Spinneret comprising tri-arc holes and tri-arc filaments produced therefrom

Abstract

A spinneret having tri-arc holes may be used to produce tri-arc filaments. In some instances, tri-arc holes have a Y-shape with three prongs and each prong having an arc at the end of the prong that tapers from the end of the arc to a connection point of an adjacent arc, and tri-arc filaments have a generally-Y shape cross-section with bulbous or arcing tips. Further, tri-arc filaments may be useful in a plurality of applications including, but not limited to, filters, filters comprising particulate additives, and smoking device filters.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filament comprising:
 a polymer; and   having a tri-arc cross-section having a generally Y-shape cross-section having bulbous or arcing tips.   
     
     
         2 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament is a dope spun filament. 
     
     
         3 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is cellulose acetate or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate-propionate, cellulose acetate-butyrate, cellulose propionate-butyrate, starch acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, any derivative thereof, any copolymer thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has a denier per filament of about 1 dpf to about 30 dpf. 
     
     
         6 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has a denier per filament of about 10 dpf to about 30 dpf. 
     
     
         7 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has a ratio of arc distance to inter-arc distance of about 0.2 to about 3. 
     
     
         8 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has a ratio of inter-arc distance to radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5. 
     
     
         9 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has an inter-arc angle of about 45° to about 150°. 
     
     
         10 . A tow band comprising the filament of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A filter comprising the filament of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A smoking device comprising the filament of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A filament comprising:
 a polymer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate-propionate, cellulose acetate-butyrate, cellulose propionate-butyrate, starch acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, any derivative thereof, any copolymer thereof, and any combination thereof; and   having a multi-lobal cross-section with each lobe having bulbous or arcing tips.   
     
     
         14 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament has a denier per filament of about 1 dpf to about 30 dpf. 
     
     
         15 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament has a denier per filament of about 10 dpf to about 30 dpf. 
     
     
         16 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament is a dope spun filament. 
     
     
         17 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament has a ratio of arc distance to inter-arc distance of about 0.2 to about 3. 
     
     
         18 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament has a ratio of inter-arc distance to radius of about 0.5 to about 1.5. 
     
     
         19 . The filament of  claim 13 , wherein the filament has an inter-arc angle of about 45° to about 150°. 
     
     
         20 . A filament comprising:
 cellulose diacetate;   having a denier per filament of about 1 dpf to about 30 dpf; and   having a tri-arc cross-section having a generally Y-shape cross-section having bulbous or arcing tips.