Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises: a tobacco rod (12); a filter (14) in axial alignment with the tobacco rod, the filter (14) comprising: a hollow tube segment (22) having a wall thickness of no more than 0.9 mm;and a filtration portion upstream of the hollow tube segment (22), the filtration portion comprising one or more filter segments (18) (20). The hollow tube segment (22) defines a cavity (26) at the mouth end of the filter (14) providing an unrestricted flow channel that extends from the downstream end of the filtration portion to the mouth end of the filter (14). The hollow tube segment (22) is formed from a fibrous filtration material and comprises a filter plasticiser, wherein the amount of filter plasticiser is at least 22 percent by weight of the fibrous filtration material.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a tobacco rod and a filter component. The filter component comprises a first filter segment of filtration material having a diameter measured perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the filter, and a flow restrictor embedded in the filter segment. At least one cross sectional dimension of the flow restrictor, measured in a transverse direction of the filter segment, is at least about 50 percent of the diameter of the filter segment. The flow restrictor is made from an air-impermeable, non-compressible and water-soluble or water-dissolvable material. Further, the flow restrictor comprises a composition that promotes degradation of the filtration material.

Abstract: A filter for a smoking article includes a filter component formed from a solution of cellulose acetate and a degradable polymer in aceton, the degradable polymer being soluble in acetone and degrading in the presence of water. In a first aspect of the invention, the filter component is a filter segment (16) formed of a plurality of fibres formed from the degradable solution. In a second aspect of the invention, the filter component is a wrapper (39) circumscribing at least a segment of the filter.

Abstract: A low ignition propensity wrapper comprising a first region and a second region different to the first region, wherein the first region is an embossed region. A low ignition propensity smoking article incorporating the wrapper and an apparatus and a method for forming the wrapper are also described.

Abstract: Smoking articles include a colour shifting marking. The marking may be provided on a wrapper, such as a plug wrap, a smokable material wrap, or a tipping paper wrap. The marking may be produced by a gonichromatic pigment to provide a smooth transition between colours as viewing angles change. The marking may allow a consumer to identify the smoking article as genuine, opposed to counterfeit.

Abstract: Smoking articles include a marking that includes an indicia that is hidden when viewed from certain angles and visually distinct when viewed from other angles. The marking may be provided on a wrapper, such as a plug wrap, a smokable material wrap, or a tipping paper wrap. The marking may include aligned embossed and printed features with a portion being misaligned. The marking may include a coloured adjacent or surrounding region into which the indica may be hidden and from which it may appear, depending on the viewing angle. The marking may allow a consumer to identify the smoking article as genuine, as opposed to counterfeit.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles. The method comprises providing hollow tubes (309) of filter material. Each hollow tube has an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The method further comprises providing filter inserts (205). Each filter insert (205)has a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube. The method further comprises inserting each filter insert (205) into a hollow tube (309) of filter material. During inserting, the first portion of the filter insert (205) engages with the hollow tube (309) to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube.

Abstract: There is provided a filter for a smoking article, the filter including a hollow tube of filter material having an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The filter further includes a flow restrictor disposed in the hollow tube. At least one cross sectional dimension of the flow restrictor is larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, such that the flow restrictor engages with the hollow tube to retain the flow restrictor in the hollow tube. There is also provided a smoking article including such a filter.

Abstract: There is provided a filter for a smoking article, the filter including a filter segment of filter material and a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor is embedded in the filter segment and surrounded on all sides by the filter material. A cross sectional dimension of the flow restrictor measured perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the filter is between about 60% and about 95% of the diameter of the filter segment. There is also provided a smoking article including such a filter.

Abstract: Smoking articles have a mouth end portion that includes a central filter plug having an outer surface. The mouth end portion further includes a peripheral region disposed about the outer surface of the central filter plug. The peripheral region may include one or more channels through which smoke may flow. The smoking article includes an exterior wrap that is disposed about the peripheral region of the mouth end filter portion. The permeability of smoke through the peripheral region is five times or more greater than the permeability of smoke through the central filter plug. By increasing the permeability of smoke around the central filter plug, less smoke travels through the central filter plug in the mouth end portion and less staining of the mouth end of the central filter plug results.

Abstract: A smoking article comprising a rod of smokeable material (3) and a wrapper (4) wrapped around the rod of smokeable material, wherein the wrapper comprises a region of ventilation embossing (9) overlapping the smokeable material. A manufacturing method and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: An embossing apparatus for applying an embossing pattern to a wrapper for a smoking article, the embossing apparatus configured so as to act to at least partially minimize the reduction, in at least one direction, in the tensile strength of the wrapper resulting from the application of said embossing pattern.

Abstract: A smoking article comprising a rod of smokeable material (3) and a wrapper (4) wrapped around the rod of smokeable material, wherein the wrapper comprises a region of ventilation embossing (9) overlapping the smokeable material. A manufacturing method and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: An embossing apparatus for applying an embossing pattern to a wrapper for a smoking article, the embossing apparatus configured so as to act to at least partially minimise the reduction, in at least one direction, in the tensile strength of the wrapper resulting from the application of said embossing pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making smoking articles, smoking articles, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing smoking articles having a reduced ignition propensity. A method of manufacturing a smoking article includes the steps of providing a filter element (40) and at least one rod (30) of smokeable material surrounded by a wrapper, wrapping a section of tipping paper (12A) around the filter element and a portion of the at least one wrapped rod and applying one or more patches (12B1, 12B2) of material to the outer surface of the wrapper. The patches can be arranged to reduce the ignition propensity of the smoking article and are applied to the outside of the wrapper, such that this can occur online during manufacture of the wrapped rod.

Abstract: A low ignition propensity wrapper comprising a first region and a second region different to the first region, wherein the first region is an embossed region. A low ignition propensity smoking article incorporating the wrapper and an apparatus and a method for forming the wrapper are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a plurality of smoking articles, comprising providing a wrapping paper having a permeability of less than 15 CU and applying a burn retardant additive material in a predetermined pattern to the wrapping paper. The wrapping paper is wrapped about a tobacco material to form a wrapped rod and the wrapped rod is cut to form the plurality of smoking articles. The invention also relates to a smoking article manufactured by the method, wherein the wrapping paper has a permeability of less than 15 CU in areas without the burn retardant additive and a lower permeability in areas where the additive is applied.