(19)

(11)

EP 4 404 776 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 31.07.2024 Bulletin 2024/31 (21) Application number: 22790237.6 (22) Date of filing: 09.09.2022

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24B 15/167(2020.01) A24B 15/30(2006.01) A24D 3/10(2006.01) A24F 40/44(2020.01) A24B 15/28(2006.01) A24F 40/10(2020.01) A24F 40/30(2020.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): A24B 15/167; A24B 15/284; A24B 15/286; A24B 15/301; A24F 40/10; A24F 40/20; A24F 40/30; A24F 40/44 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2022/075127 (87) International publication number: WO 2023/041438 (23.03.2023 Gazette 2023/12)

(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: 20.09.2021 EP 21197844 (71) Applicant: Imperial Tobacco Limited Bristol, BS3 2LL (GB)	(72) Inventors: MAXWELL-HOGG, Steven Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP (GB) STUART, Ian Liverpool Merseyside L24 9HP (GB) (74) Representative: Mewburn Ellis LLP  Aurora Building Counterslip Bristol BS1 6BX Bristol BS1 6BX (GB)