Method and apparatus for making a smoking article

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of constructing a smoking article using a retention member to provide a more tightly rolled smoking article and increase a volume of smoke of an ignited article. At least one or more sheets of material is provided and a retention member is positioned thereon. Next, the sheet of material is wrapped about the retention member and a portion of the sheet of material is sealed to form an inner wall. Filler material is then provided proximal to an outer surface of the inner wall whereby the filler material is distributed on both sides of the retention member. Opposite ends of the sheet material engage to then form an outer wall to enclose the tiller material between an inner surface of the outer wall and the outer surface of the inner wall. The retention member is then removed to form an inner bore within the inner shell.

1 . A method of constructing a smoking article, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet of material having a top and bottom surface;   providing a tubular shaped retention member having a consistent diameter throughout and a length equal to or longer than said sheet of material;   positioning an outer surface of said tubular shaped retention member said top surface of said center portion of said sheet of material;   wrapping said center portion of said sheet o about said outer surface of said tubular shaped retention member;   sealing said center po ion of said sheet of material about said outer surface of said tubular shaped retention member to form an inner wall;   turning over said sheet of material and said tubular shaped retention member wherein said sheet of material has said bottom surface facing upwardly;   providing filler material on said bottom surface of said sheet of material near outer surface of said inner wall;   distributing evenly said filler material in equal amounts proximal to both sides of said tubular shaped retention member;   rolling said tubular shaped retention member along said filler material to tightly compress said filler material;   overlapping a first end of said sheet material on a second end of said sheet material to form an outer wall about said filler material and said retention member, an inner surface of said first end sealingly engaged with an outer surface of said second end; and   removing completely said tubular shaped retention member to form an inner bore within the inner wall,   whereby said smoking article is formed with said inner bore that extends completely from a proximal end to a distal end of the smoking article.   
     
     
         2 . A smoking article, comprising:
 a sheet of material having a top and bottom surface, said sheet of material configured to form an outer wall, and an inner wall have an inner bore therein by using a tubular shaped retention member; and   a filler material tightly enclosed between an outer surface of the inner wall and an inner surface of the outer wall.   
     
     
         3 . A kit for making a smoking article, comprising:
 a sheet of material having a top and bottom surface, said sheet of material configured to form an outer wall, and an inner wall having an inner bore therein by using a tubular shaped retention member; and   the tubular shaped retention member configured to form said smoking article with said inner bore extending along the complete length of the smoking article.