Smoking article with a ventilated mouthpiece comprising first and second airflow pathways

Abstract

A smoking article (10, 30, 40, 50, 70) with variable ventilation comprises a mouthpiece (12) circumscribed by a first wrapper (24) and a second wrapper (25). The first wrapper (24) and the second wrapper (25) are substantially air impermeable and are movable relative to one another between a low ventilation configuration and a high ventilation configuration. The mouthpiece (12) comprises a first airflow pathway (18, 19) through the first wrapper (24) or the second wrapper (25) and a second airflow pathway (26) through the first wrapper (24) or the second wrapper (25). In the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the first airflow pathway (18, 19) is restricted and airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the second airflow pathway (26) is substantially unrestricted. In the high ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the first airflow pathway (18, 19) and the second airflow pathway (26) is substantially unrestricted.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising a mouthpiece circumscribed by a first wrapper and a second wrapper, wherein the first wrapper and the second wrapper are substantially air impermeable and are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the smoking article between a low ventilation configuration and a high ventilation configuration, wherein the first wrapper and the second wrapper abut one another in both the low ventilation configuration and the high ventilation configuration; wherein the mouthpiece comprises a first airflow pathway through the first wrapper or the second wrapper and a second airflow pathway through the first wrapper or the second wrapper, wherein in the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is restricted and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and wherein in the high ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted, at least a minimum level of ventilation being provided by airflow into the mouthpiece through one or both of the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway during rotation of the first wrapper and the second wrapper relative to one another between the low ventilation configuration and the high ventilation configuration.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the level of ventilation provided by airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway during movement of the first wrapper and the second wrapper relative to one another between the low ventilation configuration and the high ventilation configuration is greater than or equal to the level of ventilation provided by airflow through the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway in the low ventilation configuration.

3. A smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the first airflow pathway is provided through the first wrapper and the second airflow pathway is provided through the second wrapper.

4. A smoking article according to claim 3 wherein the second airflow pathway is upstream of the first airflow pathway.

5. A smoking article according to claim 3 wherein the second airflow pathway is downstream of the first airflow pathway.

6. A smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway are provided through the first wrapper.

7. A smoking article according to claim 6 wherein the second airflow pathway is upstream of the first airflow pathway.

8. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the first airflow pathway is provided through the first wrapper and the second airflow pathway is provided through the second wrapper.

9. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway are provided through the first wrapper.

10. A smoking article according to claim 9 wherein the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway are circumferentially aligned.

11. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the second airflow pathway is upstream of the first airflow pathway.

12. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the second airflow pathway is downstream of the first airflow pathway.

13. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a third airflow pathway, wherein in the low ventilation configuration the first airflow pathway and the third airflow pathway are substantially misaligned and airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is restricted and wherein in the high ventilation configuration the first airflow pathway and the third airflow pathway are substantially aligned and airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted.

14. A smoking article according to claim 13 wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a fourth airflow pathway, wherein in the low ventilation configuration and the high ventilation configuration the second airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway are substantially aligned and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted.

15. A smoking article according to claim 13 wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a fourth airflow pathway, wherein in the low ventilation configuration the second airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway are substantially aligned and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and wherein in the high ventilation configuration the second airflow pathway and the third airflow pathway are substantially aligned and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted.

16. A smoking article according to claim 1 comprising a stop configured to restrict movement of the first wrapper and the second wrapper relative to one another.

17. A smoking article according to claim 1 further comprising an indicator configured to indicate the level of ventilation.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of a smoking article according to a first embodiment of the invention in the high ventilation configuration;

(3) FIG. 2a shows a schematic transverse cross-section of a smoking article according to a third embodiment of the invention in the high ventilation configuration;

(4) FIG. 2b shows a schematic transverse cross-section of the smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2a in the low ventilation configuration; and

(5) FIG. 3a shows a schematic transverse cross-section of a smoking article according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in the high ventilation configuration;

(6) FIG. 3b shows a schematic transverse cross-section of the smoking article according to the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3a in the low ventilation configuration;

(7) FIG. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of a smoking article according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in the high ventilation configuration; and

(8) FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of a smoking article according to an eighth embodiment of the invention in the high ventilation configuration.

