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EP 2 566 358 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 13.03.2013 Bulletin 2013/11 (21) Application number: 11718610.6 (22) Date of filing: 27.04.2011

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24F 47/00(2006.01) A24B 15/16(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2011/034040 (87) International publication number: WO 2011/139730 (10.11.2011 Gazette 2011/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 19.08.2010 US 859494 06.05.2010 US 775278 06.05.2010 US 775130 (71) Applicant: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487 (US)

(72) Inventors: CONNER, Billy Tyrone Clemmons, NC 27102 (US) SEBASTIAN, Andries Don Clemmons, NC 27012 (US) CROOKS, Evon Llewellyn Mocksville, NC 27028 (US) THOMAS, Timothy Fredrick High Point, NC 27265 (US) STONE, James Richard Advance, NC 27006 (US) BANERJEE, Chandra K. Clemmons, NC 27102 (US) CHANG, Yi-Ping Greensboro, NC 27410 (US) (74) Representative: Hoeger, Stellrecht & Partner Patentanwälte  Uhlandstrasse 14c 70182 Stuttgart 70182 Stuttgart (DE)