COOLING ELEMENT

Abstract

A cooling element comprising a longitudinally extending core including a plurality of longitudinally extending bores wherein each bore has a diameter ≥0.8 mm.

Claims

1. A cooling element comprising a longitudinally extending core including a plurality of longitudinally extending bores wherein each bore has a diameter ≥0.8 mm.

2. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein each bore has a diameter from 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm.

3. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein each bore has a diameter from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

4. A cooling element according to any claim 1 including from 2 to 12 bores.

5. A cooling element according to claim 1 including from 2 to 6 bores.

6. (canceled)

7. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein each bore extends the full length of the core.

8. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the length of the cooling element is from 5 to 50 mm, e.g. 10 to 30 mm, e.g. 8 to 24 mm, e.g. 15 to 20 mm, e.g. 18 mm.

9. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the circumference of the cooling element is from 12 mm to 30 mm, e.g. 15 mm to 28 mm, more preferably 17 mm to 25 mm.

10. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the cooling element is thermoformed from cellulose acetate.

11. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein each bore has a substantially circular cross section.

12. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein a bore has a substantially circular cross section and/or wherein a bore has a cross section of a different shape e.g. semi-circular (D-shaped) cross section, e.g. square cross section, e.g. triangular cross section, e.g. hollow star shaped cross section, e.g. trilobal cross section, e.g. pentagonal cross section, e.g. cog-shaped cross section, e.g. a cross section in the shape of a logo or other pattern.

13. A cooling element for a tobacco heating product and/or HNB product comprising a longitudinally extending core including from 2 to 12 longitudinally extending bores.

14. A cooling element for a tobacco heating product and/or HNB product comprising a longitudinally extending core including a plurality of longitudinally extending bores wherein each bore has a diameter ≥0.8 mm.

15. A smoking article (e.g. tobacco heating product, HNB product) comprising a cooling element according to claim 1 and optionally one or more discrete further segments.

16. A tobacco heating product and/or HNB product comprising the cooling element of claim 14.

17. A tobacco heating product and/or a HNB product comprising the cooling element of claim 13.

18. A tobacco heating product and/or a HNB product according to claim 16 wherein each bore has a diameter from 0.8 mm to 2.5 mm.

19. A tobacco heating product and/or HNB product according to claim 16 including from 2 to 6 bores.

20. A tobacco heating product and/or HNB product according to claim 16 wherein each bore extends the length of the cooling element.

21. A tobacco heating product and/or HNB product according to claim 16 further comprising one or more discrete further segments.

22-23. (canceled)

24. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending bores comprises 3 longitudinally extending bores.

25. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending bores comprises 4 longitudinally extending bores.

26. A cooling element according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending bores comprises 5 longitudinally extending bores.

27. A method of making a cooling element comprising a step of passing a material to which plasticiser has been applied through a shaping means while heat treating the material to thereby form a longitudinally extending core of the material including a plurality of longitudinally extending bores wherein each bore has a diameter ≥0.8 mm, the shaping means including at least one protruding inner rod (mandrel) comprising a plurality of pins that each have a cross sectional profile substantially equal to the cross section of a longitudinally extending bore.

28. A cooling element according to claim 13 wherein the 2 to 12 longitudinally extending bores comprises 3 longitudinally extending bores.

29. A tobacco heating product and/or a HNB product according to claim 17 wherein the 2 to 12 longitudinally extending bores comprises 3 to 5 longitudinally extending bores.

Description

[0061] The present invention will now be discussed in further detail with reference to the attached Figures in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a HNB product according to the invention which includes a cooling element according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the cooling element of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

[0064] FIG. 3 shows the cross sectional profile of a number of cooling elements according to various embodiments of the present invention wherein the cross sections of the bores are a variety of different shapes;

[0065] FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of how the temperature at the mouth end of a HNB product varies as puffs are taken when the HNB product contains cooling element A in comparison with when the HNB product contains cooling element B;

[0066] FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of how the temperature at the mouth end of a HNB product varies as puffs are taken when the HNB product contains cooling element A in comparison with when the HNB product contains cooling element C;

[0067] FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of how the temperature at the mouth end of a HNB product varies as puffs are taken when the HNB product contains cooling element A in comparison with when the HNB product contains cooling element D.

[0068] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a cylindrical HNB product 100. The HNB product 100 comprises four segments: a cylindrical plug 102 of reconstituted tobacco; a cylindrical plug 104 of cellulose acetate tow; a cylindrical cooling element 106 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and a mouthpiece segment 108 in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. Plug 102 of reconstituted tobacco is 8 mm long and has a circumference of 22 mm, and forms one end of the HNB product 100. This is the end inserted in a HNB device. Such plugs of reconstituted tobacco are well known in the art. This plug is heated in use by a heating device (HNB device) to produce a vapour as is well known in the art. The plug 102 of reconstituted tobacco is abutted at one end to a 18 mm long cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow 104 which is also of circumference 22 mm. The end of the plug of cellulose acetate tow 104 opposite to the plug of reconstituted tobacco 102 is abutted to a cylindrical cooling element 106 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows the cooling element 106 which comprises a longitudinally extending core 110 of thermoformed cellulose acetate material of length 18 mm and circumference 22 mm. The longitudinally extending core 110 includes three longitudinally extending bores 112, all of which have a circular cross section. Each longitudinally extending bore 112 has a diameter of around 2 mm. The longitudinally extending bores 112 extend through the full length of the longitudinally extending core 110 from the end abutting the cylindrical plug 104 to the end abutting the mouthpiece segment 108. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the longitudinally extending bores 112 are arranged in a substantially triangular arrangement in the longitudinally extending core 110. The cooling element 106 has a uniform axial cross section. The manufacture of the cooling element 106 is discussed below.

