Smoking article warning device

Abstract

A material disposed in the tobacco burning path of a smoking article's ember at a pre-selected point, the material producing a visual and/or audible warning indication in response to encountering the ember for alerting the smoker that the ember is at or in close proximity to the pre-selected point. The warning indicator material is preferably in the form of a sleeve that is disposed around the tobacco cylinder of the smoking article, but can be deposited on or impregnated into a wrapper of the article's cylinder. Alternatively the sleeve can be disposed within the wrapper. Alternatively the indicator material may also be in the form of selectively placed integrated or stick-on patches.

1 . A device that alerts a smoker of a smoking article when an ember is at a pre-selected point on the article comprising material disposed in the tobacco burning path of the ember at the pre-selected point, the material producing a human detectable indication in response to encountering the ember for alerting the smoker that the ember has reached the pre-selected point.  
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the material visibly changes color in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the material sparkles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the material audibly sizzles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the material is disposed within an outer wrapper of the smoking article.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the material is integral with the wrapper.  
   
   
       7 . A device that alerts a smoker of a filtered cigarette when a cigarette ember is in unsafe proximity to the cigarette's filter, before the ember reaches the filter, comprising material disposed in the tobacco burning path of the ember and immediately preceding the filter, the material producing an indication in response to encountering the ember for alerting the smoker that the ember is in close proximity to the filter.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material visibly changes color in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material sparkles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material audibly sizzles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material is integral with the filter.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material is disposed within an outer wrapping of the smoking article.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the material is integral with the wrapper.  
   
   
       14 . A device that alerts a smoker of a smoking article when an ember is at a pre-selected point on the article comprising an axial sleeve disposed about the article at the pre-selected point, the sleeve including material that produces a human detectable indication in response to encountering the ember for alerting the smoker that the ember has reached the pre-selected point.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the sleeve is slidable along the smoking article.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the material visibly changes color in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the material sparkles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the material audibly sizzles in reaction to the ember.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the sleeve is disposed within an outer wrapping of the smoking article.