Interior Surface Causes Particular Flow Characteristic Patents (Class 131/339)
  • Patent number: 4700724
    Abstract: A smoking article mouthpiece element comprises a first portion within which a smoke-passage and a ventilation-duct extends from end-to-end of the portion, a downstream end of the duct being spaced from the periphery of the first portion and the wall and the walls of the duct being gas impervious and a second portion disposed at the end of the first portion being in smoke-flow communication with the smoke passage of the first portion, and gas-impervious wall at the end of said second portion closer to the first portion extending inwardly from a first location at the periphery of the element to a second location at the side of the upstream end of the duct further from the first location, the wall bounding a cavity in communication with the duct and segregated from the interior of the second portion. The first and second portions may form respective parts of an integral unit or may be discrete components disposed in end-to-end abutment. The aforesaid wall is suitably part of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventors: Henry G. Horsewell, Martin G. Duke
  • Patent number: 4693265
    Abstract: Filter cigarettes exhibiting a low amount of visible staining have a tobacco rod, an axially aligned filter element having a barrier region positioned on the back face thereof such that air and smoke traveling through the filter element exits the filter element towards the periphery thereof, and an axially aligned tubular mouthpiece element positioned in a spaced apart relationship with the filter element such that air and smoke exiting the filter element travels through the path of least resistance provided by the spaced apart region and the hollow region of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Alan B. Norman
  • Patent number: 4681125
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke mouthpiece including a smoke impervious plug member having an upstream smoke inlet end and a downstream smoke outlet or mouth end with groove(s) in the periphery of the plug member extending from the inlet end to the mouth end, the plug member being blocked adjacent the inlet end so that the groove(s) forms the path for smoke flow from inlet end to mouth end of the plug member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4677995
    Abstract: A filter cigarette is provided in which the smoker can select varying levels of one or more flavorants to be added to the smoke stream. A rotatable filter segment having several smoke flow paths, each containing a different flavorant material, cooperates with a baffle to select one or more paths through which the smoke stream will travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew G. Kallianos, Francis M. Sprinkel, Jr., Paula Decker
  • Patent number: 4677992
    Abstract: A filtering/heat-reduction smoking apparatus for various tobacco products. A convoluted passageway in the apparatus removes tar and other harmful chemicals and reduces the heat of the smoke thereby increasing the user's pleasure. Air intake holes also aid in reducing heat. The design requires the smoke to travel through a convoluted passageway many times greater than the length of the apparatus. The apparatus disassembles quickly and easily for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Bedrich V. Bliznak
  • Patent number: 4660576
    Abstract: A mouthpiece element for a cigarette comprises a duct which extends from the periphery of the element at a first location, spaced from the mouth end of the element, to the mouth end of the element at a second location, spaced from the periphery of the element. The element is attached to a cigarette rod by tipping which permits the ingress of air to the duct at the first location. Preferably, during smoking the ratio of the velocity of air issuing from the duct at the second location to the velocity of smoke issuing from the mouth end of the element is in excess of at least ten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventors: Henry G. Horsewell, Martin G. Duke
  • Patent number: 4660579
    Abstract: Cigarette filters comprises a filter element, open for smoke flow at the mouth end, and smoke passage of flow impedance less than that of the filter element. The passage is closed at the downstream end so that smoke is constrained to pass into the element at the downstream end of the passage. The passage may be an annular cross-section duct or grooves at the periphery of the element or may be a bore within the element. The filters provide an increasing degree of filtration as smoking proceeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventors: Henry G. Horsewell, Martin G. Duke, James W. Phelpstead
  • Patent number: 4655736
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing tobacco smoke filter of filamentous material with at least one end thereof having a preselected fused area embedded in and over at least a portion of the cross-sectional area thereof having a preselected fused area extending over at least a portion of the cross-sectional area thereof to provide a flow directing baffle to direct smoke through the unfused end portion. The method includes forming a longitudinally extending porous rod of fusible material, cutting the rod into filter unit lengths and conveying the filter units in a longitudinal path normal to the longitudinal axis of the filter units past a fusing station located to one side of the conveying path. The fusing station forms an indented and fused area in one end of each filter unit as the filter units are conveyed there past. The fusing station can be a rotating wheel with conical teeth corresponding to the configuration of the indented area which teeth are embedded into the filter units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Charles H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4649942
    Abstract: A smoking article mouthpiece comprises a smoke passage and a ventilation air duct, both of which extend from end-to-end of the mouthpiece. The duct is of a depth of 25% or more of the diameter of the mouthpiece. When the mouthpiece is incorporated in a smoking article such that air may enter the duct, the ratio of the velocities of air and smoke is in excess of ten. The mouthpiece may also comprise a ventilation-air collection groove which extends about the element and opens into the ventilation air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Henry G. Horsewell, Martin G. Duke
  • Patent number: 4649941
    Abstract: A smoking article such as a filter cigarette can have an adjustable delivery air dilution while exhibiting a reduced pressure drop decrease during air dilution thereof. The pressure drop decrease is controlled during various stages of air dilution by providing a mouthpiece which exhibits greater effective length at a low or non-air dilution setting than at a high air dilution setting. Filter cigarettes of this invention are capable of exhibiting a somewhat constant smoking character at various air dilution levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Alan B. Norman, Glenn E. Creamer
  • Patent number: 4646762
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes, in one advantageous embodiment, a generally cylindrical, hollow tubular mouth section located in coaxial abutment to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. The wall of the mouth section is fabricated of an impermeable material. A plurality of grooves are formed in the periphery of the mouth section extending generally longitudinally thereof and being open to at least the mouth end of the mouth section. Air permeable tipping material circumferentially surrounds the mouth section and overlaps a portion of the tobacco column adjacent the mouth section. In a further embodiment of the present invention as discussed above, the tobacco column is two coaxially located tobacco sections with the tobacco section interfacing with the mouth section being of a different density than the other tobacco section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Tilford F. Riehl, Robert R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4644964
    Abstract: A smoking article mouthpiece comprises a smoke passage extending from end-to-end of the element and first and second ventilation ducts. The first ventilation ducts extend from the periphery of the element to the downstream end of the element at locations spaced inwardly from the periphery. The second ventilation ducts extend from the periphery to the upstream end of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventor: Martin G. Duke
  • Patent number: 4638820
    Abstract: A smoking article which delivers to a smoker during each puff a flowstream having a higher concentration of smoke during the first portion of the puff and a lower concentration of smoke during the remainder of the puff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Roberts, Anthony L. Angel, Douglas C. Clark, Jack F. Clearman, T. Stephen Sink
  • Patent number: 4637409
    Abstract: An improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by longitudinally continuous grooves running from end-to-end in the peripheral surface of a smoke-impervious filter plug wrap. Smoke-impervious tipping surrounds the plug wrap to seal the grooves except for small ventilation holes in the tipping which permit communication between the grooves and the ambient air. In a preferred embodiment, the grooves are restricted toward the mouth end of the filter and the degree of restriction determines the direction of air and smoke flow in the grooves. The grooves are each preferably formed as two longitudinal sections of different cross-section. Apparatus and method for manufacturing the filter are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: American Filtrona Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 4631045
    Abstract: A rod-like smoking article with a rod-like mouthpiece core at the mouth end of a tobacco rod, the entire periphery of said mouthpiece core being enveloped by an adhered wrapping paper which is suitable for contact with the lips and which overlappingly follows a covering paper surrounding the tobacco rod and with secondary air channels covered by the wrapping paper on the periphery of the mouthpiece core and an apparatus for producing such an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Fabriques de Tabac Reunies, S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio P. A. Frattolillo
  • Patent number: 4620557
    Abstract: A cigarette has a cylindrical impermeable mouthpiece located in coaxial abutment to one end of a tobacco column of the cigarette. The mouthpiece includes an annular groove in its peripheral surface and a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed in its peripheral surface extending from the annular groove to the mouth end of the mouthpiece. A plurality of smoke flow capillaries are formed through the mouthpiece from one end to the other. Each capillary is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece except for the portion beneath the annular groove which is curved to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, Dale A. Halverstadt, David L. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4617946
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke mouthpiece and method of manufacture therefor, the mouthpiece including a formed rod having spaced, opposed, axially aligned, open-ended tobacco smoke inlet and outlet chambers and at least one apertured mixing chamber therebetween, the rod being surrounded by apertured tipping material to allow passage of smoke diluting air into the mixing chamber and through at least one of the opposed communicably connected chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Charles H. Keith
  • Patent number: 4616664
    Abstract: A tobacco product such as a cigarette having a tobacco column within a combustible wrap and a filter plug located at one end of the tobacco column to filter constituents of the mainstream smoke. The filter plug is disposed within a layer of plug wrap which preferably is nonporous and an outer tipping wrap surrounds the plug wrap. A plurality of grooves or depressions formed along the filter plug provide for a secondary flow of air to the mouth of the smoker. An access opening communicating secondary air to each groove is defined by a plurality of perforations located in one or more rows or bands around the outer tipping paper. Depressions located along axes parallel to the axis of the filter member or disposed in a helical pattern may be used. In a second form of the invention, the access opening communicating secondary air to each groove is defined by an annular opening between individual portions of the outer tipping paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: American Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Chumney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4611607
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper provided with at least one groove embedded into the periphery of the filter rod extending from the mouth end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong less than the entire length of the filter rod. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the groove. The tipping material extends beyond the mouth end thereof defining a recess, and the filter rod includes a cylindrical collar coaxially located in the recess concentrically with the portion of the tipping material extending beyond the filter rod mouth end. The thickness of the wall of the collar is less than the depth of the groove which collar functions as a baffle to accelerate the velocity of the air leaving the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Martin L. Reynolds, Dorothy M. Frank, Tilford F. Riehl, Andrew McMurtrie
  • Patent number: 4608999
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper and a tipping material having selected openings therein for allowing ventilating air to pass therethrough. Spacing members are disposed between the non-porous wrapper and tipping material to form ventilating air channels therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4587982
    Abstract: A cylindrical filter element for a cigarette is wrapped in a ventilated tipping wrapper which is spaced from the filter element by a raised pattern of thermoplastic material printed on the inner surface of the wrapper. The pattern is designed to provide air channels communicating with the ventilations in the wrapper and leading to the mouth end of the filter. This enables the manufacturer to dispense with a separate spacing member which has hitherto been located between the filter and the tipping wrapper. The invention includes a method of making a filter element including such a raised pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Imperial Group PLC
    Inventors: Peter I. Adams, Raymond A. Bryant, William Knapman
  • Patent number: 4585015
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette has a porous filter rod with a channel extending longitudinally through the filter rod. The end of the filter at the tobacco column of the cigarette includes a partition having an orifice therethrough of a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the channel to provide flow communication between the tobacco column and the channel. The partition further provides for the flow of smoke from the tobacco column into the filter wherein the smoke is diluted as it is being filtered by ventilation air entering the filter rod through an air permeable material circumscribing the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Donald A. Silberstein
  • Patent number: 4583560
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter includes a corrugated tape-like wrapping which, together with an outer perforated or otherwise air-permeable paper, defines a set of longitudinal grooves. Each of the grooves includes a blocking member, so as to inhibit direct smoke flow through the grooves and promote a ventilation effect. The blocking members in each groove are longitudinally staggered from one groove to the next to simplify the production of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Acetate Co., Ltd, Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Sakai, Kazuo Maeda, Masuo Kawabata, Mituo Kono
  • Patent number: 4582073
    Abstract: A check valve type cigarette mouthpiece, which can be used with a non-filter cigarette or be incorporated into the filter tip portion of a filter cigarette, incorporates a valving structure which opens automatically under a slight pressure differential created by a vacuum or draw from the smoker and is otherwise closed prohibiting the passage of gases or smoke when the cigarette is not being actively smoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Inventor: John J. Simkanich
  • Patent number: 4574820
    Abstract: A cigarette with a tobacco rod (5,6) has at its buccal end a filter plug (10) and a hollow tubular core (8) with a cross wall (9) formed with orifices of a certain size and shape. Ventilating air drawn in through perforations (12) in a tipping wrapper (7) and through a porous inner wrapper (11) is mixed with smoke drawn through the tobacco rod and the mixture is sucked through the orifices (13) which promote particular mixing and pressure drop effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Gallaher Limited
    Inventors: William Pinkerton, Sherman J. A. Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 4550740
    Abstract: A mouthpiece adapted to be attached to a smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes, in one advantageous embodiment, an air impermeable core member of smaller diameter than the tobacco column to which it is to be coaxially located and a generally cylindrically shaped hollow sleeve having generally the same diameter as the tobacco column concentrically located over the impermeable core member and cooperating therewith to define a generally annular channel open at both of its ends. The mouthpiece is connected to the tobacco column by circumscribing air permeable tipping material therearound. In one embodiment, the mouthpiece includes a filter plug coaxially located at one end of the tobacco column with the filter plug being of generally the same diameter as the tobacco column. The filter plug has generally longitudinally extending grooves formed in the peripheral surface extending from one end to the other end of the filter plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Tilford F. Riehl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4545391
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a smoke impermeable core of generally cylindrical shape and a smoke permeable material overlaying at least a portion of the periphery of the core. The core with the overlaying permeable material is circumscribed by an air pervious tipping material to form a cigarette filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4540005
