Abstract
Smoking articles include a marking that includes an indicia that is hidden when viewed from certain angles and visually distinct when viewed from other angles. The marking may be provided on a wrapper, such as a plug wrap, a smokable material wrap, or a tipping paper wrap. The marking may include aligned embossed and printed features with a portion being misaligned. The marking may include a coloured adjacent or surrounding region into which the indica may be hidden and from which it may appear, depending on the viewing angle. The marking may allow a consumer to identify the smoking article as genuine, as opposed to counterfeit.
Claims
1. A smoking article comprising: a marking comprising a patterned portion and an adjacent portion, wherein the patterned portion comprises a printed pattern and an embossed pattern aligned with the printed pattern, the printed pattern comprises a portion having a first colour and an adjacent portion having a second colour, wherein the first colour of the printed pattern is provided on a side of an embossed feature visible from a first angle when viewed by a user grasping the smoking article and the second colour of the printed pattern is provided on a second side of the embossed feature visible from a second angle when viewed by the user grasping the smoking article, wherein the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour are of sufficiently small widths when viewed from a third angle by the user grasping the smoking article that the first colour and the second colour blend to produce a third colour, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 10 micrometers or less; and wherein the adjacent portion of the marking is provided with one of the first, second or third colours.
2. A smoking article comprising: a marking comprising a printed pattern and an embossed pattern aligned with the printed pattern; wherein the printed pattern comprises a portion having a first colour and an adjacent portion having a second colour, wherein, in a first portion, the embossed pattern is in register with the printed pattern, such that the portion having the first colour is on a first side of an embossed feature visible from a first angle when viewed by a user grasping the smoking article and the portion having the second colour is on a second side of the embossed feature visible from a second angle when viewed by the user grasping the smoking article, and wherein, in a second portion, the embossed pattern is offset relative to the printed pattern, such that the portion having the second colour is on a side of an embossed feature visible from the first angle when viewed by the user grasping the smoking article, and wherein the portion having the first colour and the adjacent portion having the second colour are of sufficiently small widths when viewed from a third angle by the user grasping the article that the first colour and the second colour blend to produce a third colour, and wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 10 micrometers or less.
3. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein in the second portion of the visible area where the embossed pattern is offset relative to the printed pattern, the portion having the first colour is on a side of an embossed feature visible from the second angle.
4. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 5 micrometers or less.
5. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are from about 1 micrometers to about 8 micrometers.
6. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are provided as strips.
7. A smoking article according to claim 2, wherein the smoking article comprises a wrapper and wherein the marking is provided on the wrapper.
8. A smoking article according to claim 2, further comprising: a filter portion wrapped by a filter plug wrapper; a rod of smokable material wrapped by a smokable material wrapper; and a tipping wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the filter portion and at least a portion of the rod of smokable material, wherein the marking is provided on at least one of the filter plug wrapper, the smokable material wrapper or the tipping wrapper.
9. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 5 micrometers or less.
10. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are from about 1 micrometers to about 8 micrometers.
11. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the portion having the first colour and portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are provided as strips.
12. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the smoking article comprises a wrapper and wherein the marking is provided on the wrapper.
13. A smoking article according to claim 1, further comprising: a filter portion wrapped by a filter plug wrapper; a rod of smokable material wrapped by a smokable material wrapper; and a tipping wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the filter portion and at least a portion of the rod of smokable material, wherein the marking is provided on at least one of the filter plug wrapper, the smokable material wrapper or the tipping wrapper.
14. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent portion of the marking is provided with one of the first, second or third colours.
15. A smoking article comprising: a marking comprising a printed pattern and an embossed pattern aligned with the printed pattern; wherein the printed pattern comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the printed pattern comprising a portion having a first colour and an adjacent portion having a second colour, and the second portion of the printed pattern comprising a portion having the first colour and an adjacent portion having the third colour; wherein, in the first portion, the embossed pattern is in register with the printed pattern, such that the portion having the first colour is on a first side of an embossed feature visible from a first angle by a user grasping the smoking article and the portion having the second colour is on a second side of the embossed feature visible from a second angle by the user grasping the smoking article, wherein, in the second portion, the embossed pattern is in register with the printed pattern, such that the portion having first colour is on a side of an embossed feature visible from the first angle when viewed by the user grasping the article and the portion having the third colour is on a second side of the embossed feature visible from the second angle when viewed by the user grasping the article, wherein the portion having the first colour and the adjacent portion having the second colour are of sufficiently small widths when viewed from a third angle that the first colour and the second colour blend when viewed by the user grasping the smoking article from the third angle to produce a fourth colour, and wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 10 micrometers or less.
