Cigar Or Cigarette Making Patents (Class 131/280)
  • Publication number: 20120279509
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing sheet tobacco for producing a cigarette that has equivalent aroma and flavor even if the amount of burley leaves is reduced, and does not require a special processing treatment due to the absence of necessity of an installation space and costs for the treatment, a method of manufacturing a cigarette containing the same, and a cigarette. The invention separates raw material for sheet tobacco into fiber and solution, adds a casing flavor to the solution, mixes the solution added with the casing flavor and the fiber to produce a mixture, and dries the mixture. The casing flavor is previously added at the time of the molding of sheet tobacco in the sheet-tobacco manufacturing process, which makes it possible to produce sheet tobacco having the aroma and flavor equivalent of when burley leaf tobacco is used, even without applying the special processing treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Shuichi Miyazawa, Mitsuharu Sugyo, Takanori Yagashira
  • Patent number: 8291919
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by perforated cigar or shell, the shell comprising a sheet of material with an intermediate sheet, the sheet comprising tobacco leaves and/or homogenized tobacco paper. The cigar or shell is packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The cigar or shell remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the cigar or shell is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the cigar or shell with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the cigar or shell to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr., Philip S. Zanghi, III
  • Publication number: 20120255568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter for application in a cigarette tube. The invention also relates to an assembly of a cigarette tube and at least one filter according to the invention received in the cigarette tube. The invention further relates to a cigarette, in particular a “joint”, based on such an assembly. The invention also relates to a blank for the purpose of manufacturing a filter according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to a method for manufacturing a filter according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: VANDENBERG SPECIAL PRODUCTS B.V.
    Inventor: Marinus Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20120247491
    Abstract: Smoking articles which involve the use of a copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst that is capable of removing NO and/or NO2 from mainstream smoke are provided. The copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst comprises a microporous molecular sieve substrate having pores with an average diameter of from about 3 ? to about 15 ?, where at least some of the pores of the microporous molecular sieve substrate contain Cu+2 ions. Methods for making cigarette filters and smoking articles using the copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst, as well as methods for smoking a cigarette comprising the copper-exchanged molecular sieve catalyst, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A Fournier, Zhaohua Luan
  • Publication number: 20120240946
    Abstract: A blank cigarette tube holding apparatus comprising a ring having an outer edge, a flange having an outer side and an inner side, whereas the inner side of the flange is affixed to the outer edge of the ring, and a flexible blank cigarette tube locator having a base and a flap, whereas the base is attached to the outer edge of the ring. Also disclosed is a method for locating and holding a blank cigarette tube comprising loading a blank cigarette tube over a filling tube, locating the blank cigarette tube on the filling tube with a flexible blank cigarette tube locator, and holding the blank cigarette tube on the filling tube by way of friction between the blank cigarette tube and a flexible blank cigarette tube holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: John Joseph Lyda, Sean Chumura, James Allen Stacy
  • Patent number: 8240315
    Abstract: A smoking article, which provides lower amounts of total particulate matter in a latter portion of its puff count, includes a cylinder of smoking material, a combustible hollow tube within the cylinder of smoking material, and a heat sink at a downstream end of the hollow tube. The smoking article also includes a filter system attached to the cylinder of smoking material having a sorbent material and at least one downstream segment of filtering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Raquel M. Olegario, Mike Braunshteyn, Gail Yoss, Jim Lyons-Hart
  • Publication number: 20120192879
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of constructing a smoking article using a retention member to provide a more tightly rolled smoking article and increase a volume of smoke of an ignited article. At least one or more sheets of material is provided and a retention member is positioned thereon. Next, the sheet of material is wrapped about the retention member and a portion of the sheet of material is sealed to form an inner wall. Filler material is then provided proximal to an outer surface of the inner wall whereby the filler material is distributed on both sides of the retention member. Opposite ends of the sheet material engage to then form an outer wall to enclose the tiller material between an inner surface of the outer wall and the outer surface of the inner wall. The retention member is then removed to form an inner bore within the inner shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Jarrad Bryan Fallon
  • Patent number: 8201564
    Abstract: Fibrous material suitable for incorporation into filter elements of smoking articles such as cigarettes are impregnated with additives and agents such as flavorants, flavorant-enhancers and/or free radical scavengers. The fibrous material is contacted with the additive dispersed in a high pressure gas or supercritical fluid (SCF) held at elevated pressures. The high pressure gas or SCF swells the fibrous matrix and enables the additive to be incorporated within the matrix. When pressure is reduced, the gas or SCF vaporizes and leaves the additive embedded in the fiber interstices. As a result, the additive is slowly released over a finite period of time. When incorporated into a cigarette filter, the additive is released at a desired rate from the interior of the fibrous filter into the cigarette smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. McHugh, Georgios Karles, Diane Gee, Joseph L. Banyasz, Zhihao Shen, Munmaya K. Mishra
  • Publication number: 20120138075
    Abstract: A filter strip is provided for rolling sheets to construct custom cigars and/or cigarettes. The filter strip may be made of a deformable material which can be positioned on one end of the rolling sheet. The filter strip can be folded in a zig zag or spiral filter section with open section located longitudinally below to form a filter tip. The filter tip can assist the user in rolling by hand a substantially cylindrical or conical cigar or cigarette. The filter tip prevents tobacco filler material from being drawn through the cigar or cigarette and into a user's mouth, and permits the entire amount of tobacco filler to be consumed/smoked without risking burned hands and/or lips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Jespersen, Anders Overgaard Neilsen, Daniel S. Sinclair, JR.
