EP2269476B1 - Nicotine and aroma matrix - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a smokeless cigarette having a nicotine and / or aroma matrix. Such a matrix is intended to contain nicotine or one or more nicotine-containing compounds and / or flavorings and to retain them during the active phase, i. while using a smoke-free cigarette again.

Smoke-free cigarettes are known from the prior art in various embodiments.

From the DE 10 2005 034 169 A1 For example, a smoke-free cigarette is known that has a heat pipe that is heated by the flame of a lighter. Due to its high heat capacity, the heat pipe releases heat over a sufficiently long period of time so that the stimulant contained in a reservoir can evaporate.

From the WO 2007/090594 A1 For example, a smoke-free cigarette is known which has a nicotine depot and which is distinguished by the fact that heating the air stream passed through the nicotine depot is not required to release the nicotine is. The nicotine reservoir contains a carrier that is already in its gas phase at ambient temperature.

The WO 2007/054167 A1 relates to a smokeless cigarette having a heater running with a current-carrying heating wire for heating a reservoir from which nicotine is released.

As nicotine and / or Geschmacksstoffreservoirs for smoke-free cigarettes, various solutions have been proposed in the prior art. WO 2007/054167 A1 discloses, for example, that nicotine is present in a smokeless cigarette as a nicotine salt, which pyrolyzes when exposed to heat and release nicotine as a free alkaloid. DE 690 12 823 T2 discloses a smokeless cigarette containing a nicotine reservoir with nicotine-containing granules and excipients, preferably dextrose.

It is the object of the present invention to further develop a smoke-free cigarette in an advantageous manner.

The term "nicotine matrix" includes any matrix or carrier that has nicotine or one or more nicotine-containing compounds. The term "aroma matrix" includes any matrix or carrier that has one or more flavorings, which also includes any flavorings.

The matrices are designed to thermally induce nicotine, release one or more nicotine-containing compounds or aromatics, for example by desorption. The at least one matrix thus allows the controlled release of nicotine and / or flavorings, preferably by heating. The correspondingly enriched air can then be drawn in by a user, if necessary through a filter of the cigarette.

It is preferred if not a large amount of nicotine or flavor is released at once and then only small amounts. This may be important if necessary be in order to comply with thresholds of nicotine delivery or the release of flavorings.

Nicotine as an essential component of a smokeless cigarette must be safe in its storage and in its safety at risk and can be used. The storability of the smokeless cigarette over a longer period means, among other things, that nicotine and / or aroma components are not released unintentionally.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, without thermal excitation, a matrix according to the present invention will give no or substantially no nicotine and / or flavoring to the environment without thermal stimulation and will not or at least not substantially change upon prolonged storage in its composition and physicochemical properties.

It is preferably provided that the delivery of nicotine or of nicotine-containing compounds and / or flavorings does not begin until above approximately 45.degree. In a preferred embodiment, this release does not begin above about 50 ° C, in another embodiment above about 60 ° C. In further embodiments of the invention, the delivery may occur between about 45 ° C and about 60 ° C, preferably between about 50 ° C and about 55 ° C.

It is conceivable that the admixed nicotine components in the Zugverhalten regulate the nicotine concentration in the gas stream of the cigarette. The same applies to the flavor concentration, which is regulated in the gas stream due to the aroma components of the matrix.

Preferably, the at least one matrix is designed such that the desorption of nicotine and / or flavorings during storage is largely or completely prevented.

The terms "flavor" and "flavor" are used interchangeably below and refer to any organoleptically effective, the matrix of the invention added substance.

The term "nicotine" stands for both the substance nicotine and any nicotine-containing substance.

The delivery of the substances can be understood in particular to be the desorption of previously adsorbed nicotine and / or previously absorbed flavorings, but also other suitable modes of release of previously associated nicotine and / or previously associated flavorings. Due to the well-defined, preferably provided discharge temperature range, and the fact that no or only a negligible part of the associated substances are delivered below the specified temperature range, it can be ensured that the composition remains stable over a longer period of time, provided the ambient and / or storage temperature the active temperature of the cigarette does not exceed.

A negligible portion is preferably understood to mean a proportion of less than 10% of the total amount of nicotine and / or of flavoring agents and preferably less than 5% of these substances.