[0070] Mouthpiece segment 108 is of length 7 mm and circumference 22 mm and comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. Segment 108 is abutted to the opposite end of the cooling element 106 to the cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow 104 such that cooling element 106 is positioned in between mouthpiece segment 108 and plug 104.

[0071] The cylindrical plug of reconstituted tobacco 102, cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow 104, cylindrical cooling element 106 and the mouthpiece segment in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow 108 are further wrapped with a plugwrap (not shown) of conventional plugwrap paper (that is known in the art). This provides an external appearance similar to that of a conventional cigarette.

[0072] During use, the cylindrical plug of reconstituted tobacco 102 of the HNB product 100 is inserted into a HNB device. The HNB device heats the reconstituted tobacco in the manner conventional for HNB devices. This produces a hot vapour which is first drawn through the plug of cellulose acetate tow 104 and then through the cooling element 106 and then finally through the mouthpiece segment 108 to the smoker's mouth. It is believe that drawing this hot vapour through the 3 bores in the cooling element 106 cools the vapour down to a temperature that is acceptable for the user. The applicants have found that the use of 3 bores in a triangular arrangement provide a particularly effective level of cooling. Further, such a cooling effect is not generally expected from cellulose acetate material.

[0073] The thermoformed cellulose acetate cooling element 106 is produced by a method according to the present invention. A continuous bundle of cellulose acetate filamentary tow containing triacetin plasticiser (the percentage of plasticiser present by total weight of filamentary tow and triacetin plasticiser is around 18%) is pulled through a fix die. While being pulled through the fix die the cellulose acetate material is heat treated to form a longitudinally extending core of thermoformed cellulose acetate material. The fix die includes an inner rod (mandrel) that extend through the fixed die. The mandrel consists of three pins of circular cross section and diameter 2 mm. As the cellulose acetate material is pulled through the die, it passes around the pins of the mandrel such that on exiting the die, a cooling element 106 is formed having three bores 112 of diameter 2 mm extending longitudinally through the core of thermoformed cellulose acetate material 110. Superheated steam is applied to the cellulose acetate while it is in the die via a duct in the die. The heated steam cures the triacetin plasticiser, allowing the cooling element 106 to maintain its shape after exiting the die. The cellulose acetate cooling element 106 is exposed to cooling air at temperature 22 to 25° C. after it is formed for an extended period of time (13 seconds).

[0074] It will be appreciated that by adjusting the shape and size of the pins, the shape and size of the bores can be adjusted. FIG. 3 illustrates examples of the possible shapes of bores that can be produced by this method of manufacture.

Experiment

[0075] Cooling element A of the invention was made according to the method of the present invention. Cooling element A comprises a longitudinally extending core of thermoformed cellulose acetate material of length 18 mm and circumference 22 mm. The longitudinally extending core includes four longitudinally extending bores, all of which have a circular cross section. Each longitudinally extending bore has a diameter of between 1.5 mm and 1.6 mm. The longitudinally extending bores extend through the full length of the longitudinally extending core.

[0076] Cooling element A was tested against three conventional tubular cooling elements of differing materials that contain a single bore (B, C and D). The cooling elements were tested in three different conventional HNB products (e.g. heatsticks) with each HNB product including one of the conventional cooling elements B, C or D. Cooling element B was a paper tube, cooling element C was an acetate tube and cooling element D was a hollow PLA rope.

[0077] Each HNB product was inserted into a heating device. The mouth end of the HNB product was inserted into a smoking machine which is configured to smoke the HNB product. An IR camera was used to analyse the temperature at the mouth end of the HNB product while it is being smoked. The smoking machine was configured to take a puff on the HNB product every 30 seconds, each puff being 2 seconds long. The temperature at the mouth end of the HNB product was measured for each puff. The experiment was performed at standard room temperature and humidity. The experiment was repeated for each HNB product. The conventional cooling elements (B, C and D) were then removed from the HNB products and replaced with cooling element A according to the present invention. The experiment was repeated for each of the three HNB products (now containing cooling element A).

[0078] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the temperature at the mouth end for each puff for the HNB products containing cooling element A in comparison with cooling elements B, C and D. The Figures show that cooling element A of the present invention is capable of providing a cooling effect that is comparable or better than the conventional cooling elements while providing an number of additional benefits e.g. being cheaper to manufacture, providing better sensory characteristics such as taste and feel etc. In particular FIG. 6 illustrates that the mouth end temperature of the HNB product with cooling element A is significantly lower than the mouth end temperature with PLA cooling element D for each puff. This indicates the thermoformed cellulose acetate cooling element of the invention can provide improved cooling to conventional PLA elements without the numerous drawbacks of PLA elements.