Pre-Roll Body Having Integral Ceramic Mouthpiece

Abstract

A pre-rolled cigarette includes a pre-roll body and a filtering mouthpiece preassembled with the pre-roll body at an attachment end. The filtering mouthpiece includes an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to the attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a pre-rolled cigarette (pre-roll) body having a filtering mouthpiece preassembled therewith. In particular, the present invention relates to a pre-roll body having a ceramic filtering mouthpiece preassembled therewith via an airtight seal, wherein the ceramic filtering mouthpiece includes apertures that modulate draw resistance while blocking particulate matter.

BACKGROUND

Existing pre-rolled cigarettes (pre-rolls) include a non-filtering paper or glass mouthpiece and therefore cannot prevent finely ground plant material from being pulled through to a user's mouth as they draw on the pre-roll. Existing mouthpieces, filters, or holders (hereinafter “mouthpieces”) for use with pre-roll bodies include those made from ceramics and having filtering capabilities, but are not preassembled with the pre-roll body, thus requiring attachment by the user. Existing mouthpieces are typically an accessory that is not provided or packaged with the pre-roll body, but are required to be purchased separately, which can cause sizing issues. The method of attachment for existing mouthpieces is typically a press fit of the mouthpiece over an end of the pre-roll body, which can be problematic in establishing an airtight seal between the mouthpiece and the pre-roll body.

It would beneficial if the pre-roll bodies described herein were available as empty bodies/cones/casings intended to be filled with a user's choice of combustible material. Therefore, a need exists for a mouthpiece that is preassembled with a pre-roll body via an airtight seal while also providing filtration of the finely ground plant material chosen by the user to fill the empty pre-roll body. It would be beneficial if the mouthpiece included one or more filtration holes wherein an aperture size of the one or more filtration holes is precisely sized based on the grind of the chosen plant material.

Precisely sized filtration holes provide the further benefit of modulating draw resistance for a user. Currently, producers of pre-rolls rely of the density of the ground plant material packed into the pre-roll body to modulate the draw resistance. Unfortunately, this leads to performance issues because increasing the packing density of the ground plant material decreases the efficiency of combustion of the ground plant material, which diminishes the overall user experience. Precise modulation of the filtration hole aperture sizes solves this problem by providing a mechanism to precisely modulate the draw resistance for the user while maintaining a consistent density of the ground plant material, and therefore achieving variable draw resistance without compromising the combustion process or the overall performance and user experience.

It would be further beneficial if the mouthpiece were made of a ceramic material that can be form molded allowing the production of complex geometries. The ability to produce complex geometries allows for the production of precisely modulated filtration holes and also an ergonomically tapered design that provides better mouth feel and sealing around the lips than a standard round geometry. Further, ceramic material is more durable and resistant to breakage from repeated heat cycling or mechanical impact than is glass or paper, which is important because a pre-roll is often consumed in multiple sessions including an initial consumption session followed by subsequent consumption sessions. The increased durability of the ceramic material allows for repeated reuse of the mouthpiece during subsequent consumption sessions after the initial consumption session.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a pre-rolled cigarette, comprises a pre-roll body and a filtering mouthpiece preassembled with the pre-roll body at an attachment end. The filtering mouthpiece includes an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to the attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end.

According to another aspect of the invention, a pre-rolled cigarette, comprises a pre-roll body and a filtering mouthpiece preassembled with the pre-roll body at an attachment end. The filtering mouthpiece includes an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to the attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end. A ring of flexible material has an adhesive on a surface thereof, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is preassembled with the pre-roll body via an airtight seal formed by the ring of flexible material wrapped around and adhered to a side surface of the filtering mouthpiece proximate to the attachment end and to a side surface of the pre-roll body proximate to an end of the pre-roll body.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a filtering mouthpiece is adapted to be preassembled with a pre-roll body via an airtight seal. The mouthpiece comprises an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to an attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary schematic pre-rolled cigarette according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary schematic of a filtering mouthpiece according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the filtering mouthpiece of FIG. 2A taken generally along the lines 2B-2B;

FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary schematic of a filtering mouthpiece according to another embodiment;

FIG. 2D illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the filtering mouthpiece of FIG. 2C taken generally along the lines 2D-2D;

FIG. 2E illustrates an exemplary schematic of a filtering mouthpiece according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 2F illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the filtering mouthpiece of FIG. 2E taken generally along the lines 2F-2F;

