Abstract: Cigarette gas filter is used to filter the gaseous components of main stream smoke. This causes reduction of the delivery of the gaseous constituents of main stream smoke (MSS). The gas filter consists of a narrow annular gap, where the outer side is circumvented by a high permeability wrapper paper. As the cigarette smoke is passed through this annulus gap, the fraction of gases present in the smoke is reduced by diffusion mechanism and due to inflow of air into the annulus by convection mechanism. Since the diffusion coefficient of aerosol particles are several orders of magnitude smaller than the gas molecules, the aerosol particles are kept mainly intact while passing through the annulus. Therefore this filter is applied for reducing the gas/tar ratio. This filter can also be used to filter the gases of non-cigarette smokes.

Abstract: A receptacle for receiving smoking waste includes a canister and a cap disposed on the canister. The cap includes a flow-inhibiting surface for affecting gas flow into the canister and a container member forming a containing area disposed horizontally inward of the flow-inhibiting surface for receiving smoke rising from the collection area. The cap can have at least one snuffing area for snuffing smoking material and at least one depositing area for depositing smoking waste into the canister. The opening for depositing smoking waste can allow for 360 degrees access to the user.

Abstract: The cigar splitter apparatus provides a smoker of cigars with a compact, precise tool for splitting a cigar along its axis. The apparatus can be selectively latched in a closed position for safety. Further, the cutter does not extend beyond the boundary of the apparatus so that use is also safe.

Abstract: A filter cigarette comprising a tobacco rod which is circumscribed by a cigarette paper and a filter, said filter comprising a tobacco-side filter element and a mouth-side filter element, said filter cigarette having a diameter of about 4 mm to about 7 mm, yielding a smoke yield of 1 mg condensate or less and yielding a nicotine yield of 0.2 mg or less. The filter cigarette is characterized in that the overall length of the filter is about 25 mm to about 40 mm, the length of the tobacco-side filter element is about 10 mm to about 25 mm and the tobacco-side filter element comprises a ventilation zone.

Abstract: Fibrous structures composed of electrostatically prepared polysaccharide micro- and nanofibers are described which contain active agents such as drugs and/or flavorants encapsulated within the structures. When exposed to moisture, the structures are disrupted and the active agent rapidly released. The fibrous structures containing active agents such as flavorants can be incorporated into smoking articles which, when smoked, release the flavorants.

Abstract: A filter element incorporating an adsorbent material is provided. The filter element may comprise a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material spaced apart to form a compartment therebetween. The compartment may be filled with one or more adsorbents or the compartment may be divided into two regions, wherein one compartment region is filled with an adsorbent and the other compartment region is either filled with an ion-exchange resin or remains empty. The section of filter material adjacent to the tobacco rod may include one or more channels therethrough for passaging smoke directly from the tobacco rod into the adsorbent-filled compartment. The mouth end section of filter material may contain a breakable capsule, wherein the breakable capsule is filled with a flavoring agent capable of altering the taste characteristics of mainstream smoke.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a reconstituted tobacco material is provided which includes: preparing a heated mixture of water and sugar; providing a liquid flavorant such as menthol; mixing tobacco particles, water and a gum binder with the mixture of water and sugar and with the flavorant to form a reconstituted tobacco mixture; and forming the reconstituted tobacco mixture, such as by casting or extruding the reconstituted tobacco mixture, into a reconstituted tobacco material. Exemplary menthol reconstituted tobacco products provided herein enable high levels of menthol to be retained in a tobacco product.

Abstract: A process for foaming ceramic foams, in which the ceramic foams are produced from a precursor or a mixture of precursors which contain at least one ceramic-forming element and liberates at least one volatile reaction product during an inorganic gelation process. In one embodiment, foaming is based on a precursor containing crystals of the AICI3(Pri2O) complex. The decomposition of the initial precursor produces polymerizing species dissolved in liquid isopropyl chloride. The solvent and growing AIOxCIy(OPri)z species are mixed homogeneously so that the boiling point of the solution is raised above the boiling point of the pure isopropyl chloride. Polymerization takes place in the liquid until a critical polymer size is attained, whereupon a phase separation into polymer rich and solvent rich regions occurs. Since the expelled solvent is suddenly above its boiling point, bubbles start forming instantly.

