SLIDEABLE EXTINGUISHER

Abstract

A smoking article having a proximal end and a distal end is provided, including a combustible heat source disposed at the distal end; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source; a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and disposed at the proximal end; and a tubular element slideable from a first position towards the distal end to a second position. In the second position, the slideable element at least partially extends over the combustible heat source and is configured to reduce the air supply to the combustible heat source. The tubular element is configured to modify a heat output of the combustible heat source, and to control a resistance-to-draw of the smoking article by selectively covering air inlets.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A smoking article having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a combustible heat source disposed at the distal end of the smoking article; an aerosol-forming substrate disposed downstream of the combustible heat source; a mouthpiece disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and at the proximal end of the smoking article; and a tubular element slideable from a first position towards the distal end of the smoking article to a second position, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element at least partially extends over the combustible heat source, and wherein the tubular element is lined with a heat reactive material configured to deform in response to heat from the combustible heat source when the tubular element is in the second position, the heat reactive material comprising an intumescent material.

21. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein the tubular element is configured to have a frictional fit between the inner surface of the tubular element and the outer surface of the smoking article.

22. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element extends along substantially an entire length of the combustible heat source.

23. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element extends past a distal end of the combustible heat source.

24. The smoking article according to claim 20, the tubular element being further lined with a non-combustible material.

25. The smoking article according to claim 24, the non-combustible material being at least one material chosen from a metal, a metal oxide, a ceramic, and a stone.

26. The smoking article according to claim 25, the non-combustible material being aluminium.

27. The smoking article according to claim 20, the tubular element further comprising an insulating material.

28. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein an outer surface of the smoking article includes an indicia in a region beneath the tubular element when the tubular element is in the first position, the indicia being visible only when the tubular element is in the second position.

29. The smoking article according to claim 20, further comprising a plurality of air inlets configured so that air drawn through the aerosol-forming substrate enters the smoking article through the plurality of air inlets, and wherein the tubular element is substantially slideable from the first position to the second position so that a resistance to draw of the smoking article is controllable by selectively covering one or more air inlets of the plurality of air inlets.

30. The smoking article according to claim 29, wherein the tubular element comprises at least one air inlet of the plurality of air inlets.

31. The smoking article according to claim 20, further comprising a transfer element disposed between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece, wherein, in the first position, the tubular element is disposed over the transfer element.

32. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein an inner surface of the tubular element comprises at least one protrusion configured so that, when the tubular element is in the second position, the at least one protrusion resists movement of the tubular element towards the proximal end of the smoking article.

33. The smoking article according to claim 32, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a folded flap disposed at a distal end of the tubular element, the folded flap extending at least partially towards the proximal end of the smoking article.

34. The smoking article according to claim 20, wherein the combustible heat source is a carbonaceous combustible heat source.

35. A smoking article having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a combustible heat source disposed at the distal end of the smoking article; an aerosol-forming substrate disposed downstream of the combustible heat source; a mouthpiece disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and at the proximal end of the smoking article; and a tubular element slideable from a first position towards the distal end of the smoking article to a second position, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element at least partially extends over the combustible heat source, and wherein the tubular element is lined with a heat reactive material configured to deform in response to heat from the combustible heat source when the tubular element is in the second position, the heat reactive material comprising a heat-shrink material.

36. The smoking article according to claim 35, the heat-shrink material being configured to deform the tubular element in response to heat from the combustible heat source.

37. The smoking article according to claim 35, wherein the tubular element is configured to have a frictional fit between the inner surface of the tubular element and the outer surface of the smoking article.

38. The smoking article according to claim 35, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element extends along substantially an entire length of the combustible heat source.

39. The smoking article according to claim 35, wherein, in the second position, the tubular element extends past a distal end of the combustible heat source.

