Variable Ventilation Smoking Filter with Upstream Flavor Source

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current smoking articles lack a user-controllable ventilation system that maintains consistent airflow resistance while allowing for adjustable flavor release, which affects the smoking experience in terms of smoke intensity and flavor dilution.

Innovation Solution

A smoking article design featuring a dual filter section arrangement with a variable ventilation system, where the second filter section has lower airflow resistance than the first, and a flavor source positioned upstream of the ventilation arrangement, allowing for user-controlled ventilation and flavor release through rotatable components and strategically placed ventilation areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a variable ventilation arrangement is provided to allow user controllable ventilation into the filter section, then the ability to control smoke intensity and flavor dilution is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controllable ventilationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation arrangement is designed to be dynamically adjustable by the user, allowing the ventilation level to be changed during use. This is achieved through a rotatable component that can be positioned at different angles to control the amount of ventilation into the filter section, enabling users to customize their smoking experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The filter section is divided into multiple functional segments: a first filter section with higher airflow resistance containing the flavor source, and a second filter section with lower airflow resistance. This segmentation allows the variable ventilation to be applied selectively to the first filter section while maintaining consistent overall resistance through the dual-section design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flavor source is positioned upstream of the ventilation arrangement, then flavor release control is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflavor release controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flavor source is positioned upstream of the ventilation arrangement, meaning it is placed in the first filter section before the variable ventilation point. This preliminary positioning ensures that flavor is released into the smoke stream before the user-adjustable ventilation occurs, allowing the user to control the dilution of pre-released flavor without needing to control the flavor release mechanism itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the filter have different properties: the first filter section is designed with higher airflow resistance and contains the flavor source, while the second filter section has lower resistance. This local differentiation allows optimized flavor release control in the first section while maintaining顺畅 airflow through the second section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the second filter section has lower resistance to gaseous flow than the first filter section, then the overall airflow is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveairflowVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is segmented into two sections with different resistance characteristics. The first filter section has higher resistance to enable effective flavor release control, while the second filter section has lower resistance to maintain good overall airflow. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The airflow resistance parameter is changed along the length of the filter section. By making the second filter section have lower resistance than the first, the system achieves a balance between effective flavor control in the upstream section and顺畅 airflow through the downstream section, improving overall productivity without requiring complex external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables simultaneous control of smoke intensity and flavor intensity by varying ventilation levels, maintaining consistent airflow resistance and providing a customizable smoking experience.

Implementation Method 1

a filter section for receiving smoke and/or other aerosol generated by said smoking article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a flavour source disposed in the filtration material and configured to release flavour to said smoke and/or other aerosol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a flavour source disposed in the filtration material and configured to release flavour to said smoke and/or other aerosol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

a variable ventilation arrangement configured to provide a user controllable level of ventilation into the filter section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

the second filter section being located downstream of the first filter section, and wherein a resistance to gaseous flow through the length of the second filter section is lower than a resistance to gaseous flow through the length of the first filter section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3229617B1A smoking article, a smoking article filter section and a method of manufacturing a smoking article
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LTD
  • EP3229617B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3229617B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3229617B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A smoking article and a method of manufacturing a smoking article A smoking article has a filter section for receiving smoke and/or other aerosol generated by said smoking article, a variable ventilation arrangement configured to provide a user controllable level of ventilation into the filter section and a flavour source configured to release flavour to said smoke and/or other aerosol generated by said smoking article at a location in said smoke and/or other aerosol upstream of said ventilation arrangement.