Patents by Inventor Dennis Lee Potter
Dennis Lee Potter 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).
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Publication number: 20190387807Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Patent number: 10492542Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Publication number: 20190230996Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a heating element to produce a vapor. A pressure controller may control dispensing of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir based on a pressure differential between a first pressure within the reservoir and a second pressure proximate the atomizer. The first pressure within the reservoir may be substantially equal to atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the first pressure within the reservoir may be greater than atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
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Patent number: 10362809Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Patent number: 10292424Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a heating element to produce a vapor. A pressure controller may control dispensing of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir based on a pressure differential between a first pressure within the reservoir and a second pressure proximate the atomizer. The first pressure within the reservoir may be substantially equal to atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the first pressure within the reservoir may be greater than atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
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Publication number: 20190098938Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: David William Griffith, JR., Yi-Ping Chang, Calvin W. Henderson, Ricky Lee Montgomery, Walter Charles Liebscher, II, Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Paul E. Braxton, Stephen Benson Sears, Kenneth Allen Beard, Timothy Brian Nestor, Balager Ademe, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Dennis Lee Potter
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Publication number: 20190075848Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Publication number: 20180263290Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
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Publication number: 20180220703Abstract: A package that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The package may include a container and a valve assembly. The container may include a body portion and a cover configured to engage the body portion. The body portion may define an internal space therein. The valve assembly may be configured to affect an atmosphere within the internal space of the container. For example, the valve assembly may remain closed except when releasing pressure from the internal space. Thereby, by way of further example, the valve assembly may vent the container so as to avoid damage thereto, while reducing moisture loss from the tobacco-containing material stored in the internal space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Dennis Lee Potter, Eric Taylor Hunt, Michael Andrew Liberti, Jeremy Barrett Mabe, Pankaj Patel, Bruce Alan Bengtsson
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Publication number: 20180192707Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Patent number: 9980512Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
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Patent number: 9968130Abstract: A package that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The package may include a container and a valve assembly. The container may include a body portion and a cover configured to engage the body portion. The body portion may define an internal space therein. The valve assembly may be configured to affect an atmosphere within the internal space of the container. For example, the valve assembly may remain closed except when releasing pressure from the internal space. Thereby, by way of further example, the valve assembly may vent the container so as to avoid damage thereto, while reducing moisture loss from the tobacco-containing material stored in the internal space.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Dennis Lee Potter, Eric Taylor Hunt, Michael Andrew Liberti, Jeremy Barrett Mabe, Pankaj Patel, Bruce Alan Bengtsson
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Patent number: 9930915Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Patent number: 9717276Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a heating element to produce a vapor. An actuator may displace a rod to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. Thereby, the rod may move a piston in a pump housing to dispense the aerosol precursor composition. The atomizer may define a chamber in which the heating element is positioned and at which the aerosol precursor composition is vaporized.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
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Patent number: 9451791Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation. For example, a light emitting diode may output light. A waveguide may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and provide illumination at an outer surface of the outer body. The waveguide may include an energy conversion material configured to alter a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation outputted by the illumination source to change a color of, or otherwise affect, the illumination. The illumination may also be dynamically adjusted. The waveguide may define the outer body, or the waveguide may be received with a separate outer body. Related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignees: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., Performance Indicator, LLCInventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Andries Don Sebastian, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Dennis Lee Potter, Satish Agrawal, M. Glenn Horner
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Publication number: 20160106149Abstract: A package that may be employed to store a tobacco-containing material is provided. The package may include a container and a valve assembly. The container may include a body portion and a cover configured to engage the body portion. The body portion may define an internal space therein. The valve assembly may be configured to affect an atmosphere within the internal space of the container. For example, the valve assembly may remain closed except when releasing pressure from the internal space. Thereby, by way of further example, the valve assembly may vent the container so as to avoid damage thereto, while reducing moisture loss from the tobacco-containing material stored in the internal space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: DENNIS LEE POTTER, ERIC TAYLOR HUNT, MICHAEL ANDREW LIBERTI, JEREMY BARRETT MABE, PANKAJ PATEL, BRUCE ALAN BENGTSSON
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Publication number: 20150272225Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Publication number: 20150216233Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation. For example, a light emitting diode may output light. A waveguide may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and provide illumination at an outer surface of the outer body. The waveguide may include an energy conversion material configured to alter a wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation outputted by the illumination source to change a color of, or otherwise affect, the illumination. The illumination may also be dynamically adjusted. The waveguide may define the outer body, or the waveguide may be received with a separate outer body. Related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicants: Performance Indicator, LLC, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Andries Don Sebastian, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Dennis Lee Potter, Satish Agrawal, M. Glenn Horner
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Patent number: 9078473Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Steven L. Worm, David G. Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
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Publication number: 20150117841Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a heating element to produce a vapor. A pressure controller may control dispensing of the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir based on a pressure differential between a first pressure within the reservoir and a second pressure proximate the atomizer. The first pressure within the reservoir may be substantially equal to atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, the first pressure within the reservoir may be greater than atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter