Abstract
An elongated smoking article is described that comprises a cylindrical smoking body with a combustible material and a hollow bore filter element downstream to the cylindrical smoking body. The hollow bore filter element comprises a first base area facing the smoking body and a second base area opposite the first base area and a hollow bore extending from the first base area to the second base area. The elongated smoking article further comprises a filter membrane that is arranged between the smoking body and the hollow bore filter, that comprises at least one filter aperture aligned with the hollow bore, that is configured for filtering particles emitted by the heated smoking body, that is permeable for vapor emitted by the heated smoking body and has an effective size between 0.5 μm and 1.5 mm.
Claims
1. An elongated smoking article, comprising: a cylindrical smoking body with a combustible material; a hollow element downstream to the cylindrical smoking body and comprising a first base area facing the smoking body and a second base area opposite the first base area and a hollow bore extending from the first base area to the second base area; and a filter membrane arranged between the smoking body and the hollow element, comprising at least one filter aperture aligned with the hollow bore permeable for vapor emitted by the heated smoking body and having an effective size between 0.5 μm and 1.5 mm.
2. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane is further configured to distribute heat emitted by the heated smoking body and/or generated by a device for heating the smoking body.
3. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane is configured for mixing vapor components emitted by the heated smoking body.
4. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane is configured for filtering particles emitted by the heated smoking body.
5. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow element is one of a hollow bore filter element configured for filtering substances from vapor emitted by the heated smoking body and a hollow tube portion configured for mixing the vapor emitted by the heated smoking body.
6. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane is disc-shaped and/or wedged between the smoking body and the hollow element.
7. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is formed of aluminum foil, paper, mesh material and/or cloth material.
8. The elongated smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the filter membrane comprises at least one first portion extending along a lateral surface of the hollow element and bent from a second portion extending over the first base area and comprising the at least one filter aperture.
9. The elongated smoking article according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first portion is glued to the lateral surface of the hollow element and/or formed of paper and/or wherein the second portion is formed of metal mesh.
10. The elongated smoking article according to claim 8, wherein the filter membrane is formed of a metal mesh and is attached to the smoking body or the hollow element by a form closure and/or force closure between the at least one first portion and the smoking body or the hollow element.
11. Method for producing a hollow element for an elongated smoking article according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a hollow element with a first base area, a second base area opposite the first base area and a hollow bore extending from the first base area to the second base area; providing a membrane sheet with a width exceeding a distance between the first base area and the second base area; applying an adhesive to a first portion of the membrane sheet, the first portion having a width corresponding to the distance between the first base area and the second base area; separating a segment from the membrane sheet, the segment having a length corresponding to the width of the membrane sheet; attaching the first portion of the segment to a lateral surface of the hollow element via the adhesive; and bending a second portion of the segment over the first base area of the hollow element.
12. A smoking system, comprising an elongated smoking article according to claim 1 and a heating device comprising a main body and a cavity configured for receiving the smoking body of the elongated smoking article and being configured for heating the smoking body and the filter membrane of the elongated smoking article inserted in the cavity.
13. The smoking system according to claim 12, wherein the heating device comprises an elongated heating element projecting into the cavity and configured for penetrating the smoking body and contacting the filter membrane of an elongated smoking article inserted into the cavity.
14. The smoking system according to claim 12, wherein the heating devices comprises a heat source for contactless heating of the filter membrane or an electric contact for providing a heating current to the conductive filter membrane.