(9) The smoking articles shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 have several components in common. These components have been given the same reference numerals.

(10) The smoking article 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a filter cigarette comprising an elongate cylindrical wrapped tobacco rod 11 attached at one end to an axially aligned, elongate cylindrical mouthpiece 12. The wrapped tobacco rod 11 and the mouthpiece 12 are joined by substantially air impermeable tipping paper, which circumscribes the entire length of the mouthpiece 12 and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 11.

(11) The mouthpiece 12 of the smoking article 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises a plug of cellulose acetate tow or other filtration material circumscribed in a substantially air impermeable filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 1, the filter plug is divided into a first downstream segment 14 and a second upstream segment 15 by a circumferentially extending cut 16 which defines a central, axial core 30 about which the first segment 14 can be rotated relative to the second segment 15.

(12) The tipping paper extends from the downstream end of the mouthpiece 12, where it is affixed to the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece by a first band of adhesive 22, to a point on the wrapped tobacco rod 11 adjacent to the mouthpiece 12, where it is also affixed to the second segment of the filter 15 and the wrapped tobacco rod 11 by a second band of adhesive 23.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, a circumferential line of perforations 17 is provided in the tipping paper at a point between the circumferentially extending cut 16 in the mouthpiece and the wrapped tobacco rod 11. In use, the circumferential line of perforations 17 is broken to divide the tipping paper into a first wrapper 24 and a second wrapper 25.

(14) A first airflow pathway is provided through a portion of the first wrapper 24 overlying the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the first airflow pathway comprises a pair of first openings 18, 19 in the tipping paper.

(15) A second air flow pathway is provided upstream of the first airflow pathway through a portion of the second wrapper 25 overlying the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the second airflow pathway comprises a single second opening 26 in the tipping paper.

(16) A third airflow pathway is provided through a portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the third airflow pathway comprises a pair of third openings 20, 21 in the filter plug wrap.

(17) A fourth airflow pathway is provided upstream of the third airflow pathway through a portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the fourth airflow pathway comprises a single fourth opening 27 in the filter plug wrap.

(18) As shown in FIG. 1, in the high ventilation configuration the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 is aligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15.

(19) As also shown in FIG. 1, in the high ventilation configuration the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 is aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway provided through the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15.

(20) Once the circumferential line of perforations 17 is broken, the first wrapper 24 is free to rotate with the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 about the axis of the central core 30 thereof, such that the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap are in varying degrees of registry. As described further below, adjustment of the degree of registry permits varying amounts of air to enter the mouthpiece 12, thereby varying the air dilution of the mainstream smoke of the smoking article 10.

(21) Smoking articles according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 may be manufactured by providing a mouthpiece 12 comprising a plug of cellulose acetate tow or other suitable filtration material wrapped in a substantially impermeable filter plug wrap and joining it to a wrapped tobacco rod 11 by overwrapping the mouthpiece 12 and the wrapped tobacco rod 11 with a length of substantially air impermeable tipping paper provided with a line of perforations 17. The tipping paper is bonded by adhesive band 22 to the downstream end of the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 and by adhesive band 23 to the upstream end of the second segment 15 the mouthpiece 12 and to the adjacent downstream end of the wrapped tobacco rod 11.

(22) To form the first air flow pathway and the third airflow pathway, a pair of openings is made through both the portion of the tipping paper downstream of the circumferential line of perforations 17 and the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12 by a knife or a laser, or other suitable means, simultaneously forming the pair of first openings 18, 19 and the aligned pair of third openings 20, 21.

(23) To form the second air flow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway, an opening is made through both the portion of the tipping paper upstream of the circumferential line of perforations 17 and the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12 by mechanical means, such as a pin, or a laser, or other suitable means, simultaneously forming the second opening 26 and the aligned fourth opening 27.

(24) Suitable means and methods for forming the first air flow pathway and third airflow pathway, and also the second airflow pathway and fourth airflow pathway are known in the art and described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,649.

(25) As manufactured, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway are completely in registry with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is completely in registry with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway. In this high ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted providing a maximum level of ventilation.

(26) As the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 is rotated relative to the second segment 15 thereof about the central axial core 30, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap begin to deregister. After sufficient rotation of the first segment of the mouthpiece 12, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway are misaligned. In this low ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is restricted.

(27) Throughout rotation of the first segment 14, the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 remains completely in registry with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway provided through the underlying portion of the filter plug wrap. Therefore, in the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted, providing a minimum or baseline level of ventilation.

(28) A smoking article according to a second embodiment of the invention (not shown) is of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. However, in the smoking article according to the second embodiment of the invention the second airflow pathway is provided downstream of the first airflow pathway through a portion of the first wrapper 25 overlying the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 and the fourth airflow pathway is provided downstream of the third airflow pathway through a portion of the filter plug wrap overlying the first segment 14.

(29) The smoking article 30 according to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1. However, in the smoking article 30 according to the third embodiment of the invention, the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway are both provided through a portion of the first wrapper 24 overlying the second segment 15 and are circumferentially aligned such that the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is disposed between the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway. The third airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway are also circumferentially aligned such that the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway is disposed between the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway and the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway are of reduced size compared to the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway.

(30) In the high ventilation configuration shown in FIG. 2a the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway are aligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway. In this high ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted providing a maximum level of ventilation.

(31) As the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 is rotated relative to the second segment 15 thereof about the central axial core 30, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway begin to deregister and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway and the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway begin to deregister. As shown in FIG. 2b, after rotation of the first segment of the mouthpiece 12 through approximately 90 degrees, one of the pair of first openings 18 of the first airflow pathway is misaligned with both the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway and the other of the pair of first openings 19 of the first airflow pathway is misaligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway. In this low ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first opening 18 of the first airflow pathway that is misaligned with both the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway is prevented. In the low ventilation configuration, airflow through the first opening 19 of the first airflow pathway that is misaligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway is impeded due to the smaller size of the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway compared to the first opening 19 of the first airflow pathway.

(32) In the low ventilation configuration shown in FIG. 2b the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is aligned with one of the pair of third openings 20 of the third airflow pathway and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted due to the smaller size of the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway compared to the third opening 20 of the third airflow pathway.

(33) The smoking article 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b is of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. However, in the smoking article 40 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the second airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway each comprise a group of three adjacent openings in order to increase the minimum level of ventilation in the low ventilation configuration.

(34) Smoking articles according to the first, second and third embodiments of the invention having a first airflow pathway comprising a single slit and a second airflow pathway comprising a circumferential line of perforations were produced. The level of ventilation of a plurality of smoking articles according to each embodiment in the low ventilation configuration was measured in accordance with ISO 9512:2002. For the purposes of comparison, the level of ventilation of a plurality of smoking articles of identical construction but without a second airflow pathway was also measured in accordance with ISO 9512:2002. The results are shown in Table 1.

(35) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Embodiment Embodiment Embodiment 1 Comparison 2 Comparison 3 Comparison Sample size 187 191 342 383 400 400 Average level of 31.72 21.38 22.83 17.78 36.3 10.6 ventilation in the low ventilation configuration (%) CV (%) 25.50 36.67 26.59 36.84 15.70 82.08

(36) As illustrated by the coefficients of variation (CV) in Table 1, the minimum or baseline level of ventilation of the smoking articles according to the first, second and third embodiments in the low ventilation configuration is more consistent from smoking article to smoking article than that of the smoking articles of identical construction without a second airflow pathway.

(37) The smoking article 50 according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is a filter cigarette comprising an elongate cylindrical wrapped tobacco rod 11 attached at one end to an axially aligned, elongate cylindrical mouthpiece 12. The wrapped tobacco rod 11 and the mouthpiece 12 are joined by substantially air impermeable tipping paper, which circumscribes the entire length of the mouthpiece 12 and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 11.

(38) The mouthpiece 12 of the smoking article 50 according to the fifth embodiment of the invention comprises a plug of cellulose acetate tow or other filtration material circumscribed in a substantially air impermeable filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the filter plug wrap comprises a mouth-end band 52, a central band 54, and a rod-end band 56, defined by two circumferential lines of perforations 58, 60. The mouth-end band 52 and the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap are affixed to the filter plug and the central band 54 of the filter plug wrap is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the smoking article 50.

(39) A circumferential line of perforations 17 is provided in the tipping paper at a point overlying the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. In use, the circumferential line of perforations 17 is broken to divide the tipping paper into a first wrapper 24 and a second wrapper 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the first wrapper 24 is affixed to the central band 54 of the filter plug wrap by a first band of adhesive 22 and the second wrapper 25 is affixed to the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap and the wrapped tobacco rod 11 by a second band of adhesive 23.

(40) A first airflow pathway is provided through a portion of the first wrapper 24 overlying the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the first airflow pathway comprises a pair of first openings 18, 19 in the tipping paper.

(41) A second air flow pathway is provided upstream of the first airflow pathway through a portion of the second wrapper 25 overlying the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the second air flow pathway comprising a single second opening 26 in the tipping paper.

(42) A third airflow pathway is provided through the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the third air flow pathway comprises a pair of third openings 20, 21 in the filter plug wrap.

(43) A fourth airflow pathway is provided upstream of the third airflow pathway through the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth air flow pathway comprising a single fourth opening 27 in the filter plug wrap.

(44) As shown in FIG. 4, in the high ventilation configuration the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 are aligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap.

(45) As also shown in FIG. 4, in the high ventilation configuration the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 is aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway provided through the underlying rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap.

(46) Once the circumferential lines of perforations 17, 58, 60 in the tipping paper and the filter plug wrap are broken, the first wrapper 24 is free to rotate with the central band 54 of the filter plug wrap about the longitudinal axis of the smoking article 50, such that the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap are in varying degrees of registry. Adjustment of the degree of registry permits varying amounts of air to enter the mouthpiece 12, thereby varying the air dilution of the mainstream smoke of the smoking article 50.

(47) Smoking articles according to the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 may be manufactured in substantially the same manner as smoking articles according to the first embodiment of the invention by providing a mouthpiece 12 comprising a plug of cellulose acetate tow or other suitable filtration material wrapped in a pre-perforated substantially impermeable filter plug wrap and joining it to a wrapped tobacco rod 11 by overwrapping the mouthpiece 12 and the wrapped tobacco rod 11 with a length of substantially air impermeable tipping paper provided with a line of perforations 17.

(48) As manufactured, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway are completely in registry with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is completely in registry with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway. In this high ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted providing a maximum level of ventilation.

(49) As the first wrapper 24 and the central band 54 of the filter plug wrap are rotated relative to the second wrapper 25 about the longitudinal axis of the smoking article 50, the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 and the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap begin to deregister. After sufficient rotation of the first wrapper 24, the first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway and the third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway are misaligned. In this low ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is restricted.

(50) Throughout rotation of the first wrapper 24, the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 remains completely in registry with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway provided through the underlying rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap. Therefore, in the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted, providing a minimum or baseline level of ventilation.

(51) A smoking article according to a sixth embodiment of the invention (not shown) is of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4. However, in the smoking article according to the sixth embodiment of the invention the second airflow pathway is provided downstream of the first airflow pathway through a portion of the first wrapper 24 overlying the central band 54 of the filter plug wrap and the fourth airflow pathway is provided downstream of the third airflow pathway through the central band of the filter plug wrap.

(52) A smoking article according to a seventh embodiment of the invention (not shown) is also of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4. However, in the smoking article according to the seventh embodiment of the invention, the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway are both provided through a portion of the first wrapper 24 overlying the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap and are circumferentially aligned such that the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway is disposed between the pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway as in the third and fourth embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the smoking article according to the seventh embodiment of the invention, the third airflow pathway and the fourth airflow pathway are both provided through the rod-end band 56 of the filter plug wrap and are also circumferentially aligned such that the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway is disposed between the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway as in the third and fourth embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(53) The smoking article 70 according to the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is a filter cigarette comprising an elongate cylindrical wrapped tobacco rod 11 attached at one end to an axially aligned, elongate cylindrical mouthpiece 12.

