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).

  • Publication number: 20170055576
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided and has opposed lighting and mouth ends. A mouth end portion is disposed at the mouth end and a heat generation portion is disposed about the lighting end. An outer wrapping material is wrapped at least about the heat generation portion and extends toward the mouth end portion, to define a cylindrical rod. An aerosol-generating portion is disposed within the outer wrapping material and between the heat generation and mouth end portions. The aerosol-generating portion is configured to generate an aerosol in response to heat received from the heat generation portion. The aerosol-generating and heat generation portions are further configured to cooperate to distribute heat received by the aerosol-generating portion from the heat generation portion, so as to prevent scorching of the outer wrapping material. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Dwayne William Beeson, Billy T. Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Paul G. Hoertz, Luis Monsalud, John-Paul Mua, Timothy F. Tilley, Stephen Cole, Darrell D. Williams, Samantha S. White, Karen Womble Wallace, Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, Yan PU, Michael F. Davis, Matthew E. Lampe, Karter R. Yutzy, Nicholas Harrison Watson
  • Publication number: 20150201670
    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 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Dempsey B. Brewer, JR., Louis John Read, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140305455
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a lighting end longitudinally opposite a filter end that includes a filter. A fluid-releasing element is disposed longitudinally between the lighting end and filter end. A paper material circumscribes a portion of the smoking article, and a nanocellulose barrier disposed upon at least one surface or interface within the smoking article is provided, effective to control passage of fluid through the paper material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon L. Crooks, Leigh Ann Joyce, Paul Stuart Chapman, Billy T. Conner
  • Patent number: 8678013
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Dempsey B. Brewer, Jr., Louis John Read, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100186757
    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 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Dempsey B. Brewer, JR., Louis John Read, JR.
  • Patent number: 7647932
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a lighting end and a mouth end. The lighting end is a longitudinally extending segment comprising smokable material that is intended to be lit and burned, and the resulting smoke generated by the burning of that smokable material is intended to be drawn into the mouth of the smoker through the mouth end of smoking article. A mouth end piece is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generation system that is located between the lighting end segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation system includes (i) a heat generation segment located adjacent to the lighting end segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generation region located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation region incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, William J. Casey, III, Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Joanne N. Taylor, Jeffrey A. Willis, Dempsey B. Brewer, Jr., Wayne E. Davis, Jr., James R. Stone
  • Patent number: 5551451
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition suitable for making fuel elements for smoking articles, which comprises at least about 50 weight percent, preferably at least about 60 weight percent, and most preferably at least about 70 weight percent powdered elemental carbon, preferably carbon obtained from the controlled carbonization of hardwood paper pulp. The fuel composition also comprises at least about 1 weight percent, preferably at least about 5 weight percent, and most preferably at least about 10 weight percent of a suitable binder. The fuel composition of the present invention can include at least about 3 weight percent, preferably at least about 5 weight percent, and most preferably at least about 8 weight percent powdered graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Dennis M. Riggs, Dwayne W. Beeson, Billy T. Conner
  • Patent number: 5203355
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved cigarettes and other smoking articles in which the substrate is a cellulosic material, preferably paper or a paper-like material, e.g., tobacco paper. The substrate of the present invention is used to retain flavorants and the aerosol forming materials, which upon exposure to heated air passing through the aerosol generating means during smoking, are vaporized and delivered to the user as a smoke-like aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Billy T. Conner, Ronnie G. Huff
  • Patent number: 5183062
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element. The substrate is a gathered paper-type material, and is positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the fuel element. The fuel element is composed of a carbonaceous material and is extruded in such a manner that when positioned within the cigarette, its extrusion axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The fuel element includes a burning segment at one end, a base segment at the opposite end, and an isolation segment between the burning and base segments. The fuel element is circumscribed by glass fibers so as to hold the fuel element in place within the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Billy T. Conner