15. A heating device for a smoking system according to claim 12.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0074] Further features of the disclosure 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:
[0075] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article according to the prior art;
[0076] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article according to a first embodiment;
[0077] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article according to a second embodiment;
[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an hollow bore filter element according to an embodiment and schematic front views of the base areas of such hollow bore filter element;
[0079] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective partial view of an elongated smoking article according to the second embodiment;
[0080] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article according to a third embodiment;
[0081] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates schematic front views of filter membranes according to embodiments;
[0082] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates schematic front views of filter membranes according to further embodiments;
[0083] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an elongated smoking article according to a fourth embodiment;
[0084] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an elongated smoking article according to a fifth embodiment;
[0085] FIG. 11 illustrates a smoking system comprising the elongated smoking article according to a fourth embodiment and a prior art heating device comprising a heating element for heating the elongated smoking article;
[0086] FIG. 12 illustrates a smoking system according to an embodiment and comprising an elongated smoking article and a heating device; and
[0087] FIG. 13 illustrates a smoking system according to another embodiment and comprising an elongated smoking article and a heating device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT
[0088] With reference to FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article according to the prior art is illustrated. The elongated smoking article includes a cylindrical smoking body 10 filled with combustible material 11. The cylindrical surface of the smoking body 10 is surrounded by a wrapping paper. 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, and sisal fibers, wherein mixtures of cellulosic materials can be employed.
[0089] One base area of the smoking body 10 is open to expose the combustible material 11. At this open base area of the smoking body 10 a heating element to heat the combustible material 11 could be inserted into the smoking body. At the other base area a hollow bore 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. The hollow bore filter element comprises a hollow bore 25. Preferably, smoking body 10 and the hollow bore filter element 20 has a diameter of 7.2 mm and the hollow bore 25 has a diameter of 3.5 mm.
[0090] Adjacent to the hollow bore filter element 20 a hollow tube portion 30 is positioned that is formed by a cardboard tube having the same diameter as the smoking body 10 and the hollow bore filter element 20. Adjacent to the hollow tube portion 30 a second hollow bore filter element 40 with a hollow bore 45 having a diameter of 2 mm is positioned. The hollow tube portion 30 and the second hollow bore filter element 40 have also a diameter of 7.2 mm.
[0091] The smoking body 10, the hollow bore filter element 20, the hollow tube portion 30 and the second hollow bore filter element 40 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship along a longitudinal relationship of the elongated smoking article. The base areas 21, 22 of the hollow bore 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 21, contacts the smoking body 10 and the other base area opposite the first base area, i.e., the second base area 22, contacts the hollow tube portion 30. The hollow bore 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 heated smoking body 10 through the second base area 22 of the hollow bore filter element 20.
[0092] Preferably, the smoking body 10, the hollow bore filter element 20, the hollow tube portion 30 and the second hollow bore filter element 40 are fixed to each other via a wrapping paper (not shown) that is circumscribing all of the aforementioned components. The wrapping paper is wrapped around these components along the longitudinal direction and is attached by an adhesive to external surfaces of these components and/or to itself. Thus, the wrapping paper provides a force closure between the aforementioned components 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 wrapping paper during filtered cigarette manufacture. The wrapping paper hence extends around the longitudinally extending periphery of substantially the entire length of the elongated smoking article.
[0093] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The elongated smoking article 100 of FIG. 2 differs of that from FIG. 1 in that a disc-shaped filter membrane 50 is positioned in between the smoking body 10 and the hollow bore filter element. The filter membrane is adhered to the first base area 21 of the hollow bore filter element 20 and/or wedged between the smoking body 10 and the hollow bore filter element 20 by indirect force closure due to the wrapping paper (not shown). The filter membrane 50 comprises a plurality of aperture openings 55 that are aligned with the hollow bore 25 of the hollow bore filter element 20 as schematically shown in FIG. 2. The function of the filter membrane 50 is described in detail with respect to FIG. 5 and a redundant description is thus omitted with respect to FIG. 2.
[0094] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The elongated smoking article 100 of FIG. 2 differs of that from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that a first portion 51 of the filter membrane 50 is attached to a lateral surface of the hollow bore filter element 20. A second portion 52 of the filter membrane 50 is bent from the first portion 51 and over the first base area 21 of the hollow bore filter element 20. A plurality of aperture openings (not shown) are arranged in the second portion 52 and aligned, i.e., overlaid, with hollow bore 25. The filter membrane 50 is advantageously well attachable to the hollow bore filter element 20.
