Heat-Not-Burn Aerosol Generating Article with Sealed Closure on Tobacco Rod

Abstract

An e-vaping device tobacco heat stick includes a tobacco rod including: a first end, a second end, opposite to the first end, an external peripheral wall extending between the first end and the second end, an extension bound to the first end and including a filter, a sealed closure, fastened to the second end, including a flap including: a proximal portion bound to the second end, a distal portion, opposite to the proximal portion, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion and covering the second end, wherein: the flap distal portion is folded over a part of the tobacco rod external peripheral wall, so as to be fastened onto the part of the tobacco rod external peripheral wall.

Claims

1. A heat-not-burn aerosol generating article comprising: a tobacco rod including: a first end, a second end, opposite to said first end, and an external peripheral wall extending between said first end and said second end, an extension bound to said first end and comprising a filter, and a sealed closure at said second end, comprising a flap including: a proximal portion bound to said second end, a distal portion, opposite to said proximal portion, and an intermediate portion extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion and covering said second end, wherein: said distal portion of said flap is folded over a part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod, so as to be fastened onto said part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod.

2. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein: a first glue layer is disposed between: said distal portion of said flap, and said part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod.

3. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 2, wherein: a second glue layer is disposed between: said intermediate portion of said flap, and said second end.

4. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 3, wherein: said sealed closure further comprises a supplementary flap which is disposed between: said second glue layer, and said second end.

5. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: a third glue layer is disposed between: said flap-intermediate portion of said flap, and said second glue layer.

6. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 5, wherein: said sealed closure further comprises another supplementary flap which is disposed between: said third glue layer, and said second glue layer.

7. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 6, wherein: said supplementary flap includes: a proximal portion bound to said second end, a distal portion, covering only said second end but not covering any part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod, and an intermediate portion extending from said proximal portion of said supplementary flap to said distal portion of said supplementary flap and covering said second end; and/or said another supplementary flap includes: a proximal portion bound to said second end, a distal portion, covering only said second end but not covering any part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod, and an intermediate portion extending from said proximal portion of said another supplementary flap to said distal portion of said another supplementary flap and covering said second end.

8. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein a ratio of a first length from said proximal portion of said flap to said distal portion of said flap divided by a second length from said proximal portion of said supplementary flap to said distal portion of said supplementary flap ranges from 1.5 to 3.

9. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein a second length from said proximal portion of said supplementary flap to said distal portion of said supplementary flap ranges from 0.3 cm to 0.7 cm.

10. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein a first length from said proximal portion of said flap to said distal portion of said flap ranges from 0.8 cm to 2 cm.

11. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: a thickness of said flap is less than 0.2 cm, and/or a thickness of said supplementary flap is less than 0.2 cm.

12. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 3, wherein both said first and second glue layers are made as one and the same pre-glued layer disposed on said flap.

13. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: said flap has a pre-cut triangular or trapezoidal shape, said distal portion of said flap including a tip of said triangular or trapezoidal shape, and/or said supplementary flap has a pre-cut triangular or trapezoidal shape, said distal portion of said supplementary flap including a tip of said triangular or trapezoidal shape.

14. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: said flap is an extension of a wrapper of said tobacco rod, and/or said supplementary flap is another extension of said wrapper of said tobacco rod.

15. A tobacco rod for a heat-not-burn device tobacco heat stick, comprising: a first end, a second end, opposite to said first end, an external peripheral wall extending between said first end and said second end, and a sealed closure at said second end, comprising a flap including: a proximal portion bound to said second end, a distal portion, opposite to said proximal portion, and an intermediate portion extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion and covering said second end, wherein: said distal portion of said flap is folded over a part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod, so as to be fastened onto said part of said external peripheral wall of said tobacco rod.

16. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: a thickness of said flap is less than 0.05 cm, and/or a thickness of said supplementary flap is less than 0.05 cm.

17. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 3, wherein both said first and second glue layers are made as one and the same pre-glued layer disposed on said flap, covering said flap from said proximal portion of said flap to said distal portion of said flap.

18. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating article according to claim 4, wherein: said flap is an extension of a wrapper of said tobacco rod, being one piece with said wrapper of said tobacco rod, and/or said supplementary flap is another extension of said wrapper of said tobacco rod, being one piece with said wrapper of said tobacco rod.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG. 1A to 1E show the main manufacturing steps of a first embodiment of a tobacco rod for an e-vaping device heat tobacco stick according to the invention.

[0068] FIG. 2A to 2F show the main manufacturing steps of a second embodiment of a tobacco rod for an e-vaping device heat tobacco stick according to the invention.

[0069] FIG. 3A to 2E show the main manufacturing steps of a third embodiment of a tobacco rod for an e-vaping device heat tobacco stick according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0070] FIG. 1A to 1E show the main manufacturing steps of a first embodiment of a tobacco rod for a heat tobacco stick for a heat-not-burn device according to the invention. FIG. 1A is at a smaller scale than the FIGS. 1B to 1D which are at the same scale.

[0071] On FIG. 1A, there is a tobacco rod 1 extended on one side by an extension 2 including a filter 4 and on the other side by a flap 5. The tobacco rod 1 has an external peripheral wall 12 extending from its first end 11 to its second end 13. The extension 2 is bound to the first end 11 of the tobacco rod 1. The proximal portion 51 of the flap 5 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The extension may further comprise a cooling or spacing element (e.g., a paper tube) between the filter 4 and the tobacco rod 1 (not shown). Generally, the filter may comprise a single filter segment or two or more filter segments. Filter segments may include, e.g., monoacetate filter segments, hollow filter segments, charcoal filter segment, cavity segment, etc. Each segment may be wrapped by a wrapper (generally known as filter plug wrap) and the segments are joined by a combining wrapper (generally known as filter plug wrap). The tobacco rod may be individually wrapped by a paper wrapper. The extension and the tobacco rod may also be bound by an additional paper wrapper (also known as tipping paper). The flap 5 has an intermediate portion 52 extending from its proximal portion 51 to its distal portion 53. The length of the flap 5 is longer than the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindrical rod with a circular cross section. For example, the length L5 of the flap 5 is about 10 mm and the width w or diameter d of the tobacco rod is between about 5 and 7 mm. The proximal portion 51 of the flap can be bound to the tobacco rod or the flap can be an integral extension part of the paper wrapper of the tobacco rod. In case of an integral part of the tobacco wrapper, the manufacturing process is simplified and avoid a separate element to be cut and glued to the tobacco rod in the configuration of FIG. 1A.

[0072] On FIG. 1B, a glue layer 6 is applied on the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1, close to second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1.

[0073] On FIG. 1C, the flap 5 is folded so that its intermediate portion 52 covers the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The intermediate portion 52 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1 is fully covered by the flap 5. For this, the intermediate portion 52 is preferably large enough in the transversal direction to the folding direction so as to cover the second portion without leaving uncovered areas of the second end. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is protruding further than the glue layer 6 and further than the width w or diameter d of the tobacco rod 1.

[0074] On FIG. 1D, the flap 5 is further folded so that its distal portion 53 is applied on the glue layer 6, so that the distal portion 53 of the flap 5 sticks to the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the glue layer 6 which covers part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The sealed closure 3, which includes the flap 5 and the glue layer 6, is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The overall length increase of the heat tobacco stick is limited because only a circumferential portion of the external surface of the tobacco rod is overlapped by the flap.

[0075] FIG. 1E is an example of a possible embodiment, illustrating a 3D sketch showing the geometric shape of the flap in the space. The flap 5 presents a shape of a portion of cylinder with a circular cross section, extending the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. Before the flap is rolled, i.e., when the shape of the flap is developed on a flat plane, its form is substantially rectangular but it may take other forms such as a trapezoidal or triangular shape.

[0076] FIG. 2A to 2F show the main manufacturing steps of a second embodiment of a tobacco rod for a heat tobacco stick according to the invention. FIG. 3A is at a smaller scale than the FIGS. 2B to 2E which are at the same scale. The overall structure and arrangement of the different parts (tobacco rod, extension) of the stick remain the same as the previous embodiment and so are not repeated after.

