FLAVORING SOLUTION

Abstract

A flavoring solution for a smoking article comprising 25 to 55 wt % flavoring agent, 1 to 20 wt % cooling agent, 0.1 to 5 wt % sweetener, and a carrier solvent.

Claims

1. A flavoring solution for a smoking article comprising: a. 25-55 wt % flavoring agent; b. 1-20 wt % cooling agent; c. 0.1-5 wt % sweetener; d. a carrier solvent.

2. The flavoring solution for a smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring solution comprises: a. 35-52 wt % flavoring agent; b. 2-15 wt % cooling agent; c. 0.1-1 wt % sweetener; and d. a carrier solvent.

3. The flavoring solution for a smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring solution comprises: a. 45-50 wt % flavoring agent; b. 3-10 wt % cooling agent; c. 0.15-0.5 wt % sweetener; and d. a carrier solvent.

4. The flavoring solution for a smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring solution comprises: a. 47-48 wt % flavoring agent; b. 4-6 wt % cooling agent; c. 0.2-0.3 wt % sweetener; and d. a carrier solvent.

5. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring agent is a natural material or a synthetic material, that is capable to create the desired aroma and taste when applied to a smoking article.

6. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring agent is menthol, or a derivative thereof.

7. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the cooling agent is a cold thermosensory agonist.

8. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the cooling again is a thermoreceptor (TRPV) agonist, typically a TRPM8 or TRPA1 agonist.

9. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the cooling agent is one or more of N-Ethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-3); N-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-5); (1R*,2S*)—N-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-12); N,2,3-trimethyl-2-propan-2-ylbutanamide (WS-23) and N,2-diethyl-3-methyl-2-propan-2-ylbutanamide (WS-27), typically, N-Ethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-3); N-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-5) and N,2,3-trimethyl-2-propan-2-ylbutanamide (WS-23), more typically, or N-Ethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-3).

10. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the sweetener is one or more of sucralose, ethyl maltol, erythritol, stevia, neotame, or other aspartame analogues, typically, the sweetener is sucralose.

11. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent has a vapor pressure greater than water.

12. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent has a vapor pressure of at least 1.5 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 1.95 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 2.34 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 3 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 4 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 5 kPa (at 20° C.), such as at least 5.8 k kPa (at 20° C.)

13. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent comprises an alcohol, typically ethanol or propanol, more typically, ethanol.

14. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent comprises about 95 wt % ethanol and 5 wt % water based on the total weight of the carrier solvent.

15. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, wherein the carrier solvent is present in an amount of between 40 to 60 wt %, such as 45 to 55 wt %.

16. The flavoring solution according to claim 1, further comprising an additive, for example, a colorant.

17. A method of flavoring a smoking article, the method comprising applying a flavoring solution to at least a portion of a surface of the smoking article, typically, to a smokable portion of the surface of the smoking article, wherein the flavoring solution is according to claim 1.

18. The method of flavoring a smoking article according to claim 17, wherein the flavoring solution is applied to an exterior surface of the smoking article.

19. A smoking article that is at least partially coated with the flavoring solution according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0139] FIG. 1A is a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] FIG. 1B is a cross-section view of the flavor applicator shown in FIG. 1A.

[0141] FIG. 2A is a simplified, expanded side-on view of a flavor applicator with a ball-point type applicating member.

[0142] FIG. 2B is a simplified, expanded side-on view of a flavor applicator which has an applicating member with a contoured tip.

[0143] FIG. 2C is a simplified, expanded side-on view of a flavor applicator which has an applicating member with a contoured tip.

[0144] FIG. 3A is a cross-section view of a flavor applicator according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0145] FIG. 3B is a top-down view of the flavor applicator shown in FIG. 3A.

[0146] FIG. 4A is a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator according to the present invention attached to the outside of a smoking article container.

[0147] FIG. 4B is a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator according to the present invention attached to the inside of a smoking article container.

[0148] FIG. 5 is a simplified, side-on view of a smoking article to which the flavoring solution according to the present invention has been applied by a flavor applicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0149] FIG. 1A shows an example of a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator 100. The flavor applicator 100 is formed of an applicating member 102 and a reservoir 104 as seen in FIG. 1B. The reservoir 104 is suitable to contain the flavoring solution of the present invention. The applicating member 102 is fluidly coupled 106 to the reservoir 104 such that the applicating member 102 can apply the flavoring solution from the reservoir 104 to an item. In use, the applicating member 102 contacts a smoking article and the flavoring solution is applied to the smoking article from the reservoir 104 by the applicating member 102 via the fluid coupling 106. In the example of FIG. 1, the fluid coupling 106 is the applicating member 102 being in direct contact with the reservoir 104 and therefore any flavoring solution stored within.

[0150] The flavor applicator 100 may be contained in a housing 108 that makes handling the flavor application 100 easier and provides the user with more control. The housing 108 covers the reservoir 104, with the applicating member 102 being exposed for use. It is understood that the housing may also include a cap (not shown) that can cover the applicating member 102 when the flavor applicator 100 is not in use.

[0151] The applicating member 102 may be a porous applicating member such as a porous foam or a porous felt.

[0152] The applicating member 102 may be a non-porous applicating member such as a non-porous roller ball structure. FIG. 2 shows an example of an expanded simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator 100. The applicating member 102 is a roller ball type applicating member. The roller ball type applicating member is formed of a ball portion 110 that is operable to freely rotate in the housing 108. In use, the flavoring solution is transferred via the ball portion 110 from the reservoir 104 to the smoking article as the ball portion 110 rotates.

[0153] The applicating member 102 may be contoured to maximize contact with the smoking article upon applicating of the flavoring solution. FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C show an example of an expanded simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator 100. The applicating member 102 in FIG. 2B is contoured to increased contact with the external surface of a cylindrical smoking article such that the contoured applicating member 112 has a concave shape with a quarter-circle cross-sectional area.

[0154] The applicating member 102 is also shown with a contoured applicating member 114 in FIG. 2C which is contoured to increase contact with the external surface of a cylindrical smoking article. The contoured applicating member 114 has a concave shape with a semi-circle cross-sectional area.

[0155] A flavor applicator 100 may be in the form of any suitable applicator device, such as a pen as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the flavor applicator 100 may be a roller ball pen as shown in FIG. 2A, or a felt-tip pen (marker pen) or a brush pen as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C.

[0156] FIG. 3A shows a cross-section view of a flavor applicator 200. The flavor applicator 200 is formed of two applicating members 202a and 202b and reservoir 204. The reservoir 204 is positioned adjacent to the applicating members 202a and 202b. The applicating member 202a is fluidly coupled to the reservoir 204 via the fluid coupling 206a. The applicating member 202b is fluidly coupled to the reservoir 204 via the fluid coupling 206b. The applicating members 202a and 202b are positioned parallel with respect to each other which thereby define a cavity 210 between them. The cavity 210 is at least as large as a smoking article such that the cavity 210 is operable to receive a smoking article for flavoring. In use a smoking article enters the cavity 210 and applicating members 202a and 202b contact the opposing external surfaces of the smoking article such that flavoring solution contained within the reservoir 204 is transferred to the external surface of the smoking article to produce a flavored smoking article. The applicating members 202a and 202b may be orientated in any suitable position to successfully flavor a smoking article.

[0157] The cavity 210 is of a sufficient depth that a smoking article can enter the cavity 210 and the flavoring solution can be applied by applicating members 202a and 202b on its external surface. The reservoir 204 forms the end of the cavity.

[0158] The housing 208 contains the applicating members 202a and 202b, the reservoir 204 and the fluid couplings 206a and 206b. The housing 208 further defines the cavity 210.

[0159] The flavor applicator 200 may further comprise a lid (not shown) to prevent the loss of flavoring solution when the flavor applicator 200 is not in use.

[0160] The flavor applicator 200 may further comprise a controlling means (not shown) that controls the transfer of flavoring solution from the reservoir 204 to the applicating members 202a and 202b. The controlling means may be operable to open and close the fluid couplings 206a and 206b such that the flavoring solution in the reservoir is only transferred to the applicating members 202a and 202b when in use.

[0161] FIG. 3B shows a top-down view of the flavor applicator 200 shown in FIG. 3A. The cavity 210 defined by the applicating members 202a and 202b can be seen to have a circular cross section such that it can accept the smokable portion of a smoking article. The housing 208 can be seen to further define the cross-sectional shape of cavity 210. It is understood that the cavity 210 may be any shape that is operable to receive a smoking article, for example, the cavity may have a triangular or square shaped cross-section (not shown).

[0162] The flavor applicator may have a torus like geometry, for example a ring shape (not shown), wherein the applicating members are positioned about the aperture through which a smoking article can pass, and the reservoir is positioned such that it does not obstruct the movement of the smoking article through the aperture.

[0163] The flavor applicator may have one or more applicating members.

[0164] A flavor applicator as described herein may be operable to be attached to a smoking article packet for convenience. The flavor applicator may be arranged to fit on a smoking article packet and/or to fit inside a smoking article packet. FIG. 4A shows a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator 300 attached via attachment means 302 to the outside of a smoking article packet 304. FIG. 4B shows a simplified, side-on view of a flavor applicator 300 attached via attachment means 302 to the inside of a smoking article packet 304. The flavor applicator can be easily accessed to flavor a smoking article from the smoking article packet at the convenience of the smoker.

[0165] FIG. 5 shows a simplified, side-on view of a smoking article 400. The smoking article 400 is formed a filter 402 and a smokable portion 404. The smoking article 400 in FIG. 5 has a flavoring solution 406 as described herein applied to an external surface of the smoking article 400.

[0166] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0167] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0168] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0169] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.