EP3979852B1 - Set of stick-shaped filters made of cardboard - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of smoking articles and particularly cigarettes.

More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of rolling cigarettes, in particular filters for rolling cigarettes, manufactured cones or tubes, asymmetrical or not.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many types of cigarette filters or manufactured tubes, asymmetrical (cones) or not, intended for smokers.

These filters are generally made of cylindrical blocks of foam or cellulose. Cigarette filters filter out certain substances contained in tobacco, thus reducing the impact of tar and nicotine, as well as softening the smoke.

Coarser 10 filters for cigarettes are also known, as illustrated in figures 1 to 3 attached, made by rolling a strip of cardboard or a cellulose-based material. These filters are generally called "toncar" which corresponds to the reverse in verlan of cardboard, or "tip".

There are many types of cardboard filters supplied in booklet or roll form, printed or not, delivered flat or not, and which the user rolls up when forming a cigarette. There are also ready-to-use pre-rolled filters, just as there are manufactured tubes, asymmetrical or not, containing this same type of pre-rolled filters.

Using a 10-piece cardboard filter tip allows the rolling paper user to place a filter at the end of the cigarette to prevent tobacco from escaping the cigarette and entering the mouth. It also allows the user to smoke all of the tobacco in the cigarette without burning themselves.

Generally, the known filter tips 10 are rolled on themselves to form by folding an "S" 11 or a similar geometry, in order to create the interior of the filter and to obstruct the passage of the tobacco, then different turns 12 on the exterior of the initial "S" shape 11.

THE Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, without limitation, other examples of such filter tips, in which the fold 11 has the shape of the letters "W" and "M" respectively.

We can refer in particular to the document FR3057441 on behalf of the present applicant for further details on the manufacturing technique of such a filter.

If a smoker wants to buy such pre-rolled filter tips, he is provided with packaging in which these filter tips are either loose (this is the case with packaging in the form of plastic or paper bags) or arranged next to each other (this is the case with packaging in the form of boxes).

But in both of these configurations, unless very careful action is taken, there is a high risk that several filter tips will escape from the packaging and fall to the ground. Similarly, if the previously opened packaging slips from the user's hands, it is likely that a large proportion of the filter tips will spill onto the ground.

In this context, the closest prior art known to the present applicant consists of WO2015/014999 , WO2018/007300 , GB2383252 And US2015/189914 .

In any event, the present invention aims to provide a complete solution to the problem described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention relates to a set of filters made of cardboard or cellulosic material, which has the shape of a generally cylindrical rod and is made up of a plurality of individual filters, each made up of a side of cardboard or cellulosic material wound on itself, these filters, arranged in the extension of each other, being partially connected two by two by connecting means, so that it is possible to separate at least one filter from said stick by removing or cutting said connecting means, characterized in that it comprises only a single sheet of cardboard or cellulosic material in which parallel cutouts are formed which individualize said sides, each of the cutouts being partial, that is to say that there are bridges of material between the cutouts, forming said connecting means, which connect two neighboring sides.

In this way, the filters that make up the set form a single "entity", from which the user will take a filter as needed.

And in the event that a set escapes from the packaging or falls to the ground, it is sufficient to recover this set in a single gesture and not a plurality of scattered filters.

In addition, this "stick" presentation allows several sets of the same type to be packaged in a case (in a parallelepiped shape, for example the size of a packet of cigarettes) or a sachet.

Finally, the fact that the set only includes, that is to say, only one sheet without any other additional element, contributes to improving its use (any fraction of this set is usable) and to facilitating its manufacture.

• lesdits ponts de matière sont positionnés de telle manière qu'ils soient équidistants angulairement à la périphérie de chaque filtre ;
• cet ensemble comprend au moins quatre ponts de matière ;
• il comporte au moins cinq filtres ;
• il comporte au plus quinze filtres.

