Abstract:
A fluid release mechanism for a smoking article comprises two longitudinally arranged parts ( 2,3 ), rotatable relative to one another from a first to a second position, a space to receive a fluid- containing member ( 4,5 ) and a contacting member ( 6,7 ) for contacting the fluid containing member in the second position, wherein the contacting member is arranged so that rotating from the first position to the second position causes relative angular movement between the contacting member and said space which causes the contacting member to enter the space for contacting and rupturing the fluid- containing member, thereby to release fluid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a fluid release mechanism for a smoking article such as a cigarette. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known to provide a breakable gelatin capsule containing a fluid flavourant, for example menthol, inside the plug material of a cigarette filter. When pressure is applied to the outside of the filter, the plug material surrounding the capsule presses against the capsule, thereby rupturing the capsule and releasing the flavourant. Smoke drawn from the cigarette is then flavoured by the flavourant as it passes through the filter. In this way flavour can be selectively added to the smoke drawn from the cigarette by squeezing the outside of the filter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides an alternative approach for selectively modifying the characteristics of smoke. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides a fluid release mechanism for a smoking article, comprising first and second longitudinally arranged parts rotatable relative to one another from a first to a second position, the second part having a space to receive a fluid-containing member and the first part having a contacting member for contacting the fluid-containing member in the second position, wherein the contacting member is arranged so that rotating from the first position to the second position causes relative angular movement between the contacting member and said space which causes the contacting member to enter the space for contacting the fluid-containing member, thereby to release fluid. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the fluid release mechanism is comprised in a smoking article filter, which in turn may be comprised in a smoking article. The fluid release mechanism may be arranged inside the smoking article filter so that when the fluid is released, smoke passing through the filter comes into contact with the fluid, which acts to modify the characteristics of the smoke, for example, by flavouring the smoke. 
         [0007]    As used herein the term fluid includes any substance which flows and therefore includes liquids, gases and solids (e.g. in powder or granule or grain form, or plastic solids) which are able to flow. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the fluid is a fluid flavourant. As used herein, the terms “flavour” and “flavourant” refer to materials which may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product. They may include extracts e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Dramboui, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Menth a), flavour masking agents, bitterness receptor site blockers, receptor site enhancers, sweeteners e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol, and other additives such aschlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder. 
         [0009]    Optionally, the fluid-containing member may contain a smoke-modifying fluid other than a flavourant. For example, the fluid-containing member may contain a humectant, or liquids such as water or Vitamin A solution for filtering certain elements from the cigarette smoke 
         [0010]    The fluid-containing members are preferably breakable fluid-containing capsules and are further preferably formed from gelatin. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the fluid release mechanism comprises a restriction mechanism configured to prevent further angular movement away from the first position when the first and second parts are positioned in the second position. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the fluid release mechanism comprises a locating mechanism configured to locate the parts in the first position and the second position. The locating mechanism ensures that the parts are located securely in the desired position so that capsules are not accidentally ruptured by unwanted rotation of the parts caused for example by movement of the eventual cigarettes during transport or in a consumer&#39;s pocket. 
         [0013]    The locating mechanism may be adapted to generate an audible sound upon rotation from the first position to the second position. The audible sound provides an audible indication to the user that a capsule has been broken. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the fluid release mechanism is adapted to house two capsules and comprises two spaces, one for each capsule. The two parts are preferably further rotatable relative to another from the first position to a third position and the first part preferably comprises a further (second) contacting member for contacting a capsule in the third position. While rotating from the first position to the second position causes relative angular movement between the first contacting member and a first of said spaces which causes the first contacting member to enter the first space for contacting and rupturing a first of the capsules, rotating from the first position to the third position causes relative angular movement between the second contacting member and a second of said spaces which causes the contacting member to enter a second of the spaces for contacting and rupturing a second of the capsules. Preferably rotation from the first position to the second position is in the opposite direction to the rotation from the first position to the third position. For example, the direction of rotation from the first position to the second position may be clockwise and the direction of rotation from the first position to the third position may be anticlockwise. In this way, the user may selectively rupture either the first or the second capsule by twisting the filter either clockwise or anticlockwise. 
