US3811451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco smoke filter
Assignee: Filtrona Richmond Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-11
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1992-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for making tobacco smoke filter means having totally enclosed inner cavities surrounded completely by the filtering material. Selected cavities may be filled with a sorbent smoke-modifying additive or the like in order to provide both gas phase filtration and solid phase filtration to the resultant product. Filter rods are manufactured by utilizing a reciprocating mandrel which is timed to the movement of a filtering material, such as a continuous cellulose acetate filamentary tow, through processing stations, particularly a steam-treating bonding station, with an annular wall of smokepermeable bonded fibrous members of the filtering material being formed when the mandrel is in its forward-most position extending at least to the point where the bonding agent contacts the filtering material. At the rearward-most portion of the stroke of the mandrel the filtering material is permitted to extended transversely completely across the bonding zone before being contacted with the steam so as to form a smoke-permeable plug of filtering material before and after the annular wall portions, thereby defining the internal cavities. Selected cavities may be partially or completely filled with an additive passing through the mandrel which can be hollow, as the mandrel is withdrawn during its rearward stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 R Berger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:30
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/02; A24D3/0204; A24D3/0212; A24D3/0225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A smoke filter means including a filter element comprising: a. an axially elongated, hollow, outer member; b. an axially elongated inner member disposed within said outer member; c. said outer member including an inner surface and having spaced end portions; d. said inner member comprising a filtering material and including an outer surface and having spaced end portions; e. integral peripheral portions of said outer surface of said inner member being juxtaposed to portions of said inner surface of said outer member to at least substantially preclude axial passage of smoke across the area therebetween; f. integral, longitudinally spaced first and second portions of said inner member extending transversely across the full diameter of said inner member in the form of plugs of filtering material including means defining a tortuous path for smoke therethrough, the outer surfaces of said integral first and second portions of said inner member at least partially defining said peripheral portions; g. a totally enclosed unfilled inner cavity means surrounded by the filtering material of said inner member including said integral first and second portions and integral, annular, connecting portions extending longitudinally between said first and second portions; h. integral portions of said inner member extending transversely across said inner member intermediate said first and second portions to divide said inner cavity means into at least two discrete unfilled inner cavity members; i. portions of the outer surface of said connecting portions of said inner member being spaced from said inner surface of said outer member to define an outer cavity means therebetween; j. said inner and outer cavity means each having less resistance to flow of smoke than said filtering material, whereby smoke passing through said filter element from one end portion of said inner member to the other end portion thereof must pass through said outer cavity means and each of said inner cavity members and must pass at least four times through said filtering material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A smoke filter means including a filter element comprising: a. an axially elongated, hollow, outer member; b. an axially elongated inner member disposed within said outer member; c. said outer member including an inner surface and having spaced end portions; d. said inner member comprising a filtering material and including an outer surface and having spaced end portions; e. integral peripheral portions of said outer surface of said inner member being juxtaposed to portions of said inner surface of said outer member to at least substantially preclude axial passage of smoke across the area therebetween; f. integral, longitudinally spaced first and second portions of said inner member extending transversely across the full diameter of said inner member in the form of plugs of filtering material including means defining a tortuous path for smoke therethrough, the outer surfaces of said integral first and second portions of said inner member at least partially defining said peripheral portions; g. a totally enclosed unfilled inner cavity means surrounded by the filtering material of said inner member including said integral first and second portions and integral, annular, connecting portions extending longitudinally between said first and second portions; h. integral portions of said inner member extending transversely across said inner member intermediate said first and second portions to divide said inner cavity means into at least two discrete unfilled inner cavity members; i. portions of the outer surface of said connecting portions of said inner member being spaced from said inner surface of said outer member to define an outer cavity means therebetween; j. said inner and outer cavity means each having less resistance to flow of smoke than said filtering material, whereby smoke passing through said filter element from one end portion of said inner member to the other end portion thereof must pass through said outer cavity means and each of said inner cavity members and must pass at least four times through said filtering material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cigarette comprising, in combination, a tobacco rod and a filter means secured in end-tO-end relationship to one end of said tobacco rod, said filter means including a filter element as defined in claim 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A filter means according to claim 1 wherein said filtering material comprises cellulose acetate tow.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |