Smoking article component

A smoking article component comprising a viscoelastic material (500).

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a National Stage Entry entitled to and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 365 and 371 to corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/EP2010/068527, filed Nov. 30, 2010, which in turn claims priority to British Application Serial No. GB 0921930.4, filed Dec. 16, 2009. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the use of viscoelastic materials in components for smoking articles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “smoking article” includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn products.

Smoking articles such as cigarettes can comprise a paper-wrapped cylindrical rod of tobacco material and an axially aligned cylindrical filter, through which smoke can be drawn when the tobacco material is combusted. The tobacco material and filter may be joined together by an overlapping section of tipping paper, which is adhered to both of the paper-wrapped tobacco rod and the filter. During smoking, a smoker can grip the smoking article by holding the tipping paper around the filter. Alternatively, for smoking articles which do not comprise a filter, such as cigars, cigarillos and roll-your-own cigarettes, a smoker can grip the smoking article by holding the paper-wrapped rod of tobacco material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a smoking article component comprising a viscoelastic material.

The viscoelastic material may comprise a memory foam.

The memory foam may comprise viscoelastic polyurethane foam.

The viscoelastic material may be provided inside the component.

The viscoelastic material may comprise a distinct layer of viscoelastic material.

The layer of viscoelastic material may have a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

The component may be configured to mould around the external shape of an external object when pressure is exerted against the component by the object.

The component may be configured to deform upon the application of a force by an external object to provide a receiving region in the component, the shape of the receiving region substantially matching an external shape of the object.

The smoking article component may comprise a plug of filter material.

The smoking article component may comprise a filter.

The smoking article component may comprise a smoking article wrapper.

The wrapper may comprise a tipping material.

The wrapper may comprise a plug wrap.

According to the invention, there is also provided a smoking article comprising the smoking article component.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method comprising providing a viscoelastic material in a smoking article component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of illustration only, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

Referring toFIG. 1, a smoking article100comprises a generally cylindrical rod of smokeable material200. The rod of smokeable material200may comprise a generally cylindrical length of tobacco material210, such as a mixture of cut tobacco and reconstituted tobacco, and a wrapper220comprising a layer of sheet material wrapped around the tobacco material210to form the circumferential outer surface of the rod200. The conventional terminology in the tobacco industry for a wrapper surrounding the tobacco material is “cigarette paper”. However, for the purposes of avoiding confusion with conventional cigarette papers, the wrapper220described below will be referred to as a tobacco wrap220. Nevertheless, the wrapper220may comprise cigarette paper.

Referring toFIG. 2, the smoking article100may additionally comprise a generally cylindrical filter300with approximately the same diameter as the rod of smokeable material200. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the filter300may comprise a substantially cylindrical plug of filter material310and a wrapper320comprising a layer of sheet material wrapped around the circumferential surface of the plug of filter material310. The wrapper320will be referred to below as a plug wrap320. The plug wrap320may comprise plug wrap paper and may be porous to allow ventilation of the filter material310. The plug wrap320may be held in place around the filter material310by gluing along a seam of overlapping material. For example, a stripe of suitable adhesive330such as a conventional PVA material may be applied to the interior surface of an overlapping section of the plugwrap320. This is shown in the partially assembled filter300illustrated inFIG. 2.

Referring toFIG. 3, an end face of the filter300may abut an end face of the rod of smokeable material200such that the filter300and the rod of smokeable material200are axially aligned. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the filter300and the rod of smokeable material200may be joined together by a further wrapper400, which comprises a section of sheet wrapping material overlapping the join (shown by the dashed line inFIG. 3) between the abutting ends of the rod200and the filter300. The conventional terminology in the tobacco industry for a wrapper overlapping a join between abutting ends of a tobacco rod and a filter is “tipping paper”. However, for the purposes of avoiding confusion with conventional tipping papers, the wrapper400will be referred to below as a tipping material400. Nevertheless, the wrapper400may comprise tipping paper.

The tipping material400may fully circumscribe both of the rod200and the filter300, and may be adhered to the circumferential outer faces of both of the tobacco wrap220and the plug wrap320using circumferential stripes of PVA material or other suitable adhesive. As shown inFIG. 3, the tipping material400may be wrapped around substantially the entire outwardly facing circumferential surface of the plug wrap320and approximately one tenth of the tobacco wrap220. However, it will be appreciated that the tipping material400may cover larger or smaller proportions of the tobacco wrap220and/or plug wrap320.

