Smoking article with improved extinguishment

Abstract

A smoking article (10) comprises a tobacco rod (11) and a filter (12) in axial alignment with the tobacco rod (11). Tipping wrapper (16) circumscribes at least a portion of the filter (12) and at least a portion of the tobacco rod (11) to secure the filter (12) in axial alignment with the tobacco rod (11). The filter (12) comprises a hollow tubular element (13) at the upstream end of the filter (12) adjacent to the tobacco rod (11) and a first segment of filtration material (15) downstream from and adjacent to the hollow tubular element (13). The tipping wrapper (16) comprises a line of weakness (17) disposed at, or within 4 millimetres upstream of the interface between the hollow tubular element (13) and the tobacco rod (11). The tobacco rod (11), the first segment of filtration material (15) and the inner surface of the hollow tubular element (13) together define a cavity (14). The cavity (14) is designed to receive the lit end of the smoking article (10) and any unburnt tobacco material when the consumer chooses to extinguish the smoking article (10).

1 . A smoking article comprising:
 a tobacco rod;   a filter in axial alignment with the tobacco rod; and   a tipping wrapper circumscribing at least a portion of the filter and at least a portion of the tobacco rod to secure the filter in axial alignment with the tobacco rod,   wherein the filter comprises:   a hollow tubular element at the upstream end of the filter adjacent to the tobacco rod;   a first segment of filtration material downstream from and adjacent to the hollow tubular element;   a filter wrapper circumscribing at least the hollow tubular element and the first segment of filtration material, the filter wrapper being disposed between the tipping wrapper, and the hollow tubular element and the first segment of filtration material; and   a mouth end cavity at the downstream end of the filter.   
     
     
         2 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a thickness (t) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article of at least 100 micrometers. 
     
     
         3 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a length greater than about 4 millimetres. 
     
     
         4 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a length that is greater than or equal to the length of the portion of the tipping wrapper that circumscribes the tobacco rod. 
     
     
         5 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tipping wrapper comprises a line of weakness, and wherein the line of weakness comprises a plurality of perforation holes. 
     
     
         6 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein a flavour delivery mechanism is provided on the inner surface of the hollow tubular element, and configured to release flavourant when a consumer extinguishes the smoking article. 
     
     
         7 . A smoking article according to  claim 6 , wherein extinguishment initiates one or more trigger events that result in the flavour delivery mechanism releasing flavourant, the one or more trigger events being selected from the group consisting of the application of frictional force, the addition of moisture, a change of pH, a temperature increase, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element comprises at least two paper layers. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element is formed from a plurality of spirally wound paper layers. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element is formed from an annular shaped segment of filtration material. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a thickness (t) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article, and a diameter (D) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article, and wherein the diameter (D) to thickness (t) ratio is less than about 80. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco rod comprises a crimped tobacco cast leaf at the downstream end of the tobacco rod. 
     
     
         13 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter further comprises one or more segments of filtration material downstream from the first segment of filtration material. 
     
     
         14 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial stiffness of the hollow tubular element is greater than or equal to the axial stiffness of the tobacco rod. 
     
     
         15 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a thickness (t) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article of from about 100 micrometers to about 700 micrometers. 
     
     
         16 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a length of from about 3 millimetres to about 20 millimetres. 
     
     
         17 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular element is formed from a material with a grammage of from about 50 grams per square metre to about 250 grams per square metre. 
     
     
         18 . A smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco rod comprises tobacco material circumscribed by a tobacco rod wrapper and wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco cut filler. 
     
     
         19 . A smoking article according to  claim 2 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a length greater than about  4  millimetres. 
     
     
         20 . A smoking article according to  claim 2 , wherein the hollow tubular element has a length of from about 3 millimetres to about 20 millimetres.