SMOKING ARTICLE COMPRISING A FRICTION IGNITABLE COMBUSTIBLE CARBONACEOUS HEAT SOURCE

Abstract

A smoking article is provided, including a combustible carbonaceous heat source having opposed front and rear end faces; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the rear end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source; an ignitable composition provided on at least a portion of the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source; and one or more airflow pathways along configured to allow air to be drawn through the smoking article for inhalation, the ignitable composition being configured to be ignited by striking the front end face on a frictional surface, and being isolated from the one or more airflow pathways such that air drawn along the one or more airflow pathways does not directly contact the ignitable composition.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A smoking article, comprising: a combustible carbonaceous heat source having opposed front and rear end faces; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the rear end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source; an ignitable composition provided on at least a portion of the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source; and one or more airflow pathways configured to allow air to be drawn through the smoking article for inhalation, wherein the ignitable composition is configured to be ignited by striking the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source on a frictional surface, and wherein the ignitable composition is isolated from the one or more airflow pathways such that air drawn along the one or more airflow pathways does not directly contact the ignitable composition.

17. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the ignitable composition is in direct contact with the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

18. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the ignitable composition is provided on only a portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

19. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the ignitable composition is provided on only a portion of the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

20. The smoking article according to claim 19, wherein the ignitable composition is provided on only a central portion of the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

21. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the ignitable composition is only provided on the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

22. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the ignitable composition is configured to be ignited by striking the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source on a cooperating striking surface.

23. The smoking article according to claim 22, wherein the cooperating striking surface comprises red phosphorous.

24. The smoking article according to claim 16, further comprising a cap configured to at least partially cover the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source, wherein the cap being removable and configured to expose the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source.

25. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the combustible carbonaceous heat source is a blind combustible carbonaceous heat source.

26. The smoking article according to claim 16, wherein the combustible carbonaceous heat source comprises an ignition aid.

27. The smoking article according to claim 26, wherein the ignition aid is an oxidizing agent.

28. The smoking article according to claim 16, further comprising one or more first air inlets disposed around the periphery of the aerosol-forming substrate.

29. The smoking article according to claim 16, further comprising a non-combustible substantially air impermeable barrier between the rear end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source and the aerosol-forming substrate.

30. A container of smoking articles, comprising: a plurality of smoking articles according to claim 16; and a cooperating striking surface, wherein the ignitable composition is provided on at least a portion of the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source of each of the plurality of smoking articles is configured to be ignited by striking the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source on a cooperating striking surface.

Description

[0213] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0214] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of a smoking article according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0215] FIG. 2 shows a schematic transverse cross-section of a front portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source of the smoking article according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

[0216] FIG. 3 shows a schematic transverse cross-section of a front portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source of a smoking article according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0217] FIG. 4 shows a schematic transverse cross-section of a front portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source of a smoking article according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

[0218] FIGS. 5(a) and (b) show perspective views of a smoking article according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0219] The smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 having a front end face 6 and an opposed rear end face 8, an aerosol-forming substrate 10, a transfer element 12, an aerosol-cooling element 14, a spacer element 16 and a mouthpiece 18 in abutting coaxial alignment.

[0220] As shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol-forming substrate 10, transfer element 12, aerosol-cooling element 14, spacer element 16 and mouthpiece 18 and a rear portion of the blind combustible heat source 4 are wrapped in an outer wrapper 20 of sheet material such as, for example, cigarette paper.

[0221] The combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 is a blind carbonaceous combustible heat source and is located at the distal end of the smoking article 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a non-combustible substantially air impermeable barrier 22 in the form of a disc of aluminium foil is provided between the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 and the aerosol-forming substrate 10. The barrier 22 is applied to the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 by pressing the disc of aluminium foil onto the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 and abuts the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 and the aerosol-forming substrate 10.

[0222] The aerosol-forming substrate 10 is located immediately downstream of the barrier 22 applied to the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4. The aerosol-forming substrate 10 comprises a cylindrical plug of homogenised tobacco-based material 24 including an aerosol former such as, for example, glycerine, wrapped in plug wrap 26.

[0223] The transfer element 12 is located immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate 10 and comprises a cylindrical open-ended hollow cellulose acetate tube 28.

[0224] The aerosol-cooling element 14 is located immediately downstream of the transfer element 12 and comprises a gathered sheet of biodegradable polymeric material such as, for example, polylactic acid.

[0225] The spacer element 16 is located immediately downstream of the aerosol-cooling element 14 and comprises a cylindrical open-ended hollow paper or cardboard tube.