         [0015]    The first and second capsules may contain different flavourants for example menthol and orange essence respectively. Thus, the user may release either a menthol flavourant, an orange essence flavourant, or both flavourants. 
         [0016]    Optionally, the first and second capsules contain the same flavourant. In this case, the user may select the intensity of flavour by either breaking none, one or both capsules. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the first part is formed from moulded plastic and the second part is formed from moulded plastic. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIGS. 1(   a ),  1 ( b ) and  1 ( c ) are perspective views of a fluid release mechanism. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a smoking article comprising the fluid release mechanism. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid release mechanism in a first position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid release mechanism in a second position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid release mechanism in a third position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid release mechanism  1  for a smoking article filter. As shown, fluid release mechanism  1  comprises first and second substantially cylindrically shaped parts  2 ,  3  which fit together so as to be rotatable relative to one another. As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the fluid release mechanism  1  houses two breakable, flavourant-containing capsules  4 ,  5 , which can be selectively ruptured by twisting the second part  3  relative to the first part  2  in either a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first part  2  has protrusions in the form of bosses  6 ,  7  to break the capsules. Preferably, the capsules  4 ,  5  are formed of gelatin and contain different flavourants, for example menthol and orange essence respectively. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a smoking article  8  having a filter  9  incorporating the fluid release mechanism  1 . As shown, filter  9  comprises two rods of cellulose acetate  10 ,  11  axially aligned at either end of the fluid release mechanism  1  and is wrapped with a first wrapper in the form of a plugwrap paper  12 . 
         [0026]    As shown, the smoking article  8  has a paper wrapped tobacco rod  13  axially aligned with filter  9 . A tipping paper  14  is wrapped around an end portion of the rod  13  and the filter  9  to join them together. 
         [0027]    The wrappers  12 ,  14  are circumferentially perforated at the peripheral region where the parts  2 ,  3  meet so as to allow the filter  9  to be twisted. The wrappers  12 ,  14  could be pre-perforated or alternatively laser perforation could be performed after the filter  9  is wrapped. 
         [0028]    In this way, the first part  2  of fluid release mechanism  1 , the first rod  10 , a first portion of the plugwrap  12  and a first portion of the tipping paper  14  form a first filter segment  15  of filter  9 . Similarly, the second part  3  of fluid release mechanism  2 , the second rod  11 , a second portion of the plugwrap  12  and a second portion of the tipping paper  13  form a second segment  16  of filter  9 . 
         [0029]    A capsule  4 ,  5  may be ruptured by holding one of the filter parts  15 ,  16  in place and twisting the other part either clockwise or anticlockwise, thereby breaking the circumferential perforation in the wrappers  12 ,  14 . Twisting the second filter segment  16  in one direction causes the second part  3  of the fluid release mechanism to twist relative to the first part  2  so that the first capsule  4  is ruptured and the menthol flavourant is released. Thus, smoke drawn from the cigarette will be flavoured by the menthol flavourant as it passes through the filter. Similarly, twisting the second filter segment  16  in the opposite direction causes the second capsule  5  to be ruptured so that the orange essence flavourant is released. Thus, the menthol flavourant or the orange essence flavourant may be selectively released by either twisting the filter clockwise or anti-clockwise. Alternatively, the user may release both flavourants by first twisting in one direction, then twisting back to the original position and then twisting in the opposite direction. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), the second part  3  has a cylindrical body  19  and a cylindrical collar  20  and the first part  2  has a cylindrical body  21  which defines a cylindrical sleeve  22  which receives the collar  20 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the sleeve  22  has an annular outer lip  23  which fits into groove  24  which runs circumferentially around the periphery of the outer wall of the collar  20 , adjacent to the body  19 . In this way, the first and second parts can be rotated relative to one another while being held in longitudinal position by the lip  23 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), a longitudinally extending groove  17  is formed in the body  21  of first part  2  and a longitudinally extending groove  18  is formed in the body  19  of second part  3 . The grooves  17 ,  18  are visible as indentations in the filter  9  when the wrappers  12 ,  14  are applied, and thus provide a visual indication of the relative alignment of the parts  2 ,  3  and hence of the filter parts  15 ,  16 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), the second part  3  has two capsule-receiving recesses  25 ,  26  for the capsules  4 ,  5 . The capsule-receiving recesses  25 ,  26  have inner openings  27 ,  28 , which lead into first and second cylindrical holes  29 ,  30 , which extend longitudinally through the second part  3  and define outlet openings  31 ,  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1(   b ), the second part has three recesses  33 ,  34 ,  35 , each adapted to receive the bosses  6 ,  7  of the first part  2  in the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . In the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first boss  6  is aligned with and received in the recess  33  and the second boss  7  is aligned with and received in the recess  35  and neither of the capsules  4 ,  5  is broken. In this way, the first and second parts are securely located in position and are prevented from moving out of place until the user decides to twist the filter. 