According to other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of this set, taken alone or in any combination:

• said material bridges are positioned in such a way that they are angularly equidistant at the periphery of each filter;
• this set includes at least four material bridges;
• it has at least five filters;
• it has at most fifteen filters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 est une vue de gauche d'un filtre en carton qui peut faire partie de l'ensemble selon la présente invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue de droite du même filtre ;
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective du filtre des figures 1 et 2 ;
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un autre mode de réalisation de ce filtre;
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'encore un autre mode de réalisation de ce filtre ;
• La figure 6 est une vue de face d'un ensemble en forme de bâtonnet, conforme à la présente invention ;
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective de l'ensemble de la figure 6 ;
• La figure 8 est une première vue de face de l'ensemble de la figure 6, représentant un filtre d'extrémité en cours de détachement ;
• La figure 9 est une seconde vue de face de l'ensemble de la figure 6, représentant un filtre d'extrémité en cours de détachement ;
• La figure 10 est encore une vue de face de l'ensemble de la figure 6, le filtre d'extrémité étant représenté détaché du reste de l'ensemble ;
• La figure 11 est une vue en perspective et partielle du filtre et de l'ensemble de
• la figure 10, destinée plus particulièrement à montrer les "ponts de matière" qui existent entre deux filtres voisins ;
• La figure 12 est une vue de dessus d'une "préforme" qui permet d'obtenir un ensemble selon l'invention ;
• La figure 13 est une vue de détail de la figure 12.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• There figure 1 is a left view of a cardboard filter which may be part of the assembly according to the present invention;
• There figure 2 is a right view of the same filter;
• There figure 3 is a perspective view of the filter of the Figures 1 and 2 ;
• There figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this filter;
• There Figure 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of this filter;
• There figure 6 is a front view of a rod-shaped assembly, in accordance with the present invention;
• There figure 7 is a perspective view of the entire figure 6 ;
• There figure 8 is a first front view of the whole figure 6 , representing an end filter being detached;
• There figure 9 is a second front view of the whole figure 6 , representing an end filter being detached;
• There figure 10 is still a front view of the whole figure 6 , the end filter being shown detached from the rest of the assembly;
• There figure 11 is a perspective and partial view of the filter and the assembly of
• there figure 10 , intended more particularly to show the “material bridges” which exist between two neighboring filters;
• There figure 12 is a top view of a “preform” which makes it possible to obtain an assembly according to the invention;
• There figure 13 is a detail view of the figure 12 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the present application, including the claims, the terms "tip", "filter" and "filter tip" are used interchangeably to designate the same subject matter.

As is particularly visible in the figures 6 and 7 annexed, we are dealing, in accordance with the present invention, with an assembly 2 in the form of a generally cylindrical rod which is made up of a plurality of individual and identical filters 10, for example in accordance with one of the embodiments visible on the figures 3 to 5 aforementioned, each consisting of a roll of cardboard wrapped around itself.

These filters 10 are arranged in line with each other so as to constitute the stick.

In the example shown here, we are dealing with a set 2 consisting of five filters. This number is absolutely not limiting. Sets could be formed with a different number of filters, preferably a higher number. As an indication, this number is less than or equal to 15, so as to constitute sets of a reasonable size, compatible with the packaging currently available.

According to the invention, the filters 10 of the set 2 are connected two by two by connecting means, so that it is possible to separate at least one filter 10 from said rod by removing or cutting said connecting means.

According to the invention, these connecting means consist of "bridges" of material which connect two neighboring filters 2.

These bridges or "attachment points", referenced 3, are particularly visible at the figure 11 They are an integral part of the filters.

These material bridges are sufficient to make the filters 10 integral with each other and give a certain cohesion to the whole 2.

However, these bridges 3 are not strong enough to oppose the separation of a filter 10 (see figure 10 ), after tilting this filter 10 at an acute angle, as shown by arrow f of the figure 8 . If necessary, this tilting movement can be continued until a larger angle, close to a right angle, is obtained, as shown in figure 9 .

