EP3468395B1 - A smoking article and attachable unit therefor - Google Patents
A smoking article and attachable unit therefor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3468395B1 EP3468395B1 EP17730552.1A EP17730552A EP3468395B1 EP 3468395 B1 EP3468395 B1 EP 3468395B1 EP 17730552 A EP17730552 A EP 17730552A EP 3468395 B1 EP3468395 B1 EP 3468395B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- smoking article
- attachable unit
- article rod
- recess
- rod
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 171
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 80
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 17
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 17
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 12
- 229920002301 cellulose acetate Polymers 0.000 description 10
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 9
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000004014 plasticizer Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000004372 Polyvinyl alcohol Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004632 polycaprolactone Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920001610 polycaprolactone Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 229920002451 polyvinyl alcohol Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000005454 flavour additive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000013355 food flavoring agent Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- URAYPUMNDPQOKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N triacetin Chemical compound CC(=O)OCC(OC(C)=O)COC(C)=O URAYPUMNDPQOKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M Acetate Chemical compound CC([O-])=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004826 Synthetic adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003232 aliphatic polyester Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000227 bioadhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- OPZZWWFHZYZBRU-UHFFFAOYSA-N butanedioic acid;butane-1,1-diol Chemical compound CCCC(O)O.OC(=O)CCC(O)=O OPZZWWFHZYZBRU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000004676 glycans Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 235000013773 glyceryl triacetate Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001896 polybutyrate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004626 polylactic acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001282 polysaccharide Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005017 polysaccharide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 125000000383 tetramethylene group Chemical group [H]C([H])([*:1])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[*:2] 0.000 description 2
- 229960002622 triacetin Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UTLUCORTSA-N (+)-Neomenthol Chemical compound CC(C)[C@@H]1CC[C@@H](C)C[C@@H]1O NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UTLUCORTSA-N 0.000 description 1
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N (-)-Nicotine Chemical compound CN1CCC[C@H]1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004821 Contact adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001651 Cyanoacrylate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N DL-menthol Natural products CC(C)C1CCC(C)CC1O NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004819 Drying adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004822 Hot adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- MWCLLHOVUTZFKS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methyl cyanoacrylate Chemical compound COC(=O)C(=C)C#N MWCLLHOVUTZFKS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004818 Non-reactive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004820 Pressure-sensitive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004823 Reactive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003463 adsorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 card Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019506 cigar Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003085 diluting agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001087 glyceryl triacetate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003906 humectant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940041616 menthol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000011105 molded pulp Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960002715 nicotine Drugs 0.000 description 1
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N nicotine Natural products CN1CCCC1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
- A24D1/04—Cigars; Cigarettes with mouthpieces or filter-tips
- A24D1/045—Cigars; Cigarettes with mouthpieces or filter-tips with smoke filter means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
- A24D3/061—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release upon smoking
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/18—Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes; Manufacture thereof
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F7/00—Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders
- A24F7/04—Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders with smoke filters
Definitions
- the invention relates to a smoking article and an attachable unit therefor.
- Cigarettes and other smoking articles produce an aerosol, smoke in the case of cigarettes, which is inhaled by a user.
- Separate filter units may be attached to smoking articles to modify the aerosol before it reaches the user's mouth.
- US2007/267034 relates to a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece.
- WO 2013/104616 relates to a smoking article with a dual function cap.
- an attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod according to claim 1.
- the attachable unit can further comprise a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve defines the recess.
- the attachable unit can further comprise a cylindrical element and a sheet material at least partially surrounding the cylindrical element and forming the sleeve.
- the attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by the sheet material extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner surface of the sheet material.
- the attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by a tubular element held within a portion of the sheet material extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner surface of the tubular element.
- the raised area can be annular and/or can extend circumferentially around the inner circumferential surface of the recess.
- the raised area can be for contacting an outer circumferential surface of the smoking article rod when the at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess.
- the raised area can comprise a seal which is configured to restrict the ingress of air into the smoking article between the inner surface of the recess of the attachable unit and the outer surface of the smoking article rod.
- the raised area can comprise a deformable material such as a resiliently deformable material.
- the raised area can comprise an adhesive.
- the cylindrical element can comprise filtration material such as fibrous filtration material.
- a kit comprising an attachable unit according to the first aspect of the invention and a smoking article rod, the attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
- a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod and an attachable unit according to the first aspect of the invention attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess defined by the tubular element.
- smoking article includes combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heating devices such as heat-not-burn (HnB) devices, which release compounds from substrate materials, such as tobacco, without burning the substrate material, and other nicotine delivery products such as aerosol generation devices including e-cigarettes.
- the smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker.
- Smoking articles such as cigarettes and their formats are often named according to the cigarette length: "regular" (typically in the range 68 - 75 mm, e.g.
- a cigarette in a king-size, super-slim format will, for example, have a length of about 83 mm and a circumference of about 17 mm.
- Cigarettes in the regular, king-size format are preferred by many customers, namely with a circumference of from 23 to 25 mm and an overall length of from 75 to 91 mm.
- Each format may be produced with filters of different lengths, smaller filters being generally used in formats of smaller lengths and circumferences.
- the filter length will be from about 15 mm, associated with short, regular formats, to 30 mm, associated with ultra-long super-slim formats.
- the tipping paper will have a greater length than the filter, for example from 3 to 10 mm longer, such that the tipping paper covers the filter and overlaps the tobacco rod to connect the filter to the tobacco rod.
- Smoking articles described herein can be made in, but are not limited to, any of the above formats.
- Figure 1 is a side-on cross sectional view of an example of an attachable unit 3 and a smoking article rod 2 which can be attached or coupled together by a user to form a smoking article 100.
- the attachable unit 3 is configured to modify one or more properties of an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable unit 3 comprises a recess 30 into which at least a portion of the smoking article rod 2 can be received when the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable unit 3 comprises a cylindrical element 21 which is surrounded by a sheet material 22 forming a sleeve around the cylindrical element 21.
- the sleeve can be formed in other ways, for instance from plastic or other materials.
- the cylindrical element 21 comprises filter material, in the present case cellulose acetate tow, circumferentially wrapped in the sheet material 22, although the attachable unit 3 can be formed in other ways.
- the sheet material 22 comprises stiff paper.
- the attachable unit is arranged such that the smoking article rod 2 and attachable unit 3 are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article rod 2.
- the cylindrical element 21 comprises first and second longitudinal ends 23, 24, which, in the present example are exposed, allowing smoke or other aerosols to pass longitudinally through the cylindrical element 21.
- the sheet material 22 extends longitudinally beyond the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21.
- the recess 30 is formed by the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21 together with the inner surface of the portion of the sheet material 22 which extends longitudinally beyond the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21.
- the sheet material 22 extends up to the second longitudinal end surface 24 of the cylindrical element 21, although can alternatively extend beyond the second longitudinal end surface 24, forming a further recess (not shown), or can be arranged to stop short of the longitudinal end surface 24, such that the sheet material 22 does not surround the full length of the cylindrical element 21.
- a raised area 50 extends at least substantially around an inner surface of the recess 30, in the present example around the inner surface of the sheet material 22.
- the raised area 50 in the present example is annular, i.e. it forms a ring extending circumferentially around the inner surface of the sheet material 22.
- the raised area 50 may comprise, but is not limited to, one or more layers of material such as one or more adhesive layers or one or more layers of paper, moulded pulp material, card, rubber or plastic material.