  • Patent number: 8186359
    Abstract: A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Balager Ademe, Vernon Brent Barnes, Travis Eugene Howard, Robert William Benford, Franklin Forrest Brantley, Brent Walker Carter, William Robert Collett, Darrell Thomas Dixon, Larry Dean McCann, John Larkin Nelson, Gregory J. Roberts, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Calvin Wayne Henderson
  • Publication number: 20120118302
    Abstract: Supported catalyst particles, which can be incorporated in the tobacco cut filler, cigarette wrapper and/or cigarette filter of a cigarette, are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis of carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide. The supported catalyst comprises catalyst particles that are supported on particles of an electrically conductive support selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and a partially reduced oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Miser, Diane Gee
  • Publication number: 20120097179
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention generally provide methods and structures for paper structures used by an end user to create a cigar or cigarette with gummed, coiled inserts. In one aspect, a rolling paper structure is provided including a first paper section having a first height, a second paper section coupled to the first paper section and the second paper section having a second height longer than the first height, and an optional adhesive disposed on the second paper section. The rolling paper structure may be folded between the first paper section and the second paper section having a portion extending beyond the first paper section. A gummed, coiled insert for rolling paper structures is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Joshua D. Kesselman
  • Patent number: 8161979
    Abstract: A finished tobacco product is formed by an inner shell and attached outer pre-rolled sheet where the inner shell has a means to open an interior volume to add selected tobacco filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120085359
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises a rod (12) of smokeable material and a filter (14) attached to one end of the rod. The filter comprises an elongate body of filter material (16) wrapped with a transparent plug wrap (18). A first tipping wrapper (20a) overlies the join between the rod and the filter to attach the filter to the rod. At least one additional tipping wrapper (20b) is provided around the filter, spaced from and separate to the first tipping wrapper such that a portion of the transparent plug wrap is exposed between the first and at least one additional tipping wrapper to define a window portion (22) through which the filter material is visible. A method of producing such a smoking article is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Peter Sutton
  • Publication number: 20120067360
    Abstract: A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source and an insulation layer and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment including a substrate, which may include tobacco pellets and aerosol-forming material disposed in a substrate cavity between the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment and includes a foil strip laminated thereon; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the mouth-end segment using tipping material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Billy Tyrone Conner, Andries Don Sebastian, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Timothy Frederick Thomas, James Richard Stone, Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Yi-Ping Chang, Vernon Brent Barnes, Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, David Neil McClanahan, Carolyn Rierson Carpenter, Timothy Brian Nestor, Jackie Lee White
  • Patent number: 8118034
    Abstract: A brand control method for an automatic tobacco article processing machine, the method including the steps of: defining a number of end product brands that can be produced on the automatic machine; creating a number of configurations, each associated with a respective brand and having a set of values of control parameters controlling electrically controlled operating parts to produce the brand; selecting a desired end product brand; loading the configuration corresponding to the desired end product brand onto a control unit to commence production of the desired brand; defining a number of sections, each having a set of control parameters and independent of the other sections; defining a number of recipes by assigning each section at least one respective set of values of the corresponding control parameters, so each recipe corresponds to a respective section and contains the values of the control parameters in that particular section; and defining each configuration by combining a number of compatible recipes,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: G. D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Giuseppe Faraci, Carlo Moretti, Gaetano De Pietra
  • Patent number: 8118033
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped smoking articles which includes a forming section (10) for forming a material layer (K) made up of particles of smoking material and delivering the formed material layer (K); a wrapping section (20) disposed downstream of the forming section (10), for forming a rod (KR) by wrapping the material layer (K) in a web (W); a pair of guide blocks (54) disposed in the terminal end portion of the forming section (10), for guiding the material layer (K); a web shield (56) disposed downstream of the guide blocks (54) as viewed in the direction of delivering the material layer (K), for separating the material layer (K) and the web (W) from each other; a tongue (40) disposed in the start end portion of the wrapping section (20); and injection openings (64, 70, 76) provided to the guide blocks (54), the web shield (56) and the tongue (40), for injecting a liquid flavor additive into the material layer (K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Sendo, Toshio Yanagi, Akihiro Inoue, Tomoichi Watanabe, Manabu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20120037172