         [0034]    The bosses are made from a resilient plastic so that when the second part  3  is rotated by a user relative to the first part  2 , the bosses  6 ,  7  longitudinally compress and move out of the recesses  33 ,  35 . Continued rotation then brings one of the bosses  6 ,  7  into register with the central recess  34 . Once aligned, the boss  6 ,  7  resiles and snaps into position in the recess  34 , causing a “click” sound. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the boss  7  is in alignment with the recess  34 , the boss  6  is positioned in the capsule-receiving recess  26 . Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the boss  6  is in alignment with the recess  34 , the boss  7  is positioned in the capsule-receiving recess  25 . Twisting the fluid release mechanism from the position shown in  FIG. 3  to the position shown in  FIG. 4  thus causes the boss  6  to be brought along an angular displacement path, into the capsule-receiving recess  26  where it contacts, presses against and bursts the capsule  5 . The capsule  5  is held in position by the sidewall of the recess  26  as the boss  6  presses transversely against it. In this way, the capsule  5  is laterally pinched between the boss  6  and the sidewall of the recess  26  until it bursts. 
         [0036]    In a similar way, twisting the fluid release mechanism from the position shown in  FIG. 3  into the position shown in  FIG. 5  brings the boss  7  along an angular displacement path into the capsule-receiving recess  25 , where it ruptures the capsule  4 . In this way, one of the capsules  4 ,  5  can be selectively ruptured by twisting the filter from the position of  FIG. 3  to either the position of  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5 . 
         [0037]    As described above, when the boss  6  is brought into the position of  FIG. 4  so as to rupture the capsule  5 , the boss  7  snaps into position in the recess  34 , causing a “click” sound. The “click” sound provides an audible indication to the user that a capsule has been broken. Furthermore, the boss  7  is securely located in the recess  34  and thus the first and second parts will not move out of position until the user decides to twist the filter again. 
         [0038]    Similarly, when the boss  7  is brought into the position of  FIG. 5  so as to rupture the capsule  4 , the boss  6  snaps into position in the recess  34 , thereby causing an audible indication that a capsule has been broken and securely locating the parts  2 ,  3  in position. 
         [0039]    The capsules may also make an audible sound when ruptured by the bosses  6 ,  7 . This audible sound adds to the sound made when the bosses snap into place in the recess  34  and thus provides a louder audible indication for the user that a capsule has been broken. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in addition to the holes  30 ,  29 , two further holes  36 ,  37  extend through the second part  3  defining two further outlet openings  38 ,  39 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hole  37  is arranged so that smoke can pass through the hole  37  from the first part  2  to the second part  3 , even when the capsules  4 ,  5  have not been ruptured. In each of the positions shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , smoke may pass from the hole  40  into the hole  37 . 
         [0041]    As shown, the first part  2  has a substantially kidney-shaped hole  40  having two lobes. As shown in  FIG. 3-5 , the two lobes are arranged to allow smoke to flow through the hole  40 , through recesses  25 ,  26  and through the holes  29 ,  30  (via openings  27 ,  28 ) and out of the outlet openings  31 ,  32  in any of the positions shown in  FIG. 3 ,  4  or  5 , provided that the respective capsule  4 ,  5  (or both capsules) has been ruptured. This ensures that smoke will pass through the region in which flavourant is released so as to become flavoured. 
         [0042]    Many modifications and variations will be evident to those skilled in the art that fall within the scope of the following claims.