Smoking article including a selective carbon monoxide pump

Abstract

A smoking article includes a tobacco column, a wrapper and a carbon monoxide pump. The pump includes a separator, an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator and may include a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent. In use, the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products, the separator impedes the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump, the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and the venting holes provide an alternative path for the diverted carbon monoxide and the oxidized carbon monoxide to check or reduce carbon monoxide inhalation by a smoker.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A smoking article including 
 a tobacco column;    a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column; and    a carbon monoxide pump including 
 a separator and  
 an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator;  
 wherein the separator impedes the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate the carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products.  
   
     
     
         2 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , further including venting holes adjacent to the carbon monoxide pump.  
     
     
         3 . The smoking article according to  claim 2 , wherein the venting holes facilitate the further diversion of carbon monoxide from main stream smoke.  
     
     
         4 . A carbon monoxide pump for use in a smoking article including a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column, the carbon monoxide pump including: 
 a separator,    an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator; and    a catalyst,    wherein when placed adjacent to the tobacco column, the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products by having the separator to impede the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate the carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products and the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide prior to being inhaled by a smoker.    
     
     
         5 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst is at least one of a transition metal, an oxide of a transition metal, and a transition metal and an oxide of a transition metal.  
     
     
         6 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the transition metal is a rare earth metal.  
     
     
         7 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.  
     
     
         8 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of copper, cobalt, iron, silver, nickel, palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the transition metal is at least silver.  
     
     
         10 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the silver is in the form of an oxide of silver.  
     
     
         11 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of silver and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 11 , wherein the silver is in the form of an oxide of silver.  
     
     
         13 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the transition metal is at least nickel.  
     
     
         14 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 13 , wherein the nickel is in the form of an oxide of nickel.  
     
     
         15 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of copper and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of copper and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof is a Wacker type catalyst.  
     
     
         17 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 16 , wherein the Wacker type catalyst is a modified Wacker type catalyst.  
     
     
         18 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , further including at least one additional filter element.  
     
     
         19 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 18 , wherein the additional filter element is cellulose acetate.  
     
     
         20 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the catalyst is distributed through the additional filter element.  
     
     
         21 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein in the vicinity of the adsorbent the concentration of carbon monoxide is increased thereby increasing the flux of carbon monoxide from the adsorbent.  
     
     
         22 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the adsorbing is momentary.  
     
     
         23 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 22 , wherein the adsorbing is between about 0.1 and about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         24 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the separator is a molecular sieve.  
     
     
         25 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 24 , wherein the molecular sieve has an effective aperture size from about 3 angstroms (Å) and greater.  
     
     
         26 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 25 , wherein the effective aperture size is up to about 9 angstroms (Å).  
     
     
         27 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 25 , wherein the effective aperture size is from about 5 angstroms (Å) and greater.  
     
     
         28 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 27 , wherein the effective aperture size is up to about 9 angstroms (Å).  
     
     
         29 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the adsorbent includes a molecular sieve.  
     
     
         30 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 24 , wherein the molecular sieve also functions as an adsorbent.  
     
     
         31 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 24 , wherein the molecular sieve is a zeolite.  
     
     
         32 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 24 , wherein the molecular sieve is an oxide.  
     
     
         33 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 32 , wherein the oxide is an oxide of at least one of silicone, aluminum, magnesium, there mixtures and there compounds.  
     
     
         34 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 33 , wherein the oxide is a dehydrated oxide.  
     
     
         35 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 34 , wherein the dehydrated oxide is an oxide of aluminum.  
     
     
         36 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 35 , wherein the oxide is amorphous.  
     
     
         37 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the one of the separator, the adsorbent, and the separator and the adsorbent is a support for the catalyst.  
     
     
         38 . A smoking article including: 
 a tobacco column;    a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column; and    a carbon monoxide pump including: 
 a separator,  
 an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator;  
 a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and  
 venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent,  
 wherein the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products by having the separator to impede the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate the carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products, the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and the venting holes providing an alternative path for the diverted carbon monoxide and the oxidized carbon monoxide to check inhalation by a smoker.  
   
     
     
         39 . The smoking article according to  claim 38 , wherein the venting holes facilitate the further diversion of carbon monoxide from main stream smoke.  
     
     
         40 . The smoking article according to  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst is at least one of a transition metal, an oxide of a transition metal, and a transition metal and an oxide of a transition metal.  
     
     
         41 . The smoking article according to  claim 40 , wherein the transition metal is a rare earth metal.  
     
     
         42 . The smoking article according to  claim 40 , wherein the transition metal is a platinum group metal.  
     
     
         43 . The smoking article according to  claim 40 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of copper, cobalt, iron, silver, nickel, palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         44 . The smoking article according to  claim 43 , wherein the transition metal is at least silver.  
     
     
         45 . The smoking article according to  claim 44 , wherein the silver is in the form of an oxide of silver.  
     
     
         46 . The smoking article according to  claim 40 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of silver and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         47 . The smoking article according to  claim 46 , wherein the silver is in the form of an oxide of silver.  
     
     
         48 . The smoking article according to  claim 43 , wherein the transition metal is at least nickel.  
     
