Smoking article

• US 20070215167A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Conner, Billy, Brewer, Dempsey, Read, Louis, Llewellyn Crooks, Evon
• Application Number:
  US11/377,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20070215167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/335
• 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 1/22 Cigarettes with integrated combustible heat sources, e.g. with carbonaceous heat sources

Abstract

A smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a lighting end and a mouth end. The smoking article possesses an aerosol-generation system that includes (i) a heat generation segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generating region or segment. A mouth end piece segment can be located at the mouth end of the smoking article. A segment of tobacco cut filler, gathered tobacco paper, or other type of flavor source material, can be positioned between the mouth end piece segment and the aerosol-generation segment. Optionally, segment composed of tobacco cut filler can be positioned so as to provide a lighting end segment. The smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the mouth end piece segment, the aerosol generation segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, any segment located between the mouth end piece and aerosol generation segments, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment. Alternatively, the smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the aerosol-generating segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, at least a portion of any segment located downstream from the aerosol-generating segment, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment, thereby forming a cigarette rod; and the cigarette rod is connected or attached to a filter element using a tipping type of material and arrangement.

Claims

1. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end, said smokable segment having a length and comprising a smokable material circumscribed by wrapping material;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system disposed between the smokable segment and the mouth end piece segment, the aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment adjacent to the smokable segment, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end;

a single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

the mouth end piece segment being connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

2. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the heat generation segment has a length of less than about 30 mm, and the heat source comprises a carbonaceous fuel element.

3. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating segment incorporates glycerin, propylene glycol or combinations thereof.

4. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are in a heat exchange relationship with one another.

5. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends up to about 1 mm to about 5 mm from the lighting end of the cigarette.

6. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends so as to be flush with the lighting end of the cigarette.

7. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 1, the method comprising:

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

forming a one-up smokable segment having two ends;

aligning a combined segment at one end of the one-up smokable segment, such that the smokable segment and the heat generation segment are adjacent to one another, so as to provide an aligned assembly;

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

8. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 1, the method comprising:

forming a two-up smokable segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up smokable segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a combined segment to each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment such that each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment is adjacent to one of the heat generation segments, in order to provide a two-up combined assembly;

subdividing the two-up combined assembly to provide two combined assemblies;

wrapping each combined assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

9. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 1, the method comprising:

forming a two-up smokable segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up smokable segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

forming a one-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

aligning a combined segment at one end of the one-up aerosol-generating segment, such that the aerosol-generating segment and the heat generation segment are adjacent to one another, so as to provide an aligned assembly;

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

10. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 1, the method comprising:

forming a one-up smokable segment having two ends;

forming a one-up heat generation segment having two ends;

forming a one-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

aligning the smokable segment, the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment, such that the aerosol-generating segment and the heat generation segment are adjacent to one another, and such that the smokable segment and the aerosol-generating segment are adjacent to one another, as to provide an aligned assembly;

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

11. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end, said smokable segment having a length and comprising a smokable material circumscribed by wrapping material;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system disposed between the smokable segment and the mouth end piece, the aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment adjacent to the smokable segment, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end; and

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment;

(ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, (iii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length.

12. The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the heat generation segment has a length of less than about 30 mm, and the heat source comprises a carbonaceous fuel element.

13. The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the aerosol-generating segment incorporates glycerin, propylene glycol or combinations thereof.

14. The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are in a heat exchange relationship with one another.

15. The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends up to about 1 mm to about 5 mm from the lighting end of the cigarette.

16. The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends so as to be flush with the lighting end of the cigarette.

17. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 11, the method comprising:

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments having two ends;

forming a one-up smokable segment having two ends;

forming a mouth end piece segment;

aligning the one-up smokable segment at one end of the combined segment, such that the smokable segment and the heat generation segment are adjacent to one another, and aligning a mouth end piece segment at the other end of the combined segment, so as to provide an aligned assembly; and

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment;

(ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, (iii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length.

18. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 11, the method comprising:

providing a combined mouth end segment comprising an aerosol-generating segment and a mouth end piece segment;

forming a two-up smokable segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up smokable segment to provide a two-up lighting end combined segment;

subdividing the two-up lighting end combined segment to provide two combined lighting end segments;

aligning a combined lighting end segment with a combined mouth end segment to form an aligned assembly, such that the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are adjacent to one another; and

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment;

(ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, (iii) around the heat generation segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the smokable segment for at least a portion of its length.

19. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment disposed at the lighting end, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed adjacent to, and physically separate from, the heat generation segment;

a segment incorporating tobacco positioned between the aerosol-generating segment and the mouth end piece segment; and

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment, (ii) around the segment incorporating tobacco for the length of that segment, (iii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

20. The cigarette of claim 19, wherein the heat generation segment has a length of less than about 30 mm, and the heat source comprises a carbonaceous fuel element.

21. The cigarette of claim 19, wherein the aerosol-generating segment incorporates glycerin, propylene glycol or combinations thereof.

22. The cigarette of claim 19, wherein the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are in a heat exchange relationship with one another.

23. The cigarette of claim 19, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends up to about 1 mm to about 5 mm from the lighting end of the cigarette.

24. The cigarette of claim 19, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends so as to be flush with the lighting end of the cigarette.

25. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 19, the method comprising:

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of a two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined lighting end segments;

providing a combined mouth end segment comprising a tobacco-containing segment connected to a mouth end piece segment;

aligning a combined lighting end segment at one end of the combined mouth end segment to form an aligned assembly; and

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment, (ii) around the tobacco-containing segment for the length of that segment, (iii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising connecting a tobacco-containing segment to each end of a two-up mouth end piece segment to provide a two-up combined mouth end segment;

and subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined mouth end segments.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising connecting a mouth end piece segment to each end of a two-up tobacco-containing segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

and subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined mouth end segments.

28. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 19, the method comprising:

aligning a heat generation segment at a first end of an aerosol-generating segment;

aligning a tobacco-containing segment at a second end of the aerosol-generating segment;

aligning a mouth end piece segment at one end of the tobacco-containing segment; and

wrapping each aligned segment with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment, (ii) around the tobacco-containing segment for the length of that segment, (iii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iv) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

29. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment disposed at the lighting end, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed adjacent to, and physically separate from, the heat generation segment; and

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment, (ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

30. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 29, the method comprising:

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of a two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

aligning a combined segment at one end of a mouth end piece segment such that the aerosol-generating segment is adjacent to the mouth end piece segment to provide an aligned assembly; and

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the mouth end piece segment for the length of that segment, (ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

31. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment disposed at the lighting end, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed adjacent to, and physically separate from, the heat generation segment;

a segment incorporating tobacco positioned between the aerosol-generating segment and the mouth end piece segment;

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the segment incorporating tobacco for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the aerosol-generating segment for the length of that segment, and (iii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length;

the segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

the mouth end piece segment being connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

32. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein the heat generation segment has a length of less than about 30 mm, and the heat source comprises a carbonaceous fuel element.

33. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein the aerosol-generating segment incorporates glycerin, propylene glycol or combinations thereof.

34. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are in a heat exchange relationship with one another.

35. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends up to about 1 mm to about 5 mm from the lighting end of the cigarette.

36. The cigarette of claim 31, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends so as to be flush with the lighting end of the cigarette.

37. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 31, the method comprising:

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up smokable segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

forming a segment incorporating tobacco, that segment having two ends;

aligning one of the combined segments at one end of the segment incorporating tobacco, such that the aerosol-generating segment and the segment incorporating tobacco are adjacent to one another, so as to provide an aligned assembly;

wrapping the aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length, and (iii) around the segment incorporating tobacco for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the two-up aerosol generating segment and the heat generation segment are combined using a laminate of metal and paper.

39. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 31, the method comprising:

aligning a heat generation segment, an aerosol-generating segment and a segment incorporating tobacco;

wrapping the aligned segments with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length, and (iii) around the segment incorporating tobacco for at least a portion of its length;

those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

40. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a mouth end piece segment disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment disposed at the lighting end, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed adjacent to, and physically separate from, the heat generation segment;

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the aerosol-generating segment for at least a portion of its length, and (ii) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length;

the segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; and

the mouth end piece segment being connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

41. The cigarette of claim 40, wherein the heat generation segment has a length of less than about 30 mm, and the heat source comprises a carbonaceous fuel element.

42. The cigarette of claim 40, wherein the aerosol-generating segment incorporates glycerin, propylene glycol or combinations thereof.

43. The cigarette of claim 40, wherein the heat generation segment and the aerosol-generating segment are in a heat exchange relationship with one another.

44. The cigarette of claim 40, wherein the single piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap extends up to about 1 mm to about 5 mm from the lighting end of the cigarette.

45. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 40, the method comprising:

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments; and

connecting a mouth end piece segment to at least one of the combined segments using tipping material.

46. A cigarette comprising:

a lighting end and a mouth end;

a mouth end piece segment having a length and disposed at the mouth end;

an aerosol-generation system including (i) a heat generation segment disposed at the lighting end, said heat generation segment having a length and including a heat source, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment incorporating aerosol-forming material, said aerosol-generating segment having a length and being disposed adjacent to, and physically separate from, the heat generation segment;

a single piece of a first wrapping material providing an overwrap around at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment and around at least a portion of the length of the aerosol-generating segment;

a tobacco-containing segment having a length and disposed between the aerosol-generating segment and the mouth end piece segment;

a single piece of a second wrapping material providing an overwrap around at least a portion of the length of the tobacco-containing segment and around at least a portion of the length of the aerosol-generating segment; and

a single piece of outer wrapping material providing an overwrap (i) around the length of the mouth end piece segment;

(ii) around the length of the tobacco-containing segment, (iii) around the length of the aerosol-generating segment, and (iv) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length.

47. A method for manufacturing a cigarette of claim 46, the method comprising:

forming a two-up aerosol-generating segment having two ends;

connecting a heat generation segment to each end of the two-up aerosol-generating segment to provide a two-up combined segment;

subdividing the two-up combined segment to provide two combined segments;

forming a two-up segment incorporating tobacco, that segment having two ends;

connecting a combined segment at each end of the two-up segment incorporating tobacco, such that the aerosol-generating segment and the segment incorporating tobacco are adjacent to one another, so as to provide a two-up combined cigarette rod;

subdividing the two-up combined cigarette rod to provide two cigarette rods;

aligning a mouth end piece segment at each end of each cigarette rod, such the mouth end piece segment is adjacent to the segment incorporating tobacco, thereby providing an aligned assembly; and

wrapping each aligned assembly with a single piece of outer wrapping material thereby providing an overwrap (i) around the heat generation segment for at least a portion of its length, (ii) around the length of the aerosol-generating segment, (iii) around the length of the segment incorporating tobacco, and (iv) around the length of the mouth end piece segment.