The lighting end of a cigarette having a wrapper (1) is lined with a lighting paper (2). Between the lighting paper (2) and wrapper (1) are provided a coating (3) of a sulphur composition and red phosphorus coated ends (4') of an igniting filament (4). When the filament is pulled from the end of the cigarette, the ends (4') are drawn frictionally over the coating (3) to ignite the lighting paper (2) and hence the tobacco filler.
The invention relates to a cigarette or other smoking rod, such as a cigarillo, provided at its end with a device for lighting the cigarette without use of a match or separate smokers' lighter.
Hitherto known integral cigarette lighting devices include some which comprise a portion coated with a sulphur composition and a frictional portion on the outside of a case on which the portion coated with the sulphur composition is struck, and others which comprise a portion coated with a combustible material at the end of the cigarette with a frictional paper cap on the outside. However, these have the disadvantages, in the former case, of an unpleasant aroma and the ease with which the cigarette can be broken or bent when struck against the case; and, in the latter case, of problems in the application of the cap and its susceptability to lighting spontaneously when carried because the combustible material and frictional paper are in such close proximity.
In accordance with the present invention, a smoking rod has a tubular wrapper and is provided at an end with a lighting device comprising a patch lining the wrapper; a sulphur composition coating the facing surfaces of the wrapper and patch; and an igniting element having an ignition end coated with a red phosphorus composition and inserted between the wrapper and patch, such that, when the element is pulled out from the end of the rod, the red phosphorus is drawn frictionally across and ignites the sulphur composition.
The lighting device is thus able to light the cigarette or other smoking rod without any deformation of the external shape thereof, upon pulling out the igniting element.
Preferably, the element is a filament both ends of which are coated with the red phosphorus composition and are positioned between the wrapper and patch, leaving a bight of the filament projecting from the end of the rod. The bight can then be readily gripped and pulled and the use of two ignition ends minimizes ignition failure.
If the or each ignition end is positioned between portions of the wrapper and patch which are uncoated with the sulphur composition, the phosphorus and sulphur compositions are kept apart prior to ignition thereby avoiding accidental premature ignition.
The frictional contact between the ignition end(s) and the sulphur composition coating is enhanced if the or each ignition end is flat and sinuous, e.g. S-shaped.
One example of a cigarette constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
The illustrated cigarette has a tubular paper wrapper 1 surrounding a filter tip 7 and tobacco filling 9. At the lighting end the wrapper is lined with an annular band 2 of lighting paper which is bonded to the wrapper with adhesive along a circumferential edge strip 5. Around a circumferential strip immediately adjacent to the end of the cigarette, the inner surface of the wrapper 1 and the outer surface of the lining band 2 are provided with an ignitable sulphur composition 3.
During assembly ends 4' of an incombustible igniting filament 4, which ends are coated with a red phosphorus composition 6 are trapped between the wrapper 1 and lining band 2 axially between the coating strip 3 and the adhesive strip 5. The ends 4' are flattened and of S-shape.
The red phosphorus composition may be composed of 85% red phosphorus, 10% glue, and 5% powdered glass; and the sulphur composition may be composed of 0.6% sulphur, 70% potassium hydrochlorate, 0.4% zinc oxide, 0.4% pine tree resin, 10% glue, 10% powdered bone, 0.6% talc, and 8% powdered glass.
In order to light the cigarette, the bight of the filament 4 is grasped and pulled so that the end 4' are pulled from between the wrapper and band 2. As the red phosphorus coating 6 is drawn frictionally between the sulphur coatings 3, the sulphur coatings and hence the lighting paper 2 and adjacent tobacco are ignited. The flat S-shape of the ignition ends 4' maximises the area of frictional contact with the coating 3. The substantially longitudinal separation of the filament 4 from the cigarette ensures that the cigarette is unlikely to be broken or damaged.