Smoking article with liquid delivery material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9986759-B2
Application number	US-201214356441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2012
Priority date	Nov 7, 2011
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A smoking article ( 10 ) incorporates a sustained release liquid delivery material ( 20 ), the liquid delivery material comprising a closed matrix structure defining a plurality of domains. A liquid composition is trapped within the domains and is releasable from the closed matrix structure upon compression of the material. The liquid delivery material ( 20 ) provides a sustained release of the liquid composition over a range of force of at least 5 Newtons. Preferably, the liquid delivery material is provided within the filter ( 14 ) of the smoking article ( 10 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A smoking article incorporating a sustained-release liquid delivery material, the liquid delivery material comprising:
a closed matrix structure defining a plurality of closed pores; and
a liquid composition that is trapped within the closed pores and is releasable from the closed matrix structure upon compression of the liquid delivery material, wherein the liquid delivery material provides a sustained release of the liquid composition upon compression of the liquid delivery material over at least a 5 Newton range of force.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the liquid delivery material provides a sustained release of the liquid composition upon compression of the liquid delivery material over a range of force from 10 Newtons to 15 Newtons.

3. A smoking article according to claim 2 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 5 Newtons corresponds to at least 2 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 10 Newtons to a total force of 15 Newtons corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

4. A smoking article according to claim 2 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 10 Newtons corresponds to at least 20 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 15 Newtons to a total force of 25 Newtons corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

5. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 5 Newtons corresponds to at least 2 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 10 Newtons to a total force of 15 Newtons corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

6. A smoking article according to claim 5 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 10 Newtons corresponds to at least 20 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 15 Newtons to a total force of 25 Newtons corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

7. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 10 Newtons corresponds to at least 20 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material with a force of 15 Newtons to a total force of 25 Newtons corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

8. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the liquid delivery material provides a sustained release of the liquid composition upon compression of the liquid delivery material over at least a 25 percent range of deformation.

9. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein an amount of the liquid composition released from the liquid delivery material upon compression of the liquid delivery material to a 10 percent deformation corresponds to at least 2 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression and wherein an additional amount of the liquid composition that is released upon further compression of the liquid delivery material to a 40 percent deformation corresponds to at least 10 percent by weight of the liquid delivery material prior to any compression.

10. A smoking article according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery material comprises a sustained release flavour delivery material comprising a flavour composition.

11. A smoking article according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid delivery material is a flavour delivery material, wherein the closed matrix structure is a polymer matrix comprising one or more matrix-forming polymers and a plasticiser, and wherein the liquid composition trapped within the plurality of closed pores defined by the polymer matrix is a flavour composition, the flavour composition comprising a flavourant mixed with one or more fats that are liquid at 22° C.

12. A smoking article according to claim 11 wherein the flavour composition of the flavour delivery material comprises a fat including at least 30 percent by weight of medium chain triglycerides having at least one carboxylic acid having a chain length of between 6 and 12.

13. A smoking article according to claim 12 wherein the plasticiser in the polymer matrix of the flavour delivery material comprises at least one of polyethylene glycol and glycerol.

14. A smoking article according to claim 11 wherein the plasticiser in the polymer matrix of the flavour delivery material comprises at least one of polyethylene glycol and glycerol.

15. A smoking article according to claim 14 wherein the amount of plasticiser in the polymer matrix corresponds to at least 5 percent by weight of the matrix-forming polymers.

16. A smoking article according to claim 11 wherein the amount of plasticiser in the polymer matrix corresponds to at least 5 percent by weight of the matrix-forming polymers.

17. A smoking article according to claim 11 wherein the matrix-forming polymers in the polymer matrix of the flavour delivery material include at least one of alginate and pectin.

18. A smoking article according to claim 1 wherein the liquid composition comprises menthol.

19. A smoking article according to claim 1 comprising a filter including the liquid delivery material.

20. The smoking article according to claim 1 , wherein the closed matrix structure comprises a cross-linked polymer.

21. The smoking article according to claim 20 , wherein the cross-linked polymer comprises a polysaccharide.

22. A filter for a smoking article comprising a sustained-release flavour delivery material, the flavour delivery material comprising:
a closed matrix structure defining a plurality of closed pores; and
a flavour composition that is trapped within the closed pores and is releasable from the closed matrix structure upon compression of the flavour delivery material, wherein the flavour delivery material provides a sustained release of the flavour composition upon compression of the flavour delivery material over at least a 5 Newton range of force.

23. The filter for a smoking article according to claim 22 , wherein the closed matrix structure comprises

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Besso Clement

Classifications

• A24D3/061 Primary

  containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release upon smoking · CPC title

• A24D3/066 Primary

  in the form of foam or having cellular structure · CPC title

• A24D1/002

  with additives, e.g. for flavouring · CPC title

• A24D3/048

  containing additives · CPC title

• A24D3/17 Primary

  Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices · CPC title