Patents Examined by Dionne W. Mayes
  • Patent number: 11220360
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11178901
    Abstract: Suction belt conveyor of a rod-forming machine of the tobacco processing industry for conveying materials, in particular tobacco, a rod-forming machine of the tobacco processing industry and use of the rod-forming machine and a method for measuring material properties of a material rod of the tobacco processing industry. The suction belt conveyor includes at least one rod guiding channel, which is open at the bottom and which is delimited by two lateral channel sides and a suction belt along a conveying path. At least one electromagnetic measuring device is integrated in the channel sides of the suction belt conveyor at at least one position along the conveying path in order to determine properties of the conveyed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HAUNI MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Mueller
  • Patent number: 11178903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the diameter of an elongated rod, said method comprising: providing an elongated rod having a preliminary diameter; selecting a desired final diameter of the elongated rod; providing a diameter adjusting device including a first tubular element having an inlet and an outlet and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet; adjusting the diameter of the outlet as a function of the desired final diameter of the elongated rod, wherein the diameter of the inlet is bigger than the diameter of the outlet when adjusted; and inserting the elongated rod in the diameter adjusting device from the inlet and outputting it from the outlet so that said elongated rod is compressed to the desired final diameter when outputted from the outlet of the first tubular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Gindrat, Zsolt Albert
  • Patent number: 11166486
    Abstract: A method of preparing a whitened tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) extracting a tobacco material with an aqueous solution to give a tobacco pulp and a tobacco extract; (ii) treating the tobacco pulp with at least one of a caustic reagent and an oxidizing agent for a time and at a temperature sufficient to lighten the color of the tobacco pulp to give a whitened tobacco pulp; (iii) clarifying the tobacco extract to remove higher molecular weight components; and (iv) combining the whitened tobacco pulp with a clarified tobacco extract to form a whitened tobacco material. The whitened tobacco material can be isolated and incorporated into a smokeless tobacco product. The invention also provides a smokeless tobacco product incorporating a whitened tobacco material. The smokeless tobacco product may be a snus-type formulation contained within a sealed pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Dwayne William Beeson, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., Huamin Gan
  • Patent number: 11129405
    Abstract: An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of making such a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd Kobal, Justin Heynekamp, Timothy B. Langston, Peter Reeh, Munmaya K. Mishra, Jason W. Flora
  • Patent number: 11127988
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cartridge, a battery assembly and an electronic cigarette. The cartridge, includes: a liquid absorbing assembly, and a liquid container for supplying tobacco liquid to the liquid absorbing element, the liquid absorbing element is arranged below the liquid container, the liquid absorbing assembly is arranged in such a manner that the tobacco liquid is kept in the liquid container or the liquid absorbing element before the cartridge is assembled at an in-use state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Joyetech Europe Holding GmbH
    Inventors: David Guo, Weihua Qiu, Neng Hua, Xiaoqi Xu
  • Patent number: 11109620
    Abstract: A wearable electronic simulated smoking device (500, 500?) is provided for delivery of a desired active ingredient responsive to a user's inhalation through the device (500, 500?). The device (500, 500?) includes an elongated tubular body (110) having at least one arcuate portion to at least partially encompass a portion of a user's body and is releasably retainable thereat. Tubular body (110) includes a cartridge receiving housing (510) having a cartridge receiving chamber (514) in to which any one of multiple vaporization cartridges (520, 520?, 520?) may be removably received. Device (500, 500?) includes vaporization cartridges (520, 520?, 520?), each including a vaporizer (145, 530, 560) for generating vapors from liquid and wax concentrates, and dry herbal compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventors: Scott M. Arnel, Eric Schmiesing
  • Patent number: 11076632
    Abstract: Joint and blunt tips include at least one cut portion made into a corrugated section of the tip. The cut portion provides a suitable width to receive at least one flavor capsule to be nested therein. When rolled, the corrugated section of the tip forms a pattern which prevents the flavored capsule from falling out of the tip when the flavor capsule is crushed. The tip may be provided in a cylindrical tip form or a conical tip form and works with rolling machines. The cut portion may be formed in a vertical or horizontal configuration along the corrugated section of the tip. One embodiment may feature tips which include a cotton or absorbent member inserted within the cut portion nestled with the flavor capsule. Other embodiments include tips with an absorbent layer along the corrugated section to absorb the contents of the flavor capsule when crushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Manuel Ormaza
  • Patent number: 11065404
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, and an aerosol passage are interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 11058153
