JP2017522039A - Filter elements for smoking goods - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter element (2) for a smoking article (1) comprising a filter material plug (6, 61, 62) and a packaging material (13) at least partially surrounding the filter material plug (6, 61, 62). ). The wrapping material (13) has an opening (4) with a cover (5) that allows the user to open the cover (5) to access the filter material plug (6, 61, 62) and to open the cover (5). Part (4) can be resealed. The present invention also provides a method for producing the filter element (2). [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter element for smoking articles.

  Smoking articles such as cigarettes are well known in the art. Conventional cigarettes allow a user to suck smoke from a tobacco rod through a filter. Although off-the-shelf cigarettes of this type are still widely used, various modified cigarettes have been produced that use additional ingredients to change the smoking experience.

  Some modified cigarettes known in the art have capsules in their filters. The user can crush the capsule before or during smoking, releasing additional components into the smoke stream and changing its physical properties. The capsule may contain a flavoring agent such as menthol or a non-flavoring agent in liquid, gel or fine powder form.

  Encapsulated cigarettes have changed the smoking experience for users. By encapsulating the additional components, the user has been presented with an experience different from the usual cigarette smoking experience. When using this cigarette with a capsule, a user crushes a capsule and releases an additional component. In addition, by capsulating the additional component with flavor, loss of volatile components such as flavor agents can be prevented until the user crushes the capsule before smoking or during smoking. However, at present, there are limited options for cigarettes with capsules for users. Both the type and amount of the additional ingredient are predetermined, so that the user can change one or more kinds of additional ingredients for each cigarette, combine different kinds of additional ingredients, and enjoy their own smoking experience The amount of additional components cannot be adjusted.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a smoking article that allows the user to select the type, amount, and combination of additional components and enhance the smoking experience according to individual preferences.

  The present invention addresses this need with a filter element for smoking articles, the filter element comprising at least one filter material plug and a packaging material at least partially surrounding the filter material plug, The material includes an opening with a cover, the user can open the cover to access the filter material plug, and the cover can reseal the opening.

  The cover may include a tab that allows the cover to be resealed. The tab may comprise a repeatable sealant. The tab and the adhesive are preferably configured so that the opening can be sealed with a cover so that the filter element is not unnecessarily vented. The packaging material may be composed of an inner layer and an outer layer. The tab may be formed by cutting the outer layer so that the tab secures the outer layer to the inner layer when the cover is closed. The opening may be formed by cutting out the inner layer, and the opening is slightly smaller than the cover so that the tab is affixed to cover a portion of the inner layer that defines (defines) the frame or boundary of the opening. It is preferable to form.

  The filter element may include a cavity below the opening. The cavity may be shaped to fit within at least one filter material plug. Alternatively, the filter element may comprise at least two filter material plugs spaced apart, and the cavity may be defined between both plugs and below the opening. The additional component can be inserted by the user into a cavity defined within or between the filter material plug or plugs. This additional component can be a flavor material, or some smoke modifier or filter material. The additional component may be provided in any form such as a solid, a liquid, and a powder. It is preferable that the additional component can be enclosed in a fragile capsule.

  The present invention also provides a smoking article comprising a filter element according to the present invention and a tobacco rod. Here, the packaging material connects one end of the tobacco rod and one end of the filter element. This packaging material may be a packaging material for the filter element, or may be another packaging material.

  The filter element of the present invention enhances the degree of freedom of product use for users who want to enjoy a change in smoking experience in accordance with individual preferences or who desire a different smoking experience for each smoking article. Smoking products known so far do not contain additional components, or even if they are included, their type and quantity are determined and there is no room for change.

  According to the filter element of the present invention, the user selects the type of additional component, selects the amount to be used for one smoking article, and further combines a plurality of additional components to design the smoking experience as desired. It becomes possible.

  Such an opening and cover mechanism in the filter element of the present invention is easy to use. The user only has to select at least one additional ingredient, open the cover, put the chosen additive inside, and then close the cover and smoke as usual.

