TW201410163A - Smoking article having reduced sidestream smoke - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoking article having reduced sidestream smoke. As such, a smoking article having a mouth-end and a distal-end is provided. The smoking article comprises: a combustible heat source; an aerosol-forming substrate; at least one air inlet downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate; and an airflow pathway extending between the at least one air inlet and the mouth-end of the smoking article, wherein the airflow pathway comprises a first portion extending upstream from the at least one air inlet towards the aerosol-forming substrate and a second portion extending longitudinally downstream from the first portion towards the mouth-end of the smoking article, wherein the first portion is configured such that it has a component of direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article, and a component of direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. The invention also relates to a method for reducing the sidestream smoke produced by such a smoking article during use.

Description

Smoke with reduced sidestream smoke

The present invention relates to a smoking article having reduced sidestream smoke. In particular, the present invention relates to smoking articles that are heated rather than burning tobacco. The invention also relates to a method for reducing sidestream smoke produced by smoking articles during use.

Heating, rather than burning some of the tobacco, has been proposed in this art. One such 'heating' smoking article is intended to reduce the known types of harmful smoke constituents produced by the burning and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco in conventional cigarettes. In a known type of heated endothermic article, an aerosol is produced by transferring heat from a combustible heat source to an aerosol forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source. During smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming substrate by entrainment of heat from the combustible heat source and entrained in the air drawn through the smoking article. As the release compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.

For example, WO-A2-2009/022232 discloses a smoking article comprising a combustible heat source, an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source, and a phase behind the combustible heat source and the aerosol-forming substrate. a thermally conductive element that is adjacent to and in contact with the front portion. The combustible heat source has a through hole to provide an air flow path through the heated aerosol forming substrate to the mouth end of the smoking article. However, providing such a through hole may result in the igniter fireworks intruding into the heat source during ignition of the smoking article. This may cause combustion of the aerosol-forming substrate, which is not desirable.

In smoking articles, particularly where the aerosol-forming substrate is heated during a plurality of vomiting times, when the user does not smoke on the smoking article, the aerosol may form to cause visible sidestream smoke.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a heated smoking article having reduced sidestream smoke.

According to the present invention, there is provided a smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end. The smoking article includes: a combustible heat source; an aerosol forming substrate; at least one air inlet downstream of the aerosol forming substrate; and an air flow path extending between the at least one air inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article The air flow path includes a first portion extending upstream from the at least one air inlet toward the aerosol-forming substrate and a second portion extending longitudinally from the first portion toward the mouth end of the smoking article, wherein the air portion A portion is configured such that it has a component that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article and a component that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

By providing a gas flow path having such a first portion, providing a smoking article that enables condensation and/or absorption of the aerosol released by the aerosol-forming substrate during a plurality of smoke spouts, thereby reducing sidestream smoke Dissipated.

As used herein, the term 'airflow path' is used to describe The route along which air is introduced as a result of inhalation by the user. The terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' are related to the relative position along the 'airflow path'. The term 'front' relates to the relative position of the combustible heat source rather than the mouth end of the article, and the term 'back' relates to the relative position of the mouth end of the article rather than the combustible heat source.

As used herein, the term 'longitudinal' means the direction from the mouth end of the smoking article to the combustible heat source end of the smoking article. The term 'length' is used to describe the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article.

As used herein, the term 'aerosol-forming matrix' is used to describe a matrix that releases volatile compounds immediately after heating, and such volatile compounds form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate of the smoking article according to the present invention may be visible or invisible and may include steam (eg, particulate matter, which are in a gaseous state at room temperature) Usually liquid or solid) and droplets of gas and condensed steam.

The first portion of the airflow path is configured to have a component that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article and a component that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. By providing such a configuration of the first portion, the release aerosol travels along a longer gas flow path rather than a gas flow path that originally only has a line from the air inlet to the aerosol-forming substrate, thereby providing condensation The formation of the substance and/or the absorption of the aerosol has more time and reduces sidestream smoke when the user does not smoke on the smoking article.

