JP2017093458A - Mouthpiece element for smoking article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouthpiece element having a display part through which a user can recognize whether or not a member is actuated sufficiently until expected effect to smoke can be provided.SOLUTION: There is provided a mouthpiece element (4) for a smoking article (1). The smoking article includes a tobacco rod (2) and a filter (3) fixed to the tobacco rod by the mouthpiece element. The smoking article further includes a member (5) to be actuated by a user, for changing smoke passing through the filter, and the mouthpiece element includes a display part (8) for displaying that the member to be actuated by the user is actuated by the user, in linkage with the member to be actuated by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a smoking article. In particular, the present invention relates to a mouthpiece element for a smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter material, the filter material being connected to the latter end of the smoking article, and when the free end of the tobacco rod is ignited, the user of the smoking material The smoke is drawn out by.

  Such smoking article mouthpiece elements are well known in the art. These generally consist of a cigarette rod and a member that forms a tight sleeve tube or ring for tightly adhering the filter material of the smoking article. Both ends are in close contact with each other within the abutment during the smoking article production process.

  The mouthpiece element is generally glued around the junction of the tobacco rod and the filter material of the smoking article to ensure that the integrity of the smoking article is achieved through the preparation and execution of smoking. For example, it may be a cellulose-derived material, a synthetic material, or a combination thereof, and may be colored, printed, and sometimes partially or completely transparent.

  It has become relatively common to provide smoking articles incorporating members that are actuated by one or more users, and these components are mainly used inside the filter and / or tobacco rod and filter. In many cases, a user usually holds a smoking article with a finger.

  The purpose of the member actuated by the user is to allow the user to actuate the part if the member wants to change the smoke passing through the filter during smoking. For example, the member takes the shape of a capsule, and the user deforms it during smoking to add flavor to the smoke.

  As such smoking articles are gaining popularity among users, it is difficult for the user to recognize whether the member has been fully activated until it can provide the desired effect on smoke. May be a point.

  According to the invention, a mouthpiece element for a smoking article is provided, the smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter secured to the tobacco rod by the mouthpiece element, the filter passing through the smoke. It is provided with a member that is activated by the user to change the power. In addition, when the user activates a member (user activation unit) that is actuated by the user, it displays that the user actuated the member actuated by the user in conjunction with the member actuated by the user. It consists of a display part.

  The term “interlocking” in the present invention is understood to include the meaning of physical or chemical interaction that occurs between the display part of the mouthpiece element and the member operated by the user and / or its contents. It is necessary to Preferably, the linkage between the display part of the mouthpiece element and the user actuated member and / or its contents consists of a fluid flow between at least these two components. Other examples include a mouthpiece display and a user-actuated member and / or its contents such as fluid flow between these two components, particle and / or composite interaction, This may include a chemical reaction or some physical contact between components that induces a change in one or more properties of the member.

  According to the invention, the display may comprise means for changing the optical contrast at least locally in the mouthpiece element when the user activates a member that is actuated by the user. Preferably, the display is at least locally optically contrasted within the mouthpiece element to provide a visual indication to the user within the mouthpiece element when the user actuates a member actuated by the user. It consists of means to enhance.

  Providing a visual indication within the smoking article's mouthpiece element is particularly useful and convenient for the user to determine whether the member has operated correctly within the smoking article's filter. The indicator in the mouthpiece element helps the user visually determine if the member is working properly in the filter, even while smoke is being drawn from the smoking article Provides a local optical contrast change within.

  In the present invention, “optical contrast” is a more general definition and should be understood as the difference in color or tone between adjacent regions in the mouthpiece element of the invention, which is the mouthpiece. Contributes to the visual effect of the element.

  According to the present invention, the member actuated by the user is a means for discharging a fluid, and the display unit is activated by contacting the fluid.

  The member operated by the user is, for example, means for discharging a liquid, and the display unit may be operated by contacting the liquid.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the indicator of the mouthpiece element comprises at least one layer in contact with the filter and the mouthpiece element, this layer preferably consisting of a porous and / or flowable material. . As an advantage of this intermediate layer, it is possible to easily link the display part in the mouthpiece element with a member actuated by the user and its contents.

  According to the present invention, the display unit may include at least one thread. At least one thread is in contact with both the filter and the mouthpiece element, thereby allowing easy interlocking between the contents of the mouthpiece element display with the member actuated by the user and its contents.

  More preferably, the at least one thread guides and flows the liquid released by the user actuated member in at least one direction faster or deeper than the rest of the mouthpiece element. It has materials that can.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a display member that is actuated by a user actuating a member that is actuated by the user within the filter is preliminarily immersed in the display unit. This makes it possible to further increase the reactivity and efficiency of the display unit with the mouthpiece element of the present invention.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the display is configured to provide a visual indication to the user from at least a portion of the outer periphery of the mouthpiece element.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the display changes the surface texture of the mouthpiece element at least locally and provides a tactile or touch sensitive display to the user at the outer periphery of the mouthpiece element. Means. Means for providing a tactile or touch-sensitive indication include, for example, a liquid swelling agent provided on the mouthpiece element or adhered to its internal surface. These are adjacent to the filter material and plug wrap (if available) and provide local expansion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece element.

  You may provide the display part of the mouthpiece element of this invention so that the operating degree of the member operated by a user may be displayed.

  According to the invention, the member actuated by the user is a means for releasing the flavor and may be in the form of a capsule or thread.

  The invention further relates to a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece element as described above.

  The mouthpiece element of the present invention makes it possible to clearly indicate to the user the operation of the smoke modifier in the filter of the smoking article. This makes it easy for the user to identify when it has been activated, and since it displays to the user when the smoke modifier has been used, the user will not be able to activate it again.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1A and B are cross-sectional views of two examples of common smoking article configurations. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a smoking article comprising the mouthpiece element of the present invention. 3A and 3B show another example of a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece element of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the mouthpiece element of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a known smoking article 1 generally comprises a tobacco rod 2 and a filter 3. When using the smoking article 1, when the free distal end 2 a of the tobacco rod 2 is ignited, smoke is drawn out from the free distal end 2 a of the tobacco rod 2 through the filter 3 and toward the proximal end 3 b of the filter 3. The user inhales this.

  Usually, the tobacco rod 2 is wrapped in a package 6, which is usually made of paper and is used to hold the tobacco rod 2 and direct the smoke to the filter 3. The mouthpiece element 4 provides the structural integrity of the smoking article 1 by joining and holding the proximal connecting end 2b of the tobacco rod 2 and the distal connecting end 3a of the filter 3 together. In some cases, the wrapping 6 continues along the entire length of the smoking article 1 (see FIG. 1A), and in other cases it continues only up to the junction of the tobacco rod 2 and the filter 3 (see FIG. 1b). In the latter case, a plug wrap 7 is provided around the filter 3 to induce smoke and protect the filter material. In the form of FIGS. 1A and 1B, a user actuated member 5 is provided in the filter 3. The member 5 actuated by the user preferably takes the form of a capsule. In the usual case, a tipping paper 4 is provided that surrounds the filter 3 and extends over the joint between the tobacco rod 2 and the filter 3 to achieve the structural integrity of the smoking article 1 and on the tobacco rod 2. The filter 3 is held.

  The member 5 actuated by the user may be a deformable type of capsule as disclosed, for example, in EP 1906775. As another example, the user actuated member 5 may be a plurality of capsules, or one or more threads, such as an extruded material incorporated in a filter material of the type disclosed in WO 2001/058319. It can also take the shape.

  In such a device, the member 5 actuated by the user consists of a material part or substance that changes the smoke, such as a flavor modifying fluid or liquid that changes the flavor of the smoke when the member 5 actuated by the user is activated. There is a case. If one or more yarns are provided for the member 5 actuated by the user, these yarns may be impregnated with smoke modifying liquids or other substances. However, what is common in all possibilities is that the actuating of the member 5 actuated by the user is to obtain a compression or similar effect, such as breaking the capsule or releasing the smoke modifier. The point is that the operation is performed by adding a twist. When actuated by twisting, the filter 3 may be composed of two members that can twist with respect to each other, and this twisting induces actuation by applying force to the member 5 actuated by the user. .

  According to the present invention, as described above, when the mouthpiece element 4 is provided for the smoking article 1, the mouthpiece element 4 is a member 5 that is operated by the user who has the user of the smoking article 1 incorporated therein. It is possible to advantageously use a display unit for displaying that the is operated.

  The indicator preferably changes, preferably improves, the optical contrast at least in some parts of the mouthpiece element 4 when the user actuated member 5 is actuated in the mouthpiece element 4. Preferably, it comprises a means for optical, visual, or contrast modification that provides a visual display to the user. More preferably, the display unit is configured by arranging at least one sheet or one thread between the filter 3 and the mouthpiece element 4 so that the liquid can flow between the filter 3 and the mouthpiece element 4. By setting the state, it is visually displayed to the user that the member 5 actuated by the user has been actuated.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article 1 according to the present invention, and includes a mouthpiece element 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this example, all parts of the smoking article according to the prior art in FIG. 1B are assigned the same number. In addition, according to the invention, the mouthpiece element 4 comprises a display 8 around the plug wrap 7 of the filter 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the indicator 8 is formed from an intermediate layer 9 and is arranged between the plug wrap 7 and the inner surface of the mouthpiece element 4. The intermediate layer 9 is preferably coated or printed, or preferably adhered to the inner surface of the paper mouthpiece element 4.

  The intermediate layer 9 forming the display unit 8 is configured such that when the user operates the member 5 operated by the user, the smoke modifying agent, for example, liquid, contained therein is discharged to the filter 3, and this liquid is plugged through the filter 3. It is configured to go to the packaging 7 and the display unit 8. When the liquid reaches the display 8, it then flows to the proximal end 3 b of the filter 3 where the user normally applies the mouth, causing a visible optical contrast change between the filter 3 and the mouthpiece element 4. Wake up. The display unit 8 is configured to cause a change in contrast or color with respect to other materials, in particular the filter 3 and the mouthpiece element 4, by reaction with the liquid from the member 5 actuated by the user. This is a visual indication for the user who has actuated the member 5 actuated by. A change in contrast or color that occurs when the member 5 actuated by the user reaches the intermediate layer 9 that forms part of the display unit 8 can be visually recognized at least at a part of the outer periphery of the mouthpiece element 4. it can.

  FIG. 3A shows another embodiment of the mouthpiece element 4 comprising the display 8 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the display unit 8 includes a thread 10 that penetrates the filter material 3 and the plug wrap 7, and is in a state in which fluid can flow between the mouthpiece element 4. The thread | yarn 10 is a member for ensuring the preferable flow path of the liquid withdraw | derived toward the mouthpiece element 4 from the member 5 actuated by the user. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the member 5 actuated by the user is actuated, the thread 10 locally changes the contrast and color of at least part of the mouthpiece element 4 from the member 5 actuated by the user. The liquid discharged towards the mouthpiece element 4 is drawn in such a way that Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the member 5 operated by the user has operated. Apart from this, the thread 10 extends into the interior of the filter 3 and plug wrap 7, for example needles, protrusions or nanotubes, and forms a preferred flow path for the liquid in the member 5 actuated by the user. , A harder member for flowing into the mouthpiece element 4 can be substituted.

  The thread 10 can be pre-attached to the mouthpiece element 4 before the filter 3 and the smoking article 1 are formed. These threads merely cover the filter 3 rather than penetrating it, but in this case as well, it is possible to ensure a preferable flow path for the liquid from the member 5 actuated by the user. By fixing to the mouthpiece element 4, it is possible to control the emphasized color pattern that can be visually recognized when the member 5 that is operated by the user is operated.

  As described above, the mouthpiece element 4 can be formed to form the display portion 8 as one material while providing structural integrity to the smoking article 1. This can be seen in FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view of a complex mouthpiece element 4 that provides a built-in display 8. The mouthpiece element 4 first comprises a transparent outer layer 11 which serves as a protective layer. The translucent layer 12 having the opening 13 is attached to the inner surface of the transparent layer 11 in the form of adhesion or coating, and the display layer 14 and the base layer 15 are overlapped to form the structure of the mouthpiece element 4. In such a configuration, the mouthpiece element 4 is encased in a basal layer 15 in contact with the filter 3 of the smoking article 1 as can be seen in all figures 1 to 3. When a user actuated member 5, such as a capsule containing liquid, is actuated, the liquid contacts the base layer 15 of the mouthpiece element 4 through the filter 3 and activates the display layer 14, at this time. This can be selectively visually recognized from the opening 13 of the translucent layer 12.

