Smoking article assembly with a fitted tube

Abstract

A smoking article assembly (100) comprising a smoking article (80), and a tube (10) for temporary affixment to the smoking article. The smoking article comprises a tobacco rod, and a mouthpiece comprising a filter and a tipping wrapper, the tipping wrapper circumscribing the filter and attaching the filter to the tobacco rod. The tube is configured to be disposed around at least a portion of the mouthpiece such that the tube is slidable over the outer surface of the tipping wrapper. The tube comprises an open upstream end; an open downstream end; an outer surface; and an inner surface defining a lumen for receiving the mouthpiece of the smoking article, the lumen extending from the open upstream end to the open downstream end. The coefficient of static friction between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the tipping wrapper may be between about 0.5 and about 0.9. The lumen may be substantially cylindrical and have a diameter that is between one percent and four percent greater than the average diameter of the smoking article mouthpiece.

Claims

1. A smoking article assembly comprising: a smoking article, and a tube for temporary affixment to the smoking article; wherein the smoking article comprises: a tobacco rod; a mouthpiece comprising a filter and a tipping wrapper, the tipping wrapper circumscribing the filter and attaching the filter to the tobacco rod; and wherein the tube is configured to be disposed around at least a portion of the mouthpiece such that the tube is slidable in either orientation over the outer surface of the tipping wrapper, the tube comprising: an open upstream end; an open downstream end; an outer surface; an inner surface defining a lumen for receiving the mouthpiece of the smoking article, the lumen extending from the open upstream end to the open downstream end; a first ventilation zone for providing ventilation into the lumen of the tube, the first ventilation zone comprising a first line of perforation holes circumscribing the tube at a location between 10 mm and 15 mm from the open downstream end of the tube; and a second ventilation zone for providing ventilation into the lumen of the tube, the second ventilation zone comprising a first line of perforation holes circumscribing the tube at a location between 10 mm and 15 mm from the open upstream end of the tube, wherein the coefficient of static friction between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the tipping wrapper is between about 0.5 and about 0.9; and wherein the first line of perforation holes of the first ventilation zone is configured to provide a different level of ventilation than the first line of perforation holes of the second ventilation zone.

2. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coefficient of static friction between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the tipping wrapper is between about 0.6 and about 0.8.

3. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first ventilation zone further comprises one or more additional lines of perforation holes circumscribing the tube at a location between 12 mm and 30 mm from the open downstream end of the tube.

4. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the tube, the inner surface of the tube, or both, are provided with one or more indicia for indicating the location of a respective line of perforation holes of the first ventilation zone.

5. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein flavourant is provided on the inner surface of the tube, the outer surface of the tube, or both.

6. A smoking article assembly according to claim 5, wherein the flavourant is configured to be released in response to movement of the tube over or around the mouthpiece of the smoking article.

7. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the tube at the open upstream end is at least about 90 percent of the outer diameter of the tube at the open downstream end.

8. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the tube at the open upstream end is at least about 90 percent of the inner diameter of the tube at the open downstream end.

9. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tube has a length of between about 30 millimetres and about 70 millimetres.

10. A smoking article assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tube further comprises a tubular body and a wrapper wrapped around the tubular body.

Description

(1) The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube for temporary affixment to a smoking article according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a smoking article and the tube of FIG. 1 in an unassembled condition; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a smoking article and the tube of FIG. 1 in an assembled condition.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a tube (10) for temporary affixment to a mouthpiece of a smoking article. The tube (10) has an open downstream end (40) and an open upstream end (60).

(6) The tube is hollow and has a lumen extending from the open upstream end (60) to the open downstream end (40) for receiving a mouthpiece of a smoking article. The tube (10) has a first ventilation zone (50) comprising a plurality of lines of ventilation holes (52, 54), in this case three lines. A first line of ventilation holes (52) is provided at a location between 10 mm and 15 mm from the open downstream end (40) of the tube (10).

(7) The tube in FIG. 1 also includes a second ventilation zone having a line of perforation holes (70) at a location between 10 mm and 15 mm from the open upstream end (60) of the tube (10). The tube (10) is formed from a tubular body (14) that defines an inner surface of the tube, and an outer wrapper (16) that defines an outer surface of the tube (10). In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the outer wrapper (16) is preferably a tipping paper.

(8) FIG. 2 shows the tube (10) of FIG. 1 together with a smoking article (80) in an unassembled condition. The smoking article (80) comprises a tobacco rod (88) and a filter (84) that secured together by a tipping paper (86). The tipping paper (86) and the filter plug wrap (87) are shown in an unassembled condition for clarity. A line of perforation holes (89) is provided on the tipping paper (86) and the filter plug wrap (87). The filter (84) has a downstream mouth end (82). As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lumen of the tube (10) is shaped and sized such that tube (1) can slide over and become affixed to the filter (84) of the smoking article (80). Although not specifically visible in FIG. 2, coefficient of static friction between the inner surface of the tube (10) and the outer surface of the tipping wrapper (86) is between about 0.5 and about 0.9, and the lumen of the tube (10) is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter that is between one percent and four percent greater than the average diameter of the filter (84).

(9) FIG. 3 shows a configuration (100) in which the tube (10) is affixed to the smoking article (80). Although not visible from this exterior perspective view, the mouth end of the smoking article (82) is located slightly upstream of the first ventilation zone (50) on the tube (10). This arrangement would result in the downstream end of the tube (10) defining a mouth end cavity, and ventilation being provided into the mouth end cavity by the perforation lines (52, 54) of the first ventilation zone (50).

(10) After a consumer has finished smoking the smoking article (80) they can then slide the tube (10) upstream, such that the lit end of the tobacco rod (88) is covered by the upstream end of the tube (10) and thereby extinguished. Any loose tobacco or embers may be retained within the lumen of the tube (10) to minimise the possibility of these coming into contact with a consumer's fingers.