Description

[0059] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 1 in a second configuration;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the smoking article of FIG. 1 in a further configuration;

[0063] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention having adjustable resistance-to-draw;

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a smoking article according to the present invention with an alternative configuration of tubular element, the tubular element being shown in the unwrapped condition, for clarity;

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a laminar blank for forming the tubular element of FIG. 6;

[0066] FIGS. 8A and 8B show graphs of temperature against time for a first example smoking article according to the invention; and

[0067] FIGS. 9A and 9B show graphs of temperature against time for a second example smoking article according to the invention.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention. The smoking article 100 comprises a combustible heat source 102, an aerosol-generating substrate 104, a mouthpiece 106, and an elongate expansion chamber 108 in abutting coaxial alignment, which are overwrapped in an outer wrapper of cigarette paper 110. The combustible heat source 102 is cylindrical. The combustible heat source 102 comprises a central airflow channel 103 that extends longitudinally through the combustible heat source and a non-combustible, gas-resistant, barrier coating 105. A gas-resistant, heat resistant, second barrier coating (not shown) is provided on the inner surface of the central airflow channel 103. The aerosol-generating substrate 104 is located immediately downstream of the combustible heat source 102 and comprises a cylindrical plug of homogenised tobacco material comprising, for example, glycerine as aerosol former and circumscribed by filter plug wrap. A heat-conducting element 112, consisting of a tube of aluminium foil, surrounds and is in contact with a rear portion of the combustible heat source 102 and an abutting front portion of the aerosol-generating substrate 104. The elongate expansion chamber 108 is located downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate 104 and comprises a cylindrical open-ended tube of cardboard. The mouthpiece 106 is located downstream of the expansion chamber 108 and comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by filter plug wrap. All of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 comprise a smoking article having these features, and where the same features are present like reference numerals have been used.

[0069] In use, the user ignites the combustible heat source which heats the aerosol-forming substrate to produce an aerosol. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 106 air is drawn through the aerosol-forming substrate 104 through air inlet holes (not shown), through the expansion chamber 108, through the mouthpiece 106 and into the users mouth.

[0070] The smoking article of FIG. 1 further comprises a tubular element 114 which is slideable along the outer surface of the smoking article. FIG. 1 shows the tubular element in a first position, in which the user can light the combustible heat source and smoke the smoking article. The tubular element is a frictional fit over the outer wrapper of the smoking article such that it only moves under positive action from the user.

[0071] In FIG. 2, the tubular element 114 is shown in a second position in which it overlies the combustible heat source 102. In this position, the tubular element sufficiently restricts the supply of oxygen to the combustible heat source that the heat source extinguishes, and thus cools down. The tubular element may be made from any suitable material, such as flame-retardant material. In this way, the user is provided with a simple and unobtrusive means of extinguishing the combustible heat source after use of the smoking article.

[0072] In addition to extinguishing the heat source, the tubular element 114 may be moved to an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 3 so as to partially cover the combustible heat source to decrease the combustion temperature by virtue of the partial restriction on the supply of oxygen to the heat source 102. The user is thereby provided with means of modulating the heat output of the heat source, and thus with means of controlling the smoking experience.

[0073] Further, the tubular element may be provided with a fragrance that may be evolved when the tubular element is heated by the combustible heat source. The fragrance may be released into the atmosphere and may act to mask any unpleasant odours released by the heat source as it is being extinguished. The fragrance may provide an air freshening effect by emitting pleasant odours and fragrances. Preferably the fragrance is sufficiently volatile that it swiftly evaporates after the tubular element is moved to the second position.

[0074] In preferred embodiments the fragrance may include one or more fragrance ingredient selected from the list consisting of Amyl Cinnamal, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Hyroxymethylpentylcyclohexenecarboxaldehyde, lsoeugenol, Anisyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benyl Cinnamate, Citronellol, Farnesol, Hexyl Cinnamaldehyde 2-methyl-3-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde, d-Limonene, Linalool, Methyl heptine carbonate, and 3-Methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)buten-2-one.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the tubular element may comprise an intumescent material, or heat-shrink material which reacts to the heat of the combustible heat source to at least partially close the open end of the tubular element to further restrict the supply of oxygen to the heat source. In addition to yet further restricting the supply of oxygen, the at least partially closed end of the tubular element may provide a physical barrier between the heat source and any external materials.