The tilting forces the material of the filters, so that the bridges 3 break and rupture. Thus, the filter 10 is detached from the others and is ready for use. It should be noted that there is no residue or other material to discard, because the bridges 3 are an integral part of the filters 10 and are made of the same material. In other words, any fraction of this assembly is usable. The fact that the bridges 3 are part of the filters makes the assembly extremely easy to use and simplifies its manufacture.

If necessary, this tilting movement can be combined with a slight pulling movement, as soon as the user feels that the end filter 10 is about to separate from the assembly 2.

Particularly advantageously, the bridges are distributed equidistantly angularly around the periphery of each filter, so as to give the whole a uniform cohesion and to allow easy separation.

Of course, each time the user wants to take a filter 10, he operates in the same way as described previously.

To obtain such an assembly 2, a preform 4 (the protection of which is not claimed) such as that shown in the figure 12 attached.

This preform 4 consists of an elongated rectangular strip of cardboard, the large parallel sides of which are referenced 40 and the small sides 41.

In this preform 4, five strips 5 are individualized, the long sides of which extend parallel to the short sides 41 of the preform 4.

Each strip is separated from its neighbor(s) by partial cutouts 6 which are separated by the aforementioned material bridges 3.

The production of the pre-cuts is preferably carried out using an automated machine which will not be described here because it does not constitute the heart of the invention.

The preform 4 is then rolled up on itself in a manner similar to what is already done and known for the production of individual filters. Here again, an automated machine is preferably used. As soon as the preform takes its final stick shape, a line of glue is put in place to ensure the cohesion of this stick over time.

The preform 4 may optionally have additional pre-cuts over part of its thickness, to facilitate the shaping of the filters, as explained in the FR 3057441 aforementioned.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages linked to the use of the aforementioned assembly 2, the manufacture of this assembly from a preform 4 makes it possible to rationalize this operation.

Packaging (the protection of which is not claimed) may be provided for such an assembly.

Such packaging for an assembly 2 such as that described above consists of an envelope of a shape similar to that of said aforementioned stick. In other words, it also has a stick shape and is sized to allow an assembly to be inserted therein, while enclosing it. This envelope comprises pre-cuts which are arranged in such a way that they extend opposite the areas which separate the individual filters 10 when a stick is present in said envelope.

Advantageously, this packaging is transparent or translucent, so that the consumer can easily see the number of filters present. It is possible that the material used for this packaging could be the same as that used for transparent cigarette packaging.

When the consumer wishes to remove a filter from the packaging, in a single action, he will break one of the pre-cuts in the packaging, as well as the pre-cut opposite set 2.

In addition to the advantages already described relating to the present invention, it can be noted that it is extremely easy to transport a set in the form of stick (consisting of six filters, for example), for portable use without dispersing or losing said filters.

The consumer can successively remove a filter, so that the stick shrinks but remains compact and in one piece.

Claims (5)

1. A set (2) of filters (10) made of cardboard or cellulosic material, which has the shape of a generally cylindrical stick and consists of a plurality of individual filters (10), each consisting of a winding on itself of a blank (5) of cardboard or cellulosic material, these filters (10), disposed in the extension of each other, being partially connected in pairs by connecting means (3), such that it is possible to separate at least one filter (10) from said stick by removing or severing said connecting means (3), characterized by the fact that it comprises only a single sheet (4) of cardboard or cellulosic material in which parallel cutouts (6) which individualize said blanks (5) are formed, each of the cutouts being partial that is to say there are, between the cutouts (6), bridges of material (3), forming said connecting means, which connect two neighboring blanks (5).
2. The set (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bridges of material (3) are positioned such that they are angularly equidistant at the periphery of each filter (10).
3. The set (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least four bridges of material (3).
4. The set (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes at least five filters (10).
5. The set (2) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it includes at most fifteen filters (10).