[0095] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a hollow bore filter element 20 according to an embodiment and schematic front views of the base areas 21, 22, of such hollow bore filter element 20. The hollow bore filter element 20 has a first portion 51 of a filter membrane 50 attached thereto as already described with respect to FIG. 3. A second portion 52 of the filter membrane 50 is bent over the first base area 21 of the hollow bore filter element 20 and comprises a plurality of aperture openings 55 that are overlaid with the hollow bore 25 in the first base area 21 as shown in the plan view on the first base area 21. Further, a third portion 53 is bent over the second base area 22 of the hollow bore filter element 20 and comprises a mesh 56 with a plurality of openings that are overlaid with the hollow bore 25 in second base area 22 as shown in the plan view thereon.
[0096] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective partial view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to the first embodiment as well as a working principle thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 5, particles 70, such as e.g., ash, as well as vapor 80 are emitted from the smoking body 10 that is heated to a temperature below its combustion temperature. These particles 70 and vapor 80 are drawn from a user in a downstream direction of the elongated smoking article 100 towards the hollow bore filter element 20 thereof. A distance between smoking body 10 and hollow bore filter element 20 is solely shown for illustrative purposes, the smoking body 10 and hollow bore filter element 20 are actually located directly adjacent.
[0097] The hollow bore filter element 20 is configured as already described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4 and comprises a second portion 52 of a strip-shaped segment 50 bent over the hollow bore 25 with a plurality of aperture openings 55 aligned with hollow bore 25. The strip-shaped segment 50 is formed from a paper-aluminum laminate, wherein the aluminum layer is facing upward in the first portion 51 and in direction of the smoking body 10 in the second portion 52. Due to the second portion 52 heat emitted by the smoking body 10 and/or a heating element (not shown) inserted therein, is deflected back towards the smoking body 10 and thus kept away from a user's mouth. Further, the aperture openings 55 with a size of 10 μm filter the particles 70 out of the stream and let only vapor 80 pass to the user's mouth. The vapor 80 then passes predominantly through the hollow bore 25 of the hollow bore filter element 20 as illustrate in FIG. 5 by the central set of arrows marked with reference 80. Hence, a user experience is characterized by less/low heat, particles and resistance to draw.
[0098] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to a third embodiment. The elongated smoking article 100 differs from the smoking articles 100 according to the first and second embodiment in two respects. First, in the third embodiment the hollow element is a hollow tube portion 30 that is positioned adjacent to the smoking body 10. In other words, the first hollow bore filter element 20 is omitted, whereas the second hollow bore filter element 40 downstream the hollow tube portion 30 is kept as a mouthpiece for the user. Second the filter membrane 50 is formed differently then in the first and second embodiment, particularly as shown in FIG. 7A as described below.
[0099] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates schematic front views of filter membranes 50 according to embodiments. The filter membranes 50 of FIG. 7 are fully formed of a metal mesh, e.g. a copper or aluminum mesh, wherein the mesh openings form the aperture openings as described above. Each of the filter membranes shown in FIG. 7 comprises a central circular second portion 52 that is configured to be overlaid with, i.e., to cover, the hollow bore 25, 35 of the hollow element 20, 30. Further, each of the filter membranes 50 of FIG. 7 comprises at least one first portion 51. Particularly, the filter membrane 50 of FIG. 7A comprises four first portions 51 that extend laterally from the second portion 52. Each of the first portions 51 has a rectangular shape and is configured to be bend to cover the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30. Due to the plasticity of the metal mesh, the first portions 51 stay fixed in the bent position and provide a form and/or force closure with the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30. The filter membrane 50 of FIG. 7B comprises two first portions 51 that are configured identically to the first portions 51 of FIG. 7A. The filter membrane 50 of FIG. 7C comprises a single first portion 51 that is formed as a circular ring circumferentially surrounding the central second portion 52. The single first portion 51 is also configured to be bent over the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30, to be plastically deformed and to provide a form and/or force closure with the lateral surface.