- the raised area 50 may be made out of a deformable material such as a resiliently deformable material and/or a material which is impermeable to air, restricts or substantially restricts the passage of air through the material.
- the raised area 50 can be formed by embossing the sheet material 22 such that a region of the material 22 protrudes into the recess 30.
- the smoking article rod 2 shown in Figure 1 has a tobacco rod 4 longitudinally connected, end-on, to a filter 6.
- An external end surface 16 of the filter 6 at the end opposite to the end of the filter 6 facing the tobacco rod 4 defines a mouth end surface 16 of the smoking article rod 2.
- the smoking article rod 4 can be a conventional smoking article, such as a cigarette, including any of the smoking articles and smoking article formats described herein.
- the tobacco rod 4 is wrapped in a wrapping material 5, in this case cigarette paper.
- the filter 6 is, in the present example, formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in a plug wrap 9.
- the tobacco rod 4 and filter 6 are connected by a tipping material 14 overlaying the filter 6 and partially overlaying the wrapping material 5.
- the filter 6 may comprise two or more filter sections forming the filter 6, which can be connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior to connection of the filter 6 to the tobacco rod 4 using the tipping material 14.
- the smoking article 100 can be provided to users with the attachable unit 3 and smoking article rod 2 as separate components, for instance packaged separately or packaged together as a kit of parts for producing a smoking article 100.
- the attachable unit 3 Prior to a user first using the smoking article rod 2, the attachable unit 3 can be attached to the smoking article rod 2 by inserting the mouth-end of the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30 of the attachable unit 3.
- the first longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21 abuts the mouth end surface 16 of the filter 6 of the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable member 3 may be attached to the smoking article rod 2 so that there is a gap between the longitudinal end surface 23 and the mouth end surface 16.
- the raised area 50 contacts an outer surface of the smoking article rod 2, in particular a circumferential outer surface, when the smoking article rod 2 is received in the recess 30.
- the user can select whether or not to attach the attachable unit 3 to the smoking article rod 2 prior to smoking the smoking article 100, and can in this way control the length of filter of the smoking article 100 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable unit 3 can also include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the smoking article rod 2.
- a capsule containing a flavour additive (not shown) is located within the cylindrical element 21.
- the capsule has a liquid centre and a frangible outer shell which can be broken by a user by squeezing the attachable unit 3, to thereby release the flavour additive.
- the flavour additive is transferred to the aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2 as the smoking article 100 is smoked.
- the attachable unit 3 may include alternative additives or agents for modifying the aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2, such as granules of activated carbon or other adsorbents, humectants, diluents and suchlike.
- the raised area 50 comprises an adhesive to attach the attachable unit 3 to the smoking article rod 2.
- Suitable adhesive materials for the raised area 50 include a natural adhesive (bio-adhesive) and/or a synthetic adhesive.
- the synthetic adhesive may be based on any of: an elastomer material; a thermoplastic material; an emulsion and a thermosetting material such as epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate or acrylic.
- the adhesive may be any non-reactive adhesive such as: a drying adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a contact adhesive, a hot adhesive.
- the adhesive may be a reactive adhesive.
- the adhesive may be a permanently tacky adhesive, for instance allowing the attachable unit 3 and smoking article rod 2 to be separated and repositioned.
- the parts of the sheet material 22 on which the raised area 50 is disposed may be pressed against the outer surface of the smoking article rod 2 by the user, in order to adhere the attachable unit 3 to the smoking article rod 2.
- the raised area 50 can alternatively or additionally form a seal or sealing element used to seal at least a part of the interface between the sheet material 22 and the smoking article rod 2 and inhibit the ingress of gases (such as air) that would normally enter into the smoking article 100 via a gap between the outer surface of the smoking article rod 2 and the inner surface of the sheet material 22.
- the raised area 50 may comprise a body which is air impermeable in at least one direction and/or resiliently deformable. Due to limitations in the manufacturing tolerance of the components of a smoking article, the distance between surfaces such as the outer surface of the portion of the smoking article rod 2 inserted into the recess 30 and the inner surface of the recess 30 can vary.
- the raised area 50 may comprise any suitable thickness (i.e. the distance between the inner surface of the sheet material 22 and the innermost surface 50a of the raised area 50), for example between 0.1mm and 2 mm, or between 0.1mm and 1mm.
- the raised area can, for instance, have a thickness of 0.5mm.
- the correspondence between the dimensions of the recess 30 and those of the smoking article rod 2 will depend on the materials used to form these components and the desired closeness of the fit between them. It is likely to be preferable that the dimensions of the recess 30 are slightly larger than the dimensions of the smoking article rod 2, to facilitate insertion of the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30.
- the recess 30 has an internal diameter of 8.2mm and the smoking article rod 2 has an external diameter of 7.8 mm.
- the internal diameter of the recess 30 can have other values, for instance diameters in the range from 4mm to 10mm.
- the recess 30 has an internal length of 12mm.
- the internal length of the recess 30 can have other values, for instance values in the range from 5mm to 30mm.
- the longitudinal end surface 23 is configured to at least partially face the mouth end surface 16 of the smoking article rod 2 when the attachable unit 3 is attached to the smoking article rod 2.
- the raised area 50 can be formed by a resiliently deformable material, so that it can deform to receive the smoking article rod 2 when the smoking article rod 2 is inserted into the recess 30.
- Figure 2 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example of an attachable unit 203 and a smoking article rod 2 which can be attached to form a smoking article 200.
- the attachable unit 203 is arranged to be attached to the smoking article rod 2 by a user to modify one or more properties of aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable unit 203 comprises a cylindrical element 21 and a tubular element 31.
- the cylindrical element 21 and tubular element 31 are aligned on a common longitudinal axis (not shown) and connected together by a sheet material 22, in the present case wrapping at least a portion of the cylindrical element 21 and tubular element 31.
- the tubular element 31 defines a recess 30 which is arranged to receive at least a portion of the smoking article rod 2 when the attachable unit 203 is attached to the smoking article rod 2.
- the smoking article rod 2 shown in Figure 2 is substantially the same as the smoking article rod 2 described in relation to Figure 1 , and so detailed description of its structure is omitted. Furthermore, the dimensions of the recess 30 described with reference to Figure 1 also apply to the recess 30 illustrated in Figure 2 .
- the recess 30 is formed by the inner surface of the tubular element 31 together with the end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21.
- the tubular element 31 is selected to have a manufacturing tolerance with regards to its internal diameter which is smaller than that achievable by the sheet material 22 of the example of Figure 1 .
- the tubular element 31 can have an internal diameter of between 4mm and 10mm and a manufacturing tolerance for said internal diameter of +/- 0.1mm or less, +/- 0.05mm or less, +/- 0.04mm or less, +/- 0.03mm or less or +/- 0.02mm or less. Accordingly, the use of a tubular element 31 enables deviations in the diameter of the recess 30 to be reduced, facilitating insertion of the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30 and minimising the variation in the distance between the outer surface of the portion of the smoking article rod 2 inserted into the recess 30 and the inner surface of the recess 30.
- the tubular element 31 may be made of a deformable material, such as a foamed material, rubber or a plastic material. This allows the tubular element 31 to deform when receiving the smoking article rod 2.
- the attachable unit 3 may be attached to the smoking article rod 2 in any suitable way. This may include forming an interference fit between the inner surface of the tubular element 31 and the outer surface of the smoking article rod 2.
- the interference fit is such that a seal is formed at the interface between the inner surface of the tubular member 31 and the outer surface of the smoking article rod 2, which inhibits the ingress of gases (such as air) that would normally enter into the smoking article 200 via a gap between the outer surface of the smoking article rod 2 and the inner surface of the tubular member 31.
