Flavoring Device and a Method to Flavor an Aerosol Generating Article Using Such Flavoring Device

Abstract

A flavoring device includes a three-dimensional shape with a surface enclosing an inner volume, wherein the surface includes a first part directed outwardly of the three-dimensional shape and a second part being the lateral area of a cylindrically shaped hole protruding through the flavoring device, wherein the flavoring device includes a frame arranged at the surface of the three-dimensional shape and framing the inner volume at least in part, wherein the flavoring material is arranged within the frame, wherein the frame and the flavoring material are permeable to an air flow directed from a surrounding of the flavoring device through the first part of the surface, through the inner volume, thereby interacting with the flavoring material, and through the second part of the surface into the hole, in which the smoking article is arrangeable. The device includes the shape of a hollow cylinder having airflow-permeable inner and outer lateral areas.

Claims

1. A flavoring device, in particular for flavoring a fluid stream, such as a smoke and/or vapor of a smoking article, wherein the flavoring device comprises a three-dimensional shape with a surface enclosing an inner volume, wherein the surface comprises a first part directed outwardly of the three-dimensional shape and a second part being a lateral area of a cylindrically shaped hole protruding through the flavoring device , wherein the flavoring device comprises a frame arranged at the surface of the three-dimensional shape and framing the inner volume at least in part, wherein a flavoring material is arranged within the frame, wherein the frame and the flavoring material are permeable to an air flow directed from a surrounding of the flavoring device through the first part of the surface, through the inner volume, thereby interacting with the flavoring material, and through the second part of the surface into the hole, in which a smoking article is arrangeable, wherein the flavoring device comprises a shape of a hollow cylinder having airflow-permeable inner and outer lateral areas.

2. The flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein in the inner volume a carrier material is arranged in which the flavoring material is contained.

3. The flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of a base area of the cylindrically shaped hole equals a diameter of a mouth piece of a smoking article.

4. The flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the surface comprise cut-outs, perforations and/or are netlike at least in part.

5. The flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes cellulose acetate, at least one biodegradable polymer, wood, cork, clay and/or zeolite.

6. The flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring material includes a solid material, a crystal, a granule, a gel and/or a liquid.

7. The flavoring device according to claim 2, wherein the carrier material includes clay, zeolite, cellulose, cellulose acetate, cotton, granule and/or gel.

8. The flavoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a peel-off strip covering at least all airflow-permeable parts of the first part of the surface.

9. The flavoring device according to claim 8, wherein the peel-off strip comprises paper and/or cellulose.

10. The flavoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a gasket at edges of the second part of surface.

11. The flavoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a removable holder, made of non-porous material comprising a circular cross section with a diameter corresponding to a diameter of a base area of the cylindrically shaped hole, the removable holder arranged protruding through the hole.

12. A kit comprising a smoking article and the flavoring device according to claim 1, wherein the flavoring device is placed on a mouth piece of the smoking article with the mouth piece arranged protruding through the hole, wherein the mouth piece comprises air intake openings and the flavoring device is placed over the air intake openings with the second part of the surface, and an air flow of the flavoring device is configured to be in fluid communication with a smoke and/or vapor through the air intake openings.

13. The kit according to claim 12, wherein the smoking article further comprises a wrapper with two circumferential perforation lines distanced from each other along a longitudinal axis, wherein a circumferential first part of the wrapper enclosed between the perforation lines is removable from the mouth piece with respect to a second part of the wrapper.

14. A method for flavoring smoke and/or vapor of a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece, with air intake openings, wherein a flavoring device comprising: a three-dimensional shape with a surface enclosing an inner volume, wherein the surface comprises a first part directed outwardly of the three-dimensional shape and a second part being a lateral area of a cylindrically shaped hole protruding through the flavoring device, and a frame arranged at the surface of the three-dimensional shape and framing the inner volume at least in part, wherein the flavoring material is arranged within the frame, wherein the frame and the flavoring material are permeable to an air flow directed from a surrounding of the flavoring device through the first part of the surface, through the inner volume, thereby interacting with the flavoring material, and through the second part of the surface into the hole, wherein the flavoring device comprises a shape of a hollow cylinder having airflow-permeable inner and outer lateral areas, is arranged around the smoking article, wherein the flavoring device is positioned on the mouth piece covering the air intake openings.