The smoking article100may have substantially conventional proportions and dimensions. For example, the diameter of the smoking article may be between 7 mm and 8 mm.

The smoking article100may comprise a viscoelastic material500such as viscoelastic polyurethane foam. The viscoelastic material500may be comprised in any of the smoking article components220,310,320,400described above. For example, the viscoelastic material500may be comprised in one or more of the tipping material400, the plug wrap320, the plug of filter material310and the tobacco wrap220. The viscoelastic material500may be evenly distributed throughout the structure of these components220,310,320,400.

More specifically, the tobacco wrap220may comprise a mixture of conventional tobacco wrapping paper221, such as cigarette paper221, and viscoelastic material500. The viscoelastic material500and conventional wrapping paper221may be distributed throughout the composition of the tobacco wrap220in a homogenous manner. The tipping material400may comprise a mixture of conventional tipping paper410and viscoelastic material500. The viscoelastic material500and conventional tipping paper410may be distributed throughout the composition of the tipping material400in a homogenous manner. Similarly, the plug wrap320may comprise a mixture of conventional plug wrap paper321and viscoelastic material500. The viscoelastic material500and conventional plug wrap paper321may be distributed throughout the composition of the plug wrap320in a homogenous manner.

Additionally or alternatively, the viscoelastic material500may comprise a distinct layer of viscoelastic material500in one or more of the plug of filter material310, the plug wrap320, the tipping material400and the tobacco wrap220. For example, referring toFIGS. 4A to 4C, any of the wrappers described above (tobacco wrap220, plug wrap320, tipping material400) may comprise a two-ply structure, in which a first layer comprises a paper and a second layer comprises the viscoelastic material500.

More specifically, referring toFIG. 4A, the tobacco wrap220may comprise a layer of conventional tobacco wrapping paper221, such as cigarette paper, and a layer of viscoelastic material500provided on the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional wrapping paper221. The layer of viscoelastic material500may, for example, be adhered to the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional wrapping paper221using a suitable adhesive. The viscoelastic material500may cover substantially the entire inward or outward facing surface of the conventional wrapping paper221.

Referring toFIG. 4B, the tipping material400may comprise a layer of conventional tipping paper410and a layer of viscoelastic material500provided on the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional tipping paper410. The layer of viscoelastic material500may, for example, be adhered to the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional tipping paper410using a suitable adhesive. The viscoelastic material500may cover substantially the entire inward or outward facing surface of the conventional tipping paper410.

Referring toFIG. 4C, the plug wrap320may comprise a layer of conventional plug wrap paper321and a layer of viscoelastic material500provided on the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional plug wrap paper321. The layer of viscoelastic material500may, for example, be adhered to the inward and/or outward facing surface of the conventional plug wrap paper321using a suitable adhesive. The viscoelastic material500may cover substantially the entire inward or outward facing surface of the conventional plug wrap paper321.

Referring toFIG. 5, the plug of filter material310may comprise a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate material311and a layer of viscoelastic material500provided at the plug's outwardly facing surface. The layer of viscoelastic material500may be adhered to the surface of the cellulose acetate material311using a suitable adhesive. The viscoelastic material500may cover substantially the entire surface of the plug311.

The smoking article100may additionally or alternatively comprise a separate layer of sheet viscoelastic material500provided between any two of the smoking article components referred to above. For example, a separate layer of viscoelastic material500may be provided between the tipping material400and the plug wrap320, and/or between the plug wrap320and the plug of filter material310. A layer of viscoelastic material500may additionally or alternatively be provided on an outward facing surface of either or both of the tipping material400or the tobacco wrap220.

In another example, the viscoelastic material500may be provided as a separate layer around the exterior of the plug of filter material310or plug wrap320such that the viscoelastic material500forms the outer surface of the filter300. The viscoelastic material500will thus be in direct contact with the fingers and/or lips of a user during smoking. Referring toFIG. 6, in this case, the tipping material400may comprise ring tipping400such that the tipping material400is restricted to areas of the smoking article100which are immediately adjacent to the join between the rod200and the filter300. As can be seen, the ring tipping400does not extend to the mouth end of the filter300.

