Making Or Using Tobacco Users' Appliance Patents (Class 131/328)
  • Patent number: 11974609
    Abstract: The method includes electrically connecting a power supply to a heater in an e-vaping device, where the power supply and the heater are in an electrical circuit. The method further includes configuring the electrical circuit to be selectively electrically connectable to a grounding terminal to complete the electrical circuit and enable the e-vaping device for operational use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jarrett Keen, Christopher S. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11969015
    Abstract: A heating control method and control device for a ceramic heating element in a non-contact heat not burn heating device is provided. The ceramic heating element includes a heating body and a heating circuit, the heating body is cylindrical and internally provided with a porous channel, the heating circuit is arranged on the heating body to heat air passing through the porous channel. The heating control method includes: controlling the heating circuit to perform heating work at a working voltage when the non-contact heat not burn heating device is started and keeping a working time of the heating circuit; detecting a working current of the heating circuit; and performing voltage reduction control on the working voltage of the heating circuit according to the working time of the heating circuit and the working current of the heating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: XIAMEN FENGTAO CERAMICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaohua Zhu, Zhaorong Xiong, Zengxue Fu, Xiangyi Yu, Maoqi Liu
  • Patent number: 11963555
    Abstract: The present invention provides a controller for an inhalation device, comprising: a power supplier configured to supply power to a heater used to heat and atomize an aerosol source; a detection circuit configured to detect a resistance value of the heater; and a processor configured to execute heating processing of heating the aerosol source by controlling the power supplier in accordance with reception of an atomization request of the aerosol source, wherein the processor controls the heating processing based on the resistance value of the heater detected using the detection circuit, a reference temperature of the heater, and a reference resistance value of the heater, and updates the reference resistance value by the resistance value of the heater detected using the detection circuit after an end of the heating processing and before the reception of the next atomization request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Keiji Marubashi
  • Patent number: 11957833
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system includes a vaporizer for vaporizing a payload for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapor provision system, the vaporizer taking a finite period of time from having power supplied to it to vaporize the payload; a power supply for supplying power to the vaporizer to vaporize the payload in response to a user activation; one or more sensors operable to output respective signals in response to interaction of the user with the electronic vapor provision system; an estimation processor configured to estimate a user's expected moment of activation, based upon analysis of one or more of the respective signals; and a control processor configured to cause power to be supplied to the vaporizer at a time that precedes the user's estimated expected moment of activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Patrick Moloney, Colin Dickens, Justin Han Yang Chan
  • Patent number: 11944127
    Abstract: A vapour generating device includes an oven arranged to receive a substrate to be vapourized, an inlet, an outlet, an airflow passageway for providing a fluid connection between the inlet and the outlet via the oven through which generated vapour can flow from the oven to the outlet. A device controller and a humidity sensor for generating a measurement of a vapour produced by the substrate are provided. The controller is operable to control the operation of the device based on measurement data from the humidity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew Robert John Rogan, Damian Dickson
  • Patent number: 11944129
    Abstract: An optical module includes: an infrared light emitter configured to emit infrared light; an infrared light receiver configured to receive the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitter and generate a signal based on an amount of the received infrared light; a touch interface arranged between the infrared light emitter and the infrared light receiver, and configured to reflect the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitter toward the infrared light receiver, and change an amount of the reflected infrared light as a touch input occurs; and a visible light emitter configured to emit visible light toward the touch interface such that the visible light is emitted outside the optical module by passing through the touch interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwi Kyeong An
  • Patent number: 11930858
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device according to an aspect comprises a main body that comprises a battery and a controller, a cartridge which is coupled to the main body and comprises a liquid storage that contains liquid composition and an atomization portion that generates an aerosol by heating the liquid composition contained in the liquid storage, and a cover that forms an inner space by being coupled to the main body such that the cartridge is arranged in the inner space, wherein the main body further comprises a light source that emits light toward an inside of the liquid storage, and the cover comprises a window hole through which light entitled from the light source toward the inside of the liquid storage is transmitted to the outside of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hun Il Lim, Tae Hun Kim, Hyung Jin Jung, Jae Sung Choi, Jung Ho Han
  • Patent number: 11925216
    Abstract: A portable vaporizing device and/or cartridge comprises a product chamber capable of holding a vaporizable product therein, and a porous valve element configured to be heated to flow the vaporizable product therethrough and generate vapor from the vaporizable product, and optionally including a heat transfer element to heat the vaporizable product as it flows through the product chamber towards the porous valve element. Also provided are methods and automated systems for filling the cartridge used in the portable vaporizing device with a vaporizable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Puff Corporation
    Inventors: Avinash Bajpai, Roger Sayre, Charlton Huang, John Biondo, Ori Russo, Cyrus Legg
  • Patent number: 11925215
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device includes a first heater for heating a liquid composition accommodated in a liquid storage of a vaporizer, a puff sensor detecting a pressure change within the aerosol generating device, and a controller. The aerosol generating device may determine a puff pattern including a plurality of sections, based on a signal received from the puff sensor. In addition, the aerosol generating device may control an operation of the first heater, based on states of the plurality of sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Jung, Jin Soo Seong
  • Patent number: 11918048
    Abstract: An electronic atomization device and a control circuit therefor are provided. The control circuit includes an airflow sensor, a power supply capacitor and a control chip including a logic controller, a unidirectional conduction tube and a switch tube, a power supply pin, an atomization pin and a ground pin; the logic controller is connected to a first end of the airflow sensor and a first end of the switch tube; and through the power supply pin, is connected to a first end of the power supply capacitor and a second end of the switch tube; and through the ground pin, is connected to a positive electrode of the unidirectional conduction tube, a second end of the airflow sensor and a second end of the power supply capacitor; a negative electrode of the unidirectional conduction tube, through the atomization pin, is connected to a third end of the switch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HANGZHOU SUNGOD SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Meifang Ma
  • Patent number: 11910839
    Abstract: A case for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the case including a housing; a holder to receive a portion of the device, the holder being movably couplable to the housing and movable relative to the housing between an open position configured to receive the device and a closed position configured to store the device; a holder position detector configured to detect whether the holder is in the open position or the closed position, the holder position detector including circuitry configured to determine a position of the holder relative to the housing; a power supply; an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the power supply to an aerosol-generating device received in the holder; and power supply control circuitry configured to control a supply of power from the power supply to the device received in the holder and connected to the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Antonopoulos, Kok Hwa Liew, Franck Pourrat
  • Patent number: 11903425
    Abstract: Described is provided a vapor provision system for generating a vapor for user inhalation, the system including a housing, a first user input mechanism configured to provide a first input to control a first aspect of vapor generation and located on a first side of the housing, and a second user input mechanism configured to provide a second input to control a second aspect of vapor generation and located on a second side of the housing, the second side of the housing opposite to the first side of the housing, wherein the first user input mechanism and the second user input mechanism are different types of user input mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: David Leadley
  • Patent number: 11904086
    Abstract: A dispersion device includes a first dispersion generating system, a second dispersion generating system and an outlet end element including a first outlet corresponding to the first dispersion generating system and a second outlet corresponding to the second dispersion generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Buket Sahin, Gerd Kobal, Qiang Wang, Christopher S. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11903099
    Abstract: A method of forming a vaporizer of an electronic vaping device includes applying a porous material to at least one surface of a heating element to form a coating thereon. The heating element is formed of a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Ali A. Rostami
  • Patent number: 11871778
    Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system is provided, the cartridge including: a first compartment containing an alkaloid source, the alkaloid source including a liquid alkaloid formulation having a polyhydric alcohol content of at least about 10 percent by weight and an alkaloid content of at least about 10 percent by weight; and a second compartment containing an acid source. An aerosol-generating system is also provided, including: the cartridge; and an aerosol-generating device including a housing defining a device cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, and a heating element configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Irene Taurino, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik
  • Patent number: 11871798
    Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes an application installed thereon. The application is configured to communicate with a smoking substitute device, wherein the application is configured to: instruct a user to perform an operation at the smoking substitute device; verify whether the operation has been correctly performed by the user at the smoking substitute device; and inform the user whether the operation has been correctly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Fard, Oliver Talbot
  • Patent number: 11865251
    Abstract: The e-vaping device includes a vaporizer assembly, which includes a heating element, a pre-vapor formulation reservoir, a pre-vapor formulation level indicator including a plurality of discrete indicator segments, and at least one processor. The pre-vapor formulation reservoir may be configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation and the at least one processor may be configured to determine a difference between a first duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element and a second duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element; and adjust the indicator based on the determined duty cycle difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Terrance Theodore Bache, Christopher S. Tucker, Raymond W. Lau
  • Patent number: 11839240
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a power source and an aerosol production component that is powerable to produce an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes processing circuitry configured to switchably connect the power source to a load that includes the aerosol production component and thereby power the aerosol production component. A piezo sensor is operatively coupled with the power source and the processing circuitry. The piezo sensor is configured to generate an electrical response to a deformation of the power source, and the electrical response is indicative of a characteristic of the deformation. The processing circuitry is configured to control the aerosol delivery device based at least in part on the characteristic of the deformation indicated by the electrical response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
  • Patent number: 11833294
    Abstract: An aerosol provision system comprises a heating element for generating an aerosol from a source liquid and control circuitry for controlling a supply of electrical power from a power supply to the heating element. The control circuitry is configured to measure an indication of a derivative of an electrical characteristic of the heating element with respect to time. Based on the measured time derivative, the control circuitry is configured to determine whether or not a fault condition has arisen for the electronic aerosol provision system. The overall change in the electrical characteristic for the heating element caused by the localized heating may be small and so difficult to reliably identify, but the rate at which the change occurs can be expected to be relatively high, such that the time derivative of the local characteristic is a more reliable indicator of occurrence of the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Helmut Buchberger, Colin Dickens, Rory Fraser
  • Patent number: 11825883
    Abstract: A personal vaporizer is configured to be used with a battery assembly. An atomizer of the personal vaporizer is configured to atomize vaporizing media, which atomized media becomes entrained in air flowing through the vaporization chamber to form a vapor. The personal vaporizer can include a warming element that warms vaporizing media within the tank without atomizing such media in order to reduce the viscosity of such media and improve media flow within the tank. The warming element can be passive or electrically powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lubby Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: J. Christian Rado
  • Patent number: 11819060
    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: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 11819062
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes: a housing that forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device and includes an opening into which a cigarette is inserted; a heater that generates an aerosol by heating the cigarette; a battery that supplies power to the heater; a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of an internal component of the aerosol generating device; and a controller that prevents abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device based on the temperature of the internal component sensed by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Won Lee, Yong Hwan Kim, Sung Wook Yoon, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11818812
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a heating element for an electronic vapor provision system includes providing a sheet of electrically conductive porous material, measuring amounts of light transmitted through at least two locations on the sheet to obtain a set of optical transmission values including a maximum value and a minimum value, comparing a difference value calculated from the maximum and minimum values with a predetermined acceptable variation in optical transmission, and selecting the sheet for use as a heating element if the difference value falls within the acceptable variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventor: Howard Rothwell
  • Patent number: 11793241
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes: a housing that forms an exterior of the aerosol generating device and includes an opening into which a cigarette is inserted; a heater that generates an aerosol by heating the cigarette; a battery that supplies power to the heater; a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of an internal component of the aerosol generating device; and a controller that prevents abnormal operation of the aerosol generating device based on the temperature of the internal component sensed by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Won Lee, Yong Hwan Kim, Sung Wook Yoon, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11771140
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, and a control unit configured to be capable of acquiring a value related to an operation amount of the load and a voltage value of the power supply. The control unit is configured to be capable of estimating or detecting at least one of degradation and failure of the power supply based on the value related to the operation amount of the load operated in a period in which the acquired voltage value of the power supply is in a predetermined voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11744277
    Abstract: A nicotine liquid formulation comprising nicotine, an acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein heating an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e., an electronic cigarette, generates an inhalable aerosol, and wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bowen, Chenyue Xing