- gases such as air
- the amount of air entering into a smoking article between two neighbouring surfaces may be variable and/or unwanted. Restricting the ingress of air therefore provides a degree of control of the airflow into and/or through the smoking article 200.
- the attachable unit 203 can include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the smoking article rod 2, in the same way as the attachable unit 3 described with reference to Figure 1 above.
- the smoking article 200 can be provided to users with the attachable unit 203 and smoking article rod 2 as separate components, for instance as a kit of parts.
- the attachable unit 203 Prior to a user first using the smoking article 200, the attachable unit 203 can be attached to the smoking article rod 2 by inserting the smoking article rod 2 into the recess 30 of the attachable unit 203.
- the longitudinal end surface 23 of the cylindrical element 21 may abut the mouth end surface 16 of the filter 6.
- the attachable unit 203 may be attached to the smoking article rod 2 so that there is a gap between the longitudinal end surface 23 and the mouth end surface 16.
- the user can select whether or not to attach the attachable unit 203 to the smoking article rod 2 prior to smoking the smoking article 200, and can in this way control the length of filter of the smoking article 200 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by the smoking article 200, as well as other properties of the aerosol in the case that the attachable unit 203 includes one or more additives or agents for modifying the aerosol.
- Figure 3 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example of an attachable unit 303 and a smoking article rod 302 which can be attached to form a smoking article 300.
- the attachable unit 303 is arranged to be attached to a smoking article rod 302 by a user.
- the smoking article rod 302 in the present example comprises a first recess 13.
- the attachable unit 303 is configured to modify one or more properties of an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod 302.
- the attachable unit 303 includes an element 20 arranged to be inserted at least partially into the first recess 13 of the smoking article rod 302 and a second recess 330 to receive at least a portion of the smoking article rod 302.
- the smoking article 300 is a cigarette and the smoking article rod 302 includes a tobacco rod 4 wrapped in a wrapping material 5, in this case cigarette paper.
- the smoking article rod 2 includes a filter 306 at its mouth end comprising a first section 7 located at the tobacco rod end of the filter 306.
- the first filter section 7 is, in the present example, formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in a first plug wrap 9.
- the filter 306 also includes a second section 10 located downstream of the first section 7 and comprising a tubular element 11 wrapped in a second plug wrap 12.
- the tubular element 11 is, in the present example, open at the mouth end of the smoking article rod 302 and defines the first recess, or cavity, 13 at that end.
- a mouth end surface 316 of the tubular element 11 is exposed at the mouth end of the smoking article rod 302.
- the tubular element 11 can be formed from fibrous filtration material such as cellulose acetate having a relatively high plasticiser level, for instance between 15 and 21% by weight of the cellulose acetate.
- the tobacco rod 4 and first and second filter sections 7, 10 are connected by a tipping material 14 overlaying the first and second filter sections 7, 10 and partially overlaying the wrapping material 5.
- the first and second filter sections 7, 10, and any other sections forming the filter 306, can be connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior to connection of the filter 306 to the tobacco rod 4 using the tipping material 14.
- the cylindrical element 20 of the attachable unit 303 is wrapped in a plug wrap 26 which is substantially impermeable to air, for instance having a permeability of greater than 50 Coresta Units or greater than 100 Coresta Units.
- the cylindrical element 20 may alternatively be unwrapped.
- the cylindrical element 20 of the attachable unit 303 has adjacent first and second portions 20a, 20b, each extending partially along the length of the cylindrical element 20.
- the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 extends from an insertion end of the cylindrical element 20 to an intermediate position 25 along the length of the cylindrical element 20.
- the second portion 20b of the cylindrical element 20 extends from a mouth end of the cylindrical element 20 and ends at the intermediate position 25 along the length of the cylindrical element 20.
- the cylindrical element 20 is 25mm in length and the intermediate position 25 is 12.5mm along the length of the cylindrical element 20 from the insertion end.
- the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 is arranged to be inserted, by a user, into the recess 13 at the mouth end of the smoking article rod 302.
- the attachable unit 303 further comprises an annular element 27 which is arranged around the periphery of the second portion 20b of the cylindrical element 20.
- the annular element 27 has a larger external diameter than the internal diameter of the recess 13.
- the annular element 27 has a longitudinal end surface 29 which, together with the inner surface of the sheet material 22 and the outer surface of the cylindrical element 20, defines the second recess 303.
- the longitudinal end surface 29 of the annular element 27 is arranged to face the smoking article rod 302 when the attachable unit 303 is attached to the smoking article rod 302.
- the longitudinal end surface 29 may abut the mouth end surface 316 of the tubular element 11 when the attachable unit 303 is attached to the smoking article rod 302, as described below.
- a longitudinal end surface 29' of the cylindrical element 20 may abut a mouth end surface 17 of the first filter section 7 when the attachable unit 303 is attached to the smoking article rod 302.
- the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 is arranged to be inserted into the first recess 13 in the smoking article rod 302, in the present case into the recess 13 formed by the tube section 11.
- the internal diameter and/or length of the recess 13 and the external diameter and/or length of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 are arranged to substantially correspond such that the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 can be received within and substantially fill the recess 13.
- the internal diameter of the recess 13 can be substantially the same as the external diameter of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20.
- the length of the recess 13 can be substantially the same as the length of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 protruding proud of the annular element 27.
- the correspondence between the dimensions of the recess 13 and those of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 will depend on the materials used to form these components and the desired closeness of the fit between them. It is likely to be preferable that the recess dimensions are slightly larger than the dimensions of the first portion 20a, to facilitate insertion of the cylindrical element 20 into the recess 13.
- the recess 13 has an internal diameter of 4mm and the cylindrical element 20 has an external diameter of 3.8mm.
- the internal diameter of the recess 13 and external diameter of the cylindrical element 20 can have other values, for instance diameters in the range from 2mm to 6mm.
- the recess 13 has an internal length of 12mm and the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 has a length of 12mm.
- the internal length of the recess 13 and the length of the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 can have other values, for instance values in the range from 5mm to 20mm.
- the annular element 27 is attached to the cylindrical element 20 using an adhesive (not shown).
- the annular element 27 may be attached to the cylindrical element 20 by means other than an adhesive, for example by mechanical means such as a friction fit or other locking arrangement.
- the attachable unit 303 can include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by the smoking article rod 302, in the same way as the attachable unit 3 described with reference to Figure 1 above.
- the smoking article 300 can be provided to users with the attachable unit 303 and smoking article rod 302 as separate components.
- the attachable unit 303 Prior to a user first using the smoking article rod 302, the attachable unit 303 can be attached to the smoking article rod 302 by inserting the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20 into the recess 13, so that the end portion of the smoking article rod 302 is received by the recess 330.
- the longitudinal end surface 29 of the annular element 27 may abut the end surface 316 of the tubular element 11.
- the user can select whether or not to attach the attachable unit 303 to the smoking article rod 302 prior to smoking the smoking article 300, and can in this way control the length of filter of the smoking article 300 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by the smoking article 300, as well as other properties of the aerosol in the case that the attachable unit 303 includes one or more additives for modifying the aerosol.
- the annular element 27 and tubular element 11 comprise fibrous filtration material, formed into a tube and circumferentially wrapped in a wrapper 12 (not shown for annular element 27), in the present case plug wrap material, leaving the longitudinal ends unwrapped.
