Patents Assigned to ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
  • Patent number: 11969021
    Abstract: An aerosol generating system including a housing defining an airflow outlet; a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol generator, configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a perforated plate disposed between the aerosol generator and the airflow outlet, the perforated plate defining a plurality of apertures extending through the perforated plate; and an electrode disposed between the aerosol generator and the perforated plate, wherein the perforated plate is electrically conductive, and wherein the electrode and the perforated plate are configured to generate an electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Christian Courbat, Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 11969020
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion, a vaporizer, and a pump. The liquid storage portion may be configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The vaporizer may be configured to volatilize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The pump may be configured to pump air into the liquid storage portion so as to push out a volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion and to supply the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer. A method for generating an aerosol may be performed with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Ben Mazur, Eva Saade Latorre, Alain Tabasso
  • Patent number: 11969010
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device comprises a device housing comprising a first receiving chamber configured to receive and accommodate a first consumable and a second receiving chamber configured to receive and accommodate a second consumable. The device further comprises a power source in an internal space defined by the device housing and a controller configured to control aerosolization of an aerosol-forming substrate in a consumable in one of the first receiving chamber and in the second receiving chamber. At least the second receiving chamber includes electrical contacts configured to be detachably connected to a battery based on the separate power source being in the second receiving chamber such that the electrical contacts provide additional power from the separate power source to the aerosol-generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11969007
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20240130439
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Bipin PATIL, Craig GUNN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR
  • Publication number: 20240132901
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tobacco plants, plant parts, seeds, compositions, and methods related to modulating the expression of novel genes in tobacco to regulate alkaloid levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Chengalrayan KUDITHIPUDI, Rajanikanth GOVINDARAJULU, Raja S. PAYYAVULA
  • Publication number: 20240130440
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a non-nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Bipin PATIL, Craig GUNN, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR
  • Publication number: 20240122254
    Abstract: An element for an aerosol-generating system, a cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, and an aerosol-generating system, wherein the element, the cartridge and the aerosol-generating system each include a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate and a manually operated disabling mechanism for rendering the element, the cartridge, or the aerosol-generating system irreversibly inoperable. The element, the cartridge, and the aerosol-generating system may include an aerosol generator and one or more air passages. The disabling mechanism may be configured to render at least one of the storage portion, the aerosol generator, and the one or more air passages irreversibly inoperable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony REEVELL
  • Publication number: 20240124217
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a pack for tobacco articles comprises an inner sleeve, and an outer box comprising front and back covers that allow access to the inner sleeve when the outer box is opened. The inner sleeve can include a front connecting panel pivotally connecting a front wall of the inner sleeve to an inner surface of the front cover and a back connecting panel pivotally connecting a back wall of the inner sleeve to an inner surface of the back cover. A slot in the outer box is configured to allow opening of the outer box by applying pressure against a bottom wall of the inner sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Stephen BELLAMAH, Daniel RICHTER
  • Publication number: 20240124200
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a lid for a container including a base defining an opening and a top configured to engage a portion of the base. The base includes a support wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from respective ends of the support wall such that the support wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall define a gap configured to receive at least a portion of the container. The top includes a cover, a hinge coupled between the cover and the base, and a peripheral wall extending from an interior portion of the cover. The cover is moveable between an open position providing access to the opening and a closed position sealing the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. HESSION, Andrew T PEELER, William J. BOGDZIEWICZ
  • Publication number: 20240123165
    Abstract: The method includes defining a chamber withing a first housing, the chamber including a first-shaped cavity and a second-shaped cavity configured to receive a first-type consumable and a second-type consumable, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony REEVELL
  • Publication number: 20240122253
    Abstract: An inductively heatable susceptor for use with an inductively heated aerosol-generating device or system includes an open-porous inductively heatable ceramic material configured to hold an aerosol-forming liquid and configured to heat the aerosol-forming liquid under the influence of an alternating electromagnetic field. A cartridge for use with an aerosol-generating device includes an aerosol-forming liquid and a susceptor. An aerosol-generating device includes a susceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jerome COURBAT, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Oleg MIRONOV
  • Patent number: 11963266
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 11957152
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Tommy C. Holland, Jason Andrew Macko, Christopher Joseph Dinovi
  • Patent number: 11958645
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Patent number: 11962113
    Abstract: A connector assembly of a cartridge of an electronic vaping device may be formed by metal in-molding. The connector assembly may include a connector body that is integrally formed. The connector body may include a base portion that is generally cylindrical, a nose portion extending from a first end of the base portion, and at least two slots extending longitudinally through the base portion and on opposing sides of the nose portion. An electrical lead extends through each of the at least two slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Bipin Patil, Sean Sundberg, Kelli McKenna, Rangaraj Sundar, Greg Nelson, David Bennett
  • Publication number: 20240117370
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and compositions for improving leaf quality in low-alkaloid tobacco plants, e.g., by combining inducible promoters and non-coding RNAs for suppression of an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene. Also provided are low alkaloid tobacco plants with normal, suppressed, or otherwise altered polyamine levels. Further provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid, nicotine levels, commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Fernando de GODOY LUSSO, James A. STRICKLAND, Jesse FREDERICK, Dongmei XU, Chengalrayan KUDITHIPUDI
  • Patent number: 11952184
    Abstract: A container is configured to house a consumer product. The container includes a base, a cap, and an over-cap. The base has a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The cap is engaged with the base so as to define a first compartment. The first compartment is configured to house the consumer product. The over-cap is engaged with the base and at least partially defines a second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hession, Christopher L. Simpson
  • Patent number: 11953354
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus may include a channel structure configured to couple with an external element and a fluid conduit, such that the channel structure may receive a fluid, at least partially drawn through the external element from an ambient environment, and direct the fluid through the fluid conduit. A sensor may generate sensor data indicating a flow rate of the fluid through the fluid conduit based on monitoring a variation in a pressure at a location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and in relation to an ambient pressure of the ambient environment. The sensor apparatus may enable generation of improved topography information associated with flows of fluid drawn from the external element based on measuring a local pressure at the location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and determining the ambient pressure based on monitoring the local pressure over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: David B. Kane, Yezdi B. Pithawalla, Srinivasan Janardhan, Gerd Kobal
  • Patent number: 11950622
    Abstract: The method includes providing a filler material that is water insoluble, the providing provides the filler material with more than 98% alpha-cellulose, 0.01% to less than 2% ash and a remainder hemicellulose, infusing at least one first consumable within the filler material and inserting a matrix within at least one first containing structure to form a capsule, the matrix including the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Danielle Crawford, Dwight David Williams, Eric Hawes, Terry Bache, Raymond W. Lau, Shaoyong Yu