(19)

(11)

EP 3 897 230 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 27.10.2021 Bulletin 2021/43 (21) Application number: 19836840.9 (22) Date of filing: 19.12.2019

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24B 15/24(2006.01) A24B 13/00(2006.01) A24B 15/28(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): A24B 15/287; A24B 15/24; A24B 13/00 (86) International application number: PCT/IB2019/061129 (87) International publication number: WO 2020/128971 (25.06.2020 Gazette 2020/26)

(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 Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 20.12.2018 US 201816227742 (71) Applicant: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101 (US)	(72) Inventors: MCCLANAHAN, David Neil Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 (US) DAVIS, Michael David Germanton, North Carolina 27019 (US) (74) Representative: Dehns  St. Bride's House 10 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JD London EC4Y 8JD (GB)