circumferential direction and the longitudinal direction of the filter element 20. Thus, a user can decide whether or not he or she wants to experience the sensation of the flavoring 80 by rotating the filter element 20, if the half of the filter element 20 proximal to its mouthpiece end is in contact with the lips 90 of the user. However, by further inserting the filter element 20 into the mouth of the user, such that a half of the filter element 20 distal to its mouthpiece end is in contact with the lips 90 of the user, the user can decide to not experience the flavoring 80 irrespective of the rotational state of the filter element 20.

[0056] In the filter element 20 of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 5 (B), a flavoring 80 is disposed in a first angular section 41 and a second angular section 42. Further, the flavoring 80 is disposed in four cylindrical sections 31, 32, 33, 34 of the tipping paper 30 as described above. By combining the circumferentially varying distribution of flavoring 80 based on the first and second angular sections 41, 42 with the longitudinally varying distribution of flavoring 80 based on the first to fourth cylindrical sections 31, 32, 33, 34 a total of eight sections is generated that provides a distribution of flavoring 80 that varies in the longitudinal and the circumferential direction. Thus, a user can adjust whether or not he wants to experience the flavoring 80 by rotating the filter element 20 around a rotational symmetry axis 22 of the filter element 20 and can further adjust the intensity of the experienced flavoring 80 by translating the filter element 20 along the longitudinal direction of the filter 20.

[0057] In the filter element 20 of the seventh embodiment of FIG. 5 (C), a first flavoring 81 is disposed in a first angular section 41 of the tipping paper 30 and in a second angular section 42 of the tipping paper 30. Further, the first flavoring 81 is disposed in a third cylindrical section 33 of the tipping paper 30. A second flavoring 82 is disposed in the first angular section 41 and the second angular section 42 as well as in a second cylindrical section 32 of the tipping paper 30. Finally, a third flavoring 83 is disposed in the first angular section 41 and the second angular section 42 as well as in a third cylindrical section 33 of the tipping paper 30. By combining the circumferentially varying distribution of flavorings 81, 82, 83 based on the first and second angular sections 41, 42 with the longitudinally varying types of flavorings 81, 82, 83 based on the first to third cylindrical sections 31, 32, 33 a total of six sections is generated that provides a distribution of flavorings 81, 82, 83 that varies in the longitudinal and in the circumferential direction. Thus, a user can adjust whether or not he wants to experience any flavoring 81, 82, 83 by rotating the filter element 20 around a rotational symmetry axis of the filter element 20 and can further adjust the type of the experienced flavoring 81, 82, 83 by translating the filter element 20 along the longitudinal direction L of the filter element 20.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0058] 10 cylindrical smoking body [0059] 11 combustible material [0060] 12 wrapping paper [0061] 13 external surface of the smoking body [0062] 20 filter element [0063] 21 cylindrical surface of the filter element [0064] 22 rotational symmetry axis of the filter element [0065] 23 cross section of the filter element [0066] 24 plug wrap [0067] 25 first base area [0068] 26 second base area [0069] 30 tipping paper [0070] 31 first cylindrical section of the tipping paper [0071] 32 second cylindrical section of the tipping paper [0072] 33 third cylindrical section of the tipping paper [0073] 34 fourth cylindrical section of the tipping paper [0074] 41 first angular section [0075] 42 second angular section [0076] 80 flavoring [0077] 81 first flavoring [0078] 82 second flavoring [0079] 83 third flavoring [0080] 90 smoker's lips [0081] 100 elongated smoking article [0082] L longitudinal direction [0083] C circumferential direction