Smoking article having transparent wrapper

Abstract

A mouthpiece for a smoking article comprises at least one mouthpiece element; a substantially transparent wrapper wrapped around the at least one mouthpiece element such that first and second opposed edges of the substantially transparent wrapper ( 18 ) overlap with each other along a longitudinal overlapping region; and an agent disposed between the first and second opposed edges of substantially transparent in at least a portion of the longitudinal overlapping region. The substantially transparent wrapper comprises an acetate ester of cellulose, and the agent comprises an ester of glycerol.

1 . A mouthpiece for a smoking article comprising:
 at least one mouthpiece element;   a substantially transparent wrapper comprising an acetate ester of cellulose, the substantially transparent wrapper being wrapped around the at least one mouthpiece element such that first and second opposed edges of the substantially transparent wrapper overlap with each other along a longitudinal overlapping region; and   a substantially transparent seam formed in the substantially transparent wrapper by an agent comprising an ester of glycerol disposed between the first and second opposed edges of the substantially transparent wrapper in at least a portion of the longitudinal overlapping region.   
     
     
         2 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the acetate ester of cellulose is selected from the group of cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate and cellulose triacetate. 
     
     
         3 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent wrapper consists essentially of an acetate ester of cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mouthpiece element comprises at least one plug of filtration material. 
     
     
         5 . A mouth piece according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one plug of filtration material comprises at least two segments of filtration material spaced apart to form a cavity therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the transparency level of the overlapping region of the substantially transparent wrapper is within 10 percent of the transparency level of the remainder of the substantially transparent wrapper. 
     
     
         7 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent wrapper has a thickness of between 10 microns and 100 microns. 
     
     
         8 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , wherein the ester of glycerol is triacetin. 
     
     
         9 . A mouthpiece according to  claim 1 , further comprising a paper wrapper circumscribing at least a portion of the substantially transparent wrapper, and a window provided in the paper wrapper so that a portion of the underlying substantially transparent wrapper can be viewed through the window. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking article comprising:
 an aerosol generating substrate; and   a mouthpiece according to  claim 1  in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate.   
     
     
         11 . A smoking article according to  claim 10 , wherein the paper wrapper secures the mouthpiece to the aerosol generating substrate. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a mouthpiece for a smoking article, the method comprising:
 providing at least one mouthpiece element;   providing a substantially transparent wrapper comprising an acetate ester of cellulose, the substantially transparent wrapper having first and second opposed edges;   disposing an agent adjacent to the first opposed edge of the substantially transparent wrapper, the agent comprising an ester of glycerol;   wrapping the substantially transparent around the at least one mouthpiece element such that the first and second opposed edges of the substantially transparent wrapper overlap with each other along a longitudinal overlapping region;   wherein the ester of glycerol of the agent reacts with the acetate ester of cellulose to secure the opposed edges to one another.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 method further comprises the step of heating the substantially transparent wrapper, heating the agent comprising an ester of glycerol, or heating both the substantially transparent wrapper and the agent comprising an ester of glycerol to a temperature of between 70 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 applying a compressive force to the longitudinal overlapping region.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the acetate ester of cellulose is selected from the group of cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate and cellulose triacetate.