SMOKING ARTICLE FILTER

Abstract

A filter or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending (e.g. cylindrical) rod of filtering material including a longitudinally extending channel which extends along the full length of the filter or filter element.

Claims

1. A filter comprising a longitudinally extending rod of filtering material including at least one longitudinally extending channel which extends along the full length of the filter.

2. A filter comprising a longitudinally extending tubular rod of filtering material, the inner surface of the tubular rod of filtering material defining at least one channel which extends along the full length of the filter.

3. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the channel has a uniform cross-section along the full length of the filter.

4. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the channel which extends the full length of the filter is helical or substantially helical.

5. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the channel which extends the full length of the filter is semi-cylindrical.

6. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filtering material comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow.

7. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filtering material comprises a plasticizer, for example triacetin, triethyleneglycol diacetate (TEGDA), or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

8. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filtering material comprises a pigment and/or a flavourant.

9. The filter according to claim 8, wherein the flavourant is provided within a flavour capsule.

10. The filter according to claim 9, wherein the channel which extends along the full length of the filter is semi-cylindrical and the flavour capsule is provided in the rod of filtering material adjacent the semi-cylindrical channel.

11. The filter according to claim 8, wherein the flavourant is provided in and/or on a thread or extruded element extending longitudinally through the rod of filtering material.

12. The filter according to claim 11, wherein the channel which extends along the full length of the filter or is semi-cylindrical and the thread or extruded element is provided in the rod of filtering material adjacent the semi-cylindrical channel.

13. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filtering material comprises carbon or activated carbon.

14. The filter according to claim 1, further comprising a wrapper or plugwrap.

15. The filter according to claim 14, wherein the wrapper or plug wrap is derived from a plant in the Cannabis genus, for example Cannabis sativa, for example Cannabis sativa sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof.

16. The filter according to claim 14, wherein ventilation holes are provided within the wrapper and/or the plug wrap.

17. A multiple rod comprising a plurality of filters according to claim 1 integrally joined end-to-end in a mirror image relationship.

18. The filter according to claim 1 for use with a smoking article comprising one or more smokable material(s) other than tobacco.

19. The filter according to claim 18, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco is prepared from a plant in the Cannabis genus, for example Cannabis sativa, for example Cannabis saliva sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof.

20. The filter according to claim 18, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco comprises oregano or hemp.

21. The filter according to claim 2 for filtering the smoke of a smoking article comprising one or more smokable material(s) other than tobacco.

22. The filter of claim 21, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco is prepared from a plant in the Cannabis genus, for example Cannabis sativa, for example Cannabis sativa sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof.

23. The filter of claim 21, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco comprises oregano or hemp.

24. A smoking article comprising the filter according to claim 1 joined to a wrapped rod comprising a smokable material other than tobacco.

25. The smoking article according to claim 24, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco is prepared from a plant in the Cannabis genus, for example Cannabis sativa, for example Cannabis sativa sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof.

26. The smoking article according to claim 24, wherein the smokable material other than tobacco comprises oregano or hemp.

Description

[0032] The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Examples and the attached drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a smoking article filter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a smoking article filter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a smoking article filter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

EXAMPLES

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a smoking article filter 1 of 27 mm length and 24.5 mm circumference comprising a longitudinally extending annular rod 2 of filtering material. The filtering material comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow. The annular rod 2 of filtering material defines a longitudinally extending cylindrical channel 3 which extends along the full length of the filter.

[0037] Smoking article filter 1 may be manufactured by pulling a continuous bundle of cellulose acetate filamentary tow, optionally with triacetin already applied thereto, through a fix die having an external diameter equal to that of the desired external diameter of the filter, the fix die including a protruding inner rod (or mandrel) extending through the die having a cross-sectional profile equal to that of the desired cross-section of the channel 3. When the filamentary tow is pulled through the die, it passes around the inner rod such that on exiting the die, a filter 1 including an annular rod 2 of filtering material is formed, the filter 1 having a channel 3 having a cross-sectional profile equivalent to that of the inner rod. Heated steam may be applied to the filamentary tow whilst the filamentary tow is in the die. The heated steam may be applied via a duct in the die. The heated steam may be for curing plasticizer applied to the filamentary tow (if present), allowing the filter 1 to maintain the shape of the die after exiting the die.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a smoking article filter 101, of 27 mm length and 24.5 mm circumference comprising a longitudinally extending annular rod 102 of filtering material. The filtering material comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow. The annular rod 102 of smoking filtering material includes a longitudinally extending channel 103 of semi-circular (D-shaped) cross-section which extends along the full length of the filter. A flavour capsule 104 is provided within the filtering material which forms the annular rod 102, approximately half way along the full length of the rod. Smoking article filter 101 may be manufactured using the same method as used to manufacture smoking article filter 1. The insertion of flavour capsule 104 into the annular rod 102 of filtering material may be carried out using methods well known in the art.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the smoking article filter 101 of FIG. 2 (denoted by the plane 105-105 shown in FIG. 2), showing the D-shaped cross section of channel 103 and the capsule 104 within the filtering material.