16. A smoking article according to claim 15, wherein the portion having the first colour and the adjacent portion having the third colour are of sufficiently small widths when viewed from the third angle that the first colour and the second colour blend to produce a fifth colour.
17. A smoking article according to claim 15, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are about 5 micrometers or less.
18. A smoking article according to claim 15, wherein the widths of the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are from about 1 micrometers to about 8 micrometers.
19. A smoking article according to claim 15, wherein the portion having the first colour and the portion having the second colour of the printed pattern are provided as strips.
20. A smoking article according to claim 15, wherein the smoking article comprises a wrapper and wherein the marking is provided on the wrapper.
21. A smoking article according to claim 15, further comprising: a filter portion wrapped by a filter plug wrapper; a rod of smokable material wrapped by a smokable material wrapper; and a tipping wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the filter portion and at least a portion of the rod of smokable material, wherein the marking is provided on at least one of the filter plug wrapper, the smokable material wrapper or the tipping wrapper.
Description
(1) Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, schematic drawings are depicted that illustrate various aspects of smoking articles or components of smoking articles that have or may have a marking as described above. Preferably the marking produces a hidden indicia when viewed from certain angles and produces a visually distinguishable indicia when viewed from other angles. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict various aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labelled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar.
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a smoking article having a marking.
(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a smoking article having wrappers on which a marking may be provided.
(4) FIGS. 3A-D are schematic views of a marking shown from generally opposing perspectives (A, B) and when viewed from angles X (C) and Z (D).
(5) FIGS. 4A-D are schematic views of a marking viewed from top-down (A) and sectional views through lines B-B′ (B), C-C′ (C), and D-D′ (D).
(6) FIGS. 5A-B are schematic generally opposing perspective views of a marking having a patterned portion and an adjacent portion.
(7) FIGS. 6A-B are schematic generally opposing perspective views of a marking.
(8) The schematic drawings presented herein are not necessarily to scale, but are shown merely for purposes of illustration.
(9) Referring now to FIG. 1, a smoking article 10 is depicted. The smoking article 10 has a marking 99 that is visible to a consumer when viewed from a suitable angle. As indicated above, the marking may be provided on or in the article 10 or component thereof. In FIG. 1, the marking 99 is depicted as three numbers, “123.” The three numbers may be considered as a single marking or as three different markings.
(10) Referring now to FIG. 2, a partially unrolled smoking article 10, in this case a cigarette, is depicted. The smoking article 10 includes a tobacco rod 20 and a mouth end filter 30. While depicted as being separated by a gap, the tobacco rod 20 and filter 30 may abut one another. The smoking article 10, includes a plug wrap 60 that circumscribes at least a portion of the filter 30 and cigarette paper 40 that circumscribes at least a portion of the tobacco rod 20. Tipping paper 50 or other suitable wrapper circumscribes the plug wrap 60 and cigarette paper 40 as is generally known in the art. The marking, such as marking 99 depicted in FIG. 1, may be provided on the plug wrap 60, the cigarette paper 40, or the tipping paper 50. If the marking is provided on the plug wrap 60 or the cigarette paper 40 at a location that is covered by the tipping paper 50, at least a portion of the tipping paper is transparent to allow the marking to be visible to a consumer. Preferably, the marking is provided on a portion of the smoking article 10 that is not combusted during use, such as on the plug wrap 60 or a portion of the tipping paper 50 that overlies the filter 30.
(11) While the smoking article depicted in FIG. 2 is a cigarette and wrappers 40, 50, 60 are cigarette paper, tipping paper and plug wrap, it will be understood that other smoking articles may have similar wrappers, components or surfaces on or in which a colour shifting marking may be provided.
(12) Referring now to FIGS. 3A-D, a marking 99 is shown. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, generally opposing perspective views are shown. The marking 99 includes adjacent printed strips 110, 112 and embossed features 100 having peaks 102 at the intersection of the adjacent printed strips 110, 112. The printed strips alternate between a first coloured strip 110 (for example, blue) and a second coloured strip 112 (for example, yellow). In a first region, the printed strips 110, 112 are aligned with the embossed features 100 such that a strip 110 of the first colour is on a first side 104 of the embossed feature 100 and a strip 112 of the second colour is on a second side 106 of the embossed feature 100. In this region, when viewed from a first angle (Y), the first colour 110 is visible. When viewed from a second angle (X), the second colour 112 is visible. When viewed from a third angle (Z), both sides 104, 106 of the embossed features 100 are visible and thus both colours 110, 112 are visible. If the width of the coloured strips 110, 112 and embossed features 100 are sufficiently small, the colours of the first and second strips 110, 112 blend to produce a third colour (for example, blue+yellow=green).
