Abstract: Provided herein is a cigarette pack formed of a moisture barrier coated paper material. The paper material includes a base substrate, a first polymer coating, a second polymer coating, and a third polymer coating. The first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating provide a barrier for moisture and air exchange through the paper material. The first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating also provide heat and pressure sealability capabilities to the paper material.

Abstract: A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.

Abstract: The present system relates to methods and apparatus for displaying retail information. Specially, the present system provides a system for displaying retail information specified by a retailer or a consumer and real-time monitoring of retail product for the retailer. For example, this allows a retailer to send promotional offers to a consumer operated external device, the retailer to keep real-time inventory of products, and the consumer to request the location of a product in a retail outlet. Additionally, the described system provides methods and apparatus for theft detection of a retail product.

Abstract: A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.

Abstract: A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.

Abstract: A packaging container for a tobacco product is provided. The packaging container comprises a housing including a flexible wall portion having an electrical device printed or placed on an exterior surface thereof, and a power source contained within the interior of the housing and configured to power the electrical device. The flexible wall portion comprises a layer including a nanocellulose coating configured to level the exterior surface for receipt of the electrical device, and a layer including a moisture vapor barrier configure to resist diffusion of moisture through the exterior surface and into an interior of the housing.

Abstract: A packaging container for a tobacco product is provided. The packaging container comprises a housing including a flexible wall portion having an electrical device printed or placed on an exterior surface thereof, and a power source contained within the interior of the housing and configured to power the electrical device. The flexible wall portion comprises a layer including a nanocellulose coating configured to level the exterior surface for receipt of the electrical device, and a layer including a moisture vapor barrier configure to resist diffusion of moisture through the exterior surface and into an interior of the housing.

Abstract: A filter material adapted for use as a filter element of a smoking article is provided, the filter material including at least one segment of fibrous tow having a plurality of degradable particles dispersed therein, the degradable particles comprising a starch material. Exemplary starch materials include naturally-occurring starch, hydroxyalkylated starch, starch esters, ionically modified starch, oxidized starch, hydrolyzed starch, plasticized starch, gelatinized starch, grafted starch, crosslinked starch, transglycosylated starch, starch ethers, and mixtures thereof, as well as blends of starch with other polymers. Filter elements and smoking articles, such as cigarettes, that contain the filter material are also provided. A method of preparing polymer fibers for use in filter elements is also provided, the method including adding the starch material to a fiber precursor solution prior to fiber extrusion or dry-blending the starch material with the polymer material to be formed into fibers.

Abstract: The present system relates to methods and apparatus for displaying retail information. Specially, the present system provides a system for displaying retail information specified by a retailer or a consumer and real-time monitoring of retail product for the retailer. For example, this allows a retailer to send promotional offers to a consumer operated external device, the retailer to keep real-time inventory of products, and the consumer to request the location of a product in a retail outlet. Additionally, the described system provides methods and apparatus for theft detection of a retail product.

Abstract: Smokeless tobacco products suitable for oral consumption are provided. The smokeless tobacco products include a tobacco composition and at least one fibrous structure enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of the tobacco composition such that the fibrous structure and the tobacco composition form a cohesive structure capable of maintaining cohesion when placed in an oral cavity, wherein the fibrous structure includes one or more of (i) a warp knitted structure; (ii) a plurality of reinforcing fibers attached to the tobacco composition; (iii) a braided sleeve; and (iv) a spacer fabric. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco product adapted for oral consumption is also provided, the process including the step of enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of a tobacco composition with a fibrous structure to form a composite structure.

Abstract: Provided herein is a cigarette pack formed of a moisture barrier coated paper material. The paper material includes a base substrate, a first polymer coating, a second polymer coating, and a third polymer coating. The first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating provide a barrier for moisture and air exchange through the paper material.

Abstract: Smokeless tobacco products suitable for oral consumption are provided. The smokeless tobacco products include a tobacco composition and at least one fibrous structure enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of the tobacco composition such that the fibrous structure and the tobacco composition form a cohesive structure capable of maintaining cohesion when placed in an oral cavity, wherein the fibrous structure includes one or more of (i) a warp knitted structure; (ii) a plurality of reinforcing fibers attached to the tobacco composition; (iii) a braided sleeve; and (iv) a spacer fabric. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco product adapted for oral consumption is also provided, the process including the step of enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of a tobacco composition with a fibrous structure to form a composite structure.

Abstract: A method of making a filter element configured for use in a smoking article comprises selecting at least one finish composition configured to selectively filter at least one target component of mainstream aerosol, and applying the finish composition to a fibrous material.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.

Abstract: A filter material of a filter element configured for application in a smoking article may include a fibrous substrate material finished with a fiber finish composition. The fiber finish composition may be formulated to selectively interact with at least one target component of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter element during use of the smoking article to selectively filter the target component from the smoke. The filter element may include multiple filter segments. Each filter segment may include a filter material having a finish composition formulated to selectively interact with a different target component. The various filter segments may be combined and/or arranged to selectively filter the mainstream smoke to achieve desired characteristics. Each filter segment may be formed from the same fibrous substrate material.

Abstract: A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.

Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for forming a biodegradable filter material for a filter element of a smoking article, wherein the method involves combining cellulose acetate fibers with regenerated cellulose fibers, drawing the combined cellulose acetate fibers and regenerated cellulose fibers to form drawn combined fibers, and crimping the drawn combined fibers to form a mixed fiber tow. An associated filter material for the filter element of a smoking article is also provided.

Abstract: Smokeless tobacco products suitable for oral consumption are provided. The smokeless tobacco products include a tobacco composition and at least one fibrous structure enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of the tobacco composition such that the fibrous structure and the tobacco composition form a cohesive structure capable of maintaining cohesion when placed in an oral cavity, wherein the fibrous structure includes one or more of (i) a warp knitted structure; (ii) a plurality of reinforcing fibers attached to the tobacco composition; (iii) a braided sleeve; and (iv) a spacer fabric. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco product adapted for oral consumption is also provided, the process including the step of enclosing at least a portion of the outer surface of a tobacco composition with a fibrous structure to form a composite structure.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is provided. The tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, which includes a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation that includes a granular tobacco composition, wherein the pouch is constructed of a spunlaid fleece material, which may be thermally sealed for closure and which may be formed of biodegradable polymer fiber.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is provided. A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product comprises a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation that includes a granular tobacco composition, wherein the pouch comprises a fleece material configured to provide enhanced flavor.