US4896683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selective delivery and retention of nicotine by-product from cigarette smoke
Assignee: Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch
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Filing: 1988-10-17
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Granted: 1990-01-30
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Expires: 2008-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for controlling nicotine delivery through a cigarette filter relative to total particulate pass-through concentration, and the corresponding filter utilizing, as a filter modifier component, at least one water-soluble metal salt of a weak acid, the choice and amount of salt within the filter favoring an alkaline pH exceeding about pH 8, the amount of alkalinity being correlated to the desired amount of nicotine pass-through while corresponding nicotine filter retention properties are keyed to the presence and concentration of a water soluble salt of a strong acid within the filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Richmond R. Cohen
- 👤 David J. Gibboni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:17
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/06; A24D3/08; A24D3/10; A24D3/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for controlling nicotine filter retention and pass through characteristics of a cigarette filter element comprising one or a combination of cellulose acetate- or thermoplastic synthetic- substrate, comprising, A. treating one or more fiber of film substrate forming said filter element or plug component, thereof with an aqueous solution or suspension having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12 and containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble salt of a weak acid as an active modifier; or B. treating one or more fiber or film substrate forming said filter element or plug component thereof with an aqueous solution or suspension containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble inorganic salt of a strong acid as an active modifier; and C. completing fabrication of the desired filter element; whereby (1) treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a weak acid increases filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration, and (2) treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a strong acid decreases filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for controlling nicotine filter retention and pass through characteristics of a cigarette filter element comprising one or a combination of cellulose acetate- or thermoplastic synthetic- substrate, comprising, A. treating one or more fiber of film substrate forming said filter element or plug component, thereof with an aqueous solution or suspension having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12 and containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble salt of a weak acid as an active modifier; or B. treating one or more fiber or film substrate forming said filter element or plug component thereof with an aqueous solution or suspension containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble inorganic salt of a strong acid as an active modifier; and C. completing fabrication of the desired filter element; whereby (1) treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a weak acid increases filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration, and (2) treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a strong acid decreases filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the non-toxic water soluble metal salt of acid is applied to one or more substrate of said filter element or plug thereof as a buffered solution or suspension having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the pH range of said buffered solution or suspension is from about pH 8.0 to about pH 10.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said substrate comprises thermoplastic synthetic fiber, and said aqueous solution or suspension comprises at least one non-toxic metal salt of an acid selected from the group consisting of carbonic, phosphoric, acetic, citric, and fumaric acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the non-toxic metal salt is a member selected from the group consisting of at least one of Mg(OAc) 2 , Mn(OAc) 2 , KHCO 3 , K 2 CO 3 /KHCO 3 , NaHCO 3 , KHPO 4 , and KH 2 PO 4 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said aqueous solution or suspension contains at least one non-toxic metal salt of an acid selected for the group consisting of hydrochloric and hydrobromic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the non-toxic metal salt is at least one member selected from the group consisting of ZnCl 2 , LiBr, KBr, CaBr 2 and MgCl 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cigarette filter element comprises up to 100% by weight of cellulose acetate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate of the cigarette filter comprises up to 100% by weight of synthetic thermoplastic substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the cigarette filter comprises up to 100% by weight of a polyolefin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cigarette filter rod or element comprising, in combination, (a) a filter plug of compacted substrate comprising one or more of cellulose acetate- or synthetic thermoplastic-fiber containing substrate; (b) a plurality of active filter loci distributed within said compacted substrate; said loci consisting essentially of solid and/or solid/liquid phases of the desired water soluble salt of a strong or a weak acid and a nontoxic metal; and (c) a plug wrap securing said compacted substrate; whereby the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a weak acid favor filter pass through of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration, and the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a strong acid favor filter retention of nicotine, relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cigarette filter rod or element comprising, in combination, (a) a