Filtrona International Ltd was founded in 1974. The company’s line of business includes the manufacturing of synthetic resins, plastics materials, and nonvulcanizable elastomers.
In India, the Pharmaceutical business of Filtrona International Limited is focused on Filter for a cigarette and a filter-tipped cigarette, Filter for a cigarette and filter cigarette.
Filtrona International Limited filed patent application numbered 8124/DELNP/2009 that is titled TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER. . This patent application has been granted as Patent Number 316918.
The invention covers General Engineering. This invention relates to tobacco smoke filters or to the elements of such filters, especially for cigarettes. Filter or filter element of tobacco smoke, including absorbent material (107). The absorbent material (107) is coated with a polymeric material in the amount of 0.9 to 2.1% by weight, based on the weight of the adsorbent material, and the polymer is polyethylene or polyurethane. The technical effect of the invention is the reduced formation of dust particles.
During patent examination, the patent examiner raised objections under Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act, wherein the examiner stated that the Claim 18 is mere use claim and do not involve any technical features to be considered as novel and inventive. The use of the above-mentioned claim is an inherent industrial applicability of the preceding claims i.e. of the application in view of description disclosure and doesn’t require separate recitation as claims.
As a response to said objection, the applicant submits that the claimed invention is directed towards a tobacco smoke filter or filter element including an adsorbent material that is constructed in accordance with claims 1-13. Hence, the primary or intended use of the filter here is to minimise and reduce the effects of smoke.
Advocate Rahul Dev is a Patent Attorney & International Business Lawyer practicing Technology, Intellectual Property & Corporate Laws. He is reachable at rd (at) patentbusinesslawyer (dot) com & @rdpatentlawyer on Twitter.
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