[0100] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates schematic front views of filter membranes 50 according to further embodiments. In the filter membranes 50 of FIG. 8, only the central second portion 52 is formed from a metal mesh material that is circumferentially embedded by a paper carrier 54. The paper carrier 54 might be double layered and an edge region of the metal mesh second portion 52 might be glued between the layers of the paper carrier 54. First portions 51 extend from the paper carrier of the filter membrane and are configured to be bend over the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30 and to be glued to the lateral surface. Particularly, the filter membrane 50 of FIG. 8A comprises four first portions 51 that extend laterally from the second portion 52. Each of the first portions 51 has a rectangular shape and is configured to be bend to be glued to the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30. The filter membrane 50 of FIG. 8B comprises two first portions 51 that are configured identically to the first portions 51 of FIG. 7A. The filter membrane 50 of FIG. 8C comprises a single first portion 51 that is formed as a circular ring circumferentially surrounding the central second portion 52. The single first portion 51 is also configured to be bent over the lateral surface of the hollow element 20, 30, to be glued to the lateral surface.
[0101] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to a fourth embodiment. Again, the elongated smoking article 100 comprises a smoking body 10 at the upstream end of the elongated smoking article 100. The smoking body 10 comprises reconstituted tobacco as combustible material 11 which includes nicotine as a volatile compound. The combustible material 11 comprises 65 wt % tobacco which is provided in the form of gathered shreds produced from a sheet of slurry/paper recon tobacco. The tobacco is dosed with 20 wt % of a humectant such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerine (VG) and has a moisture content of between 7 to 9 wt %. The combustible material 11 further comprises cellulose pulp filler and guar gum binder. The smoking body 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the elongated smoking article 100 resembles a conventional cigarette. It has diameter of around 7 mm and an axial length of around 12 mm.
[0102] The smoking body 10 is circumscribed by a paper wrapping layer and the elongated smoking article 100 comprises an upstream hollow bore filter element 20 and a downstream (terminal) second hollow bore filter element 40. The two hollow bore filter elements 20, 40 are spaced by a hollow tube portion 30. Both hollow bore filter elements 20, 40 are formed of cellulose acetate tow and wrapped with a respective paper plug layer (not shown). Both hollow bore filter elements 20, 40 have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream hollow bore filter 20 matches the diameter of the smoking body 10. The diameter of the second hollow bore filter element 40 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the smoking body 10 and the wrapping layer. The upstream hollow bore filter element 20 is slightly shorter in axial length than the second hollow bore filter element 40 at an axial length of 10 mm compared to 12 mm for the second hollow bore filter element 40.
[0103] The cardboard hollow tube portion 30 is longer than each of the two hollow bore filter elements 20, 40 having an axial length of around 14 mm. Each hollow bore filter element 20, 40 comprises a hollow, longitudinally extending bore. The diameter of the bore in the upstream filter 20 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bore in the terminal filter 40 having a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm for the terminal filter element 40. The cardboard hollow tube portion 30 and the upstream hollow bore filter element 20 are circumscribed by the wrapping layer. The terminal hollow bore filter element 40 is joined to the upstream elements forming the elongated smoking article 100 by a circumscribing paper tipping layer. The tipping layer encircles the terminal filter 40 and has an axial length of around 20 mm such that it overlays a portion of the cardboard hollow tube portion 30.
[0104] A filter membrane 50 in the form of a foil disc with a single filter aperture 55 having a 1 mm diameter is provided downstream of the of the upstream hollow bore filter element 20, i.e., it is interposed between the smoking body 10 and the cardboard hollow tube portion 30 as well as between the hollow bore filter element 20 and the cardboard hollow tube portion 30.
[0105] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an elongated smoking article 100 according to a fifth embodiment which is identical to that of FIG. 9 except that the terminal filter element is a solid third filter element 46 and comprises a crushable capsule 47 (crushball) having a shell wall containing a liquid menthol or cherry or vanilla flavoring. The capsule 47 is spherical and has a diameter of 3.5 mm. It is positioned within the axial center of the third filter element 46.
[0106] FIG. 11 illustrates a smoking system 300 comprising the elongated smoking article 100 according to a fourth embodiment and a heating device 200 according to the prior art that is comprising a heating element for heating the elongated smoking article 100. The elongated smoking article 100 is inserted into the heating device 200 which is comprising a rod-shaped heating element (not shown). The heating element projects into a cavity 61 within the main body 60 of the heating device 200. 5 The elongated smoking article 100 is inserted into the cavity 61 of the main body 60 of the heating device 200 such that the heating rod penetrates the smoking body 10. Heating of the reconstituted tobacco 11 in the smoking body 10 is effected by powering the heating element, e.g. with a rechargeable battery (not shown).