Preferably, the matrix is designed such that the storage stability of the contents of the cigarette is supported by nicotine and / or flavoring or flavors are released only during their active phase, preferably only with active pulling on the cigarette. Matrices according to the invention can therefore be designed such that, for example, during a storage of the cigarette for several weeks or more, for example at a storage of 1 week, for example at room temperature (25 ° C.) and z. B. at 30% humidity less than 20 wt .-%, preferably less than 15 wt .-%, preferably less than 10 wt .-% and more preferably less than 5 wt .-% of their nicotine content and / or flavor content. In another embodiment, during this period, they give less than 2% by weight, more preferably less than 1% by weight. and more preferably less than 0.5% by weight of its nicotine content and / or flavor content.

The defined temperature range and the other optional properties of the matrix mentioned below allow a perfect interaction with a heat source, for example an internal, self-sufficient heating unit, which can serve as a heat source for the delivery of the absorbed or adsorbed substances. Thus, flavorings and / or nicotine can be delivered evenly over the duration of the active phase of the cigarette to the ambient air and thus be inhaled evenly by the consumer.

According to the invention, suitable nicotine and flavor matrices comprise one or more adsorbents, namely activated carbon powder, and glycol as matrix materials. The term "glycol" according to the invention also includes "glycolene".

In addition to the activated carbon powder used according to the invention, in principle other preferably pulverized adsorbent materials can also be used, such as, for example, silica gel, bentonite and / or alumina powder. Suitable glycols include diols such as glycol, triols such as glycerine, oligools, and polyols whose groups may be vicinal or non-vicinal and which have suitable viscosities for the above-outlined use. Furthermore, various comparable viscous fluids with polar properties can be used. The glycol and / or powder components can be combined freely in terms of their material and relative composition.

Adsorbent and glycol levels in one embodiment are approximately or exactly 1: 1 in the matrix.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the matrix contains about 50% by weight activated carbon powder and about 50% by weight glycols.

According to the invention, the matrix contains between about 30% by weight and about 70% by weight of activated carbon powder and between about 30% by weight and about 70% by weight of glycols. In a further embodiment, the matrix contains between about 40 weight percent and about 60 weight percent activated carbon powder and between about 40 weight percent and about 60 weight percent glycol, and in a preferred embodiment, the matrix contains between about 45 weight percent 55% by weight and about 55% by weight of activated carbon powder and between about 45% by weight and about 55% by weight of glycol.

The nicotine matrix and / or the flavor matrix can thus contain at least one adorbent, such as activated carbon, at least one glycol (and / or glycolene) and possibly also admixtures.

In addition to activated carbon powder, the mixing ratios just mentioned also apply to other suitable adsorbents, in particular adsorbent powders and mixtures thereof. Glycols as used herein also include mixtures of several glycols or other suitable substances in admixture with glycols or with each other.

Such compositions can deliver the associated substances particularly uniformly in the above desired temperature ranges.

In one embodiment of the invention, the matrix may be inhomogeneous. Thus, individual matrix sections may have different mixing ratios of adsorbent powder and glycol, with the composition of all sections preferably being within the limits specified above. The individual sections may also differ in their total loading of nicotine and flavorings, as well as in the relative composition of nicotine and flavorings, or in the relative composition of different flavorings. This can be a mutual influence or even a negative cross-behavior between nicotine and flavor release can be reduced or even prevented. In a further embodiment, a matrix portion or a total matrix may contain only nicotine and / or flavoring only.

It is preferably provided that the at least one aroma matrix and the at least one nicotine matrix are present separately, for example next to one another, in the cigarette. They are preferably introduced separately into the cigarette.

The invention includes a smokeless cigarette having at least one nicotine and / or aroma matrix according to claim 1. Such a smoke-free cigarette may also have a plurality of such matrices. Thus, for example, it is possible for a smoke-free cigarette according to the invention to contain one or more purely nicotine-containing matrices and one or more matrices containing pure flavor. A mutual influence or even a negative cross behavior between nicotine and flavor release can thus be reduced or even prevented in this way.

In one embodiment, the matrix is applied to a carrier and then placed in the smoke-free cigarette, for example on its heat-generating unit. This facilitates the production of the smokeless cigarette.

This may further have various advantages in desorption behavior, in heat absorption and distribution, in the viscosity and workability of the matrix, as well as in the applicability of the matrix in the cigarette. Suitable carriers are open-pore, organic structures, as well as open-cell polymer foams, for example polyolefins, polyethers, polyesters, polyamides, polycarbonates, and the like, as well as similar carrier media such as silica gel, aluminum oxide, zeolites, carbon, metals, etc.

A nicotine and / or aroma matrix or the individual matrix application can be applied directly to a heat source, for example on a heat pad, or placed on a heat pad. As a result, the heat transfer can take place immediately and an excellent behavior with regard to the uniform and spontaneous release of nicotine or aromas can be achieved.

A matrix placed on a carrier can, in one embodiment, have an improved assembly behavior and lead to a better heat distribution. By a near-core arrangement of the matrices, whereby the remaining space of the cigarette can be filled with other materials, such as tobacco, habitual, for example, haptic properties of conventional cigarettes can be preserved in one embodiment.

As a carrier, for example, open-pored organic structures are used.

It is thus also possible first to place or apply the at least one matrix on a carrier and then to place the carrier with matrix in the smoke-free cigarette, for example on the heat-generating unit.

The smokeless cigarette has at least one self-sufficient heat generating unit.

This can be arranged inside the cigarette. It can for example be made elongated. According to the invention, it is provided that the at least one matrix is partially or completely surrounded by the heat-generating unit or that the at least one matrix partially or completely surrounds the heat-generating unit.

The heating unit may be arranged inside the cigarette and preferably comprise a medium which releases heat in a chemical reaction or in a physical transformation, in particular in a crystallization. The crystallization medium is, for example, a salt hydrate, for example sodium acetate trihydrate into consideration. The crystallization medium may be present as a supersaturated solution which crystallizes upon activation, thereby releasing heat.

This heat serves to promote or even initiate the desorption of nicotine and / or flavorings and / or flavors from a substrate.

The present embodiment thus relates to a smoke-free cigarette with an internal self-sufficient, i. no energy or heat input from the outside requiring heat unit and / or with a matrix containing nicotine and / or flavorings and / or flavorings. The tobacco or said matrix may partially or completely surround the heating unit. You can z. B. be designed as a hollow cylinder or are in a hollow cylindrical space surrounding the heat unit. A reverse arrangement (heat unit surrounding the tobacco or the matrix partially or completely) is conceivable.

The smoke-free cigarette further preferably has at least one filter. This can be arranged for example in the mouthpiece, form the mouthpiece or include the mouthpiece.

The filter may consist of or comprise one or more open-pore polymer structures and / or open-pore synthetic structures and / or microfiber synthetic structures and / or perlon textile structures. These filter materials have the advantage that they do not or not substantially, preferably less than 5%, less than 2% and particularly preferably less than 1% or less than 0.5% influence the composition of the gas flow of the smoke-free cigarette during the flow through the filter ,

Further details and advantages will be described with reference to an embodiment described below.

The present embodiment relates to a smoke-free cigarette, in particular a smoke-free cigarette with a self-sufficient heat unit arranged in the interior. This heating unit may comprise a medium which releases heat in a chemical reaction or in a physical transformation, in particular in a crystallization. As the crystallization medium, for example, a salt hydrate such as e.g. Sodium acetate trihydrate into consideration. The crystallization medium may be present as a supersaturated solution, crystallized upon activation, thereby releasing heat.

The nicotine aroma matrix is applied directly to this heat unit. It is divided into two groups, a nicotine matrix and a flavor matrix, both of which are designed to use desorption processes between 50 ° C and 55 ° C. Both die parts, both the nicotine matrix and the flavor matrix, consist of activated carbon powder and of glycolene, the mixing ratio being approximately 1: 1. The nicotine-containing parts of the matrix regulate the nicotine concentration in the gas stream during the active phase of the cigarette when it is pulled on the cigarette. Regardless, during the active phase of the cigarette, the flavor-containing portions of the matrix regulate the aroma concentration in the gas stream as it is drawn to the cigarette.

So that the complexity of the matrix is kept low and negative cross-behavior can be largely minimized or even ruled out, aroma matrix or aroma matrices and nicotine matrix or nicotine matrices are introduced separately into the smoke-free cigarette.

In principle, it is also conceivable that the nicotine and the aroma matrix are not present separately but mixed.

