BREAKABLE AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE

Abstract

An aerosol generating article is provided, having a first section including a combustible heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate and a second section including a tubular element defining a recess at one end of the second section. The sections are integrally connected at a region of weakness and are separable at the region so that the element can be placed over the heat source and so that the heat source is at least partially received in the recess. The first section is upstream of the second section when the sections are integrally connected and the element is at least partially open at both ends thereof such that air may be drawn through the element. The element is either at a downstream end of the second section such that the recess forms a mouth end cavity, or is at an upstream end such that the recess forms a transfer element.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. An aerosol generating article, comprising: a first section having a combustible heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate; and a second section having a tubular element defining a recess at one end of the second section, wherein the first section and second section are integrally connected at a region of weakness, the first section and second section being separable at the region of weakness to enable the tubular element to be placed over the combustible heat source, such that the combustible heat source is at least partially received in the recess, wherein the first section is upstream of the second section when the first section and second section are integrally connected at the region of weakness, wherein the tubular element is at least partially open at both ends thereof, such that air may be drawn along the aerosol generating article through the tubular element, and wherein the tubular element is either at a downstream end of the second section, such that the recess forms a mouth end cavity of the aerosol generating article when the first section and second section are integrally connected, or the tubular element is at an upstream end of the second section and forms a transfer element of the aerosol generating article when the first section and second section are integrally connected.

14. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element is arranged such that, when the combustible heat source is received in the recess, the tubular element extends along substantially an entire length of the combustible heat source.

15. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element is arranged such that, when the combustible heat source is ignited and received within the recess, the tubular element sufficiently restricts a supply of air to the combustible heat source so that the combustible heat source is extinguished by the tubular element.

16. The aerosol generating article according to claim 15, wherein the tubular element is dimensioned such that, when the combustible heat source is received within the recess, there is a frictional fit between an inner surface of the tubular element and an outer surface of the combustible heat source.

17. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein an inner surface of the tubular element comprises a non-combustible material.

18. The aerosol generating article according to claim 17, wherein the non-combustible material is at least one of a metal, a metal oxide, a ceramic, and a stone.

19. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the tubular element comprises a heat reactive material that is configured to deform in response to heat from the combustible heat source when the combustible heat source is received in the recess such that the tubular element fits tightly against the combustible heat source to restrict an air supply to the combustible heat source.

20. The aerosol generating article according to claim 19, wherein the heat reactive material comprises an intumescent material.

21. The aerosol generating article according to claim 19, wherein the heat reactive material comprises a heat-shrink material.

22. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the region of weakness is a line of weakness.

23. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the first section and the second section are circumscribed by a wrapper, and wherein the region of weakness comprises a weakness formation provided in the wrapper.

24. The aerosol generating article according to claim 23, wherein the weakness formation comprises a plurality of perforations in the wrapper, the plurality of perforations circumscribing the aerosol generating article.

25. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the region of weakness is located at least about 10 mm from either end of the aerosol generating article.

26. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the region of weakness is located at least about 20 mm from either end of the aerosol generating article.

Description

[0114] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0115] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention;

[0116] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 1, in which the smoking article is in an extinguishing configuration;

[0117] FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention;

[0118] FIG. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 3, in which the smoking article is in an extinguishing configuration;

[0119] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a smoking article, which is included for background interest only; and

[0120] FIG. 6 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 5, in which the removable cap is removed.

[0121] The smoking article 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a blind combustible carbonaceous heat source 102, an aerosol-forming substrate 104, an airflow directing element 106, an aerosol-cooling element 108, and a mouthpiece 110 in abutting coaxial alignment. The combustible carbonaceous heat source 102, aerosol-forming substrate 104 and airflow directing element 106 are overwrapped in a first outer wrapper 112 of cigarette paper of low air permeability, forming a first section 114 of the smoking article 100. The aerosol-cooling element 108 and mouthpiece 110 are overwrapped in a second outer wrapper 116 of cigarette paper of low air permeability, forming a second section 118 of the smoking article 100. The first section 114 is thus upstream of the second section 118. The smoking article 100 further includes a band of tipping paper 120 circumscribing at least a downstream portion of the first section 114 and at least an upstream portion of the second section 118. The first section 114 and the second section 118 are integrally connected by the tipping paper 120 along a first line of weakness 122 which comprises a plurality of perforations that circumscribe the smoking article 100. The first line of weakness 122 defines a weakness formation in the tipping paper 120.

[0122] A removable cap 124 is provided at the distal end of the smoking article 100, and is directly adjacent to the heat source 102. The removable cap 124 comprises a central portion 126, and is wrapped in a portion 128 of the first outer wrapper 112. In the embodiment shown, the central portion 126 comprises a desiccant, such as glycerine, provided to preferentially absorb moisture as compared to the heat source. The portion 128 of the first outer wrapper is connected to the rest of the first outer wrapper 112 along a second line of weakness 130. The line of weakness 130 comprises a plurality of perforations in the first outer wrapper 112 that circumscribe the smoking article 100.

[0123] The aerosol-forming substrate 104 is located immediately downstream of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 102 and comprises a cylindrical plug 132 of tobacco material, comprising glycerine as an aerosol former, that is circumscribed by plug wrap 134.

[0124] A non-combustible, substantially air impermeable barrier 136 is provided between the downstream end of the combustible heat source 102 and the upstream end of the aerosol-forming substrate 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-combustible, substantially air impermeable barrier consists of a non-combustible, substantially air impermeable, barrier coating 136, which is provided on the entire rear face of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 102.

[0125] A heat conducting element (not shown) consisting of a tubular layer of aluminium foil surrounds and is in direct contact with a rear portion of the combustible carbonaceous heat source 102 and an abutting front portion of the aerosol-forming substrate 104.

[0126] The airflow directing element 106 is located downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate 104 and comprises an open-ended, substantially air impermeable hollow tube 138 made of, for example, cardboard, which is of reduced diameter compared to the aerosol-forming substrate 104. The upstream end of the open-ended hollow tube 138 abuts the aerosol-forming substrate 104. The open-ended hollow tube 138 is circumscribed by an annular air permeable diffuser 140 made of, for example, cellulose acetate tow, which is of substantially the same diameter as the aerosol-forming substrate 104.

[0127] The open-ended hollow tube 138, and annular air permeable diffuser 140 may be separate components that are adhered or otherwise connected together to form the airflow directing element 106 prior to assembly of the smoking article 100. In yet further embodiments, the open-ended hollow tube 138 and annular air permeable diffuser 140 may be parts of a single component. For example, the open-ended hollow tube and annular air permeable diffuser may be parts of a single hollow tube of air permeable material having a substantially air impermeable coating applied to its inner surface.

[0128] In a particularly preferred embodiment the central portion 116 of the removable cap 114 is manufactured from the same material as the airflow directing element, and so comprises an open-ended substantially air impermeable hollow tube circumscribed by an annular air permeable diffuser.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 1, a circumferential arrangement of air inlets 142 is provided in the first outer wrapper 112 circumscribing the first section 114 in the region of the airflow directing element 106.

[0130] The aerosol-cooling element 108 is located immediately downstream of the airflow directing element 106 and comprises a gathered sheet of biodegradable polymeric material, such as, for example, polylactic acid.

[0131] The mouthpiece 110 of the smoking article 100 is located immediately downstream of the aerosol-cooling element 108 and comprises a filter segment 144, having a cylindrical plug 146 of suitable filtration material such as, for example, cellulose acetate tow of very low filtration efficiency circumscribed by filter plug wrap 148, and a tubular element 150 immediately downstream of the filter segment 144. The tubular element 150 comprises a cylindrical tube of suitable, substantially rigid material such as, for example cardboard, stiff paper or heat resistant rigid plastic. The tubular element 150 defines a recess 152 at the mouth end of the smoking article 100. The mouthpiece 110 thus has a mouth end cavity formed by the recess 152.

[0132] To use the smoking article 100, the user removes the removable cap 124 by transversely compressing the cap by pinching it between thumb and finger. By compressing the cap 124, sufficient force is provided to the second line of weakness 130 to locally break the first outer wrapper 112. The user then removes the cap 124 by twisting the cap to break the remaining portion of the second line of weakness 130. When the cap 124 is removed the heat source 102 is partially exposed which enables the user to light the smoking article 100.

[0133] In use, the user ignites the combustible heat source 102 which heats the aerosol-forming substrate 104 to produce an aerosol. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 110 air is drawn through the air inlets 142, through the aerosol-forming substrate 104, airflow directing element 106, aerosol-cooling element 108, and mouthpiece 110, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, and into the user's mouth.

[0134] After use of the smoking article 100, the user breaks the smoking article in two by breaking the tipping paper 120 along the first line of weakness 122 to separate the first section 114 and the second section 118 across separation plane 1000. The user then places the downstream end of the second section 118 over the upstream end of the first section 114 so that the combustible heat source 102 is received in the recess 152 of the tubular element 150, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0135] In the extinguishing configuration shown in FIG. 2, the tubular element 150 is a frictional fit over the combustible heat source 102, such that it is retained over the combustible heat source 102 and the first and second sections 114, 188 are held together. The tubular element 150, which may be made from any suitable material, such as flame-retardant material, sufficiently restricts the supply of oxygen to the combustible heat source so that the heat source extinguishes, and thus cools down. In this way, the user is provided with a simple and self-contained means of extinguishing the combustible heat source after use of the smoking article.

[0136] Further, the tubular element may be provided with a fragrance that may be evolved when the tubular element is heated by the combustible heat source. The fragrance may be released into the atmosphere and may act to mask any unpleasant odours released by the heat source as it is being extinguished. The fragrance may provide an air freshening effect by emitting pleasant odours and fragrances. Preferably the fragrance is sufficiently volatile that it swiftly evaporates after the tubular element is placed over the combustible heat source.

[0137] In preferred embodiments the fragrance may include one or more fragrance ingredient selected from the list consisting of Amyl Cinnamal, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hyroxymethylpentylcyclohexenecarboxaldehyde, lsoeugenol, Anisyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Hexyl Cinnamaldehyde 2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde, d-Limonene, Linalool, Methyl heptine carbonate, and 3-Methyl-4-(2 ,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-buten-2-one.

[0138] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a smoking article 300. The smoking article 300 is of similar construction to the first embodiment of smoking article 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and where the same features are present, like reference numerals have been used. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the tubular element 350 of smoking article 300 of the second embodiment is located immediately upstream of the aerosol-cooling element 308 and is at the upstream end of the second section 318, rather than at the downstream end of the second section. The recess 352 defined by the tubular element 350 forms a transfer element, or spacer element, between the airflow directing element 306 and the aerosol-cooling element 308. Instead of having a mouth end cavity formed by the tubular element, as in the first embodiment of smoking article shown in FIG. 1, the mouthpiece 310 and mouth end of the smoking article 300 are formed by the filter segment 344.

[0139] To use the smoking article 300, the user removes the removable cap 324, in the same way as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, to partially expose the combustible heat source 302 which enables the user to light the smoking article 300.

[0140] In use, the user ignites the combustible heat source 302 which heats the aerosol-forming substrate 304 to produce an aerosol. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 310 air is drawn through the air inlets 342, through the aerosol-forming substrate 304, airflow directing element 306, tubular element 346, aerosol-cooling element 308, and mouthpiece 310, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, and into the user's mouth.

[0141] After use of the smoking article 300, the user breaks the smoking article in two by breaking the tipping paper 320 along the first line of weakness 322 to separate the first section 314 and the second section 318 across separation plane 3000. The user then places the upstream end of the second section 318 over the upstream end of the first section 314 so that the combustible heat source 302 is received in the recess 352 of the tubular element 350, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0142] In the extinguishing configuration shown in FIG. 4, as with the smoking article 100 of the first embodiment, the tubular element 350 is a frictional fit over the combustible heat source 302, such that it is retained over the combustible heat source 302 to sufficiently restrict the supply of oxygen to the combustible heat source so that the heat source extinguishes, and thus cools down. In this embodiment, the recess 352 defined by the tubular element 350 preferably has a length greater than that of the exposed portion of the heat source 302 received in the recess 352. This avoids direct contact between the combustible heat source 302 and the aerosol-cooling element 308, reducing the risk of exposing the aerosol-cooling element 308 to excessive heat from the heat source during extinguishing which may otherwise result in the emission of unpleasant odours from melting of the aerosol-cooling element 308.

[0143] Alternatively, or in addition, the tubular element 350 may comprise a thermally insulating material to reduce the heat transfer from the heat source 302 to the aerosol-cooling element 308 during extinguishing.

[0144] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of smoking article 500 which is included for background interest only. The smoking article 500 is similar to the first and second embodiments of smoking article 100, 300 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and where the same features are present, like reference numerals have been used. However, with the smoking article 500 of the third embodiment, the first section 514 is downstream of the second section 518 and comprises comprises a blind combustible carbonaceous heat source 502, an aerosol-forming substrate 504, an airflow directing element 506, an aerosol-cooling element 508, a transfer element 509 and a mouthpiece 510 in abutting coaxial alignment. As with the smoking article 300 of the second embodiment, the mouthpiece 510 and mouth end of the smoking article 500 are formed by filter segment 544.

[0145] The combustible carbonaceous heat source 502, aerosol-forming substrate 504 and airflow directing element 506 are overwrapped in a first outer wrapper 512 of cigarette paper of low air permeability, forming a first part of the first section 514. The aerosol-cooling element 508, transfer element 509 and mouthpiece 510 are overwrapped in a second outer wrapper 516 of cigarette paper of low air permeability, forming a second part of the first section 514. The first section 514 further includes a band of tipping paper 520 circumscribing at least a downstream portion of the first outer wrapper 512 and at least an upstream portion of the second outer wrapper 516 to hold the two parts of the first section 514 together.

[0146] As with the smoking articles 100, 300 of the first and second embodiments, smoking article 500 also includes a removable cap 524 at the distal end of the smoking article 500 and directly adjacent to the heat source 502. The removable cap 124 comprises a central portion 526, and is wrapped in a portion 528 of the first outer wrapper 512. The portion 528 of the first outer wrapper which circumscribes the cap 524 is connected to the rest of the first outer wrapper 512 along a line of weakness 522. The line of weakness 522 comprises a plurality of perforations in the first outer wrapper 512 that circumscribe the smoking article 500. The line of weakness 522 defines a weakness formation in the first outer wrapper 512.

[0147] Unlike the smoking articles 100, 300 of the first and second embodiments, in this embodiment, the tubular element 550 is provided as part of the cap 524, forming the second section 514 of the smoking article 500. The tubular element 550 circumscribes the central portion 526 of the cap 524 and at least part of the length of the heat source 502. In this manner, the heat source 502 is received in the recess 552 defined by the tubular element 550 prior to use of the smoking article. The portion 528 of the first outer wrapper 512 which circumscribes the cap also circumscribes the tubular element 550 and integrally connects the first section 514 and the second section 518.

[0148] To use the smoking article 500, the user separates the first and second sections 514, 518 across separation plane 5000 by twisting the cap 524 and the tubular element 550 to break the first outer wrapper 512 along the line of weakness 522 and separate the first portion 528 of wrapper from the rest of the first outer wrapper 512. When the first and second sections 514 518 are separated, as shown in FIG. 6, the heat source 502 is partially exposed enabling the user to light the smoking article 500.

[0149] In use, the user ignites the combustible heat source 502 which heats the aerosol-forming substrate 504 to produce an aerosol. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 510 air is drawn through the air inlets 542, through the aerosol-forming substrate 504, airflow directing element 506, aerosol-cooling element 508, transfer element 509 and mouthpiece 510, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6, and into the user's mouth.

[0150] After use of the smoking article 500, the user returns the second section 518 to its initial position at the upstream end of the first section 514 so that the combustible heat source 502 is received in the recess 552 of the tubular element 550. In this position, the tubular element 550 is a frictional fit over the combustible heat source 502 and sufficiently restricts the supply of oxygen to the combustible heat source so that the heat source extinguishes, and thus cools down.

[0151] In all of the above described embodiments, the tubular element may comprise an intumescent material, or heat-shrink material which reacts to the heat of the combustible heat source to further restrict the supply of oxygen to the heat source when the smoking article is in the extinguishing configuration. The intumescent or heat-shrink material may also at least partially close the open end of the tubular element to further restrict the supply of oxygen to the heat source. In addition to yet further restricting the supply of oxygen, the at least partially closed end of the tubular element may provide a physical barrier between the heat source and any external materials.

[0152] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.