Tobacco smoke filter and method of production

Abstract

A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including perforations.

1 . A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including perforations. 
     
     
         2 . A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including a line of perforations in register with the or each junction between abutted filters or filter elements. 
     
     
         3 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters, or individual tobacco smoke filter elements, are identical or substantially identical. 
     
     
         4 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the wrapper is paper (e.g. a plugwrap) or other sheet material. 
     
     
         5 . A product rod according to  claim 4  wherein the paper has basis weight of 15-50 gsm. 
     
     
         6 . A product rod according to  claim 1  which includes a line of 16 to 39 perforations in register with the or each junction between abutted filters or filter elements. 
     
     
         7 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are symmetrical. 
     
     
         8 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are oval or rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are of approximate dimensions 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are spaced at 10 to 25 holes per cm. 
     
     
         11 . A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including a line of perforations extending from one end of the product rod to the other end and defining a helix about the periphery of the product rod. 
     
     
         12 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the pitch of the helix defined by the line of the perforations is the length of a single individual filter or filter element. 
     
     
         13 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the perforations are symmetrical. 
     
     
         14 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the perforations are oval or rectangular. 
     
     
         15 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the perforations are of approximate dimensions 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the perforations are spaced at 5 to 25 holes per cm. 
     
     
         17 . A product rod according to  claim 11  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters, or individual tobacco smoke filter elements, are identical or substantially identical. 
     
     
         18 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual filters or filter elements include a substantially cylindrical core of tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         19 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining (longitudinally extending) cylindrical core of tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         20 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining (longitudinally extending) cylindrical core comprising (e.g. formed from) a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially continuous filaments of tobacco smoke filtering material (e.g. cellulose acetate tow) which are bonded at their points of contact. 
     
     
         21 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining (longitudinally extending) cylindrical core comprising (e.g. formed from) a plurality of randomly oriented (e.g. individual or staple) fibres of tobacco smoke filtering material (e.g. cellulose acetate) which are bonded at their points of contact. 
     
     
         22 . A product rod according to  claim 1  wherein the individual filters or filter elements include one or more continuous components extending substantially longitudinally (e.g. longitudinally) of the cylindrical core. 
     
     
         23 - 26 . (canceled)