|
(11) | EP 2 853 164 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Smokers' article |
| (57) The present invention provides a self-supporting smokers' article comprising an elongate
element which comprises reconstituted tobacco. The smokers' article can be used to
flavour consumer-made smoking items such as roll-your-own or make-your-own smoking
items.
|
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to smokers' articles which can be used to provide flavouring to a consumer-made smoking item. Smoking items include roll-your-own and/or make-your-own smoking items.
Background to the Invention
[0002] Flavourings can be added to tobacco during the manufacturing process giving rise to flavoured tobacco. A portion of the consumers prefer using flavoured tobacco in roll-your-own (RYO) and/or make-your-own (MYO) smoking items because it meets their expectations better.
[0003] One problem associated with flavoured tobacco is that the tobacco has a tendency to lose flavour over time when the tobacco is being stored either before or after opening. The loss of flavour is due to normal transfer of the flavouring to the surroundings. When tobacco loses flavour, the smoking experience of the consumers is altered. Controlling the flavour present in tobacco can often lead to problems since it depends on a number of factors including vapour pressure, temperature, humidity and solubility of the flavouring.
[0004] Another problem associated with flavoured tobacco is that there is no element of choice for the consumer. Once a consumer has decided to purchase tobacco with certain flavouring, they are left only with the option of consuming tobacco that is permanently flavoured with the flavour they have chosen. A consumer often wants variety and choice. Currently, in order to be provided with variety and choice, a consumer must carry lots of different pouches of flavoured tobacco around with them which is inconvenient. In addition, there is no choice for the consumer to introduce different flavourings only when they want.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide decreased flavour loss in order to avoid unwanted effects associated with tobacco which loses flavour over time.
[0006] In addition, there is a need to provide the consumer with an element of choice as to when they would like to add flavour or additional flavour to their RYO and/or MYO smoking items. This will also provide the consumer with a choice as to which flavour they want to add.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] A first aspect of the invention provides a self-supporting smokers' article for flavouring a consumer-made smoking item, wherein the smokers' article comprises an elongate element comprising reconstituted tobacco.
[0008] A second aspect of the invention provides a pack of smokers' articles comprising a plurality of smokers' articles.
[0009] A third aspect of the invention provides a dispenser comprising a plurality of smokers' article or comprising a pack of smokers' articles.
Description of the Drawings
[0011]
Figure 1a illustrates a pack of smokers' articles according to the invention.
Figure 1b illustrates a pack of smokers' articles in an alternative configuration to those in Figure 1a, according to the invention.
Figure 1c illustrates an alternative pack of smokers' articles according to the invention.
Figure 1d illustrates another alternative pack of smokers' articles.
Figure 2a illustrates a dispenser which is used to dispense the smokers' articles of the above Figures to a consumer.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0012] Figures 1a to 1d illustrate packs of smokers' articles according to the invention. In general, a pack of smokers' articles comprises a plurality of the smokers' articles which each comprise an elongate element.
[0013] Figure 1a depicts a pack 1 of smokers' articles, wherein each smokers' article is an elongate element 2. The pack 1 comprises a plurality of elongate elements 2 where each elongate element 2 is frangibly connected to an adjacent elongate element 2. In Figure 1a, the elongate elements 2 are shown to be connected along their elongate edge such that they are arranged in a side-by-side fashion.
[0014] Figure 1b shows an alternative pack 1 of smokers' articles, wherein the elongate elements 2 are frangibly connected via their ends such that they are arranged in an end-to-end fashion. In this arrangement, the elongate elements 2 are connected such that they form a continuous strip. Alternatively, the elongate elements 2 may form a continuous strip whereby there is no frangible connection. In such an embodiment, a user would simply tear the reconstituted tobacco to the desired length. The advantage of the elongate elements 2 being frangibly connected is that they are a predetermined length which is substantially the length of a consumer-made smoking item so waste is minimised.