Abstract: This invention is an improved method for controlling, reducing, and quitting smoking. Specifically, this method requires the use of one or more non-combustible devices that employ (at least) (A) a loading chamber for measuring the amount of combustible material to be smoked; and (B) a baffle or similar apparatus to prevent the smoker from inhaling the tobacco. By using one such non-combustible device, the smoker can measure the precise amount of tobacco to be smoked. Hence, the smoker can reduce his or her dependency on smoking by limiting the amount of tobacco smoked, as well as how many times he or she smokes that amount each day. By using two or more non-combustible devices with varying loading chamber lengths, the smoker can reduce his or her dependency by gradually reducing the amount of tobacco smoked, in addition to how many times he or she smokes a day.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin-plate-shaped substrate blank that is an intermediate for a glass substrate, in which the occurrence of undulation is prevented and the substrate blank is produced with high accuracy, the method comprising press-molding a glass in a softened state with a mold having an upper mold member and a lower mold member to produce the thin-plate-shaped substrate blank, wherein the glass in a softened state is press-molded without causing any surrounding edge portion of the substrate blank under the production to come into contact with the mold, to produce the substrate blank at least having no notch portion.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a glass substrate for an information recording medium including a step for chemically strengthening the glass substrate by contacting the glass substrate with chemical strengthening processing liquid containing chemical strengthening salt, concentration of Fe and Cr is 500 ppb or less in said chemical strengthening salt, respectively. The concentration may be detected by the use of an ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) emission spectrometry analyzing method or a fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy analyzing method.

Abstract: A method of cutting a glass substrate to form a plurality of flat panel displays. The method includes forming a scribe line or a line of weakness on a surface of a mother material; treating the mother material with chemical to further weaken the mother material; and cutting the mother material. The scribe line may be formed using a masking technique. The mother material may be treated with chemical by putting the mother material into a chemical solution. Alternatively, the chemical may be sprayed, blown, or exposed to the mother material. The cutting of the mother material may be done by applying mechanical and/or thermal stress along the scribe line.

Abstract: The lighting end or tip of the smoking article is configured in such a manner that the entire front or upstream face thereof does not lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. For example, at least a portion of the front face of the smoking article lies in a plane (e.g., a generally flat plane) that is positioned about 40° to about 50° relative to the longitudinal axis of that smoking article. As such, the overall nature or character of the mainstream aerosol generated by a smoking article can be altered. This shape may include an ellipse, or may include a first section in a plane not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the face of the lighting end may have a shape such that its surface area is greater than the cross-sectional area of the smoking article.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus and methods for forming a sealed hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed tobacco column and paper under a tongue that widens and flattens the column and paper; forming the tobacco and paper into a cylindrical shape; forming an inner hollow core; maintaining the hollow core shape; and outputting the sealed hollow core tobacco rod.

Abstract: A filter element incorporating an adsorbent material is provided. The filter element may comprise a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material spaced apart to form a compartment therebetween. The compartment may be filled with one or more adsorbents or the compartment may be divided into two regions, wherein one compartment region is filled with an adsorbent and the other compartment region is either filled with an ion-exchange resin or remains empty. The section of filter material adjacent to the tobacco rod may include one or more channels therethrough for passaging smoke directly from the tobacco rod into the adsorbent-filled compartment. The mouth end section of filter material may contain a breakable capsule, wherein the breakable capsule is filled with a flavoring agent capable of altering the taste characteristics of mainstream smoke.

Abstract: An Interlocking Hookah Pipe is disclosed. The pipe incorporates a positively-lockable interface between the stem assembly and the base assembly of a hookah pipe. The interlocking stem assembly has an interlock element upon which are pins, channels or other interlocking features. The stem assembly further has a sealing gasket to seal to the base assembly. The base assembly includes a shoulder insert that inserts into the glass base jar and is then adhered thereto. The shoulder insert has interlocking features that cooperate with the interlocking features disposed on the stem assembly interlock element. The pins or channels creating the interlocking mechanism may be disposed on either the stem assembly or the shoulder insert.

Abstract: A glass base material manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a glass base material comprising: a plurality burners, arranged in a row at a predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of a starting base material of the glass base material, for forming a deposit, which is a base material of the glass base material by depositing glass soot on the starting base material while moving reciprocatory over a section of the entire length of the starting base material along the longitudinal direction of the starting base material; a plurality of flow rate regulators, at least one of which is connected to the plurality of burners, respectively, for regulating a flow rate of raw material gas of the glass soot, which is supplied to the plurality of burners; and a control unit connected to each of the plurality of flow rate regulators for controlling individually the plurality of flow rate regulators.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the process of applying palladium salts to tobacco cut filler and other smokable products so that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be reduced in both mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) cigarette smoke. The reduction in PAHs is observed in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the mainstream (MS) and sidestream (SS) smoke. Additionally, substantial reductions in heavy metals and Ames biological activity can be achieved when the palladium salt solution is applied and processed in accordance with the present invention. The present invention provides these improvements by using a preferred ratio of palladium (Pd) salt to Chloride (Cl) that is specifically designed to allow for high palladium solubility. Further, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying the palladium salt solution while minimizing the number of processing steps required.

Abstract: A filter cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter attached to the tobacco rod by a band of tipping paper. The surface of the band of tipping paper is coated with a solution of cells having at least one flavorant encapsulated therein. In use, when the filter cigarette is placed in the mouth of a consumer, moisture from the consumer's saliva causes the cells provided on the surface of the tipping paper to release the encapsulated flavorant. The cells are preferably yeast cells. The solution of cells may be applied to the band of tipping paper by gravure printing.

Abstract: Method for making ceramic particles. Embodiments of ceramic particles made according to the present invention can be are particularly useful as abrasive particles.