End Structure Patents (Class 131/361)
  • Patent number: 5954061
    Abstract: A device comprising a filter and a rod which is capable of insertion into a cigarette cord that has a preformed conduit extending concentrically along the longitudinal axis of the cord. The rod having a plurality of perforations along its entire length, allowing for a fresh air supply to be sucked into the rod and then intermingled through the tobacco. The filter being available in various numbers of filtering ring elements which allow for a selection of filtering strength. The device is made of materials that would allow it to be reusable. As the cigarette cord burns down, the increased supply of fresh air will result in a reduction in the percentages of particulate matter (tars, nicotine,etc). By varying the number of filters, the taste will selectively be controlled by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventor: Venanzio Cardarelli
  • Patent number: 5944025
    Abstract: A smoking article and its method of construction and operation to provide products of combustion which are used to form flavorable aerosol gases delivered to the smoker's mouth while controlling the composition of such gases of combustion. Hot gases generated in a catalytic section in which fuel and air combust aided by a honeycomb catalytically coated surface including alumina and a cerium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cook, Adriano Polo, Matthew H. Zoller, Beth E. Waltermire, Sandra F. Smith
  • Patent number: 5845648
    Abstract: A filter which will be attached to the end of a smoking product such as a cigarette. It would have a normal filter connected to the tube of tobacco, with a dual chamber which holds fine tobacco dust particles in one chamber. The other chamber would contain a plurality of loose fibers and would be connected to another normal cigarette filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: John E. Martin
  • Patent number: 5830318
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tipping paper adapted for wrapping a filter of a smoking article. The tipping paper contains a pigment made from calcium carbonate particles having a median size of between about 0.1 microns to about 0.5 microns. The calcium carbonate pigment can be used to create a tipping paper having an opacity of up to at least 89%. In comparison to conventional tipping papers, it has been surprisingly discovered that the tipping paper of the present invention reduces knife wear of a cutting instrument used to cut the paper and is less retentive to solvents when the paper is printed with a solvent based ink or covered with a solvent based coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Snow, Kerry Mahone, Italo Baccoli
  • Patent number: 5816263
    Abstract: A novel cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system comprising a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a novel process comprising the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventors: Mary Ellen Counts, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Michael A. Moore, Wesley G. Sanderson, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
  • Patent number: 5730160
    Abstract: The invention relates to a segmented filter cigarette comprising a tobacco rod including at least two segments of differing tobacco fillings, a wrapping for said tobacco rod, and a filter, said at least two segments of said tobacco rod having a coaxial structure, each comprising an inner core of tobacco material, a wrapping for said inner core, a jacket of a different tobacco material and a wrapping for said jacket; the tobaccos of said inner cores of said segments have the same or a very similar condensate potential; the tobaccos of said jackets of said segments have the same or a very similar condensate potential which differs, however, from the condensate potential of said inner cores; by defining the resistances to draw of said inner cores and of said jackets of said segments and by adapting said filter it is achieved that the smoke is drawn substantially from the region having a high condensate potential of the first-burning segment during smoking of the segmented filter cigarette, and the smoke is drawn
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Schneider
  • Patent number: 5722433
    Abstract: A water-dispersible sheet for cigarettes and a cigarette using the sheet are described. The sheet comprises a water-resolvable base paper and a water-dispersible coating layer containing water-soluble polymer formed on the surface of the base paper, whereby the sheet is adjusted to have an air-permeability of not more than 200 coresta measured with a paper permeability meter, or to have an air-resistance within the range of 0 to 50000 second/100 ml measured with an Oken type air-resistance tester. The water-resolvable base paper is made from fibrous raw materials containing not less than 20% by weight of water-dispersible fibers having fiber dimensions of a l/D value of 0.45 or lower and a L/D value of 60 or lower and a water-retention value of 95% or lower. The sheet is suitable for use as filter joining paper or filter plug wrap for cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignees: Mishima Paper Co., Ltd., Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishino, Masato Shishikura, Toru Tsujimoto, Susumu Minamisawa
  • Patent number: 5690127
