Smoking article with dual function cap

Abstract

A smoking article is formed from two component parts. These parts are a rod comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a removable cap. The removable cap can be coupled to the rod in two configurations. In a first configuration, the removable cap is coupled to a first end of the rod and a heat source located at or near a second end of the rod heats the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an inhalable aerosol. In a second configuration, the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod and at least substantially covers the heat source. The smoking article is arranged in the second configuration for disposal.

Claims

1. A smoking article, comprising: a rod having a first end and a second end; a combustible heat source located at or proximate to the second end of the rod; and a removable cap, the removable cap being removably couplable to both the first end and the second end of the rod, wherein in a first configuration of the smoking article the removable cap is coupled to the first end of the rod such that air may be drawn from the rod through the removable cap, wherein in a second configuration of the smoking article the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod such that the second end is at least substantially covered by the removable cap, such that in the second configuration the removable cap facilitates disposal of the smoking article after use, wherein the removable cap comprises a material to thermally isolate the combustible heat source when the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod, and wherein the removable cap further comprises one or more materials that, when the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod: undergo decomposition to produce a decomposition product that extinguishes the heat source, or undergo a phase change to consume heat energy produced by the heat source, the one or more phase change materials comprising a polymer, a wax, or both a polymer and a wax.

2. The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the removable cap comprises a tubular sheath, the tubular sheath being dimensioned to receive both the first end and the second end of the rod to enable the removable cap to be coupled to either the first end or the second end of the rod.

3. The smoking article according to claim 1, in which the rod comprises an aerosol-forming substrate located between its first end and second end.

4. The smoking article according claim 1, in which the rod comprises a tobacco-containing material.

5. The smoking article according to claim 1, in which the removable cap further comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of non-combustible materials and flame-retardant materials.

6. The smoking article according to claim 2, in which the tubular sheath is formed from, or lined with, one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminium foil, graphite, phase-changing materials, and foams.

7. The smoking article according to claim 1, in which the removable cap comprises a filter positioned such that, when the removable cap is coupled to the first end of the rod in the first configuration, air may be withdrawn from the rod through the filter.

8. The smoking article according to claim 1, in which the removable cap further comprises one or more thermochromatic pigments or materials.

Description

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, in which;

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a first embodiment of a smoking article comprising a rod and a removable cap in a first configuration;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the smoking article of FIG. 1 in which the rod and the removable cap have been separated;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the smoking article of FIG. 1 in a second configuration;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the removable cap of the smoking article of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a second embodiment of a smoking article comprising a rod and a removable cap in a first configuration; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the smoking article of FIG. 5 in a second configuration.

(8) FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a smoking article 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The smoking article 10 comprises two separable component parts, a rod 20 and a removable cap 30. The rod 20 has a first end or mouth end 21 and a second end or distal end 22.

(9) The removable cap 30 can be coupled to the rod 20 in a first configuration in which the removable cap 30 is coupled to the mouth end 21 of the rod 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The removable cap 30 can be coupled to the rod 20 in a second configuration in which the removable cap 30 is coupled to the distal end 22 of the rod 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(10) The rod 20 comprises three elements circumscribed by a cigarette paper 40. The three elements are a combustible heat source 50, an aerosol-forming substrate 55, and a transfer element 60. These three elements are arranged sequentially and in coaxial alignment and are assembled by the cigarette paper 40 to form the rod 20.

(11) When assembled, the rod 20 is between about 65 millimeters and about 90 millimeters in length and has an external diameter of between about 7.2 millimeters and about 7.9 millimeters.

(12) The aerosol-forming substrate 55 is located upstream of the transfer element 60. The aerosol-forming substrate 55 comprises tobacco wrapped in a filter paper (not shown) to form a plug. The tobacco includes additives, including glycerine as an aerosol-forming additive.

(13) The combustible heat source 50 is located upstream of, and in contact with, the aerosol-forming substrate 55. In alternative embodiments (not shown), a thermally conductive element, such as a metal foil, may be disposed circumferentially around a portion of the combustible heat source and a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate to facilitate the transfer of heat from the combustible heat source to the aerosol-forming substrate.

(14) The transfer element 60 is a hollow tube formed from filter paper. The transfer element 60 receives volatile compounds evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate 55 and allows these compounds to condense to form an aerosol. The transfer element 60 also facilitates transfer of the aerosol towards a user's mouth and provides the rod 20 with a suitable length.

(15) The removable cap 30 comprises a filter 31 and a tubular sheath 32 circumscribed by a filter paper 33. The filter 31 is a conventional mouthpiece filter formed from cellulose acetate, and having a length between about 7 millimeters and about 10 millimeters. The removable cap 30 may be circumscribed by tipping paper (not shown).

