Patent US3855032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3855032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of tobacco-smoke filters
Assignee: Brown and Williamson Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-08
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1992-03-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a method of producing, in a continuous manner, tobacco-smoke filters each comprising a tube of porous tobacco-smoke filter material blocked at one end by a plug of smoke-impermeable material. Lengths of the plug material are deposited automatically upon a strip of the filter material at predetermined intervals along the same and the strip is brought to the form of the tube around the plug lengths. In the case of filters each further comprising an outer smoke-impermeable tubular wrapper disposed around the said tube with a gap between them which is closed at the other end of the tube, the tubular wrapper is automatically applied to and formed over the assembly consisting of the tube and plug lengths.
Inventors
- 👤 J Luke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:46
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/02; A24D3/0275; A24D3/0279; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/05; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1008; Y10T156/101; Y10T156/1028; Y10T156/1033; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/1317; Y10T156/1322; Y10T156/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of continuously producing tobacco smoke filter components comprising: a. depositing lengths of smoke-impermeable plug material upon a strip of filter material at predetermined intervals so that the lengths of plug material are spaced a substantially greater distance apart than their individual lengths; b. forming a tube of the strip about said plug lengths; c. disposing an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing around the tube; d. providing means between said filter material and said tubular casing to retain at least portions of said casing and filter material in spaced relation to provide a longitudinal smoke flow between said filter material and plug assembly and said smoke-impermeable tubular casing; e. forming a circumferential seal between said casing and said tube at desired spaced positions from said plugs to prevent the passage of smoke between the casing and tube at the point of said seal; and f. cutting said tube into individual filter smoke components each having a circumferential seal at one end thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of continuously producing tobacco smoke filter components comprising: a. depositing lengths of smoke-impermeable plug material upon a strip of filter material at predetermined intervals so that the lengths of plug material are spaced a substantially greater distance apart than their individual lengths; b. forming a tube of the strip about said plug lengths; c. disposing an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing around the tube; d. providing means between said filter material and said tubular casing to retain at least portions of said casing and filter material in spaced relation to provide a longitudinal smoke flow between said filter material and plug assembly and said smoke-impermeable tubular casing; e. forming a circumferential seal between said casing and said tube at desired spaced positions from said plugs to prevent the passage of smoke between the casing and tube at the point of said seal; and f. cutting said tube into individual filter smoke components each having a circumferential seal at one end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plug lengths are produced in a continuous operation by severing them from a rod of the plug material and depositing the severed lengths at the predetermined intervals upon the strip of filter material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plug lengths are produced in a continuous operation by forming them as a string of plug lengths connected together at the predetermined intervals and the string is deposited upon the strip of filter material with the plug lengths maintained at the said intervals by their interconnection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in accorDance with claim 1 wherein the plug lengths are produced by a rolling-mold operation including passing the plug material between a pair of opposing wheels having mating recesses at predetermined intervals to form a cavity corresponding to plug length dimensions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the edges of the strip of filter material brought to tubular form around the plug lengths are sealed together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the edges of the strip of filter material brought to tubular form around the plug lengths are sealed together with a butt joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing is formed continuously around the assembly consisting of the filter tube and the plug lengths by extruding it in a cross-head die through which the assembly is passed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing is produced continously around the assembly consisting of the filter tube and the plug lengths by bringing together preformed longitudinal sections of casing around the assembly in substantial conformance with the outer surface of the assembly and sealing together the edges of the sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein an outer smoke-impermeable wrapper with internal configurations such as ribs which support the assembly consisting of the filter-tube and the plug lengths and space the tube from the casing is formed around the assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the assembly consisting of the filter tube and plug lengths is passed together with an outer casing through a garniture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the assembly consisting of the filter tube and plug lengths is passed together with an outer casing through a garniture in which the assembly is provided with an outer wrapping.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing is formed around the filter tube with a gap therebetween so that the casing and tube are spaced along a substantial portion of their relative lengths, closure of the gap at predetermined intervals being effected by deformation of the casing onto the filter tube by the application of localized heat and pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing is formed around the filter tube with a gap therebetween so that the casing and tube are spaced along substantially their entire relative lengths, closure of the gap at predetermined intervals being effected by rolling lengths of the assembly consisting of the casing, filter-tube and plug lengths past at least one heated member, arranged to engage the assembly with localized pressure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for continuously producing tobacco smoke filter components comprising: a. means for feeding a strip of filter material; b. means for depositing lengths of smoke-impermeable plug material upon said strip of filter material at predetermined intervals so that the lengths of plug material are spaced a substantially greater distance apart than their individual lengths; c. means for forming a tube of the strip about said plug lengths; d. means for disposing an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing around the tube; e. means for providing between said filter material and said tubular casing means to retain at least portions of said casing and filter material in spaced relation to provide a longitudinal smoke flow between said filter material and plug assembly and said smoke-impermeable tubular casing; f. means for forming a circumferential seal between said casing and said tube at desired spaced positions from said plugs to prevent the passage of smoke between the casing and tube at the point of said seal; and g. means for cutting said tube into individual filter smoke components each having a circumferential seal at one end thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
183 words
An apparatus for continuously producing tobacco smoke filter components comprising: a. means for feeding a strip of filter material; b. means for depositing lengths of smoke-impermeable plug material upon said strip of filter material at predetermined intervals so that the lengths of plug material are spaced a substantially greater distance apart than their individual lengths; c. means for forming a tube of the strip about said plug lengths; d. means for disposing an outer smoke-impermeable tubular casing around the tube; e. means for providing between said filter material and said tubular casing means to retain at least portions of said casing and filter material in spaced relation to provide a longitudinal smoke flow between said filter material and plug assembly and said smoke-impermeable tubular casing; f. means for forming a circumferential seal between said casing and said tube at desired spaced positions from said plugs to prevent the passage of smoke between the casing and tube at the point of said seal; and g. means for cutting said tube into individual filter smoke components each having a circumferential seal at one end thereof.
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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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |