Mouthpiece for smoking article

Abstract

A rigid tubular mouthpiece for a smoking article may include a cushioning wrapping material thereabout and/or a tipping cover that may be configured as overmolding, a shrink sleeve, or other cover. The wrapping material, if present, may be configured to form one or several layers, encompassed by a polymeric shrink-label, which may include visual indicia. The tipping cover and/or wrapping material will provide a lower durometer and more elastic contact mouthpiece surface, as applied, than present in an uncovered mouthpiece, which may be incorporated as part of a smoking article.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiece comprising:
 a mouthpiece portion including a rigid tube having an outer circumference; and   a tipping cover including a longitudinal length;   where the tipping cover encircles an outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion to form at least a single layer that includes more flexibility and/or less resistance to indentation than the rigid tube; and   where the tipping cover comprises a polymeric label in a form selected from a seamless tube, a seamed tube, an overmold, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the rigid tube is constructed of a metal material, a ceramic material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover is configured to receive and/or display visual indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , further comprising a tipping wrap disposed between the tipping cover and the rigid tube,
 where the tipping wrap is configured as an elongate tipping wrap that includes a length at least about two times the outer circumference;   where the elongate tipping wrap is transversely double wrapped around the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion to form at least a double layer.   
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece of  claim 4 , where the elongate tipping wrap includes pressure-sensitive adhesive attaching the wrap to itself, to the rigid tube, or both. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece of  claim 4 , where the elongate tipping wrap comprises fleece, filter paper, plug wrap, cellulose acetate non-woven web, polymeric film, polymeric foam, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover includes pressure-sensitive adhesive attaching the tipping cover to the rigid tube. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover directly contacts the rigid tube. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover comprises a polymeric label with visible indicia including information about a smoking article. 
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover includes an outer layer and an inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , where one or both of the inner layer and outer layer comprises silicone, latex, PETG, PS, PET, OPP, BOPP, OPS, PE, EPS, PEF, PVDF, PEX, PEBAX, PE, EVA, CoPP, FEP, PTFE, and PVC, or any combination thereof within each layer, and/or in each of the inner layer and outer layer. 
     
     
         13 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , where the inner surface of the outer layer, the outer surface of the inner layer, or both, is/are printed with one or more of color, graphics, and other indicia. 
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one intermediate layer adhered between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthpiece of  claim 14 , where the at least one intermediate layer is generally clear/transparent and where the inner surface of the outer layer, the outer surface of the inner layer, or both, is/are printed with one or more of color, graphics, and other indicia. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthpiece of  claim 14 , where the at least one intermediate layer comprises PE, EVA, and CoPP, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , where the outer layer comprises visible indicia including information about a smoking article. 
     
     
         18 . The mouthpiece of  claim 17 , where the indicia are reverse printed on an inward-facing surface of the outer layer. 
     
     
         19 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , further comprising an adhesive between the inner layer and outer layer. 
     
     
         20 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover comprises heat-shrink material configured to conform securely around the tube and/or any material in between the tube and the tipping cover. 
     
     
         21 . The mouthpiece of  claim 1 , where the tipping cover comprises a shrink material tube and/or sleeve configured to conform securely around the tube and/or any material in between the tube and the tipping cover when treated in a material-appropriate-manner. 
     
     
         22 . A smoking article comprising the mouthpiece of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         23 . The smoking article of  claim 21 , where the tipping cover extends beyond the mouthpiece and covers at least a further portion of the smoking article. 
     
     
         24 . A smoking article comprising the mouthpiece of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         25 . The smoking article of  claim 23 , where the tipping cover extends beyond the mouthpiece and covers at least a further portion of the smoking article. 
     
     
         26 . A smoking article comprising the mouthpiece of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . The smoking article of  claim 25 , where the tipping cover extends beyond the mouthpiece and covers at least a further portion of the smoking article.