Claims
[1] Tobacco including a tobacco-leaf part, which is filled with tobacco leaves to produce smoke during smoking, and a filter part, which is connected to the tobacco-leaf part to filter off noxious substances contained in the smoke, wherein the tobacco-leaf part is filled with tobacco leaves which gradually decrease in tar and nicotine content starting from a start segment of the tobacco- leaf part, which is not connected to the filter part, to an end segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is connected to the filter part, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[2] The tobacco of claim 1, wherein the tobacco-leaf part, filled with tobacco leaves, is equally longitudinally divided into the start segment, an intermediate segment and the end segment with a tar content ratio of 1:0.95:0.9 in this order and a nicotine content ratio of 1:0.95:0.9 in this order, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[3] Tobacco including a tobacco-leaf part, which is filled with swollen, shredded tobacco leaves to produce smoke during smoking, and a filter part, which is connected to the tobacco-leaf part to filter off noxious substances contained in the smoke, wherein the tobacco-leaf part is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which have a gradually increased swelling ratio starting from a start segment of the tobacco- leaf part, which is not connected to the filter part, to an end segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is connected to the filter part, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[4] The tobacco of claim 3, wherein the tobacco-leaf part, filled with shredded tobacco leaves, is equally longitudinally divided into the start segment, an intermediate segment and the end segment with a swelling ratio of 1:1.1:1.2 in this order, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking. |
Description
TOBACCO HAVING CONSTANT FLAVOR
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to tobacco and, more particularly, to tobacco with a constant flavor during smoking by maintaining a constant tar/nicotine content during smoking. Background Art
[2] Tobacco is generally produced through such processes as drying or curing leaf tobacco in an appropriate temperature and humidity environment; humidifying the leaf tobacco; eliminating impurities; separating tobacco leaves from stalks; re-drying the tobacco leaves; aging the tobacco leaves over twenty months; humidifying the tobacco leaves for sterilization and insecticide; casing the tobacco leaves to enhance their unique scent; toasting the tobacco leaves to eliminate volatile components; swelling the tobacco leaves to expand them in volume; and finely cutting the tobacco leaves. Here, the finely cut tobacco leaves are called shredded tobacco leaves.
[3] The tobacco thus produced is typically wrapped with a paper and includes a tobacco-leaf part and a filter part. The tobacco-leaf part consists of swollen, shredded tobacco leaves and various kinds of additives, which are stuffed into a paper- wrapped cylinder, and produces smoke during smoking. The filter part is connected to the tobacco-leaf part to filter noxious substances out of the smoke produced from the tobacco leaves and additives during smoking.
[4] The smoke is a kind of aerosol which is a mixture of air and liquid or fine particles, which consists of two parts: one which is inhaled during smoking; the other which spreads out of the tobacco or leaks out of the wrapping paper.
[5] A smoker tastes tobacco by the one which is inhaled during smoking, which is determined by the amount of tar and nicotine and the additives.
[6] Tobacco industry recently has concentrated only on the tar and nicotine content and a combination of various kinds of additives to meet consumers penchant for mild and tasty tobacco.
[7] However, since the tobacco leaf is a kind of plant consisting of shredded tobacco leaves of fiber or pulp structure, the shredded tobacco leaves also serve as a filter during smoking.
[8] Accordingly, in the case of the tobacco produced by the traditional method, the smoke containing the tar, nicotine and other additives produced during smoking becomes increasingly stuck or attached to the shredded tobacco leaves on its way to the filter. Hence, as a smoker smokes, the amount of tar, nicotine and additives in the
tobacco increases little by little, resulting in the tobacco failing to maintain its constant flavor.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Solution
[9] The present invention provides tobacco with a constant flavor during smoking so that a smoker can taste the tobacco with enhanced flavor. [10] The present invention further provides tobacco which is low in production cost by reducing the amount of shredded tobacco leaves and additives. [11] Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
Advantageous Effects
[12] Even if the tar and nicotine contained in smoke are gradually stuck or attached to shredded tobacco leaves on its way to a filter part and the tar and nicotine content thus increases during smoking, tobacco has a substantially constant flavor throughout a tobacco-leaf part while a smoker smokes.
[13] Additionally, since the amount of shredded tobacco leaves filled in an intermediate segment and an end segment is substantially reduced compared to tobacco produced by the traditional method, it is possible to lower the production cost. Brief Description of the Drawings
[14] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[15] FIG. 1 is a longitudinally- sectional view of tobacco according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[16] FIG. 2 is a longitudinally- sectional view of tobacco according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[17] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tobacco shown in FIG. 2.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[18] The present invention discloses tobacco including a tobacco-leaf part, which is filled with tobacco leaves to produce smoke during smoking, and a filter part, which is connected to the tobacco-leaf part to filter off noxious substances contained in the smoke, where the tobacco-leaf part is filled with tobacco leaves which gradually decrease in tar and nicotine content starting from a start segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is not connected to the filter part, to an end segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is connected to the filter part, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor
throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[19] The tobacco-leaf part, filled with tobacco leaves, may be equally longitudinally divided into the start segment, an intermediate segment and the end segment with a tar content ratio of 1:0.95:0.9 in this order and a nicotine content ratio of 1:0.95:0.9 in this order, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[20] The present invention also discloses tobacco including a tobacco-leaf part, which is filled with swollen, shredded tobacco leaves to produce smoke during smoking, and a filter part, which is connected to the tobacco-leaf part to filter off noxious substances contained in the smoke, where the tobacco-leaf part is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which have a gradually increased swelling ratio starting from a start segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is not connected to the filter part, to an end segment of the tobacco-leaf part, which is connected to the filter part, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[21] The tobacco-leaf part, filled with shredded tobacco leaves, may be equally longitudinally divided into the start segment, an intermediate segment and the end segment with a swelling ratio of 1:1.1:1.2 in this order, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part during smoking.
[22] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Mode for the Invention
[23] The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
[24] FIG. 1 is a longitudinally- sectional view of tobacco according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[25] The tobacco includes a tobacco-leaf part 10 and a filter part 20 to produce smoke during smoking. The tobacco-leaf part 10 includes shredded tobacco leaves 12 and a wrapping paper 11 surrounding the shredded tobacco leaves 12. The filter part 20 includes a filter 22 and a filter wrapper 21. The filter 22 is connected to the tobacco- leaf part 10 and is made up of fiber to filter off tar and nicotine contained in the smoke
produced from the tobacco-leaf part 10. The filter wrapper 21 is made of paper to surround the filter 22.
[26] The tobacco-leaf part 10 is equally longitudinally divided into three segments each of which is filled with shredded tobacco leaves and additives: a start segment 1OA; an intermediate segment 1OB; and an end segment 1OC. The start segment 1OA is one which burns first during smoking and is not connected to the filter part 20. The intermediate segment 1OB is disposed between the start segment and end segment. The end segment 1OC is one which burns last and is connected to the filter part 20.
[27] FIG. 1 illustrates shredded tobacco leaves and additives (not shown) each drawn in rectangular shape for convenience. It is assumed in FIG. 1 that each shredded tobacco leaf has the same swelling ratio and the same size.
[28] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the tobacco has a constant flavor over the entire range from the start segment 1OA to the end segment 1OC by filling shredded tobacco leaves of which tar and nicotine content gradually decreases starting from the start segment 1OA to the end segment 1OC. In more detail, the start segment 1OA, intermediate segment 1OB, and end segment 1OC have a tar and nicotine content ratio of 1:0.95:0.9.
[29] For example, if tobacco has a tar content of l.Omg and a nicotine content of
0.1 Omg, the tobacco has a start segment 1OA, an intermediate segment 1OB, and an end segment 1OC which are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a tar content of l.Omg, 0.95mg, and 0.9mg, respectively, and a nicotine content of O.lOmg, 0.095mg, and 0.09mg, respectively. For another example, if tobacco has a tar content of 2.0mg and a nicotine content of 0.20mg, the tobacco has a start segment 1OA, an intermediate segment 1OB, and an end segment 1OC which are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a tar content of 2.0mg, 1.9mg, and 1.8mg, respectively, and a nicotine content of 0.20mg, 0.19mg, and 0.18mg, respectively.
