Smoking article with non-combustible wrapper, combustible fuel source and aerosol generator

• US 6,578,584 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: OʼReilly, Rosemary Elizabeth, Dittrich, David John, McAdam, Kevin Gerard, Greig, Colin Campbell, Beven, John Lawson, Hook, Richard Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Steven P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYES, DIONNE WALLS
• Application Number:
  US09/577,919
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 131/194, 131/365, 131/352, 131/353, 131/354, 131/355, 131/356, 131/358, 131/359, 131/364, 131/375, 131/374, 131/360, 162/139
• US Class Current: 131/365
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/165 comprising as heat source a carbon fuel or an oxidized or thermally degraded carbonaceous fuel, e.g. carbohydrates, cellulosic material
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/00 Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/02 with special covers
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/22 Cigarettes with integrated combustible heat sources, e.g. with carbonaceous heat sources

Abstract

The invention relates to a smoking article (1) having a high proportion of non-combustible, inorganic material and a relatively low level of visible sidestream. The smoking article includes a substantially non-combustible, wrapper (5) which extends along the full length of the smoking material rod and enwraps a combustible fuel source (6) and aerosol generator (7), both of which extend substantially along the length of the smoking material rod. Various suitable fuel source systems and aerosol generating systems are described. The article has a visible burn line which advances along the article and produces an ash which can be removed by the smoker in the normal way.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising a substantially non-combustible smoking article wrapper enwrapping a smoking material rod, said wrapper being comprised of predominantly non-combustible, particulate, inorganic filler material, a binder, optionally a plasticiser, wherein the wrapper is free of cellulosic fibre material, said inorganic filler material being at least 65% by weight of said wrapper and the binder is an organic binder selected from one or more of the group consisting of cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers, alginic binders, gums, gels, pectins and starches.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein said non-combustible inorganic filler material is a non-metallic material.

3. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein said non-combustible inorganic filler material is one or more selected from the group consisting of perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, chalk, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate and other low density, non-combustible inorganic filler materials.

4. A smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic filler material comprises at least 80% by weight of the wrapper.

5. A smoking article according to claim 4, wherein the inorganic filler material comprises at least 90% by weight of the wrapper.

6. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic filler material comprises at least 70% by weight of the wrapper.

7. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the wrapper comprises up to 30% by weight of the wrapper of at least one selected from the group consisting of a binder and a plasticizer.

8. A smoking article according to claim 7 wherein the binder is present at about 8-10% by weight of the wrapper.

9. A smoking article according to claim 7 wherein the binder is present at about 8-10% by weight of the wrapper.

10. A smoking article according to claim 7 wherein the binder is present at about 5% or less by weight of the wrapper.

11. A smoking article according to claim 7, wherein the plasticiser is present at up to 20% by weight of the wrapper.

12. A smoking article according to claim 11, wherein the plasticiser is present in about 10% or less by weight of the wrapper.

13. A smoking article according to claim 12, wherein the plasticiser is present at about 5% or less by weight of the wrapper.

14. A smoking article according to claim 7 wherein the plasticizer is one or more selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, low melting point fats and low melting point oils.

15. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the organic binder is one or more of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, potassium alginate, magnesium alginate, triethanol-amine alginate, propylene glycol alginate, aluminum alginate, copper alginate, zinc alginate, silver alginate, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, Karaya gum, locust bean gum, acacia gum, guar gum, quince see gum, xanthan gum, agar, agarose, caragenneans, fucoidan or furecelleran.

16. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the permeability of said wrapper is within the range of 1-150 Coresta Units.

17. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the wrapper comprises a deodorizer selected from the group consisting of citronellal, geraniol and vanillin.