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, has a mouth section which includes a generally cylindrical, impermeable, plug member located in coaxial abutment to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. A plurality of smoke flow capillaries are formed through the plug member. A generally hollow cylindrical tubular mouthpiece having a plurality of grooves are formed in the periphery of the mouth section extending generally longitudinally thereof is located in coaxial abutment to the end of the plug member. Air permeable tipping material circumferentially surrounds the mouth section and overlaps a portion of the tobacco column adjacent the mouth section to fasten the mouth section to the tobacco column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, Dale A. Halverstadt
  • Patent number: 4527572
    Abstract: A filter for a smoking article such as a cigarette, comprising several grooves of varying depth between a shallow inlet end and a deep outlet end thereof, the outlet end face being air permeable to an extent greater than are the floor or the sides of each groove. A tipping enwrapping the filter plug has ventilation perforations in the region of the inlet end of each groove.Alternatively, the grooves may have their median axes in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the filter plug, whereby the grooves extend circumferentially of the filter plug between the shallow inlet ends and the deep outlet ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Luke
  • Patent number: 4517996
    Abstract: A filter device for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod and a smoke impermeable mouthpiece located at the smoke outlet end of the filter rod. The mouthpiece is formed with a converging nozzle open to the smoke outlet end of the filter rod, and a diverging nozzle, in flow communication with the converging nozzle, open to the outlet or mouth end of the mouthpiece. In addition, a number of smoke flow capillaries are formed generally longitudinally through the mouthpiece. Each smoke flow capillary has an open inlet end open to the smoke outlet end of the filter rod and an open outlet end open to the mouth end of the mouthpiece. A tipping material circumscribes the filter rod and mouthpiece for holding them together and for attaching the filter device to the tobacco column of the cigarette. The tipping material is air permeable over at least a portion of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph P. Vester
  • Patent number: 4517995
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filter for a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon containing smoke. In one embodiment, the filter is used in combination with an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine or in combination with an industrial smoke stack. In this embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine. In another embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material of a certain type and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine. In a related embodiment, the filter includes a filtering material and a PAH-reducing amount of at least one purine free from tannic acid contamination. In each instance, the purine is distributed on the surface of the filtering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Inventor: Mark B. Lyles
  • Patent number: 4515170
    Abstract: A ventilated mouthpiece adapted to be attached to a smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a generally cylindrical core member of smoke and air impermeable material having a smoke inlet end and a mouth end. The smoke inlet end is to be placed in juxtaposition to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. The core member is formed with a plurality of smoke flow capillaries therethrough for delivering unfiltered smoke from the tobacco column to the mouth end of the core member, and a plurality of ventilation air flow channels which receive ambient ventilation air and delivers the ventilation air to the mouth end of the core member. The smoke outlets from each of the smoke flow capillaries at the mouth end of the core member are located in close proximity to and are radially situated inwardly of the mouth end of the core member from the air outlets from the air flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, Robert A. Sanford
  • Patent number: 4506683
    Abstract: A ventilated mouthpiece adapted to be attached to a smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a generally cylindrical core member of smoke and air impermeable material having a smoke inlet end and a mouth end. The smoke inlet end is to be placed in juxtaposition to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. The core member is formed with a plurality of smoke flow capillaries therethrough for delivering unfiltered smoke from the tobacco column to the mouth end of the core member, and at least one ventilation air flow channel which receives ambient ventilation air and delivers the ventilation air to the mouth end of the core member. The smoke outlets from the smoke flow capillaries at the mouth end of the core member are located at a further radial distance from the center of the core member than is the outlet from the at least one ventilation air flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, Robert A. Sanford
  • Patent number: 4503869
    Abstract: A cigarette mouthpiece of substantially cylindrical configuration assembled of two identical semi-cylindrical sections disposed in mutual concavely facing relationship with each longitudinal edge of one section in abuttment with a different one of the longitudinal edges of the other section. When assembled into a mouthpiece, the semi-cylindrical sections cooperate to define a plurality of generally longitudinally extending air ventilation grooves equally spaced from each other around the perimeter of the mouthpiece and a plurality of smoke flow capillaries extending generally longitudinally through the mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, Herman G. Bryant, Jr., Robert L. Jones, Marco A. Maccaferri, William M. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 4493331
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette which includes a protrusion of smoke permeable material integral with and coaxially projecting from the mouth end of the filter rod. The mouth end of the filter rod surrounding the protrusion is smoke impermeable so that as the cigarette to which the filter is attached is smoked, the smoke will exit the filter rod in generally radially outward direction through the smoke permeable protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Harry S. Porenski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4492240
    Abstract: This invention provides a smoke filter element comprising a filtering core, a smoke impermeable wrapper in surrounding engagement with the core, at least one internal passage defined between the impermeable wrapper and core and open at an end of the element, and at least one external passage defined by the outer surface of the impermeable wrapper and extending to an end of the element; and a cigarette filter comprising such an element having engaged around said impermeable wrapper tipping material which provides, when the filter is drawn on in use, for the ingress of external air laterally therethrough into said external passage(s). The tipping material may be a tipping overwrap incorporating the filter in a filtered cigarette. The impermeable wrapper may have longitudinal corrugations providing the passages, which may extend fully or only partially the length of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Inventors: Ernest B. Hayes, Anthony S. Cantell
  • Patent number: 4481959
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter comprising an axially elongate filtering core 4, and a plugwrap 2 in surrounding engagement with the core and extending axially therebeyond to define a recess 6, the outer surface of the plugwrap providing at least one channel 8 extending longitudinally of the filter from an end 16 thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: American Filtrona Corporation, 8401
    Inventor: Stanley W. Byrne
  • Patent number: 4480982
    Abstract: An apparatus for, in one advantageous embodiment, concurrently forming a plurality of generally longitudinally extending grooves in a filter rod, and in another advantageous embodiment, for making small apertures in the grooves as the grooves are being formed in the filter rod. The apparatus includes a reciprocating die having an upper die block and a lower die block. Each die block includes protruding, elongated projections which are adapted to be imbedded into the filter rod upon closing of the die to impress grooves in the filter rod located in the die. In the embodiment wherein apertures are to be formed in the grooves, aperture forming punches are associated with each of the groove forming projections for punching apertures in the grooves as they are being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Sexstone, Everett N. Finn, Byron L. Lowe, Ken M. Milliner
  • Patent number: 4480649
    Abstract: This invention provides a cigarette filter comprising a filter core (2), a plugwrap (4) around the core, a profiled spacer wrap (6) around the plugwrap, and tipping material (8) around the spacer wrap, the profiled spacer wrap providing between the plugwrap and tipping material passages (14,16) which are in lateral air flow communication and extend longitudinally of the filter to open at an end thereof, the tipping material providing in use of the filter for the drawing of external air therethrough directly into at least some of the said passages, and the plugwrap beneath the passages being smoke-impermeable. The spacer wrap may be longitudinally corrugated to provide adjacent longitudinal passages (14,16) which are in air flow communication via apertures (15) through the side walls of the corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: Ernest B. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4474192
    Abstract: A cigarette comprises a cigarette rod of smokable material enwrapped in a cigarette wrapper and a filter tip attached at one end of said rod by means of a tipping wrapper, which tip comprises smoke-filtration means and is provided at its periphery with at least one groove extending to the mouth end of the tip, the cigarette wrapper, at the region adjacent the tip, being depressed inwardly to provide at least one cavity which is in communication with at least one groove and that portion of the tipping wrapper which overlies the cavity permitting ingress of air into the same. The cigarette wrapper may be of heat-deformable paper and may comprise a proportion of thermoplastic fibres or filaments. The tipping wrapper may extend to the mouth end of the tip. The cavity may comprise at least one annular groove in the said cigarette rod or may be formed by a drawing down of the cross section of the rod, to provide an annular cavity, by means of an additional wrapper of heat-deformable or heat-shrink material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. H. MacLean, Michael J. Ward
  • Patent number: 4469112
    Abstract: A compound cigarette filter, the filter having the ability to deliver substantially constant tar and nicotine as the cigarette is smoked. The compound filter comprises a barrier positioned upstream and in abutting relationship with at least one filter segment, the barrier containing passageways permitting the passage of smoke from a tobacco column to the filter segment, the total cross-sectional passageway area being from 0.5 to 3 square millimeters, the compound filter having an initial totally encapsulated pressure drop of at least 90 mm. H.sub.2 O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Celanese Corporation
    Inventors: Colin L. Browne, Charles H. Keith, Peter J. Bohlander
  • Patent number: 4466448
    Abstract: Conventional porous labyrinth type filtering is combined with ambient air and conduction of smoke past the filter element in a cigarette holder wherein a selected portion of the tar and nicotine products are to be removed from the cigarette smoke. In its preferred form, a generally cylindrical porous filter element formed with an axial recess opening at one end of the filter is provided with an outwardly extending flange which serves to prevent passage of smoke past the filter when the filter element is fitted into the cylindrical interior of a cigarette holder. The addition of flutes on the exterior surface of the filter element, and of bypass passages formed in the flange, and air inlet openings of the holder itself, provide a unit which can serve as an element of a smoker's withdrawal kit or as a disposable holder for a smoker whose objective is to minimize tar and nicotine intake rather than to withdraw from the smoking habit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Inventor: Leslie N. Aikman
  • Patent number: 4457319
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette which includes a centrally disposed generally conical baffle at the mouth end thereof with its conically shaped wall diverging in the general direction of the flow of smoke through the filter to divert the smoke exiting from the center of the filter when in use. The baffle is substantially impervious to smoke and forces the smoke leaving the filter in a direction generally angularly outward from the periphery of the filter. Ventilating air grooves can also be provided in the filter to direct ventilating air at the mouth end of the filter to provide mixing of the exiting smoke and ventilating air at the mouth end of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Charles G. Lamb, Harry S. Porenski
  • Patent number: 4438776
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a generally cylindrical permeable filter rod circumscribed by an air permeable tipping material with a plurality of blind-end channels formed in the filter rod, each of the channels being open at one end to the upstream end of the filter rod and extending therefrom, generally in the longitudinal direction of the filter rod, a predetermined distance less than the length of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Charles G. Lamb, Robert A. Sanford
  • Patent number: 4424819
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous or air impermeable wrapper, and ventilating air grooves embedded in the wrapped filter rod which extend from one end of the filter rod a preselected distance generally longitudinally thereof. The ends of the grooves are recessed a predetermined distance or depth inwardly of the end of the filter rod and communicate with radially extending open channels formed in the one end of the filter rod. An air permeable tipping material circumscribes the wrapped filter rod which provides a path for ventilating air flow into the grooves. Due to the air impermeable wrapper, the air flowing in the grooves is segregated from the smoke flowing through the filter rod so that ventilating air is the only substance flowing in the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Silberstein, Andrew McMurtrie
  • Patent number: 4423744
    Abstract: An improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by an undiluted air passage formed between a smoke-impervious plug wrap and an air-impervious tipping wrap by loosely wrapping the tipping wrap about the plug wrap along a section of the filter extending from its smoke discharge end. In a preferred embodiment, the loose wrapping is effected by reducing the cross-sectional perimeter of the rod and plug wrap along the aforesaid section while keeping the tip of the cross-sectional perimeter substantially constant throughout its length. A raised lip is provided at the smoke discharging end of the rod and plug wrap to define a cigarette holder in the filter. For circumstances where the cross-section of the filter plug becomes too complex for adherence of the tipping paper, heat shrinkable film can be laminated in the tipping paper so that after the entire cigarette is assembled, it can be subjected to heat and cause the tipping paper to shrink to the appropriate size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: American Filtrona Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 4414989
    Abstract: The invention describes an impact filter for tipped cigarettes comprising a cylindrical chamber of a diameter equal to that of the cigarette and not very high in relation to its diameter, which is provided with a downward tubular orifice in the center of its upper base and has coupled thereto a lower base with very small peripheral orifices, the chamber preferably being located between two conventional portions of absorbent material, which are connected to the chamber by a likewise conventional wrapping to give the resulting assembly the aspect of a normal filter for tipped cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Inventor: Miguel S. Moragrega
  • Patent number: 4393885
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette has a porous filter rod with a channel extending longitudinally through the filter rod. The end of the channel at the tobacco column of the cigarette is closed by a smoke impervious wall having an orifice therein of a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the channel to provide flow communication between the tobacco column and the channel. The filter rod can be circumscribed with an air pervious tipping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Donald A. Silberstein
  • Patent number: 4388934
    Abstract: The filter comprises a tobacco smoke filtration tube ensheathed in a layer of smoke pervious thermoplastic material. The layer is encased in a plugwrap. The layer has a transverse cross-section rendered impervious to smoke tobacco by use of an annular sealing groove. The tube is closed at a location spaced longitudinally from the groove by a V-shaped annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventor: John A. Luke
  • Patent number: 4387728
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper wherein the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with grooves extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. The grooves are open to the atmosphere and may be oriented to extend to the mouth end of the filter when connected to a cigarette, to the tobacco end of the filter when connected to the cigarette, or non-connecting grooves which extend from each end of the filter element a preselected distance therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Martin L. Reynolds, Robert R. Johnson