[0107] As the tobacco is heated, moisture and nicotine from within the tobacco and the humectant are released as a vapor and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal hollow bore filter element 40. After the vapor passes through the upstream hollow bore filter element 20, the nicotine, moisture and humectant are forced to co-locate as they pass through the filter aperture 55 in the filter membrane 50 thus effecting good mixing. The vapor flow path then increases in cross-sectional area within the cardboard hollow tube portion 30 which further effects efficient mixing of the vapor components. As the vapor cools within the hollow tube 30, it condenses to form an aerosol containing the volatile compounds.
[0108] FIG. 12 illustrates a smoking system 300 comprising an elongated smoking article 1020 and a heating device 200 according to an embodiment. Therein, the heating device 200 comprises a main body 60 having a cavity 61 which is configured to receive the elongated smoking article 100, particularly the smoking body 10 thereof. An elongated heating element 62 extends into the cavity 60. The elongated smoking article 100 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a smoking body 10 that is separated by a filter membrane 50 from an adjacent hollow bore filter element 20. A hollow tube portion 30 is adjacent and downstream of the hollow bore filter element 20. When the smoking body 10 of the elongated smoking article 100 is inserted into the cavity 61, the elongated heating element 62 protrudes into the smoking body 10 for heating the combustible material 11 of the smoking body 10.
[0109] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the length of the elongated heating element 62 is adapted to the length of the smoking body 10 in a lengthwise direction of the elongated smoking article 100. As the length of the elongated heating element 62 is the same or slightly more than the length of the smoking body 10, the elongated heating element 62 contacts the filter membrane 50. Hence, when the elongated heating element 62 is activated to heat the smoking body 10 it also heats the filter membrane 50. The filter membrane 50 then distributes the heat generated by the heating device 200 for achieving advantageous effects such as a reduced cooling rate of the vapor and hence forming of larger particles in the vapor as well as reduced precipitation of vapor particles at the filter membrane 50.
[0110] FIG. 13 illustrates a smoking system 300 comprising an elongated smoking article 100 and a heating device 200 according to another embodiment. Therein, the heating device 200 again comprises a main body 60 having a cavity 61 which is configured to receive the elongated smoking article 100, particularly the smoking body 10 thereof. An elongated heating element 62 extends into the cavity 60. The elongated smoking article 100 shown in FIG. 13 comprises a smoking body 10 with an adjacent hollow bore filter element 20. The hollow bore filter element 20 is separated from an adjacent and downstream hollow tube portion 30 by the filter membrane 50. When the smoking body 10 of the elongated smoking article 100 is inserted into the cavity 61, the elongated heating element 62 protrudes into the smoking body 10 for heating the combustible material 11 of the smoking body 10. However, in this embodiment, the heating element 62 does not directly contact the filter membrane 50.
[0111] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the heating device 200 of this embodiment further comprises inductive heat sources 63. These inductive heat sources 63 are connected to a power source, e.g., a battery, of the heating device 200 for drawing electric power from the power source and generating an electromagnetic field from the drawn electric power. The electromagnetic field emitted by the heat sources 63 is such that it induces an electric current in the filter membrane 50, and this current is sufficient for heating up the filter membrane 50.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0112] 10 cylindrical smoking body [0113] 11 combustible material [0114] 20 hollow bore filter element [0115] 21 first base area [0116] 22 second base area [0117] 25 first hollow bore [0118] 30 hollow tube portion [0119] 40 second hollow bore filter element [0120] 45 second hollow bore [0121] 46 third filter element [0122] 47 crushable capsule [0123] 50 filter membrane [0124] 55 filter aperture [0125] 51 first portion [0126] 52 second portion [0127] 53 third portion [0128] 60 main body of heating device [0129] 61 cavity of heating device [0130] 62 elongated heating element [0131] 63 heat source [0132] 100 elongated smoking article [0133] 200 heating device [0134] 300 smoking system
