DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates generally to articles, particularly smoking articles to deliver synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART:
The incorporation of flavoring materials into smoking articles has been widely practiced in the art. The traditional method employed for incorporating these materials has been the direct application of flavorants onto the tobacco, combustible paper wrap enclosing the tobacco column, and the filter tow from which the filter is made. Each of these methods leads directly to deliver the sensorial characteristics to the user.

This technique is exemplified by the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,507,925 which is directed to a cigarette that is provided with a flavored coating on the exterior surface of the end that is to be contacted by the smoker's lips. The specific flavoring materials disclosed include licorice, peppermint, spearmint and cinnamon applied in the form of a gelatin base.

A further disclosure of interest is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,033,791 which involves the application of a "lip-proof" composition to the mouth end of a cigarette. This composition is based on nitrocellulose in combination with a suitable flattening agent and the patent teaches incidentally that aromatic substances such as menthol, eucalyptus, oil of cloves and tobacco-aroma may be incorporated into the composition.

U.S. Pat. application US2018368468 discloses a smoking article which comprises of a mouthpiece with an interface which stores tobacco cut filler material and an additive including at least one of flavor and nicotine in liquid form, a bead or capsule. the mouth portion includes a filter and it stores at least an additive including at least one of flavor and nicotine in liquid form, releasable stored in a bead or capsule. The smoking article further comprises of smokeable filler material consisting essentially of cellulose material.

Reference has also been made to WO2007036814A2. Cigarettes are provided which contain a filtering system (180) and flavorants encapsulated with polyvinyl acetate (150), wherein deactivation of a sorbent by the flavorant is reduced through the encapsulation of the flavorant within the polyvinyl acetate. A preferred flavorant is menthol. The encapsulated flavorants are prepared by mixing at least one flavorant with polyvinyl acetate and a solvent, such as ethanol, and forming the encapsulated flavorants. Methods of making cigarettes and smoking the articles are also provided.

Another prior art US20080302376A1 discloses smoking articles with a controlled flavour release product. The controlled flavour release product includes a first time-release flavorant and a second time-release flavorant. The controlled flavour release product is a film or a lip balm type formulation that is applied to the downstream end of a smoking article. The first time-release flavorant and the second time-release flavorant are incorporated into controlled release microcapsules. The microcapsules may be embedded in a format to create a controlled flavour release product. Each microcapsule can contain the first time-release flavorant, the second time-release flavorant or both.

CN110652030A discloses tipping paper for cigarettes, characterized by comprising a raw paper layer and a sour-sweet taste layer which are arranged in a stacked manner, wherein the sour-sweet layer is prepared from the sour-sweet gloss oil.

However, there is an unmet need in the industry to deliver flavorants that can be both volatile and non-volatile through the smoking articles. Additionally, the flavorants must also sensorially acceptable to the consumers. The challenge is to deliver synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics in terms of both flavour and fragrance through the above mentioned interventions which is yet perceivable by the user.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
The object of present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of prior arts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoking article to deliver synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
One aspect of present invention is to provide an article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of atleast two selected from the group comprising: a) atleast one flavour generating medium; b) at least one functionalized wrapper, c) and at least one filter medium, characterized in that the article delivers synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

Another aspect of present invention is to provide an article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug and at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap.

Yet another aspect of present invention is to provide an article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug and at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter.

A further aspect of present invention is to provide An article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap and flavored filter plug and at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known structure and method are omitted for clarity.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” if used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or component but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

The present invention aims to provide an article to deliver synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics. Especially, the article that comprises a flavor filled capsule that delivers flavors on demand, a functionalized wrapper more particularly sweetened wrapper circumscribing a filter wherein the filter is a single or multiple segmented filter in nature.

The subject invention lies in an article with at least one combination selected from at least one flavor generating medium in the form of a capsule/thread/granule and the like, at least one functionalized wrapper which includes sweetened wrapper, flavored plug wrap and the like, and at least one filter medium which is a single segmented or multi segmented in a smoking article, which delivers synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

One of the embodiment of present invention relates to flavour generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particles, flavoured filter plug and/or combinations thereof.

Yet another embodiment of present invention relates to functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper, flavored plug wrapper and/or combinations thereof.

Further an embodiment of present invention relates to filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and combinations thereof.

Another embodiment of present invention discloses the article comprising of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug in a combination with at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap and/or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment the present invention discloses an article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least two, selected from the group comprising, at least one flavour generating medium, at least one functionalized wrapper, at least one filter medium, wherein said article delivers synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

An embodiment discloses the article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug and at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap.

Further embodiment discloses the article comprising of at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap in a combination with at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations thereof.

Yet again, another embodiment of present invention discloses the article comprising of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug in a combination with at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations thereof.

