IP Library Granted Patent US 7,381,277
Granted Patent B2
US 7,381,277 · App. 10/901,662 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

Flavoring a cigarette by using a flavored filter plug wrap

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,381,277
App. No.
10/901,662
Granted
Jun 3, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of flavoring a filter plug wrap of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is disclosed. Furthermore, a method of incorporating flavoring into the plug wrap and using the plug wrap to wrap the filter of the smoking article is disclosed. A smoking article and a filter having a flavored filter plug wrap are also disclosed.

Claims (48)

1. A method for forming a flavored filter for a smoking article, comprising the steps of:

suspending a flavoring agent in a binding agent selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof, to form a flavorant;

adding said flavorant to a filter plug wrap to form a flavored filter plug wrap; and

circumscribing a filter plug of said smoking article with said flavored filter plug wrap.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap is also circumscribed about a filter core centrally disposed within said filter plug of said smoking article.

3. A method for providing a smoking article filter with flavor, comprising the steps of:

providing a flavorant comprised of a flavor suspended in carboxymethylcellulose;

adding said flavorant to a filter plug wrap to form a flavored filter plug wrap;

and circumsribing a filter plug of said smoking article with said flavored filter plug wrap.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap is also circumscribed about a filter core centrally disposed within a filter plug of said filter.

5. A smoking article, comprised of a tobacco rod and a filter, said filter including a filter plug circumscribed with a flavored filter plug wrap, said flavored filter plug wrap including a flavor compound suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose binding agent.

6. The smoking article of claim 5 wherein said flavored filter plug wrap also circumscribes a filter core of said filter, said filter core centrally disposed within said filter plug.

7. A smoking article, comprising:

a tobacco rod wrapped in a paper wrapper; and

a filter attached in axial alignment to said tobacco rod with tipping paper;

wherein said filter comprises:

a filter plug; and

a flavored filter plug wrap circumscribing said filter plug comprised of a binding agent and a flavor suspended in said binding agent, wherein said binding agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof.

8. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap also circumscribes a core of said filter, said core being centrally disposed within said filter plug.

9. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein said filter plug is cellulose acetate.

10. A smoking article, comprising:

a tobacco rod wrapped in a paper wrapper; and

a filter attached to said tobacco rod in axial alignment with tipping paper;

wherein said filter comprises:

a fibrous filter segment circumscribed by a flavored filter plug wrap, said flavored filter plug wrap comprised of a binding agent and a flavor; and

a carbon based filter segment circumscribed by a plug wrap, said carbon based filter segment positioned between said tobacco rod and said fibrous filter segment.

11. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein said binding agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof.

12. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap circumscribes a core of said filter, said core being centrally disposed within said filter plug.

13. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein said fibrous filter segment is cellulose acetate.

14. A filter for a smoking article, comprising:

a filter plug; and

a flavored filter plug wrap circumscribing said filter plug, wherein said flavored filter plug wrap is comprised of a flavor compound suspended in carboxymethylcellulose.

15. The filter of claim 14 , wherein said filter plug is comprised of cellulose acetate.

16. A filter for a smoking article, comprised of:

a filter plug; and

a flavored filter plug wrap, wherein said flavored filter plug wrap is comprised of a flavor compound suspended in a binding agent selected from a group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof, and wherein said flavored filter plug

wrap circumscribes said filter plug.

17. The filter of claim 16 , wherein said filter plug is comprised of cellulose acetate.

18. The filter of claim 16 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap also circumscribes a filter core centrally disposed within said filter plug.

19. A filter for a smoking article, comprised of:

a carbon based filter segment circumscribed with a plug wrap; and

a fibrous filter segment circumscribed with a flavored filter plug wrap;

wherein said flavored filter plug wrap is comprised of a flavor compound

suspended in a binding agent, said carbon based filter segment being secured in axial alignment with said fibrous filter segment.

20. The filter of claim 19 , wherein said fibrous filter segment is comprised of cellulose acetate.

21. The filter of claim 19 , wherein said binding agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, xanthum gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrine, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein, maltodextrines, fillers, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof.

22. The filter of claim 19 , wherein said flavored filter plug wrap also circumscribes a filter core centrally disposed within said fibrous filter segment.

23. The filter of claim 19 , wherein mainstream smoke passes first through said carbon based filter segment and second through said fibrous filter segment.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2006
From: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 017906/0671 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 27, 2006
From: BROWN & WILLIAMSON HOLDINGS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS BROWN & WILLIAMSON TOBACCO CORPORATION)
To: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017534/0989 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2004
From: GONTERMAN, RICKY A.; HICKS, DOUGLAS R.
To: BROWN & WILLIAMSON TOBACCO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015643/0006 →