  • Patent number: 11730202
    Abstract: A micro-vaporizer has a vaporization chamber within an interior of a body casing. At least one heating element is disposed within the vaporization chamber and a fluid transport material is at least partially disposed within the vaporization chamber. The fluid transport material has a vaporization surface portion positioned adjacent a surface of the at least one heating element and is configured for drawing a vaporizable liquid to the vaporization surface for exposure to the at least one heating element. An active material substrate is also disposed within the vaporization chamber. The active material substrate has an active surface portion positioned adjacent a second surface of the at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BLACKSHIP TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Yongjie Xu, Donovan Phillips
  • Patent number: 11696597
    Abstract: A bowl for evaporation of a substance for inhalation comprises a cylindrical wall attached to a base. The bowl is made of a colorless single-crystal material selected from the group consisting of: alumina, magnesium-alumina spinel, yttrium-aluminum garnet, and cubic zirconium oxide. The bowl can have any desired color by doping the colorless single-crystal material by a transition metal. The transition metal is selected from a group consisting of: titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron and cobalt. The substance for evaporation can be positioned inside the bowl. In one embodiment, the bowl comprises a tapered cylindrical wall attached to a base. The tapered cylindrical wall can preferably be in shape of a truncated cone to which the base is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Adapt Tech, LLC
    Inventor: Casey Arnett
  • Patent number: 11696368
    Abstract: The cartridge includes a storage compartment configured to contain a liquid, the storage compartment having a first portion and a second portion connected to one another by a liquid channel. The cartridge includes an airflow passage passing between the first portion and the second portion of the storage compartment, and an aerosol-generating element that is fluid permeable and is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the storage compartment, the aerosol-generating element having a first side and a second side that oppose each other, the first side of the aerosol-generating element forming part of the airflow passage and the second side of the aerosol-generating element being in contact with the liquid from the second portion of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Charles Silvestrini, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Guillaume Frederick
  • Patent number: 11690965
    Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation and a heating element configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation. The heating element includes a metal tube having a first end and a second end. The metal tube defines an opening therethrough. The metal tube includes a sidewall defining at least one spiral channel extending substantially continuously along a portion of the metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Charles L. Dendy
  • Patent number: 11684731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Taylor Hunt, Timothy Brian Nestor, Paul Andrew Brinkley, Stephen Benson Sears, John DePiano, Matthew C. Ebbs, Kristen Dodds Weight, Michael F. Davis
  • Patent number: 11677740
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a wireless receiver adapted to receive a beacon signal from a wireless beacon, the beacon signal including a unique identifier and a common identifier indicating that the beacon is used for the transmission of vaping policies; a processor adapted to detect within the beacon signal the common identifier; a transmitter adapted to transmit the unique identifier to a remote server; and a receiver adapted to receive from the remote server indicator data indicative of the authenticity of the beacon signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Darryl Baker, Ross Oldbury
  • Patent number: 11660405
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette and a method of controlling the electronic cigarette are disclosed, the electronic cigarette includes a controller; and at least one air pressure sensor coupled with the controller; the at least one air pressure sensor is configured for detecting a first air pressure in an air flow path of the electronic cigarette and a second air pressure of an ambient atmosphere where the electronic cigarette is located, and sending the first air pressure and the second air pressure to the controller; the controller is configured for receiving the second air pressure and the first air pressure and controlling an atomizer to be on or off based on a pressure differential between the first air pressure and the second air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen First Union Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huiyong Yan, Yonghai Li, Zhongli Xu
  • Patent number: 11659864
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette burner element has a heating wire, a porous ceramic matrix, and outer cover, holes in the outer cover, and a ventilation air passage through the porous ceramic matrix. The heating wire is configured to heat and atomize vape oil. The heating wire is formed with a coil and a pair of leads including a first lead and a second lead. A porous ceramic matrix encapsulates the coil of the heating wire. A heating body is formed when the heating wire is encapsulated by the porous ceramic matrix. An outer cover can be made of metal and can fit over the heating body. A hole is formed on the outer covet to receive vape oil. The vape oil wicks through the porous ceramic matrix like a sponge receiving water. A ventilation air passage is formed along a surface of the porous ceramic matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventor: Ruyun Guo
  • Patent number: 11641885
    Abstract: A test fixture for testing aerosol provision devices may include a housing, a plurality of testing modules disposed at the housing where each of the testing modules includes a cavity configured to receive a portion of an aerosol provision device, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the testing modules. Each of the testing modules may be configured to interface with an assembly of a respective one of the aerosol provision devices to transition the assembly between an initial state and a transitioned state during a functional test controlled by the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to conduct the functional test of at least two of the testing modules simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Logan Garris, Sean Lukan, Jim Marting, Sean Daugherty, Austin Carpenter, Spencer Mougey, Keith Anderson
  • Patent number: 11627762
    Abstract: The method includes establishing a first fluid gradient through a central passage, the central passage traversing through a first channel, the first channel defining at least one first hole, a housing covering the first channel, a first reservoir being defined between the housing and the first channel, a second reservoir defined between the first channel and the central passage. The method further includes establishing a second fluid gradient through the at least one first hole, through at least a first portion of the second reservoir, and through at least a second portion of a wick, a heater being in communication with the wick and the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Edmond Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, William J. Crowe, Nam Tran
  • Patent number: 11621570
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes an electric heater, a battery and control circuitry. The electric heater is configured to vaporize an aerosol-forming substance. The battery is configured to power the electric heater. The control circuitry is configured to: prevent charging of the battery in response to detecting that the electric heater is in an operation state; or prevent operation of the electric heater in response to detecting that the battery is in a charging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Guillaume Colotte, Stephane Bilat
  • Patent number: 11617228
    Abstract: The cartridge includes a storage compartment configured to contain a liquid, the storage compartment having a first portion and a second portion connected to one another by a liquid channel. The cartridge includes an airflow passage passing between the first portion and the second portion of the storage compartment, and an aerosol-generating element that is fluid permeable and is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the storage compartment, the aerosol-generating element having a first side and a second side that oppose each other, the first side of the aerosol-generating element forming part of the airflow passage and the second side of the aerosol-generating element being in contact with the liquid from the second portion of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Charles Silvesstrini, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Guillaume Frederick
  • Patent number: 11606973
    Abstract: Vaporization devices having portions to enable signal transmission therethrough. A vaporization device includes a body having a first end, a second end, and forming an internal cavity. At least a portion of the internal cavity forming a cartridge receptacle. The vaporization device includes a battery disposed within the internal cavity and a processor operatively coupled to the battery and disposed within the body. The processor is arranged to respond to a signal to switch the vaporization device between a first operational mode and a second operational mode. The vaporization device also includes a portion of the body arranged to permit transmission of the signal through the portion of the body from a location external to the body, thereby permitting the processor to switch the vaporization device between the first and second operational modes in response to the receipt of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: GLAS, INC.
    Inventor: Sean Greenbaum
  • Patent number: 11606974
    Abstract: A vape cartridge assembly is provided. The vape cartridge assembly may include a monolithic cartridge body with an inner passage and a connector coupled to an end of the cartridge for connecting to a power source. The assembly may also include an atomizer within an atomizer shell, the atomizer shell comprising a vapor tube, the atomizer shell coupled to the connector within the inner passage of the cartridge body. The assembly may further include a cartridge seal coupled to the vapor tube of the atomizer shell within the inner passage of the cartridge body to form a fluid reservoir on one side of the cartridge seal and a mouthpiece on the opposite side of the cartridge seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Jupiter Research, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Scatterday
  • Patent number: 11602174
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vaporizer assembly for use in a vapor provision system, wherein the vaporizer assembly includes a liquid transport element formed from cotton; and a heating element comprising a coil of resistive wire around a portion of the liquid transport element, wherein the heating element has an electrical resistance of between 1.3 ohms and 1.5 ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Terry Lee Angell, Alexander Simpson
  • Patent number: 11596028
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a cartridge of an electronic vaping device, wherein the cartridge includes a pre-vapor formulation storage element, an electrical inductor is formed from an electrical component, wherein the electrical inductor has an inductance indicative of a pre-vapor formulation substrate contained in the pre-vapor formulation storage element. The electrical inductor is then mounted to the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11583008