[0015] Figure 1c shows an alternative pack 1 of smokers' articles wherein each elongate element 2 is frangibly connected to a base member 3 by one of its ends. The base member 3 also comprises reconstituted tobacco. In Figure 1c, each elongate element 2, which is connected to the base member 3, is also frangibly connected to an adjacent elongate element 2.
[0016] The pack 1 of smokers' articles shown in Figure 1d is similar to the pack 1 shown in Figure 1c. Each elongate element 2 is frangibly connected to a base member 3 by one of its ends. However, the elongate elements 2 of Figure 1d are not connected to each other.
[0017] Figure 2 shows a dispenser 4 comprising a pack 1 of smokers' articles. Preferably, the dispenser 4 comprises the pack 1 depicted in Figure 1b, i.e., a continuous strip of elongate elements 2 such that the strip is capable of being dispensed for use. Where the ends of the elongate elements 2 are frangibly connected, they may be dispensed individually such that a user can tear off one elongate element 2 at a time via the frangible connection. The advantage of this is that the elongate elements 2 are a predetermined length which is suitable for use in a consumer-made smoking item.
[0018] Alternatively, the dispenser 4 shown in Figure 2 may comprise a plurality of individual smokers' articles.
[0019] A consumer may attach the dispenser 4 to a tobacco pouch for ease of use. The advantage of this is that the dispenser comprising the smokers' articles is then less likely to be displaced. Preferably, the dispenser is sealed to prevent flavour loss.
[0020] Alternatively, the smokers' articles may be packed separately in, for example, laminated foil or a sealed plastic pouch. The advantage of this is that a sealed pouch prevents loss of volatile flavour components so the smokers' articles are kept fresh.
[0021] The smokers' articles according to the present invention can be used to flavour consumer-made smoking items. A consumer takes one of the elongate elements described above with reference to the Figures and places it into a piece of rolling paper. Tobacco is then added to the rolling paper and the whole article is rolled into a smoking item ready for use. Alternatively, the elongate element can be placed into the rolling paper after the tobacco has been added. A consumer may choose to add a filter to the rolling paper prior to rolling. In use, the smoking item is lit which causes high boiling point flavours to volatise and thereby provide flavour to the user.
[0022] A consumer may use an elongate element which is frangibly connected to another elongate element. Such smokers' articles are a predetermined length which is substantially the same length as the consumer-made smoking item. Alternatively, a consumer may use a pack of smokers' articles which have no frangible connections, i.e., a continuous strip of elongate elements as described with reference to Figure 1b. The consumer can then choose the length of the smokers' article that they wish to use. This is advantageous when consumers may use differing lengths of rolling paper because they can then match the length of the smokers' article to the length of the rolling paper.
[0024] The smokers' articles according to the present invention are self-supporting. For example, the smokers' articles are sufficiently thick so as to be self-supporting. In other words, the smokers' articles are self-supporting such that an individual elongate element can be handled by a consumer in the preparation of a RYO or MYO smoking article and it will not easily tear or break under human manipulation. The fact that the smokers' articles are self-supporting allows use of the elongate elements in a non-automated environment and allows a consumer to place the article at his/her leisure in the consumer-made smoking item.
[0025] The smokers' articles according to the invention comprise an elongate element comprising reconstituted tobacco. Preferably, the elongate elements comprise low substance, 25 gsm reconstituted tobacco. The presence of low substance reconstituted tobacco allows the elongate elements to have a flexibility which is higher than that of the rolling paper. This gives the result that when the elongate element is placed into a piece of rolling paper, the physical properties of the resulting rolled smoking item are not negatively affected.
[0026] An elongate element has a thickness of from about 0.10 mm to about 0.50 mm. Preferably, an elongate element has a thickness of from about 0.10 mm to about 0.30 mm. More preferably, an elongate element has a thickness of from about 0.15 mm to about 0.25 mm. The elongate element is substantially the same thickness for its entire length. For example, the thickness does not vary by more than 10% over its entire length. Preferably, the thickness does not vary by more than 5% over its entire length. Preferably, the elongate element has a thickness suitable for use in a consumer-made smoking item.