    Abstract: A cigarette comprises a hollow rod for directing smoke and air from the lit end of the cigarette to a filter located at the mouth end of the cigarette. The rod is formed of tobacco material and/or other carbonaceous material, together with a binder and preferably an organic or inorganic salt. In one embodiment, the rod is a low density rod, which when lit burns in an inverted fire cone. In a second embodiment, a thin-walled rod is surrounded by a column of leaf tobacco. The thin-walled rod includes a salt, preferably calcium carbonate, in an amount preferably between 25% and 45%, which increases the combustion temperature. It also preferably is perforated to allow smoke generated in the tobacco column to be drawn into the hollow center passage. In either embodiment, the amount of wet particulate matter is reduced due to the improved combustion characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Lorillard Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John J. Chapman, David R. Smart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5623952
    Abstract: The web of tipping paper which is being advanced in a filter tipping machine from a source to the station where the web is subdivided into uniting bands ready for draping around groups of coaxial plain cigarettes and filter rod sections is provided with projecting portions which are at least partially removed by a rotary grinding tool to provide the web with a pattern of perforations which determine the degree of ventilation of the filter cigarettes. The position of the running web relative to the tool and/or vice versa is adjustable in dependency upon one or more parameters of the finished filter cigarettes to thus vary the permeability of the uniting bands when the one or more monitored parameters of the filter cigarettes depart from the desired values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Nikolaus Hausler
  • Patent number: 5568819
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a filter element including a carbon-containing paper or a paper containing molecular sieves. The paper contacts the filter material, such as cellulose acetate tow, within the filter element, either by circumscribing the filter material or by being gathered with non-carbon-containing filter material. The paper is useful as a plug wrap for a filter element. In several embodiments, longitudinal grooves are provided on the periphery of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Gentry, Karen M. Womble, Chandra K. Banerjee, Richard L. Blakley, Russell D. Barnes, Donald A. Calleson, Henry T. Ridings
  • Patent number: 5453144
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing degradable cigarette filters wherein adhesive is applied to at least one longitudinal edge of the plug wrap paper, a bond is made while the adhesive is molten and the resultant bond is held in compression for sufficient time to prevent bond movement, the improvement which comprises, using as the adhesive, a water sensitive hot melt adhesive comprising 50 to 90 weight percent of a graft copolymer which copolymer comprises 40 to 85 weight percent of at least one vinyl monomer and 15 to 60 weight percent of at least one polyalkylene oxide polymer, 0 to 50 weight percent of a compatible tackifying resin, 5 to 40 weight percent of a polar wax, 0 to 3 weight percent antioxidant and 0 to 30 weight percent of another compatible water soluble or water sensitive thermoplastic polymer; characterized in that the resulting cigarette filter will open when exposed to moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Kauffman, Joseph Wieczorek, Jr., Stephen F. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 5404890
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a filter element including a carbon-containing paper or a paper containing molecular sieves. The paper circumscribes filter material, such as cellulose acetate tow, within the filter element. The paper is useful as a plug wrap for a filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Gentry, Karen M. Womble, Chandra K. Banerjee, Richard L. Blakley
  • Patent number: 5396909
    Abstract: A cigarette smoking article includes a tobacco rod and a dual filter comprising a tobacco rod end segment made of cellulose acetate tow and a mouth end segment made of a gathered, perforated polymeric film blended with a whitener to produce a substantially non-staining mouth end surface. The polymeric film may also comprise a coextruded flavor film with a flavor carrier layer disposed between a pair of barrier layers for releasing a flavorant into the mainstream smoke during smoking of the cigarette. Transparent wraps may be used to construct the cigarette from the component parts so that the filtration surfaces of the filter rod are visible through the wraps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Gentry, William M. Coleman, III, Charles R. Ashcraft, Dennis L. Carespodi, Milly M. L. Wong
  • Patent number: 5327916
    Abstract: A filter tip cigarette comprising a rod of smoking material having an inner wrapper of sidestream reducing paper containing carbon as part of its total filler content and an outer overwrapping cigarette paper, and a ventilated filter tip of low efficiency / high pressure drop which provides a mainstream CO / "tar" ratio of 1:0 or less in conjunction with the filter ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: David H. Jones, Jerzy Kijowski
  • Patent number: 5203356
    Abstract: A cigarette has a filter and an extensible helically wound mouthpiece extending beyond the filter. The mouthpiece may itself include an additional filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Myeong K. Yun
  • Patent number: 5183062
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element. The substrate is a gathered paper-type material, and is positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the fuel element. The fuel element is composed of a carbonaceous material and is extruded in such a manner that when positioned within the cigarette, its extrusion axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The fuel element includes a burning segment at one end, a base segment at the opposite end, and an isolation segment between the burning and base segments. The fuel element is circumscribed by glass fibers so as to hold the fuel element in place within the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Billy T. Conner
  • Patent number: 5159940
    Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a carbon heat source is provided wherein the carbon heat source and the flavor bed are contained within a non-combustible substantially cylindrical hollow ceramic sleeve. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles R. Hayward, Harry V. Lanzillotti, David E. Merrill, Edward B. Sanders, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., John R. Hearn
  • Patent number: 5156170
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element. The fuel element is composed of a carbonaceous material and is extruded in such a manner that when positioned within the cigarette, its extrusion axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The fuel element includes a burning segment at one end, a base segment at the opposite end, and an isolation segment between the burning and base segments. A metal cartridge is radially spaced from the longitudinal outer periphery of the burning segment of the fuel element. A retaining member grasps the base segment of the fuel element and holds the fuel element securely in place within the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Joseph J. Chiou, Darrell D. Williams, William J. Casey, Thomas L. Gentry, William C. Squires
  • Patent number: 5135009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smokable article which is intended to permit the smoker to avoid the condensates usually present in the smoke while retaining the taste experience familiar from conventional cigarettes; this is achieved in that a sheet-like carrier element coated with an aroma-carrying material and having a low thermal capacity is brought into direct thermal contact with a heat source comprising a hollow cylindrical combustion element having at least one passage therethrough wherein said passage is separate and distinct from the hollow portion; in the pauses between draws a cavity serves as collecting container or reservoir for the aromatic substances developed which can be inhaled in the next draw by the smoker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: B.A.T. Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd-Henrik Muller, Wolfgang Wiethaup, Guillermo Gerding, Bernhard Hauser, Knut Moller, Gert Rudolph
  • Patent number: 5125421
    Abstract: An improved tobacco filter or plug wrap is made by calendering ultraporous paper. The calendering process reduces surface irregularities, reduces the thickness of the paper, and reduces the porosity. In general, during the calendering step, the ultraporous paper should be reduced in thickness from about 0.1 mils. to about 2.5 mils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: P. H. Glatfelter Company
    Inventor: Melvin G. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5107865
    Abstract: Low sidestream cigarettes comprise cigarette rods not exceeding 20 mm in circumference. The cigarette rods comprise paper wrappers of a type which effect a sidestream reduction of at least 30% when used on rods of conventional dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Case, John A. Luke
  • Patent number: 5097850
    Abstract: A radiant energy reflector sleeve is provided for a smoking or flavor generating article of the type having a heat source and a flavor bed which generates a flavored aerosol or other flavors when heated. The sleeve can be erected from a one-piece foil blank in a continuous or semi-continuous process as part of the assembly of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mikhail Braunshteyn, Andrew J. Gillespie, John C. Hamersley
  • Patent number: 5092351
    Abstract: This invention relates to a filter cartridge suited for filtering highly viscous liquid.According to the invention, non-twisted yarn (sliver) and hard linear material such as strongly-twisted material supporting the non-twisted yarn on the core such as to form inter-yarn pores between the non-twisted yarn and hard linear material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Nippon Roki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Itoh
  • Patent number: 5060666
    Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol.Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means including an aerosol forming substance, a physically separate tobacco jacket around at least the aerosol generating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece.The articles of the present invention provide the user with taste, feel and aroma, associated with the smoking of conventional cigarettes. Tobacco in many embodiments of this invention is burned to provide a sidestream aroma and smoke. In other embodiments, tobacco does not burn, but still provides tobacco flavors to the aerosol delivered to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Thomas L. Gentry, Gary R. Shelar
  • Patent number: 5044381