[0076] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of a smoking article 400. The tubular element 402 operates in the same way as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but in addition is provided with air inlets 404. Corresponding air inlets are provided in the wrapper of the smoking article adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate. The tubular element can be moved from the first position as shown in FIG. 4 to the position as shown in FIG. 5. In the first position, the air inlets in the tubular element are not aligned with the air inlets in the wrapper 406 of the smoking article, and thus the resistance-to-draw of the smoking article is relatively high. The air inlets are provided in such a way that the user can progressively align the air inlets as the tubular element is moved from the first position towards the distal end of the smoking article. In this way, the user is provided with means of controlling the resistance-to-draw of the smoking article. In FIG. 5, the air flow path created through the aligned air inlets is shown by the arrows. As will be appreciated, when the user moves the tubular element yet further towards the distal end of the smoking article, further air inlets will become aligned thus yet further reducing the resistance-to-d raw.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a smoking article 600 having a tubular element 602 which is shown, for clarity, in an unwrapped condition. As with the previous examples, the tubular element 602 extends around the smoking article and is slideable along the outer surface of the smoking article. The tubular element 602 comprises folded flaps 604, 606 at its distal and proximal ends. The distal and proximal flaps 604, 606 may be arranged to increase the frictional force between the tubular element 602 and the outer wrapper of the smoking article 600 such that the tubular element 602 only moves under positive action from the user.

[0078] The distal flap 604, at the distal end of the tubular element, extends at least partially towards the proximal end of the smoking article 600. That is, the distal flap 604 extends in a direction having a downstream component. In this example, the distal flap 604 extends in the proximal direction such that it is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. When the tubular element 602 is moved from a first position, as shown in FIG. 6, to a second position in which it overlies the combustible heat source of the smoking article 600, the free end of the distal flap 604 may abut against a projection or recess in the outer surface of the smoking article 600, such as the junction between the combustible heat source and the remainder of the smoking article 600, to resist downstream movement of the tubular element 602. In this manner, the distal flap 604 acts as a protrusion on the inner surface of the tubular element 602 which is arranged such that, when the tubular element is in the second position, the protrusion resists movement of the tubular element towards the proximal end of the smoking article. This may prevent the tubular element 602 from becoming accidentally dislodged from the second position.

[0079] The proximal flap 606, at the proximal end of the tubular element, extends at least partially towards the distal end of the smoking article 600. That is, the proximal flap 606 extends in a direction having an upstream component. In this example, the proximal flap 606 extends in the distal direction such that it is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. As the distal flap 604 is located between the smoking article and the main body of the tubular element 602, a small gap may be formed between the tubular element 602 and the smoking article downstream of the distal flap 604. The proximal flap 606 may act to close this gap and ensure that proximal end of the tubular element 602 is in contact with the smoking article. By extending towards the distal end of the smoking article, the proximal flap 606 may also act to resist upstream movement of the tubular element 602 such that the tubular element only moves under positive action from the user. Although the tubular element 602 shown in FIG. 6 has both a distal and a proximal flap 604, 606, in other examples, one or both of the distal and proximal flaps 604, 606 may be omitted.

[0080] FIG. 7 shows a laminar blank 700 for forming the tubular element of FIG. 6. As shown, the laminar blank 700 comprises a main portion 702, a distal flap portion 704 for forming the distal flap and a proximal flap portion 706 for forming the proximal flap. The distal and proximal flap portions 704, 706 are integrally formed with the main portion 702 and are located at the distal and proximal ends of the main portion 702, respectively. The distal end portion 704 is connected to the main portion 702 along a first fold line 708. The proximal end portion 706 is connected to the main portion 702 along a second fold line 708. One or both of the first and second fold lines 708, 710 may be scored, perforated, or otherwise weakened to improve the ease of folding the distal and proximal flap portions 704, 706.

[0081] In this example, the second fold line 710 is formed from a line of perforations extending through the thickness of the laminar blank 700. With this arrangement, when assembled, the proximal flap may be glued to the smoking article to temporarily hold the tubular element against the smoking article and ensure that the tubular element does not move accidentally. To move the tubular element in an upstream direction, the user may apply an upstream force to the tubular element to break the perforations, leaving the proximal flap attached to the smoking article and the rest of the tubular element moveable along the length of the smoking article.

[0082] In some examples, the second fold line 710 is weakened, for example by scoring or perforating, while the first fold line 708 is not weakened. In such examples, when assembled to form the tubular element, the distal flap portion 704 may be biased towards the smoking article to a greater extent than the proximal flap, due to deformation of the laminar blank 700 at the first fold line 708. This may increase the frictional force exerted by the distal flap relative to the proximal flap. It may also increase the extent to which the distal flap abuts against obstructions on the outer surface of the smoking article to further resist downstream movement of the tubular element. Consequently, the force required to move the tubular element in the downstream direction may be greater than the force required to move the tubular element in the upstream direction. With such an arrangement, the likelihood of the tubular element being accidently dislodged from the second position may be increased without a corresponding increase to the force required from the user to move the tubular element to the second position from the first position.

[0083] In addition, in all of the above described embodiments, the smoking article may be supplied with the tubular element provided in the second position. In this way, the combustible heat source, which is typically a carbon based heat source, is protected from damage.

EXAMPLE 1

[0084] A smoking article according to the invention with a blind combustible heat source and a tubular element formed from a co-laminated aluminum paper tube of 6.3 micron thickness was assembled. To test the performance of the tubular element, an infrared camera was used to measure the temperature of the heat source. The camera with a temperature sensitivity of from 150 degrees Celsius to 650 degrees Celsius was positioned at a distance of 0.85 metres from the smoking article and was set at a frame rate of 6.15 frames per second. In a first test, the temperature of the combustible heat source was measured without any puffs being taken from the smoking article. In a second test, the temperature of the combustible heat source was measured after 12 puffs with a puff volume of 35 ml, a puff duration of 2 seconds and a puff interval of 60 seconds using a smoking machine. Conditions for smoking and smoking machine specifications are set out in ISO Standard 3308 (ISO 3308:2000). The atmosphere for conditioning and testing is set out in ISO Standard 3402. In both tests, the temperature of the heat source was measured as the tubular element was slid from a first position, in which it was downstream of the heat source, to a second position, in which the distal end of the tubular element extended distally of the distal end of the smoking article.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the temperature of the combustible heat source upon lighting was above 700 degrees Celsius and outside of sensitivity range of camera. The temperature of the combustible heat source after 12 puffs was about between 400 and 450 degrees Celsius. In both tests a sharp decrease in temperature of the smoking article was observed upon sliding the extinguisher from first to second position, at time A. In the first test, the temperature of the heat source dropped to 100 degrees Celsius within 90 seconds upon sliding the tubular element to the second position. In the second test, the temperature of the heat source dropped to 100 degrees Celsius within 55 seconds upon sliding the tubular element to the second position.

EXAMPLE 2

[0086] A smoking article according to the invention with a blind combustible heat source and a tubular element formed from a co-laminated aluminum paper tube of 6.3 micron thickness was assembled. The smoking article of example 2 differed from that of example 1 in that the tubular element further included a coating of Sika® Pyroplast® ST-100, a water based intumescent paint, on its inner surface. To test the performance of the tubular element, an infrared camera was used to measure the temperature of the heat source. The camera with a temperature sensitivity of from 150 degrees Celsius to 650 degrees Celsius was positioned at a distance of 0.85 metres from the smoking article and was set at a frame rate of 6.15 frames per second. In a first test, the temperature of the combustible heat source was measured without any puffs being taken from the smoking article. In a second test, the temperature of the combustible heat source was measured after 12 puffs with a puff volume of 35 ml, a puff duration of 2 seconds and a puff interval of 60 seconds using a smoking machine. Conditions for smoking and smoking machine specifications are set out in ISO Standard 3308 (ISO 3308:2000). The atmosphere for conditioning and testing is set out in ISO Standard 3402. In both tests, the temperature of the heat source was measured as the tubular element was slid from a first position, in which it was downstream of the heat source, to a second position, in which the distal end of the tubular element extended distally of the distal end of the smoking article.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the temperature of the combustible heat source upon lighting was above 700 degrees Celsius and outside of sensitivity range of camera. The temperature of the combustible heat source after 12 puffs was about between 400 and 450 degrees Celsius. In both tests a sharp decrease in temperature of the smoking article was observed upon sliding the extinguisher from first to second position at time A. In the first test, the temperature of the heat source dropped to 100 degrees Celsius within 70 seconds upon sliding the tubular element to the second position. In the second test, the temperature of the heat source dropped to 100 degrees Celsius within 50 seconds upon sliding the tubular element to the second position.

[0088] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.