- the annular element 27 and/or tubular element may be formed in other ways.
- the annular element 27 and/or tubular element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials.
- the annular element 27 and/or tubular element also need not be wrapped in a wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a wrapper such as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) tube formed from cellulose acetate fibres.
- NWA non-wrapped acetate
- Figure 4 is a side-on cross sectional view of an attachable unit 403 according to the present invention and a smoking article rod 302 which can be attached to form a smoking article 400.
- the smoking article rod 302 is the same as the smoking article rod described with reference to Figure 3 above.
- the attachable unit 403 is the same as the attachable unit 303 described above with reference to Figure 3 herein except that it also includes the tubular element 31 as described with reference to Figure 2 herein, arranged between the sheet material 22 and the first portion 20a of the cylindrical element 20, and attached to the sheet material 22.
- the tubular element 31 includes a raised area 50 on an inner surface thereof which defines the second recess 330, the raised area 50 being the same as that described with reference to Figure 1 herein.
- the fibrous filtration material forming the tubes, and that forming other components of the attachable units 3, 203, 303, 403 and filter 6, 306 described herein may comprise cellulose acetate fibres and/or other materials used to form fibres, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), starch based materials, paper, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers or a combination thereof.
- PVOH polyvinyl alcohol
- PLA polylactic acid
- PCL polycaprolactone
- PBS poly(1-4 butanediol succinate)
- PBAT poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)
- starch based materials paper, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers or a combination thereof.
- the annular element 27 may alternatively be formed from a sheet material, such as tipping paper, wrapped around the cylindrical element 20 to form a single or multiple layers of the sheet material around the cylindrical element 20.
- the annular element 27 and/or tubular element 11 may alternatively be formed from plastic or another moulded material.
- the cylindrical element of any of the above examples may comprise fibrous filtration material.
- the cylindrical element may be formed in other ways.
- the cylindrical element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials and can be arranged to have a different construction.
- the cylindrical element may, for instance, be formed from stiff paper, plastic, card or other materials as an open or closed ended hollow tube.
- the cylindrical element also need not be wrapped in a wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a wrapper such as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) plug formed from cellulose acetate fibres.
- NWA non-wrapped acetate
- the fibrous filtration material may comprise cellulose acetate fibres and/or other materials used to form fibres, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), starch based materials, paper, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers.
- PVOH polyvinyl alcohol
- PLA polylactic acid
- PCL polycaprolactone
- PBS poly(1-4 butanediol succinate)
- PBAT poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)
- starch based materials paper, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers.
- Filter plasticisers operate by softening the fibrous filter material from which a filter element is constructed such that the individual fibres can bond to each other to form a more rigid structure.
- a filter plasticiser such as glycerin triacetate, also referred to as triacetin, can, for instance, be used in the cylindrical element and/or annular element of any of the above examples when these elements are formed from a fibrous filtration material such as cellulose acetate.
- a higher level of plasticiser than is usually used in a filter element can be used to provide additional firmness to either component. For instance, greater than 7%, greater than 10%, greater than 12% or greater than 15% plasticiser can be used in any of the components described herein, by weight of the fibrous filtration material used.
- any of the attachable units described above may include a flavour modifying agent or additive or flavour source.
- the flavour modifying agent may, for instance, be disposed in a cylindrical element of the attachable unit.
- an attachable unit may be provided in which the cylindrical element comprises a frangible capsule containing a liquid payload comprising a flavourant, such as menthol.
- the user can squeeze the attachable unit to cause a pressure to be exerted on the capsule such that it breaks to release the flavourant contained therein, to thus modify aerosol drawn through the attachable unit.
- the attachable unit may comprise other flavour releasing components or flavour modifying agents.
- the raised area 50 of the example of Figure 1 can be applied to the inner surface of the tubular element 31 of the example of Figure 2 , or to the inner surface of the sheet material 22 of the example of Figure 3 , to perform an equivalent function as that described with reference to Figure 1 .
- the tubular element 31 of Figure 2 can be applied to the attachment unit 303 of Figure 3 .
- the smoking articles described herein can be provided to users with the attachable units described herein and smoking article rods described herein as separate components, for instance packaged separately or packaged together as a kit of parts for producing a smoking article.
- a tubular filter component such as the tubular element 11 described with reference to Figure 3
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
Description
- The invention relates to a smoking article and an attachable unit therefor.
- Cigarettes and other smoking articles produce an aerosol, smoke in the case of cigarettes, which is inhaled by a user. Separate filter units may be attached to smoking articles to modify the aerosol before it reaches the user's mouth.
-
US2007/267034 relates to a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece.WO 2013/104616 relates to a smoking article with a dual function cap. - According to the invention, there is provided an attachable unit to be attached to a smoking article rod according to claim 1.
- The attachable unit can further comprise a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve defines the recess. The attachable unit can further comprise a cylindrical element and a sheet material at least partially surrounding the cylindrical element and forming the sleeve.
- The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by the sheet material extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner surface of the sheet material.
- The attachable unit can be arranged such that the smoking article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod and wherein the recess of the attachable unit is formed by a tubular element held within a portion of the sheet material extending longitudinally beyond a longitudinal end of the cylindrical element, and wherein the raised area extends around an inner surface of the tubular element.
- The raised area can be annular and/or can extend circumferentially around the inner circumferential surface of the recess.
- The raised area can be for contacting an outer circumferential surface of the smoking article rod when the at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess.
- The raised area can comprise a seal which is configured to restrict the ingress of air into the smoking article between the inner surface of the recess of the attachable unit and the outer surface of the smoking article rod.
- The raised area can comprise a deformable material such as a resiliently deformable material.
- The raised area can comprise an adhesive. The cylindrical element can comprise filtration material such as fibrous filtration material.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, there is further provided a kit comprising an attachable unit according to the first aspect of the invention and a smoking article rod, the attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, there is further provided a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod and an attachable unit according to the first aspect of the invention attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess defined by the tubular element.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a side-on cross sectional view of an example of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be attached to form a smoking article; -
Figure 2 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be attached to form a smoking article; -
Figure 3 is a side-on cross sectional view of a further example of an attachable unit and a smoking article rod which can be attached to form a smoking article; and -
Figure 4 is a side-on cross sectional view of an attachable unit according to the present invention and a smoking article rod which can be attached to form a smoking article. - As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heating devices such as heat-not-burn (HnB) devices, which release compounds from substrate materials, such as tobacco, without burning the substrate material, and other nicotine delivery products such as aerosol generation devices including e-cigarettes. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker. Smoking articles such as cigarettes and their formats are often named according to the cigarette length: "regular" (typically in the range 68 - 75 mm, e.g. from about 68 mm to about 72 mm), "short" or "mini" (68 mm or less), "king-size" (typically in the range 75 - 91 mm, e.g. from about 79 mm to about 88 mm), "long" or "super-king" (typically in the range 91 - 105 mm, e.g. from about 94 mm to about 101 mm) and "ultra-long" (typically in the range from about 110 mm to about 121 mm).
- They are also named according to the cigarette circumference: "regular" (about 23 - 25 mm), "wide" (greater than 25 mm), "slim" (about 22 - 23 mm), "demi-slim" (about 19 - 22 mm), "super-slim" (about 16 - 19 mm), and "micro-slim" (less than about 16 mm). Accordingly, a cigarette in a king-size, super-slim format will, for example, have a length of about 83 mm and a circumference of about 17 mm. Cigarettes in the regular, king-size format are preferred by many customers, namely with a circumference of from 23 to 25 mm and an overall length of from 75 to 91 mm.
- Each format may be produced with filters of different lengths, smaller filters being generally used in formats of smaller lengths and circumferences. Typically the filter length will be from about 15 mm, associated with short, regular formats, to 30 mm, associated with ultra-long super-slim formats. The tipping paper will have a greater length than the filter, for example from 3 to 10 mm longer, such that the tipping paper covers the filter and overlaps the tobacco rod to connect the filter to the tobacco rod.
- Smoking articles described herein can be made in, but are not limited to, any of the above formats.
- In the figures described herein, like reference numerals are used to illustrate equivalent features, articles or components.
-
Figure 1 is a side-on cross sectional view of an example of anattachable unit 3 and asmoking article rod 2 which can be attached or coupled together by a user to form asmoking article 100. Theattachable unit 3 is configured to modify one or more properties of an aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 2. - The
attachable unit 3 comprises arecess 30 into which at least a portion of thesmoking article rod 2 can be received when theattachable unit 3 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2. In the present example, theattachable unit 3 comprises acylindrical element 21 which is surrounded by asheet material 22 forming a sleeve around thecylindrical element 21. In alternative examples, the sleeve can be formed in other ways, for instance from plastic or other materials. In the present example, thecylindrical element 21 comprises filter material, in the present case cellulose acetate tow, circumferentially wrapped in thesheet material 22, although theattachable unit 3 can be formed in other ways. In the present case, thesheet material 22 comprises stiff paper. - The attachable unit is arranged such that the
smoking article rod 2 andattachable unit 3 are aligned on a longitudinal axis when theattachable unit 3 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2. - The
cylindrical element 21 comprises first and secondlongitudinal ends cylindrical element 21. As illustrated, to form therecess 30, thesheet material 22 extends longitudinally beyond the firstlongitudinal end surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21. Therecess 30 is formed by the firstlongitudinal end surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21 together with the inner surface of the portion of thesheet material 22 which extends longitudinally beyond the firstlongitudinal end surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21. Thesheet material 22 extends up to the secondlongitudinal end surface 24 of thecylindrical element 21, although can alternatively extend beyond the secondlongitudinal end surface 24, forming a further recess (not shown), or can be arranged to stop short of thelongitudinal end surface 24, such that thesheet material 22 does not surround the full length of thecylindrical element 21. - A raised
area 50 extends at least substantially around an inner surface of therecess 30, in the present example around the inner surface of thesheet material 22. Theraised area 50 in the present example is annular, i.e. it forms a ring extending circumferentially around the inner surface of thesheet material 22. The raisedarea 50 may comprise, but is not limited to, one or more layers of material such as one or more adhesive layers or one or more layers of paper, moulded pulp material, card, rubber or plastic material. The raisedarea 50 may be made out of a deformable material such as a resiliently deformable material and/or a material which is impermeable to air, restricts or substantially restricts the passage of air through the material. The raisedarea 50 can be formed by embossing thesheet material 22 such that a region of thematerial 22 protrudes into therecess 30. - The
smoking article rod 2 shown inFigure 1 has atobacco rod 4 longitudinally connected, end-on, to afilter 6. Anexternal end surface 16 of thefilter 6 at the end opposite to the end of thefilter 6 facing thetobacco rod 4 defines amouth end surface 16 of thesmoking article rod 2. Thesmoking article rod 4 can be a conventional smoking article, such as a cigarette, including any of the smoking articles and smoking article formats described herein. In the present example, thetobacco rod 4 is wrapped in a wrappingmaterial 5, in this case cigarette paper. Thefilter 6 is, in the present example, formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in aplug wrap 9. Thetobacco rod 4 andfilter 6 are connected by a tippingmaterial 14 overlaying thefilter 6 and partially overlaying the wrappingmaterial 5. Thefilter 6 may comprise two or more filter sections forming thefilter 6, which can be connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior to connection of thefilter 6 to thetobacco rod 4 using the tippingmaterial 14. - In use, the
smoking article 100 can be provided to users with theattachable unit 3 and smokingarticle rod 2 as separate components, for instance packaged separately or packaged together as a kit of parts for producing asmoking article 100. Prior to a user first using thesmoking article rod 2, theattachable unit 3 can be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 by inserting the mouth-end of thesmoking article rod 2 into therecess 30 of theattachable unit 3. When theattachable unit 3 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2, the firstlongitudinal end surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21 abuts themouth end surface 16 of thefilter 6 of thesmoking article rod 2. Alternatively, theattachable member 3 may be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 so that there is a gap between thelongitudinal end surface 23 and themouth end surface 16. The raisedarea 50 contacts an outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2, in particular a circumferential outer surface, when thesmoking article rod 2 is received in therecess 30. - The user can select whether or not to attach the
attachable unit 3 to thesmoking article rod 2 prior to smoking thesmoking article 100, and can in this way control the length of filter of thesmoking article 100 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 2. Theattachable unit 3 can also include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by thesmoking article rod 2. For instance, in the present example, a capsule containing a flavour additive (not shown) is located within thecylindrical element 21. The capsule has a liquid centre and a frangible outer shell which can be broken by a user by squeezing theattachable unit 3, to thereby release the flavour additive. The flavour additive is transferred to the aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 2 as thesmoking article 100 is smoked. In alternative examples, theattachable unit 3 may include alternative additives or agents for modifying the aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 2, such as granules of activated carbon or other adsorbents, humectants, diluents and suchlike. - In the present example, the raised
area 50 comprises an adhesive to attach theattachable unit 3 to thesmoking article rod 2. Suitable adhesive materials for the raisedarea 50 include a natural adhesive (bio-adhesive) and/or a synthetic adhesive. The synthetic adhesive may be based on any of: an elastomer material; a thermoplastic material; an emulsion and a thermosetting material such as epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate or acrylic. The adhesive may be any non-reactive adhesive such as: a drying adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a contact adhesive, a hot adhesive. The adhesive may be a reactive adhesive. The adhesive may be a permanently tacky adhesive, for instance allowing theattachable unit 3 andsmoking article rod 2 to be separated and repositioned. The parts of thesheet material 22 on which the raisedarea 50 is disposed may be pressed against the outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2 by the user, in order to adhere theattachable unit 3 to thesmoking article rod 2. - The raised
area 50 can alternatively or additionally form a seal or sealing element used to seal at least a part of the interface between thesheet material 22 and thesmoking article rod 2 and inhibit the ingress of gases (such as air) that would normally enter into thesmoking article 100 via a gap between the outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2 and the inner surface of thesheet material 22. In this case, the raisedarea 50 may comprise a body which is air impermeable in at least one direction and/or resiliently deformable. Due to limitations in the manufacturing tolerance of the components of a smoking article, the distance between surfaces such as the outer surface of the portion of thesmoking article rod 2 inserted into therecess 30 and the inner surface of therecess 30 can vary. If external air is allowed to enter thesmoking article 100 between theattachable unit 3 and thesmoking article rod 2, this can result in a level of ventilation exhibited by thesmoking article 100 which cannot be accurately controlled from one article to another. Restricting the ingress of air therefore provides a greater degree of control of the airflow into and through thesmoking article 100. For instance, ventilation can be provided into thefilter 6 using perforations through theplug wrap 9 and tipping 14 in the conventional manner. - The raised
area 50 may comprise any suitable thickness (i.e. the distance between the inner surface of thesheet material 22 and theinnermost surface 50a of the raised area 50), for example between 0.1mm and 2 mm, or between 0.1mm and 1mm. The raised area can, for instance, have a thickness of 0.5mm. - In practice, the correspondence between the dimensions of the
recess 30 and those of thesmoking article rod 2 will depend on the materials used to form these components and the desired closeness of the fit between them. It is likely to be preferable that the dimensions of therecess 30 are slightly larger than the dimensions of thesmoking article rod 2, to facilitate insertion of thesmoking article rod 2 into therecess 30. - In the example of
Figure 1 , therecess 30 has an internal diameter of 8.2mm and thesmoking article rod 2 has an external diameter of 7.8 mm. In alternative examples, the internal diameter of therecess 30 can have other values, for instance diameters in the range from 4mm to 10mm. In the example ofFigure 1 , therecess 30 has an internal length of 12mm. In alternative examples, the internal length of therecess 30 can have other values, for instance values in the range from 5mm to 30mm. - The
longitudinal end surface 23 is configured to at least partially face themouth end surface 16 of thesmoking article rod 2 when theattachable unit 3 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2. - The raised
area 50 can be formed by a resiliently deformable material, so that it can deform to receive thesmoking article rod 2 when thesmoking article rod 2 is inserted into therecess 30. -
Figure 2 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example of anattachable unit 203 and asmoking article rod 2 which can be attached to form asmoking article 200. - As with the previous example, the
attachable unit 203 is arranged to be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 by a user to modify one or more properties of aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 2. Theattachable unit 203 comprises acylindrical element 21 and atubular element 31. Thecylindrical element 21 andtubular element 31 are aligned on a common longitudinal axis (not shown) and connected together by asheet material 22, in the present case wrapping at least a portion of thecylindrical element 21 andtubular element 31. Thetubular element 31 defines arecess 30 which is arranged to receive at least a portion of thesmoking article rod 2 when theattachable unit 203 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2. - The
smoking article rod 2 shown inFigure 2 is substantially the same as thesmoking article rod 2 described in relation toFigure 1 , and so detailed description of its structure is omitted. Furthermore, the dimensions of therecess 30 described with reference toFigure 1 also apply to therecess 30 illustrated inFigure 2 . However, in the present example, therecess 30 is formed by the inner surface of thetubular element 31 together with theend surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21. Thetubular element 31 is selected to have a manufacturing tolerance with regards to its internal diameter which is smaller than that achievable by thesheet material 22 of the example ofFigure 1 . For instance, thetubular element 31 can have an internal diameter of between 4mm and 10mm and a manufacturing tolerance for said internal diameter of +/- 0.1mm or less, +/- 0.05mm or less, +/- 0.04mm or less, +/- 0.03mm or less or +/- 0.02mm or less. Accordingly, the use of atubular element 31 enables deviations in the diameter of therecess 30 to be reduced, facilitating insertion of thesmoking article rod 2 into therecess 30 and minimising the variation in the distance between the outer surface of the portion of thesmoking article rod 2 inserted into therecess 30 and the inner surface of therecess 30. - The
tubular element 31 may be made of a deformable material, such as a foamed material, rubber or a plastic material. This allows thetubular element 31 to deform when receiving thesmoking article rod 2. - The
attachable unit 3 may be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 in any suitable way. This may include forming an interference fit between the inner surface of thetubular element 31 and the outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2. In this case, the interference fit is such that a seal is formed at the interface between the inner surface of thetubular member 31 and the outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2, which inhibits the ingress of gases (such as air) that would normally enter into thesmoking article 200 via a gap between the outer surface of thesmoking article rod 2 and the inner surface of thetubular member 31. The amount of air entering into a smoking article between two neighbouring surfaces may be variable and/or unwanted. Restricting the ingress of air therefore provides a degree of control of the airflow into and/or through thesmoking article 200. - The
attachable unit 203 can include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by thesmoking article rod 2, in the same way as theattachable unit 3 described with reference toFigure 1 above. - In use, the
smoking article 200 can be provided to users with theattachable unit 203 andsmoking article rod 2 as separate components, for instance as a kit of parts. Prior to a user first using thesmoking article 200, theattachable unit 203 can be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 by inserting thesmoking article rod 2 into therecess 30 of theattachable unit 203. - When the
attachable unit 203 is attached to thesmoking article rod 2, thelongitudinal end surface 23 of thecylindrical element 21 may abut themouth end surface 16 of thefilter 6. Alternatively, theattachable unit 203 may be attached to thesmoking article rod 2 so that there is a gap between thelongitudinal end surface 23 and themouth end surface 16. - The user can select whether or not to attach the
attachable unit 203 to thesmoking article rod 2 prior to smoking thesmoking article 200, and can in this way control the length of filter of thesmoking article 200 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by thesmoking article 200, as well as other properties of the aerosol in the case that theattachable unit 203 includes one or more additives or agents for modifying the aerosol. -
Figure 3 is a side-on cross sectional view of another example of anattachable unit 303 and asmoking article rod 302 which can be attached to form asmoking article 300. - Referring to
Figure 3 , theattachable unit 303 is arranged to be attached to asmoking article rod 302 by a user. Thesmoking article rod 302 in the present example comprises afirst recess 13. As with theattachable units Figures 1 and2 , theattachable unit 303 is configured to modify one or more properties of an aerosol generated by thesmoking article rod 302. Theattachable unit 303 includes anelement 20 arranged to be inserted at least partially into thefirst recess 13 of thesmoking article rod 302 and asecond recess 330 to receive at least a portion of thesmoking article rod 302. - In the present example, the
smoking article 300 is a cigarette and thesmoking article rod 302 includes atobacco rod 4 wrapped in awrapping material 5, in this case cigarette paper. Thesmoking article rod 2 includes afilter 306 at its mouth end comprising afirst section 7 located at the tobacco rod end of thefilter 306. Thefirst filter section 7 is, in the present example, formed from cellulose acetate tow wrapped in afirst plug wrap 9. Thefilter 306 also includes asecond section 10 located downstream of thefirst section 7 and comprising atubular element 11 wrapped in asecond plug wrap 12. - The
tubular element 11 is, in the present example, open at the mouth end of thesmoking article rod 302 and defines the first recess, or cavity, 13 at that end. Amouth end surface 316 of thetubular element 11 is exposed at the mouth end of thesmoking article rod 302. Thetubular element 11 can be formed from fibrous filtration material such as cellulose acetate having a relatively high plasticiser level, for instance between 15 and 21% by weight of the cellulose acetate. Thetobacco rod 4 and first andsecond filter sections material 14 overlaying the first andsecond filter sections material 5. The first andsecond filter sections filter 306, can be connected together using a further plug wrap (not shown), prior to connection of thefilter 306 to thetobacco rod 4 using thetipping material 14. - The
cylindrical element 20 of theattachable unit 303 is wrapped in aplug wrap 26 which is substantially impermeable to air, for instance having a permeability of greater than 50 Coresta Units or greater than 100 Coresta Units. However, thecylindrical element 20 may alternatively be unwrapped. - The
cylindrical element 20 of theattachable unit 303 has adjacent first andsecond portions cylindrical element 20. In the present example, thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 extends from an insertion end of thecylindrical element 20 to anintermediate position 25 along the length of thecylindrical element 20. In the present example, thesecond portion 20b of thecylindrical element 20 extends from a mouth end of thecylindrical element 20 and ends at theintermediate position 25 along the length of thecylindrical element 20. - In the present example, the
cylindrical element 20 is 25mm in length and theintermediate position 25 is 12.5mm along the length of thecylindrical element 20 from the insertion end. Thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 is arranged to be inserted, by a user, into therecess 13 at the mouth end of thesmoking article rod 302. - The