    Abstract: A filter component for a smoking article includes an upstream segment of filter material, a downstream segment of filter material in a spaced apart relation to the upstream segment of filter material so as to define a cavity therebetween, and a flavor bead disposed in the cavity. The flavor bead has an outer diameter, which is at least 75% of the spaced apart relation of the upstream segment of filter material and the downstream segment of filter material. The outer diameter of the flavor bead does not exceed an outer diameter of either the upstream or downstream segments of filter material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lynn Allen, Dwight D. Williams, Herbert Carrington Longest, JR., Robert E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120037171
    Abstract: A method for providing an encapsulated flavorant or chemesthetic agent in a smoking article includes forming an emulsion including: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive comprising one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents. The method also includes extruding the emulsion into a second aqueous solution in the form of an elongated structure, cross-linking at least a portion of the one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides, removing the cross-linked elongated structure from the second aqueous solution, introducing the cross-linked elongated structure into a filter, or into a rod including a smoking composition, or both; and forming the filter or the rod of the smoking composition into a smoking article. The method can include a drying step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Shuzhong Zhuang, Yi Zeng, Georgios D. Karles
  • Patent number: 8114475
    Abstract: A surface-modified adsorbent and a process for making a surface-modified adsorbent are provided. The process involves providing an adsorbent and a non-volatile organic compound to a vessel, adjusting the temperature and/or pressure to provide supercritical conditions for a supercritical fluid, and introducing the supercritical fluid into the vessel. The supercritical fluid dissolves the non-volatile organic compound, and impregnates the adsorbent with the non-volatile organic compound. The surface-modified adsorbent can be used, for example, in cut filler compositions, cigarette filters, and smoking articles. Methods for making cigarette filters, cigarettes and for smoking a cigarette comprising the surface-modified adsorbent are also provided. The surface-modified adsorbents can be used to remove one or more selected components from mainstream smoke, without removing other components, such as those that contribute to flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Thomas
  • Patent number: 8104484
    Abstract: A smoking article such as a cigarette, or a smoke filter or other component thereof, comprises a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The catalyst comprises gold, and an oxide of zinc or titanium. Titania and mixed oxides of zinc and copper or aluminum are preferred (TiO2, ZnO, ZnAlOx or CuZnOx). The gold preferably comprises species in the metallic state)(Au0), together with species in an oxidized state (Au?+).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Branton, Stephen John Roberts, Elma van der Lingen
  • Publication number: 20120006338
    Abstract: A device for producing cigarettes in the tobacco processing industry that has a tobacco processing unit and a paper feeding unit, which feeds a paper having LIP strips to the tobacco processing unit, wherein the paper feeding unit has a measurement device, which continuously detects the LIP strips, wherein the measurement device has a microwave resonator, through whose measurement region the paper having the LIP strip is passing, and which detects a shift of the resonance curve and/or a broadening of the resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: TEWS ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Herrmann, Udo Schlemm
  • Publication number: 20120006344
    Abstract: A smoking article provides one or more sheets of material that can be rolled and packaged, at least one sheet including cellulose. In one embodiment, cellulose and tobacco sheet material are separately rolled layers that can optionally be wrapped around a form casing (or pre-rolled inside) and then packaged. In another embodiment, the sheet is a laminated sheet of tobacco and cellulose layers that can be optionally wrapped around (or pre-rolled inside) a form casing. These sheets can be filled with custom tobacco to make one or more new cigars for an end user. In another embodiment, a complete cigar filled with tobacco material can be disassembled by an end user to produce tobacco and cellulose sheets, enabling the end user to form two new cigars using his or her own custom tobacco.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: BLUNT WRAP U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120006339
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by rolling a sheet of material supplied by a roll or rolls (e.g. moistened tobacco leaves) and/or homogenized sheet tobacco about a slit mandrel to form a shaped tube. The shaped tube is then packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The shaped tube remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the shaped tube is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the tube with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the sheet or to the finished tube to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring. The tubes are unfilled when packaged and sent to a consumer/end user in tube form so that they have a “memory” that helps hold a tubular cigar shape after they are filled with selected tobacco fill material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Blunt Wrap U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120006343
    Abstract: Strands of homogenized tobacco material include at least one aerosol former, An aerosol-generating substrate includes a plurality of those strands of homogenized tobacco material. A smoking article may further include the aerosol-generating substrate. Those strands of homogenized tobacco material preferably have a mass-to-surface-area ratio of at least about 0.09 mg/mm2 and an aerosol former content of between about 12% and about 25% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Renaud, Jean-Jacques Pladé, Jacques Zuber, Fabien Zuchuat, Anu Ajithkumar, Samuel Bonnely, Johannes Petrus Maria Pijnenburg
  • Publication number: 20110297167
    Abstract: Smoking article components, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided that use transition metal oxide clusters capable of catalyzing and/or oxidizing the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or adsorbing carbon monoxide. Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material can comprise transition metal oxide clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Budda V. Reddy, Firooz Rasouli, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, S. N. Khanna
  • Publication number: 20110297168
    Abstract: Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Li, Flrooz Rasoull, Rajesh K. Garg, Randall E. Baren, Marc W. Rose, Peter J. Lipowicz, Tony A. Phan, Timothy S. Sherwood, Szu-Sung Yang, Donald E. Miser
  • Publication number: 20110290263
    Abstract: An apparatus and processes for producing compound cigarette filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments onto the horizontally oriented transverse flutes of a continuous belt. Spaced apart hoppers are serially arranged above the belt, and each hopper contains at least one of the multiple segments of the compound filter being assembled. A transfer structure between each hopper and the belt serially delivers the filter segments to the flutes on the belt, and after such assembly the various filter segments are removed as a group from each flute of the continuous belt. The filter segments are then combined as a group with wrapped tobacco rods to thereby produce filtered cigarettes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: MICHAEL S. BRAUNSHTEYN, Raquel M. Olegario
  • Publication number: 20110290265
    Abstract: A novel cigar is provided with an elongated cigar puller device which extends into the interior of the cigar. By removing the cigar puller from the device, the tobacco fill material of the cigar is disrupted so as to improve the draw of the cigar. Some of the cigar puller devices can be used to infuse flavorants into the cigar to alter the taste and/or aroma of the cigar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Jack B. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20110284015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tobacco preparation method, wherein a tobacco material is prepared through at least one extrusion process comprising compressing the material with an increase in pressure and temperature and mechanically processing and abruptly flash drying the material of an extruder outlet, wherein the tobacco material comprises a tobacco lamina material. The invention further relates to a tobacco preparation device comprising a dosing conveyor (2) and an extruder (3) which compresses a tobacco material with an increase in pressure and temperature and mechanically process and abruptly flash dries the material at the extruder outlet, wherein the components (3, 4) are designated as a unit which can be modularly delimited for processing a tobacco material comprising a tobacco lamina material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Dietmar Franke, Gerald Schmekel
  • Publication number: 20110277781
    Abstract: A multicomponent smoking article filter adapted to be disposed at the non-burning end of the rod of smokable material, comprising: a first plug; a second plug; a first cavity disposed between the first plug and the second plug, wherein the first cavity comprises: (1) a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a flavorant, and (2) either a plurality of cellulosic granules containing a humectant, or containing water, or a combination thereof; and a second cavity comprising a sorbent disposed upstream from the first cavity relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn through the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: David Clark
  • Patent number: 8056566
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco column, a binder surrounding the tobacco column, a first wrapper surrounding the binder, and at least one additional removable wrapper which surrounds the first wrapper and is removably secured to a wrapper beneath the additional removable wrapper. Packaging for a smoking article involves a supportive tube surrounding the smoking article and sealed in a package, where the package is made from a front and a rear sheet sealed together to form a sealed envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: National Honey Almond/NHA, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kang, Thomas Kang
  • Publication number: 20110232659
