By Use Of Specific Filter Mass Patents (Class 131/340)
  • Patent number: 11632982
    Abstract: A paper for smoking articles containing cellulose fibers, and being made by adding cellulose nanofibers and filler particles serving as an absorbent or a catalyst, wherein primary particles of the filler particles have an average particle diameter of 1 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshimura, Masato Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 11582997
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including an aerosol-generating substrate; and a mouthpiece disposed downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, a peripheral region of the mouthpiece including one or more closed pockets of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Robert Emmett
  • Patent number: 11438972
    Abstract: An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of said smokable material is described. An example of the apparatus includes a housing for receiving smokable material; and at least one heater arranged within the housing for heating smokable material removably received within the housing in use. The heater has first and second ends and a hollow central portion in which smokable material is received in use, and is formed from a sheet which is rolled into a tube and sealed along its length to prevent air entering or leaving the heater other than through at least one of the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventor: Mitchel Thorsen
  • Patent number: 10863766
    Abstract: An article is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The article has a body of porous aerosol containment material. An annular first body of smokable material is located around the body of porous aerosol containment material. There is also provided apparatus for heating smokable material having a first heater extending along an axis and a second heater spaced from and at least partially surrounding the first heater. A method of manufacturing an article for use with an apparatus is also disclosed in which an assembly having porous aerosol containment material on a first layer of smokable material is provided and rolled so the first layer of smokable material becomes an annular body of smokable material located around the porous aerosol containment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph Sutton, Dominic Woodcock, Hitesh Vallabh, Neil Litten, Harpal Singh, Darren Seymour, David Russell, Ahmad Bitar
  • Patent number: 10631569
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a smokable material and a filter comprising filtration material that is downstream of the smokable material. The filtration material comprises a sheet of hydrophobic cellulosic material with hydrophobic groups covalently bonded to the cellulosic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stefanos Papakyrillou
  • Patent number: 10609953
    Abstract: A smoking article component comprising a viscoelastic material (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: John Richardson
  • Patent number: 9961936
    Abstract: Filter for a smoking product, the filter including a first filter segment and a second filter segment, wherein the first filter segment includes a component that is given off into a smoke stream passing through a filter outlet opening, and the second filter segment includes a sorption means that absorbs a component from a smoke stream passing through the filter inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (GERMANY) GMBH
    Inventors: Horst Grzonka, Markus Schosnig, Eduard Nica, Paulo Oliveira, John Richardson, Martin Graham Duke, Maya Nikolaeva
  • Patent number: 9078471
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette comprises a porous material sheet wrapped around the filter rod and a cellulose acetate thread formed tram substantially uncrimped cellulose acetate filaments. The cellulose acetate thread is positioned within the filter rod and extends along the central axis of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: John Roger Sampson, David Lewis
  • Patent number: 8940073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter material for cleaning air and gases, comprising a fiber layer (2) made of cellulose fibers bonded to each other in segments by pressing, thus compacting the cellulose fibers in the pressed areas (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: McAirlaid's Vliesstoffe GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8905037
    Abstract: A smoking article having a tobacco rod and a filter attached to the tobacco rod, which filters the first puff differently than subsequent puffs. The tobacco rod includes an inner rod of tobacco material having an impervious outer wrap and an impervious cap at an upstream end thereof and an outer rod of tobacco material, wherein the inner rod of tobacco material is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer rod of tobacco material. The filter includes an outer cellulose acetate filter and an inner activated carbon filter, wherein the inner activated carbon filter is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer cellulose acetate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lipowicz, Firooz Rasouli
