Patents by Inventor Billy T. Conner

Billy T. Conner 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: 11330838
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a holder of a smoking article comprising a receiving end and a mouth end opposite the receiving end. The holder defines a socket that is configured to receive a proximal section of a cartridge. The holder has a lighting configuration in which the holder is configured to secure a proximal section of the cartridge to the holder with a heat source of the cartridge opposite the proximal section disposed beyond the receiving end of the holder. The holder has a received configuration in which the holder is configured to secure the proximal section of the cartridge in the socket with the heat source disposed proximate the receiving end of the holder. The receiving end comprises a substantially solid outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Keri Meggan Cox, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Zachary Kevin Francis, Thaddeus Jackson, Billy T Conner, Taylor Leigh, Randall M. Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya
  • Publication number: 20210345667
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder includes a main body defining a proximal end and a distal end, the main body further providing an aerosol passageway that extends through at least a portion of the main body, and a heat sink portion. At least part of the receiving chamber is located in the heat sink portion, and the heat sink portion is configured to dissipate heat from a substrate cartridge. Some implementations further include a cartridge retention assembly and a sliding assembly. The sliding assembly is configured to slide relative to the main body to and from at least a loading position, wherein the cartridge retention assembly is configured to receive a substrate cartridge, and a use position, wherein the cartridge retention assembly is configured to retain a substrate cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Thaddeus Jackson, Jared Aller, Billy T. Conner, Bill Webb, Chris Harsacky, Daniel Warren Rennecker, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Steven Michael Schennum
  • Publication number: 20210337865
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. The holder may include a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion may define a longitudinal axis, a rotational axis, and an aerosol passage. The second body portion may include a cartridge receiving chamber and may be configured to slide along the longitudinal axis and rotate about the rotation axis relative to the first body portion to and from a use position, wherein at least a portion of the second body is received by the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is retained in the receiving chamber, and an open position, wherein the second body portion is rotated relative to and extended away from the first body portion such that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Taylor Leigh, Randall Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya, Nigel Flynn
  • Publication number: 20210337864
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion defining a main body and a guide post that defines a receiving chamber extending at least a portion therethrough. The second body portion is configured to rotate about and slide along at least a portion of the guide post to and from a use position, wherein the second body portion is proximate the main body of the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is retained in the receiving chamber, and an open position, wherein the second body portion is rotated relative to and extended away from the main body of the first body portion such that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Taylor Leigh, Randall Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya, Nigel J. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20210321655
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol source member and an aerosol delivery device that includes an aerosol source member. The aerosol source member includes a segmented substrate portion that includes a first substrate segment and a second substrate segment. The first substrate segment includes a first aerosol former, the second substrate segment includes a second aerosol former different from the first aerosol former, and the second substrate segment is positioned between the first substrate segment and a downstream end of the aerosol source member. The first substrate segment and the second substrate segment are configured such that when heated by a heat source, the first substrate segment is heated to a first temperature and the second substrate segment is heated to a second temperature that is less than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Serban Moldoveanu, Balager Ademe, Cynthia Stokes, Stephen B. Sears, S. Keith Cole, Gary M. Dull, Jannell Rowe, Billy T. Conner
  • Publication number: 20210205552
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device and a substrate tablet for use with an inductively-heated aerosol delivery device are provided. The aerosol delivery device comprises a control body having a housing, a mouthpiece portion located proximate the housing, a resonant transmitter located in the control body, a control component configured to drive the resonant transmitter, and a substrate tablet receivable in the device. The substrate tablet may comprise a granular substrate material and a susceptor component, the substrate material and the susceptor component may be configured to be formed together, and the susceptor component may be configured to be heated by the resonant transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Karen H. Cleckley, Thaddeus Jackson, Cortney Rasheen Jackson
  • Publication number: 20210015176
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder may include a main body having a mouthend and a rotating end portion. The main body may define a receiving compartment configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge proximate a distal end of the main body. The main body may further define an aerosol passage extending from the receiving portion through the mouthend. The rotating end portion may be configured to rotate to and from an open position, in which the rotating end portion is turned outward so as to provide access to the receiving compartment, and a use position, in which the rotating end portion is turned inward so as to cover the heat source of an inserted cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Billy T Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Taylor Leigh, Randall M. Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya
  • Publication number: 20210015172
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder may include first and second body portions that may be rotatably attached at a hinge feature and that may define respective first and second ends. One or more of the first or second body portions may define a receiving compartment proximate a distal end thereof that is configured to receive the removable cartridge, and one or more of the first or second body portions may define an aerosol passage extending from the receiving compartment through the first end thereof. One or more of the first or second body portions may be configured to rotate relative to the other portion to and from an open position, in which the receiving compartment is accessible, and a closed position, in which the receiving compartment is substantially enclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Edmond Strother Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20210015177
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may comprise a holder, a heat portion including a heat source configured to generate heat, and a substrate portion comprising a substrate material including an aerosol precursor composition. The holder may be configured to receive the heat portion and the substrate portion, the heat portion and the substrate portion may be disposed proximate each other, and the heat portion and the substrate portion may be separate components and may be configured to be independently removable and replaceable within the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Keri Meggan Cox, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Zachary Kevin Francis, Thaddeus Jackson, Billy T Conner
  • Publication number: 20210015175
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder may include a main body and a sleeve. The main body may define a receiving portion configured to receive at least a portion of a cartridge, and an aerosol passage extending from the receiving portion, through the main body, and through a first end thereof. The sleeve may comprise a substantially solid sleeve wall disposed around at least a portion of the main body and may be configured to slide relative to the main body to and from an open position, wherein the distal end of the sleeve is positioned proximate the receiving portion of the main body, and a use position, wherein the distal end is positioned away from the receiving portion of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thaddeus Jackson, Billy T. Conner, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Karen Cleckley, Keri Meggan Cox, Steven Lee Worm