An example of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
It is a perspective view of the smoking article 1 provided with the filter element 2 of this invention. 2a-2d are cross-sectional views of each smoking article 1 comprising a filter element 2 according to various embodiments of the present invention.

  A smoking article 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a cigarette including a filter element 2 and a tobacco rod 3. The filter element 2 comprises at least one filter material plug 6 wrapped in at least one outer packaging material 13. This filter element is commonly known in the art as tipping of smoking articles 1. One end portion of the tobacco rod 3 is connected to one end portion of the filter element 2 by overlapping the packaging material 13, whereby an adhesive is provided around at least a part of the filter element 2 and a part of the tobacco rod 3. A strong collar portion is formed which is fixed using The filter material plug 6 may be made of any known smoking article filter material, such as crimped cellulose acetate tow (fiber bundle), paper, synthetic fiber and / or natural fiber, or a mixed fiber thereof. It's okay.

  According to the invention, the filter element 2 comprises an opening 4 cut out in the packaging material 13. The opening 4 is at least defined by a resealable cover 5 formed by cutting the packaging material 13. Therefore, the opening 4 is defined by the surface portion of the cover 5 formed by cutting the packaging material. The cover 5 can reseal the opening, for example, by a repeatable sealing adhesive applied to the inner surface of the cover 5. The opening 4 may have any shape such as a rectangle, a circle, and an ellipse.

  In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the packaging material 13 is a laminate including at least an inner layer 8 and an outer layer 9. In this embodiment, the opening 4 is formed by cutting out the inner layer 8 and is smaller than the cover 5. Thereby, the cover 5 can cover the opening 4 and seal it. The cover 5 is formed by cutting the outer layer 9 and includes a tab 10 that is convenient for opening and closing the cover. In this example, a repetitive sealing adhesive is applied at least partially to the inner surface of the cover 5, whereby the outer layer 9 adheres to the inner layer 8 around the opening 4.

  The inner layer 8 and the outer layer 9 preferably have different properties. For example, the inner layer 8 can be a polymer material and the outer layer 9 can be a paper material. Alternatively, both the inner layer 8 and the outer layer 9 are made of paper-based material, and, for example, varnish coating is applied to the outermost surface of the inner layer so that the cover 5 can be easily resealed on the inner layer 8 around the opening 4. Also good.

  2a-2d, the filter element 2 of the present invention is formed below the opening 4 and inside the at least one filter material plug 6 or between the two filter material plugs 6. A cavity 7 may be provided. The user can insert a desired additional component into the cavity 7 through the opening 4. This additional component may be of any kind and in any form as long as the user can change the smoke flow while using the smoking article 1. These will be described below with reference to FIGS. The additional component is preferably a fragile capsule 11, which is inserted by the user into the cavity 7 as shown in FIG. For example, a flavor composition or a non-flavor composition is enclosed in the capsule.

  The opening 4 is supplied to the user in a closed state or an open state. When the supply is made in a state in which the opening 4 is closed, the user needs to open the opening 4 first.

  When the opening 4 is opened, a cavity 7 defined by the filter material plug 6 appears. The user can insert an optional additional component into the cavity 7. In another embodiment, the liquid additional component may be injected into another filter material that does not define the cavity. After insertion of the additional component, the user can close the opening 4. The user can reliably close the opening using the tab 10 and only needs to close and push the cover 5. Thus, the cover adheres to the overlapping portion of the inner layer 8.

  Subsequently, the user starts smoking using the smoking article 1. When the additional component is applied in the form of a capsule 11, the user crushes the capsule 11 at any point before or during smoking, releasing the contents and causing a change in the smoke flow.

  2a to 2d are sectional views of the smoking article 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. Here, the opening 4 above the cavity 7 is closed by a cover 5 formed in the packaging material 13.

  In FIG. 2a, the filter element 2 comprises only one filter material plug 6, and the cavity 7 is formed in a shape that fits in the plug below the opening 4 provided in the packaging material. This cavity 7 does not penetrate the filter element 2 in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.

  2b, 2c and 2d, the cavity 7 is defined by two filter material plugs 61,62. These filter material plugs 61 and 62 may have the same or different dimensions, and may have the same or different compositions. One filter material plug 61 constitutes the suction side end of the filter element 2, and the other filter material plug 62 constitutes the tobacco side end of the filter element 2. In the first embodiment, both plugs 61, 62 may be made of crimped cellulose acetate tow. In another embodiment, the mouth end plug 61 is made of crimped cellulose acetate tow and the tobacco end plug 62 is crimped with a plasticizer mixed with an adsorbent such as activated carbon. It may be made of cellulose acetate tow composed of fibers or randomly oriented fibers. The cavity 7 penetrates the filter element 2 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof.

  2a to 2c, one or several independent capsules 11 are accommodated in the cavity 7. The capsule 11 may contain an additional component such as a flavor in a liquid or gel form. Before or during smoking, the user crushes the capsule 11 to release the additional components contained therein, altering the nature of the smoke flow and creating a different smoking experience.

  In FIG. 2 c, the cavity 7 is filled with two or more capsules 11. This gives the user the freedom to choose the amount of additional ingredient that they want to use for each smoking article 1. By supplying this additional component independently of the filter element 2, the user can select one or more additional components for each smoking article 1. This also allows the user to adjust the dose and / or nature of the additional ingredient for each individual smoking article 1.

  In FIG. 2 d, the hollow portion 7 is filled with an additional component in the form of a fine powder or a microcapsule enclosure 12. Some additional components do not need to be encapsulated, such as natural leaf cut products, adsorbent powders, granules, fine particles, and the like. Since the cavity 7 may be filled with something other than a capsule, according to the present invention, the user can select and try additional ingredients, and change his / her smoking experience according to his / her preference. be able to.

  The filter element 2 and the smoking article 1 of the present invention give the user the freedom to individually design and change their smoking experience. The filter element 2 of the present invention is easy to manufacture and use, and when combined with the tobacco rod 3, the user can change the smoking experience by using favorite additional components for the smoking article 1 that is familiar to them.

Claims (15)

A filter element for a smoking article, the filter element comprising a filter material plug;
A packaging material that at least partially surrounds the filter material plug;
A filter element, wherein the wrapping material comprises a covered opening, the user can open the cover to access the filter material plug, and the cover can reseal the opening. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a tab arranged to open and close the cover. The filter element of claim 2, wherein at least one of the cover and the tab comprises a repeatable sealing adhesive. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the packaging material includes at least an inner layer and an outer layer. The filter element according to claim 4, wherein the cover is formed on the outer layer, and is pasted onto the inner layer above the opening when resealed. The filter element according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cavity inside the filter material plug and below the opening. The filter element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cavity is formed in a shape that fits within the filter material plug. A filter element according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second filter material plug, wherein the cavity is defined between the two filter material plugs and below the opening. 9. A filter element according to claim 8, wherein each filter material plug is made of the same material, preferably cellulose acetate. 10. A filter element according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the filter material plugs comprises an adsorbent, preferably activated carbon. 11. A filter element according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one of the filter material plugs comprises fibers. A smoking article comprising the filter element according to any one of the preceding claims and a tobacco rod, wherein the packaging material overlaps the tobacco rod, and one end of the tobacco rod and the filter element A smoking product connecting one end. 12. A method of manufacturing a filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the step of forming at least one filter material plug; and cutting out the packaging material to form a resealable cover opening. Wrapping the filter material plug with the packaging material so that a user can open the cover to access the filter material plug and re-seal the cover to close the opening. How to prepare. Before wrapping the filter material plug with the wrapping material, the method further comprises the step of defining a cavity in the filter material plug, wherein the opening and the cover are in registration with the cavity. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter material plug is wrapped with a wrapping material. A method for producing a smoking article according to claim 12, wherein the filter element and tobacco rod according to any one of claims 1 to 11 are supplied, and one end of the filter element and the tobacco rod are provided. The method further comprising the step of connecting one end with a wrapping material overlying the one end of both the filter element and the tobacco rod.

Images