[0226] The mouthpiece 18 is located immediately downstream of the spacer element 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the mouthpiece 18 is located at the proximal end of the smoking article 2 and comprises a cylindrical plug of suitable filtration material 30 such as, for example, cellulose acetate tow of very low filtration efficiency, wrapped in filter plug wrap 32.

[0227] The smoking article may further comprise a band of tipping paper (not shown) circumscribing a downstream end portion of the outer wrapper 20.

[0228] As shown in FIG. 1, the smoking article 2 further comprises a heat-conducting element 34 of suitable material such as, for example, aluminium foil, around and in direct contact with a rear portion 4b of the blind combustible heat source 4 and a front portion 10a of the aerosol-forming substrate 10. In the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol-forming substrate 10 extends downstream beyond the heat-conducting element 34. That is, the heat-conducting element 34 is not around and in direct contact with a rear portion of the aerosol-forming substrate 10. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the heat-conducting element 34 may be around and in contact with the entire length of the aerosol-forming substrate 10. It will also be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention (not shown), one or more additional heat-conducting elements may be provided that overlie the heat-conducting element 34.

[0229] The smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises one or more first air inlets 36 around the periphery of the aerosol-forming substrate 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a circumferential arrangement of first air inlets 36 is provided in the plug wrap 26 of the aerosol-forming substrate 10 and the overlying outer wrapper 20 to admit cool air (shown by dotted arrows in FIG. 1) into the aerosol-forming substrate 10.

[0230] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a layer of ignitable composition 38 is provided on the entire front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4. The layer of ignitable composition 38 may be applied to the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 by dipping the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source in a solution or suspension of the ignitable composition or by brushing or spray-coating a solution or suspension of the ignitable composition onto the front end face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source. Alternatively, the layer of ignitable composition 38 may be formed by pressing the ignitable composition onto the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4.

[0231] In use, a user ignites the ignitable composition 38 by striking the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 of the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention on a frictional surface, which ignites the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4. Once the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 is ignited the user draws on the mouthpiece 18 of the smoking article 2. When a user draws on the mouthpiece 18, cool air (shown by dotted arrows in FIGS. 1) is drawn into the aerosol-forming substrate 10 of the smoking article 2 through the first air inlets 36.

[0232] The front portion 10a of the aerosol-forming substrate 10 is heated by conduction through the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 and the barrier 22 and the heat-conducting element 34.

[0233] The heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 10 by conduction releases glycerine and other volatile and semi-volatile compounds from the plug of homogenised tobacco-based material 24. The compounds released from the aerosol-forming substrate 10 form an aerosol that is entrained in the air drawn into the aerosol-forming substrate 10 of the smoking article 2 through the first air inlets 36 as it flows through the aerosol-forming substrate 10. The drawn air and entrained aerosol (shown by dashed arrows in FIG. 1) pass downstream through the interior of the cylindrical open-ended hollow cellulose acetate tube 28 of the transfer element 12, the aerosol-cooling element 14 and the spacer element 16, where they cool and condense. The cooled drawn air and entrained aerosol pass downstream through the mouthpiece 18 and are delivered to the user through the proximal end of the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The non-combustible substantially air impermeable barrier 22 on the rear end face 8 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 isolates the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 from air drawn through the smoking article 2 such that, in use, air drawn through the smoking article 2 does not come into direct contact with the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4.

[0234] The ignitable composition 38 provided on the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 4 is also isolated from the airflow pathway along which air is drawn through the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention for inhalation by a user such that, in use, air drawn along the airflow pathway does not directly contact the ignitable composition 38.

[0235] The smoking article according to the second embodiment of the invention is of similar construction to the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. However, as shown in FIG. 3, in the smoking article according to the second embodiment of the invention a disk of ignitable composition 38 is provided in a central portion of the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 104 thereof. The combustible carbonaceous heat source 104 of the smoking article according to the second embodiment of the invention may be formed with the disk of ignitable composition provided in a central portion of the front end face 6 thereof using rotary pressing technology.

[0236] The smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention is also of similar construction to the smoking article 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. However, as shown in FIG. 4, in the smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention a sphere of ignitable composition 238 is provided in a central portion of the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 204 thereof. The combustible carbonaceous heat source 204 of the smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention may be formed with the sphere of ignitable composition provided in a central portion of the front end face 6 thereof using rotary pressing technology.

[0237] The smoking article according to the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) is of similar construction to the smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention. However, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the smoking article according to the fourth embodiment further comprises a cap 40 at the distal end thereof, which covers the combustible carbonaceous heat source 204. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the cap is removable to expose the sphere of ignitable composition 238 provided in the central portion of the front end face 6 of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 204 prior to use of the smoking article.

[0238] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.