Smoking article comprising extinguisher element

Abstract

A smoking article (10) includes a tobacco rod (“rod”) (12) and a mouthpiece (14) secured to a downstream end of the rod (12). The mouthpiece contains: a tubular element (20) defining a longitudinal channel, a downstream segment of filter material (24), and an extinguisher element (22). The tubular element (20) is provided adjacent the downstream end of the rod (12). The downstream segment of filter material (24) is downstream of the tubular element (20) and spaced apart from the tubular element (20) to define a cavity (26) between the tubular element (20) and the downstream segment of filter material (24). The extinguisher element (22) includes: a compressible reservoir (28) provided in the cavity (26) and containing liquid, a neck portion (30) extending upstream from the reservoir (28) and having an open end, and a seal (32) provided over the open end of the neck portion (30). The neck portion (30) is received in the longitudinal channel of the tubular element (20) such that the open end is proximate the downstream end of the rod (12).

Claims

1. A mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiece comprising: a tubular element defining a longitudinal channel, wherein the tubular element is provided at an upstream end of the mouthpiece; a downstream segment of filter material, wherein the downstream segment of filter material is downstream of the tubular element and spaced apart from the tubular element to define a cavity between the tubular element and the downstream segment of filter material; and an extinguisher element comprising: a compressible reservoir provided in the cavity between the tubular element and the downstream segment of filter material, the compressible reservoir containing a liquid; a neck portion extending in a longitudinal direction upstream from the reservoir and having an open end, wherein the neck portion is received in the longitudinal channel of the tubular element such that the open end is proximate the downstream end of the tobacco rod; and a seal provided over the open end of the neck portion, wherein upon compression of the reservoir during use, the seal is broken and the liquid from the reservoir is releasable through the neck portion and out of the upstream end of the mouthpiece, wherein the compressible reservoir has an outer diameter which is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the downstream segment of filter material.

2. A smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and a mouthpiece secured to a downstream end of the tobacco rod, the mouthpiece comprising: a tubular element defining a longitudinal channel, wherein the tubular element is provided adjacent the downstream end of the tobacco rod; a downstream segment of filter material, wherein the downstream segment of filter material is downstream of the tubular element and spaced apart from the tubular element to define a cavity between the tubular element and the downstream segment of filter material; and an extinguisher element comprising: a compressible reservoir provided in the cavity between the tubular element and the downstream segment of filter material, the compressible reservoir containing a liquid; a neck portion extending in a longitudinal direction upstream from the reservoir and having an open end, wherein the neck portion is received in the longitudinal channel of the tubular element such that the open end is proximate the downstream end of the tobacco rod; and a seal provided over the open end of the neck portion, wherein upon compression of the reservoir during use, the seal is broken and the liquid from the reservoir is releasable through the neck portion directly into the tobacco rod, wherein the compressible reservoir has an outer diameter which is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the downstream segment of filter material.

3. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the open end of the neck portion of the extinguisher element is positioned at least 1 mm downstream of an upstream end of the tubular element.

4. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the tubular element is a hollow tube of cellulose acetate.

5. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the length of the tubular element is between 3 mm and 5 mm.

6. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the seal is a frangible cover portion which covers the open end of the neck portion and which breaks upon compression of the reservoir such that the liquid from the reservoir is releasable through the open end of the neck portion.

7. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the neck portion and the reservoir are integrally formed.

8. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the neck portion at the open end has a diameter which is between 2 mm and 4 mm.

9. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the reservoir is formed of a polymeric material.

10. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the reservoir is formed of a material having a thickness of between 30 microns and 60 microns.

11. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein the liquid in the reservoir of the extinguisher element comprises water and one or more hydrophilic flavourant additives.

12. The smoking article according to claim 2 wherein a downstream end of the reservoir abuts the downstream segment of filter material.

13. A method of manufacturing a mouthpiece for a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tubular element having a longitudinal channel; providing an extinguishing element comprising a compressible reservoir; a neck portion extending from the reservoir and having an open end; and a seal provided over the open end of the neck portion; inserting the neck portion of the extinguishing element into the longitudinal channel of the tubular element; combining the tubular element and the extinguishing element with a segment of filter material such that the reservoir of the extinguishing element is positioned between the tubular element and the segment of filter material and such that a compressible reservoir outer diameter is substantially the same as a filter material downstream segment outer diameter; and circumscribing the tubular element, the extinguishing element and the segment of filter material with a wrapper to form the mouthpiece.

14. A method of producing the mouthpiece of the smoking article according to claim 2, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of tubular elements each having the longitudinal channel; for each tubular element, providing a pair of extinguishing elements and arranging one extinguishing element on each side of the tubular element with the neck portion of the respective extinguishing elements directed towards the longitudinal channel of the tubular element; providing the segment of filter material between each combination of the tubular element and pair of extinguishing elements to form a continuous longitudinal arrangement; inserting the neck portion of each extinguishing element into the longitudinal channel of the respective tubular element; and cutting the continuous longitudinal arrangement at a position midway along each segment of filter material and at a position midway along each tubular element to form a plurality of mouthpieces.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article according to the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 1.

(4) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a smoking article 10 in accordance with the present invention. The smoking article 10 comprises a wrapped tobacco rod 12 of tobacco cut filler which is attached at one end to an axially aligned mouthpiece 14. A band of tipping paper circumscribes the mouthpiece 14 and a portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 12 to join together the two components of the smoking article 10.

(5) As shown in FIG. 2, the mouthpiece 14 comprises a tubular element 20, an extinguisher element 22 and a downstream segment of filter material 24. The tubular element 20 is provided at the upstream end of the mouthpiece 14, with the upstream end of the tubular element 20 abutting the downstream end of the tobacco rod 12. The tubular element 20 is a hollow acetate tube having a central longitudinal channel.

(6) The downstream segment of filter material 24 is a segment of cellulose acetate tow which is provided at the mouth end of the mouthpiece 14. The downstream segment of filter material 24 is spaced apart from the tubular element 20 in the longitudinal direction to define a cavity 26 within the mouthpiece 14.

(7) The extinguisher element 22 is provided in the cavity 26 between the tubular element 20 and the downstream segment of filter material 24. The extinguisher element 22 comprises a compressible reservoir 28 and an integral neck portion 30 extending upstream from the compressible reservoir 28. The compressible reservoir 28 is substantially cylindrical and is formed by a flexible outer wall defining an inner cavity which contains a liquid for extinguishing the tobacco rod after use. As shown in FIG. 2, the neck portion 30 is mounted in the longitudinal channel of the tubular element 20. The neck portion 30 has an open end at the upstream end, which is sealed in a liquid tight manner by a frangible cover portion 32. The diameter of the neck portion 30 decreases between the compressible reservoir 28 and the open end.

(8) At the end of smoking, the consumer may apply a transverse compressive force to the compressible reservoir 28 to activate the extinguisher element 22 and bring about release of the liquid in order to extinguish the burning tobacco rod 12. The compressive force applied to the compressible reservoir 28 causes deformation of the outer wall and an increased pressure within the cavity of the compressible reservoir 28. At a certain level of compressive force, the increased pressure within the cavity of the compressible reservoir 28 causes the frangible cover portion 32 over the neck portion 30 of the extinguisher element 22 to break, thereby activating the extinguisher element. The breakage of the frangible cover portion 32 allows the liquid within the compressible reservoir to pass out from the cavity in the compressible reservoir 28 through the open end of the neck portion 30. The liquid is released directly into the tobacco rod 12 and passes along the tobacco rod 12 until it reaches the burning end, where it causes extinguishment of the tobacco rod.