Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/20200146343
Timestamp: 2020-08-15 13:57:15
Document Index: 716950153

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 220', 'art 310', 'art 220', 'art 220', 'art 310', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 300']

US Patent Application for FLAVOR CAPSULE FOR ENHANCED FLAVOR DELIVERY IN CIGARETTES Patent Application (Application #20200146343 issued May 14, 2020) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents US Patent Application for FLAVOR CAPSULE FOR ENHANCED FLAVOR DELIVERY IN CIGARETTES Patent Application (Application #20200146343)
Jan 13, 2020 - Philip Morris USA Inc.
FIG. 4a is an exploded illustration of a capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4b is an illustration of a sealed capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4c is an illustration of the operation of a capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4d is an illustration of a sealed capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment wherein solids are present in the sealed capsule.
FIG. 5a is an illustration of a sealed capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5b is an illustration of the operation of a capsule for use in a filter of a cigarette according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment including a capsule in the filter of the cigarette.
FIG. 6b is an illustration of a double capsule containing additives.
FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment including microcapsules in a filter of the cigarette.
FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment including a macrocapsule in a filter of the cigarette and sorbents in a filter material.
“Smoking” of a cigarette is intended to mean the heating, combusting or otherwise causing a release of certain chemicals from tobacco. Generally, smoking of a cigarette involves lighting one end of the cigarette and drawing the smoke downstream through the mouth end of the cigarette, while the tobacco contained therein undergoes combustion, pyrolysis or distillation of volatiles. However, the cigarette may also be smoked by other means. For example, the cigarette may be smoked by heating the cigarette using an electrical heater, as described, for example, in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,053,176; 5,934,289; 5,591,368 or 5,322,075, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
As used herein, the term “sorbent” refers to either an adsorbent, an absorbent, or a substance that may perform both of these functions.
In a preferred embodiment, the additive materials may include one or more flavors, such as liquid or solid flavors and flavor formulations or flavor-containing materials. The term “flavor” or “tobacco flavor” may include any flavor compound or tobacco extract suitable for being releasably disposed in liquid form within two-part capsules macrocapsules or microcapsules to enhance the taste of mainstream smoke produced, for example, by a cigarette.
The term “releasably disposed” as used herein to refer to the containment and release of additive materials in capsules such that the additive materials are sufficiently contained to substantially avoid or minimize unwanted migration, such as, for example, during storage. This term also includes, but is not limited to, the additive materials in the capsule being mobile enough to be released from the capsule when, for example, the capsule is broken or opened by mechanical force. For example, the capsule may be broken by squeezing a portion of a cigarette filter containing the capsule, thus releasing the additive material from within the capsule.
The macrocapsules or microcapsules may be distributed uniformly or non-uniformly within the entirety of the cigarette filter, within a discrete portion of the cigarette filter, or within more than one portion of the cigarette filter. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, microcapsules may be included within a cellulose acetate filter segment separate from an adsorbent region within the cigarette filter. It is noted that the terms “capsules” or “macrocapsules” are intended to define large capsules, preferably equal to or larger than about 1 mm in diameter, while the term “microcapsules” are defined as smaller capsules, preferably smaller than 1 mm.
A third preferred embodiment of a flavor capsule is illustrated in FIGS. 4a-d. As shown, in FIG. 4a, a two-part capsule may be formed with a first part 200 (with additive therein) and a second part 300 where the two parts can be sealingly attached to each other with annular indentations 210. The first part 200 and the second part 300 after being sealingly attached to one another can then be used as a pump to release the additive material, where the first part 200 serves as the primary reservoir for the additive material and the second part 300 aids in delivery of the additive material. The annular indentations 210 may be provided on both the first part 200 and second part 300 for providing a locked and sealed structure and may be any form providing a seal which allows for release of the additive under application of an external force. Additionally, portions of the capsule can be scored to reduce the amount of force required to rupture the capsule.
As shown in FIG. 4b, the open end of the second part 300 can fit over the open end of first part 200 with indentations 210 serving to keep the capsule sealingly closed until the capsule is squeezed. Additionally, a seal band 400 can also be provided around a joint between the first and second parts, a portion of the second part alone or a portion of the first part and the second part to further seal the capsule. Preferably, the seal band 400 is an impervious and impermeable material which creates an impervious and impermeable seal for the capsule.
FIG. 4c illustrates the pump action of the capsule whereby external force is applied at D and E, pushing the additive through the opening 330 created between the first part and the second part of the capsule. The two parts, 200 and 300, are mechanically separated through the forces applied at D and E by squeezing the capsule, providing an opening 330 between the two parts. The additive material, which is preferably liquid, may thus wet areas outside of the capsule, such as portions of the filter like a cellulose acetate region, as the additive is forced up and out (indicated by arrow 320) of the capsule through the opening 330 between the first part 200 and the second part 300.
When the capsule is squeezed as shown in FIG. 4c, the sealed or locked formation between the first part 200 and the second part 300 is opened allowing the additive to escape from the capsule and thus mix with tobacco smoke passing through the filter if the capsule is used in a cigarette. Additionally, it is noted that the capsule may break at weak points of the capsule. For example, regions around the corners 220 of the capsule tend to be weaker and may be subject to breaking.
In a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4d, solids 205 such as sponges or particles of silica, alumina, carbon or other material may be located in the first part 200 to absorb the additive or act as fillers (i.e., to take up space in the first part 200) to allow for the use of smaller amounts of additive in the capsule. Alternatively, the solids 205 may be flavor compound particles or flavor containing particles such as flavored carbon or other porous material such as molecular sieve material, wherein the liquid may be omitted or may be adsorbed in pores of the particles.
FIGS. 5a-b illustrate another embodiment of a flavor capsule. In FIG. 5a, a first part 220 comprises a primary reservoir for a flavor component and a second part 310 is locked into place in the cavity of first part 220. Upon squeezing or applying force on the capsule at points G and H as shown in FIG. 5b, the first part 220 and second part 310 mechanically separate enough to form a gap or opening at portion 110 through which the flavor component may be released and may contact with tobacco smoke passing through the filter of the cigarette and mix or become entrained with the tobacco smoke.
An exemplary embodiment of the flavor capsule of FIGS. 4a-d in a cigarette is shown in FIG. 6a, wherein a two-part capsule 100 for the additive material is located in a filter 40 downstream from a sorbent region 50 in cigarette 3. The filter 40 may be attached to tobacco rod 60 where the filter 40 has a filter material region 45 adjacent the tobacco rod 60, a sorbent region 50, filter material regions 45, wherein the two-part capsule 100 may be located between the filter material regions 45. The two-part capsule 100 can be frictionally fitted in a hollow acetate tube 70. Additionally, a double capsule, as illustrated in FIG. 6b, can be incorporated in cigarette 3, wherein the double capsule can include additives or active formulations.
Upon use, a portion of the filter area of cigarette 3 may be squeezed with forces H, I on either side of the capsule 100, causing at least partial mechanical separation of the first part 200, which includes a primary reservoir for the additive component, from the second part 300 as illustrated in FIG. 4c. As in FIGS. 4a-d, when the capsule 100 in the cigarette 3 of FIG. 6 is squeezed prior to use, the additive component flows through an opening created between the first part 200 and the second part 300 of the capsule 100 and can wet or apply additive outside of the capsule 100. Preferably, the capsule provided has a burst strength of about 0.5-0.8, 0.8-1.2, 1.2-1.6, 1.6-2.0 or 2.0-2.4 kilograms force (kgf). As the cigarette 3 is smoked, the additive can then be exposed to mainstream smoke passing through the filter.
In another embodiment, the capsule can be in the form of one or more microcapsules which encapsulate additive(s). Each microcapsule may be used alone or in combination with other microcapsules 800, as illustrated in FIG. 7a. When used in a cigarette, each microcapsule can contain the same or different additives from other microcapsule(s) in the cigarette (if present) depending upon the additive(s) desired. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7a, a combination of ten menthol flavored microcapsules and five tobacco flavored microcapsules can be incorporated into a cigarette filter to provide a preferred menthol-tobacco combination of flavors.
As another example, one or more larger macrocapsules, as illustrated in FIG. 7b, which can be a sphere, such as a flavor sphere or spherical flavor capsule, can be provided.
Release of the additives from the microcapsules can be achieved by squeezing with force on either side of the cigarette filter 40 containing the microcapsules 800 or macrocapsules 810, as illustrated in FIGS. 7a-b. By providing the force, one or more of the microcapsules 800 or macrocapsules 810 may be ruptured and the additive(s) within the microcapsules 800 or macrocapsules 810 may be released into the cigarette. Thus, the additive(s) are released within the cigarette filter at a point downstream from sorbent 50 only after force is applied, allowing the additive(s) to be delivered within a cigarette while also reducing interaction between the additive(s) and the sorbent.
The two-part capsule is preferably placed in a hollow tube, by way of example, a hollow acetate tube, having an external diameter similar to that of a cigarette filter. The placement of the two-part capsule may be such that there is filter material at both ends of the hollow tube as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6a or the hollow tube containing the capsule may by placed at the mouth end of the filter as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, the orientation of the two-part capsule may be such that the portions of the capsule where force is applied (A and B in FIG. 2 and D and E in FIG. 4c) are located within the axial circumference of the filter, while the direction of the additive release is oriented toward the filter portion on the tobacco rod side of the filter. It is noted that the orientation in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6a allow for access to applying force to the portions of the capsule designed to release additives upon the application of force.
As illustrated in FIG. 7a, microcapsules 800 (or single macrocapsule in FIG. 7b) can be provided through a portion of the depth, width and length of filter 40. The microcapsules 800, similar to the placement for the two-part capsule, can then be placed in a hollow tube 70 as shown in FIG. 7a, which can be by way of example, a hollow acetate tube having an external diameter of a cigarette filter.
Or, as illustrated in FIG. 7b, the macrocapsule 810 may be located in the filter 40 downstream from filter material 900, wherein the filter material 900 includes sorbents within ruffles or pleats of the filter material 900.
13. A method for delivering flavor to mainstream smoke of a cigarette which includes a filter comprising filter material, sorbent material and a two-part capsule, the capsule comprising a first part having an open end defining a first chamber containing a flavor material and a second part having an open end defining a second chamber, wherein the second part fits within the first part with the open ends facing the same direction, wherein the method comprises:
subjecting the capsule to external force to release at least a portion of the flavor material from the first chamber into mainstream smoke.
wherein the subjecting the capsule to external force comprises at least partially separating the first part of the capsule from the second part of the capsule;
wherein the subjecting the capsule to external force comprises releasing the flavor material from the first chamber, where the flavor material is absorbed by the filter material; or
wherein the subjecting the capsule to external force comprises pumping at least a portion of the flavor material from the first chamber to the second chamber then to the filter material.
21. A method of forming a cigarette comprising:
forming at least one flavor capsule, wherein the forming comprises: mixing a menthol flavor with a shell wall solution; extruding the mixture drop-wise into a cationic solution; and harvesting and drying the capsules;
incorporating the at least one flavor capsule into a filter of the cigarette, wherein the at least one flavor capsules has a distinct core and a distinct shell geometry and the menthol flavor is non-uniformly dispersed in the at least one flavor capsule; and
incorporating a sorbent into the filter of the cigarette upstream from the capsules.
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the extruding the mixture comprises:
co-extruding a menthol flavor core and a polysaccharide shell wall solution;
co-extruding a menthol flavor core and a pectin shell wall solution; or
co-extruding a menthol flavor core and a low methoxy (LM) pectin shell wall solution.
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the extruding the mixture drop-wise into a cationic solution comprises:
gelling the shell wall solution in a calcium ion solution;
gelling the shell wall solution in a gelling solution and allowing the menthol flavor to form a core and to remain liquid; or
gelling the shell wall solution in a calcium ion solution and allowing the menthol flavor to form a core and the remain liquid.
wherein the capsule has a burst strength of about 0.5-0.8, 0.8-1.2, 1.2-1.6, 1.6-2.0 or 2.0-2.4 kilograms force; and/or
wherein the capsule is round and has a diameter of about 0.3 to 6.0 mm.
wherein the incorporating of the at least one flavor capsule into a filter of the cigarette comprises incorporating at least one menthol flavor capsule within a cavity of a filter of the cigarette or within filter material of a filter of the cigarette; and/or
wherein the incorporating of the sorbent into a filter of the cigarette comprises incorporating activated carbon within a cavity of a filter of the cigarette or within filter material of a filter of the cigarette.
Publication number: 20200146343
Inventors: Georgios Karles (Richmond, VA), Martin Garthaffner (Richmond, VA), Richard Jupe (Richmond, VA), Diane Kellogg (Ashland, VA), Ila Skinner (Colonial Heights, VA), Jose Nepomuceno (Beaverdam, VA), John Layman (Blacksburg, VA), Constance Morgan (Richmond, VA), Jay A. Fournier (Richmond, VA)
Application Number: 16/741,045
International Classification: A24D 3/16 (20060101); A24D 3/06 (20060101);