R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Michael D Shannon

Gary R Shelar

Andrew J Sensabaugh, Jr

Ernest G Farrier

Chandra K Banerjee

James L Resce

Henry T Ridings

Alan B Norman

Richard L Lehman

Richard L Blakley

John H Reynolds, Iv

James L Harris

Olivia D Furin

Jackie L White

Jack F Clearman

Thomas L Gentry

Johnny L Brooks

Stephen W Jakob

Karen M Womble

Edward Bernasek

Paul Fischer Bernasek

William M Hildebolt

Vernon Brent Barnes

Thomas A Perfetti

Jeffery S Gentry

Joseph J Chiou

Douglas C Clark

Max N Baker

Dennis M Riggs

Gerhard Hensgen

Rhonda F Hayden

Olivia P Furin

Joseph T Meers

Alfred Schubert

A smokable filler material includes an aerosol forming material (e.g., glycerin) and as binding agent. Tobacco extracts and/or pieces of tobacco laminae can be incorporated into the smokable filler material, and/or the smokable filler material can be blended with tobacco cut filler. The amount of aerosol forming material within the smokable filler material typically is at least about 20 percent, based on the weight of that smokable filler material. Cigarettes are provided by wrapping the smokable filler material in a paper wrapping material. A typical paper wrapping material has a porosity of less than about 5 CORESTA units.

Cigarette and smokable filler material therefor material for use in

A smoking article with an electrochemical heat source is disclosed. The non-combustion heat source includes at least two metallic agents capable of interacting electrochemically with one another, such as magnesium and iron or nickel. The metallic agents may be provided in a variety of forms, including a frozen melt, a bimetallic foil, wire of a first metal wrapped around strands of a different metal, and a mechanical alloy. The metallic agents may be in the form of a powder filling a straw, or small particles extruded with a binder or pressed to form a rod. Preferably, the heat source is self-extinguishing if ignited. The powder filled straw or rod may be placed in a heat chamber surrounded by tobacco. An electrolyte solution contacts the metallic agents in the heat chamber to initiate the electrochemical interaction, generating heat which in turn volatilizes the nicotine and flavor materials in the tobacco. Preferably, any gases from the heat chamber are directed away from air intake holes through which air enters the smoking article.

Tobacco smoking article with electrochemical heat source

The present invention is directed to cigarettes and other smoking articles which contain a catalytic composition, preferably as part of the fuel element, that substantially decreases the amount of carbon monoxide contained in the mainstream smoke during smoking. The present invention also relates to the catalyst-containing carbonaceous fuels themselves, as well as to methods of making such carbonaceous fuels. Fuel elements which contain a catalytic composition in accordance with the presentation are especially useful in smoking articles having an aerosol generating means which is physically separate from the fuel element.

Catalyst containing smoking articles for reducing carbon monoxide

The present invention is directed to a smoking article which produces an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke but which preferably contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products. The preferred smoking article of the present invention provides an aerosol 'smoke' which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of air, oxides of carbon, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavor or other desired volatile materials as well as trace amounts of other materials. In addition to a mouthend piece, an especially preferred embodiment of the present smoking article comprises a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element which is less than about 30 mm in length prior to smoking. The fuel element is disposed longitudinally relative to a physically separate aerosol generating means which comprises a porous nonparticulate substrate. The substrate includes one or more aerosol forming substances.

Smoking article with improved substrate

The present invention is directed to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprises a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a short heat stable, preferably carbonaceous substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance and disposed longitudinally behind the fuel element, an efficient insulating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece. Preferably, the fuel element is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways which act to control the heat transferred from the burning fuel element to the aerosol generating means, thus preventing the thermal degradation of the aerosol former. The aerosol generating means comprises a conductive, preferably metallic chamber, which at least partially surrounds or encloses the substrate, and is in a conductive heat exchange relationship with the fuel element, and which contains an aerosol forming material.

Smoking article with conductive aerosol chamber

A smokable filler material includes an aerosol forming material (e.g., propylene glycol and glycerin) and a binding agent (e.g., ammonium alginate). Tobacco extracts and/or pieces of tobacco laminae can be incorporated into the smokable filler material, and/or the smokable filler material can be blended with tobacco cut filler. The amount of aerosol forming material within the smokable filler material typically is at least about 20 percent, based on the weight of that smokable filler material. Cigarettes are provided by wrapping the smokable filler material in a paper wrapping material. A typical paper wrapping material has a porosity of less than about 5 CORESTA units. Cigarettes cn include two layers of circumscribing paper wrapping materials. Cigarettes also can include filter elements.