(13) In a second region, the printed strips 110, 112 are misaligned with the embossed features 110. As depicted in FIG. 3A, the misalignment is such that the printed and embossed features are offset by a distance (O) equal to the width of one printed strip, which is also the width of one embossed feature 100 in the depicted embodiment. In this region, the second colour 112 is provided on the first side 104′ of an embossed feature 100. Similarly, in the depicted embodiment, the first colour 110 is provided on the second side 106′ of an embossed feature 100.
(14) FIG. 3C illustrates an example of what may be seen when the marking 99 is viewed from the second angle (X). In this case, in the area of misalignment, the first colour 110 will be visible, while the second colour 112 is visible in the area of alignment.
(15) FIG. 3D illustrates an example of what may be seen when the marking 99 is viewed from the third angle (Z). Alternating first 110 and second 112 coloured strips will be seen, even in the area of misalignment. If the strips are of sufficiently small width, the colours will be viewed as a blended colour. Accordingly, the feature (first colour 110 in background of second colour 112) depicted in FIG. 3C is hidden when viewed from angle Z as depicted in FIG. 3D but visible when viewed from angle X as depicted in FIG. 3C.
(16) FIGS. 4A-D are different views showing that features of a marking 99 that are hidden in one view may appear when viewed from a different angle. FIG. 4A is a top-down view, such as viewed from angle Z in FIG. 3, of a marking 99 having alternating strips of different colours 110, 112. In certain portions, such as those through lines B-B′ and D-D′, the peaks 102 of embossed features are aligned with the intersection of the different coloured strips 110, 112. At the portion that includes the section that runs through line C-C′ the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are misaligned, such that the peak 102 is offset by the width of one printed strip. As shown in FIGS. 4B-D, when different portions of the marking 99 are viewed from the same angle, different colours are visible depending on whether the portion includes aligned or misaligned printed and embossed patterns. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4D, which are sections through lines B-B′ and D-D′ respectively, the embossed features and printed features are aligned and the first colour 110 is visible when viewed from the first angle. As shown in FIG. 4C, which is a section through line C-C′, the embossed features and printed features are misaligned (offset) and the second colour 112 is visible when viewed from the first angle.
(17) Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, generally opposing perspective views of markings are shown in which coloured portion 120 is adjacent a patterned portion having adjacent strips of a first colour 110 and a second colour 112 aligned with embossed features 100. In the depicted embodiment the adjacent coloured portion 120 surrounds the patterned portion. The embossed features 100 have a first side on which the first colour 110 is provided and a second side on which the second colour 112 is provided. When viewed from an angle generally orthogonal to the first side of the embossed features 100, the first colour 110 is visible (see FIG. 5B). When viewed from an angle generally orthogonal to the second side of the embossed features 100, the second colour 112 is visible (see FIG. 5A). When viewed from an angle between these two angles (for example, top-down), the colours 110, 112 on either side of the embossed features 100 blend to produce a colour the same or substantially the same as the adjacent portion 120. Accordingly, indicia produced by the patterned region are hidden or become one with the adjacent portion when viewed from certain angles and is visually distinct from the adjacent portion when viewed from different angles.
(18) Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, generally opposing perspective views of markings are shown. The marking includes a patterned portion having adjacent strips of a first colour 110 and a second colour 112 aligned with embossed features 100 or a first colour 110 and a third colour 114 aligned with embossed features 100. The embossed features 100 have a first side on which the first colour 110 is provided and a second side on which the second colour 112 or third colour 114 is provided. When viewed from an angle generally orthogonal to the first side of the embossed features 100, the first colour 110 is visible (see FIG. 6B). When viewed from an angle generally orthogonal to the second side of the embossed features 100, the second colour 112 and the third colour 114 are visible (see FIG. 6A). When viewed from an angle between these two angles (for example, top-down), the colours 110, 112 or 110, 114 on either side of the embossed features 100 blend to produce a fourth or fifth colour, respectively. The coloured features are thus of sufficiently small widths that they blend when viewed from an appropriate angle. Preferably, the features are of a width of about 10 micrometers or less, such as about 5 micrometers or less, about 2 micrometers or less, or about 1 micrometer or less. Generally, the features will be of a width of about 50 nanometers or greater, such as about 100 nanometers or greater or 500 nanometers or greater. In embodiments, the strips are from about 1 micrometer to about 8 micrometers in width. In such a manner, indicia produced by the patterned portion are hidden when viewed from the first angle, but are visible when viewed from the second angle. The indicia are visible in different colours when viewed from an angle between the first and second angles (such as top-down in the drawing depicted).