(54) The mouthpiece 12 of the smoking article 70 according to the eighth embodiment of the invention is a multi-segment mouthpiece comprising a first upstream segment 14 and a second downstream segment 15. The first segment 14 and the second segment 15 each comprise a plug of cellulose acetate tow or other filtration material circumscribed in a substantially air impermeable filter plug wrap.

(55) The wrapped tobacco rod 11 and the mouthpiece 12 are joined by a first wrapper 24 of substantially air impermeable tipping paper, which circumscribes the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 11. The first wrapper 24 is affixed to the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 and the wrapped tobacco rod 11 by a band of adhesive (not shown).

(56) As shown in FIG. 5, a second wrapper 25 of substantially air impermeable tipping paper circumscribes the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12 and the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12, such that the second wrapper 25 overlies the first wrapper 24. The second wrapper 25 is affixed to the second segment 15 by a band of adhesive (not shown).

(57) A first airflow pathway is provided through the first wrapper 24 overlying the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the first airflow pathway comprises a pair of first openings 18, 19 in the first wrapper 24.

(58) A second air flow pathway is provided through the second wrapper 25 overlying the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the second air flow pathway comprises a single second opening 26 in the second wrapper 25.

(59) A third airflow pathway is provided through the filter plug wrap circumscribing the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the third airflow pathway comprises a pair of third openings 20, 21 in the filter plug wrap.

(60) A fourth airflow pathway is provided through the filter plug wrap circumscribing the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the fourth air flow pathway comprises a single fourth opening 27 in the filter plug wrap.

(61) The pair of first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 24 are aligned with the pair of third openings 20, 21 of the third airflow pathway provided through the underlying filter plug wrap circumscribing the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece 12 and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 is aligned with the fourth opening 27 of the fourth airflow pathway provided through the underlying filter plug wrap circumscribing the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12.

(62) The second segment 15 is movable along the longitudinal axis of the smoking article relative to the first segment 14 between a low ventilation configuration (not shown) in which the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12 abuts the first segment 14 thereof and the high ventilation configuration shown in FIG. 5 in which the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece 12 is longitudinally spaced apart from the first segment 14 thereof. In the high ventilation configuration shown in FIG. 5, the length of the smoking article 70 according to the eighth embodiment of the invention is greater than in the low ventilation configuration.

(63) The first wrapper 24 and the second wrapper 25 comprise retention means that cooperate in the high ventilation configuration to prevent the second segment 15 of the mouthpiece being removed from the smoking article 70. The retention means 72 on the first wrapper 24 is formed by folding the downstream end of the tipping paper towards the exterior of the smoking article 70 and the retention means 74 on the second wrapper 25 is formed by folding the upstream end of the tipping paper towards the interior of the smoking article 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the retention means 72 of the first wrapper and the retention means 74 of the second wrapper are arranged such that the folded ends of tipping paper engage one another when the smoking article 70 is in high ventilation configuration.

(64) In the high ventilation configuration, the first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 14 are exposed and the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 15 is exposed. Thus in the high ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece through the first airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted and airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted providing a maximum level of ventilation.

(65) In the low ventilation configuration, the second wrapper 25 overlies and covers the first openings 18, 19 of the first airflow pathway provided through the first wrapper 14. Thus in the high ventilation configuration, airflow into the mouthpiece 12 through the first airflow pathway is restricted. However, in the low ventilation configuration the second opening 26 of the second airflow pathway provided through the second wrapper 25 remains exposed. Therefore, in the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece through the second airflow pathway is substantially unrestricted, providing a minimum or baseline level of ventilation.

(66) A smoking article according to a ninth embodiment of the invention (not shown) is of largely identical construction to the smoking article according to the eighth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5. However, in the smoking article according to the ninth embodiment of the invention the second airflow pathway is provided upstream of the first airflow pathway through a portion of the first wrapper 24 that is not covered by the second wrapper 25 in the low ventilation configuration and the fourth airflow pathway is provided upstream of the third airflow pathway through the filter plug wrap circumscribing the first segment 14 of the mouthpiece.