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary exploded schematic view of a pre-rolled cigarette according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary exploded schematic view of a pre-rolled cigarette according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary exploded schematic view of a pre-rolled cigarette according to a further embodiment.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, wherein similar structures have similar reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a pre-rolled cigarette 10 having a longitudinal axis 15 is illustrated as comprising a pre-roll body 20 and a filtering mouthpiece 30. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 is preassembled with the pre-roll body 20 at an attachment end 40. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 includes an open mouthpiece end 50 disposed opposite to the attachment end 40. In an embodiment the pre-roll body 20 is preassembled with the filtering mouthpiece 30 via an adhesive or a ring of flexible material 60 (having ends shown as dashed lines in FIG. 1) as described further hereinbelow. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 includes a passage 70 providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end 50 and one or more filtration holes 80 (see FIGS. 2A-2F) disposed through the attachment end 40. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 is preassembled with the pre-roll body 20 via an airtight seal. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 includes additional filtering media 72 (see FIGS. 2B, 2D, and 2F) within the passage 70. In an embodiment the additional filtering media 72, for example without limitation, includes a stainless steel plate or screen, or a micro-porous perforated ceramic insert.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, and 3C, in an embodiment the pre-rolled cigarette 10 includes the ring of flexible material 60 having an adhesive on an inwardly facing circumferential surface 65 thereof, wherein the filtering mouthpiece 30 is preassembled with the pre-roll body 20 via an airtight seal formed by the ring of flexible material 60 wrapped around and adhered to a side surface 75 of the filtering mouthpiece 30 proximate to the attachment end 40 and to a side surface 77 of the pre-roll body 20 proximate to an end 45 of the pre-roll body 20. In an embodiment materials used for the ring of flexible material 60 include, for example without limitation, natural paper, synthetic paper, vinyl, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). In an embodiment materials used for the filtering mouthpiece 30 include, for example without limitation, ceramics including alumina oxide based ceramics, zirconia based ceramics, and zirconia dioxide based ceramics. In an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 is manufactured by form molding, for example without limitation, injection molding or compression molding.

In an embodiment the pre-roll body 20 has a cylindrical shape as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3C. In another embodiment a pre-roll body 20 has a frusto-conical shape as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Regardless of the shape of the pre-roll body 20, all of the modes and means of preassembly with the filtering mouthpiece 30 as described hereinabove remain the same. In an embodiment the pre-roll body 20 comprises a sheet material wrapped around a filler material, wherein the sheet material includes, for example without limitation, paper, flax based paper, bamboo based paper, rice based paper, hemp based paper, cellulose film, and gold foil, wherein the side surfaces 75, 77 noted above are made from the sheet material. In an embodiment the filling material includes, for example without limitation, plant material as desired by the user. In an embodiment the pre-roll body 20 is filled with plant material that is ground into particulate having a predetermined average maximum particle dimension, wherein the one or more filtration holes 80 are sized during manufacturing of the filtering mouthpiece 30 to filter particulate having the predetermined average maximum particle dimension. In use, the pre-roll body combusts in response to a user's draw to produce smoke that is inhaled through the filtering mouthpiece 30 by the user.

As noted above, precise control over both the total cross-sectional area for the one or more filtration holes 80 and the size of each of the individual filtration holes 80 provides the benefits of filtering the particulate while modulating draw resistance for a user. In particular, the size of each of the individual filtration holes 80 provides a filtering mechanism to filter out particulate having a larger size than the filtration holes 80, while the total size of all of the filtration holes 80 modulates the draw resistance for the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2F, in an exemplary embodiment a total cross-sectional area for the one or more filtration holes 80 is in a range from about 5 mm² to about 15 mm². In an exemplary embodiment the one or more filtration holes 80 comprise between 1 and about 20 generally circular holes, each ranging between about 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm in diameter. In an embodiment the one or more filtration holes 80 comprise 12 generally circular holes each having a diameter of about 0.9 mm. It should be noted that although the filtration holes 80 are illustrated as circular in FIGS. 2A, 2C, and 2E, that other shapes for the filtration holes 80 are also contemplated, for example without limitation, rectangular holes, square holes, oval holes, or elongated slots. In embodiments where the shapes for the filtration holes 80 are non-circular, an exemplary total cross-sectional area for the one or more filtration holes 80 is in a range from about 5 mm² to about 15 mm², and the one or more filtration holes 80 comprise between 1 and about 20 holes, each having a maximum dimension sized between about 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

As noted above, in an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 is made of a ceramic material that can be form molded, for example without limitation, injection molded or compression molded, allowing the production of complex geometries. For example, referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 2E, 2F, 3A and 3C, in an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 at least partly tapers from the attachment end 40 toward the open mouthpiece end 50, which provides better mouth feel and sealing around the lips than a standard round geometry. Referring now to FIGS. 2C and 2D, in an embodiment the filtering mouthpiece 30 further comprises an end cap 35 that detachably attaches over the open-mouthpiece end 50, for example, by a press or friction fit of the end cap 35 within the passage 70.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A pre-rolled cigarette comprises a ceramic filtering mouthpiece preassembled with and having an airtight seal to a pre-roll body. The pre-roll bodies are available as empty bodies/cones/casings intended to be filled with a user's choice of combustible material. Filtering holes through an end of the filtering mouthpiece filter particulate from the pre-roll body while modulating user draw. The pre-rolled cigarette can be manufactured by industry and used by consumers.

Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved. All patents, patent publications and applications, and other references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Claims

1. A pre-rolled cigarette, comprising: a pre-roll body; anda filtering mouthpiece preassembled with the pre-roll body at an attachment end;wherein the filtering mouthpiece includes an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to the attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end.

2. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 1, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is preassembled with the pre-roll body via an airtight seal.

3. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 2, further comprising a ring of flexible material having an adhesive on a surface thereof, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is preassembled with the pre-roll body via an airtight seal formed by the ring of flexible material wrapped around and adhered to a side surface of the filtering mouthpiece proximate to the attachment end and to a side surface of the pre-roll body proximate to an end of the pre-roll body.

4. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of natural paper, synthetic paper, vinyl, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE).

5. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 1, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is manufactured from a ceramic material.

6. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 5, wherein the pre-roll body is filled with plant material that is ground into particulate having a predetermined average maximum particle dimension, and the one or more filtration holes are sized during manufacturing of the filtering mouthpiece to filter the particulate.

7. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 6, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is manufactured by injection or compression molding.

8. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 1, wherein the one or more filtration holes have a maximum cross-sectional dimension in a range from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

9. A pre-rolled cigarette, comprising: a pre-roll body;a filtering mouthpiece preassembled with the pre-roll body at an attachment end, wherein the filtering mouthpiece includes an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to the attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end; anda ring of flexible material having an adhesive on a surface thereof, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is preassembled with the pre-roll body via an airtight seal formed by the ring of flexible material wrapped around and adhered to a side surface of the filtering mouthpiece proximate to the attachment end and to a side surface of the pre-roll body proximate to an end of the pre-roll body.

10. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 9, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of natural paper, synthetic paper, vinyl, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE).

11. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 10, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is manufactured from a ceramic material.

12. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 11, wherein the pre-roll body is filled with plant material that is ground into particulate having a predetermined average maximum particle dimension, and the one or more filtration holes are sized during manufacturing of the filtering mouthpiece to filter the particulate.

13. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 11, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is manufactured by injection or compression molding.

14. The pre-rolled cigarette of claim 8, wherein the one or more filtration holes have a maximum cross-sectional dimension in a range from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

15. A filtering mouthpiece adapted to be preassembled with a pre-roll body via an airtight seal, the mouthpiece comprising: an open mouthpiece end disposed opposite to an attachment end, and a passage providing fluid communication between the open mouthpiece end and one or more filtration holes disposed through the attachment end.

16. The filtering mouthpiece of claim 15, wherein the filtering mouthpiece is manufactured from a ceramic material by injection or compression molding.

17. The filtering mouthpiece of claim 16, wherein the one or more filtration holes are sized during manufacturing of the filtering mouthpiece to filter particulate having a predetermined average maximum particle dimension.

18. The filtering mouthpiece of claim 17, wherein the one or more filtration holes have a maximum cross-sectional dimension in a range from about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

19. The filtering mouthpiece of claim 16, wherein the filtering mouthpiece tapers from the attachment end toward the open mouthpiece end.

20. The filtering mouthpiece of claim 15, further comprising a ring of flexible material having an adhesive on a surface thereof, wherein the ring of flexible material is adhered around a side surface of the filtering mouthpiece proximate to the attachment end to form an airtight seal therewith and is adapted to be wrapped around and adhered to a side surface of the pre-roll body proximate to an end of the pre-roll body to form an airtight seal therewith, wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of natural paper, synthetic paper, vinyl, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE).