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).

  • Publication number: 20200268049
    Abstract: A vapor-enhancing apparatus is provided for an electronic vapor smoking article. Such an apparatus includes a filter material and a tubular housing defining a lumen. The lumen has a mouth-engaging end and a longitudinally-opposed component-engaging end, and is configured to receive the filter material therein. The component-engaging end is adapted to operably engage a control body portion associated with the electronic vapor smoking article and to receive a vapor therethrough. A vapor-enhancing element is operably engaged with the filter material and is configured to enhance the vapor drawn through the filter material within the lumen, and through the mouth-engaging end, by application of suction to the mouth-engaging end of the housing. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Dennis Lee Potter, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20200260784
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    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
  • Patent number: 10721968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electronic smoking articles exhibiting improved moisture control of a reservoir contained therein. The reservoir can be formed of fibrous materials, such as cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The disclosure further provides methods for forming electronic smoking articles and methods of packaging electronic smoking articles (including cartridges thereof) so as to improve moisture control of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Grady Lance Dooly, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Williams, Gary M. Dull, Steven L. Worm, Wesley Steven Jones, Steven Lee Alderman, Paul A. Brinkley, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10722507
    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: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Modoral Brands Inc.
    Inventors: James William Rogers, Michael F. Davis, Percy D. Phillips, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Ercilia Hernandez Garcia
  • Publication number: 20200229494
    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: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10701979
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides components useful in heating, particularly heating of an aerosol precursor solution so as to vaporize the solution and form an aerosol. The disclosure particularly provides an electrically conductive, porous carbon heater. The heater may be combined with an aerosol precursor transport element that also is formed of carbon. The heater and transport element may form an atomizer that can be useful in an electronic smoking article, such as in a cartridge that is adapted for attachment to a control body. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a cartridge of an electronic smoking article, the cartridge being formed substantially completely of carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Balager Ademe, Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Susan K. Pike, David William Griffith, Jr., Stephen Benson Sears, Evon L. Crooks, Karen V. Williams, Timothy Brian Nestor, David Bovender
  • Publication number: 20200178599
    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: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: 10674765
    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 atomizers and elements thereof, such as a combined wick and heater configured to improve vaporization response time, particularly on porous, monolithic wicks. The wick can have a tapered end that engages the interior of a substantially basket-shaped wire heater coil. The heater also may be in the form of a conductive mesh that is present on a portion of the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Noah Mark Minskoff, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20200170304
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 10667554
    Abstract: Smoking articles are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a smoking article includes a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, a first substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and a first end being fixedly engaged with the heat source, and an aerosol delivery component having opposed first and second ends, the first end of the aerosol delivery component being engaged with the second end of the first substrate material. In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component includes a second substrate material having the aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and being disposed about the first end of the aerosol delivery component and a tobacco material disposed between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece, the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first and second substrate materials being configured to produce an aerosol in response to the heat generated by the ignited heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Percy D. Phillips, Michael F. Davis, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10653184
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic smoking article including components adapted for retaining an aerosol precursor composition. The electronic smoking article can comprise a shell having a reservoir housing therein. The reservoir housing can be adapted for enclosing an aerosol precursor composition and can comprise one or more apertures through which a liquid transport element may extend out of and into an interior space within the reservoir housing. The electronic smoking article further can comprise a heating element in heating communication with the liquid transport element. The disclosure also provides a method for forming a reservoir for an electronic smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-ping Chang, Stephen Benson Sears, William Robert Collett, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20200146347
    Abstract: Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Timothy Brian Nestor, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Steven Lee Alderman, Michael Ryan Galloway, Quentin Paul Guenther, JR., Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Raymond C. Henry, JR., Allen Michael East
  • Publication number: 20200146349
    Abstract: Smoking articles are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a smoking article includes a heat source configured to generate heat upon ignition thereof, a first substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and a first end being fixedly engaged with the heat source, and an aerosol delivery component having opposed first and second ends, the first end of the aerosol delivery component being engaged with the second end of the first substrate material. In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component includes a second substrate material having the aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and being disposed about the first end of the aerosol delivery component and a tobacco material disposed between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece, the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first and second substrate materials being configured to produce an aerosol in response to the heat generated by the ignited heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Percy D. Phillips, Michael F. Davis, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20200146340
    Abstract: The invention provides an article, such as an aerosol-generating smoking article that does not combust tobacco, that includes a tobacco rod and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end proximal to the tobacco rod and an end distal from the tobacco rod, wherein the filter element includes a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material, and further includes a smoke-altering flavorant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Lee Alderman, Leigh Ann Blevins Joyce, Stephen Benson Sears, Kenneth Allen Beard, Timothy Brian Nestor
  • Publication number: 20200146355
    Abstract: Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Timothy Brian Nestor, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Steven Lee Alderman, Michael Ryan Galloway, Quentin Paul Guenther, JR., Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Raymond C. Henry, JR., Allen Michael East
  • Patent number: 10645976
    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: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10645974
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device, an input for such devices, and methods of preparing such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can comprise providing a fibrous substrate, providing a shell, wetting the fibrous substrate with a wetting liquid, and inserting the wetted fibrous substrate into the shell. After the inserting step, the shell further can comprise one or more of a heater, a liquid transport element, and an electrical connection. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an input that can comprise a liquid transport element, a heater in a heating arrangement with the liquid transport element, and a wetted fibrous substrate wrapped around at least a portion of the liquid transport element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20200138102
    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 that is stored in and/or transported to a heater by a porous monolith, which can be, for example, a porous glass or a porous ceramic. A heater can be in a heating arrangement with an external portion of the porous monolith or can be substantially internal to the porous monolith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Ercilia Hernandez Garcia, Sawyer Hubbard, Percy D. Phillips, James William Rogers, Stephen Benson Sears, Andries Don Sebastian, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Publication number: 20200138107
    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: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
  • Publication number: 20200138099
    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: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    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