  • Patent number: 8616218
    Abstract: A tobacco filter which can easily produce a hand-rolled cigarette, can suppress excessive heat conduction to a smoker's lips, and can suppress spoiling of tobacco taste during smoking is provided. A tobacco filter for producing a hand-rolled cigarette by wrapping at least a portion thereof together with a smoking plant with a wrapping paper has an outer surface on which grooves are formed and a smoke channel. The tobacco filter is made of an incombustible material. A surface area of an outer surface of the tobacco filter is increased due to the formation of the grooves so that the tobacco filter can be efficiently cooled and the excessive heat conduction to a smoker's lips can be suppressed. In wrapping the tobacco filter with the wrapping paper, inward folding lines are formed on the wrapping paper by corner portions of the tobacco filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Kazuto Koshiishi
  • Patent number: 8550092
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette comprises a porous filter rod (3) a material sheet (2) wrapped around the filter rod and a cellulose acetate thread (4) formed from substantially uncrimped cellulose acetate filaments. The cellulose acetate thread is positioned within the filter rod and extends along the central axis of the filter rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: John Roger Sampson, David Lewis
  • Patent number: 8499767
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a rod of smokable material circumscribed by a rod wrapper and a filter comprising at least one filter segment circumscribed by a filter wrapper. The rod of smokable material and the filter are attached to one another by tipping paper and the smoking article comprises a tear ribbon between the at least one filter segment and the tipping paper. The tear ribbon is affixed to at least one of the tipping paper and the filter wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Martin Ricketts, Dionis Borgognon, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Patent number: 8434499
    Abstract: A filter for a smoking article, which includes an upstream segment having a carbon filter and a downstream segment of filtering material. The upstream segment includes a carbon filter with a hollow tubular member concentrically positioned within the carbon filter, and one or more holes around an outer circumference of the hollow tubular member to allow mainstream smoke to bypass the carbon filter during the first puff. During use, the hollow tubular member has a lower resistance to draw than the carbon filter during an initial puff or puffs, and after the initial puff or puffs, mainstream smoke is drawn through the carbon filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Christopher Allmond, Stephen Wayne Rose
  • Patent number: 7984719
    Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses at least one breakable capsule in its filter element. The filter element can possess a central cavity extending from the cigarette tobacco rod towards the middle of the filter element. The central cavity may be defined by an inner filter portion. The inner filter portion can be surrounded by an outer filter portion comprised of filter tow material that is generally permeable to the smoke generated by the cigarette. At least one breakable capsule is disposed in the central cavity of the filter element. The breakable capsules are spherical in shape, and are composed of a gelatin outer shell that encloses a payload of triglycerides and flavoring agents. The breakable capsules are adapted to rupture in response to pressure applied by the smoker to the outside region of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Vernon Brent Barnes
  • Patent number: 7980250
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter which has a tar retention of at most 50% and comprises a relatively high draw resistance downstream filtering plug of at most 50% tar retention, a relatively low draw resistance upstream filter plug of at most 22% tar retention spaced longitudinally upstream therefrom, and a filter wrapper engaging around and joining the spaced plugs to define a cavity therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Filtrona International Limited
    Inventor: Paul Francis Clarke
  • Publication number: 20110100388
    Abstract: A smoking article filter includes a flow restrictor and a cavity downstream of the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor includes an orifice or flow channel for directing smoke into the cavity. The filter is attached to the tobacco rod with tipping paper and includes an air-admissible ventilating zone at a location downstream of the restrictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: San Li, Raquel Olegario, Mike Braunshteyn, Rowland W. Dwyer, Martin Garthaffner, Dwight Williams, Richard Jupe