[0077] On FIG. 2A, there is a tobacco rod 1 extended on one side by an extension 2 including a filter 4 and on the other side by a flap 5 and by a first supplementary flap 7 and by a second supplementary flap 9. The tobacco rod 1 has an external peripheral wall 12 extending from its first end 11 to its second end 13. The extension 2 is bound to the first end 11 of the tobacco rod 1.

[0078] The proximal portion 51 of the flap 5 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The flap 5 has an intermediate portion 52 extending from its proximal portion 51 to its distal portion 53. The length of the flap 5 is longer than the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindric rod with a circular cross section.

[0079] The proximal portion 71 of the first supplementary flap 7 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The proximal portion 71 of the first supplementary flap 7 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, but angularly shifted, with respect to the disc formed by the second end 13, as compared to the proximal portion 51 of the flap 5. The first supplementary flap 7 has an intermediate portion 72 extending from its proximal portion 71 to its distal portion 73. The length of the first supplementary flap 7 is as long as the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindric rod with a circular cross section. The length L7 of the first supplementary flap 7 is shorter than the length L5 of the flap 5. The length L5 of the flap 5 is about 1 cm. The length L7 of the first supplementary flap 7 is about 0.5 cm.

[0080] The proximal portion 91 of the second supplementary flap 9 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The proximal portion 91 of the second supplementary flap 9 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, but angularly shifted, with respect to the disc formed by the second end 13, as compared to the proximal portion 51 of the flap 5. The second supplementary flap 9 has an intermediate portion 92 extending from its proximal portion 91 to its distal portion 93. The length of the second supplementary flap 9 is as long as the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindric rod with a circular cross section. The length L7 of the second supplementary flap 9 is equal to the length L7 of the first supplementary flap 7 and is shorter than the length L5 of the flap 5. The length L5 of the flap 5 is about 1 cm. The lengths L7 of the first and second supplementary flaps 7 and 9 are equal to each other, and length L7 is preferably about 0.5 cm.

[0081] On FIG. 2B, the first supplementary flap 7 is folded so that its intermediate portion 72 and its distal portion 73 cover the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The first supplementary flap 7 is pressed onto the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1 is covered fully or partly on more than half of its area by the first supplementary flap 7. No part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1 is covered by the first supplementary flap 7.

[0082] On FIG. 2C, a first glue layer 6 is applied on the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1, close to second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, and a second glue layer 8 is applied on the first supplementary flap 7 which covers the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. Both first glue layer 6 and second glue layer 8 can be applied within a single manufacturing step. Second glue layer 8 is applied on the whole surface of the first supplementary flap 7.

[0083] The second supplementary flap 9 is folded so that its intermediate portion 92 and its distal portion 93 cover the second glue layer 8. The second supplementary flap 9 is pressed onto the second glue layer 8. The second glue layer 8 is covered fully or partly on more than half of its area by the second supplementary flap 9. No part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1 is covered by the second supplementary flap 9.

[0084] A third glue layer 10 is applied on the second supplementary flap 9. Third glue layer 10 is applied on the whole surface of the second supplementary flap 9.

[0085] On FIG. 2D, the flap 5 is folded so that its intermediate portion 52 covers the third glue layer 10 which itself covers the second supplementary flap 9. The intermediate portion 52 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the third glue layer 10. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is protruding further than the third glue layer 10 and further than the width w or diameter d of the tobacco rod 1.

[0086] On FIG. 2E, the flap 5 is further folded so that its distal portion 53 is applied on the glue layer 6, so that the distal portion 53 of the flap 5 sticks to the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the first glue layer 6 which covers part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The sealed closure 3, which includes the flap 5 and the first supplementary flap 7 and the second supplementary flap 9, as well as the first glue layer 6 and the second glue layer 8 and the third glue layer 10, is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. Overall length increase of the heat tobacco stick is very limited.

[0087] The proximal portions of the flaps can be bound to the tobacco rod or the flaps can be integral extension parts of the paper wrapper of the tobacco rod. In case of integral parts of the tobacco wrapper, the manufacturing process is simplified and avoids separate elements to be cut and glued to the tobacco rod in the configuration of FIG. 2A.

[0088] FIG. 2F is an example of a possible embodiment, illustrating a 3D sketch showing the geometric shape and distribution of the flaps in the space. The flap 5 presents a shape of a portion of cylinder with a circular cross section, extending the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The first supplementary flap 7 presents a shape of a portion of cylinder with a circular cross section, extending the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The second supplementary flap 9 presents a shape of a portion of cylinder with a circular cross section, extending the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The flap 5, the first supplementary flap 7 and the second supplementary flap 9, are distributed angularly around the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, preferably regularly distributed, for example at 120 degrees from one another. Advantageously, the flap 5, the first supplementary flap 7 and the second supplementary flap 9, are distributed along the whole periphery of the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, being thereby contiguous to one another, so that practically no part of the periphery of the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1 is void of flap. Before the flaps are rolled, i.e., when the shape of the flaps are developed on a flat plane, their individual form is substantially rectangular but it may take other forms such as a trapezoidal or triangular shape.

[0089] FIG. 3A to 3E show the main manufacturing steps of a third embodiment of a tobacco rod for a tobacco stick according to the invention. FIG. 3A is at a smaller scale than the FIGS. 3B to 3E which are at the same scale. The overall structure and arrangement of the different parts (tobacco rod, extension) of the stick remain the same as the previous embodiments and are not repeated after.

[0090] On FIG. 3A, there is a tobacco rod 1 extended on one side by an extension 2 including a filter 4 and on the other side by a flap 5 and by a supplementary flap 7. The tobacco rod 1 has an external peripheral wall 12 extending from its first end 11 to its second end 13. The extension 2 is bound to the first end 11 of the tobacco rod 1.

[0091] The proximal portion 51 of the flap 5 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The flap 5 has an intermediate portion 52 extending from its proximal portion 51 to its distal portion 53. The length of the flap 5 is longer than the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindric rod with a circular cross section.

[0092] The proximal portion 71 of the supplementary flap 7 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The proximal portion 71 of the supplementary flap 7 is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1 on a opposite side of the second end 13 as compared to the proximal portion 51 of the flap 5. The supplementary flap 7 has an intermediate portion 72 extending from its proximal portion 71 to its distal portion 73. The length of the supplementary flap 7 is as long as the width w or the diameter d of the tobacco rod 1 which is preferably a cylindric rod with a circular cross section. The length L7 of the supplementary flap 7 is shorter than the length L5 of the flap 5. The length L5 of the flap 5 is about 1 cm. The length L7 of the supplementary flap 7 is about 0.5 cm.

[0093] On FIG. 3B, the supplementary flap 7 is folded so that its intermediate portion 72 and its distal portion 73 cover the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The supplementary flap 7 is pressed onto the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1 is fully covered by the supplementary flap 7. No part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1 is covered by the supplementary flap 7.

[0094] On FIG. 3C, a first glue layer 6 is applied on the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1, close to second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1, and a second glue layer 8 is applied on the supplementary flap 7 which covers the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. Both first glue layer 6 and second glue layer 8 can be applied within a single manufacturing step. Second glue layer 8 is applied on the whole surface of the supplementary flap 7.

[0095] On FIG. 3D, the flap 5 is folded so that its intermediate portion 52 covers the second glue layer 8 which itself covers the supplementary flap 7 which itself covers the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The intermediate portion 52 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the second glue layer 8 which covers the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is protruding further than the second glue layer 8 and further than the width w or diameter d of the tobacco rod 1.

[0096] The proximal portions of the flaps can be bound to the tobacco rod or the flaps can be integral extension parts of the paper wrapper of the tobacco rod. In case of integral parts of the tobacco wrapper, the manufacturing process is simplified and avoid separate elements to be cut and glued to the tobacco rod in the configuration of FIG. 3A.

[0097] On FIG. 3E, the flap 5 is further folded so that its distal portion 53 is applied on the glue layer 6, so that the distal portion 53 of the flap 5 sticks to the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The distal portion 53 of the flap 5 is pressed onto the first glue layer 6 which covers part of the external peripheral wall 12 of the tobacco rod 1. The sealed closure 3, which includes the flap 5 and the supplementary flap 7, as well as the first glue layer 6 and the second glue layer 8, is bound to the second end 13 of the tobacco rod 1. Overall length increase of the heat tobacco stick is very limited.

[0098] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, many variations are possible within the scope of the invention.