United States Patent [19J
`Counts et al.
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111 lllll 111111111111111111
`US005954979A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,954,979
`Sep.21,1999
`
`[54] HEATER FIXTURE OF AN ELECTRICAL
`SMOKING SYSTEM
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PAIENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Mary Ellen Counts; William J.
`Crowe, both of Richmond; John L.
`Felter, Chester; Grier S. Fleischhauer,
`Midlothian; Mohammad R. Hajaligol,
`Richmond; Patrick H. Hayes, Chester;
`Willie G. Houck; H. Neal Nunnally,
`both of Richmond, all of Va.
`
`[73] Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated, New
`York, N.Y.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/951,225
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 16, 1997
`
`•.•.•..•.•..•.•..•.••.•.••.•..•.•..•.•..•.•..•.••.•.••.• F23Q 7/00
`Int. Cl.6
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI . .......................... 219/260; 219/535; 219/539;
`338/310; 131/194; 131/329
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 219/260, 263,
`219/535, 537, 539; 338/310; 392/485, 488,
`489, 492, 493; 128/202.21, 203.27; 131/94,
`182, 194, 273, 329
`
`4,638,820
`4,898,190
`4,949,736
`5,144,962
`5,388,594
`5,505,214
`5,591,368
`5,665,262
`
`1/1987 Roberts et al. ......................... 131/336
`2/1990 Deal ........................................ 131/336
`8/1990 Roberts et al. ......................... 131/336
`9/1992 Counts et al. .......................... 131/194
`2/1995 Counts et al. .......................... 131/329
`4/1996 Collins et al. .......................... 131/194
`1/1997 Fleischhauer et al. ................. 219/535
`9/1997 Hajaligol et al. ....................... 219/553
`
`Primary Examiner-Teresa Walberg
`Assistant Examiner-Vinod D. Patel
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E.B. Glenn; Kevin B.
`Osborne; James T. Moore
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A novel electrical smoking system and method of establish(cid:173)
`ing resistance to draw upon a cigarette while smoking a
`cigarette in an electrical smoking system comprising the step
`of operatively interposing a frit between a source of ambient
`air and the cigarette.
`
`33 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`51
`
`33~2S
`
`Ex. 2003-0001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.21,1999
`Sep.21, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`Sheet 1 0f 13
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`5,954,979
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.21,1999
`Sep.21, 1999
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.21,1999
`Sep.21, 1999
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`Sep.21, 1999
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.21,1999
`Sep.21, 1999
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`

`5,954,979
`
`1
`HEATER FIXTURE OF AN ELECTRICAL
`SMOKING SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to electrically powered smoking
`systems, and more particularly to heater elements of elec(cid:173)
`trically powered smoking systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`2
`Additionally, the dynamic range and character of drawing
`air through tiny ports differed from that experienced with a
`more traditional filter cigarette. Typically, an air intake
`system of an electrical lighter could be configured to
`approximate the resistance to draw of a more traditional
`filtered (lit) cigarette at a preselected (design point) draw
`rate; but the two systems would respond differently as a
`smoker would progress through a puff, which typically
`involves a ramping up and then down in draw rate. In
`10 comparison to the more traditional cigarettes, the prior
`electric lighter designs tended to create more and more
`excess pressure drop (resistance to draw) as a puff would
`progress through the higher levels of draw rate.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al, a smoking
`15 article includes a singular electrical resistance heating ele(cid:173)
`ment that is impregnated with aerosol forming material and
`heated in a succession of power cycles. The article includes
`a current regulating circuit which provides an uninterrupted
`current flow immediately upon draw for about 1.5 to about
`20 2 seconds followed by an "off" period of about 0.5 to about
`1 second. The patent also proposes an alternative to an on-off
`time-based circuit, which alterative would include on-off
`and current modulating means connected to temperature
`sensors or other sensors that would sense either the tem-
`25 perature of the heating element directly or the temperature of
`air passing the heating element or the temperature of a
`second resistor having a character related to that of the
`aerosol carrying heating element.