  • Patent number: 7856990
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Sheila Lynnette Cash, Joanne Naomi Taylor
  • Patent number: 7855261
    Abstract: Disclosed are filter elements constructed of a filter support material coated with an acetoacetate-functional polymeric composition that reacts with and removes aldehydes, especially formaldehyde, present in gases such as air. Also disclosed are methods for the removal of aldehydes utilizing the coated filter support materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thauming Kuo, Mark Kevin Vineyard, Weimin Chen Liang
  • Patent number: 7836895
    Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses at least one breakable capsule in its filter element. The filter element can possess a central cavity extending from the cigarette tobacco rod towards the middle of the filter element. The central cavity may be defined by an inner filter portion. The inner filter portion can be surrounded by an outer filter portion comprised of filter tow material that is generally permeable to the smoke generated by the cigarette. At least one breakable capsule is disposed in the central cavity of the filter element. The breakable capsules are spherical in shape, and are composed of a gelatin outer shell that encloses a payload of triglycerides and flavoring agents. The breakable capsules are adapted to rupture in response to pressure applied by the smoker to the outside region of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Vernon Brent Barnes
  • Publication number: 20090050168
    Abstract: Cigarette filter with an outer housing, an inner smoke channel member, the outer housing being approximately cylindrical in shape, the outer housing having an aperture on its first end that is equivalent to the diameter of a standard cigarette, the outer housing having an aperture on the second end that is approximately one tenth of an inch in diameter, the second end also being flattened so that the end view of the second end is approximately rectangular, the interior of the outer housing capable of frictionally retaining the inner smoke channel member, the inner smoke channel member including a quarter of an inch diameter disk that is frictionally retained by the inner diameter of the outer housing, the disk including six evenly spaced radially placed apertures, the smoke channel member disk apertures being approximately three thousandths of an inch in diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Eugene J. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090014020
    Abstract: A smoking article having a cylinder of smoking material, a hollow tube within the cylinder of smoking material, and a filter attached to the cylinder of smoking material. The filter includes an upstream segment containing an aerosol former, a downstream segment containing a sorbent material, and a valve positioned between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. The valve has a first position in which the valve is closed and a second position in which the valve is open and allows the passage of smoke through the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gail L. Yoss, Raquel Olegario, Michael Braunshteyn, Rowland W. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 6718987
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the tobacco industry and may be used in the production of smokers' articles that include a mouthpiece and consist of a new product that conjugates the functional properties and qualities of cigarettes with a cardboard mouthpiece and of filter cigarettes. To this end, this smokers' article comprises a tobacco rod wrapped in a separate sleeve of cigarette paper as well as a flexible and elongated mouthpiece which is connected to said rod and has the size of a cardboard mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is made of a pressed fibrous material and includes a filter member, which is arranged on the tobacco rod side, which is integral with the tubular portion of the mouthpiece and which is made in the shape of a continuous cylinder having a diameter equal to that of the mouthpiece tubular portion. The tobacco rod is connected to the mouthpiece by a paper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Seiran Pogossian, Semen Pogossian
  • Patent number: 6471754
    Abstract: A purification system for preventing secondhand tobacco smoke from reaching an ambient environment thereabout. Two components of the system include a smoke entrapment intake hood for aggregating the secondhand smoke and an electrostatic suction filter assembly in communication with the entrapment hood for extracting aggregated smoke from the hood, removing untoward particulate from the smoke, and releasing resulting clean air to the environment. The filter assembly includes at least one particulate filter for collecting smoke-borne particulate and at least one appropriately charged or grounded plate for electrostatically collecting charged smoke-borne particulate. An exit port from the filter assembly permits the release of so-cleaned air to the environment as a negative-ion emitter, positioned immediately inside the exit port, introduces charged ions into the cleansed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Tahsin Ammouri
