Smoking article and method of making the same

Abstract

A cigarette has a wire running lengthwise through the tobacco. A section of the wire may project from the end of the cigarette to be lit, and such section can be provided with an abutment which contacts this end of the cigarette.

1 . A smoking article comprising: 
 means defining an elongated passage having a first longitudinal end and an opposed second longitudinal end;    a mass of smokable material in said passage; and    a support for supporting ash generated by combustion of said smokable material, at least one part of said support being located in said mass.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said mass and said at least one part of said support extend along at least half of the distance between said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said passage has a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction from said first end to said second end, said at least one part of said support being elongated and positioned at least approximately on said central longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one part of said support comprises wire or wire-like material.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one part of said support has a gauge of about 18 to about 25.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said support has another part located externally of said passage, said another part of said support being provided with an end structure projecting radially of said at least one part of said support.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure projects radially of said passage so that said end structure is capable of maintaining ash generated by combustion of said smokable material out of contact with a surface on which said smoking article is placed.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure abuts one of said ends to confine ash generated by combustion of said smokable material.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure projects radially of said at least one part of said support to two substantially diametrically opposed sides thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure is provided with at least one symbol.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said end structure is provided with a logo or an identifier.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure is provided with a decorative item.  
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein said decorative item comprises a charm or an ornamental stone.  
   
   
       14 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein said end structure comprises an insulating body.  
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein said end structure further comprises a non-insulating body arranged so that said insulating body is sandwiched between said non-insulating body and one of said ends.  
   
   
       16 . A method for making a smoking article comprising the steps of: 
 forming a product which includes an elongated passage containing a mass of smokable material and having a first longitudinal end and an opposed second longitudinal end;    providing a support for ash generated by combustion of said smokable material; and    positioning at least one part of said support in said mass during or after the forming step.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the forming step and the positioning step comprise arranging said mass and said at least one part of said support so that said mass and said at least one part of said support extend along at least half of the distance between said first end and said second end.  
   
   
       18 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one part of said support is elongated and said passage has a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction from said first end to said second end, the positioning step including locating said at least one part of said support at least approximately on said central longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the positioning step is performed after the forming step and comprises pushing said at least one part of said support into said mass through one of said ends.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing another part of said support with an end structure projecting radially of said at least one part of said support, said end structure being located externally of said passage.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of providing another part of said support with an end structure is performed in such a manner that said end structure projects radially of said passage so that said end structure is capable of maintaining ash generated by combustion of said smokable material out of contact with a surface on which said smoking article is placed.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the positioning step comprises abutting said end structure with one of said ends to confine ash generated by combustion of said smokable material.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of providing another part of said support with an end structure is performed in such a manner that said end structure projects radially of said at least one part of said support to two substantially diametrically opposed sides thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing said end structure with at least one symbol.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing said end structure with a decorative item.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said end structure comprises an insulating body and a non-insulating body; and further comprising the step of sandwiching said insulating body between said non-insulating body and one of said ends.