filter plug of compacted substrate comprising one or more of cellulose acetate- or synthetic thermoplastic-fiber containing substrate; (b) a plurality of active filter loci distributed within said compacted substrate; said loci consisting essentially of solid and/or solid/liquid phases of the desired water soluble salt of a strong or a weak acid and a nontoxic metal; and (c) a plug wrap securing said compacted substrate; whereby the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a weak acid favor filter pass through of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration, and the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a strong acid favor filter retention of nicotine, relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cigarette filter rod or element of claim 11 wherein said active filter loci consist essentially of solid/liquid phases of a nontoxic water soluble salt of a weak acid, said liquid phase having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cigarette filter of claim 11 wherein the water soluble salt is a non-toxic metal salt of an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic, carbonic, phosphoric, citric and fumaric acid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cigarette filter element of claim 13 wherein the water soluble salt is at least one of Mg(OAc) 2 , Mn(OAc) 2 , KHCO 3 , K 2 CO 3 and NaHCO 3 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cigarette filter element of claim 11 wherein the water soluble salt is at least one of MgCl 2 , LiBr, CaCl 2 and CaBr 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cigarette utilizing as filter element the element defined in claim 11.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cigarette utilizing as filter element the element defined in claim 12.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cigarette utilizing as filter element the element defined in claim 13.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cigarette utilizing as filter element the element defined in claim 14.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cigarette utilizing as filter element the element defined in claim 15.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for controlling nicotine filter retention and pass through characteristics of a cigarette filter element comprising one or a combination of cellulose acetate- and thermoplastic synthetic-substrate, comprising, treating one or more substrate consisting of an open fiber tow, a ribbon of a nonwoven material, a sliver, and a fibrillated film with a buffered aqueous solution or suspension having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12, said solution or suspension containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble salt of a weak acid as active modifier; and completing fabrication of the desired filter element; whereby treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a weak acid increase filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for controlling nicotine filter retention and pass through characteristics of a cigarette filter element comprising one or a combination of cellulose acetate- and thermoplastic synthetic-substrate, comprising, treating one or more substrate consisting of an open fiber tow, a ribbon of a nonwoven material, a sliver, and a fibrillated film with a buffered aqueous solution or suspension having a pH within a range of about pH 8 to about pH 12, said solution or suspension containing an effective amount of a non-toxic water soluble salt of a weak acid as active modifier; and completing fabrication of the desired filter element; whereby treatment of said substrate or plug component of the filter element with the salt of a weak acid increase filter pass through of nicotine smoke component relative to total particulate pass through concentration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
152 words
A cigarette filter rod or element comprising, in combination, (a) a filter plug of compacted substrate comprising one or more of cellulose acetate- or synthetic thermoplastic-substrate in the form of at least one of an opened fiber tow, a ribbon of nonwoven material, a sliver, and a fibrillated film; (b) a plurality of active filter loci distributed within said compacted substrate, said loci consisting essentially of solid and/or solid/liquid phases of desired nontoxic water water soluble salt of a strong or a weak acid; and (c) a plug wrap securing said compacted substrate; whereby the presence of filter loci, comprising said nontoxic water soluble salt of a weak acid, favors filter pass through of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration, and the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a strong acid favors filter retention of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
152 words
A cigarette filter rod or element comprising, in combination, (a) a filter plug of compacted substrate comprising one or more of cellulose acetate- or synthetic thermoplastic-substrate in the form of at least one of an opened fiber tow, a ribbon of nonwoven material, a sliver, and a fibrillated film; (b) a plurality of active filter loci distributed within said compacted substrate, said loci consisting essentially of solid and/or solid/liquid phases of desired nontoxic water water soluble salt of a strong or a weak acid; and (c) a plug wrap securing said compacted substrate; whereby the presence of filter loci, comprising said nontoxic water soluble salt of a weak acid, favors filter pass through of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration, and the presence of filter loci comprising the nontoxic water soluble salt of a strong acid favors filter retention of nicotine relative to total particulate filter pass through concentration.
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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) | 1993-01-29 | 1993-07-31 | 1994-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-29 | 1997-07-31 | 1998-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-29 | 2001-07-31 | 2002-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |