Patent Description:
In recent years, as people are paying continuous attention to the issue of passive smoking, the smoke environment caused by burning tobacco has become one of the focuses of the public's debates about smoking and health issues. Traditional cigarettes are ignited by using an open flame and may have a temperature of <NUM> or higher, at which a large amount of harmful ingredients like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is generated by thermal cracking. The study has found that there is almost no thermal cracking process below <NUM>. Therefore, how to reduce the combustion temperature has become a hot research topic in the tobacco industry. However, a reduced combustion temperature is likely to cause flameout, and a low-temperature heat-not-burn smoking article comes into being accordingly.

<CIT> and <CIT> each disclose a smoking article that comprises a solid filter and a cooling portion which are connected by a plug wrap.

The tobacco element is connected to the filter and cooling portion by a cigarette paper.

Such smoking articles are not heated by burning, but are heated by electric heating or other heating means to release substances such as flavor ingredients therefrom, thereby avoiding the generation of a large amount of harmful ingredients due to pyrolysis at high temperature. While the smoker is getting a feeling of satisfaction, the harm to the human body is reduced, and moreover the pollution from the environmental smoke is reduced.

However, the prior smoking articles have a complicated structure, need to be designed and manufactured with special equipment, and have a high cost; and the prior smoking articles have a single structure and function, and it is difficult to change the structure of the smoking articles at a low cost according to design requirements.

The present disclosure provides a smoking article and a method of manufacturing the same to overcome the problems of a complicated structure and a high production cost of the prior smoking articles, and the smoking article of the present disclosure has a variety of functions.

An aspect of the present disclosure includes a smoking article as set out in claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the flavor-producing portion includes a flavor-producing material.

Optionally, the flavor-producing material includes one or more of grass leaves, whole tobacco leaves, main veins of tobacco leaves, expanded tobacco, and homogenized tobacco.

Optionally, the first connector includes a plug wrap which is wrapped around outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion and the cooling portion.

Optionally, the second connector includes a tipping paper, a part of the tipping paper is wrapped around outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion and the cooling portion, and another part of the tipping paper is wrapped around an outer circumferential surface of one end of the flavor-producing portion close to the cooling portion.

There are a plurality of cooling passages inside the cooling portion, and the plurality of cooling passages jointly communicate with the filtration passages.

Optionally, a flavor-emanating component includes a bead in which a flavor liquid is placed.

Optionally, the flavor-emanating component includes a flavor thread.

Optionally, the flavor thread is a gel flavor thread, and the gel flavor thread is disposed to extend along the inhalation direction.

Optionally, the flavor-emanating component includes a flavored filler.

Optionally, the isolation passages comprise a peripheral low-pressure passage structure and a peripheral trench, the peripheral low-pressure passage structure has a cross section in the shape of a multi-pointed star, and the peripheral trench is disposed on an outer circumference of the peripheral low-pressure passage structure.

Optionally, the isolation passages comprises an internal low-pressure passage structure and an internal tunnel, the internal tunnel has a circular cross section, and the internal low-pressure passage structure is disposed on an outer circumference of the internal tunnel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of manufacturing a smoking article as set out in claim <NUM>.

The technical solutions of the present disclosure have at least the following beneficial effects:
The present disclosure provides a smoking article, comprising: a filter base body, wherein the filter base body comprises a first connector, and a cooling portion and a filtration portion which are sequentially disposed along an inhalation direction.

The smoking article according to the present disclosure is used for allowing a consumer to inhale smoke, the smoking article overcomes the problems of complicated structure and high production cost of the prior smoking articles, and the smoking article has a variety of functions.

The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a smoking article, the smoking article manufactured by the manufacturing method overcomes the problems of complicated structure and high production cost of the prior smoking articles, and the smoking article manufactured by using the manufacturing method has a variety of functions and structures.

In order to more clearly illustrate technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure, drawings required for use in the embodiments will be introduced briefly below. It is to be understood that the drawings below are merely illustrative of some embodiments of the present disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope.

Reference numerals: <NUM>-smoking article; <NUM>-filter base body; <NUM>-second connector; <NUM>-flavor-producing portion; <NUM>-cigarette base body; <NUM>-third connector; <NUM>-isolation portion; <NUM>-bead; <NUM>-filtration portion; <NUM>-gel flavor thread; <NUM>-filtration portion; <NUM>-flavored filler; <NUM>-isolation portion; <NUM>-isolation passage; <NUM>-isolation portion; <NUM>-isolation passage; <NUM>-smoking article; <NUM>-first connector; <NUM>-filtration portion; <NUM>-cooling portion; <NUM>-peripheral low-pressure passage structure; <NUM>-peripheral trench; <NUM>-internal low-pressure passage structure; <NUM>-internal tunnel.

In order to make the objects, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is apparent that the embodiments to be described are some, but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters refer to similar items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, it may not be further defined or explained in the following figures.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms such as "inside" and "down" are the orientation or positional relationships shown based on the figures, or the orientation or positional relationships in which the inventive product is conventionally placed in use, and these terms are intended only to facilitate the description of the present disclosure and simplify the description, but not intended to indicate or imply that the referred devices or elements must be in a particular orientation or constructed or operated in the particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used for distinguishing the description only, and should not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should also be noted that terms "disposed" and "connected" should be understood broadly unless otherwise expressly specified or defined. For example, connection may be fixed connection or detachable connection or integral connection, may be mechanical connection, or may be direct coupling or indirect coupling via an intermediate medium or internal communication between two elements. The specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in the present disclosure could be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to specific situations.

The present disclosure will be further explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a smoking article <NUM>, which allows a consumer to inhale (or draw) smoke and is different from the prior smoking articles.

With reference to <FIG> shows a specific structure of a smoking article <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> shows a specific structure of a filter base body <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, the smoking article <NUM> comprises a filter base body <NUM>, a second connector <NUM>, and a flavor-producing portion <NUM>. Here, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is connected to the filter base body <NUM> via the second connector <NUM>, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is configured to release smoke by being heated, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is a structure for releasing and generating smoke to be inhaled by a consumer, the filter base body <NUM> is used for being brought into contact with the human body, and the consumer inhales smoke released and generated by the flavor-producing portion <NUM> through the filter base body <NUM> to get a feeling of satisfaction and enjoyment. As shown in <FIG>, the filter base body <NUM> comprises a first connector <NUM>, and a cooling portion <NUM> and a filtration portion <NUM> which are sequentially disposed along an inhalation direction, there is a filtration passage inside the filtration portion <NUM>, there is a cooling passage inside the cooling portion <NUM>, the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> are connected by the first connector <NUM>, and the filtration passage and the cooling passage communicate with each other, wherein one end of the filtration portion <NUM> remote from the cooling portion <NUM> is used for being placed in an oral cavity of a human body for allowing the consumer to inhale smoke.

Here, as shown in <FIG>, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is connected to the filter base body <NUM> via the second connector <NUM>, and the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is configured to release smoke into the cooling passage by being heated. Exemplarily, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> may be composed of a material having a flavoring ingredient, and multiple different flavor types or multiple mixed flavor types or the like may be made according to different aroma preferences of users. This is not specifically limited in the present disclosure.

It should be noted that, firstly, a direction as indicated by an arrow in <FIG> is the inhalation direction, and the inhalation direction refers to a direction in which smoke is inhaled when the consumer normally uses the smoking article <NUM>.

Secondly, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is heated to release smoke which is similar to that generated by the combustion of a traditional combustible smokable cigarette. As shown in <FIG>, the filtration portion <NUM> has the function of filtering and adsorbing the smoke generated by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM>, the filtration portion <NUM> is brought into direct contact with the human body to remove larger smoke particles and water-soluble compounds such as aldehydes and phenols while improving the smoking experience, and the cooling portion <NUM> is located upstream of the filtration portion <NUM> along the inhalation direction, and has the function of cooling the smoke generated by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM>, so that the smoke is at an appropriate temperature when entering the oral cavity of the consumer, and is not too hot to affect the sensory experience.

Thirdly, the filtration portion <NUM> is made of an air-permeable filtering material having the same function as that of a filter of a conventional combustible smokable cigarette. In the present embodiment, exemplarily, the filtration portion <NUM> is made of a cellulose acetate filter rod, but the material of the filtration portion <NUM> is not specifically limited in the present disclosure, and the filtration portion <NUM> may be made of various filtering materials as long as a condition is satisfied in which it is permeable to air and can filter impurities.

Fourthly, the cooling portion <NUM> is used for cooling the smoke and improving the mouthfeel. The cooling portion <NUM> is made of a material having a large specific surface area and having a good heat absorption function. After smoke is released from the flavor-producing portion <NUM>, it is inhaled into the cooling passage, and the smoke conducts heat while passing through the cooling passage and a certain amount of heat is consumed so as to reduce the temperature of the smoke, and the material of the cooling portion <NUM> does not generate toxic and harmful ingredients and does not generate odor, thus the quality of perception of the inhaled smoke is not affected.

Referring to <FIG>, exemplarily, each of the first connector <NUM> and the second connector <NUM> fixedly connects other components by means of wrapping outer circumferential surfaces thereof. Here, the first connector <NUM> is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> to achieve the connection of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM>, and they are combined to form an integrated body, i.e., the filter base body <NUM>. A part of the second connector <NUM> is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM>, i.e., wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the entire filter base body <NUM>, and another part of the second connector <NUM> is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of one end of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> close to the cooling portion <NUM>, that is to say, the second connector <NUM> is wrapped around a part of the flavor-producing portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, an isolation portion <NUM> is further disposed between the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the filter base body <NUM>, and isolation passages are disposed inside the isolation portion <NUM>.

In this way, the isolation portion <NUM> can isolate the flavor-producing portion <NUM> from the cooling portion <NUM>, the smoke released by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> can enter the cooling portion <NUM> only after firstly passing through the isolation passages of the isolation portion <NUM>, the isolation portion <NUM> serves the function of precooling the smoke released by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM>, and the isolation passages are is disposed in order to reduce the inhalation resistance encountered by the user during inhalation, produce a better inhalation experience, and improve the mouthfeel in use.

As shown in <FIG>, the smoking article of the present disclosure further comprises a third connector <NUM>, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the isolation portion <NUM> are connected by the third connector <NUM>, the third connector <NUM>, the isolation portion <NUM>, and the flavor-producing portion <NUM> constitute a cigarette base body <NUM>, and the cigarette base body <NUM> is connected to the filter base body <NUM> via the second connector <NUM>. Similarly, a direction indicated by an arrow in <FIG> is a direction in which the smoking article of the present disclosure is smoked in use.

Firstly, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the isolation portion <NUM> are connected by the third connector <NUM> to form an integrated body, i.e., the cigarette base body <NUM>, and then the integrated cigarette base body <NUM> is connected to the integrated filter base body <NUM> via the second connector <NUM>, so that the procedures of fabrication of the smoking article <NUM> of the present disclosure can be further optimized, and the overall yield and the processing and fabrication efficiency of the smoking articles <NUM> can be improved.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> includes a flavor-producing material, and exemplarily, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> may be a flavor-producing material coated with a tobacco extract and a flavorant.

Optionally, the flavor-producing material may include one or more of: grass leaves, whole tobacco leaves, main veins of tobacco leaves, expanded tobacco, and homogenized tobacco.

In addition, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> may further comprise one or more capsules comprising a tobacco-containing volatile flavoring compound or a tobacco-free volatile flavoring compound, and the above-mentioned compound material is added into the capsule so that it is slowly and uniformly released from the capsule during smoking and use by the user, and mixed to jointly form flavored smoke to be inhaled by the consumer.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the first connector <NUM> includes a plug wrap which is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM>.

The plug wrap is a material relatively commonly used in the industry and is inexpensive to manufacture. During fabrication using the plug wrap as the first connector <NUM>, the plug wrap is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> to integrally connect and fix the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> to form the filter base body <NUM>. The fabrication process is simply and easily carried out.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the second connector <NUM> includes a tipping paper, a part of the tipping paper is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM>, and another part of the tipping paper is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of one end of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> close to the cooling portion <NUM>.

Similarly, the tipping paper is also a material relatively commonly used in the industry and is inexpensive to manufacture. During fabrication using the tipping paper as the second connector <NUM>, the connection is carried out by wrapping a part of the tipping paper around the outer circumferential surfaces of the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> and wrapping another part of the tipping paper around the outer circumferential surface of one end of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> close to the cooling portion <NUM>. The fabrication process is simply and easily carried out.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to improve the efficiency of heat conduction, a plurality of cooling passages are disposed inside the cooling portion <NUM>, and the plurality of cooling passages jointly communicate with the filtration passages.

With the arrangement of a plurality of cooling passages communicating with the filtration passages, the plurality of cooling passages can jointly dissipate heat to reduce the temperature of the smoke passing therethrough, and the effect of adsorbing harmful particles is also better.

Optionally, a flavor-emanating component is further disposed in the filtration passages of the filtration portion <NUM>.

In this way, when the user is smoking and using the smoking article of the present disclosure, during passing of the smoke released by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> through the filter base body <NUM>, aroma can also be further emanated from the flavor-emanating component disposed in the filtration passage of the filtration portion <NUM> and mixed with the smoke from the flavor-producing portion to enter the user's mouth. The flavor-emanating component may be provided with various flavor types for selection according to the preferences of users, thereby improving the user experience and mouthfeel in use.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the flavor-emanating component includes a bead <NUM> in which a flavor liquid is placed. The bead <NUM> in which a flavor liquid is placed is disposed in the filtration passage. In use, the bead <NUM> is broken by increasing the temperature or by other means, and the flavor liquid in the bead <NUM> volatilizes and is mixed with the smoke from the flavor-producing portion <NUM> to obtain a different taste to enhance the sensory quality.

Exemplarily, as shown in <FIG>, the flavor thread is a gel flavor thread <NUM>, and the gel flavor thread <NUM> is disposed to extend along the inhalation direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the gel flavor thread <NUM> is disposed in the filtration passages to extend along the inhalation direction, and the gel flavor thread <NUM> may also slowly release and emanate aroma by being heated or by other means. With the gel flavor thread <NUM>, when the smoking article <NUM> is being used, a different taste is obtained and the sensory quality is enhanced while the harmful ingredients of the smoke are reduced.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the flavor-emanating component includes a flavored filler <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the flavor-emanating component may also include a flavored filler <NUM> disposed in the filtration portion <NUM>, the flavored filler <NUM> is uniformly disposed in the filtration passage of the filtration portion <NUM>, and the flavored filler <NUM> disposed in this manner has a stronger function of slowly releasing and emanating aroma and provides a better experience in use.

Optionally, the isolation portion <NUM> is a hollow tubular structure, and the isolation passage is disposed in the hollow tubular structure of the isolation portion <NUM>.

In this way, while ensuring the isolation and pre-cooling effects of the isolation portion <NUM>, the isolation portion <NUM> with a tubular structure has a rigid outer wall, which facilitates the fabrication of the entire smoking article.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the isolation passage comprises a peripheral low-pressure passage structure <NUM> (e.g., a through-trench filter rod) and a peripheral trench <NUM>, the peripheral low-pressure passage structure <NUM> has a cross section in the shape of a multi-pointed star, and the peripheral trench <NUM> is disposed on an outer circumference of the peripheral low-pressure passage structure <NUM>.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG>, the isolation passage comprises an internal low-pressure passage structure <NUM> (e.g., a hollow filter rod) and an internal tunnel <NUM>, the internal tunnel <NUM> has a circular cross section, and the internal low-pressure passage structure <NUM> is disposed on an outer circumference of the internal tunnel <NUM>.

The exemplary two structures of the isolation passage are described above, and the present disclosure is not limited to the structures described above as long as the isolation passage can be provided to allow a gas to pass therethrough while ensuring the isolation and pre-cooling effects of the isolation portion <NUM>.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a method of manufacturing a smoking article, as shown in <FIG>, comprising:.

As shown in <FIG>, firstly, the filtration portion <NUM> and the cooling portion <NUM> are connected by the first connector <NUM>, and are combined and shaped by a filter rod shaping machine to form the filter base body <NUM>, and then the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the filter base body <NUM> are connected by the second connector <NUM>, and are spliced and shaped by a rolling machine to make a finished product of the smoking article.

The above-mentioned manufacturing method can be carried out by a filter rod shaping machine or a rolling machine that has been owned by a tobacco manufacturer, and can be used conveniently without repurchasing special equipment.

As shown in <FIG>, before the step S102, the method of manufacturing a smoking article of the present disclosure further comprises:
S1011 of disposing an isolation portion <NUM> between the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the filter base body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the filter base body <NUM> is formed by combining and shaping, an isolation portion <NUM> is disposed between the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the filter base body <NUM> to isolate the flavor-producing portion <NUM> from the filter base body <NUM>, so that smoke released by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> enters the filter base body <NUM> after being isolated and pre-cooled by the isolation portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the step S1011, the method of manufacturing a smoking article of the present disclosure further comprises: S1012 of connecting the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the isolation portion <NUM> by a third connector <NUM>.

Firstly, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and the isolation portion <NUM> are connected by the third connector <NUM> to form an integrated body, i.e., a cigarette base body <NUM>, and then the step S102 is performed in such a manner that the integrated cigarette base body <NUM> including the position of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is connected to the integrated filter base body <NUM> by the second connector <NUM>, so that the procedures of fabrication of the smoking article <NUM> of the present disclosure can be further optimized, and the overall yield and the processing and fabrication efficiency of the smoking articles <NUM> can be improved.

When the smoking article of the present disclosure is in use, the mouth of the user is brought into contact with the filtration portion <NUM> of the filter base body <NUM>, the filter base body <NUM> is used for inhalation of smoke, and the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is used for generation of the smoke. When the flavor-producing portion <NUM> is heated, the flavor-producing portion <NUM> releases smoke which is similar to that generated by combustion of a traditional combustible smokable cigarette, and the smoke is inhaled through the filter base body <NUM>, so that the user can get a feeling of satisfaction or enjoyment similar to that obtained by smoking a traditional combustible smokable cigarette. Here, the filter base body <NUM> comprises a first connector <NUM>, and a cooling portion <NUM> and a filtration portion <NUM> which are sequentially disposed along an inhalation direction, where the filtration portion <NUM> has the function of filtering and adsorbing the smoke generated by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM> and is brought into direct contact with the human body to remove larger smoke particles and water-soluble compounds such as aldehydes and phenols while improving the smoking experience, and the cooling portion <NUM> is located upstream of the filtration portion <NUM> along the inhalation direction, and has the function of cooling the smoke generated by heating of the flavor-producing portion <NUM>, so that the smoke is at an appropriate temperature when entering the oral cavity of the consumer, and is not too hot to affect the sensory experience.

Claim 1:
A smoking article (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the smoking article is composed of a filter base body (<NUM>), a second connector (<NUM>), a flavor-producing portion (<NUM>), a isolation portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a third connector (<NUM>),
the filter base body comprises a first connector (<NUM>), and a cooling portion (<NUM>) and a filtration portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which are sequentially disposed along an inhalation direction, filtration passages are formed inside the filtration portion, cooling passages are formed inside the cooling portion, the filtration portion and the cooling portion are connected by the first connector, and the filtration passages and the cooling passages communicate with each other;
the isolation portion is disposed between the flavor-producing portion and the filter base body, and isolation passages (<NUM>, <NUM>) are disposed inside the isolation portion, the flavor-producing portion being configured to release smoke into the cooling passages by being heated and through the isolation passages, wherein the isolation portion, being disposed between the flavor-producing portion and the filter base body, isolates the flavor-producing portion from the cooling portion, the flavor-producing portion and the isolation portion are connected by the third connector,
the third connector, the isolation portion, and the flavor-producing portion constitute a cigarette base body (<NUM>), and the cigarette base body and the filter base body are connected by the second connector.