    Abstract: Provided is a fine particle generating apparatus outputting usage information, and in particular, a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles through electrical heating and outputs usage information thereof to a user. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles by determining whether a puff has occurred according to a temperature variation amount per unit time. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus or an aerosol generating apparatus capable of changing puff conditions by controlling a heater. Also, provided is a fine particle generating apparatus that generates fine particles through electrical heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Choong Sheek Hong, Seung Kiu Jeong, Jung Ho Han, Jong Sub Lee, Hun Il Lim
  • Patent number: 11559082
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a releasing mechanism, an aerosol generating device, a releasing method, and a smoking producing article. The releasing mechanism comprises: a rotary portion connected to the aerosol generating device rotatably between a first position and a second position, an aerosol-forming substrate and a heating body are relatively movable in a circumferential direction during switching from the first position to the second position; both in the first position and in the second position, the aerosol-forming substrate is in contact with the heating body. By using the releasing mechanism of the present invention, a user is allowed to easily pull out the aerosol-forming substrate from the heating body, and it is convenient to use and also facilitates cleaning of the aerosol generating device by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: SHANGHAI NEW TOBACCO PRODUCT RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD, SHANGHAI TOBACCO GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chaoying Chen, Wenjie Lu, Xianglin Li, Jianghong Qu, Bin Nie
  • Patent number: 11553732
    Abstract: A simulated cigarette having an elongated hollow cylinder and having a cavity there within, with a cylindrical wick disposed in the cavity, the wick having a radial clearance and longitudinal clearance with respect to the cavity for allowing the wick to freely slide along a longitudinal direction of the cavity. The simulated cigarette having a fan assembly disposed in the cavity adjacent wick and in an alternate embodiment having a flexible filter affixed to an end of the hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Harmless Products, LLC
    Inventors: Nossen K. Levilev, Chaim Levilev
  • Patent number: 11547816
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes power-source terminals to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device, and a heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The device includes a micro pump to deliver aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to the heating element, and a driver circuit to drive the micro pump. The driver circuit includes a boost converter to step up voltage from the power source to the micro pump to thereby power the micro pump. And the device includes a control component with processing circuitry to control the driver circuit to switchably drive the micro pump to deliver the aerosol precursor composition to the heating element. The processing circuitry is also to switchably connect the power source to the heating element independent of the boost converter and thereby power the heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11540562
    Abstract: An inhaler device including an atomizer configured to consume a first accumulated capacity and a second accumulated capacity to generate aerosol, and a light emitting diode (LED) configured to output a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol. The inhaler device further including circuitry configured to cause the LED to function in a first mode when the first accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is smaller than a first threshold and the second accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is equal to or larger than a second threshold, and cause the LED to function in a second mode different from the first mode when the first accumulated capacity is smaller than the first threshold and the second accumulated capacity is smaller than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11533952
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a cartridge assembly including an outer housing defining a mouthpiece having an air outlet, a cartridge having upstream and downstream ends and including first and second compartments, a mixing chamber extending between a downstream end of the cartridge and the mouthpiece air outlet, and a ventilation air inlet downstream of the cartridge; and an aerosol-generating device including a device inner housing defining a device cavity, an electrical heater configured to heat the cartridge, a power supply, a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power to the electric heater, and a device outer housing, such that when the upstream end of the cartridge is received within the device cavity, a first part of a downstream edge of the device outer housing abuts a first part of an upstream edge of the cartridge assembly outer housing to form a system outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Dionisius Elisabeth Antonius Florack, Ali Murat Saygili
  • Patent number: 11528943
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus includes a load that generates heat upon receipt of electric power from a power supply and atomizes an aerosol source, an element that is used to acquire a value related to a temperature of the load, a retention unit that retains an aerosol source supplied from a storage to allow the retained aerosol source to be in a feasible state of being heated by the load, and a control unit configured to distinguish between a first state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the aerosol source stored in the storage is insufficient in quantity, and a second state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the storage is capable of supplying the aerosol source while the retained aerosol source is insufficient in quantity, on the basis of a change in the value related to the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11517051
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electronic cigarette temperature compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Fontem Ventures B.V.
    Inventor: Adam Hoffman