In order to increase the time during which concentrate formation and/or absorption occurs, the first portion may form a tortuous airflow pathway between the air inlet and the aerosol-forming substrate. According to here As used herein, the term "twisted" means that the airflow path has repeated turns or bends, for example, it twitches or wanders between the air inlet and the aerosol-forming substrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the first portion constitutes a helical airflow path. Preferably, the axis of the helical path substantially coincides with the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

The first portion of the airflow path preferably at least partially surrounds the second portion of the airflow path. In this manner, the first portion of the airflow path is preferably formed around the second portion of the airflow path. Accordingly, the first portion of the airflow path is preferably configured to extend from the air inlet to the aerosol-forming substrate along an outer portion of the smoking article, and the second portion is preferably configured to be along the smoking article The inner portion extends from the aerosol-forming substrate to the mouth end of the smoking article. Thus, the first portion of the airflow path is preferably configured to be longer than the second portion of the airflow path.

The second portion of the gas flow path preferably extends longitudinally from a location substantially adjacent to the combustible heat source in, around or adjacent to the aerosol-forming substrate to the mouth end of the smoking article. Preferably, the second portion of the airflow path has no component perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. Preferably, the second portion is linear. The second portion is preferably shorter than the first portion. The second portion of the airflow path is preferably configured to reduce the amount of condensation that occurs before the user inhales the aerosol.

Preferably, the smoking article includes a gas flow directing element to complete an air flow path as described above. The air flow guiding element is preferably downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate, and the element preferably defines the air flow path The first portion of the diameter and the second portion of the airflow path. The airflow guiding element preferably includes an open end substantially airtight hollow body. The hollow body has a first end disposed adjacent to or adjacent to the mouth end of the smoking article and a second end disposed adjacent to or adjacent to the aerosol-forming substrate. The hollow body is preferably an upright cylinder.

The second portion of the air flow path is preferably limited by the inner surface of the hollow body. The first portion of the air flow path is preferably formed by a passageway on the outer surface of the hollow body. An open channel is preferably formed by wrapping the material around the outer surface of the hollow body. The material is preferably wound to form a helical passage along the outer surface of the hollow body. The material is preferably elongate and preferably has a thickness of between about 0.1 mm and about 0.4 mm (more preferably between about 0.2 mm and about 0.3 mm). The material preferably has a width of between about 10 mm and about 15 mm. The material is preferably cardboard or any other suitable material. The open channel is preferably closed by enclosing the hollow body and the elongated material in a packaging material. Preferably, the packaging material is substantially gas impermeable.

The air inlets are preferably disposed about the packaging material. As used herein, the term 'air inlet' is used to describe one or more holes, slits, slits or other holes in the outer wrapper and any other material that constrains the components of the smoking article according to the present invention. Where air can be drawn into the one or more airflow paths via them. The air inlets are preferably holes in the packaging material. The holes are preferably substantially equidistantly spaced around the airflow guiding element. A set of collars is preferably provided around the first end of the hollow body. The collar Preferably, it is substantially gas impermeable and is configured to substantially prevent air from flowing directly from the equal air inlet to the mouth end without passing along the air flow path. Preferably, the collar is wrapped in the packaging material.

The combustible heat source is preferably upstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. The heat source can be in the form of a blade configured to be inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate. In another option, the heat source can be configured to surround the aerosol-forming substrate and, more specifically, can be in the form of a hollow cylinder or any other suitable form.

The combustible heat source is preferably a carbonaceous heat source. As used herein, the term 'carbon-containing' is used to describe a combustible heat source comprising carbon.

In a preferred embodiment, the combustible heat source is cylindrical. Preferably, the combustible heat source is isolated from the airflow path such that air drawn in along the airflow path does not directly contact the combustible heat source. Such a heat source is referred to herein as a "non-through" heat source. The term "non-through" is used to describe that air introduced through the smoking article by the user's inhalation does not pass through any airflow path along the heat source. In some alternative embodiments, the heat source is "through". As used herein, the term "through" is used to describe a combustible heat source of a smoking article according to the present invention, wherein air introduced through the smoking article by the user's inhalation passes through one or more of the combustible heat sources. Air flow channel.

The combustible heat source has opposing front and back faces. In the implementation side of the combustible heat source upstream of the aerosol-forming substrate, the combustible heat source preferably has a non-combustible and substantially gas impermeable first barrier on at least substantially the entire rear surface thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the first barrier comprises a surface that is raised after the combustible heat source For the first barrier coating. In such an embodiment, preferably, the first barrier comprises a first barrier coating provided over at least substantially the entire rear of the combustible heat source. More preferably, the first barrier comprises a first barrier coating provided over the entire back of the combustible heat source. The barrier substantially isolates the heat source from the aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term 'isolated combustible heat source' is used to describe a combustible heat source that is not in direct contact with air drawn through the smoking article along the one or more airflow paths.

As used herein, the term 'direct contact' is used to describe the contact between the air drawn in through the smoking article along the airflow path and the surface of the heat source.

Additionally, the heat source preferably has a barrier that is wrapped around the heat source. A similar barrier may also be wrapped around at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate to more efficiently conduct heat from the heat source to the aerosol-forming substrate.

Preferably, the barrier is provided in the form of a thermally conductive element between the portion of the heat source and the portion of the aerosol forming the front portion of the substrate. Preferably, the portion of the thermally conductive element surrounding the portion prior to the formation of the aerosol comprises at least one air transfer inlet. Preferably, the first portion of the air flow path is between the at least one external air inlet and the at least one air moving inlet, and the second portion of the air flow path is between the at least one air transfer inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article . Preferably, the thermally conductive element is formed from aluminum or any other suitable thermally conductive material.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, by the hollow body circumference The elongated material is wrapped around the open channel to partially form the airflow guiding element. Further, the collar is wound around the hollow body. The heat source is coupled to the aerosol-forming substrate by the thermally conductive element in a separate operation. The portion forming the gas flow guiding member and the heat source and aerosol forming base are joined together by wrapping the two components in the outer packaging material. Furthermore, the mouth end element is connected to the air flow guiding element by the packaging material. In this manner, the smoking article of the present invention can be formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing or removing smoke from an aerosol-forming substrate of a smoking article during a plurality of smoking spouts, the method comprising providing a smoking article comprising: a combustible heat source; a sol forming a substrate; at least one external air inlet downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate; and a gas flow path extending between the at least one external air inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article, wherein the air flow path includes a slave a first portion of the at least one outer air inlet extending upstream toward the aerosol-forming substrate and a second portion extending longitudinally downstream from the first portion toward the mouth end of the article of smoke, wherein the first portion is configured such that it has a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article and a component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article for use in forming the substrate by heating the aerosol during use and during a plurality of smoking times As the aerosol moves from the aerosol-forming substrate toward the at least one external air inlet, the smoke condenses on the wall of the first portion of the airflow path.

During a plurality of spittings, the aerosol (smoke) flows back from the aerosol-forming substrate toward the outer air inlet along a first portion of the airflow path. The first portion of the airflow path is configured to increase condensation of the aerosol (smoke) component to reduce inlets from the outside air Leave the aerosol (smoke). It is believed that the condensation may increase as the surface area of the gas flow path increases along the increased length of the first portion as compared to a path including a line between the aerosol-forming substrate and the outer air inlets. Furthermore, it is believed that due to the non-linear form of the airflow path, the condensation of the aerosol (smoke) may increase due to the increased likelihood of the smoke impacting the wall of the airflow path. Therefore, the visible aerosol exiting from the outside air inlet can be preferably reduced.

It will be appreciated that the above-described features of the smoking article can be used in conjunction with the above methods, where appropriate.

The disclosure extends substantially to the methods and apparatus described herein with reference to the drawings.

According to what is used herein, in another option, their corresponding structures may be represented by means of function plus features.

Any features of the aspects described in this disclosure may be applied to other features discussed herein in any suitable combination. In particular, the method aspect can be applied to the device aspect and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some, or all of the features in one aspect can be applied to any, some, or all of the features in any other aspect in any suitable combination.

It is also to be understood that a particular combination of the various features described and defined in any aspect of the various features can be independently implemented or provided.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

100‧‧‧Smoking

102‧‧‧Combustible heat source

104‧‧‧Aerosol forming matrix

106‧‧‧thermal element

108‧‧‧ mouth-end components

110‧‧‧Airflow guiding element

112‧‧‧External air inlet

114‧‧‧The first part of the airflow path

116‧‧‧The second part of the airflow path

118‧‧‧Substantially airtight collar

120‧‧‧Air transfer entrance

200‧‧‧ airflow path

300‧‧‧ first component

302‧‧‧Second component

400‧‧‧ hollow cylindrical tube

402‧‧‧ outside diameter

404‧‧‧Inner diameter

406‧‧‧Slim piece

408‧‧‧Width

Figure 1 shows a smoking article in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show the airflow path during the user's smoking and when the user is not smoking.

Figure 3 shows a thermally conductive element configured to conduct heat between the heat source and the aerosol-forming substrate.

Figure 4 shows an example of the airflow guiding element and a means for forming the first and second portions of the airflow path.

Figure 1 shows a smoking article 100. The smoking article includes a combustible heat source 102, an aerosol-forming substrate 104 with a thermally conductive element 106 therebetween. The smoking article further includes a mouthpiece member 108, such as a filter member. An airflow guiding element 110 is provided between the aerosol-forming substrate 104 and the mouth end member 108. An external air inlet 112 is provided around the wrapper outside of the airflow guiding element 110. A first portion 114 of a gas flow path is disposed about the gas flow directing element and is configured to direct air from the outer air inlet 112 to the aerosol-forming base 104. The first portion is formed as a passage in a spiral configuration around the air flow guiding member, and thus, the air flow path is increased as compared with a linear distance from the external air inlet to the aerosol-forming substrate The length of a part. A second portion 116 of a gas flow path is disposed within the gas flow directing element to direct air from the aerosol-forming substrate to the mouth end of the smoking article. The second portion is formed by a wall of a hollow tube constituting the air flow guiding member. As will be described in further detail below, the first portion of the airflow guiding element is configured as the airflow directing element The outer surface of the wall of the hollow tube of the piece is limited. A substantially airtight collar 118 is provided between the portion of the airflow guiding member 110 that forms the first portion 114 of the airflow guiding member and the mouthpiece member 108. In use, the collar 118 substantially prevents air from flowing directly from the outer air inlets 112 to the mouth end 108. An air transfer inlet 120 may be provided around the thermally conductive element 106 to assist in the transfer of air from the first portion 114 of the gas flow path into the aerosol-forming substrate 104.

Further details of the operation of the smoking article will now be described with reference to Figure 2. The user smokes at the mouth end of the smoking article to draw in air along the airflow path 200 to the mouth end of the smoking article. It can be seen in the second (a) diagram that air passes from the outer air inlets 112 along the first portion 114 of the air flow path via the air transfer inlets 120, through the aerosol to form the substrate 104 and then through the air flow The second portion 116 of the guiding element travels to the mouth end of the smoking article. Section 2(b) shows the flow of air when the user does not smoke on the smoking article. It can be seen that aerosol is continuously produced because once the heat source is ignited, the heat source continues to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. As the aerosol travels along the first portion of the gas flow path, condensation of the aerosol, absorption or adsorption of the aerosol into the walls of the first partial passage may occur. As the aerosol moves from the aerosol-forming substrate to the external air inlets, the increased length of the first portion of the airflow path as described above provides for further cooling, condensation, and/or absorption/adsorption of the aerosol. The time and the increase in the surface area of the first portion of the passage. Therefore, when the user does not smoke on the smoking article, the amount of sidestream smoke exiting from the outside air inlet is reduced.

As described above, between the heat source and the aerosol-forming substrate A thermally conductive element is provided. The combustible heat source is isolated from the one or more airflow paths such that, in use, air drawn through the smoking article along the airflow path does not directly contact the combustible heat source. The thermally conductive element will now be described in further detail with reference to Figure 3. The thermally conductive element 106 includes a first member 300 configured to wrap around the heat source and a second member 302 configured to wrap around the aerosol-forming substrate. A third member (not shown) is provided between the first member and the second member of the thermally conductive member to form a barrier between the heat source and the aerosol-forming substrate. The air transfer inlets 120 are provided around the second member 302, and in an example, such inlets are provided in an equidistantly spaced manner around the perimeter. The air transfer inlets may have a diameter of about 0.5 mm. In one example, the first component 300 has a diameter of about 8 mm and a width of about 4 mm. The second member 302 has a diameter of about 7.3 mm and a width of about 5 mm. The thermally conductive element can be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of aluminum.

