End Structure Patents (Class 131/361)
  • Patent number: 11700878
    Abstract: A modular cigar and methods are provided for assembling and use of the modular cigar. The modular cigar includes an inner bound module, removable end cap, and removable outer wrapper. The removable outer wrapper is coupled with the inner bound module in an adhesive-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Paxton Newman, Charles Dawson Newman
  • Patent number: 11596922
    Abstract: A solid fiber is described, where the solid fiber is characterized by (a) a modification degree Do/Di, in a cross section of the solid fiber of 1.20 to 8.50 where the inscribed circle diameter is denoted by Di and the circumscribed circle diameter is denoted by Do; and (b) a porous specific surface area of not less than 30 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES. INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujieda, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Kazumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11291247
    Abstract: The invention provides an illuminating handheld smoking article that generally includes a handheld body, an LED cover, an LED assembly, an LED activation assembly, and a self-contained power source. This article overcomes the disadvantages of detection, short battery life, and difficulties presented with holding small objects by incorporating illumination, activation upon airflow sensing, and a larger gripping surface into the design, respectively. The smoking article enables safe and effective coupling with an item to be smoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Highlightz International, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Oliver, III
  • Patent number: 11259569
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flavor delivery device and a cartridge that includes such flavor delivery device. The flavor delivery device includes a flavor substrate that can be formed of a porous material, and further including flavor material included within the flavor substrate. The flavor substrate is surrounded by an outer sleeve which is impermeable to the flavor material. The flavor delivery device may be positioned within a cartridge of an aerosol delivery device where the flavor delivery device is located downstream from a reservoir containing an aerosol precursor composition relative to the mouthend of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
  • Patent number: 11140916
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the elements including an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-cooling element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol-cooling element may have a total surface area of between about 300 mm2 per mm length and about 1000 mm2 per mm length. An aerosol passing through the aerosol-cooling element is cooled, and in some embodiments, water is condensed within the aerosol-cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Zuber, Cedric Meyer, Daniele Sanna, Alexis Louvet
  • Patent number: 11123504
    Abstract: Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes. More particularly, to electronic cigarettes including a circumferential light guide that distributes light transmitted by a light source, and controller circuitry that variably illuminates the circumferential light guide of the electronic cigarette based on a user's draw strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, Adam Hoffman, Christopher Myles, James R. Conrey
  • Patent number: 11116250
    Abstract: Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes. More particularly, to electronic cigarettes including a circumferential light guide that distributes light transmitted by a light source, and controller circuitry that variably illuminates the circumferential light guide of the electronic cigarette based on a user's draw strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, Adam Hoffman, Christopher Myles, James R. Conrey
  • Patent number: 11089812
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the elements including an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-cooling element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol-cooling element may have a total surface area of between about 300 mm2 per mm length and about 1000 mm2 per mm length. An aerosol passing through the aerosol-cooling element is cooled, and in some embodiments, water is condensed within the aerosol-cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Zuber, Cedric Meyer, Daniele Sanna, Alexis Louvet
  • Patent number: 11083220
    Abstract: A customizable device may include a first inhalation device and a second inhalation device, each including a mouth end portion and an upstream end portion. In a storage configuration, the mouth end portion of at least one of the first inhalation device or the second inhalation device is removably coupled to the other inhalation device. In an active configuration, the upstream end portion of at least one of the first inhalation device or the second inhalation device is removably coupled to the other inhalation device. A connector hub may couple the inhalation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 10827777
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product described herein includes at least one tobacco bead. Tobacco beads described herein include a core and at least one tobacco-containing layer surrounding the core. Each tobacco-containing layer can include less than 10 weight percent tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have a diameter of at least 1 millimeters. Tobacco bead described herein can have at least 5 mg tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have an oven volatiles content of between 2 weight percent and 10 weight percent. Tobacco bead described herein can have an outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Yan Helen Sun
  • Patent number: 10757970
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid aerosol formulation, a heater operable to at least partially volatilize the liquid aerosol formulation and form an aerosol and a tubular filter segment downstream of the heater. The tubular filter segment is operable to selectively filter aerosol particles and vapors from the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San Li, Georgios D. Karles, Richard Jupe, Gerd Kobal, Munmaya K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 10694778
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) incorporates a liquid release component of a sustained release liquid delivery material (20), the liquid delivery material comprising a closed matrix structure having a polymer matrix defining a plurality of domains. A liquid composition is trapped within the domains and is releasable from the closed matrix structure upon compression of the liquid release component. The polymer matrix is formed of one or more anionic polysaccharides cross-linked by multivalent cations. A filler comprising one or more amphiphilic polysaccharides is incorporated within the polymer matrix. The one or more amphiphilic polysaccharides of the filler are selected from starch chemically modified to be amphiphilic and starch derivatives chemically modified to be amphiphilic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Clement Besso, Laurent Lavanant
  • Patent number: 10674759
    Abstract: A tobacco smoking aid for tobacco users includes a tobacco leaf that is rolled to define a tube. The tube has a first end and a second end that are open. A filter is coupled to and extends from the first end of the tube. The tube is configured to insert a substance through the second end into an interior space defined by the tube. The filter is configured to insert between lips of a user to position the second end of the tube for lighting. Smoke from burning of the tobacco leaf and the substance passes through the filter into lungs of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventors: Tressa Hopkins, Althonso Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10524499
