Patents by Inventor Barry S. Smith

Barry S. Smith 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).

  • Patent number: 11627762
    Abstract: The method includes establishing a first fluid gradient through a central passage, the central passage traversing through a first channel, the first channel defining at least one first hole, a housing covering the first channel, a first reservoir being defined between the housing and the first channel, a second reservoir defined between the first channel and the central passage. The method further includes establishing a second fluid gradient through the at least one first hole, through at least a first portion of the second reservoir, and through at least a second portion of a wick, a heater being in communication with the wick and the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Edmond Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, William J. Crowe, Nam Tran
  • Publication number: 20230098585
    Abstract: A liquid reservoir component of an electronic vaping device includes an outer casing extending in a longitudinal direction, an air inlet, and a vapor outlet. An inner tube is within the outer casing defining a central air passage communicates with the inlet and the outlet. A liquid reservoir is in an annular space between the outer casing and the inner tube. A susceptor is adjacent the central air passage, and a wick is in communication with the liquid reservoir and in thermal communication with the susceptor such that the susceptor is operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature to vaporize the liquid material and form a vapor in the central air passage. The liquid reservoir component is configured to connect with a power supply component such that an induction source is operable to generate an inductive field to heat the susceptor when powered by the power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Barry S. SMITH, Peter LIPOWICZ, Patrick J. COBLER
  • Patent number: 11612184
    Abstract: A cartomizer of an electronic vaping device includes a heater circuit which is located adjacent an air passage thereof. The heater circuit includes an electrically resistive heater in electrical communication with a secondary coil. A wick extends across the air passage. The wick is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir toward the heater. The heater is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor. The cartomizer is connectable to a power supply component which includes a power source in electrical communication with a primary coil. The power supply component is configured to induce sufficient voltage in the secondary coil of the heater circuit such that the secondary coil is configured to heat the heater and vaporize the pre-vapor formulation when the primary coil is powered by the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Patrick J. Cobler, Barry S. Smith, Peter Lipowicz, Kai Cao
  • Patent number: 11576440
    Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Travis Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Barry S. Smith, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Publication number: 20230041459
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Michael J. MULLINS
  • Publication number: 20230039898
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the electronic vaping device includes a cartridge and a battery section. The cartridge and the battery section are connectable so as to define an air inlet between a portion of the cartridge and a portion of the battery section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Michael J. MULLINS
  • Patent number: 11547145
    Abstract: A liquid reservoir component of an electronic vaping device includes an outer casing extending in a longitudinal direction, an air inlet, and a vapor outlet. An inner tube is within the outer casing defining a central air passage communicates with the inlet and the outlet. A liquid reservoir is in an annular space between the outer casing and the inner tube. A susceptor is adjacent the central air passage, and a wick is in communication with the liquid reservoir and in thermal communication with the susceptor such that the susceptor is operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature to vaporize the liquid material and form a vapor in the central air passage. The liquid reservoir component is configured to connect with a power supply component such that an induction source is operable to generate an inductive field to heat the susceptor when powered by the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Barry S. Smith, Peter Lipowicz, Patrick J. Cobler
  • Publication number: 20220386703
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a section of an electronic-vaping device including a pressure sensor configured to measure a current ambient pressure, the pressure sensor further configured to output the current ambient pressure measurement in accordance with a read request frequency, and a controller configured to determine a mode of operation of the electronic-vaping device, control the read request frequency based on the determined mode of operation, and detect a threshold pressure change based on the current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Phillip DIANA, Sean SUNDBERG, David BENNETT, Christopher TUCKER, Barry S. SMITH, Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Paul BUTLER, Jarrett KEEN, Patrick COBLER, Kai CAO
  • Patent number: 11511058
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20220354181
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a conductive element extending through an interior of a dispensing interface to which a heating element is coupled. The conductive element may have a greater temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity than the heating element. The dispensing interface may include a fibrous wicking material, and the conductive element may be woven through an interior of the fibrous wicking material. A temperature of the dispensing interface may be determined based on monitoring an electrical resistance of the conductive element. An amount of pre-vapor formulation may be determined based on an electrical resistance of the bridge electrical circuit to an electrical signal between the heating element and the conductive element through the dispensing interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. SMITH, Ed CADIEUX, Patrick J. COBLER
  • Patent number: 11478593
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the electronic vaping device includes a cartridge and a battery section. The cartridge and the battery section are connectable so as to define an air inlet between a portion of the cartridge and a portion of the battery section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20220320880
    Abstract: A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON, Eric HAWES, Sean SUNDBERG, Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC
  • Publication number: 20220297868
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is the deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Barry S. SMITH
  • Patent number: 11432591
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a section of an electronic-vaping device including a pressure sensor configured to measure a current ambient pressure, the pressure sensor further configured to output the current ambient pressure measurement in accordance with a read request frequency, and a controller configured to determine a mode of operation of the electronic-vaping device, control the read request frequency based on the determined mode of operation, and detect a threshold pressure change based on the current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Phillip Diana, Sean Sundberg, David Bennett, Christopher S. Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Paul Butler, Jarrett Keen, Patrick Cobler, Kai Cao
  • Patent number: 11425937
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a conductive element extending through an interior of a dispensing interface to which a heating element is coupled. The conductive element may have a greater temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity than the heating element. The dispensing interface may include a fibrous wicking material, and the conductive element may be woven through an interior of the fibrous wicking material. A temperature of the dispensing interface may be determined based on monitoring an electrical resistance of the conductive element. An amount of pre-vapor formulation may be determined based on an electrical resistance of the bridge electrical circuit to an electrical signal between the heating element and the conductive element through the dispensing interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Ed Cadieux, Patrick J. Cobler
  • Patent number: 11383873
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is then deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Patent number: 11374416
    Abstract: A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton, Eric Hawes, Sean Sundberg, Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic
  • Publication number: 20220174789
    Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Barry S. SMITH, Charles DENDY
  • Publication number: 20220125127
    Abstract: A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, JR., Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Barry S. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20220117295
    Abstract: A cartridge includes an air flow passageway defining a first airflow direction, a heating element having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first airflow direction, and a jacket at least partially surrounding the heating element along the longitudinal axis of the heating element and defining a second airflow direction perpendicular to the first airflow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San LI, Barry S. SMITH, Christopher S. TUCKER