Patents by Inventor Zhihao Shen

Zhihao Shen 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: 20140060553
    Abstract: A large variety of electrospun fibers can be produced to encapsulate a large variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured electrospun fiber. Furthermore, the manufactured electrospun fibers can be electrostatically arranged within a filter component of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospinning process, a diverse set of electrospun fibers can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. The electrospun fiber produced by electrospinning comprises at least one type of polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant within the electrospun fiber. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Marquez, Samuel Isaac Ogle, Zhihao Shen
  • Patent number: 8602036
    Abstract: A large variety of electrospun fibers can be produced to encapsulate a large variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured electrospun fiber. Furthermore, the manufactured electrospun fibers can be electrostatically arranged within a filter component of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospinning process, a diverse set of electrospun fibers can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. The electrospun fiber produced by electrospinning comprises at least one type of polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant within the electrospun fiber. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marquez, Samuel Isaac Ogle, Zhihao Shen
  • Patent number: 8353811
    Abstract: A large variety of electroprocessed capsules can be produced to encapsulate a variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured capsule. Furthermore, the manufactured capsules can be arranged within a filter of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospraying or electrospinning processes, capsules can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. A capsule produced by electrospraying comprises at least one polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant within the capsule. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Phillip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihao Shen, Manuel Marquez, Samuel I. Ogle, William D. Thweatt, Jon A. Regrut
  • Patent number: 8201564
    Abstract: Fibrous material suitable for incorporation into filter elements of smoking articles such as cigarettes are impregnated with additives and agents such as flavorants, flavorant-enhancers and/or free radical scavengers. The fibrous material is contacted with the additive dispersed in a high pressure gas or supercritical fluid (SCF) held at elevated pressures. The high pressure gas or SCF swells the fibrous matrix and enables the additive to be incorporated within the matrix. When pressure is reduced, the gas or SCF vaporizes and leaves the additive embedded in the fiber interstices. As a result, the additive is slowly released over a finite period of time. When incorporated into a cigarette filter, the additive is released at a desired rate from the interior of the fibrous filter into the cigarette smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. McHugh, Georgios Karles, Diane Gee, Joseph L. Banyasz, Zhihao Shen, Munmaya K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7935298
    Abstract: A process of making fibers by electrostatic spinning includes the use of a mixing vessel (10), a piston (15) for pressurizing the polymer, carbon dioxide sources (20) for lowering the viscosity of the polymer or pressurizing the collection vessel (35), a pressure generator (25), view ports (30), a target (36), a spinning needle (40), a camera/TV recorder (45) and a voltage source (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Mark McHugh, Zhihao Shen, Diane Gee, Georgios Karles, Jose Nepomuceno, Gary Huvard
  • Publication number: 20090038628
    Abstract: A large variety of electroprocessed capsules can be produced to encapsulate a variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured capsule. Furthermore, the manufactured capsules can be arranged within a filter of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospraying or electrospinning processes, capsules can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. A capsule produced by electrospraying comprises at least one polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant within the capsule. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one flavorant and/or non-flavorant additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihao Shen, Manuel Marquez, Samuel I. Ogle, William D. Thweatt, Jon A. Regrut
  • Publication number: 20080149119
    Abstract: A large variety of electrospun fibers can be produced to encapsulate a large variety of additives within the subcompartments or substructures of the manufactured electrospun fiber. Furthermore, the manufactured electrospun fibers can be electrostatically arranged within a filter component of a smoking article during the manufacturing process. By modifying the various parameters that control the electrospinning process, a diverse set of electrospun fibers can be manufactured that vary in composition, in substructural organization, and in dimension. The electrospun fiber produced by electrospinning comprises at least one type of polymeric material that encapsulates or supports the retention of at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant within the electrospun fiber. A polymeric material provides a supporting structure for encapsulating at least one type of a flavorant or a non-flavorant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marquez, Samuel Isaac Ogle, Zhihao Shen
  • Publication number: 20080029112
    Abstract: Fibrous material suitable for incorporation into filter elements of smoking articles such as cigarettes are impregnated with additives and agents such as flavorants, flavorant-enhancers and/or free radical scavengers. The fibrous material is contacted with the additive dispersed in a high pressure gas or supercritical fluid (SCF) held at elevated pressures. The high pressure gas or SCF swells the fibrous matrix and enables the additive to be incorporated within the matrix. When pressure is reduced, the gas or SCF vaporizes and leaves the additive embedded in the fiber interstices. As a result, the additive is slowly released over a finite period of time. When incorporated into a cigarette filter, the additive is released at a desired rate from the interior of the fibrous filter into the cigarette smoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mark McHugh, Georgios Karles, Diane Gee, Joseph Banyasz, Zhihao Shen, Munmaya Mishra
  • Publication number: 20080018015
    Abstract: A process of making fibers by electrostatic spinning includes the use of a mixing vessel (10), a piston (15) for pressurizing the polymer, carbon dioxide sources (20) for lowering the viscosity of the polymer or pressurizing the collection vessel (35), a pressure generator (25), view ports (30), a target (36), a spinning needle (40), a camera/TV recorder (45) and a voltage source (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Mark McHugh, Zhihao Shen, Diane Gee, Georgios Karles, Jose Nepomuceno, Gary Huvard