Patents by Inventor Stephen Benson Sears

Stephen Benson Sears 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: 11318125
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions that are useful in the delivery of various materials. In particular, the compositions comprise a suspension wherein an internal phase material is surrounded by an external phase material. The internal phase specifically can be a hydrophilic material, and the external phase specifically can be a hydrophobic material. The materials are combined so that the internal phase is substantially encapsulated by the external phase such that release can be controlled in relation to osmotic pressure differentials. The suspension can be combined with a carrier, and various systems and products can be formed with the suspension and optional carrier, such as oral strips, spray delivery systems, smokeless tobacco products, aerosol delivery devices, cigarettes, and packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MODORAL BRANDS INC.
    Inventors: James William Rogers, Michael F. Davis, Percy D. Phillips, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Ercilia Hernandez Garcia
  • Patent number: 11265970
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that comprises a control body and an aerosol source member. The aerosol delivery device includes a resonant transformer comprising a resonant transmitter and a resonant receiver. The aerosol source member includes an inhalable substance medium at least a portion of which is positioned proximate the resonant transmitter. The resonant transmitter is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field, such that the alternating voltage causes the resonant receiver to generate heat and thereby vaporize components of the inhalable substance medium to produce an aerosol. In some implementations, the resonant receiver comprises part of the control body. In other implementations, the resonant receiver comprises part of the aerosol source member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Kathryn Lynn Wilberding, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Curtis Foster Doe, Billy Tyrone Conner, Balager Ademe, Thaddeus Jude Jackson
  • Publication number: 20220061131
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery system is provided, comprising a control body portion including a first elongate tubular member having a power source disposed therein. A cartridge body portion includes a second tubular member having opposed first and second ends. One of the first and second ends is removably engaged with one end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further comprises a first aerosol generation arrangement disposed within the second tubular member and configured to operably engage the power source upon engagement between the control body portion and the cartridge body portion. A second aerosol generation arrangement is disposed between the first aerosol generation arrangement and a mouth-engaging end of the aerosol delivery system, the second aerosol generation arrangement being either removably engaged with the cartridge body portion or housed within the second tubular member of the cartridge body portion. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Taluskie, Michael F. Davis, Balager Ademe, Sawyer Hubbard
  • Patent number: 11246344
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20220023555
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic vaporizer, an aerosol delivery device that may include such vaporizer, and methods for forming an aerosol. A microfluidic vaporizer can comprise a substrate that defines: a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a heater adapted to vaporize the liquid; and a capillary channel configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. An aerosol delivery device can comprise a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer. The microfluidic vaporizer and aerosol delivery device can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Michael F. Davis, Karen V. Taluskie, Yi-ping Chang, Eric Taylor Hunt, Andries Don Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20210401059
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article provides for separate delivery of two or more components of an aerosol precursor composition to one or more heaters so as to control the rate of delivery or the rate of heating of the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Bradley James Ingebrethsen, Balager Ademe, Steven Lee Alderman, William Robert Collett, Grady Lance Dooly, Charles Jacob Novak, III
  • Publication number: 20210385909
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition through radiant heating. The radiant heat source may be a laser diode or further element suitable for providing electromagnetic radiation, and heating may be carried out within a radiation-trapping chamber. In some embodiments, an interior of such chamber may be configured as a black body or as a white body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Yi-ping Chang, Michael F. Davis, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Taluskie, Susan K. Pike
  • Publication number: 20210337871
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 11160939
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic vaporizer, an aerosol delivery device that may include such vaporizer, and methods for forming an aerosol. A microfluidic vaporizer can comprise a substrate that defines: a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a heater adapted to vaporize the liquid; and a capillary channel configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. An aerosol delivery device can comprise a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer. The microfluidic vaporizer and aerosol delivery device can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Michael F. Davis, Karen V. Taluskie, Yi-Ping Chang, Eric Taylor Hunt, Andries Don Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11140921
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article provides for separate delivery of two or more components of an aerosol precursor composition to one or more heaters so as to control the rate of delivery or the rate of heating of the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Bradley James Ingebrethsen, Balager Ademe, Steven Lee Alderman, William Robert Collett, Grady Lance Dooly, Charles Jacob Novak, III
  • Patent number: 11134544
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition through radiant heating. The radiant heat source may be a laser diode or further element suitable for providing electromagnetic radiation, and heating may be carried out within a radiation-trapping chamber. In some embodiments, an interior of such chamber may be configured as a black body or as a white body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ping Chang, Michael F. Davis, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Taluskie, Susan K. Pike
  • Publication number: 20210282232
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
  • Publication number: 20210244098
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include multiple atomizers and an atomizer selector that provides for selection of one or more of the atomizers to which electrical current is directed. The atomizer selector may also alter a position of the atomizers relative to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device. Another aerosol delivery device may include an atomizer and an additive selector that provides for selection of one or more additives added to vapor produced by the atomizer. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Watson, Michael F. Davis, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20210244070
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol generating substrates and aerosol source members comprising aerosol generating substrates, as well as methods of manufacturing thereof. In an example implementation, an aerosol generating substrate may comprise a fibrous filler material, an aerosol forming material, and a plurality of heat conducting constituents, wherein the substrate is formed as a sheet, and wherein the heat conducting constituents are part of the sheet. The heat conducting constituents may be incorporated within the sheet, or may be formed on a surface of the sheet. In another example implementation, an aerosol source member may comprise a substrate portion formed of a collection of intermingled pieces cut from an aerosol substrate sheet. In addition, or alternatively, a substrate portion may be formed of a series of overlapping layers of an aerosol substrate sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Stephen Benson Sears, Billy Tyrone Conner, Rajesh Sur, S. Keith Cole, Thaddeus Jackson, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Paul E. Braxton, Curtis Foster Doe, Vahid Hejazi, Kathryn Lynn Wilberding
  • Publication number: 20210244071
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol generating substrates and aerosol source members comprising aerosol generating substrates, as well as methods of manufacturing thereof. In an example implementation, an aerosol generating substrate may comprise a fibrous filler material, an aerosol forming material, and a plurality of heat conducting constituents, wherein the substrate is formed as a sheet, and wherein the heat conducting constituents are part of the sheet. The heat conducting constituents may be incorporated within the sheet, or may be formed on a surface of the sheet. In another example implementation, an aerosol source member may comprise a substrate portion formed of a collection of intermingled pieces cut from an aerosol substrate sheet. In addition, or alternatively, a substrate portion may be formed of a series of overlapping layers of an aerosol substrate sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Stephen Benson Sears, Billy Tyrone Conner, Rajesh Sur, S. Keith Cole, Thaddeus Jackson, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Paul E. Braxton, Curtis Foster Doe, Vahid Hejazi, Kathryn Lynn Wilberding
  • Publication number: 20210227884
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: 11071325
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20210227638
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Steven Lee Alderman, Grady Lance Dooly, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Timothy Brian Nestor, Quentin Paul Guenther, JR., Stephen Benson Sears, John William Wolber, Michael Laine
  • Patent number: 11044950
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
  • Publication number: 20210184540
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include an atomizer, a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition and an electrical circuit coupled to the atomizer. The electrical circuit may include an electrical generator assembly including a moveable input member and an electrical generator configured to produce an electrical current from movement of the moveable input member. The electrical circuit may be configured to direct the electrical current to the atomizer to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. A related aerosol production method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred C. Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears