Abstract:
A method of flavoring a filter plug wrap of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is disclosed. Furthermore, a method of incorporating flavoring into the plug wrap and using the plug wrap to wrap the filter of the smoking article is disclosed. A smoking article and a filter having a flavored filter plug wrap are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENTIAL LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to methods of applying or incorporating cigarette flavoring into the filter plug wrap, the flavoring being semi-encapsulated, and a smoking article and filter resulting therefrom. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods whereby the filter plug wrap is flavored such that some of the flavoring will stay on the filter plug wrap and some of the flavoring will migrate into the filter plug, the cigarette paper, and the tobacco, and a smoking article and filter resulting therefrom.  
         [0006]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0007]     Flavor and aroma are important characteristics of smoking articles, such as cigarettes. Current methods of incorporating flavors into cigarettes involve spraying flavoring onto tobacco, inserting flavor pellets into the filter, inserting flavored string, injecting flavors into the filter, spraying flavoring onto the cigarette paper, or placing flavored strips inside the cigarette. Furthermore, certain cigarettes have filter segments which incorporate flavorants.  
         [0008]     For example, U.S. Patent Pub. No 2002/0166563, invented by Jupe et al., teaches a flavorant added to carbon in a cigarette filter by spraying flavorant upon a batch of activated carbon in a mixing drum or in a fluidized bed with nitrogen as the fluidizing agent, wherein flavorant may then be sprayed onto the carbon in the bed. The carbon is placed in an area in the filter. Carbon, however, often yields an undesirable metallic flavor. Also, carbon often absorbs flavors in the mainstream smoke while smoking. Further, because of the volatile nature of some flavorants and aromas, they are often “lost” at least in part during cigarette manufacturing, packaging, and storage. Therefore, it is often necessary to increase the initial content of flavorants and aromas to compensate for the dissipated flavor and aroma, which is costly.  
         [0009]     A smoking article with a flavor element suspended in a binding agent is desired. Flavor suspended in a binding agent is known in the art. Perhaps the most well-known example is LISTERINE® ORAL CARE STRIPS, the fast dissolving orally consumable films used to deliver flavors such as cinnamon and mint, breath deodorizing agents, and antimicrobial agents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,298, issued to Leung, et al., teaches a rapidly dissolving oral film comprised of flavors and antimicrobial agents suspended in binding agents selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, and mixtures thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,493, issued to Dzija, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,332, issued to Zyck, et al., teach an edible film for oral cleansing and breath freshening having maltodextrines, fillers (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)), and hydrocolloids (e.g., sodium alginate) as film forming agents.  
         [0010]     A smoking article with a flavor element capable of flavoring the smoking article that is efficient to produce and yields a favored flavor is desired. Also, a smoking article with a flavor element that will not diminish during cigarette manufacturing, packaging, and storage is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In view of known deficiencies associated with earlier smoking article filter elements, a smoking article with a cigarette flavoring applied to or incorporated into a filter plug wrap, whereby the filter plug wrap is comprised of flavor suspended in a binding agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose (hereinafter “CMC”), is provided. Other binding agents known in the art, such as pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)), hydrocolloids (e.g., sodium alginate), and mixture thereof, may also be used.  
         [0012]     In the instant invention, mainstream smoke passes through a carbon-based filter before passing through a flavored filter plug wrap. As such, the flavors, such as cinnamon and menthol, aren&#39;t subject to absorption by the carbon-based filter. The instant invention also provides a smoking article that is efficient to produce, one that yields a desirable flavor, and one that has flavoring that will not diminish during cigarette manufacturing, packaging, and storage.  
         [0013]     Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, generally comprise a tobacco rod surrounded by a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter aligned in a coaxial relationship with the tobacco rod. Generally, the filter includes a cellulose acetate filter plug attached to the tobacco rod by tipping paper. After lighting a cigarette, a smoker draws mainstream smoke from the lit end of the tobacco rod, through the upstream end of the filter, and then through the downstream (or buccal) end of the cigarette.  
         [0014]     The instant invention provides a method of consistently providing flavorful substances, which includes a flavored filter plug wrap having a composition of CMC or any of a number of other binding agents, as mentioned above, that can suspend flavorings and be degraded during the smoking process. Particularly, CMC is a semisynthetic water-soluble polymer in which CH 2 COOH groups are substituted on the glucose units of the cellulose chain, and generally functions as a binder, film former, and suspending agent. The flavoring is incorporated, such as encapsulated or suspended, into the material used as a filter plug wrap for the cigarette filter, and the filter plug wrap concentrically wraps the cigarette filter. The filter plug wrap is degraded by components generated by the smoking process, such as heat and/or water vapor, thereby releasing flavor. Some of the flavoring will stay on the plug wrap and some of the flavoring will migrate to the filter plug, the cigarette paper, and the tobacco.  
         [0015]     Since the mainstream smoke must pass through the flavored filter plug wrap located in the filter, the flavor release will remain consistent throughout smoking. During the smoking process, the flavor is transferred into the mainstream cigarette smoke and then to the smoker without the material being pyrolized. This method is particularly beneficial because it is used to bypass certain filter materials which the mainstream smoke passes through, allowing flavorings, such as cinnamaldehyde for example, to be used which would normally be captured by filter materials, such as carbon for example. The fact that the flavor is not heated is advantageous because flavor is degraded by heat. The binder which suspends the flavor serves to further protect the flavor from heat and oxidization due to air exposure.  
         [0016]     The flavored filter plug wrap can wrap the outside of a cigarette filter and can also wrap the core of a coaxial filter, perhaps in combination with an outer flavored filter plug wrap. The flavoring agents can range from traditional cigarette flavors, such as menthol and burley, to non-traditional cigarette flavors, such as cinnamon.  
