Double filtered cigarette

Abstract

A cigarette having a rod-shaped tobacco element with a first end and a second end. A first filter element is attached to the first end of the tobacco element and a second filter element is attached to the second end of the tobacco element. A tubular wrapper surrounds the tobacco element and has a circumferentially extending tear line in a region mid-way along the tobacco element between the two filter elements. The tear line facilitates tearing of the wrapper and breaking of the tobacco element in half.

1 . A cigarette, comprising: 
 a rod-shaped tobacco element having a first end and a second end;    a first filter element connected to the first end of the tobacco element;    a second filter element connected to the second end of the tobacco element; and    a tubular wrapper of smokable material enclosing the tobacco element, the wrapper, at a mid-point along the tobacco element between the filter elements has a circumferentially extending first tear line, the tubular wrapper having a second tear line in a region of the first end of the tobacco element so as to facilitate tearing of the wrapper and removal of the first filter element from the tobacco element.    
   
   
       2 . The cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear line is formed by indentations in the wrapper.  
   
   
       3 . The cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein the tear line is formed by perforations in the wrapper.  
   
   
       4 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The cigarette according to  claim 1 , wherein a third tear line is provided in the tubular wrapper in a region of the second end of the tobacco element so as to facilitate tearing of the tubular wrapper and removal of the second filter element.  
   
   
       6 . A method for using a cigarette having a rod-shaped tobacco element with a first end and a second end, a first filter element attached to the first end of the tobacco element and a second filter element attached to the second end of the tobacco element, and a tubular wrapper having a circumferentially extending first tear line in a region of the tobacco element mid way between the first and second filter elements, and a second circumferentially extending tear line in a region of the first end of the tobacco element, the process comprising the step of selectively tearing the tubular wrapper at one of the first tear line and the second tear line so as to either break the tobacco element in half or remove the first filter element.