attachable unit 303 further comprises anannular element 27 which is arranged around the periphery of thesecond portion 20b of thecylindrical element 20. Theannular element 27 has a larger external diameter than the internal diameter of therecess 13. Theannular element 27 has alongitudinal end surface 29 which, together with the inner surface of thesheet material 22 and the outer surface of thecylindrical element 20, defines thesecond recess 303. - The
longitudinal end surface 29 of theannular element 27 is arranged to face thesmoking article rod 302 when theattachable unit 303 is attached to thesmoking article rod 302. Thelongitudinal end surface 29 may abut themouth end surface 316 of thetubular element 11 when theattachable unit 303 is attached to thesmoking article rod 302, as described below. Additionally or alternatively, a longitudinal end surface 29' of thecylindrical element 20 may abut amouth end surface 17 of thefirst filter section 7 when theattachable unit 303 is attached to thesmoking article rod 302. - The
first portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 is arranged to be inserted into thefirst recess 13 in thesmoking article rod 302, in the present case into therecess 13 formed by thetube section 11. The internal diameter and/or length of therecess 13 and the external diameter and/or length of thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 are arranged to substantially correspond such that thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 can be received within and substantially fill therecess 13. For instance, the internal diameter of therecess 13 can be substantially the same as the external diameter of thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20. Furthermore, the length of therecess 13 can be substantially the same as the length of thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 protruding proud of theannular element 27. - In practice, the correspondence between the dimensions of the
recess 13 and those of thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 will depend on the materials used to form these components and the desired closeness of the fit between them. It is likely to be preferable that the recess dimensions are slightly larger than the dimensions of thefirst portion 20a, to facilitate insertion of thecylindrical element 20 into therecess 13. - In the example of
Figure 3 , therecess 13 has an internal diameter of 4mm and thecylindrical element 20 has an external diameter of 3.8mm. In alternative examples, the internal diameter of therecess 13 and external diameter of thecylindrical element 20 can have other values, for instance diameters in the range from 2mm to 6mm. In the example ofFigure 3 , therecess 13 has an internal length of 12mm and thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 has a length of 12mm. In alternative examples, the internal length of therecess 13 and the length of thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 can have other values, for instance values in the range from 5mm to 20mm. - In the present example, the
annular element 27 is attached to thecylindrical element 20 using an adhesive (not shown). Theannular element 27 may be attached to thecylindrical element 20 by means other than an adhesive, for example by mechanical means such as a friction fit or other locking arrangement. - The
attachable unit 303 can include additives or agents for modifying the aerosol, in the present case smoke, generated by thesmoking article rod 302, in the same way as theattachable unit 3 described with reference toFigure 1 above. - In use, the
smoking article 300 can be provided to users with theattachable unit 303 andsmoking article rod 302 as separate components. Prior to a user first using thesmoking article rod 302, theattachable unit 303 can be attached to thesmoking article rod 302 by inserting thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20 into therecess 13, so that the end portion of thesmoking article rod 302 is received by therecess 330. When theattachable member 303 is attached to thesmoking article rod 302, thelongitudinal end surface 29 of theannular element 27 may abut theend surface 316 of thetubular element 11. - The user can select whether or not to attach the
attachable unit 303 to thesmoking article rod 302 prior to smoking thesmoking article 300, and can in this way control the length of filter of thesmoking article 300 and therefore the level of filtration of the aerosol generated by thesmoking article 300, as well as other properties of the aerosol in the case that theattachable unit 303 includes one or more additives for modifying the aerosol. - In the present example, the
annular element 27 andtubular element 11 comprise fibrous filtration material, formed into a tube and circumferentially wrapped in a wrapper 12 (not shown for annular element 27), in the present case plug wrap material, leaving the longitudinal ends unwrapped. In alternative embodiments theannular element 27 and/or tubular element may be formed in other ways. For instance, theannular element 27 and/or tubular element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials. Theannular element 27 and/or tubular element also need not be wrapped in a wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a wrapper such as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) tube formed from cellulose acetate fibres. -
Figure 4 is a side-on cross sectional view of anattachable unit 403 according to the present invention and asmoking article rod 302 which can be attached to form asmoking article 400. Thesmoking article rod 302 is the same as the smoking article rod described with reference toFigure 3 above. Theattachable unit 403 is the same as theattachable unit 303 described above with reference toFigure 3 herein except that it also includes thetubular element 31 as described with reference toFigure 2 herein, arranged between thesheet material 22 and thefirst portion 20a of thecylindrical element 20, and attached to thesheet material 22. In addition, thetubular element 31 includes a raisedarea 50 on an inner surface thereof which defines thesecond recess 330, the raisedarea 50 being the same as that described with reference toFigure 1 herein. - The fibrous filtration material forming the tubes, and that forming other components of the
attachable units filter annular element 27 may alternatively be formed from a sheet material, such as tipping paper, wrapped around thecylindrical element 20 to form a single or multiple layers of the sheet material around thecylindrical element 20. Theannular element 27 and/ortubular element 11 may alternatively be formed from plastic or another moulded material. - The cylindrical element of any of the above examples may comprise fibrous filtration material. In alternative examples, the cylindrical element may be formed in other ways. The cylindrical element may alternatively be formed from other fibrous materials and can be arranged to have a different construction. The cylindrical element may, for instance, be formed from stiff paper, plastic, card or other materials as an open or closed ended hollow tube. The cylindrical element also need not be wrapped in a wrapper, but could, for instance, be formed without a wrapper such as a non-wrapped acetate (NWA) plug formed from cellulose acetate fibres. The fibrous filtration material may comprise cellulose acetate fibres and/or other materials used to form fibres, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), starch based materials, paper, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers.
- Filter plasticisers operate by softening the fibrous filter material from which a filter element is constructed such that the individual fibres can bond to each other to form a more rigid structure. A filter plasticiser such as glycerin triacetate, also referred to as triacetin, can, for instance, be used in the cylindrical element and/or annular element of any of the above examples when these elements are formed from a fibrous filtration material such as cellulose acetate. A higher level of plasticiser than is usually used in a filter element can be used to provide additional firmness to either component. For instance, greater than 7%, greater than 10%, greater than 12% or greater than 15% plasticiser can be used in any of the components described herein, by weight of the fibrous filtration material used.
- Any of the attachable units described above may include a flavour modifying agent or additive or flavour source. The flavour modifying agent may, for instance, be disposed in a cylindrical element of the attachable unit. For example, an attachable unit may be provided in which the cylindrical element comprises a frangible capsule containing a liquid payload comprising a flavourant, such as menthol. The user can squeeze the attachable unit to cause a pressure to be exerted on the capsule such that it breaks to release the flavourant contained therein, to thus modify aerosol drawn through the attachable unit. In other examples the attachable unit may comprise other flavour releasing components or flavour modifying agents.
- The features of the examples described herein can be combined. For instance, the raised
area 50 of the example ofFigure 1 can be applied to the inner surface of thetubular element 31 of the example ofFigure 2 , or to the inner surface of thesheet material 22 of the example ofFigure 3 , to perform an equivalent function as that described with reference toFigure 1 . Also, thetubular element 31 ofFigure 2 can be applied to theattachment unit 303 ofFigure 3 . - In use, the smoking articles described herein can be provided to users with the attachable units described herein and smoking article rods described herein as separate components, for instance packaged separately or packaged together as a kit of parts for producing a smoking article.
- A tubular filter component, such as the
tubular element 11 described with reference toFigure 3 , can be provided as an additional component at the mouth-end of any of theattachable units
Claims (10)
- An attachable unit (203) to be attached to a smoking article rod (2) by a user to modify an aerosol generated by the smoking article rod, the attachable unit comprising:a cylindrical element (21); anda tubular element (31), wherein the cylindrical element and tubular element are aligned on a longitudinal axis and connected together by a sheet material (22) wrapping at least a portion of the cylindrical element and tubular element and wherein the tubular element defines a recess (30) to receive at least a portion of the smoking article rod when the attachable unit is attached to the smoking article rod, wherein the cylindrical element comprises a flavour modifying agent,wherein the tubular element has a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 1 mm, andfurther comprising a raised area (50) extending from an inner surface of the recess (30) for contacting an outer surface of the smoking article rod (2) when the at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess.
- An attachable unit (203) according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element (31) comprises a resiliently deformable material.
- An attachable unit (203) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular element (31) has a wall thickness of between 0.2mm and 0.4mm.
- An attachable unit (203) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular element (31) has an internal diameter of between 4mm and 10mm and a manufacturing tolerance for said internal diameter of less than +/- 0.1mm, +/- 0.05mm, +/- 0.04mm, +/-0.03mm or +/- 0.02mm.
- An attachable unit (203) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical element (21) comprises filtration material.
- An attachable unit (203) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cylindrical element (21) comprises fibrous filtration material.
- An attachable unit (203) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the raised area (50) is annular and extends circumferentially around the inner circumferential surface of the recess (30).
- A kit comprising an attachable unit (203) according to any one of the preceding claims and a smoking article rod (2), the attachable unit to be attached to the smoking article rod by a user.
- A smoking article comprising:a smoking article rod (2); andan attachable unit (203) according to any one of the preceding claims attached to the smoking article rod, wherein at least a portion of the smoking article rod is received in the recess (30) defined by the tubular element.
- A smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the attachable unit (203) is arranged such that the smoking article rod and attachable unit are aligned on a longitudinal axis and wherein a longitudinal end surface (23) of the cylindrical element (21) is arranged to abut a longitudinal end surface (16) of the smoking article rod (2).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB1610049.7A GB201610049D0 (en) | 2016-06-08 | 2016-06-08 | A smoking article and attachable unit therefor |
PCT/GB2017/051675 WO2017212284A1 (en) | 2016-06-08 | 2017-06-08 | A smoking article and attachable unit therefor |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3468395A1 EP3468395A1 (en) | 2019-04-17 |
EP3468395B1 true EP3468395B1 (en) | 2024-04-10 |
Family
ID=56508292
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17730552.1A Active EP3468395B1 (en) | 2016-06-08 | 2017-06-08 | A smoking article and attachable unit therefor |
Country Status (11)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20190124974A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3468395B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6831858B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR102251188B1 (en) |
AR (1) | AR108776A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112018075490A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3026442A1 (en) |
CL (1) | CL2018003482A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB201610049D0 (en) |
PL (1) | PL3468395T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017212284A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11744296B2 (en) | 2015-12-10 | 2023-09-05 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Smoking article |
US10314334B2 (en) | 2015-12-10 | 2019-06-11 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Smoking article |
US11219242B2 (en) * | 2018-06-11 | 2022-01-11 | Filter420, LLC | Interface for smokable element to connect to a smoke and/or tar filter and related methods |
US11723399B2 (en) | 2018-07-13 | 2023-08-15 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Smoking article with detachable cartridge |
US20200035118A1 (en) | 2018-07-27 | 2020-01-30 | Joseph Pandolfino | Methods and products to facilitate smokers switching to a tobacco heating product or e-cigarettes |
US10897925B2 (en) | 2018-07-27 | 2021-01-26 | Joseph Pandolfino | Articles and formulations for smoking products and vaporizers |
KR102593691B1 (en) * | 2018-12-06 | 2023-10-26 | 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이. | Mouthpiece with inner and outer tubular sections |
US12022859B2 (en) | 2019-07-18 | 2024-07-02 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Thermal energy absorbers for tobacco heating products |
US11330838B2 (en) | 2019-07-19 | 2022-05-17 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Holder for aerosol delivery device with detachable cartridge |
US11395510B2 (en) | 2019-07-19 | 2022-07-26 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Aerosol delivery device with rotatable enclosure for cartridge |
US11166489B2 (en) | 2019-08-20 | 2021-11-09 | Isaac SUTTON | Filter unit for electronic cigarettes |
US11439185B2 (en) | 2020-04-29 | 2022-09-13 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Aerosol delivery device with sliding and transversely rotating locking mechanism |
US11589616B2 (en) | 2020-04-29 | 2023-02-28 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Aerosol delivery device with sliding and axially rotating locking mechanism |
US11825872B2 (en) | 2021-04-02 | 2023-11-28 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Aerosol delivery device with protective sleeve |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB355559A (en) * | 1930-09-30 | 1931-08-27 | William Hirst | A cigarette holder and filter combined |
ITRM20020148U1 (en) * | 2002-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | Squeo Michele | ADDITIONAL FILTER FOR CIGARETTE. |
JP2005245258A (en) * | 2004-03-02 | 2005-09-15 | Shetech:Kk | Filter tip containing platinum nano particles, and smoking object having the filter tip or solution of platinum nanoparticles |
US8100134B2 (en) * | 2006-02-22 | 2012-01-24 | Philip Morris Usa Inc. | Ventilated smoking article |
JP5164217B2 (en) * | 2006-04-20 | 2013-03-21 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | Menthol delivery system for charcoal filter cigarette |
CN104039179B (en) * | 2012-01-09 | 2018-01-26 | 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 | The smoking article of lid with dual-use function |
-
2016
- 2016-06-08 GB GBGB1610049.7A patent/GB201610049D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2017
- 2017-06-06 AR ARP170101551A patent/AR108776A1/en unknown
- 2017-06-08 WO PCT/GB2017/051675 patent/WO2017212284A1/en active Search and Examination
- 2017-06-08 EP EP17730552.1A patent/EP3468395B1/en active Active
- 2017-06-08 PL PL17730552.1T patent/PL3468395T3/en unknown
- 2017-06-08 JP JP2018564386A patent/JP6831858B2/en active Active
- 2017-06-08 BR BR112018075490A patent/BR112018075490A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2017-06-08 US US16/306,778 patent/US20190124974A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-06-08 CA CA3026442A patent/CA3026442A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-06-08 KR KR1020187035577A patent/KR102251188B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
2018
- 2018-12-05 CL CL2018003482A patent/CL2018003482A1/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP2019524064A (en) | 2019-09-05 |
CA3026442A1 (en) | 2017-12-14 |
PL3468395T3 (en) | 2024-06-03 |
KR20190004348A (en) | 2019-01-11 |
JP6831858B2 (en) | 2021-02-17 |
AR108776A1 (en) | 2018-09-26 |
CL2018003482A1 (en) | 2019-03-15 |
KR102251188B1 (en) | 2021-05-11 |
WO2017212284A1 (en) | 2017-12-14 |
BR112018075490A2 (en) | 2019-03-19 |
EP3468395A1 (en) | 2019-04-17 |
GB201610049D0 (en) | 2016-07-20 |
US20190124974A1 (en) | 2019-05-02 |
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