  • Patent number: 6422244
    Abstract: A filter for a cigarette and a filter cigarette which make a smoking feeling much milder without the original cigarette taste and aroma being spoiled are provided. The cigarette filter has a filter rod 8 having an air permeable peripheral surface, and 3 to 12 axial passages 12 in the rod 8. These passages 12 are distributed on a ring having a diameter of 50 to 70% of that of the rod and have a diameter of 0.1 to 0.7 mm. The wall of the axial passages 12 have air permeability. In smoking, ventilation air introduced into the passages 12 dilutes the smoke stream from the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignees: Japan Tobacco, Inc., Filtrona International Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Clarke, John Charlton, Ichiro Atobe, Masanori Koborinai
  • Patent number: 6273095
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filter for use with tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, which selectively absorbs toxic compounds and carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic compounds passing through it, but which permits most low molecular weight species, and in particular nicotine, to pass through. The filter is made from a middle-density polyurethane foam which is pre-treated to increase the number of binding sites for polynuclear aromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Jong-Pyng Hsu
  • Patent number: 6206007
    Abstract: A cigarette with a dual-structure filter includes a dual-structure filter having a first filter element and a second filter element arranged downstream of the first filter element, a tobacco rod arranged upstream of the filter, and a tip paper covering a downstream end portion of the tobacco rod and a circumferential surface of the filter. At least one row of a plurality of holes are formed in the tip paper in a circumferential direction of the filter. An air-permeation resistance per unit length of the second filter element is at least twice that of the first filter element. An air inflow rate from the tip paper is at least 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takaichi Yoshida, Hayato Hasebe, Kazuyo Kaneki, Shinichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6119699
    Abstract: A smoking article capable of delivering a regulated smoke composition to a smoker, includes: a) a combustible filler wrapped in a combustible sheath; and b) at least one affinity chromatographic filter unit designed to preferentially remove specific targeted components from the smoke disposed within the sheath adjacent the combustible filler. The filter unit includes a mass of silica or resin particles having chemically bonded to their surfaces functional groups which exhibit preferential affinity for the targeted components and which reversibly bind the targeted components to elute components having a lower affinity than a previously bound component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Michael T. Sung
  • Patent number: 6062228
    Abstract: There is provided a biodegradable filter tow or filter material from renewable raw materials for the use as a tobacco smoke filter element of cigarettes, cigars or pipes as well as a method for preparing it, wherein fibers, films or foams prepared in an extrusion method from biopolymers based on thermoplastic starch or its polymer compositions are processed to the filter tow or filter material according to the present invention.The advantages of this invention reside in the use of mainly renewable raw materials, a fast and complete biodegradability of the natural biopolymer filter material, a pollutant-reducing flavor-increasing filtering effect and an economically favorable preparation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Biotec Biologische Natuverpackungen GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Juergen Loercks, Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5947126
    Abstract: A bundle of cellulose acetate fibers is bonded together with a water-soluble fiber-to-fiber bonding agent. The water-soluble fiber-to-fiber bonding agent may include 60-99 wt. % of a water-soluble binder and 40-1 wt. % of a plasticizer. As to the specific components, the water-soluble fiber-to-fiber bonding agent may be a mixture of a water-soluble polymer and glycerol triacetate. The bonded fibers are wrapped in a paper having opposing ends secured together with a water-soluble plug wrap adhesive. A plurality of cuts are made to extend more than one half way through the bundle wrapped fibers. The plurality of cuts may extend more than one half way through the bundle without extending completely through the bundle and may extend from a plurality of different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Co.