     
         49 . The smoking article according to  claim 48 , wherein the nickel is in the form of an oxide of nickel.  
     
     
         50 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 40 , wherein the transition metal is at least one of copper and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         51 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 50 , wherein the at least one of copper and palladium, their alloys, their mixtures and combinations thereof is a Wacker type catalyst.  
     
     
         52 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 51 , wherein the Wacker type catalyst is a modified Wacker type catalyst.  
     
     
         53 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 38 , further including at least one additional filter element.  
     
     
         54 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 53 , wherein the additional filter element is cellulose acetate.  
     
     
         55 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 54 , wherein at least a portion of the catalyst is distributed through the additional filter element.  
     
     
         56 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 38 , wherein in the vicinity of the adsorbent the concentration of carbon monoxide is increased thereby increasing the flux of carbon monoxide from the adsorbent.  
     
     
         57 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 38 , wherein the adsorbing is momentary.  
     
     
         58 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 57 , wherein the adsorbing is between about 0.1 and about 10 seconds.  
     
     
         59 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 38 , wherein the separator is a molecular sieve.  
     
     
         60 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 59 , wherein the molecular sieve has an effective aperture size from about 3 angstroms (Å) and greater.  
     
     
         61 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 60 , wherein the effective aperture size is up to about 9 angstroms (Å).  
     
     
         62 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 60 , wherein the effective aperture size is from about 5 angstroms (Å) and greater.  
     
     
         63 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 62 , wherein the effective aperture size is up to about 9 angstroms (Å).  
     
     
         64 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 38 , wherein the adsorbent includes a molecular sieve.  
     
     
         65 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 59 , wherein the molecular sieve also functions as an adsorbent.  
     
     
         66 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 59 , wherein the molecular sieve is a zeolite.  
     
     
         67 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 59 , wherein the molecular sieve is an oxide.  
     
     
         68 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 67 , wherein the oxide is an oxide of at least one of silicone, aluminum, magnesium, there mixtures and there compounds.  
     
     
         69 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 68 , wherein the oxide is a dehydrated oxide.  
     
     
         70 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 69 , wherein the dehydrated oxide is an oxide of aluminum.  
     
     
         71 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 70 , wherein the oxide is amorphous.  
     
     
         72 . The carbon monoxide pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the one of the separator, the adsorbent, and the separator and the adsorbent is a support for the catalyst.  
     
     
         73 . A method for pumping carbon monoxide from the main stream smoke of a smoking article including a tobacco column a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column, said method comprising: 
 positioning a carbon monoxide pump including a separator and an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator, with respect to the tobacco column so as to impedes the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products prior to inhaling by a smoker.    
     
     
         74 . A method for pumping carbon monoxide from the main stream smoke of a smoking article including a tobacco column a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a carbon monoxide pump including: 
 a separator,  
 an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator; and  
 a catalyst,  
 wherein when place adjacent to the tobacco column, the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products prior by having the separator to impede the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate the carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products and the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the diverted carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide prior to being inhaled by a smoker.  
   
     
     
         75 . A method for pumping carbon monoxide from the main stream smoke of a smoking article including a tobacco column a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a carbon monoxide pump including: 
 a separator,  
 an adsorbent for carbon monoxide downstream from said separator;  
 a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and  
 venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent,  
 wherein the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products by having the separator to impede the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump while permitting the adsorbent to accumulate the carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products, the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and the venting holes provide an alternative path for the diverted carbon monoxide and the oxidized carbon monoxide to check inhalation by a smoker.  
   
     
     
         76 . A method for reducing carbon monoxide in main stream smoke of a smoking article that has a tobacco column comprising: 
 positioning a carbon monoxide pump in the path of the main stream smoke;    combusting the tobacco in the tobacco column;    drawing smoke from the combusting tobacco past the carbon monoxide pump;    frustrating the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump by means of a separator;    adsorbing carbon monoxide from the main stream smoke onto an adsorbent;    catalytically oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide at the adsorbent; and    expressing carbon dioxide through venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent.    
     
     
         77 . A method for reducing carbon monoxide in main stream smoke of a smoking article that has a tobacco column comprising: 
 positioning a carbon monoxide pump in the path of the main stream smoke;    frustrating the entry of large molecules into the carbon monoxide pump by means of a separator;    combusting the tobacco in the tobacco column;    drawing smoke from the combusting tobacco past the carbon monoxide pump;    adsorbing carbon monoxide from the main stream smoke onto an adsorbent;    releasing the carbon monoxide from the adsorbent and expressing carbon monoxide through venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent.    
     
     
         78 . A mouthpiece for a smoking article comprising: 
 a fitting to receive a smoking article, and    a carbon monoxide pump including: 
 an adsorbent for adsorbing carbon monoxide;  
 a catalyst for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and  
 venting holes adjacent to the adsorbent,  
 wherein the carbon monoxide pump selectively diverts carbon monoxide from main stream combustion products, the catalyst at least partially oxidizes the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and the venting holes provide an alternative path for the diverted carbon monoxide and the oxidized carbon monoxide to check inhalation by a smoker.