One of the embodiments of the present invention further discloses an article comprising of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug in a combination with at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations thereof and further in a combination with atleast one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap.

In another embodiment of the present invention said aerosol generating substrate is selected from tobacco and tobacco substitutes.

Further embodiment of present invention discloses that said synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics includes but not limited to, flavor, fragrance and the like.

The critical components of the present invention comprise:
a) atleast one flavour generating medium; (=flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particles, flavoured filter plug and/or combinations)
b) atleast one functionalized wrapper (=flavoured wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper, flavoured plug wrapper and/or combinations) and c) atleast one filter medium (=single segment or multi segmented filter including but not limited to, hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations).

The invention will now be demonstrated with a non-limiting example:

Example:
The data below substantiate the flavour enhancement, aroma, pleasant taste and extended flavour perception parameters viz.,
a) atleast one flavour generating medium; (=flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particles, flavoured filter plug and/or combinations)
b) atleast one functionalized wrapper; (=flavoured wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper, flavoured plug wrapper and/or combinations) and
c) atleast one filter medium. (=single segment or multi segmented filter including but not limited to, hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations)
with and without having atleast one of the said critical elements of the present invention.

Test Sensory test perception test for enhanced flavor synergy
Assessments Flavour enhancement
Aroma
Pleasant taste
Extended flavour perception (in mins)
Assessors 6 Regular user/smoker
Product Details Sample A Control sample
Sample B Test Sample 1
Sample C Test Sample 2

The test samples except C, does not contain atleast one of the critical components of the present invention to substantiate the flavour enhancement, aroma, pleasant taste and extended flavour perception parameters viz., a) atleast one flavour generating medium; (=flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particles, flavoured filter plug and/or combinations)
b) atleast one functionalized wrapper; (=flavoured wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper, flavoured plug wrapper and/or combinations) and c) atleast one filter medium. (=single segment or multi segmented filter including but not limited to, hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations).

A panel of smokers who were open to flavoured smoking articles and acuity to flavours was selected.

All panelists were given all the 3 test samples. The said panelists were asked to smoke the flavoured article as per their usual smoking habit. The said panelists were further asked to provide their feedback on the assessment parameters using 10-point scale. Each panelist performed three assessment cycles.

The panelists were asked to wait for 15 minutes and perform the next round of evaluations with two flavoured article identified to have flavour.

Results:
The panelists graded the below parameters on a 10-points scale:
Test Samples
A
(Control sample) B (Test sample 1) C (Test sample 2)
Aroma 0 3.17 5.44
Flavour 0 4.42 7.31
Pleasant Taste 0 0.89 6.72
Extended flavour perception (in mins) 0 0 5.67

Inference:

According to the said panelists, sample A did not have aroma, flavour or pleasant taste. Aroma and flavour was highest in sample C.

Flavour: 100% of the panelists graded Sample B -Test Sample 1 to have a low flavour and sample C – Test Sample 2 to have high flavour.

100% of the study panelists graded sample C – Test Sample 2 to have an enhanced synergy of flavours and graded an average score of (7.19%) on a 10-point scale.
According to the panelists sample C – Test Sample 2 had an extended flavour perception for an average of 6 min.
,CLAIMS:
1. An article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of atleast two selected from the group comprising:
a) atleast one flavour generating medium;
b) at least one functionalized wrapper,
c) and at least one filter medium,
characterized in that the article delivers synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics.

2. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one flavour generating medium is selected from a group consisting of flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particles, flavoured filter plug and combinations thereof.

3. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one functionalized wrapper is selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper, flavored plug wrapper and combinations thereof.

4. The article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one filter medium is selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and combinations thereof

5. An article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug and at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap.

6. An article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one flavor generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavored capsule, flavored thread, flavored granules, flavored pellets, flavored beads, flavored spray particle and flavored filter plug and at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter.

7. An article comprising an aerosol generating substrate in a combination of at least one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavored wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavored plug wrap and flavored filter plug and at least one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter.

8. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said article comprises of atleast one flavour generating medium selected from a group consisting of flavoured capsule, flavoured thread, flavoured granules, flavoured pellets, flavoured beads, flavoured spray particle and flavoured filter plug in a combination with atleast one filter medium selected from a group consisting of hollow filter, recess/reverse recess filter, cavity filter, ventilated filter and/or combinations thereof and further in a combination with atleast one functionalized wrapper selected from a group consisting of flavoured wrapper, activated carbon wrapper, sweetened wrapper, fragranced wrapper and flavoured plug wrap.

9. The article as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein said aerosol generating substrate is selected from tobacco and tobacco substitutes.

10. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said synergistically enhanced sensorial characteristics include but not limited to, flavor, fragrance and the like.