    Inventors: Steven A. Wilson, James E. Harris
  • Patent number: 5758669
    Abstract: Water disintegratability of a tobacco filter is improved by incorporating a super absorbent resin into a tobacco smoke filter medium in a tobacco filter comprising a main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium, and a water-soluble polymer as a binder for shaping the constitutive element. The constitutive element includes particulate or fibrous cellulose and cellulose esters (e.g. cellulose acetate). The water-absorption ratio of the super absorbent resin is about 10 to 1,000 times, and the amount of the resin is about 0.05 to 50 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Taniguchi, Kanae Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5746230
    Abstract: A concentric smoking filter in which one of the filter media is a fibrous tow, such as fibrous cellulose acetate tow, and one of the filter media is a web material, such as paper, is provided. The filter improves the taste, particularly, of "ultra-light" cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Cynthia W. Arterbery, W. Timothy Callaham, Gus D. Keritsis, Morris F. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5718250
    Abstract: A cigarette having an improved carbon-bearing filter. A cigarette is provided with a smokable rod attached to a filter element having a region of carbon-bearing cellulose acetate tow surrounding a substantially impermeable member in the form of a hollow plastic tube crimped at the upstream end. As a result, the carbon-bearing region transitions from a circular cross-section to an annular cross-section. A plurality of circumferentially arranged holes are provided in the filter to permit dilution of the smoke passing through the filter. The resulting filter element provides reduction in gas phase components of smoke, dilution by ambient air and acceptable drawing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Karen Marie Womble, Joanne Naomi Taylor
  • Patent number: 5664586
    Abstract: The invention provides a cigarette filter (1) the biodegradation of the material (3) which is assisted by the incorporation of swellable means in the filter so that upon exposure to moisture the volume of the filter is increased, preferably to the extent of breaking open a filter wrap (2) which enclosed it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Neil Murray Sinclair, Robert Kinsey Dart
  • Patent number: 5632286
    Abstract: A method for forming successive spaced crimps in a tow of fibrous material by passing the tow along a path defined by an apparatus comprising a plurality of crimping wheels disposed around the path, each wheel including teeth having crimping surfaces and adjacent sealing surfaces which slide over one another during crimping to prevent material from being squeezed between the teeth thereby forming crimped sections with elongate edges which are substantially free of flashing connecting non-crimped sections. A second crimping step may be incorporated to form longitudinal grooves in alternate non-crimped sections. The rod-like member produced by these techniques may be overwrapped to provide pockets surrounding the crimped sections which may be filled with a smoke-modifying material, for example, activated charcoal particles. Discrete elements cut from the rod-like member may be used in cigarettes and the like such as in the production of filtered cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: American Filtrona Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Berger, Robert G. Hemsworth
  • Patent number: 5497793
    Abstract: A filter cigarette includes a tobacco smoke filter having a core of an expanded starch material which is biodegradable and readily soluble in water. The filter material is preferably formed of high amylose content cornstarch or potato starch extruded at a moisture content of between 10% and 21% at a temperature between 150.degree. to 250.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Stephen A. Kubica
  • Patent number: 5178165
    Abstract: A filtered smoker's mouthpiece having three sections; means to hold a cigarette or cigar in line with a chamber holding a filter, and a mouth piece therefore, wherein the filter is originally of greater volume than the filter chamber and is flexible and compressable. The mouthpiece includes stops to provide space between the end of a smoking article and the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: Amedio DeFelice
  • Patent number: 5150721
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel process of preparing tobacco smoke filter material, wherein an acidic compound such as citric acid is dissolved in a cellulose acetate spinning solution prior to spinning the filaments of the filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Inventors: Benedict M. Lee, James E. Harris
  • Patent number: 5107863
    Abstract: A cigarette filter 12 comprises a rod of filter material having an inner zone 16 of 60% to 90% filter efficiency and an outer zone 18 of 10% to 40% filter efficiency, the inner zone occupying from 30% to 60% of the cross-sectional area of the filter. The filter is attached to a tobacco rod 10 by a tipping 14 having perforations 24 admitting air into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Fabriques de Tabac Reunies, S.A.
