Aerosol Generating Device with Environmentally Optimised Filter

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a rod of aerosol generating material and a filter rod, and tipping paper. The filter rod includes a first filter portion and a second filter portion. The first filter portion includes acetate tow and is positioned at a mouth end of the aerosol generating device. The second filter portion is biodegradable and extends from the first filter portion to the rod of aerosol generating material. The tipping paper surrounds the filter rod and a part of the rod of aerosol generating material. The second filter portion encloses a volume which is more than 50% of a combined volume enclosed by the first and second filter portions. The tipping paper includes a line of weakening extending from the mouth end towards the rod of aerosol generating material so that at least a portion of the tipping paper can be opened, and preferably removed, by a user.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a rod of aerosol generating material;   a filter rod, the filter rod comprising:
 a first filter portion which comprises acetate tow and is positioned at a mouth end of the aerosol generating device; 
 a second filter portion which is biodegradable and which extends from the first filter portion to the rod of aerosol generating material; and 
   tipping paper surrounding the filter rod and a part of the rod of aerosol generating material such that the filter rod and the rod of aerosol generating material are coupled together along a common longitudinal axis,   wherein the second filter portion encloses a volume which is more than 50% of a combined volume enclosed by the first and second filter portions, and   wherein the tipping paper comprises a line of weakening extending from the mouth end towards the rod of aerosol generating material so that at least a portion of the tipping paper can be opened by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the second filter portion is a paper-based material. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakening in the tipping paper extends over more than 50% of a length of the tipping paper along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakening in the tipping paper extends along an entire length of the tipping paper along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising another line of weakening parallel to the line of weakening in the tipping paper. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 5 , wherein a tab is formed in the tipping paper between the two parallel lines of weakening to allow the tipping paper to be gripped by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein two notches are provided in the tipping paper at the mouth end respectively adjacent the parallel lines of weakening, and wherein the tab is provided between the notches. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakening is a line of perforations. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating device is a smoking article. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing an aerosol generating device, comprising:
 providing a rod of aerosol generating material;   providing a filter rod, the filter rod comprising:
 a first filter portion which comprises acetate tow and is positioned at a mouth end of the aerosol generating device; 
 a second filter portion which is biodegradable and which extends from the first filter portion to the rod of aerosol generating material and which encloses a volume which is more than 50% of a combined volume enclosed by the first and second filter portions; 
   providing tipping paper surrounding the filter rod and a part of the rod of aerosol generating material such that the filter rod and the rod of aerosol generating material are coupled together along a common longitudinal axis; and   applying a line of weakening to the tipping paper extending from the mouth end towards the rod of aerosol generating material so that at least a portion of the tipping paper can be opened, and preferably removed, by a user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakening is a line of perforations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the line of perforations is created using a laser or a perforating wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakening is applied to the tipping paper before the tipping paper is attached to the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakening in the tipping paper extends over more than 50% of a length of the tipping paper along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakening in the tipping paper extends along an entire length on the tipping paper along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 10 , wherein the second filter portion is a paper-based material. 
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying the line of weakening comprises applying two lines of weakening extending in parallel from the mouth end towards the rod of aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein two notches are provided in the tipping paper at the mouth end respectively adjacent the parallel lines of weakening, and wherein a tab is provided between the notches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakening is applied to the tipping paper after the tipping paper is attached to the aerosol generating device.