         [0017]     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appending claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the detailed description of the preferred embodiment is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the filter end of a first embodiment of a smoking article according to the instant invention in a partially unwrapped condition.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the filter of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the filter end of a second embodiment of a smoking article according to the instant invention in a partially unwrapped condition.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the filter of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the filter end of a third embodiment of a smoking article according to the instant invention in a partially unwrapped condition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the Figures and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a smoking article  10  comprising a rod  12  of smokable material, such as tobacco, and a filter  14  attached thereto with tipping paper  18 . The tobacco rod  12  may be wrapped with a conventional cigarette paper wrapper  16 . The filter  14  includes a filter plug  11 , such as for example cellulose acetate plug or other fibrous or webbed material, circumscribed with a filter plug wrap  13 . Tipping paper  18  circumscribes the filter plug wrap  13 . Mainstream smoke is generated by and drawn from the tobacco rod  12  and through the filter  14  upon lighting the smoking article  10  and inhaling.  
         [0026]     The filter plug wrap  13  has a composition of carboxymethylcellulose (hereinafter referred to as “CMC”) or any of a number of other binding agents that can suspend flavoring agents as described above. The method of adding flavorings is known in the art. The flavored filter plug wrap  13  is positioned around the filter plug  11  such that some of the flavoring will stay on the filter plug wrap  13  and some of the flavoring will migrate to the filter plug  11 , the tipping paper  18 , the paper wrapper  16 , and the tobacco rod  12 . The flavored filter plug wrap  13  can be applied during the cigarette manufacturing process. The amount of flavored filter plug wrap  13  per cigarette can vary, depending on factors such as the size of the flavored filter plug wrap  13 , and the concentration of flavors suspended in the flavored filter plug wrap  13 . As mainstream smoke is drawn upstream through the filter  14 , flavor is consistently released into mainstream smoke as it passes through the filter plug  11  wrapped in the flavored filter plug wrap  13 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a smoking article  30  comprising a rod  32  of smokable material, such as tobacco, and a filter  34  attached to the rod  32 . The tobacco rod  32  may be wrapped with a conventional cigarette paper wrapper  36 . The filter  34  includes a filter plug  31 , such as for example cellulose acetate plug or other fibrous or webbed material, circumscribed with a first flavored filter plug wrap  33 . Tipping paper  38  circumscribes the first flavored filter plug wrap  33 . Centrally disposed within the filter plug  31  is a filter core  37  circumscribe by a second flavored filter plug wrap  35 .  
         [0028]     The first and second flavored filter plug wraps  33 ,  35  are positioned such that some of the flavoring will stay on the plug wraps  33 ,  35  with a majority of the flavoring migrating to the filter plug  31 , the tipping paper  38 , the paper wrapper  36 , the tobacco rod  32 , and the filter core  37 . The first and second flavored filter plug wraps  33 ,  35  can be applied during the cigarette manufacturing process. The amount of flavored filter plug wraps  33 ,  35  per cigarette can vary, depending on factors such as the size of the flavored filter plug wraps  33 ,  35  and the concentration of flavors suspended in the wraps  33 ,  35 . As mainstream smoke is drawn upstream through the filter  34 , flavor is consistently released into mainstream smoke as it passes through the filter plug  31  having the first and second flavored filter plug wraps  33 ,  35 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a smoking article  50  comprising a rod  52  of smokable material, such as tobacco, and a filter  54  attached thereto with tipping paper  58 . The tobacco rod  52  may be wrapped with a conventional cigarette paper wrapper  56 . The filter  54  can be a multi-component filter.  FIG. 5  shows a filter  54  divided into a carbon-based filter segment  57  and a fibrous filter segment  55 , such as cellulose acetate or another webbed material. The carbon-based filter segment  57  can be circumscribed with a regular plug wrap  59 , while the fibrous filter segment  55  can be circumscribed with a flavored filter plug wrap  53 . The tipping paper  58  circumscribes both the regular plug wrap  59  and the flavored filter plug wrap  53 . Mainstream smoke is generated by and drawn from the tobacco rod  52  and through the filter  54  upon lighting the smoking article  50  and inhaling.  
         [0030]     The flavored filter plug wrap  53  is positioned around the fibrous filter segment  55  such that some of the flavoring will stay on the flavored filter plug wrap  53  and some of the flavoring will migrate to the fibrous filter segment  55 . As mainstream smoke is drawn upstream through the filter  54 , the smoke first passes through the carbon-based filter segment  57  and subsequently through the fibrous filter segment  55 , wherein flavor is released from the flavored filter plug wrap  53  into the mainstream smoke. Little, if any, of the flavor on the flavored filter plug wrap  53  is subject to adsorption in the carbon-based filter segment  57 . As such, the smoker will receive most of the flavor from the flavored filter plug wrap  53 .  
       EXAMPLE 1  
       [0031]     A menthol flavorant was applied to a filter plug wrap  13  to determine the amount of flavor transfer to smoke. The approximate weight of material in the flavored filter plug wrap  13  was 33 mg per 27 mm of filter  14 . Due to loss of menthol flavoring during the manufacturing of the flavored filter plug wrap  13 , 0.58% of menthol was actually in the sample used for experimentation. Since 0.58% of the sample was menthol and the flavored filter plug wrap  13  weighed 33 mg, 0.191 mg of menthol were present in the flavored filter plug wrap  13 . Smoke menthol showed 0.02 mg per cigarette, so approximately 10% of the menthol transferred to the smoke from the flavored filter plug wrap  13 .  
         [0032]     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure, and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. In that regard, the instant invention may be practiced with cigarettes of various circumferences, narrow and wide.