US3526230A - Cigarette filter - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor William E. Rosen Montgomery County, Pennsylvania [21] Appl. No. 797,405 [22] Filed Feb. 7, 1969 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 721,708,

Apr. 16, 1968, abandoned [45] Patented Sept. 1, 1970 [73] Assignee Ultrasciences, Inc.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a corporation of Pennsylvania [54] CIGARETTE FILTER 9 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 13l/10.5, 131/107, 131/264 [51 1 Int. Cl A24f7/04, A24d1/104, A24c 5/50 [50] Field otSearch 131/105, 10.7, 2618, 264, 10.9, 261

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,728,346 12/1955 Crawford l3l/10.7X

Primary Examiner-Samuel Koren Assistant Examiner-James H. Czerwonky Attorney-Paul and Paul ABSTRACT: A tobacco smoke filter is described as containing a first filter section composed of conventional tobacco filter material, a second separate filter section composed of conventional tobacco filter material and in longitudinal alignment with said first filter section, both sections being substantially cylindrical, a non-circular, substantially planar, coherent foraminous covering adhered to the end of not more than one of said first and second filter sections throughout the smoke filtering cross-section of said end, said first and second filter sections being abutted along a complementally configured end surface of each section, and a circumferential wrapper sealed about said tobacco filter material.

Patented Sept. 1, 1970 INVENTOR.

William E. Rosen BY m m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1970 Sheet 8 Km mR m V mm w W ATTORNEYS.

CIGARETTE FILTER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS partly a continuation-in-part of my pending U.S. application Ser. No. 764,374, filed September 30, I968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of cigarette filters.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore various mechanical devices have been utilized in an attempt to filter undesirable components from cigarette, pipe and cigar smoke. While bundles of soft porous materials are conventionally the primary filtering means, other elements such as discs, granular chemicals and the like have been placed in longitudinal alignment with the primary filtering means in attempts to reduce the smoke content in certain respects. Additionally, some mechanical filters utilize no soft porous material at all, but rely on tortuous internal paths for their effect. The prior art patents that I am aware of which pertain to the general subject matter are as follows:

U.S. Patent Nos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1 In summary, the device of this invention is a filter element which comprises two filter sections, each composed of a soft, porous, smoke penetrable material, which sections are juxtaposed such that one end of each section complementally meets the other section. The sections should meet on an angle throughout the major portion of their abutting surface areas. The sections may conveniently be made of conventional cigarette filter material. One of said filter sections has its complementally meeting surface area provided with a foraminous covering adhered thereto, such covering consisting of a material more dense than the soft porous material of the two sections. In use, this combination of elements is formed with wrapped tobacco into a filter cigarette. In smoking, an unexpectedly high percentage of the original tar and nicotine content of the cigarette is removed at the interface of the two filter sections provided by the foraminous cover, at the same time permitting a substantially normal draw during the smoking ofthe complete cigarette.

Additionally the device of this invention comprises the utilization of transverse incissions which are made from the abutting surface of a filter section into such filter section. These incissions increase the surface area in which condensed material may collect during'use of the filter.

.Additionally the device of this invention comprises the utilization of solid inserts which are embedded in the abutting surface of a filter section in a manner such as to create channels for smoke flow through the filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view of a cigarette embodying one embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size, certain portions being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I of a cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I ofa cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. I of a cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention in actual size;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows VIIVII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction ofthe arrows VIII-VIII of FIG. 1:

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows IXIX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cigarette embodying a still further embodiment of the filter of this invention, in actual size;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 ofa cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 ofa cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention. in actual size; 7

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 ofa cigarette embodying another embodiment of the filter of this invention, in actual size;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cigarette embodying a still further embodiment of the filter of this invention, in actual size;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows XV-XV of FIG. 10; V v a FIG. 16 is an isometric view, parts being broken away of a portion of a filter section utilized in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the lines and invthe direction of the arrows XVII-XVII of FIG. 14; and

FIGS. 18 24 are views similar to FIG. 17 ofother embodi ments of the filter of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS such as paper, cork or the like. A conventional cigarette paper I4 circumferentially encloses the tobacco of the cigarette,