`The article disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 is disad-
`vantaged by its repetitively heating a singular heater and the
`material impregnated thereon, which creates a situation of
`already depleted tobacco material being heated again and
`again.
`
`30
`
`Commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,388,594, 5,505,
`214, and 5,591,368 disclose various electrically powered
`smoking systems comprising electric lighters and cigarettes.
`The systems provide smoking pleasure while significantly
`reducing sidestream smoke and permitting the smoker to
`selectively suspend and reinitiate smoking.
`The preferred embodiment of the lighter in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,388,594 includes a plurality of metallic serpentine heaters
`disposed in a configuration that slidingly receives a tobacco
`rod portion of the system's cigarette. The cigarette and the
`lighter are configured such that when the cigarette is inserted
`into the lighter and as individual heaters are activated for
`each puff, localized charring occurs at spots about the
`cigarette in the locality where each heater bears against the
`cigarette (hereinafter referred to as a "heater footprint").
`In U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,594, the sequence and the amount
`of energy applied to each heater element during a puff cycle
`is regulated by a logic circuit of a controller which executes
`a power subroutine upon its receiving a signal from a puff
`sensor. The power subroutine includes the steps of reading
`the voltage of the power source (batteries) at the initiation of
`the puff and resolving a shut-off signal in cooperation with
`a constant Joules energy timer such that the duration of the
`pulse (its cycle-period) is adjusted relative to the voltage of
`the power source to provide the same total amount of energy
`(Joules) throughout the range of voltages of the battery
`discharge cycle.
`In U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,594, air is admitted into the interior
`of the heater fixture of its lighter through one or more intake
`ports formed at or about the seal between the cigarette and
`the cigarette-receiving opening of the lighter. In the alter(cid:173)
`native or in conjunction, additional ports are provided along
`one or more sides of the lighter housing. The air is drawn to
`along the cigarette.
`It has been discovered in the air management system
`disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,594, the ports tended to be
`very small if they were sized so as to create a resistance to
`draw commonly experienced in smoking a more traditional
`cigarette for a standard airflow rate of, for example, 1050 50
`cubic centimeters per minute ( cc/min). Their tiny size would
`necessitate precise machining in the manufacture of the
`lighter housing, adding expense and reducing the range of
`acceptable margins for error. Machining the correct diameter
`is exacting, because any error in diameter has a second order
`relation with cross-sectional area, and the latter is a deter(cid:173)
`minative factor upon resistance to draw through an orifice.
`Accordingly, a small variation in the diameter of the intake
`ports can create unacceptable variations in resistance to
`draw in electrical lighter systems
`The minute size of the ports also tended to localize or
`"jet" the air into the interior of the heater fixture, sometimes
`creating a whistling noise to the distraction of the smoker.
`The localization of airflow would allow some parts of the
`heater fixture to receive more air than others, which situation 65
`could compromise uniformity amongst consecutive execu(cid:173)
`tions of puff cycles.
`
`35
`
`OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`A central object of the present invention is to provide a
`heater fixture within an electrical cigarette system wherein
`the dynamic response in resistance to draw during a puff is
`40 similar to that of a more traditional filter cigarette.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`electrical cigarette lighter which delivers consistent smoke
`from puff to puff throughout the smoking of a cigarette.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
`45 air management arrangement in a lighter of an electrical
`smoking system that admits air into the system with a
`resistance-to-draw verses flow rate characteristic similar to
`that of a more traditional cigarette.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`lighter fixture having an air admission system that facilitates
`manufacture yet provides precise duplication of drawing
`characteristics in each lighter consistently from lighter to
`lighter.
`Still another object is to provide a heater fixture of an
`electrical smoking system which provides a uniform distri(cid:173)
`bution of air about the cigarette.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
`such a heater fixture that introduces air to the tobacco rod
`60 portion of the cigarette in the same general direction as
`smoke is withdrawn from the tipped end of cigarette.
`Yet another object is to provide a heater that overcomes
`differences between the first draw and other subsequent
`puffs in an electrical smoking system.
`These and other objects are achieved by the present
`invention, which provides a heater fixture within a lighter of
`an electrical smoking system having an improved an air
`
`55
`
`Ex. 2003-0015
`
`

`

`5,954,979
`
`5
`
`3
`management system. The heater fixture includes a cigarette
`receiver; a passageway for communicating a selected loca(cid:173)
`tion along the cigarette receiver with a source of air; and a
`frit at a location along the passageway, whereby the frit is
`configured and sized to achieve desired airflow characteris-
`tics including total flow rate and resistance to draw. A
`porting ring, located preferably downstream of the frit, is
`configured so as to achieve desired flow distribution about
`the cigarette receiver.
`Another aspect of the present invention is the configura- 10
`tion of placing a frit adjacent to an air intake manifold and
`placing orifices downstream of the frit, such that the frit
`controls that amount of air admitted into the heater fixture,
`while the orifices circumferentially distribute and axially
`direct the admitted air toward a base portion of the fixture. 15
`Still another aspect of the present invention include
`features which direct the airflow within the lighter such that
`the air first approaches the tobacco rod portion of the
`cigarette in the same direction as smoke is withdrawn from
`the cigarette so as to minimize air turbulence and conden- 20
`sates within the heater fixture.
`
`4
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention provides a smoking system 21 which
`preferably includes a partially-filled, filter cigarette 23 and a
`reusable lighter 25. The cigarette 23 is adapted to be inserted
`into and removed from a cigarette receiver 27 which is open
`at a front end portion 29 of the lighter 25. Once the cigarette
`23 is inserted, the smoking system 21 is used in much the
`same fashion as a more traditional cigarette, but without
`lighting or smoldering of the cigarette 23. The cigarette 23
`is discarded after one or more puff cycles. Preferably, each
`cigarette 23 provides a total of eight puffs (puff cycles) or
`more per smoke; however it is a matter of design expedient
`to adjust to a lesser or greater total number of available puffs.
`Further particulars of the smoking system is described
`also in the commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,388,594;
`5,505,214; 5,591,368 and 5,499,636, all which are hereby
`incorporated by reference in their entireties.
`The lighter 25 includes a housing 31 having front and rear
`housing portions 33 and 35. One or more batteries 35a are
`removably located within the rear housing portion 35 and
`supply energy to a heater fixture 39 which includes a
`plurality of electrically resistive, heating elements 37
`25 (shown in FIGS. 3A-C). The heating elements 37 are
`arranged within the front housing portion 33 to slidingly
`receive the cigarette 23 along an intermediate portion of the
`cigarette receiver 27. A stop 182 located at the base of the
`heater fixture 39 defines a terminus of the cigarette receiver
`30 27.
`A control circuit 41 in the front housing portion 33
`selectively establishes electrical communication between
`the batteries 35a and one or more the heater elements 37
`during execution of each puff cycle. The preferred embodi-
`35 ment of the present invention includes details concerning an
`air management system for effecting the admission and
`routing of air within the lighter, including aspects which are
`discussed in greater detail beginning with reference to FIG.
`6.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 1HE DRAWING
`These and other objects, advantages and novel features of
`the present invention will become apparent from the fol(cid:173)
`lowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments of
`the present invention when considered in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawing, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smoking system in
`accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention with a cigarette of the system inserted into the
`electrically operated lighter;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smoking system of
`FIG. 1, but with the cigarette withdrawn from the lighter
`upon conclusion of a smoking;
`FIG. 3A is a partial perspective detail view of a preferred
`embodiment of the heater fixture of FIG. 1, including wavy
`hairpin heater elements and portions of a preferred air
`admission system;
`FIG. 3B is a partial perspective detail view of an alternate 40
`preferred embodiment of the heater fixture shown in FIG.
