(19)

(11)

EP 2 211 645 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 22.05.2009 (43) Date of publication: 04.08.2010 Bulletin 2010/31 (21) Application number: 08835669.6 (22) Date of filing: 25.09.2008

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24B 13/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2008/077739 (87) International publication number: WO 2009/045860 (09.04.2009 Gazette 2009/15)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA MK RS (30) Priority: 28.09.2007 US 976291 P (71) Applicant: Vector Tobacco Inc. Morrisville, NC 27560 (US)	(72) Inventors: ALBINO, Anthony, P. New York NY 10025 (US) SULIN, Gregory, Andrew Chapel Hill NC 27517 (US) COYTE, Richard, L. Raleigh NC 27614 (US) CLARK, Thomas, Jeffrey Elon NC 27244 (US) RAINEY, Patrick Raleigh NC 27613 (US) GILLMAN, Gene Durham NC 27703 (US) (74) Representative: Plougmann & Vingtoft A/S  Sundkrogsgade 9 P.O. Box 831 2100 Copenhagen Ø 2100 Copenhagen Ø (DK)