  This particular configuration is advantageous in that the display unit 8 is protected from external moisture and can prevent malfunction. In addition, this makes it possible to isolate the user from chemical substances that can be included in the display layer 14 that forms the display unit 8, and to detect visible contrast and, in some cases, a colored pattern change. 4 can be realized outside. This pattern can be composed of words, logos, dots, other patterns or combinations thereof. The base layer 15 can be formed from standard tipping paper for ease of production. The display layer 14 can be provided by the type of material disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,416,853, for example. Although the base layer 15 may be unnecessary depending on circumstances, it can be considered that there is an advantage in supporting the structure and the efficiency of transferring the liquid to the display layer 14 can be improved.

  In some cases, it is desirable to provide an indicator 8 in the mouthpiece element 4 of the smoking article 1 because the indicator 8 is activated after the member 5 actuated by the user is actuated by the user. This is because the degree can be displayed. For example, it is known that a user actuated member 5 must be continuously pressurized in order to not only actuate, but also release smoke modifiers from the user actuated member 5. Yes. For example, the user may need to apply pressure over an extended period of time to release liquid from the member 5 that is activated by the user. In such a case, the display unit 8 can be configured to display the degree of operation by changing the contrast and color according to the amount of liquid received from the member 5 operated by the user. Apart from this, when a plurality of display sections 8 or a series of openings 13 as shown in FIG. 4 are used, the display sections 8 or openings that are affected by the operation of the member 5 operated by the user. The number of the parts 13 can be configured to be different depending on the degree of operation of the member 5 operated by the user.

  In all these examples, the display unit 8 is configured so that the liquid that operates it can be quickly drawn out to the display surface of the mouthpiece element 4 of the kind of smoking article 1 as described above and can be visually recognized by the user. Can do. Thereby, quick operation display becomes possible.

  In another alternative embodiment, the display 8 comprises means for at least locally changing the surface texture of the mouthpiece element 4 so that the member 5 actuated by the user can be Deformation at the outer periphery can be provided by a tactile or touch sensitive display.

  Depending on the form of the mouthpiece element 4 with the display 8 presented by the present invention, depending on the member 5 that is activated by the user or the member that is used to change the smoking experience while changing the smoking experience The smoking article 1 with the user actuated member 5 can be provided to the user without failing to ensure that the user actuated member 5 has been actuated simply and effectively. Is possible.

Claims (13)

A mouthpiece element for a smoking article, the smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter secured to the tobacco rod by the mouthpiece element, the smoking article further comprising smoke passing through the filter. A user actuated member for changing, wherein the mouthpiece element is actuated by the user in conjunction with the member when the user actuates the member actuated by the user; A display unit for displaying that the user has activated the member;
The display unit is provided so as to further display the degree of operation of the member operated by a user.   The display unit comprises means for changing optical contrast at least locally in the mouthpiece element when a user actuates the member actuated by a user. The mouthpiece element according to claim 1.   For the display to increase the optical contrast at least locally in the mouthpiece element to provide the user with a visual indication in the mouthpiece element when the member actuated by the user is actuated The mouthpiece element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising:   The mouthpiece element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the member actuated by a user is means for discharging a fluid, and the display unit is actuated when in contact with the fluid. .   The mouthpiece element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the member actuated by a user is means for discharging a liquid, and the display unit is actuated when in contact with the liquid. .   The mouthpiece element according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes at least one layer in contact with the filter and the mouthpiece element.   The mouthpiece element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display section includes at least one thread in contact with the filter and the mouthpiece element.   At least one of the threads guides the liquid discharged by the member actuated by a user in at least one direction faster or deeper than the rest of the member of the mouthpiece element The mouthpiece element according to claim 7, dependent on claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a material that can flow.   9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a display material that operates when the user operates the member that is operated by the user within the filter. The mouthpiece element according to one item.   The sucking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the display unit is configured to be able to visually display a user from at least a part of the outer periphery of the mouthpiece element. Mouth element.   The display unit includes means for changing a surface texture of the mouthpiece element at least locally and providing a tactile display to a user on an outer periphery of the mouthpiece element. A mouthpiece element according to any one of the preceding claims.   The mouthpiece element according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the member actuated by the user is a means for releasing the flavor.   A smoking article comprising the mouthpiece element according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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