`3A, including straight hairpin heater elements;
`FIG. 3C is a partial perspective detail view of another
`alternate preferred embodiment of the heater fixture shown
`in FIG. 3A, including serpentine heater elements;
`FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of a preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the cigarette shown in FIG. 1, with certain compo(cid:173)
`nents of the cigarette being partially unraveled;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic, block-diagram of a preferred
`control circuit for the lighter shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of a preferred heater fixture
`which includes the wavy hairpin heater elements of FIG. 3A;
`FIG. 7A is an end planar view of the porting ring of the
`cap assembly shown in FIG. 6;
`FIG. 7B is a planar view of an alternate embodiment of a
`frit in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of the dynamic
`responses of traditional filter cigarettes in comparison to air
`management systems of prior electric lighters and those 60
`constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is an exploded, side perspective view of portions
`of the heater fixture shown in FIG. 6; and
`FIG. 10 is a side view of the cigarette shown in FIG. 4 65
`inserted into the heater fixture of FIG. 6, with the latter being
`shown in cross-section.
`
`50
`
`Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably the rear portion
`35 of the lighter housing 31 is adapted to be readily opened
`and closed, such as with screws or snap-fit components, so
`as to facilitate replacement of the batteries. If desired, an
`electrical socket or contacts may be provided for recharging
`45 the batteries in a charger supplied with house current or the
`like. Preferably, the front housing portion 33 is removably
`joined to the rear housing portion 35, such as with a dovetail
`joint or a socket fit.
`The batteries 35a are sized to provide sufficient power for
`the heaters 37 to function as intended and preferably com(cid:173)
`prise a replaceable and rechargeable type. Alternate sources
`of power are suitable, such as capacitors. In the preferred
`embodiment, the power source comprises four nickel(cid:173)
`cadmium battery cells connected in series with a total,
`55 non-loaded voltage in the range of approximately 4.8 to 5.6
`volts. The characteristics of the power source are, however,
`selected in view of the characteristics of other components
`in the smoking system 21, particularly the characteristics of
`the heating elements 37. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
`5,144,962, hereby incorporated by reference, describes sev(cid:173)
`eral types of power sources useful in connection with the
`smoking system of the present invention, such as recharge(cid:173)
`able battery sources and power arrangements which com(cid:173)
`prise a battery and a capacitor which is recharged by the
`battery.
`Referring specifically to FIG. 2, preferably, the circuitry
`41 is activated by a puff-actuated sensor 45 that is sensitive
`
`Ex. 2003-0016
`
`

`

`5,954,979
`
`5
`
`5
`to either changes in pressure or changes in rate of air flow
`that occur upon initiation of a draw on the cigarette 23 by a
`smoker. The puff-actuated sensor 45 is preferably located
`within the front housing portion 33 of the lighter 25 and is
`communicated with a space inside the heater fixture 39
`adjacent the cigarette 23 via a port extending through a stop
`182 located at the base of the heater fixture 39. A puff(cid:173)
`actuated sensor 45 suitable for use in the smoking system 21
`is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,671
`and U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,594, the disclosures of which are
`incorporated herein by reference.
`The puff sensor 45 preferably comprises a Model
`163PCO1D35 silicon sensor, manufactured by the
`MicroSwitch division of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Ill. Flow
`sensing devices, such as those using hot-wire anemometry 15
`principles, have also been successfully demonstrated to be
`useful for actuating an appropriate one of the heater ele(cid:173)
`ments 37 upon detection of a change in air flow. Once
`actuated by the sensor 45, the control circuitry 41 directs
`electric current to an appropriate one of the heater elements 20
`37.
`An indicator 51 is provided at a location along the exterior
`of the lighter 25, preferably on the front housing portion 33,
`to indicate the number of puffs remaining in a smoke of a
`cigarette 23. The indicator 51 preferably includes a seven(cid:173)
`segment liquid crystal display. In the preferred embodiment,
`the indicator 51 displays the digit "8" when a cigarette
`detector 57 detects the presence of a cigarette in the heater
`fixture 39. The detector 57 preferably comprises a light
`sensor adjacent the cigarette receiver 27 of the heater fixture
`39 that generates a signal when a beam of light is reflected
`off an inserted cigarette 23 or when transmission of the beam
`across the cigarette receiver 27 is interrupted either wholly
`or partially. Thereupon the cigarette detector 57 provides a
`signal to the circuitry 41 which, in turn, responsively pro(cid:173)
`vides a signal to the indicator 51. The display of the digit "8"
`on the indicator 51 reflects that the eight puffs provided on
`each cigarette 23 are available, i.e., no puff cycle has been
`undertaken and none of the heater elements 37 have been
`activated to heat the cigarette 23. After the cigarette 23 is
`fully smoked, the indicator displays the digit "O". When the
`cigarette 23 is removed from the lighter 25, the cigarette
`detector 57 no longer detects a presence of a cigarette 23 and
`the indicator 51 is turned off.
