Smokable rod for a cigarette

Abstract

A smokable rod for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, possesses a co-axial or concentric construction. A longitudinally extending inner core of tobacco cut filler is positioned within a smokable rod. The outer material that circumscribes the inner core in an annular fashion is composed of a tobacco material treated with an optional burn suppressing agent, and the outer material acts as a substrate for an aerosol forming material. A preferred aerosol forming material is glycerin. An outer paper wrapper circumscribes the length of the smokable rod, and another paper wrapping material also can circumscribe the inner core material. In use, one end of the smokable rod is lit. When the opposite end of the smokable rod is drawn upon, an aerosol composed of tobacco smoke, thermal decomposition products of tobacco, and volatilized aerosol forming material, is provided. Alternatively, a smokable rod can be provided by positioning the tobacco cut filler in the outer annular region, and by constructing the inner core portion using the tobacco material treated with aerosol forming material and an optional burn suppressing agent. Alternatively, a smokable rod possesses a single blend of smokable materials; at least a portion the smokable material being a tobacco material carrying a relatively high amount of aerosol forming material; and optionally at least a portion of the smokable material being in intimate contact with a burn suppressing agent. A filtered cigarette can be produced by attaching a filter element to one end of any of those smokable rods.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to tobacco products, such as smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes). BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Popular smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod shaped structure and include a charge, roll or column of smokable material, such as shredded tobacco (e.g., in cut filler form), surrounded by a paper wrapper, thereby forming a so-called “smokable rod” or “tobacco rod.” Normally, a cigarette has a cylindrical filter element aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, a filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as “plug wrap.” Certain filter elements can incorporate polyhydric alcohols. See, for example, UK Pat. Spec. 755,475. Certain cigarettes incorporate a filter element having multiple segments, and one of those segments can comprise activated charcoal particles. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,360,023 t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] A preferred cigarette of the present invention, when smoked, provides a flavorful and satisfying mainstream aerosol. Highly preferred cigarettes provide the flavors, sensations and satisfaction of popular cigarettes that burn tobacco cut filler, because those preferred cigarettes generate mainstream aerosol, at least in part, by burning, charring or otherwise causing thermal degradation of tobacco cut filler. Those preferred cigarettes smolder at acceptable rates, provide an acceptable number of puffs, and are capable of maintaining acceptable static smolder, at least when smoked under FTC smoking conditions. A preferred cigarette, when smoked, yields a firecone and ash that are acceptable. A preferred ash is not easily dislodged for the cigarette, and is not overly flakey. A preferred firecone has an acceptable shape and size, is not overly cohesive (i.e., desired portions of the ash can be flicked, or otherwise easily removed, from the cigarette in much the same manner that the ash is removed from a cigarette that burns down), and is not overly fragile (i.e., the firecone and ash maintain their integrity to an acceptable degree). Generally, the ash of a cigarette possessing smokable material treated with burn suppressing agent has a tendency to exhibit a darker color than that of traditional cigarettes that burn tobacco cut filler, because of the smokable material that has been treated with burn suppressing agent preferably has a tendency to smolder or char, rather than burn more completely.

Problems solved by technology

Smoking articles that employ tobacco substitute materials, and smoking articles that employ sources of heat other than tobacco cut filler to produce tobacco-flavored vapors or tobacco-flavored visible aerosols, have not received widespread commercial success.

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