A variation of this embodiment comprises the above-mentioned characteristics, wherein the matrix is first applied to a carrier and then placed in the cigarette, for example on the heat pad. The carrier used is, for example, an open-pore organic structure. Such a smoke-free cigarette is by the use of matrix elements consisting of activated carbon powder and glycols, wherein the mixing ratio is about 1: 1, with desorption between 50 ° C and 55 ° C, over a longer period safely storable. During storage, the composition of the cigarette does not change or only imperceptibly. During 1 week storage of the cigarette at room temperature (25 ° C) and 30% humidity, this matrix releases less than 5% by weight of its nicotine and flavor content. By attaching the matrix, or loaded with the matrix carriers to the core of an elongated cylindrical cigarette in the present example, the environment is lined with tobacco or substances with similar or the same haptic properties, so that the usual feel of conventional cigarettes is not waived must become. The appearance of the cigarette can thus be matched to the appearance of conventional cigarettes.

In summary, the use of the nicotine and aroma matrix in the present example thus achieves desorption-free storage of the cigarette and control of the release of nicotine by heating.

In principle, it can be provided that the matrix is divided into two groups, namely a flavor matrix and a nicotine matrix. Each of these matrices may consist of one or more sections which are arranged in the smokeless cigarette. It is conceivable to follow the sections alternately, to group them together, etc.

The heat-generating unit is preferably arranged such that it leads both to a heating of the at least one flavor matrix and the at least one nicotine matrix. Also, it may be arranged to alternatively or additionally heat the air flow passed through the cigarette.

The at least one matrix, which may surround the heat-generating unit or be present in a hollow-cylindrical space between the heat-generating unit and an inner or outer envelope, such as a plastic tube, is followed by the mouthpiece with filter in the longitudinal direction. The filter material comprises according to the present exemplary embodiment the following substances: open-pore polymer and synthetic structures and / or microfiber synthetic structures and / or perlon textile structures.

The envelope of the cigarette may be formed, for example, by a metal foil such as an aluminum foil and an outer paper layer. This may have the look of a conventional cigarette.

Instead of the concentric arrangement of the heat generating unit and matrix or matrices, they can also be arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the cigarette without or at a distance.

The filter should in one embodiment, the gas flow in its composition and dosage as little as possible or only slightly influence. It should thus be done preferably in the flow through the filter no or only a slight change in the composition in any case with respect to nicotine and / or flavorings or flavors.

However, it should prevent the storage of the cigarette that nicotine or flavorings escape from the cigarette. It also serves as a mechanical boundary of the matrix and the heat generating unit and the train regulation during use of the cigarette.

The present invention relates not only to cigarettes in the true sense, but also cigars, cigarillos, etc. The term "cigarette" thus stands for both cigarettes and cigars, cigarillos etc.

Claims (9)

1. A smoke-free cigarette having a nicotine matrix and/or an flavour matrix containing nicotine and/or a compound containing nicotine and/or one or more flavourings,
   characterised in that
   the matrix has between 30% by weight and 70% by weight active carbon powder and between 30% by weight and 70% by weight of one or more glycols; and
   in that the smoke-free cigarette has at least one autonomous heat-producing unit, wherein the matrix is partly or completely surrounded by the heat producing unit or wherein the matrix partly or completely surrounds the heat producing unit.
2. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the matrix contains between 40% by weight and 60% by weight, in particular between 45% by weight and 55% by weight, active carbon powder and between 40% by weight and 60% by weight, in particular between 45% by weight and 55% by weight, glycols.
3. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mixing ratio between the active carbon powder and the glycols amounts to 1:1.
4. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the matrix is designed as inhomogeneous and individual matrix sections have different mixing ratios of active carbon powder and glycol, and/or differ in their total charge and/or relative composition in nicotine and/or compounds containing nicotine and/or in flavourings.
5. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more matrix sections or the total matrix comprise or comprises only nicotine or only flavourings; and/or in that the flavour matrix and the nicotine matrix are arranged separately.
6. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the matrix is arranged on a carrier substance.
7. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has two or more nicotine matrices and/or flavour matrices which are the same and/or different.
8. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one matrix and/or at least one matrix-charged carrier substance is applied directly to the heat producing unit.
9. A smoke-free cigarette in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the matrix is divided into at least one nicotine matrix and into at least one flavour matrix; and in that the at least two matrices are introduced separately into the smoke-free cigarette.