    Inventors: Urs Nyffeler, Roger S. Slagle, Andreas Stathopoulos
  • 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: 5058608
    Abstract: A filter cigatette comprises a tobacco rod having a tobacco mixture with a low packing or filling density, a first filter element racing the tobacco rod, having a retention capacity of 40 to 80% and consisting of a fibrous material having a low single denier and a high total denier, a second filter element facing the mouth of the smoker and having a retention capacity of 15% at the maximum, and a hollow chamber formed between the two filter elements and having a length of 3 to 7 mm at an overall length of the filter between 18 and 30 mm. The two filter elements and the hollow chamber are surrounded by a paper wrapper and an air-permeable tipping paper with a ventilation zone in the region of the hollow chamber; said ventilation zone ensures a ventilation degree of 50 to 85% and is created on the finished cigarette by laser beams or by mechanically produced perforations through both papers.In this way a more intensive taste sensation can be achieved together with a low nicotine to condensate ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: B.A.T. Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Paul-Georg Henning, Werner Schneider
  • Patent number: 5053066
    Abstract: A filter useful as a cigarette smoke filter is made by convergingly passing a flat restrained meltblown web successively through a heated zone and a trumpet to form a roving. The roving may be processed to make filters. The process results in stretch orientation of longitudinal fibers and bulking due to cross fibers. Primary and secondary pleats formed in the web are bundled into a cylindrical roving. The pleats add bulking to the web and provide fluid permeability through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: Charles B . Hassenboehler
  • Patent number: 5012829
    Abstract: A cigarette filter has a substantially cylindrical inner member of filter material surrounded by an outer member of filter material and a plugwrap. The density of the inner and outer members are typically different, and a flavorant is added to at least one of the members. Methods and apparatus for making the filter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Thesing, Walter A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4972853
    Abstract: A cigarette filter rod element including an axially extending barrier tube of micro-fine fibres with a diameter of between 0.5 and 10 microns and located so that at least part of the gas flow passes through the wall of said barrier tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: SK Hand Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Tow P. Liew
  • Patent number: 4955397
    Abstract: A cigarette including a tobacco rod circumscribed by a metal foil wrapper and having a cylinder of carbon fuel surrounding the metal foil wrapper tobacco rod. An air permeable outer wrapper circumscribes the cylinder of carbon fuel. A filter plug is located at one end of the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Johnson, Jiunn-Yann Tang
  • Patent number: 4869275
    Abstract: An ultra-high efficiency cigarette filter is formed from a web of entangled ultra-fine melt blown plastic fibers of extremely low bulk density, the fibers on average having a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 4 microns. The web is formed into a substantially cylindrical rod having a bulk density in the range of 0.029 to 0.046 gram per cc and is encapsulated in and supported by an external plastic tube which adheres to the outer surface of the rod over the entire area of contact therebetween. Cigarette filters in accordance with the invention may have filtration efficiencies in excess of 80%. The disclosure also includes processes and apparatus for manufacturing the high efficiency filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: American Filtrona Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 4821750
    Abstract: Skinless shaped articles having increased specific surface area and based on cellulose esters, including both solid and hollow fibers, can be produced with at least one surface having a striated or fibrous appearance and a cellular interior structure by extruding a spinning solution comprising a cellulose ester and a solvent therefor directly into an aqueous bath, wherein the residual content of solvent in the bath is maintained at a concentration below a critical level, preferably less than about 10 weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Celanese Corporation
    Inventor: Colin L. Browne
  • Patent number: 4807809
    Abstract: Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod making apparatus equipped with a web preforming unit. A web of sheet-like material is passed through the web preforming unit and is pleated to form a rod-like composite. The rod-like composite then is circumscribed with wrapping material to provide a rod. The web preforming unit includes an outer frustoconical tube and an inner frustoconical member. The frustoconical member is concentric to the tube, and is positioned coaxially with respect to the tube such that an annular region is formed between the outer surface of the member and the inner surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: James W. Pryor, John L. Nelson, Clifford R. Marritt
  • Patent number: 4807647
    Abstract: A cigarette filter comprising longitudinally aligned core components a first of which is air-permeable and of relatively high pressure drop longitudinally of the filter but substantially air-impermeable radially of the filter and a second of which is air-permeable and of relatively low pressure drop longitudinally of the filter, and a common wrap or partial wrap which extends along and around or partially around said core components and provides for ventilation of the filter at a region longitudinally spaced from the first core component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Cigarette Components Limited
    Inventor: Ernest B. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4798570
    Abstract: An improved process for preparing fiber rods useful as cigarette filter tips comprises feeding a synthetic fiber tow through an air jet bulker directly into the garniture of a conventional cigarette filter making apparatus. The process allows production of filters with lower denier tow than has heretofore been possible while affording to the manufacturer greater versatility to change filter characteristics more readily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: George Jurkiewitsch