[0027] An elongate element has a width of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. Preferably, an elongate element has a width of from about 2 mm to about 6 mm. More preferably, an elongate element has a width of from about 2.5 mm to about 5 mm. The elongate element is substantially the same width for its entire length. For example, the width does not vary by more than 10% over its entire length. Preferably, the width does not vary by more than 5% over its entire length. Preferably, the elongate element has a width suitable for use in a consumer-made smoking item.
[0028] An elongate element has a length of from about 40 mm to about 110 mm. Preferably, an elongate element has a length of from about 55 mm to about 75 mm. More preferably, an elongate element has a length of from about 60 mm to about 70 mm. Preferably, the elongate element has a length suitable for use in a consumer-made smoking item.
[0030] The smokers' articles predominantly comprise reconstituted tobacco. However, the smokers' articles may further comprise an additive such as a flavouring agent. The additive provides alternative flavouring for the consumer.
[0031] Preferably the additive is a flavouring agent which may be selected from the following groups or may be a combination of two or more of the following groups:
- Extracts/natural.
- Aroma chemicals.
- Natural aroma chemicals - individual chemical substances which are isolated from natural sources, e.g. citric acid, natural menthol.
- Nature-identical aroma chemicals - individual naturally-occurring substances obtained by chemical synthesis, e.g. vanillin, synthetic menthol.
- Artificial aroma chemicals - individual substances not occurring in nature, e.g. ethylvanillin.
- Solvents/fixatives/stabilisers such as propylene glycol.
[0032] The flavouring agent may be comprised of a combination of any of the above-mentioned agents. For example, when the flavouring agent is an extract, two or more extracts may be combined. Alternatively, when the flavouring agent is an aroma chemical, two or more aroma chemicals may be combined.
[0033] Preferably, the flavouring agent is an extract or naturally-derived agent. For example, flowers (such as jasmine or rose), buds (such as clove), seeds (such as cardamom), fruits (such as lemon or lime), fruit peel (such as orange), whole plant (such as sage), grass (such as citronella), leaves/twigs (such as cedarleaf), oleo-gum resin (such as opoponax), wood (such as sandalwood), bark (such as cinnamon), lichen (such as oakmass), balsam (such as peru balsam), resin (such as mastic), rhizomes (such as ginger), bulbs (such as onion) or roots (such as angelica).
1. A self-supporting smokers' article for flavouring a consumer-made smoking item, wherein
the smokers' article comprises an elongate element comprising reconstituted tobacco.
2. The smokers' article according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element has a thickness
of from 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm.
3. The smokers' article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate element has a
width of from 1 mm to 10 mm.
4. The smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate
element has a length of from 40 mm to 110 mm.
5. The smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate
element further comprises an additive.
6. The smokers' article according to claim 5, wherein the additive is selected from the
group consisting of extracts, naturally-derived additives, natural aroma chemicals,
nature-identical aroma chemicals, artificial aroma chemicals, solvents, fixatives,
stabilisers or a combination thereof.
7. The smokers' article according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the additive is present in
an amount of from about 1 wt% to 5 wt%.
8. The smokers' article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate
element spans substantially the length of a consumer-made smoking item.
9. A pack of smokers' articles comprising a plurality of smokers' articles according
to any one of the preceding claims.
10. The pack according to claim 9, wherein each elongate element is frangibly connected
to an adjacent elongate element.
11. The pack according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the plurality of elongate elements are
frangibly connected to a base element.
12. A dispenser comprising a plurality of smokers' articles according to any one of claims
1 to 8 or comprising a pack of smokers' articles according to any one of claims 9
to 11.
13. A tobacco pouch comprising a pack according to any one of claims 9 to 11 or a dispenser
according to claim 12.
14. Use of the smokers' article as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 to flavour a consumer-made
smoking item.
15. The use according to claim 14, wherein the consumer-made smoking item is a roll-your-own
(RYO) or a make-your-own (MYO) smoking item.