  • Publication number: 20210015174
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a holder of a smoking article comprising a receiving end and a mouth end opposite the receiving end. The holder defines a socket that is configured to receive a proximal section of a cartridge. The holder has a lighting configuration in which the holder is configured to secure a proximal section of the cartridge to the holder with a heat source of the cartridge opposite the proximal section disposed beyond the receiving end of the holder. The holder has a received configuration in which the holder is configured to secure the proximal section of the cartridge in the socket with the heat source disposed proximate the receiving end of the holder. The receiving end comprises a substantially solid outer wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Keri Meggan Cox, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Zachary Kevin Francis, Thaddeus Jackson, Billy T. Conner, Taylor Leigh, Randall M. Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya
  • Publication number: 20210015171
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides thermal energy absorbers for use in smoking articles. In an example embodiment, the smoking article may comprise an outer wrap circumscribing at least a portion of the smoking article, wherein the smoking article is defined by an upstream lighting end and a downstream mouth end, a carbon heat source positioned proximate the lighting end, a tobacco material positioned downstream of the carbon heat source and spatially separated from the mouth end of the smoking article, and a thermal energy absorber at least partially positioned between the tobacco material and the carbon heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Yi-Ping Chang, Luis Monsalud, Darrell Williams, Billy T. Conner, Karen Cleckley
  • Publication number: 20210000176
    Abstract: Smoking articles are disclosed herein. The present disclosure is directed to a smoking article that comprises a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, a substrate material having opposed first and second ends, the heat source being disposed proximate the first end of the substrate material and the substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith, a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being disposed proximate the second end of the substrate material, and a heat transfer component. In one implementation, the heat transfer component comprises a hollow structure and opposing first and second flanges located on respective ends thereof, wherein the hollow structure extends through the heat source such that the heat source is located between the first and second opposing flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Billy T. Conner, Paul E. Braxton, Andries D. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 10798969
    Abstract: Smoking articles are disclosed herein. The present disclosure is directed to a smoking article that comprises a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, a substrate material having opposed first and second ends, the heat source being disposed proximate the first end of the substrate material and the substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith, a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being disposed proximate the second end of the substrate material, and a heat transfer component. In one implementation, the heat transfer component comprises a hollow structure and opposing first and second flanges located on respective ends thereof, wherein the hollow structure extends through the heat source such that the heat source is located between the first and second opposing flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Billy T. Conner, Paul E. Braxton, Andries D. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20200154784
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol source member, a substrate portion, and a method of creating a substrate portion for use in an aerosol source member. In an example implementation, a substrate portion of the present disclosure may comprise a series of overlapping layers of a composite substrate sheet, wherein the composite substrate sheet may comprise a non-woven web at least partially formed from regenerated cellulose fibers, a plurality of conductive threads integrated into the non-woven web, and a coating that includes a fibrous material and an aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Stephen B. Sears, Billy T. Conner, Justin William Gage, Luis Monsalud
  • Publication number: 20200154785
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol source member, and an overwrap material configured to substantially surround a substrate portion of an aerosol source member. In an example implementation, the aerosol source member may comprise a substrate portion that includes a substrate material configured to generate a primary inhalable substance upon the application of heat thereupon, the substrate portion defining an outer surface, and an overwrap material configured to substantially surround the outer surface of the substrate portion, wherein the overwrap material comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein at least one of the layers of the overwrap material contains an aerosol generating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Billy T. Conner, Vahid Hejazi, John-Paul Mua, Luis Monsalud, Stephen B. Sears, S. Keith Cole
  • Publication number: 20200015519
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a smoking article that comprises a holder that includes a receiving end and a mouth end, a removable cartridge configured to be received at the receiving end of the holder, the removable cartridge comprising a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, and a substrate portion having opposed first and second ends, the heat source being disposed proximate the first end of the substrate portion, and the substrate portion including a substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith, and an ejection mechanism configured to move the cartridge relative to the holder between a received position and an ejected position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Paul E. Braxton, Stephen B. Sears, Karen H. Cleckley, Justin William Gage, Jason M. Short
  • Publication number: 20190281891
    Abstract: Smoking articles are disclosed herein. The present disclosure is directed to a smoking article that comprises a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, a substrate material having opposed first and second ends, the heat source being disposed proximate the first end of the substrate material and the substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith, a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being disposed proximate the second end of the substrate material, and a heat transfer component. In one implementation, the heat transfer component comprises a hollow structure and opposing first and second flanges located on respective ends thereof, wherein the hollow structure extends through the heat source such that the heat source is located between the first and second opposing flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Billy T. Conner, Paul E. Braxton, Andries D. Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20190150502
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a lighting end and a mouth end. The smoking article possesses an aerosol-generation system that includes (i) a heat generation segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generating region or segment. A mouth end piece segment can be located at the mouth end of the smoking article. A segment of tobacco cut filler, gathered tobacco paper, or other type of flavor source material, can be positioned between the mouth end piece segment and the aerosol-generation segment. Optionally, segment composed of tobacco cut filler can be positioned so as to provide a lighting end segment. The smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon L Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Dempsey B. Brewer, JR., Louis John Read, JR.
  • Patent number: 10188140
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a lighting end and a mouth end. The smoking article possesses an aerosol-generation system that includes (i) a heat generation segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generating region or segment. A mouth end piece segment can be located at the mouth end of the smoking article. A segment of tobacco cut filler, gathered tobacco paper, or other type of flavor source material, can be positioned between the mouth end piece segment and the aerosol-generation segment. Optionally, segment composed of tobacco cut filler can be positioned so as to provide a lighting end segment. The smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Dempsey B. Brewer, Jr., Louis John Read, Jr.