    Abstract: A closed cigarette filter for preventing tobacco from coming into direct contact with the mouth of the user and filtering undesirable products in the smoke, which includes strip of filter material having one edge cut to define multiple, adjacent panels or fingers, which strip is capable of being shaped in a tubular configuration and applied to the end of a cigarette, with the upward-standing panels located above the open end of the filter and the panels subsequently folded inwardly, either in at random or in a repeating pattern, to close the open end of the filter and provide a filter medium. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the filter includes a vent which facilitates escape of smoke from the interior of the filter and prevents further accumulation of products of combustion on the panels when the cigarette is burning, but is not being smoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: Annie R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5033483
    Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol.Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means including an aerosol forming substance, a tobacco jacket around at least a portion of the fuel element and the aerosol generating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece.The articles of the present invention provide the user with taste, feel and aroma, associated with the smoking of conventional cigarettes. Tobacco in many embodiments of this invention is burned to provide a sidestream aroma and smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Thomas L. Gentry, Gary R. Shelar
  • Patent number: 5027837
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element. The fuel element is composed of a carbonaceous material and is extruded in such a manner that when positioned within the cigarette, its extrusion axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The fuel element includes a burning segment at one end, a base segment at the opposite end, and an isolation segment between the burning and base segments. A metal cartridge is radially spaced from the longitudinal outer periphery of the burning segment of the fuel element. A retaining member grasps the base segment of the fuel element and holds the fuel element securely in place within the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Joseph J. Chiou, Darrell D. Williams, William J. Casey, Thomas L. Gentry, William C. Squires
  • Patent number: 5020548
    Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products of sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Ernest G. Farrier, James L. Harris, Alan B. Norman, James L. Resce, Andrew J. Sensabaugh, Jr., Michael D. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5007439
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling the "tar" delivery of cigarette smoke and more particularly to the method of controlling "tar" delivery of the non-filter cigarette while maintaining resistance to draw and other parameters of the cigarette at acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: The American Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Chumney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4986287
    Abstract: A coaxial cigarette comprising an inner core of a material glowing away substantially without residue, in particular tobacco material, with a sheath for the inner core, an outer jacket coaxially surrounding the inner core and its sheath and comprising a tobacco and/or non-tobacco material, and a sheath for the outer jacket, has a diameter of the inner core which lies in the range from 45% to 80% of the outer diameter of the coaxial cigarette; the inner core has a packing density in the range from 300 to 400 mg/cm.sup.3 ; the outer jacket has a packing density in the rnage from 170 to 250 mg/cm.sup.3. The sheath of the inner core has an air permeability of less than 3 ISO units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: B.A.T. Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Schneider, Horst Borowski, Erwin Kausch, Rolf Kutting, Meinhard Meyer, Knut Moller, Bernd-Henrik Muller, Adolf Schluter
  • Patent number: 4984588
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) is disclosed, in which a tube (12) of combustible, heat fusible material is surrounded by tobacco filler (14) and wrapper (16). Tube (12) extends from approximately 5 mm from the mouth end of the filter to within approximately 10 mm of the opposite end of smoking cylinder (17). By directing essentially unfiltered, undiluted smoke to the smoker during the initial puffs, tube (12) gives the impression of a stronger flavored cigarette. After the first several puffs, the tube (12) is melted shut and normal dilution occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Stewart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4972856
    Abstract: A filter applicable to a cigarette and fitted therein by a user includes an elongated part fitted in a mouth provided in a cigarette and a flange which seals the cigarette mouth when the elongated part is inserted thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: Nazzaro Sergio
  • Patent number: 4967774
    Abstract: A smoking article including a short, combustible, carbonaceous fuel element in a heat exchange relationship with a physically separate aerosol generating means, and a mouthend piece. Smoking articles of the present invention include means for retaining the fuel element in a predetermined position relative to other components of the smoking article. Preferred smoking articles of the present invention are capable of providing the user with the pleasures of smoking by heating but not burning tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Jackie L. White
  • Patent number: 4961415
    Abstract: Nonwoven web comprising thermoplastic meltblown fibers or filaments predominantly present as agglomerates or multiple fused fiber areas. Such agglomerates in the web act as columns and impart a desired degree of strength and resistance to compaction. In contrast to prior art webs where such agglomerates have been considered undesirable, the webs of the present invention find particular utility when formed into cylinders as filter plugs for smoking articles. In smoking articles of the invention, the filter plugs have a desired pressure drop while demonstrating an unexpected degree of firmness, all at an economically attractive cost. Preferred embodiments include those where the machine direction strength to cross machine direction grab tensile ratios in the range of from about 1:1 to 4:1 and the fibers or filaments are made from polypropylene. Other embodiments include webs and filter plugs containing additives distributed throughout the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Fred R. Radwanski, Donald F. Durocher, Leon E. Chambers, Jr., Loyd G. Kasbo, William F. Cartwright, Robert G. Geer, Edward P. Bullwinkel
  • Patent number: 4924886
    Abstract: A smoking device includes a tobacco column having a wrapper and either a mouthpiece or filter rod located coaxially at one end of the tobacco column. A rigid tube is concentrically located in the tobacco column. A substrate of porous material is located within the tube. A flavor releasing material and an aerosol generating material are also disposed within the tube. A smoke impermeable seal is located at the interface of the tobacco column and the mouthpiece/filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Elmer F. Litzinger
  • Patent number: 4917121
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco column with a gas impermeable tube concentrically located in the tobacco column. The tube is filled with a granular material which is coated with an aerosolizing material. A first chamber is located at one end of the tobacco column with its inlet end in gas flow communication only with the tube, a tobacco rod is located with its inlet end at the discharge end of the first channel, and a second chamber is located in gas flow communication with the discharge end of the tobacco rod. The discharge end of the second chamber is open for discharging gas into the smoker's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Tilford F. Riehl, Robert R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4913169
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a fuel rod, an insulation section at one end of the fuel rod, a tobacco plug at the end of the insulation return, a cooling chamber at the end of the insulation section, and a filter at the end of the chamber. A tube extends concentrically through the fuel rod to the tobacco plug. The tube is filled with an air permeable substrate including an aerosol generating substance. A heat conducting strip extends concentrically in the substrate in the tube and into the tobacco plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Leroi K. Templeton
  • Patent number: 4889143
    Abstract: Rods are manufactured by shredding strips of sheet-like reconstituted tobacco material into a plurality of strands of about 1/32 inch width. The strands are gathered into a rod-like shape and circumscribed by paper wrap in order to provide a continuous rod. The continuous rod is severed at regular intervals to provide a plurality of rods of the desired length. The resulting rods have a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending strands provided from shredded sheet-like material. The rods are useful as cigarette rods or in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: James W. Pryor, Mark L. Raker, Andrew J. Sensabaugh, Jr., Henry A. Hauser
  • Patent number: 4881555
    Abstract: There is provided a cigarette 10 having a tobacco rod 12 and a filter plug 14. Between the rod 12 and the plug 14 is disposed a porous element 16 containing an aroma precursor which, when the cigarette smoulders down to the butt, is burnt by the coal to release an agreeable aroma into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Anthony J. N. Bolt, John S. Sadd
  • Patent number: 4874004
    Abstract: A coaxial cigarette comprising an inner core of a material, which glows substantially residue-free, in particular tobacco material, a wrapper for the inner core, an outer jacket which consists of a tobacco and/or non-tobacco material and coaxially surrounds the inner core and its wrapper, and a wrapper for the outer jacket, has a ventilated coaxial filter with a filter core, the internal diameter of which corresponds substantially to the diameter of the inner core, and with a filter jacket; the filter core has an air-impermeable wrapper; the filter jacket has an air-permeable wrapper; the wrapper of the inner core and the wrapper of the outer jacket are provided with glow agents; and the draw resistance of the inner core is lower than the draw resistance of the outer jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: B.A.T. Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Borowski, Erwin Kausch, Erhard Rittershaus, Gert Rudolph, Werner Schneider
  • Patent number: 4869276
    Abstract: A filter cigarette is provided with a filter assembly having a substantially tubular sleeve with at least one hinge formed in the periphery of the substantially tubular sleeve. The hinge causes the sleeve to be resilient in the radial direction which allows the sleeve diameter to decrease and increase so that the radii of the tobacco rod and filter assembly can be properly matched and the tipping materail can be tightly wrapped around the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Francis M. Sprinkel Jr.