The filter tip portion 12 comprises a first filter section 15, and

a separate second filter section 16,]each composed of a conventional cigarette filter material which is soft, porous and smoke penetrable, such as cellulose acetate, cotton, parallelized synthetic fibers and the like. Section 15 and section I6 are separated by a foraminous covering 17. This covering 17,

shown more clearly in FIG. 7 has a plurality of substantially equally spaced openings formed throughout the extent thereof, and is adhered to one onlyof the sections I5 or 16. The covering may be composed of various materials such, as

plastic, paper, and the like, but in any event is a material more dense than the material from which filter sections 15 and 16 are made. The periphery of covering 17 is sealed by adhesive or the like to the wrapper I3, thereby preventing the by passing of smoke thereabout. It will be noted that except for the covering 17, the filter section I5 and filter section 16 are.

in closely abutting juxtaposition, since the adjacent end surfaces thereof are complementally configured. It is important to note that the abutting planes of the end surfaces of sections I5 and 16 in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. l6 are to a major extent at an angle of less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the sections and 16. It has been found that the use of a barrier of any kind in the smoke path of a cigarette which is oriented normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, causes a significantly increased draw during smoking which is undesirable. It is also important that the material of which the filter section to which the covering 17 is adhered be sealed along the surface thereof in contact with the wrapper 13, as by adhesive, for example. Moreover, both filter section 15 and filter section 16 may be sealed where the material thereof contacts the wrapper 13.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is constructed not in accordance with the filter of this invention for comparison in the following examples. It is sufficient to note at this point that in this embodiment section 15 and section 16 are so configured that the covering 17 is extended into the tobacco of the cigarette. As so constructed, this embodiment is materially less effective than the other preferred embodiments. Further description of the device of this invention, as well as the practical advantages and benefits thereof will become apparent from the following examples.

EXAMPLE] A non-filter tax paid U.S. retail cigarette was combined with a filter in accordance with this invention as shown in FIG. 1. The filter sections 15 and I6 were prepared from conventional filters provided as filter tips for the same retail brand. The foraminous cover 17 utilized was a piece of flexible adhesive air-vented tape, and it was adhered to section 16. The tape extends across the filter at an angle of 60 from the normal form a point Va inch from the smoking end of the cigarette to a point Va inch from the tobacco end. This cigarette and filter was then smoked in a Phipps & Bird Type 990 smoke sampling apparatus which was adjusted to deliver a puff of two seconds duration and 35 milliliter capacity to the cigarette at a rate of one puff per minute. After smoking this cigarette, three more identical cigarettes were smoked through the same filter as that shown in FIG. 1 and the total amount of condensible material passed by the filter was determined. This amount was then compared with that obtained by smoking 4 identical nonfilter cigarettes with the following average results:

Tar (mg./ Percent cigarette) Reduction Non-filter cigarette 19. 3 Cigarette as in Fig. 1 3. 5 81, 7

EXAMPLEZ Tar (mgJ Percent cigarette) Reduction Non-filter cigarette 19. 3 Cigarette as in Fig. 2 3. 3 82. 9

EXAMPLEJ The procedure of Example 1 was carried out with a combination filter and cigarette as shown in FIG. 3, except that the Tar", Percent Nicotine, Per- Rcduction cent Reduction EXAMPLE 4 The procedure of Example 1 was carried out with a combination filter and cigarette as shown in FIG. 4, except that the filter is a modification of the actual filter attached to the tax paid retail cigarette. Section 16 is adhered to the wrapper 13 by means of an adhesive about the circumferential periphery thereof. The tape in this filter extends from a point 3/l6 inch from the smoking end in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of sections 15 and 16 for A; inch, and then at an angle of 60 from the normal to a point A inch from the tobacco end. After smoking this cigarette, a comparison with a standard cigarette showed the following results:

Tar, Percent Nicotine, Per- The procedure of Example 1 was carried out with a combination filter and cigarette as shown in FIG. 5, except that the filter is a modification of the actual filter attached to the tax paid cigarette. Section 16 is adhered to the wrapper 13 by means of an adhesive about the circumferential periphery thereof, and section 15 is shaped so as to include a portion of the tobacco of the cigarette. The tape in this filter extends from a point l/l6 from the smoking end and extends therefrom at an angle of 63 from the normal past the tobacco end. and is adhered to section 16. After smoking this cigarette, a comparison with a standard cigarette showed the following results:

Tar, Perccnt Nicotine, Per- The procedure of Example 1 was carried out with a combination filter and cigarette as shown in FIG. 6, except that the filter is a modification of the actual filter attached to the tax paid cigarette. Section 16 is adhered to the wrapper 13 by means of an adhesive about the circumferential periphery thereof. The tape in this filter extends from a point Va inch from the smoking end at an angle of 32 degrees from the normal to a point inch from the tobacco end. After smoking this cigarette, a comparison with a standard cigarette showed the following results:

Tar, Percent Nicotine, Per- Reduction cent Reduction It will be apparent from the above Examples 1-6 that a filter constructed in accordance with the manufacture of this invention causes a significant reduction in the tar and nicotine content of the smoke from a currently marketed retail cigarette. I do not know why this filter causes this reduction, but since the presence of liquid and absorbed tar is immediately apparent after smoking in the vicinity of the foraminous covering 17, I believe that a change in the ionization of smoke particles has occurred at this interface between the two filter sections 15 and 16, thereby effecting a condensation of the undesirable smoke components. It should be noted that although for practical convenience the actual devices shown in FIGS. 1-6 show the foraminous covering 17 as being generally flat, it is readily apparent that such covering and the complementally configured end surfaces of sections 15 and 16 may be curved, and in such event the majority of such surfaces may still be at an angle less than normal to the longitudinal axis of such sections.

FIGS. -13 represent full size views of different embodiments of the filter of this invention similar to those shown in FIGS. 1-6 except that in addition to the structures earlier described, each filter contains a plurality of transverse incisions 18 made adjacent to the foraminous covering 17. All of the incisions 18 are at an angle less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the sections and 16. The embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 differ from those of FIGS. 1-6 in that the foraminous covering 17 is normal to the longitudinal axis of the filter section 15, and said section 15 has an end surface to which the covering 17 is attached which end surface is cut normally to the longitudinal axis of the filter section 15. This embodiment would not be expected to function as well as the remaining embodiments for reasons hereinbefore described. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the manner in which the incisions 18 may be made in perpendicular arrangement with each other.

FIG. 14 represents a full size view of a different embodiment of the filter of this invention similar to those shown in FIGS. 1-6, except that in addition to the structures earlier described, the filter has a solid insert 19 imbedded in the material of filter section 16 adjacent abutting surface thereof. The cross sectional shape of this insert 19 is shown in FIG. 17, and FIGS. 18-24 show variations in the shape that an insert 19 may have while functioning in accordance with the device of this invention. The inserts 19 are preferably not thicker than about inch and they function to create parallel smoke paths through the filter. FIG. 24 indicates that an insert 19 may be imbedded in each of sections 15 and 16 prior to abutting the sections 15 and 16.

lclaim:-

l. A filter for tobacco smoke comprising: a first filter section and a separate second filter section, each section being substantially cylindrical and formed of soft, porous, smoke penetrable material, and the first and second sections being aligned in abutting juxtaposition longitudinally to form an elongated filtering medium, the abutting surfaces of the first and second sections being complementally configured; a single non-circular; substantially planar, coherent foraminous covering interposed between the abutting sections and being adhered to the complementally configured surface of one of said sections; and a sealing means comprising a wrapper enclosing the circumferential surface of the elongated filtering medium in sealed engagement with the periphery of said covering for preventing the by-passing of smoke between said covering and said wrapper.

2. The filter of claim 1 in combination with a wrapped tubular form of tobacco, the filter and wrapped tobacco being interconnected whereby upon smoking the tobacco the smoke is drawn through the elongated filtering medium.

3. The filter of claim 1 in combination with means adapted to receive an open end of a wrapped tubular form of tobacco in a smoking relationship therewith, wherein said means causes the smoke of said tobacco to pass through said elongated filtering medium.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein each complementally configured abutting surface of said sections has the majority of its locus lying other than in a plane at an angle normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated medium.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein a substantial portion of the surface of said covering which is adhered to one of said sections lies in a plane at an angle of less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated medium.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the surface of said covering which is adhered to one of said sections lies in a plane which is at an angle of less than normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated medium.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said surfaces has transverse incisions therein which extend into said soft, porous, smoke penetrable material.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one of said surfaces has embedded therein an elongated solid insert.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said insert is disposed between said covering and one of said surfaces.

Images