(19)

(11)

EP 1 781 125 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 10.08.2006 (43) Date of publication: 09.05.2007 Bulletin 2007/19 (21) Application number: 05759387.3 (22) Date of filing: 09.06.2005

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24B 15/16(2006.01) G01N 30/72(2006.01) A24F 47/00(2006.01) G01N 30/10(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2005/020406 (87) International publication number: WO 2006/002001 (05.01.2006 Gazette 2006/01)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR LV MK YU (30) Priority: 15.06.2004 US 868126 (71) Applicant: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY Winston-Salem, NC 27102 (US)	(72) Inventors: BANERJEE, Chandra, Kumar Clemmons, NC27012 (US) SEARS, Stephen, Benson Siler City, NC 27344 (US) CASH, Sheila, Lynnette Greensboro, NC 27406 (US) CHUNG, Henry, Hsiao, Liang Advance, NC 27006 (US) (74) Representative: Hoeger, Stellrecht & Partner Patentanwälte  Uhlandstrasse 14 c 70182 Stuttgart 70182 Stuttgart (DE)