Tobacco smoke filters and filter rods therefor

Details Tobacco smoke filters and filter rods therefor Tobacco smoke filters and filter rods therefor

1995-06-30

1997-09-09

Millin, Vincent

Tobacco

Smoke separator or treater

131340, 131342, 493 42, A24D 300

Patent

active

056645864

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to tobacco smoke filters and filter rods therefor, and is intended to provide a filter which is more environmentally friendly.
According to the present invention a tobacco smoke filter or filter rod is provided with means which cause it to expand when it becomes moist to increase the surface area of filter material exposed to the environment.
Thus, the discarded butt of a filter tip will expand when it rains thus causing it to expose a bigger area of filter material to the environment, preferably by opening up. This process will enhance the rate of biodegradation of the filter material by natural processes in the environment and by naturally occurring organisms.
In a preferred construction the means causing the expansion are provided by a substance which expands upon absorption of moisture being incorporated within the filter or rod.
The construction can be arranged so that when the filter or rod expands upon absorption of moisture by the substance, the cigarette tipping paper (i.e. the wrapping which surrounds the filter in the made-up cigarette) is broken open.
Various substances can be used, for example polyacrylates, polyacrylamides and polysaccharides, the latter including chitin, agar or cellulose derivatives.
The substances can be incorporated in various ways, for example, the substance can be incorporated into the material from which the filter is made. Thus, the material can be incorporated into tow during manufacture thereof.
Again, the substance could be added during construction of the filter or the filter rod, for example by adding the substance as a paste or suspension with a plasticiser, or it could be applied to the tow or web as a paste or suspension as part of a separate process during filter manufacture. Another alternative method of incorporating the substance is to apply it to the tow or web as a dry powder during manufacture of the filter or of the rod.
A rod incorporating the substance is then cut to length for incorporation in a filter in the usual way.
If desired the substance can be added to the filter by incorporating it within a discrete compartment in the filter, such as a longitudinal cavity in the made-up filter or, if the filter is of a multiple type, in a cavity between two segments of filter material.
The filter materials can be various kinds, for example tow or web formed from cellulose acetate, paper, cellophane, biodegradable polyester or a combination of two or more of these.
The invention also includes a filter smoking article of which the filter is provided with means to cause it to expand when it becomes moist.
The invention can be performed in various ways and three embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric diagrammatic view of a cigarette end with a dry filter tip in which a substance to cause it to expand when wet is incorporated into the material from which it is made;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when it has been in contact with water;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another form of filter tip in which the substance which causes it to expand has been added during manufacture of the tip itself; and
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another construction according to the invention.
As shown in FIG. 1 a cigarette end incorporating the invention has a filter tip indicated by reference numeral 1 and comprises an outer cigarette tipping paper 2 which unites the filter tip 1 to a tobacco rod 5 to form a cigarette. Filter material 3 encased by a plugwrap 4 is made from a tow or web to which a substance has been added as a dry powder during manufacture of the filter. The substance which has been added expands when wet and can, for example, be a polyacrylamide or a polysaccharide, including chitin, agar or cellulose derivatives.
Alternatively the substance can be added as a paste or suspension with a plasticiser, or be applied to the tow or web as a paste or suspension as part of a separate process during filter manufac

REFERENCES:
patent: 3063951 (1962-11-01), Schouleden
patent: 4022704 (1977-05-01), Morie et al.
patent: 4546040 (1985-10-01), Knotek et al.
patent: 4605401 (1986-08-01), Chmelir et al.
patent: 5497793 (1996-03-01), Kubich

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