The airflow guiding element 110 will now be described in further detail with reference to FIG. A hollow cylindrical tube 400 is formed that forms a second portion of the air flow path. The hollow tube has an outer diameter 402 between about 6 mm and about 7.2 mm and an inner diameter 404 between about 5.4 mm and about 6.8 mm. By winding a long and narrow strip of 406 material around the hollow tube 400 in a spiral manner, an open passageway is formed around the outer wall of the hollow tube to form a first portion of the air flow path. The elongate sheet 406 has a width 408 of between about 10 mm and about 15 mm. Next, a substantially airtight package (not shown) is wrapped around the hollow tube to form a closed passage that forms a first portion of the air flow path. Finally, in the package A plurality of holes are formed around to form the air inlets 112.

The above exemplary embodiments are not limited. Other embodiments consistent with the above-described exemplary embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

100‧‧‧Smoking

102‧‧‧Combustible heat source

104‧‧‧Aerosol forming matrix

106‧‧‧thermal element

108‧‧‧ mouth-end components

110‧‧‧Airflow guiding element

112‧‧‧External air inlet

114‧‧‧The first part of the airflow path

116‧‧‧The second part of the airflow path

118‧‧‧Substantially airtight collar

120‧‧‧Air transfer entrance

Claims (14)

A smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end, the smoking article comprising: a combustible heat source; an aerosol forming substrate; at least one air inlet downstream of the aerosol forming substrate; and an air flow path extending over the at least one Between the air inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article, wherein the air flow path includes a first portion extending upstream from the at least one air inlet toward the aerosol-forming substrate, and a first end portion toward the mouth end of the smoking article A second portion extending longitudinally downstream, wherein the first portion is configured such that it has a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article and a component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the first portion forms a tortuous airflow path between the air inlet and the aerosol-forming substrate. A smoking article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion forms a helical air flow path. The smoking article of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first portion of the airflow path at least partially surrounds the second portion of the airflow path. A smoking article according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: a gas flow guiding element downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate, the gas flow guiding element defining a first portion of the gas flow path and a second portion of the gas flow path . The smoking article of claim 5, wherein the airflow guiding member comprises an open-ended substantially airtight hollow body. For example, in the smoking article of claim 6, wherein the hollow system is always a cylinder. A smoking article according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion of the air flow path is formed by a passageway on the outer surface of the hollow body. A smoking article according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the second portion of the air flow path is limited by the inner surface of the hollow body. A smoking article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the combustible heat source is isolated from the airflow path such that air drawn in along the airflow path does not directly contact the combustible heat source. A smoking article according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: a thermally conductive element surrounding and in contact with the rear portion of the combustible heat source and the front portion of the aerosol-forming substrate. The smoking article of claim 11, wherein the portion of the thermally conductive element around the front portion of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least one air transfer inlet. The smoking article of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the airflow path is between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air transfer inlet, and the second portion of the airflow path is at the at least one air transfer inlet With the mouth of the smoking article A method of reducing or removing smoke from an aerosol-forming substrate of a smoking article during a plurality of smoke spittings, the method comprising providing a smoking article, the smoking article comprising: a combustible heat source; an aerosol forming substrate; at least one air inlet downstream of the aerosol forming substrate; and a gas flow path extending between the at least one air inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article, wherein the air flow path A first portion extending upstream from the at least one air inlet toward the aerosol-forming substrate and a second portion extending longitudinally downstream from the first portion toward the mouth end of the article of smoke, wherein the first portion is configured to It has a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article and a component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article, such that during use and during multiple times of smoking, the substrate is formed by heating the aerosol When the generated smoke moves from the aerosol-forming substrate toward the at least one air inlet, the smoke condenses on the wall of the first portion of the airflow path.