(16) The structure of the removable cap 30 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. The tubular sheath 32 consists of an inner tube 35 formed from aluminium foil having a thickness of about 20 microns. An outer tube 36 is disposed concentrically outside the inner tube 35 and is formed from cardboard having a thickness of about 0.2 mm. The sheath 32 abuts a face of the filter 31 and the two elements are circumscribed by the filter paper 33.

(17) In a first configuration of the smoking article, the removable cap 30 is coupled to the mouth end 21 of the rod 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the first configuration, the mouth end 21 of the rod 20 is received within the tubular sheath 32 of the removable cap 30 to form the smoking article. The removable cap 30 and the rod 20 are maintained in the first configuration by an interference fit between an outer surface of the rod 20 and an inner surface of the tubular sheath 32.

(18) To consume the smoking article, a user ignites the combustible heat source 50 and then draws air through the smoking article 10 by drawing on a mouth end 38 of the removable cap 30. The temperature in the heat source 50 rises and thermal energy passes to the aerosol-forming substrate 55 by processes such as conduction and convection. An aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate passes along the transfer element 60, through the filter 31, and is inhaled by the user.

(19) The user repeatedly draws or puffs on the smoking article and consumes the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate 55.

(20) When the smoking article has been consumed, the removable cap 30 is separated from the rod 20 by sliding the rod 20 out of the tubular sheath 32, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

(21) The removable cap 30 is then coupled to the distal end 22 of the rod 20 in a second configuration of the smoking article 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the second configuration, the distal end 22 of the rod 20 is received within the tubular sheath 32 of the removable cap 30 and the distal end 22 of the rod 20 is covered by the removable cap 30.

(22) In the second configuration, a front portion of the combustible heat source 50 may contact the filter 31. Heat energy radiated and conducted from the combustible heat source 50 is spread over the area of the tubular sheath 32 by the thermally conductive aluminium foil inner tube 35 of the tubular sheath 32. This prevents the formation of hot spots on the removable cap 30.

(23) In the second configuration, the thermally insulating outer tube 36 of the tubular sheath 32 of the removable cap 30 insulates an external surface of the smoking article 10 from heat from the combustible heat source 50. In the second configuration, the removable cap 30 facilitates disposal of the smoking article 10. More preferably, the smoking article 10 in the second configuration may be disposed of without significant risk of igniting other materials.

(24) A second embodiment of a smoking article according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The smoking article 100 of the second specific embodiment comprises two component parts, a rod 120 and a removable cap 130.

(25) The rod 120 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 155 wrapped in a cigarette paper 160 to form the rod 120. The aerosol-forming substrate 155 is tobacco, and the rod 120 is effectively a conventional filterless cigarette. The rod 120 has a mouth end 121 closest to a user's mouth when the smoking article is being consumed, and a distal end 122 at an opposite end of the rod 120 to the mouth end 121. The removable cap 130 is identical to the removable cap (reference numeral 30) described above in relation to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In a first configuration, the mouth end 121 of the rod 120 is received within the tubular sheath 32 of the removable cap 30 to form the smoking article 100.

(26) To consume the smoking article 100, a user places a mouth end 138 of the removable cap 130 into their mouth. The distal end 122 of the rod 120 is then ignited and the user draws air through the smoking article. A portion of the tobacco 155 at the distal end 122 of the rod 120 combusts and becomes a heat source 150 for forming an inhalable aerosol from the tobacco 155.

(27) The user consumes the smoking article 100 by drawing or puffing on the mouth end 138 of the removable cap 130. An inhalable aerosol is generated within the rod 120, passes through the filter 131 of the removable cap 130 and is inhaled by the user. Each successive puff causes a burning line or char line 190 to move downstream to fresh unburned tobacco 155. Consequently, the rod 120 becomes shorter with each puff.

(28) Once the smoking article 100 has been consumed, the removable cap 120 is removed from the remains of the rod 120. The removable cap 130 is then coupled to the distal end 122 of the rod 120 in a second configuration of the smoking article 100, where it covers the heat source 150, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

(29) As described above, in the second configuration heat energy from the heat source 150 is spread by a thermally conductive layer of the tubular sheath 132. A thermally insulating layer of the tubular sheath 132 acts to prevent a surface of the smoking article from getting too hot. Furthermore, the removable cap 130 may eliminate or restrict oxygen supply to the heat source 150, which may assist in extinguishing the heat source 150. In addition, the removable cap 130 acts as a receptacle for any remaining ash associated with the heat source 150 and lessens the possibility of the ash causing a potential fire risk. The removable cap 130 may also contain any unpleasant odours that may develop from the heat source 150 as it is extinguished.

(30) The exemplary embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. In view of the above-discussed exemplary embodiments, other embodiments consistent with the above exemplary embodiments will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.