Patents by Inventor Alfred Charles Bless

Alfred Charles Bless has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240041115
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 11819060
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20230284705
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 11684087
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Publication number: 20220192256
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is disclosed. The aerosol delivery device includes an atomizer and a body. The body has an outlet and houses the atomizer. The aerosol delivery device also includes a structure configured to inhibit liquid droplets of an aerosol precursor from exiting the outlet. Embodiments of the structure include micro-patterned surfaces, absorbers, and macro structures to create droplet capturing chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Brinkley, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Alfred Charles Bless
  • Patent number: 11297876
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is disclosed. The aerosol delivery device includes an atomizer and a body. The body has an outlet and houses the atomizer. The aerosol delivery device also includes a structure configured to inhibit liquid droplets of an aerosol precursor from exiting the outlet. Embodiments of the structure include micro-patterned surfaces, absorbers, and macro structures to create droplet capturing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Brinkley, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Alfred Charles Bless
  • Publication number: 20210337871
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 11071325
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20210045455
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device configured to wirelessly heat an atomizer. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body and a cartridge. The control body may include an induction transmitter. The cartridge may include an induction receiver and an aerosol precursor composition. When electrical current is directed to the induction transmitter, the induction receiver may be inductively heated. The heat produced by the induction receiver may form an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition at the substrate. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: MICHAEL F. DAVIS, STEPHEN BENSON SEARS, CAROLYN RIERSON CARPENTER, MELISSA ANN CLARK, SHIERINA A. FAREED, DENISE FOX, TAO JIN, PERCY D. PHILLIPS, ALFRED CHARLES BLESS, KAREN V. TALUSKIE, BRIAN KEITH NORDSKOG, DAVID T. SZABO, JOSEF STRASSER, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210022402
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 10842188
    Abstract: A cartridge for selective delivery of aerosol precursor compositions includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining three chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions. A selector defines one or more dispensing selectively aligned with one or more of the three chambers, such that the aerosol precursor composition disposed within each of the three chambers is capable of being dispensed therefrom through the selectively aligned dispensing ports to the aerosol forming arrangement. The cartridge further includes a flow tube extending longitudinally through a central axis of the reservoir and the selector so that each of the three chambers is arranged circumferentially around the flow tube, the flow tube being disposed so that the formed aerosol is transported through the flow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Stephen Benson Sears, Joseph Dominique, Jared Aller, Jason M. Short
  • Patent number: 10834973
    Abstract: Smoking articles and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 10820630
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device configured to wirelessly heat an atomizer. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body and a cartridge. The control body may include an induction transmitter. The cartridge may include an induction receiver and an aerosol precursor composition. When electrical current is directed to the induction transmitter, the induction receiver may be inductively heated. The heat produced by the induction receiver may form an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition at the substrate. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Stephen Benson Sears, Carolyn Rierson Carpenter, Melissa Ann Clark, Shierina A. Fareed, Denise Fox, Tao Jin, Percy D. Phillips, Alfred Charles Bless, Karen V. Taluskie, Brian Keith Nordskog, David T. Szabo, Josef Strasser, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200229494
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20200170304
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 10645976
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20200113232
    Abstract: A cartridge for selective delivery of aerosol precursor compositions includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining three chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions. A selector defines one or more dispensing selectively aligned with one or more of the three chambers, such that the aerosol precursor composition disposed within each of the three chambers is capable of being dispensed therefrom through the selectively aligned dispensing ports to the aerosol forming arrangement. The cartridge further includes a flow tube extending longitudinally through a central axis of the reservoir and the selector so that each of the three chambers is arranged circumferentially around the flow tube, the flow tube being disposed so that the formed aerosol is transported through the flow tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Stephen Benson Sears, Joseph Dominique, Jared Aller, Jason M. Short
  • Patent number: 10575562
    Abstract: Smoking articles and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 10575558
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may include a first outer body, a second outer body, and a coupler defining a coupler inlet positioned between, and welded to, the first outer body and the second outer body. A sealing member may be engaged with the coupler, the sealing member including one or more penetrable portions, wherein the one or more penetrable portions of the sealing member are configured to be pierced with one or more electrical connectors such that the one or more electrical connectors extend through the sealing member from the coupler and seal against the sealing member. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Timothy Brian Nestor, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Michael Ryan Galloway
  • Patent number: 10512287
    Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Stephen Benson Sears, Joseph Dominique, Jared Aller