Smoking article

Abstract

A smoking article comprising a first part comprising a first ventilation area rotatable relative to a second part comprising a second ventilation area to control a level of ventilation by an overlap between the first and second ventilation areas. The first ventilation area and/or second ventilation area is configured such that the overlap has an increasing rate of change with respect to a rotational position. The second ventilation area overlaps with the first ventilation area from a first longitudinal position on the first part to a second longitudinal position on the first part. The first and second ventilation areas are configured such that the first and second longitudinal positions of the overlap increases in longitudinal distance along the smoking article from a mouth end as the level of ventilation increases.

1 . A smoking article, comprising:
 a first part including a first ventilation area, and a second part including a second ventilation area, the first part rotatable relative to the second part to control a level of ventilation through the first ventilation area and the second ventilation area,   wherein the second ventilation area overlaps with the first ventilation area over an overlap area extending from a first longitudinal position on the first part to a second longitudinal position on the first part, the first ventilation area and the second ventilation area configured such that the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position increase in longitudinal distance from a mouth end along the smoking article as the level of ventilation increases.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area and/or the second ventilation area is configured such that a ventilating area of the first ventilation area and/or of the second ventilation area has an increasing rate of change with respect to a position of the first part relative to the second part. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a ventilating area of the first ventilation area and/or of the second ventilation area varies non-linearly with respect to a position of the first part relative to the second part. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first part is rotatable relative to the second part, the smoking article configured such that relative rotation between the first part and the second part controls the first and second longitudinal positions of the overlap area. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area and/or the second ventilation area has a ventilating area that increases per unit length along an overlap path in a first direction corresponding to an increasing level of ventilation. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area and/or the second ventilation area is configured such that the level of ventilation of the smoking article is substantially proportional to a position along a path of the second ventilation area relative to the first ventilation area. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second ventilation area has a ventilating area that is elongate and has an axis that extends in a combination of a longitudinal direction and a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area has a ventilating area that varies in extent in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of an overlap area between the first ventilation area and second ventilation area. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area comprises a plurality of discrete first ventilation elements configured to provide ventilation. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a quantity of the first ventilation elements, arranged perpendicularly to a direction of an overlap path, increases in a direction associated with an increasing level of ventilation. 
     
     
         11 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first ventilation elements are arranged in an array having rows substantially aligned with an overlap path, wherein a number of the rows per unit length increases in a direction associated with an increasing level of ventilation. 
     
     
         12 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation area is rotatable relative to the second ventilation area to control the level of ventilation. 
     
     
         13 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the smoking article further comprises: a limiting mechanism configured to limit relative movement between the first art and the second part to a pre-determined range. 
     
     
         14 . A filter assembly for a smoking article, comprising:
 a first part including a first ventilation area rotatable relative to a second part including a second ventilation area to control a level of ventilation through the first and second ventilation areas,   wherein the second ventilation area overlaps with the first ventilation area over an overlap area extending from a first longitudinal position on the first part to a second longitudinal position on the first part, and the first ventilation area and the second ventilation area are configured such that the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position of the overlap area increase in longitudinal distance along the smoking article from a mouth end as the level of ventilation increases.   
     
     
         15 . A component for a smoking article, comprising:
 a first part including a first ventilation area rotatable relative to a second part including a second ventilation area to control a level of ventilation through the first and second ventilation areas,   the second ventilation area and the first ventilation area configured to overlap over an overlap area extending from a first longitudinal position on the first part to a second longitudinal position on the first part, and the first ventilation area and the second ventilation area are configured such that the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position of the overlap area increase in longitudinal distance along the smoking article from a mouth end as the level of ventilation increases.   
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a smoking article, comprising:
 forming a first part having a first ventilation area;   forming a second part having a second ventilation area; and   attaching the first and second parts such that the first part and second part control a level of ventilation through the first and second ventilation areas,   wherein the second ventilation area overlaps with the first ventilation area over an overlap area extending from a first longitudinal position on the first part to a second longitudinal position on the first part, and the first ventilation area and the second ventilation area are configured such that the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position of the overlap area increase in longitudinal distance along the smoking article from a mouth end as the level of ventilation increases.   
     
     
         17 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second ventilation areas are configured such that a ventilation level of the smoking article is substantially proportional to a position of the first and second parts in the pre-determined range.