`The cigarette detector 57 is modulated so that it does not
`constantly emit a beam of light, which would otherwise
`create an unnecessary drain on the power source 35a. A
`preferred cigarette detector 57 suitable for use with the
`smoking system 21 is a Type OPR5005 Light Sensor,
`manufactured by OPTEX Technology, Inc., 1215 West
`Crosby Road, Carrollton, Tex. 75006.
`In the alternative to displaying the remainder of the puff
`count, the detector display may instead be arranged to
`indicate whether the system is active or inactive ("on" or
`"off").
`As one of several possible alternatives to using the
`above-noted cigarette detector 57, a mechanical switch (not
`shown) may be provided to detect the presence or absence
`of a cigarette 23 and a reset button (not shown) may be
`provided for resetting the circuitry 41 when a new cigarette
`is inserted into the lighter 25, e.g., to cause the indicator 51
`to display the digit "8", etc. Power sources, circuitry, puff(cid:173)
`actuated sensors, and indicators useful with the smoking
`system 21 of the present invention are described in com- 65
`manly assigned, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,060,671; 5,388,594 and
`5,591,368, all which are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`6
`Referring now to FIG. 3A, the front housing portion 33 of
`the lighter 25 encloses a substantially cylindrical heater
`fixture 39 whose heater elements slidingly receive the ciga(cid:173)
`rette 23. The heater fixture 39 is adapted to support an
`inserted cigarette 23 in a fixed relation to the heater elements
`37 such that the heater elements 37 are positioned alongside
`the cigarette 23 at approximately the same location along
`each newly inserted cigarette 23. In the preferred
`embodiment, the heater fixture 39 includes eight mutually
`10 parallel heater elements 37 which are disposed concentri(cid:173)
`cally about the axis of symmetry of the cigarette receiver 27.
`The locations where each heater element 37 bears against ( or
`is in thermal communication with) a fully inserted cigarette
`23 is referred to herein as the heater footprint.
`To assure consistent placement of the heating elements 37
`relative to each cigarette 23 from cigarette to cigarette, the
`heater fixture 39 is provided with a base portion 300 (shown
`in FIG. 6) having a stop 182 against which the cigarette 23
`is urged during its insertion into the cigarette receiver 27 of
`the lighter 25. Other expedients for registering the cigarette
`23 relative to the lighter 25 could be used instead.
`Still referring to FIG. 3A, most preferably the heater
`elements 37 are of a design referred to herein as a wavy
`hairpin heater element 37, wherein each heater element 37
`25 includes at least first and second serpentine, elongate mem(cid:173)
`bers 53a and 53b which are adjoined at an end portion (tip)
`54. The tips 54 are adjacent the opening 55 of the cigarette
`receiver 27. The opposite ends 56a and 56b of each heater
`element 37 are electrically connected to the opposite poles
`30 of the power source 35a as selectively established by the
`controller 41. More specifically, an electrical pathway
`through each heater fixture 37 is established, respectively,
`through a terminal pin 104, a connection 122 between the
`pin 104 and a free end portion 56a of one of the serpentine
`35 members 53a, through at least a portion of the tip 54 to the
`other serpentine member 53b and its end portion 56b.
`Preferably, an integrally formed, common connection ring
`110 provides a common electrical connection amongst all
`40 ~~:f:~r~f~r!~~~i::ntt~~e r~!;n1~~ :e:~:e:!:· :~ ~~:
`positive terminal of the power source 35a (or common)
`through a connection 123 between the ring 110 and a pin
`105. Further details of the construction and establishment of
`electrical connections in the heater fixture 39 are illustrated
`45 and described in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.
`5,060,671; 5,388,594 and 5,591,368, all which are incorpo(cid:173)
`rated herein by reference.
`Referring now to FIG. 3B, another preferred design of the
`heater fixture 39' includes heater elements in the form of a
`straight hairpin heater elements 37', which are connected
`and structured similarly to the wavy hairpin element 37 of
`FIG. 3A, except that the elongate members 53a' and 53b' are
`generally straight instead of serpentine. The elongate mem-
`55 bers of both types of hairpin heaters 37 and 37' are prefer(cid:173)
`ably biased (bowed) inwardly to more positively engage a
`cigarette 23. Further details of this heater fixture 39' are set
`forth in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,368.
`The heater portions 53a, 53b and 54 establish what is here
`60 referred to as a heater blade 120.
`Referring now to FIG. 3C, yet another preferred heater
`fixture 39 includes "singular serpentine" heater elements
`37", each which is electrically connected at its opposite ends
`to a control circuit 41 and power source 35a through leads
`186 and 187. Electric lead 187 connects with a common
`connection ring 110" that is located adjacent the opening 55"
`of the cigarette receiver 27". Further details concerning this
`
`50
`
`Ex. 2003-0017
`
`

`

`5,954,979
`
`7
`heater fixture 37" are set forth in commonly assigned U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,388,594, incorporated herein by reference in its
`entirety.
`Additional heater fixtures 37 that are operable as part of
`the lighter 25 include those disclosed in commonly assigned, 5
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,262; and commonly assigned, U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,498,855, all which are incorporated herein by refer(cid:173)
`ence in their entireties.
`Preferably, the heaters 37 are individually energized by
`the power source 35a under the control of the circuitry 41 to 10
`heat the cigarette 23 preferably eight times at spaced loca(cid:173)
`tions about the periphery of the cigarette 23. The heating
`renders eight puffs from the cigarette 23, as is commonly
`achieved with the smoking of a more traditional cigarette. It
`may be preferred to activate more than one heater simulta- 15
`neously for one or more or all of the puffs.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, the cigarette 23 is preferably
`constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment
`set forth in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,636,
`herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
`The cigarette 23 comprises a tobacco rod 60 and a filter
`tipping 62, which are joined together with tipping paper 64.
`The tobacco rod 60 of the cigarette 23 preferably includes
`a tobacco web 66 which has been folded into a tubular
`( cylindrical) form about a free-flow filter 74 at one of its 25
`ends and a tobacco plug 80 at the other. In the alternative, a
`plug of cellulose acetate might be used in place of the
`tobacco plug 80.
`An overwrap 71 is intimately enwrapped about the
`tobacco web 66 and is held together along a longitudinal
`seam as is common in construction of more traditional
`cigarettes. The overwrap 71 retains the tobacco web 66 in a
`wrapped condition about a free-flow filter 74 and a tobacco
`plug 80.
`The tobacco web 66 itself preferably comprises a base
`web 68 and a layer of tobacco flavor material 70 located
`along the inside surface of the base web 68. At the tipped end
`72 of the tobacco rod 60, the tobacco web 66 together with
`the overwrap 71 are wrapped about the tubular free-flow
`filter plug 74. Preferably, the tobacco plug 80 is constructed
`separately from the tobacco web 66 and comprises a rela(cid:173)
`tively short column of cut filler tobacco that preferably has
`been wrapped within and retained by a plug wrap 84.
`As a general matter, the length of the tobacco plug 80 is
`preferably set relative to the total length of the tobacco rod
`60 such that a void 90 is established along the tobacco rod
`60 between the free-flow filter 74 and the tobacco plug 80.
`The void 90 corresponds to an unfilled portion of the tobacco
`rod 60 and is in immediate fluid communication with the
`tipping 62 through the free flow filter 74 of the tobacco rod
`60.
`The tipping 62 preferably comprises a free-flow filter 92
`located adjacent the tobacco rod 60 and a mouthpiece filter
`plug 94 at the distal end of the tipping 62 from the tobacco
`rod 60. Preferably, the free-flow filter 92 is tubular and
`transmits air with very little pressure drop. Other low
`efficiency filters of standard configuration could be used
`instead, however. The inside diamete