  • Patent number: 4793365
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoking article which produces an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke, but contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products.The smoking article of the present invention provides an aerosol "smoke" which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of oxides of carbon, air, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavorants or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials. The aerosol "smoke" has no significant mutagenic activity as measured by the Ames Test. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.One embodiment of the present smoking article comprises a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element; a short heat stable, preferably carbonaceous substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, and a relatively long mouthend piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Sensabaugh, Jr., Henry T. Ridings, John H. Reynolds, IV
  • Patent number: 4776354
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a simple, readily manufacturable, low tar cigarette with individual puff deliveries similar to those obtained from conventional cigarettes which have a higher total smoke delivery such as a full flavor cigarette. The low tar cigarette includes a tobacco rod segment having a length of 53 mm. or less abutting a filter segment having an overall length of at least 31 mm. wherein the filter segment includes a synthetic fiber filter plug and provides a smoke delivery reduction of at least 55% and wherein the cigarette has an average puff count of 6.5 or less. In another aspect, the invention provides nonconventional smoking articles which have an elongated nonsmokable mouthend portion, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Alan B. Norman, Thomas A. Perfetti, Michael F. Dube
  • Patent number: 4729387
    Abstract: Cigarettes with soft cores are produced by forming a continuous stream having a U-shaped cross-sectional outline and advancing the stream along a stationary mandrel and past a shower of tobacco which conceals the mandrel and forms with the stream a ring-shaped filler which is stripped off the mandrel, draped into a web of cigarette paper and subdivided into cigarettes of desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Korber AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Steiniger, Manfred Goldbach
  • Patent number: 4724848
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a wrapped rod of smoking material, a filter element and a tipping wrapper by which the rod and filter element are interattached. The filter element comprises a body of fibrous filtration material and paper wrapper securing the filtration material. Opening means is provided in the paper wrapper extending longitudinally along the filter element and providing at least one ventillation-air distribution space bounded by the tipping wrapper. Ventilation air is permitted to ingress into the space at a first location, whereby air may flow through the space and then to enter the filtration material at a second location spaced longitudinally from the filter element. The smoking article of the invention has a number of advantages and represents an advance in the art in that it makes possible a more direct and better distributed flow of ventilation air into wrapped filter elements of smoking articles containing such elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventor: John A. Luke
  • Patent number: 4718436
    Abstract: A cigarette comprises a filter element having an air-permeable surface and a tobacco rod, the filter element and the tobacco rod being interattached by an air-impermeable tipping wrapper. The tipping wrapper is attached to, but spaced from, the underlying peripheral surfaces of the tobacco rod and the filter element at first zones extending from the upstream edge of the wrapper across the rod/element juncture and is unattached and spaced from the peripheral surfaces at second zones circumferentially intermediate the first zones. There are thus provided ventilation air inlet ducts through which air is able to enter the filter element without the necessity for tipping wrapper perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: John A. Luke
  • Patent number: 4716912
    Abstract: A smoking article in the form of a filter cigarette can have adjustable air dilution capabilities. The filter element is movable toward and away from the tobacco rod along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Perforations in the tipping material of the cigarette expose the inner region of the cigarette and provide air dilution capabilities when the filter element and tobacco rod are in a spaced apart relationship. When the filter element and the tobacco rod are in a substantially abutting relationship, the perforations in the tipping material overlie a substantially air impermeable region of the tobacco rod thereby providing a low or non air diluted cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Gerard E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4716913
    Abstract: An improved composite cigarette comprising a core of lesser quality tobacco smoking material surrounded by an annulus of higher quality tobacco smoking material is described. The improvement resides in the provision of an increased quantity of the annulus material at the lighting end of the cigarette, so as to increase the initial flavor impact and thereby provide more uniform smoke taste characteristics along the length of the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Rothmans of Pall Mall Limited
    Inventor: Warren A. Brackmann
  • Patent number: 4709711
    Abstract: A cigarette filter as well as a method and apparatus for making it is disclosed. The cigarette filter is rolled in first and second plug paper and then in tip paper. The first plug paper is comparatively thin and has a smooth surface. While the second plug paper is comparatively thick and has a plurality of holes or grooves preliminarily punched on its surface. By adequately rolling the filter in the first and second plug paper, a plurality of air channels are defined on the periphery of the filter so that smoke is inhaled by a smoker as if it is enclosed by air. The smoker can enjoy its light taste without jeopardizing a sense of smoking. The filter is made by a method comprising forming a continuous filter rod by rolling filter material in the first plug paper, rolling the filter rod in the second plug paper having a plurality of holes preliminarily punched and cutting the rod in a predetermined length so that a plurality of channels reaching the suction end are formed on the second plug paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: The Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Hirose, Takayoshi Sagawa
  • Patent number: RE32615
    Abstract: A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod of tobacco filler wrapped in a paper wrapper, the circumference of the rod being within a range of 10 mm to 19 mm and the free burn rate of the rod being within a range of 25 to 45 mg min.sup.-1. The cigarette may comprise considerably less tobacco than a cigarette of orthodox circumference yet yield an equal or greater number of puffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Luke