CN113677222A

CN113677222A - Aerosol-generating article with multi-textured filter

Info

Publication number: CN113677222A
Application number: CN202080026632.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: O.泰勒; T.柯林斯
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-04-04
Filing date: 2020-03-19
Publication date: 2021-11-19
Also published as: EA202192399A1; JP2022526206A; EP3945871A1; WO2020200808A1; US20210386114A1

Abstract

A filter (14) for an aerosol generating article is disclosed. The filter includes: a first end (141) for attachment to an aerosol-generating article; a second end (142) that is a mouth end that is receivable in a mouth of a user; and tipping paper (18) wrapped around the filter. Tipping paper (143, 144) provides four tactile areas that provide different touch experiences for the lips of the user at the mouthpiece end, wherein a first tactile area and a second tactile area provide a first touch experience and a third tactile area and a fourth tactile area provide a second touch experience. Rotation of the filter allows different tactile areas to contact the user's lips, and tactile areas disposed on opposite sides of the filter may provide the same or different touch experiences for both the user's upper and lower lips.

Description

Aerosol-generating article with multi-textured filter

The present invention relates to a filter for an aerosol generating article.

Conventional cigarettes and currently available heated non-combustible tobacco rods include tobacco-containing rods, filters and tipping paper. The tipping paper provides a mechanical connection between the filter and the tobacco-containing rod, while also providing a physical barrier between the inner filter material and the mouth of the user. In addition, the color or appearance of the tipping paper can be customized, for example, by using softwood-like, white, glossy, or clear tipping paper, to provide a variety of product designs to the consumer.

In addition, existing filters and tipping details have little effect on enhancing the user experience. It is therefore an object of the present invention to enhance the sensory experience of smoking or smoking during smoking of a smoking article, heating of a non-combustible article, or in general an aerosol generating article comprising a filter.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter for an aerosol-generating article, the filter comprising: a first end for attachment to an aerosol-generating article; a second end, the second end being a mouth end receivable in a mouth of a user; and tipping paper wrapped over the filter, wherein the tipping paper provides a plurality of tactile regions providing a different touch experience for the user's lips at the mouth end, and wherein rotation of the filter allows the different tactile regions to contact the user's lips.

In this way, an enhanced smoking experience is provided by tactile stimulation of the user's mouth. It has been found that stimulation of the lips and mouth can enhance the sensory experience, not just taste. Thus, by applying different textures to different tipping areas of the filter, a user can direct between these textures to create a discernable difference between lip feel experiences, thereby enhancing their smoking or smoking experience, particularly their flavour perception.

Preferably, the plurality of haptic regions provide different touch experiences using one or more of the following: perforation, texturized tipping paper, embossing, debossing and surface smoothness. In this way, the tactile characteristics of each region can be tailored to the taste of the aerosol-generating article such that the flavor experience is enhanced by complementation or contrast. In one example, the tipping paper may be pre-textured and applied to the filter via a reel during manufacture. In alternative examples, the texture may be applied directly to the filter or incorporated later in the manufacturing process.

The plurality of haptic regions may include four haptic regions, wherein a first haptic region and a second haptic region provide a first touch experience and a third haptic region and a fourth haptic region provide a second touch experience. Preferably, at the mouthpiece end, the first tactile area is disposed opposite the second tactile area, and the third tactile area is disposed opposite the fourth tactile area. As such, the filter may be oriented such that the first and second haptic regions contact the user's lips, or the third and fourth haptic regions contact the user's lips. Thus, a consistent touch experience is provided in different orientations between which the user can navigate to create a recognizable difference between lip sensations. Furthermore, the registration of the same tactile experience of both the upper and lower lips may provide an enhanced mouthfeel experience compared to the tactile stimulation of only one lip or the different stimulation of both lips.

Preferably, the filter is capable of rotating 90 degrees to move between the first touch experience and the second touch experience. In this way, only minor modifications to the consumer's standard smoking behavior are required in order to alternate between touch experiences.

In one arrangement, the cross-sectional shape of the spout end may have a plurality of straight sides. In another arrangement, the cross-sectional shape of the mouth end may be a rounded square, wherein the four tactile areas are disposed on four sides of the rounded square, respectively. In this way, by providing different haptic regions on different facets, a user can more easily orient the filter to provide a desired touch experience.

Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the end of the aerosol-generating article is substantially circular to match the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol-generating device. In this way there is a transition in profile from the mouth end to the end of the aerosol-generating article. This allows the connection of the filter to the rod to be optimised whilst providing a guidable mouthpiece end with recognisable lip feel differences.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article comprising a charge of tobacco containing a substrate and a filter as hereinbefore described attached at an aerosol-delivery end of the charge.

In one arrangement, the substrate-containing tobacco charge can include reconstituted tobacco. In another arrangement, the substrate-containing tobacco charge may comprise extruded or molded tobacco containing substrate elements. In another arrangement, the substrate-containing tobacco charge may include a tobacco filler.

The aerosol generating article may be a smoking article or a heated non-combustible element.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1A is a schematic view of a cigarette in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the cigarette depicted in FIG. 1A;

figure 2A is a schematic side view of the cigarette depicted in figure 1A;

FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the cigarette depicted in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional side view of the cigarette depicted in FIG. 1A;

figure 2D is a schematic end view of the rod end of the cigarette depicted in figure 1A; and

figure 2E is a schematic end view of the mouth end of the cigarette depicted in figure 1A.

Fig. 1A is a schematic view of a smoking article 10, in this case a cigarette, in an embodiment of the invention. In the context of the present invention and the description, reference to a smoking article 10 should not be construed as being limited to cigarettes or other types of tobacco products that require combustion of tobacco material to produce an aerosol that is inhaled by a user. Rather, the term smoking article should be taken to apply and be interpreted to also encompass any type of aerosol-generating article that uses tobacco comprising a substrate, simply tobacco leaf, cut filler, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco extract in all forms, to generate an inhalable aerosol by any type of heating technique. It may in particular comprise any smokable device containing heated non-combustible tobacco, which is used in combination with a filter for the user to smoke.

The cigarette 10 includes a smoking rod 12 comprising a tobacco material or substrate connected to a filter 14. The filter 14 exhibits a cross-sectional shape that is a gradual transition from a circular profile at the smoking article end 141 to a rounded square profile at the opposite mouth end 142. In an alternative embodiment, the profile of the filter 14 may remain constant along the length of the filter 14.

The filter 14 includes four textured areas corresponding to each side of the square profile, wherein opposite sides include the same texture finish. A smooth surface 143 is provided on one pair of opposing surfaces and a speckle surface 144 is provided on the other pair of opposing surfaces. Speckle surface 144 comprises an array of hexagonal surface indentations. This arrangement allows the user to alternate between two lip-feel experiences by positioning the filter between the user's lips while rotating the filter 90 degrees.

Alternatively, the spout end 142 may include a different cross-sectional profile, such as a polygon, an ellipse, or a combination thereof. For example, if the mouth end 142 is hexagonal, the user may rotate the filter 60 degrees to alternate between three lip feel experiences.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in alternative embodiments, the facets of the filter 14 may include any combination of textured surfaces. The opposite surfaces may be provided with the same texture or may be provided with different textures.

The filter 14 includes a hollow end at the mouth end 142. The hollow end may be provided as a hollow filter segment. In this way, the temperature of the smoke is reduced, which has been found to increase taste perception, thereby enhancing the smoking experience of the user. In alternative examples, the spout end 142 may be substantially solid.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and as described above, the filter 14 may also be provided with other aerosol generating articles such as cigars, cigarillos, e-cigarettes or HNB cigarettes.

Figure 1B shows an exploded view of the cigarette depicted in figure 1A. The smoking rod 12 contains an aerosol generating material 16, such as tobacco cut filler. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, many other products and ingredients may be provided within the outer smoking rod 12.

The filter 14 is wrapped in a tipping wrapper 18, wherein the tipping wrapper 18 conforms to the shape of the underlying filter 14 when wrapped. During manufacture, the tipping paper 18 is fed from the roll and attached to the cigarette 10. Before tipping paper 18 is applied to filter 14, a texture is created on tipping paper 18 such that

textured regions

143 and 144 are aligned with the respective facets of filter 14 when attached to filter 14 in a registration pattern to ensure that the texture of tipping 18 properly completely covers each facet. Texturing may be accomplished using techniques such as embossing, debossing, printing, or perforation of the tipping paper 18. Alternatively, the surface relief may be created by attaching a sheet of material to the tipping paper 18 using an adhesive or the like. In an alternative example, the textured finish may be applied after the tipping paper 18 is attached to the filter 14.

