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: 10779568
    Abstract: An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton
  • Patent number: 10780236
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, and at least one air inlet operable to establish a predetermined resistance to draw under a prescribed test of said smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20200290758
    Abstract: The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. SMITH, Steven R. RINEHART, Danielle R. CRAWFORD
  • Publication number: 20200281275
    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: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: 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 J. COBLER, Kai CAO
  • Publication number: 20200275706
    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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Patrick J. COBLER, Barry S. SMITH, Peter LIPOWICZ, Kai CAO
  • Publication number: 20200277097
    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: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Martin GARTHAFFNER, Barry S. SMITH
  • Patent number: 10736356
    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: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    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 J. Cobler, Kai Cao
  • Patent number: 10716903
    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: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
  • Patent number: 10683110
    Abstract: A method of filling packaging with pouches of product comprises conveying a plurality of spaced apart chutes along a first feed path. Each chute is loaded with pouches of product at a chute loading station. Erect boxes are conveyed along a second feed path to a chute unloading station wherein the second feed path is substantially parallel to the first feed path at the chute unloading station. The pouches of product are transferred from the chutes into interior spaces of the erect boxes at the chute unloading station as the chutes move along the first feed path and the erect boxes move along the second feed path. The chutes are returned to the chute loading station to be filled with pouches of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10676228
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200171250
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI
  • Patent number: 10660363
    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: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Patrick J. Cobler, Barry S. Smith, Peter Lipowicz, Kai Cao
  • Publication number: 20200154777
    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: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON, Eric HAWES, Sean SUNDBERG, Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC
  • Publication number: 20200113237
    Abstract: An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON
  • Publication number: 20200029627
    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: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San LI, Barry S. SMITH, Christopher S. TUCKER
  • Patent number: 10537135
    Abstract: An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton
  • Publication number: 20190350267
    Abstract: The method of making the e-vaping cartridge includes cutting at least one first hole through a first channel, sliding a housing over the first channel, the at least one first hole providing fluid communication between a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the first reservoir being defined between the housing and the first channel, where the second reservoir is defined between the first channel and a central passage traversing through the first channel. The method further includes inserting at least one first layer of absorbent material within the second reservoir, and positioning a heater and a wick in communication with the central passage. Distal ends of the wick contact the at least one first layer of absorbent material, where the heater is configured to vaporize a pre-vapor formulation that is communicated by the wick from the at least one first layer of absorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Edmond CADIEUX, Barry S. SMITH, William J. CROWE, Nam TRAN
  • Publication number: 20190313701
    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: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Barry S. Smith, Peter Lipowicz, Patrick J. Cobler
  • Publication number: 20190307172
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Ed CADIEUX, Barry S. SMITH
  • Patent number: D897594
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami