Smoking article filter

Abstract

A mouthpiece or filter (1) comprising a longitudinally extending (e.g. cylindrical) rod (2) of filtering material including a longitudinally extending channel (3) which extends along the full length of the mouthpiece or filter.

Claims

1. A multiple rod for use in a smoking article, comprising a mouthpiece comprising a first longitudinally extending rod of filtering material having a uniform cross-section along its full length, the first longitudinally extending rod comprising only three longitudinally extending channels which extend along the full length of the mouthpiece, wherein the channels are surrounded by the filtering material along the full length of the mouthpiece, wherein the channels of the mouthpiece have a diameter from 0.5 mm to 10 mm; the multiple rod further comprising a filter comprising a second longitudinally extending rod of filtering material of uniform cross section along its full length, the second longitudinally extending rod comprising one longitudinally extending channel which extends along the full length of the filter, wherein the channel has a diameter from 1 mm to 4 mm; and wherein the smoking article comprises one or more smokable material(s) other than tobacco wherein the smokable material(s) is prepared from a plant in the Cannabis genus.

2. The multiple rod according to claim 1, wherein the three channels of the mouthpiece have a uniform cross-section along the full length of the mouthpiece.

3. The multiple rod according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece filtering material comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow.

4. The multiple rod according to claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece filtering material comprises a thermoplastic or otherwise spinnable polymer.

5. The multiple rod according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece filtering material comprises a plasticizer.

6. The multiple rod according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece filtering material comprises carbon.

7. The multiple rod according to claim 1, further comprising a wrapper or plug wrap.

8. The multiple rod according to claim 7, wherein the wrapper or plug wrap is derived from a plant in the Cannabis genus.

9. The multiple rod according to claim 7, wherein ventilation holes are provided within the wrapper and/or the plug wrap.

Description

(1) The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Examples and the attached drawings in which

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mouthpiece or filter according to one embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate a mouthpiece or filter according to another embodiment of the invention; and

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a mouthpiece or filter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

(5) 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.

(6) 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.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

(9) FIG. 4 shows a smoking article filter 201 of 27 mm length and 24.5 mm circumference comprising a longitudinally extending rod 202 of filtering material. The filtering material comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow. The rod 202 defines three longitudinally extending cylindrical channels 203 arranged in a triangular pattern which extend the full length of the filter. The smoking article filter 201 may be produced by the same method of manufacture used to produce the smoking article filter 1 of FIG. 1, wherein three mandrels will be used to produce the three channels 203.