The length of the tipping paper 18 exceeds the length of the filter 14. In this way, the tipping paper 18 also wraps over a portion of the smoking rod 12, thereby providing a secure attachment of the filter 14 to the smoking rod 12. In an alternative embodiment, the length of the tipping paper 18 may be the same as the length of the filter 14.

The filter 14 is also wrapped in a plug wrap 20 which is disposed between the filter 14 and the tipping paper 18.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the filter 14 may be made without tipping paper or plug wrap 18, and the texture facing applied directly to the filter 14, depending on its component materials.

Figures 2A-2C show schematic side views of the cigarette 10 depicted in figure 1A. Fig. 2D and 2E show two end profile views looking down from the rod end 121 and mouth end 142 of the cigarette 10 depicted in fig. 1A, respectively. The filter 14 transitions from a circular profile at the smoking article end 141 to a rounded square profile at the mouthpiece end 142 having a hollow tapered interior 22.

Providing a square profile at the mouthpiece end 142 allows the user to easily alternate between different lip feel experiences by rotating the filter 14 in the user's mouth, while providing a circular profile at the smoking article end 141 allows the filter 12 to be easily attached to a conventional smoking rod.

The side profile of the filter 14 appears narrower at the mouthpiece end 142 than at the smoking article end 141. This is where the size of the filter 14 is selected such that the circumference of the rounded square profile at the mouth end 142 is equal to the circumference of the circular profile at the smoking article end 121. In this way, rectangular strips of tipping paper 18 and plug wrap 20 may be attached to the filter 14 without creases being formed in the tipping paper 18 or plug wrap 20 or gaps being created around the filter 14.

It is believed that texture may affect the way in which a consumer perceives the taste of the aerosol generated by heating the tobacco substrate in the tobacco rod 12. Accordingly, the texture finish may be selected based on taste characteristics of the cigarette 10 or filter 14, thereby enhancing the smoking experience of the user. In one example, the filter 14 may further comprise at least one frangible capsule containing a flavor that can be released by a user applying pressure on the capsule. The flavoring agent may be selected to complement or contrast one or more texture areas, or vice versa.

Claims

1. A filter for an aerosol generating article, the filter comprising:

a first end for attachment to an aerosol-generating article;

a second end, the second end being a mouth end receivable in a mouth of a user; and

tipping paper wrapped around the filter,

wherein the tipping paper provides four tactile areas providing a different touch experience for the lips of the user at the mouthpiece end,

wherein the first and second haptic regions provide a first touch experience and the third and fourth haptic regions provide a second touch experience, and

wherein rotation of the filter allows different tactile areas to contact the user's lips.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the haptic regions provide different touch experiences using one or more of: perforation, texturized tipping paper, embossing, debossing and surface smoothness.

3. The filter of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at the mouthpiece end, the first tactile area is disposed opposite the second tactile area, and the third tactile area is disposed opposite the fourth tactile area.

4. The filter of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tactile areas disposed on opposite sides of the filter provide the same touch experience for both the user's upper and lower lips.

5. The filter of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein haptic regions disposed on opposite sides of the filter provide different touch experiences.

6. The filter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is rotatable 90 degrees to move between the first touch experience and the second touch experience.

7. The filter of claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the mouth end has a plurality of straight sides.

8. The filter of claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the mouth end is a rounded square, wherein the four tactile areas are disposed on four sides of the rounded square, respectively.

9. A filter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the first end is substantially circular to match the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol generating device.

10. A filter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouthpiece end comprises a hollow filter section.

11. An aerosol-generating article comprising a charge of tobacco containing substrate and a filter according to any preceding claim attached at an aerosol-delivery end of the charge.

12. The aerosol generating article of claim 11, wherein the substrate-containing tobacco charge comprises reconstituted tobacco.

13. The aerosol generating article of claim 11, wherein the substrate-containing tobacco charge comprises extruded or molded tobacco containing substrate elements.

14. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 11, wherein the substrate-containing tobacco charge comprises a tobacco filler.