    Abstract: A cigarette filter subassembly is manufactured from a filter member having absorbent material encased within an outer cover. A plunger is passed axially through the absorbent material such that a pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly against the cover to form a liner of compressed absorbent material along the cover's inside surface. An inner surface of the liner surrounds a hollow axial opening which is to receive absorbent members and capsules inserted axially therein. The capsules are adapted to be broken by a smoker to release an additive material which modifies characteristics of tobacco smoke. An outer cylindrical surface of the plunger optionally carries a transferable binder material that becomes smeared onto the inner surface of the liner to form thereon a coating which is impermeable to the additive material released from the capsule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Martin T. Garthaffner, Dwight D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110232660
    Abstract: The invention provides a filter element for a smoking article. The filter element comprises a plug of filter material, a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wrapping means wrapped around at least a portion of a longitudinally extending surface of the tobacco core. The filter element can be used in a variety of smoking articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Martin Duke, Paulo Oliveira
  • Publication number: 20110232656
    Abstract: A method for providing particles of encapsulated flavorants or chemesthetic agents comprises forming an emulsion comprising: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive; atomizing said emulsion in an atomizer into droplets; introducing said droplets into a second aqueous solution, comprising one or more metal cations, to form particles comprising one or more cross-linked polysaccharides and said additive encapsulated therein; and removing said particles from said second aqueous solution and drying said particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Zeng, Shuzhong Zhuang, Georgios D. Karles
  • Publication number: 20110232661
    Abstract: A smoking article (1) in which a patch of web material (7) such as paper containing an adsorbent material therein, such as activated carbon, is positioned towards the mouth end of the smoking article (1) to achieve a flatter puff profile compared to a conventional cigarette by decreasing the smoke constituents in the final few puffs. Characteristics of the smoking articles may be changed to increase the delivery of smoke constituents in the first few puffs in order to maintain a constant ISO NFDPM yield. The adsorbent-containing paper extends over only a portion of the smoking article towards the mouth end and does not comprise a flavourant therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Fiebelkorn
  • Publication number: 20110232655
    Abstract: A smoking composition for inclusion in a combustible smoking article includes a combustible organic material, such as tobacco and/or tobacco substitutes and at least one alkanoylated glycoside for enhancing the flavor of mainstream smoke. Optionally, dry hops extract can also be included in the smoking composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: W. Geoffrey Chan, Christophe Galopin, Andreas Czepa, Mike Nuckols, Beverley Woodson
  • Publication number: 20110220131
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by perforated cigar or shell, the shell comprising a sheet of material with an intermediate sheet, the sheet comprising tobacco leaves and/or homogenized tobacco paper. The cigar or shell is packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The cigar or shell remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the cigar or shell is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the cigar or shell with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the cigar or shell to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sinclair, JR., Philip Salvatore Zanghi, III
  • Publication number: 20110214680
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention concern methods for detecting, identifying and evaluating tobacco and tobacco products to determine the potential that these compositions have to contribute to a tobacco-related disease. It is based, at least in part; on the discovery that exposure of pulmonary cells to smoke or smoke condensate obtained from tobacco or tobacco products induces double stranded breaks in cellular DNA, which were efficiently detected using assays that measure the presence, absence, or amount of phosphorylation of the histone, H2AX.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: VECTOR TOBACCO, INC., New York Medical College
    Inventors: Anthony P. Albino, Ellen D. Jorgensen, Frank Traganos, Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz, Wendy Jin
  • Publication number: 20110203599
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a carbon monoxide reducing agent including particles including a calcium aluminate represented by the formula (CaO)m(Al2O3)n, where 1/6?m/n?4/1, wherein the particles have a BET specific surface area of 2 m2/g or more and less than 20 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Yasunobu Inoue, Kiyohiro Sasakawa, Kazunori Sugai, Kenichi Nishimura, Yoshio Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20110197902
    Abstract: A smoking article composition and a method of making a smoking article composition and an additive, wherein the additive comprises particles anchored to the cut filler by a metal oxide support. The additive can be formed by combining particles and a metal oxide precursor solution with the smoking article composition. The smoking article composition can comprise tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Shahryar Rabiei, Firooz Rasouli, Mohammad R. Hajaligol
  • Publication number: 20110186063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to smoking articles incorporating an improved filter in which the amount of smoke filtration varies with increased strength of draw. In particular, the filter comprises a plurality of passageways, at least one primary passageway I comprising a section of material which extends from the rod of smokable material to the mouth end of the smoking article and which has a high capacity to filter smoke and a high capacity to resist the passage of smoke. Via a series of small holes in an otherwise non-porous interface between the different passageways, smoke may be drawn between the primary passageway I and one or more secondary passageways II which have a low capacity to filter and resist the passage of smoke. At lower strengths of draw, smoke may become drawn through the small holes between the primary and secondary passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Fiebelkorn
  • Patent number: 7987858
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by rolling a sheet of material supplied by a roll or rolls (e.g. moistened tobacco leaves) and/or homogenized sheet tobacco about a slit mandrel to form a shaped tube. The shaped tube is then packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The shaped tube remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the shaped tube is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the tube with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the sheet or to the finished tube to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring. The tubes are unfilled when packaged and sent to a consumer/end user in tube form so that they have a “memory” that helps hold a tubular cigar shape after they are filled with selected tobacco fill material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110180082
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for making a fuel element for a smoking article including the steps of mixing a metal-containing catalyst precursor with a filler material or graphite or a combination thereof to form a pre-treated fuel element component; optionally calcining the pre-treated fuel element component in order to convert the catalyst precursor to a catalytic metal compound; after the optional calcining step, combining the pre-treated fuel element component with a carbonaceous material and a binder to produce a fuel element composition; and forming the fuel element composition into a fuel element adapted for use in a smoking article. Examples of metal-containing catalyst precursors include iron nitrate, copper nitrate, cerium nitrate, cerium ammonium nitrate, manganese nitrate, magnesium nitrate, and zinc nitrate. Fuel elements treated according to the invention, and smoking articles including such fuel elements, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Stephen Benson Sears, Susan K. Pike
  • Publication number: 20110180084
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for forming a rod member for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A fibrillation unit is configured to fibrillate a sheet material having one of a biodegradability-enhancing substance and a compostability-enhancing substance associated therewith. A rod-forming unit is operably engaged with the fibrillation unit and is configured to form the fibrillated sheet material into a continuous filter rod member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Dennis L. Potter, Robert L. Oglesby
  • Publication number: 20110174322
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicants: North Carolina State University, University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ralph E. Dewey, Steven W. Bowen, Balazs Siminszky, Lily Gavilano
  • Publication number: 20110168195
    Abstract: A filter element (214) for a smoking article comprising a plug of filter material (210) having a longitudinally extending surface (213), a wrapper (220) wrapped around the longitudinally extending surface of the plug of filter material and a tobacco product (240) located between the longitudinally extending surface of the plug of filter material and the wrapper so as to cover at least a part of the longitudinally extending surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Paulo Oliveira
  • Publication number: 20110173721
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein concern tobacco and tobacco products having a reduced amount of a harmful compound. More specifically, several embodiments concern approaches to modify the expression of a gene that is involved in the production of a harmful compound in tobacco, tobacco products made using these approaches and methods of determining whether the removal of said compounds using said approaches yields a tobacco and/or a tobacco product that has a reduced potential to contribute to a tobacco-related disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Anthony P. Albino, Wendy Jin, Ellen Jorgensen
  • Publication number: 20110155151
    Abstract: Electrically heated cigarettes used in an electrical smoking system include a flavoring-release additive and sorbent effective to remove one or more gas-phase constituents of mainstream tobacco smoke. The flavoring-release additive includes at least one flavoring. The flavoring is released in the cigarette upon the flavoring-release additive reaching at least a minimum temperature during smoking. The flavoring-release additive can have various forms including, for example, beads, films and inclusion complexes. Electrical smoking systems including the electrically heated cigarettes, methods of making the cigarettes, and methods of smoking the cigarettes are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Deborah J. NEWMAN, Beverley C. Woodson
  • Patent number: 7954498
    Abstract: In order to treat cut tobacco so as to loosen and homogenize the same, a tobacco stream (12, 16) passes through a plurality of processing stations (18, 19, 20), in the region of which the tobacco is loosened, during transportation, with the aid of different processing arrangements. The tobacco stream or main stream here is divided up into a plurality of smaller sub-streams during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Christina Ott, Ralf Barkmann, Stefan Harms, Reinhard Hoppe, Thomas Jessen, Torben Baumgardt