Smoking article having carbon dioxide delivery technology for sensorially improved carbon filtration and method of making

Abstract

Provided is a smoking article including a filter, tobacco, and a carbon dioxide charge. The carbon dioxide charge provides increased levels of carbon dioxide during smoking to enhance the taste and sensorial smoking experience.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A smoking article comprising:
 tobacco;   a filter; and   a charge of carbon dioxide gas,   wherein said charge of carbon dioxide gas provides at least about 10% more carbon dioxide on average for all puffs than a traditional cigarette so as to improve the taste thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , wherein said filter includes a first sorbent and/or a second sorbent and wherein said first sorbent and/or said second sorbent is loaded with carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking article of  claim 2 , wherein the second sorbent is a carbon molecular sieve. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking article of  claim 3 , wherein said carbon molecular sieve is in the form of pellets, granules, carbon molecular sieve-on-tow and/or beads. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking article of  claim 2 , wherein said first sorbent is a molecular sieve, selected from zeolites, silicas, silicates, aluminas, carbon molecular sieve, and/or activated carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking article of  claim 5 , wherein said activated carbon is in the form of carbon on tow, beads, pellets, granules, fibers, and/or dust. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking article of  claim 1 , wherein said filter includes a mouthend filter segment and wherein said mouthend filter segment is cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking article of  claim 2 , wherein said second sorbent is contained in at least one hollow tube and/or a cavity and wherein said at least one hollow tube is impermeable, semi-permeable, and/or permeable and includes at least one frangible seal. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking article of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one hollow tube is impermeable and includes at least one frangible seal. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking article of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one hollow tube comprises a plurality of hollow tubes with upstream and downstream ends, each of the tubes surrounded by the first sorbent and includes at least one frangible seal at the upstream and downstream ends so as to retain said carbon dioxide within said at least one hollow tube. 
     
     
         11 . The smoking article of  claim 8 , wherein said seal is about 0.001 mm to about 1.0 mm thick and wherein said seal is made of a polymer. 
     
     
         12 . A filter for a smoking article comprising:
 a downstream filter segment; and   an upstream charge of carbon dioxide gas.   
     
     
         13 . The filter of  claim 12 , wherein said filter includes a first sorbent and/or a second sorbent and wherein said upstream charge of carbon dioxide gas is contained in said first sorbent and/or said second sorbent. 
     
     
         14 . The filter of  claim 13 , wherein said first sorbent is carbon-on-tow and said second sorbent is a carbon molecular sieve. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a smoking article charged with carbon dioxide comprising:
 attaching a tobacco rod to a filter to form a smoking article; and   charging said smoking article with carbon dioxide to form a carbon dioxide charged smoking article.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said smoking article is charged with 100% carbon dioxide gas for at least about 1 minute by attaching the smoking article to a gas line with a flexible septa and passing carbon dioxide through the smoking article at a rate of at least about 0.5 liters per minute and wherein said carbon dioxide charged smoking article is placed in a container and sealed therein within about 5 minutes of charging said smoking article with carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said smoking article is charged with carbon dioxide by incorporating a tube containing carbon dioxide and/or a carbon molecular sieve loaded with carbon dioxide in the filter, the tube having a frangible seal which releases carbon dioxide into mainstream smoke during smoking of the tobacco rod.