Smoking article with dual additive delivery system

Abstract

There is provided a smoking article (100) incorporating an additive delivery system. The additive delivery system comprises a frangible capsule (110) comprising a breakable shell containing a liquid core. The shell can be broken by means of a pressure to release a single burst of the liquid core. Further, the additive delivery system comprises a sustained-release liquid delivery material (111) comprising a liquid composition. The liquid composition is releasable in discrete amounts from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material so as to selectively combine the first and second additive. The frangible capsule and the sustained-release liquid delivery material are spaced apart, such that a consumer can separately and selectively activate the release of additive from either component of the delivery system.

Claims

1. A smoking article incorporating an additive delivery system, the additive delivery system comprising: a frangible capsule comprising a breakable shell containing a liquid core comprising a first additive, wherein the shell can be broken by application of a pressure to release a single burst of the liquid core; and a sustained-release liquid delivery material comprising a liquid composition comprising a second additive, wherein the liquid composition is releasable in discrete amounts from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material so as to selectively combine the first and the second additive, wherein the frangible capsule and the sustained-release liquid delivery material are spaced at least 10 mm apart in a longitudinal direction, such that a consumer can separately and selectively activate the release of the first additive from the frangible capsule and the second additive from the sustained-release liquid delivery material.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the sustained-release liquid delivery material comprises: a closed matrix structure defining a plurality of domains, the liquid composition being trapped within the domains.

3. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second additive are the same additive.

4. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second additive are different additives, the liquid composition being releasable from the liquid delivery material upon compressions of the liquid delivery material to vary the relative proportion of the combined first and second additives.

5. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the frangible capsule is a flavourant capsule, the first additive comprising a first flavourant mixed with one or more fats that are liquid at room temperature (22 degrees Celsius).

6. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery material is a flavour delivery material, the liquid composition being a flavour composition, the second additive comprising a second flavourant mixed with one or more fats that are liquid at room temperature (22 degrees Celsius).

7. A smoking article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frangible capsule is a seamless capsule.

8. A smoking article according to claim 7, wherein the seamless capsule has a crush strength of about 5 Newton to 25 Newton.

9. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery material provides a sustained release of the liquid composition upon compression of the material over a range of force of at least 5 Newton.

10. A smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the liquid delivery material provides a sustained release of the liquid composition upon compression of the material over a range of force from about 10 Newton to about 15 Newton.

11. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the volume of liquid core released upon rupture of the shell is from about 5 microliters to about 45microliters.

12. A smoking article according to claim 11, wherein the volume of liquid core released upon rupture of the shell is from about 10 microliters to about 20 microliters.

13. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the discrete amount of liquid composition released upon a single compression of the liquid delivery material is from about 1 microliters to about 10 microliters.

14. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the total volume of liquid composition contained within the sustained-release delivery material to the total volume of liquid composition contained within the frangible capsule is between about 0.20 and 0.80.

15. A filter for a smoking article comprising an additive delivery system, the additive delivery system comprising: a frangible capsule comprising a breakable shell containing a liquid core comprising a first additive, wherein the shell can be broken by application of a pressure to release a single burst of the liquid core; and a sustained-release liquid delivery material comprising a liquid composition containing a second additive, wherein the liquid composition is releasable in discrete amounts from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material so as to selectively combine the first and the second additive, wherein the frangible capsule and the sustained-release liquid delivery material are spaced at least 10 mm apart in a longitudinal direction.

16. A filter according to claim 15, wherein the sustained-release liquid delivery material comprises: a closed matrix structure defining a plurality of domains, the liquid composition being trapped within the domains.

17. A filter according to claim 15, wherein the first and the second additive are the same additive.

18. A filter according to claim 15, wherein the first and the second additive are different additives, the liquid composition being releasable from the liquid delivery material upon compressions of the liquid delivery material to vary the relative proportion of the combined first and second additives.

19. A filter according to claim 15, wherein the frangible capsule is a flavourant capsule, the first additive comprising a first flavourant mixed with one or more fats that are liquid at room temperature (22 degrees Celsius).

20. A filter according to claim 15, wherein the liquid delivery material is a flavour delivery material, the liquid composition being a flavour composition, the second additive comprising a second flavourant mixed with one or more fats that are liquid at room temperature (22 degrees Celsius).

Description

(1) The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying FIG. 1, which is a schematic perspective view of a smoking article according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) Reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1 identifies a smoking article according to an embodiment of the present invention. The smoking article 100 includes a generally cylindrical tobacco rod 101 and a generally cylindrical filter 102. The tobacco rod 101 and filter 102 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one another. The tobacco rod includes an outer wrapper 103 circumscribing the smoking material. The outer wrapper 103 may be a porous wrapping material or paper wrapper. The tobacco is preferably a shredded tobacco or tobacco cut filter. The tobacco rod 101 has an upstream, lit end 104 and a downstream end 105. The filter 102 has an upstream end 106 and a downstream, mouth end 107. The upstream end 106 of the filter 102 is adjacent the downstream end 105 of the tobacco rod 101.

(3) The filter 102 is attached to the tobacco rod 101 by tipping material 108 which circumscribes the entire length of the filter 102 and an adjacent region of the tobacco rod 101. The tipping material 108 is shown partially removed from the smoking article in FIG. 1, for clarity. The tipping material 108 is typically a paper-like product. However, any suitable material can be used. In this embodiment, the tipping material 108 includes a circumferential row of perforations 109 aligned with the filter 102. The perforations are provided for ventilation of the mainstream smoke.

(4) In this specification, the upstream and downstream relative positions between smoking article components are described in relation to the direction of mainstream smoke as it is drawn from the tobacco rod 101 and through the filter 102.

(5) The filter component 102 comprises a first segment 1021 and a second segment 1022 upstream of the first segment 1021. The first segment 1021 has a length of 12 mm. The second segment 1022 has a length of 15 mm. The first segment 102a incorporates a frangible capsule 110 of the type comprising a breakable shell containing a liquid core. The shell can be broken by means of a pressure to release a single burst of the liquid core. In this embodiment, the frangible capsule contains 20 microlitres of liquid core. In more detail, the liquid core contains a liquid flavourant as the first additive, for example a mint flavourant. The distance between the mouth-end of the filter component 102 and the frangible capsule 110 is 7.5 mm.

(6) The second segment 1022 incorporates a sustained-release liquid delivery material 111 comprising a liquid composition. In this embodiment, the sustained-release liquid delivery material is provided as a matrix bead containing 10 microlitres of liquid composition. In more detail, the liquid composition contains a liquid flavourant as the second additive. The second additive is different from the first additive, for example it is a floral flavourant. The distance between the mouth-end of the filter component 102 and the sustained-release liquid delivery material 111 is 21 mm.

(7) The diameter of the smoking article 100 is about 7.85 mm. The diameter of the frangible capsule 110 is about 4.2 mm. The diameter of the matrix bead 111 is about 3.5 mm.

(8) The liquid composition is releasable in discrete amounts from the liquid delivery material 111 upon compressions of the liquid delivery material. In use, a mixture of the first and the second flavourant may thus selectively be formed to contact the mainstream smoke. Further, the relative proportion of the first and second flavourants in the mixture may be selectively adjusted.

(9) The liquid core in the frangible capsule is released upon compression of the frangible capsule with a force of at least from about 5 Newtons to about 25 Newtons. After compression, the mint flavourant is available for release into the mainstream smoke as the smoke passes through the filter during smoking.

(10) The liquid composition in the sustained-release delivery material is released upon compression of the material with a force of between about 1 Newtons and about 40 Newtons. After compression, the floral flavourant is available for release into the mainstream smoke as the smoke passes through the filter during smoking. The amount of floral flavour composition released from the sustained-release delivery material depends upon the applied compressive force such that the flavour intensity can be controlled through control of the pressure applied to the filter. The sustained-release delivery material can be compressed one or more times prior to or during smoking, and prior to or after effective compression of the frangible capsule in order to cause separate releases of floral flavour into the mainstream smoke. If both flavourants are released at the same time, the mainstream smoke contacts the second flavourant released from the matrix bead first and subsequently the first flavourant released in a single burst from the frangible capsule.

(11) Examples illustrating in more detail how the combined release of the first and the second additive may impact the characteristics of the mainstream smoke and, therefore, the taste perception of the user during smoking are set out below.

EXAMPLE 1

(12) Smoking articles according to the invention were assembled according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The frangible capsule contained 20 microlitres of mint flavourant diluted in MCT oil with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The matrix bead contained 10 microlitres of fresh flavourant diluted in MCT with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The mint flavourant composition contained mainly menthol. The fresh flavourant composition, on the other hand, contained a combination of menthol with other flavouring agents and flavour enhancers dosed such as to increase the cooling notes of the aroma.

(13) The impact of the volume of flavourant released from the matrix bead on the burst of flavour delivered by the frangible capsule was evaluated by having trained panellists and flavourists describe sensory attributes such as note directions and taste sensations.

(14) After the frangible capsule was ruptured, minty, green and herbal notes were identified, and fresh and cooling sensations were perceived.

(15) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 10 percent to 50 percent of the volume of the fresh flavour in MCT, less minty and green notes were identified, whereas the intensity of the fresh and cooling sensation increased.

(16) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 60 percent to 100 percent of the volume of fresh flavour in MCT, menthol, fresh and cooling sensations intensity increased which covered the minty notes.

(17) Without being bound by theory, Example 1 illustrates that the flavourant released from the matrix bead combined with the flavourant released from the frangible capsule allows the consumer to modify the overall aroma direction (progressive decrease of the minty notes associated with the first flavourant contained in the frangible capsule), but also to modify the sensation perceived (progressive increase of the cooling/fresh sensation).

EXAMPLE 2

(18) Smoking articles according to the invention were assembled according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The frangible capsule contained 20 microlitres of mint flavourant diluted in MCT oil with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The matrix bead contained 10 microlitres of citrus-mint flavourant diluted in MCT with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The mint flavourant composition contained mainly menthol. The fresh flavourant composition, on the other hand, contained a combination of menthol with other flavouring agents and flavour enhancers possessing green, citrus notes, such as those commonly associated with bergamot and other citrus oils.

(19) The impact of the volume of flavourant released from the matrix bead on the burst of flavour delivered by the frangible capsule was evaluated by having trained panellists and flavourists describe sensory attributes such as note directions and taste sensations.

(20) After the frangible capsule was ruptured, minty, green and herbal notes were identified, and fresh and cooling sensations were perceived.

(21) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 10 percent to 50 percent of the volume of the citrus-mint flavour in MCT, minty, green and some citrus notes were combined inducing a change in the aroma direction. Additionally, the fresh and cooling sensation intensity increased.

(22) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 60 percent to 100 percent of the volume of citrus-mint flavour in MCT, citrus and minty notes were perceived along with a substantial increase of cooling sensations.

(23) Without being bound by theory, Example 2 illustrates that the flavourant released from the matrix bead combined with the flavourant released from the frangible capsule allows the consumer to enhance some aroma notes of the original flavour selected (the minty and fresh notes already present in the capsule flavour are boosted by the aroma compounds released with the second flavourant released from the matrix bead).

EXAMPLE 3

(24) Smoking articles according to the invention were assembled according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The frangible capsule contained 20 microlitres of mint flavourant diluted in MCT oil with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The matrix bead contained 10 microlitres of jasmine flavourant diluted in MCT with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The mint flavourant composition contained mainly menthol. The jasmine flavourant composition, on the other hand, contained flavouring agents and flavour enhancers other than menthol and possessing floral notes, such as those commonly associated with fresh-cut flowers or blossoms (such as jasmine).

(25) The impact of the volume of flavourant released from the matrix bead on the burst of flavour delivered by the frangible capsule was evaluated by having trained panellists and flavourists describe sensory attributes such as note directions and taste sensations.

(26) After the frangible capsule was ruptured, minty, green and herbal notes were identified, and fresh and cooling sensations were perceived.

(27) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 10 percent to 50 percent of the volume of the jasmine flavour in MCT, floral, jasmine, sweet and minty notes were perceived.

(28) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 60 percent to 100 percent of the volume of jasmine flavour in MCT, a substantial increase in the floral notes was identified and increasingly fresh and cooling sensations were perceived.

(29) Without being bound by theory, Example 3 illustrates that the flavourant released from the matrix bead combined with the flavourant released from the frangible capsule allows the consumer to substantially create a new flavour which is an addition/mix of the two flavours combined.

EXAMPLE 4

(30) Smoking articles according to the invention were assembled according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The frangible capsule contained 20 microlitres of coffee flavourant diluted in MCT oil with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The matrix bead contained 10 microlitres of cocoa flavourant diluted in MCT with mass ratio of 10:90 (w:w). The coffee flavourant composition contained flavouring agents that flavourists commonly associate with the aroma of freshly roasted or brewed coffee. The cocoa flavourant composition, on the other hand, contained flavouring agents other than those of the coffee composition and possessing notes that flavourists have defined chocolate- and cocoa-specific.

(31) After the frangible capsule was ruptured, coffee, earthy, nutty notes were identified.

(32) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 10 percent to 50 percent of the volume of the cocoa flavour in MCT, coffee, nutty, earthy and creamy notes were identified and sweet notes intensity increased.

(33) When the matrix bead was compressed to deliver 60 percent to 100 percent of the volume of cocoa flavour in MCT, coffee, cocoa, cappuccino, creamy notes identified resulting in the perception of a new aroma.

(34) Without being bound by theory, Example 4 illustrates that the flavourant released from the matrix bead combined with the flavourant released from the frangible capsule allows the consumer to substantially create a completely novel flavour which is the synergy of the two distinct basic flavours.