Cigarette and smokable filler material therefor

Cigarettes include tobacco-containing smokable material wrapped in a low porosity paper wrapper. The smokable material includes an intimate mixture of tobacco extract, pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose, agglomerated calcium carbonate particles, glycerin and carboxymethylcellulose. Such cigarettes yield low levels of incomplete combustion products and generate low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Cigarette

The present invention relates to fuel elements useful in smoking articles which produce an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke, but contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel elements, usually less than about 20 mm in length, preferably from about 5 to 15 mm in length, and most preferably about 10 mm in length. The diameter of the fuel elements of the present invention generally is less than about 8 mm, preferably from about 3 to 7 mm, and most preferably from about 4 to 6 mm. Smoking articles utilizing the fuel elements of the present invention are capable of providing an aerosol 'smoke' which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of air, oxides of carbon, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavorants or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials. The aerosol 'smoke' from the preferred embodiments has no significant mutagenic activity as measured by the Ames Test. In addition, the fuel element may be made to be virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.

Smoking article

A method for making a smoking article is described wherein an aerosol generating cartridge is inserted into a sleeve, preferably having a tobacco insulating material. Also described are articles of manufacture having an elongate jacket module with a rod segment and an annular segment. The rod segment has a length of rod of fibrous material. Disposed logitudinally on either side of the rod segment is an annular segment of insulating material. Additionally, articles of manufacture useful for making smoking articles are described having an elongate structure with two or more repeating sections wherein each section preferably has a tobacco-containing spacer segment and mouthend segment.

Method for making a smoking article and components for use therein

Making an aerosol generating cartridge useful for a smoking article is described. The method comprises filling a non-combustible elongated capsule, open at one end, with a substrate bearing an aersol forming material, and applying a fuel element to the open end of the capsule to enclose the substrate within the capsule.

Method for making aerosol generating cartridge

The flavor substances of the present invention are prepared by toasting (heating) natural tobacco in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C., fractionating the volatiles and collecting at least a portion of the fractionated materials as the flavor substances. This fractionating and/or collecting can be conducted by condensation, liquid-liquid extraction, sorption (adsorption and/or absorption) and the like, with either a solid or liquid sorbent medium. Either the sorbent medium containing the trapped volatiles or the volatiles themselves may be used as the flavor substances of the present invention.

Flavor substances for smoking articles

The present invention preferably relates to an insulated smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of smoke, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream smoke. Thus, the article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without burning tobacco. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short i.e., 30 mm or less (prior to smoking), combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a short heat stable, preferably carbonaceous, substrate longitudinally disposed relative to the fuel element bearing an aerosol forming substance, an efficient insulating means surrounding at least a portion of the fuel element and a relatively long mouthend piece. The fuel element, insulator and substrate are arranged in a heat exchange relationship, providing aerosol formation without significant degradation of the aerosol former.

Insulated smoking article

The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products of sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, preferably less than 30 mm in length prior to smoking and less than about 8 mm in diameter a short, heat stable, preferably carbonaceous substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, an efficient insulating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece. The fuel element is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways which act to control the heat transferred from the burning fuel element to the aerosol generating means.

Smoking article with improved fuel element

The flavor substances of the present invention are prepared by toasting (heating) natural tobacco in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C., condensing at least a portion of the volatiles driven-off during the toasting, and collecting the a portion of the uncondensed volatiles by sorption (adsorption and/or absorption) on a solid or liquid sorbent medium. Either the sorbent medium containing the trapped volatiles or the volatiles themselves may be used as the flavor substances of the present invention.

The smoking article of the present invention has a short, combustible, preferably carbonaceous, fuel element, generally less than about 30 mm long, which is substantially free of volatile organic material. A physically separate aerosol generating means, preferably comprising a substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, is located within a cavity in the fuel element, i.e., the aerosol generating means is at least partially embedded in the fuel element. This article may be provided with an external insulating member to reduce radial heat loss and/or with a heat conducting member to increase conductive heat transfer from the fuel element to the aerosol generating means.

Growing community of inventors

Lewisville, NC, United States of America

Michael D Shannon