[30] That is, the tobacco is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which gradually decrease in tar and nicotine content starting from the start segment of the tobacco to its end segment. Hence, even if the tar and nicotine contained in the smoke are gradually stuck or attached to the shredded tobacco leaves on its way to the filter part and the tar and nicotine content thus increases during smoking, the tobacco has a substantially constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part 10 while the smoker smokes.
[31] FIG. 2 is a longitudinally- sectional view of tobacco according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tobacco shown in FIG. 2. For convenience, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate shredded tobacco leaves each having a circular section, unlike those shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show no other additives.
[32] According to the second embodiment, the tobacco includes a tobacco-leaf part 10
and a filter part 20, similarly to the first embodiment. The tobacco-leaf part 10 is equally longitudinally divided into three segments each of which is filled with shredded tobacco leaves and additives: a start segment 1OA; an intermediate segment 1OB; and an end segment 1OC.
[33] The tobacco has a start segment 1OA, an intermediate segment 1OB, and an end segment 1OC which are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a swelling ratio increased in this order, so that the tobacco has a constant flavor over the entire range from the start segment 1OA to the end segment 1OC. In more detail, the start segment 1OA, intermediate segment 1OB, and end segment 1OC are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a swelling ratio of 1 : 1.1 : 1.2 in this order.
[34] The term swelling is the process of expanding tobacco leaves in volume. Conventionally, the tobacco leaves are all uniformly expanded in volume, e.g. typically 100% expanded, are finely cut into shreds, and are stuffed into the wrapping paper of the tobacco.
[35] In the second embodiment, the tobacco-leaf part 10 has a start segment 1OA, an intermediate segment 1OB, and an end segment 1OC which are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a swelling ratio of 1:1.1:1.2 in this order. For example, if the start segment 1OA is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which are about 100% expanded in volume, the intermediate segment 1OB is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which are about 110% expanded, and the end segment 1OB is filled with shredded tobacco leaves which are about 120% expanded.
[36] That is, since the tobacco has a start segment 1OA, an intermediate segment 1OB, and an end segment 1OC which are filled with shredded tobacco leaves having a swelling ratio increased in this order, the volume per unit weight (CC/g) of the shredded tobacco leaves also increases in that order and the amount of shredded tobacco leaves thus gradually decreases in that order, resulting in the amount of tar and nicotine decreasing gradually starting from the start segment 1OA to the end segment 1OC. Hence, even if the tar and nicotine contained in the smoke are gradually stuck or attached to the shredded tobacco leaves on its way to the filter part and the tar and nicotine content thus increases during smoking, the tobacco has a substantially constant flavor throughout the tobacco-leaf part 10 while the smoker smokes.
[37] Additionally, since the amount of shredded tobacco leaves filled in the intermediate segment 1OB and the end segment 1OC is substantially reduced compared to tobacco produced by the traditional method, it is possible to lower the production cost.
[38] In another embodiment, tobacco may be filled with shredded tobacco leaves made of the same material which are swollen at the same swelling ratio and become increasingly large in size starting from the start segment to the end segment.
[39] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation
can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability
[40] According to the present invention, even if the tar and nicotine contained in the smoke are gradually stuck or attached to shredded tobacco leaves on its way to a tobacco filter and the tar and nicotine content thus increases during smoking, it is possible to obtain tobacco having a constant flavor throughout a tobacco-leaf part by gradually reducing the tar and nicotine content of the shredded tobacco leaves filled in the tobacco-leaf part starting from the start segment to the end segment, or by gradually increasing the swelling ratio of the shredded tobacco leaves starting from the start segment to the end segment.
[41] Additionally, since the tobacco is filled with the shredded tobacco leaves with a higher swelling ratio and the amount of shredded tobacco leaves filled in the tobacco is thus substantially reduced compared to tobacco produced by the traditional method, it is possible to lower the production cost.