Filter for a Smoking Article

Abstract

The invention provides a filter element for a smoking article. The filter element comprises a plug of filter material, a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wrapping means wrapped around at least a portion of a longitudinally extending surface of the tobacco core. The filter element can be used in a variety of smoking articles.

1 . A filter element for a smoking article, the filter element comprising a plug of filter material, a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wrapping means wrapped around at least a portion of a longitudinally extending surface of the tobacco core. 
     
     
         2 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core extends substantially longitudinally between mutually opposing end faces of the plug of filter material. 
     
     
         3 . The filter element according to  claim 2 , wherein the tobacco core extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to a side face of the plug of filter material, which side face is substantially perpendicular to one or both end faces. 
     
     
         4 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core extends through an inner portion of, and is surrounded by, the filter material. 
     
     
         5 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core extends through substantially the center of the plug of filter material. 
     
     
         6 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core comprises shredded tobacco, powdered tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco fibers, tobacco sheet, cut tobacco lamina, cut tobacco blend or tobacco stem. 
     
     
         7 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping means is substantially permeable to air. 
     
     
         9 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping means is formed of any conventional paper material. 
     
     
         10 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping means is in contact with substantially all of the longitudinally extending side surface of the tobacco core. 
     
     
         11 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core comprises, or is derived from, at least a longitudinal section of a tobacco rod of the smoking article. 
     
     
         12 . A filter element for a smoking article, the filter element comprising a plug of filter material, and a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, wherein the tobacco core comprises, or is derived from, a longitudinal section of a tobacco rod of the smoking article. 
     
     
         13 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the tobacco core comprises, or is derived from, the longitudinal section of the tobacco rod of a slim-sized smoking article. 
     
     
         14 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the tobacco core in the filter element is between 3 mm and 8 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the filter material comprises cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         16 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the plug of filter material is between 5 and 15 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A filter for the smoking article, the filter comprising the filter element according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         18 . The filter according to  claim 17 , wherein the filter comprises a plurality of filter elements, at least one of which is a filter element comprising a plug of filter material, a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wrapping means wrapped around at least a portion of a longitudinally extending surface of the tobacco core. 
     
     
         19 . The filter according to  claim 17 , wherein the filter comprises an adsorbent filter element, which element comprises an adsorbent material. 
     
     
         20 . The filter according to  claim 19 , wherein the adsorbent material is activated carbon. 
     
     
         21 . The filter according to  claim 17 , wherein the filter comprises the filter element, which comprises filter material, and which does not include the tobacco core or adsorbent material. 
     
     
         22 . A smoking article comprising a filter according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing a filter element for a smoking article, the method comprising providing a tobacco core through a plug of filter material, wherein the tobacco core extends substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wherein wrapping means is wrapped around at least a portion of a longitudinally extending surface of the tobacco core. 
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a filter element for a smoking article, the method comprising providing a tobacco core through a plug of filter material, wherein the tobacco core extends substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, and wherein the tobacco core comprises, or is derived from, a longitudinal section of a tobacco rod of a smoking article. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the method comprises arranging the longitudinal section of the tobacco rod of a slim-sized smoking article, such that it extends substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the method comprises introducing the tobacco core into substantially the center of the filter material. 
     
     
         27 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core in the filter element is between 3 mm and 8 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         28 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco core in the filter element is between 4 mm and 6 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         29 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter material comprises cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         30 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the plug of filter material is between 5 mm and 15 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the plug of filter material is between 7 mm and 9 mm. 
     
     
         32 . A filter for the smoking article, the filter comprising the filter element according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         33 . A smoking article comprising a filter element according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         34 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the tobacco core in the filter element is between 4 mm and 6 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         35 . The filter element according to  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the plug of filter material is between 7 mm and 9 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The filter according to  claim 17 , wherein the filter comprises a plurality of filter elements, at least one of which is a filter element comprising a plug of filter material, and a tobacco core extending substantially longitudinally through the plug of filter material, wherein the tobacco core comprises, or is derived from, a longitudinal section of a tobacco rod of the smoking article. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the method comprises introducing the tobacco core into substantially the center of the filter material.