Elongated Smoking Article

Abstract

An elongated smoking article is described that comprises a cylindrical smoking body with a combustible material and a hollow bore filter element downstream to the cylindrical smoking body. The hollow bore filter element comprises a first base area facing the smoking body and a second base area opposite the first base area and a hollow bore extending from the first base area to the second base area. The elongated smoking article further comprises a filter membrane that is arranged between the smoking body and the hollow bore filter, that comprises at least one filter aperture aligned with the hollow bore, that is configured for filtering particles emitted by the heated smoking body, that is permeable for vapor emitted by the heated smoking body and has an effective size between 0.5 μm and 1.5 mm.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]The present disclosure is a continuation of, and claims priority to, international patent application no. PCT / EP2019 / 079366 filed on Oct. 28, 2019, claiming priority to applications nos. GB1817558.8, filed Oct. 29, 2018, and EP19187689.5, filed on Jul. 23, 2019.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The present disclosure relates to an elongated smoking article comprising a smoking body filled with a combustible material and a hollow element downstream to the cylindrical smoking body and comprising a first base area facing the smoking body. A filter membrane is disposed between the smoking body and the hollow element and comprises at least one filter aperture that is aligned with the hollow bore of the hollow element, that is permeable for vapor emitted by the heated smoking body and that has an effective size between 0.5 μm and 1.5 mm. The present disclosure further refers to a smoking system comprising the elongated smoking article of the disclosure and a hea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]By the aforementioned advantageous effects of filtering and mixing the present disclosure advantageously allows utilizing the advantages of hollow elements, such as e.g., hollow bore filter elements and hollow tube portions, in a heated smoking article. Exemplarily, the use of the filter membrane allows to provide a heated tobacco product with a resistance to draw that is similar to conventional tobacco products, while at the same time minimizing the risk of particles or unmixed vapor components reaching the user's mouth. Hence, user experience while smoking the heated tobacco product is significantly increased.

[0018]However, by positioning an additional filter membrane in the flow path of the vapor emitted by the heated smoking body, the vapor might be cooled by the filter membrane. Such cooling may lead to unwanted precipitation of vapor components at the filter membrane. Hence, the filter membrane is preferably configured to distribute heat emitted by the heated smoking body. Further preferred, the filter membrane is configured to distribute heat that is generated by a device for heating the smoking body. The filter membrane configured to distribute heat emitted by the heated smoking body and / or generated by a device for heating the smoking body provides further advantageous effects. First, the (heated) filter membrane advantageously improves particle size by slowing the cooling rate of the vapor, while the vapor passes through the filter membrane. Research has shown that such slower cooling and thus the generation of larger particle sizes leads to a better vaping experience.

[0019]Essentially, by distributing heat emitted by the heated smoking body and / or generated by a device for heating the smoking body, the filter membrane provides a second heating element, which is slightly cooler than a primary heat source for heating the smoking body. As this second heating element equally contacts the vapor as it passes through the membrane, the temperature difference experienced by the vapor as it moves from the smoking body to the user mouth via a mouthpiece is reduced, hence creating a slower vapor cooling rate.

[0020]A further benefit of the (heated) filter membrane acting as second heating element is that the vapor particles are allowed more easily through the filter membrane so that they can condense at a later stage into larger particles. In other words, the vapor which passes through will not be condensed on the filter membrane, meaning that the vapor won't be reduced by the filter membrane. In an embodiment, wherein the filter membrane is directly adjacent to the smoking body, another benefit is due to secondary heating of the combustible material of the smoking body. Therein, the heating of the combustible material may be improved by better distribution of the heat due to the filter membrane and / or by bringing additional heat generated by the device for heating the smoking body to the smoking body. Such improved heating advantageously benefits to vapor production by increasing thermal transfer across the diameter of the combustible material and a reduction in preheating time.

[0021]In a further preferred embodiment, the hollow element is attached to one of the base areas of the smoking body in an end-to-end relationship and elongates the smoking body. Particularly, a first base area of the hollow element faces a base area of the smoking body in an end-to-end relationship. A second base area of the hollow element is opposite the first base area. Therefore, the hollow element preferably is also of cylindrical shape with the same cross section as the smoking body. The hollow element is further configured to draw vapor, from the heated smoking body. In another embodiment, the hollow element, e.g., a hollow tube portion, is located downstream the smoking body with another element, e.g., a filter, being located in between the smoking body and the hollow element.

[0022]The elongated smoking article preferably comprises a tipping paper that is circumscribing the smoking body and the hollow element. In other words, the tipping paper circumferentially encloses the cross sections of the smoking body and the hollow element and extends in the longitudinal direction across the smoking body and the hollow element. The tipping paper is further preferably attached to the external surfaces of both, the smoking body and the hollow element and thus connects the smoking body and the hollow element. Preferably, the tipping paper is adhered to the external surfaces of the smoking body and the hollow element. In another preferred embodiment, the smoking body and the hollow element are affixed to each other by other means such as e.g., by the wrapping paper of the elongated smoking article, e.g., if further elements are in between hollow element and smoking body.

Problems solved by technology

However, due to the hollow bore extending through the whole filter element, the filtering capacity is limited.

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