    Abstract: A wearable electronic simulated smoking device is provided for delivery of a desired active ingredient responsive to a user's inhalation through the device. The device includes an elongated tubular member (110) having at least one reversibly bendable portion to at least partially encompass a portion of a user's body and is releasably retainable thereat. The device includes a vaporization chamber supplied with a vaporizable smoking composition and enabled by a controller to generate vapor from the vaporizable smoking composition and add the vapor to air drawn through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Scott M. Arnel, Eric Schmiesing
  • Patent number: 11047372
    Abstract: Evaporator unit for an inhaler comprising an evaporator having a heating element for vaporizing a liquid fed through said evaporator. Said evaporator unit comprises a circulation line in which said evaporator is arranged. A circulation device is arranged in said circulation line for circulating the liquid through said circulation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HAUNI MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Rene Schmidt, Marc Kessler
  • Patent number: 11039643
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device comprising a power cell and a vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer comprises a heater and a heater support, wherein one or more gaps are provided between the heater and the heater support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Lord
  • Patent number: 11019843
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol-generating article (10) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate (12) and a mouthpiece (14). The mouthpiece (14) comprises at least one segment of filter material (18, 20, 22), a breakable capsule (26) containing an aqueous liquid (32), and a plurality of microencapsulated flavourant particles (38) dispersed within the at least one segment of filter material (22). Each of the microencapsulated flavourant particles (38) comprises a flavourant encapsulated within a shell comprising a water sensitive material, such that the plurality of microencapsulated flavourant particles (38) are adapted to release a flavourant upon contact with the liquid (32) contained within the breakable capsule (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Jerome Uthurry
  • Patent number: 11019842
    Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses at least one breakable capsule in its filter element. The filter element can possess a central cavity extending from the cigarette tobacco rod towards the middle of the filter element. The central cavity may be defined by an inner filter portion. The inner filter portion can be surrounded by an outer filter portion comprised of filter tow material that is generally permeable to the smoke generated by the cigarette. At least one breakable capsule is disposed in the central cavity of the filter element. The breakable capsules are spherical in shape, and are composed of a gelatin outer shell that encloses a payload of triglycerides and flavoring agents. The breakable capsules are adapted to rupture in response to pressure applied by the smoker to the outside region of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Kenneth Wayne Smith, Vernon Brent Barnes
  • Patent number: 11013265
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 11013870
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, and an aerosol passage are interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 10993474
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an atomizing unit comprises: a step A of measuring a resistance value of a resistive heating element which atomizes an aerosol source by resistance heat; and a step B of recording the resistance value measured in the step A, an adjusted power supply output determined in accordance with the resistance value as a power supply output to the resistive heating element or identification information associated with the resistance value or the adjusted power supply output in an information source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Matsumoto, Akihiko Suzuki, Takuma Nakano, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10980275
    Abstract: There is provided a kit including a module and an electrically operated aerosol-generating system. The electrically operated aerosol-generating system includes an electric heater configured to heat an aerosol-generating substrate, a supply of electrical energy, a data coupling, and a system attachment connector. The module includes a data connector configured to connect to the data coupling of the electrically operated aerosol-generating system, and a module attachment connector configured to cooperate with the system attachment connector on the electrically operated aerosol-generating system to attach the module to the electrically operated aerosol-generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Stephane Antony Hedarchet
  • Patent number: 10980274
    Abstract: A wearable electronic simulated smoking device is provided for delivery of a desired active ingredient responsive to a user's inhalation through the device. The device includes an elongated tubular member having at least one fixedly arcuate shaped portion to at least partially encompass a portion of a user's body and is releasably retainable thereat. The device includes a vaporization chamber supplied with a vaporizable smoking composition and enabled by a controller to generate vapor from the vaporizable smoking composition and add the vapor to air drawn through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Scott M. Arnel, Eric Schmiesing
  • Patent number: 10966459
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form an aerosol, a power supply for supplying power to the heating element, electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the heating element, and an interface for establishing a communications link with a host. The communications link can be a USB link and the host can be a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Fredrik Stahle, Jean-Pierre Cordey, Laurent Manca