The viscoelastic material500may comprise a memory foam which is configured to change its shape when pressure is exerted against it. For example, if pressure is exerted against the viscoelastic material500by an external object, the material500may be configured to form a receiving region600in its outer surface. The receiving region600may comprise a depression in the viscoelastic material500. The shape of the depression may substantially correspond to the shape of the part of the object which formed it. The depressed shape may be reflected in the outer surface profile of the smoking article100.

For example, the viscoelastic material500may be configured to mould to the shape of a user's finger, thumb or lip when pressure is imparted by the finger, thumb or lip against the viscoelastic material500. This may occur when the user grips the smoking article100between their finger(s) and/or thumb, or between their lips, thereby imparting pressure against the external face of the smoking article100. The pressure imparted by the user is experienced by the viscoelastic material500, which is configured to adapt its shape to create one or more depressed receiving regions600. The surface profile of each receiving region600may substantially match all or part of the outer profile of the finger, thumb or lip which created the region600. The shape of the one or more receiving regions600is reflected in the external surface profile of the smoking article100.

One or more receiving regions600, such as those described above, may be simultaneously present in the external surface profile of the smoking article100. The external surface profile of the smoking article100may therefore be shaped to simultaneously accommodate one or more of the user's fingers, thumb or lips. The formation of these regions600may make the external profile of the smoking article100individual to the user, thereby allowing the user to grip the smoking article100more comfortably.

The depth, shape and relaxation rate of the depressed receiving region(s)600may be dependent on the temperature of the viscoelastic material500. For example, the viscoelastic material500may become more malleable at higher temperatures, which may result in deeper receiving regions600being formed at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures (for an equivalent amount of exerted pressure). It will be appreciated that, due to conduction of heat from the user's body, the temperature of the viscoelastic material500may increase when the smoking article100is gripped by the user in their fingers or mouth. Therefore, as the temperature of the viscoelastic material500increases the depths of the receiving regions600may also increase.

When the pressure being imparted against the smoking article100is removed, the viscoelastic material500may relax back to its original shape. This may cause the depressed receiving region600to disappear, thereby substantially restoring the original surface profile of the smoking article100. The rate at which the viscoelastic material500, and therefore surface profile of the smoking article100, relaxes back to its original shape may vary depending on the particular composition of the viscoelastic material500. The rate of relaxation may also depend on the temperature of the viscoelastic material500and on the extent to which it has been deformed. The length of time taken for the viscoelastic material500to relax back to its original shape may, for example, be any length of time between one second and five minutes. Alternatively, the composition of the viscoelastic material500may be such that the receiving region600relaxes back to its original shape immediately after the pressure being applied to the viscoelastic material500has been removed.

The viscoelastic material500may comprise a plurality of perforations510for allowing gaseous transfer through the material500. Each of the perforations510may comprise a ventilation channel extending between the inward and outward facing surfaces of the viscoelastic material500, thereby providing a means for ventilating the smoking article100. For example, the perforations510may provide a means for ventilating the plug of filter material310by allowing gaseous transfer between the filter material310and the exterior of the smoking article100. An example of this is illustrated inFIG. 7.

It will be appreciated that if the tobacco wrap220, tipping material400or plug wrap320comprise viscoelastic material500, the width of the tobacco wrap220, tipping material400or plug wrap320may be greater than is conventional. This is partly illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 4A to 4C. The additional thickness may allow for a perceivably deep depressed receiving region600to be formed in the external profile of the smoking article100. For example, the thickness of the tobacco wrap220, tipping material400or plug wrap320may take any value between 0.3 mm and 5 mm. Similarly, the diameter of a plug of filter material310comprising a viscoelastic material500may also be greater than is conventional.

If the smoking article100comprises a distinct layer of viscoelastic material500of the type discussed above, the layer may have a thickness of between 0.25 mm and 4 mm. In one example, the layer may have a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, for instance 1.5 mm. In another example, the thickness may be between 1 mm and 1.5 mm, for instance 1.25 mm.

FIG. 8shows a first cross sectional view along the axis of the smoking article100. The cross section corresponds to a point approximately halfway along the length of the filter300. As can be seen, the filter300comprises a substantially cylindrical core of filter material310wrapped firstly in a sheet of plug wrap320and secondly in a sheet of tipping material400. In the example illustrated inFIG. 8, the tipping material400comprises a viscoelastic material500and has a greater thickness than the plug wrap320. However, it will be appreciated that additionally or alternatively, one or both of the plug wrap320and plug of filter material310could comprise a viscoelastic material500in any of the ways described above. The cross-sectional surface profile of each of the filter material310, plug wrap320and tipping material400is substantially circular. No depressed regions600are present. The view shown inFIG. 8may therefore correspond to the profile of the smoking article100immediately post manufacture or at the point of sale.

FIG. 9illustrates a second cross sectional view along the axis of the smoking article100. The smoking article100corresponds to the smoking article100shown inFIG. 8, in which the tipping material400comprises a viscoelastic material500. The cross sectional view is of the same point on the smoking article100as is shown inFIG. 8. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the smoking article100comprises a depressed receiving region600in its outer surface profile. This is caused by exertion of a force against the surface of the smoking article100(in this case the tipping material400), which has caused the viscoelastic material500in the tipping material400to deform and mould to the shape of the object which exerted the force. The object itself, which may be a finger or a lip of a user, has been omitted fromFIG. 9for the purposes of clarity.

FIGS. 8 and 9could alternatively show a separate layer of viscoelastic material500around a plug wrap320in a smoking article100in which ring tipping400is used. This is described above in relation toFIG. 6.

FIG. 10shows a third cross sectional view along the axis of the smoking article100. The cross sectional view inFIG. 10corresponds to a point approximately halfway along the rod of smokeable material200. If the smoking article100does not comprise a filter300, the view inFIG. 10may correspond to a point anywhere along the smoking article100. In this example, the tobacco wrapper220comprises a viscoelastic material500. As can be seen, the cross-sectional surface profile of the rod of smokeable material200is substantially circular. As withFIG. 8, no depressed regions600are present. The view shown inFIG. 10may therefore correspond to the profile of the smoking article100immediately post manufacture or at the point of sale.

FIG. 11illustrates a fourth cross sectional view along the axis of the smoking article100. The smoking article100corresponds to the smoking article100shown inFIG. 10, in which the tobacco wrapper220comprises a viscoelastic material500. The cross sectional view is of the same point on the smoking article100as is shown inFIG. 10. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the smoking article100comprises a depressed receiving region600in its outer surface profile. This is caused by exertion of a force against the surface of the smoking article100(in this case the tobacco wrap220), which has caused the viscoelastic material500in the tobacco wrapper220to deform and mould to the shape of the object which exerted the force. The object itself, which may be a finger or lip of a user, has been omitted fromFIG. 11for the purposes of clarity.

The smoking article100described above may be a cigarette, cigar or cigarillo.

The smoking article100may be manufactured by applying a layer of viscoelastic material500to any of the smoking article components220,310,320,400described above in an adhering process. For example, conventional cigarette paper, conventional plug wrap paper and/or conventional tipping paper may be fed into a suitable adhering apparatus which is configured to adhere a layer of viscoelastic material500to a surface of the conventional papers using a suitable adhesive. The resulting wrappers220,320,400may then be provided on bobbins and used to assemble smoking articles100such as cigarettes in a conventional fashion. Additionally or alternatively, a length of conventional cellulose acetate filter material311may be wrapped in a layer of viscoelastic material500using a suitable adhesive, before being cut into lengths ready for conventional smoking article assembly.

All embodiments described above in which the viscoelastic material500may be combusted or exposed to burning tobacco material are subject to further safety testing procedures. In particular, those embodiments in which viscoelastic material500is provided in the tobacco wrap220and/or tipping material400. Preferable embodiments of the invention are those in which the viscoelastic material500is provided in the plug wrap320or plug of filter material310. In all of the embodiments, smoke from the tobacco rod200is channelled through the filter material310rather than the other filter components referred to above.

It will be appreciated that the alternatives described above may be used singly or in combination to achieve the effects of the invention.