15. The flavoring device according to claim 11, wherein the removable holder is in a stick form.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.

[0029] The figures show:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective view of the flavoring device 1;

[0031] FIG. 2 a schematic view of the flavoring device 1 arranged at a smoking article 4;

[0032] FIG. 3 a sectional view of the flavoring device 1;

[0033] FIG. 4 a sectional view of the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28;

[0034] FIG. 5 a sectional view of the flavoring device 1 and the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28 combined;

[0035] FIG. 6 a segment of the flavoring device 1 in a perspective view;

[0036] FIGS. 7 a-d different embodiments of the flavoring device 1 with different airflow permeable parts 20;

[0037] FIGS. 8 a,b a flavoring device 1 with a peel-off strip 19 (FIG. 8a) and the flavoring device 1 after removal of the pee-off strip 19 (FIG. 8b);

[0038] FIGS. 9 a,b a smoking article 4 with a removable first part 34 of the wrapper 30 (FIG. 9a) and the smoking article 4 after removal of the first part 34 of the wrapper 30 (FIG. 9b);

[0039] FIG. 10 a schematic view of the removable holder 23 with flavoring devices 1 arranged thereon

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the flavoring device 1 in a perspective view. The flavoring device 1 comprises a three-dimensional (3D-shape) 6. The 3D-shape 6 comprises a surface 7, which encloses an inner volume 8. The flavoring device 1 comprises a cylindrically shaped hole 12, which protrudes completely through the flavoring device 1 having a longitudinal axis L. In other words, the flavoring device 1 comprises a circular shaped channel 12 running along the longitudinal axis L. The surface 7 of the flavoring device 1 comprises two parts 9, 10. A first part 9 of the surface 7 is directed outwardly of the 3D-shape 6, i.e. towards a surrounding 15 of the flavoring device 1. A second part 10 of the surface 7 denotes the lateral area 11 of the cylindrically shape hole 12. The diameter 12a of the hole is defined by the diameter 26 of the base area 27 of the cylindrically shaped hole 12.

[0041] The 3D shape 6 is a ring 6. In other words, the 3D shape 6 is a hollow cylinder 6. This hollow cylinder 6 comprises an inner lateral area 17, which is the same area as the lateral area 11 of the cylindrically shaped hole 12 and denotes the second part 10 of the surface 7. Furthermore, the hollow cylinder 6 also comprises an outer lateral area 18. The outer lateral area 18 is part of the first part 9 of the surface 7 and is directed towards the surrounding 15 of the flavoring device 1.

[0042] The flavoring device 1 comprises a frame 13. The frame 13 stabilizes the flavoring device 1 mechanically. The frame 13 surrounds the inner volume 8 at least in part. In the inner volume 8 and in the frame 13 a flavoring material 5 is arranged. The flavoring material 5 can deliver a flavor to an air flow 14 passing through the flavoring material 5. The surface 7 of the flavoring device 1 comprises air-permeable parts 20. In the air-permeable parts 20 an air flow 14 can pass through the surface 7 of the flavoring device 1. The first part 9 of the surface 7 comprises at least one air-permeable part 20. The second part 10 of the surface 7 comprises at least one air-permeable part 20. This implies that the frame 13 is permeable to an airflow 14. However, the frame 13 is not necessarily air-permeable in its entirety. Preferably, only parts of the frame 13 are air-permeable thereby denoting the air-permeable parts 20. Due to the air-permeability of the frame 13, an airflow 14 can pass from a surrounding 15 of the flavoring device through the first part 9 of the surface 7 into the inner volume 8. The flavoring material 5 arranged in the inner volume 8 is also air-permeable. The air flow 14 passes through the flavoring material 5 thereby interacting with it. During the interaction flavor is transferred from the flavoring material 5 to the air of the air flow 14 passing through the flavoring material 5. From there the air flow 14 passes through the second part 10 of the surface 7 into the hole 12. In this way an air flow 14 directed from the surrounding 15 of the flavoring device 1 through the first part 9 of the surface 7, through the inner volume 8, thereby interacting with the flavoring material 5, and through the second part 10 of the surface 7 can flow into the hole 12, in which a smoking article 4 is arrangeable.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the flavoring device 1 arranged at a smoking article 4. The smoking article 4 is arranged with its mouthpiece 28 in the hole 12 of the flavoring device 1. The appropriate fitting of a smoking article 4 in the hole 12 is secured by the diameter 12a of the hole 12 corresponding to the diameter 28a of the mouthpiece 28. Corresponding means in this context that the diameter 12a of the hole 12 can be slightly smaller or larger than the diameter 28a of the mouthpiece 28. The exact size of the diameter 12a of the hole 12 depends on the chosen material combination of flavoring device 1 and mouthpiece 28 and is selected to ensure a secure fit of the flavoring device 1 on the mouthpiece 28. Preferably, the diameter 12a of the hole 12 equals the diameter 28a of the mouthpiece 28.

[0044] With the arrangement of the smoking article 4 in the hole 12, the air flow 14 is now directed from the surrounding 15 of the flavoring device 1 through the first part 9 of the surface 7, through the inner volume 8, thereby interacting with the flavoring material 5, and through the second part 10 of the surface 7 towards the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28. The mouthpiece 28 comprises ventilation holes 32 (not shown in FIG. 2 as they are covered by the flavoring device 1). The ventilation holes 32 allow a secondary flow path 37 from the surrounding 15 through the ventilation holes 32 into the mouthpiece 28 in addition to the primary flow path 36 of the smoking article. The primary flow path 36 is the flow path of the smoke 2 and/or vapor 3. In case of a conventional cigarette, this primary flow path 36 is directed from a lit end 38 of the smoking article along its longitudinal axis L towards a mouth end 39. In the mouthpiece 28 the primary and secondary flow paths 36, 37 join and leave the smoking article together at the mouth end 39.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the flavoring device 1 parallel to the base area 20 and perpendicular to the lateral area 11 shown in FIG. 1. The ring shape of the flavoring device 1 of this embodiment can directly be seen. The first part 9 and the second part 10 of the surface 7 are concentric circles in this cross-section. The represent the frame 13. Between the first and second part 9, 10, i.e. in the frame 13, the flavoring material 5 is arranged. For better visibility the flavoring material 5 is shown slightly smaller, so it can be visually distinguished from the surface 7 and the frame 13. However in reality flavoring material 5 and frame 13 would be in direct contact. The first and second parts 9, 10 comprise airflow permeable parts 20. The air flow 14 can pass through the airflow permeable parts 20 and thus pass the first and second parts 9, 10 of the surface 7 and the flavoring material 5 arranged in between. The air flow 14 is directed from a surrounding through in inner volume 8 in to the hole 12 along the way passing the first and second parts 9, 10 of the surface 7 through the air-permeable parts 20. In other words, the airflow 14 is directed from outside of the ring-shaped flavoring device 1 through the inner volume 8 of the ring-shaped flavoring device into the volume encircled by the ring-shaped flavoring device 1, i.e. the hole 12.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28 parallel to the base area 20 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L shown in FIG. 2. The mouthpiece comprises a filter 29 and a wrapper 30. The wrapper 30 is wrapped circumferentially around the lateral area 31 of the cylindrically shaped filter 29. For better visibility the filter 29 is shown slightly smaller than the wrapper 30 so they can be visually distinguished. However in reality they would be in direct contact. The wrapper comprises ventilation holes 32. The ventilation holes 32 denote through holes through the wrapper. The ventilation holes 32 enable a secondary flow path 37 from a surrounding 15 of the smoking article 1 through the ventilation holes 32 into the filter 29. The filter 29 is air-permeable. In the filter 29, the secondary flow path 37 unites with the primary flow path 36 carrying the smoke 2 and/or vapor 3.

[0047] A synopsis of FIGS. 3 and 4 clarifies the relation of the diameters 12a and 28a. The diameter 12a of the hole 12 equals the diameter 28a of the mouthpiece 28. As standard filter 29 materials are typically compressible, the equality of the diameters 12a and 28a ensures a tight fit of the mouthpiece 28 in the hole 12. Preferably, the diameter 12a of the hole 12 is 24.6 mm.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows the flavoring device 1 of FIG. 3 and the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28 of FIG. 4 combined. The mouthpiece 28 is arranged in the hole 12 of the flavoring device 1. For better visibility the mouthpiece 28 is shown slightly smaller, so the wrapper 30 can be visually distinguished from the second part 10 of the surface 7. However in reality they would be in direct contact.

[0049] The airflow 14 enters the flavoring device 1 from a surrounding 15 through air-permeable parts 20 in the first part 9 of the surface 7 into the inner volume 8 of the frame 13. The airflow 14 then passes through the flavoring material 5 arranged in the inner volume 8 of the flavoring device 1 thereby interacting with the flavoring material 5. The air flow 14 then passes through air-permeable parts 20 in the second part 10 of the surface 7 out of the flavoring device 1. At this point, the air flow 14 has reached the hole 12, in which the mouthpiece 28 of the smoking article 4 is arranged. The airflow 14 now enters the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28 through the ventilation holes 32 and further proceeds along the secondary flow path 37 towards the primary flow path 36 with which it unites upon reaching it. In this way, a flavored smoke 2 and/or vapor 3 is supplied in the primary flow path 36 of the smoking article 4.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a segment of the flavoring device 1 in a perspective view. The previously described rectangular cross section 40 of the flavoring device 1 in the embodiment of a hollow cylinder cut perpendicular to the surface 7 becomes clearly visible. The inner volume 8, in which the flavoring material 5, preferably comprised in a carrier material 16, is arranged, is framed by a frame 13. Together they form the 3D-shape 6 of the flavoring device 1 with its surface 7. The rectangular cross section 40 comprises a longer side 41 and a shorter side 42. The longer side 41 is preferably between 5 and 10 mm long, even more preferred between 7 and 9 mm. The longer side 41 corresponds to the length of the flavoring device 1 along the longitudinal axis L (please cf. FIG. 1). The shorter side 42 is preferably between 3 and 7 mm long, even more preferred between 4 and 6 mm. The shorter side 42 corresponds to a thickness of the flavoring device 1 measured radially from the inner lateral area 17 to the outer lateral area 18 (also please cf. FIG. 1).

[0051] The frame 13 encloses the inner volume 8 at least in part. In part means, that the frame does not cover the inner volume 8 completely but leaves out air-permeable parts 20. The hollow cylinder shape of the flavoring device 1 comprises an inner lateral area 17, an outer lateral area 18 and ring-shaped base areas 43. Preferably, the frame 13 fully covers the base areas 43 and the inner and outer lateral areas 17, 18 at least in part. Preferably, the flavoring device 1 comprises two gaskets 21 circumferentially arranged at the edges 22 on the inner lateral area 17.

[0052] FIGS. 7 a-d show different embodiments of the flavoring device 1 with different airflow permeable parts 20. The different airflow permeable parts 20 are shown as air-permeable parts 20 of the outer lateral area 18, which is in the first part 9 of the surface 7 of the flavoring device 1. However, all the shown embodiments of the air-permeable parts 20 are also applicable to the inner lateral area 17, i.e. the second part 10 of the surface. For the second part 10 of the surface 7 either the same or different embodiments of the air-permeable parts 20 can be used. FIG. 7a shows air-permeable parts 20 realized as cut-outs 20a. Preferably, the cut-outs 20a are arranged circumferentially on the outer lateral area 18. Preferably, the cut-outs 20a comprise a round shape. FIG. 7b shows air-permeable parts 20 realized as one single cut-out 20a. In this embodiment, the single cut-out 20a is shaped as a circumferential stripe. FIG. 7c shows air-permeable parts 20 realized as a perforation 20b. The whole outer lateral area 18 can be perforated, or only certain parts of this area. For example could only the area corresponding to the circumferential cut-out 20a of FIG. 7b be perforated. FIG. 7d shows air-permeable parts 20 realized as a net-like structure 20c. In this embodiment, a circumferential cut-out 20a is covered with a net material being air-permeable. In this way, the air-permeability is ensured whereas the flavoring material 5 itself or the carrier material 16 is stopped from falling out of the inner volume 8 of the flavoring material 1 through the air-permeable part 20.

[0053] FIGS. 8a and b show a flavoring device 1 with a peel-off strip 19 (FIG. 8a) and the flavoring device 1 after removal of the peel-off strip 19 (FIG. 8b). The peel-off strip 19 is circumferentially wrapped around the first part 9 of the surface 7. In particular, the peel-off strip 19 is circumferentially wrapped around the outer lateral area 18. The peel-off strip 19 covers all air-permeable parts 20 of the first part 9 of the surface 7. In this way, the peel-off strip 19 prohibits the air flow 14 through the air-permeable parts 20 of the first part 9 of the surface 7. After removal of the peel-off strip 19, the air-permeable parts 20 of the first part 9 of the surface 7 are no longer covered and the air flow through the air-permeable parts 20 is enabled.

[0054] FIGS. 9a and b show a smoking article 4 with a removable first part 34 of the wrapper 30 (FIG. 9a) and the smoking article 4 after removal of the first part 34 of the wrapper 30 (FIG. 9b). The wrapper 30 of the smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28 comprises two circumferential perforation lines 33a, b. The two perforation lines 33a, b are distanced from each other along the longitudinal axis L of the smoking article 4. Preferably, the distance 44 between the perforation lines 33a, b is equal or smaller than the length of the flavoring device 1 along the longitudinal axis. Between the perforation lines 33a, b a first part 34 of the wrapper is arranged. The first part 34 can be removed from the mouthpiece 28 by tearing of the perforation lines 33a,b. The first part 34 of the wrapper 30 is removed similar to a peel-off strip. After removal of the first part 34, the mouthpiece 28 comprises a remaining second part 35 of the wrapper 30. The second part 35 is divided into two parts 35a,b by a gap 45. In the gap 45 is no wrapper 30. The filter 29 is uncovered in the gap 45. The flavoring device 1 can now be positioned covering the gap 45. In this way, the airflow 14 leaving the air-permeable parts 20 of the second part 10 of the surface 7 does not need to pass any ventilation holes 32 but can directly access the filter 29.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the removable holder 23 with flavoring devices 1 arranged thereon. The removable holder 23 comprises a circular cross section 24. The diameter of the cross section 24 preferably equals the diameter 28a of a smoking articles 4 mouthpiece 28. Preferably, the removable holder 23 comprises a stopper base plate 23a on one end of the removable holder. The flavoring articles 1 can be mounted on the removable holder 23. Preferably, they are rested against the base plate 23a and mounted or demounted from the removable holder 23 from the removable holders 23 end opposing the base plate 23a. The removable holder 23 covers the air-permeable parts 20 of the second part 10 of the surface 7 of the flavoring articles 1 mounted on the removable holder 23, thereby prohibiting any airflow 14 through the air-permeable parts 20 of the second part 10. Preferably, the flavoring devices 1 also comprise a peel-off strip 19. Together with the removable holder 23 the peel-off strip 19 prohibits any air flow 14 in or out of the inner volume 8 of the flavoring device mounted on the removable holder 23.

[0056] The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference symbols 1 flavoring device 2 smoke 3 vapor 4 smoking article 5 flavoring material 6 three-dimensional (3D) shape 7 surface 8 inner volume 9 first part of surface 10 second part of surface 11 lateral area 12 hole 12a diameter 13 frame 14 airflow 15 surrounding 16 carrier material 17 inner lateral area 18 outer lateral area 19 peel-off strip 20 airflow permeable parts 20a cut-outs 20b perforations 20c net-like structure 21 gasket 22 edge 23 removable holder 23a base plate 24 cross-section 25 diameter of cross-section 26 diameter of base area 27 base area 28 mouth piece 28a diameter 29 filter 30 wrapper 31 lateral area 32 air intake openings, ventilation holes 33a, b perforation lines 34 first part of wrapper 35 second part of wrapper 36 primary flow path 37 secondary flow path 38 lit end 39 mouth end 40 rectangular cross section 41 longer side 42 shorter side 43 base area 44 distance 45 gap L longitudinal axis