    Abstract: A backing with corrugations on a first surface. The corrugations are parallel and each has an airspace along an entire longitudinal length. A second surface of the backing includes perforations or scores oriented perpendicularly or parallel to the corrugations. The corrugations or scores are fold lines or frangible tear lines. The airspaces may also include a filter material. The second surface of the backing may be adhered to a corner of a rolling paper on the surface but opposite edge as a gum strip. The corrugations are parallel to the gum strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Joseph M Wander
  • Patent number: 10172384
    Abstract: A smoking article assembly apparatus is disclosed. It comprises a first cutting station configured to cut a filter rod into filter segments, a tipping station configured to join the filter segments to tobacco rods so as to form a smoking article assembly, and a second cutting station configured to cut the smoking article assembly in the region of the filter segments so as to form two smoking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOBACCO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Gerhard Le Roux, Arnold Leslie Herholdt
  • Patent number: 10039316
    Abstract: A cigarette filter manufacturing apparatus, includes, a stuffer jet which sends a tow together with air, a tongue which molds the tow into a bar, a convergence guide which is provided in a position between the stuffer jet and the tongue, and converges the tow while guiding the tow toward the tongue, and a plurality of thread introducing tubes, intervals between which are reduced toward downstream in a position between an outlet of the stuffer jet and an introducing part of the tongue, the thread introducing tubes supplying respective threads into the tow from respective downstream distal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Katsuo Kato
  • Patent number: 9538780
    Abstract: The present invention features a system for providing a protective barrier between a portion of chewing tobacco and a gum surface of a user. The system features a set of bottom teeth located in a mouth of a user. The system features a portion of chewing tobacco. The system features a barrier having a planar barrier anterior wing and a planar barrier posterior wing. The barrier anterior wing features a shape of a rectangle. The barrier posterior wing features a shape of an isosceles trapezoid. A top anterior wing edge is foldably located on a top posterior wing edge forming a cross section of a “V”. The barrier features a wax coating on a front anterior wing surface and a rear posterior wing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventors: Jordan Deroo, Bryce Deroo
  • Patent number: 9271527
    Abstract: This invention discloses an electronic cigarette, which comprises an electronic cigarette main body having a sucking rod and a power rod mutually butted with the sucking rod, and a paper protecting sleeve sleeved around an outer side of the electronic cigarette main body. The sucking rod is provided with an atomizing device for atomizing the liquid smoke to fogged smoke, the sucking rod has one end thereof provided with a sucking nozzle and another end thereof butted with the power rod. The power rod is provided with a battery therein for providing power to the atomizing device. The paper protecting sleeve sleeved and the wooden nozzle cover efficiently enhances touchfeel and mouthfeel of the electronic cigarette; multiple electronic cigarette main bodies or multiple sucking rods enriches electronic cigarette tastes; and the multiple power rods ensures power supply for the electronic cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9247770
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for forming a rod for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A continuous supply of a filter material is formed into a continuous filter rod by a rod-forming unit. An object insertion unit is configured to insert a plurality of first objects and a plurality of second objects into the continuous filter rod. A rod-dividing unit is configured to subdivide the continuous filter rod, at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions such that each filter rod portion includes at least one first object and at least one second object disposed therein, with the first objects being different from the second objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Vernon Brent Barnes, Robert William Benford, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Stephen Thomas Matthews, John Larkin Nelson, Travis Eugene Howard
  • Publication number: 20150128963
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) incorporates a mouthpiece (14), the mouthpiece includes an open pore structure converted from an organic gel and a functional material dispersed in the open pore structure, such as aerogel particles (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Firooz Rasouli, Gianluca Sechi
  • Patent number: 8960197
    Abstract: A filter (11) for a smoking article (10) comprises a first flowpath (13) through the filter, a second flowpath (14) through the filter, the second flowpath being disposed around the first flowpath, and a selector (16) for allowing flow selectively through the first and second flowpaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Bailey, Karl Kaljura, Paul Farenden, David Russell, Wilbert Schoenmakers, Darren Seymour, David Spendlove
  • Publication number: 20150027478
    Abstract: A mouthpiece lining paper of a filter cigarette, which mouthpiece lining paper is provided on surface regions to be adhesively bonded with a three-dimensional surface structure, that is to say with a surface which has elevations and/or depressions, wherein the elevations and depressions protrude from and are set back from the film/foil surface only locally, respectively. The mouthpiece lining paper is a film/foil. In one preferred embodiment, a row of elevations and/or depressions runs along an edge of the mouthpiece lining paper of the type which runs along the overlap region of the mouthpiece lining paper with itself on the finished cigarette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Guenther Griesmayr, Barbara Puehringer, Bernhard Knauseder
  • Patent number: 8905037
    Abstract: A smoking article having a tobacco rod and a filter attached to the tobacco rod, which filters the first puff differently than subsequent puffs. The tobacco rod includes an inner rod of tobacco material having an impervious outer wrap and an impervious cap at an upstream end thereof and an outer rod of tobacco material, wherein the inner rod of tobacco material is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer rod of tobacco material. The filter includes an outer cellulose acetate filter and an inner activated carbon filter, wherein the inner activated carbon filter is concentrically positioned with respect to the outer cellulose acetate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lipowicz, Firooz Rasouli
  • Patent number: 8739802
    Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses a smokable rod and a filter element. The filter element possesses a segment incorporating filter material (e.g., cellulose acetate tow) having carbonaceous material (e.g., activated charcoal particles) or other adsorbent dispersed throughout the filter material, and encapsulated flavoring agent (e.g., flavor-containing microcapsules) dispersed throughout the filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Barry Smith Fagg
  • Patent number: 8636012
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprising a first part (13) configured to be movable relative to a second part (11) of the smoking article. The first part (13) having a first engaging surface (31). The second part (11) having a second engaging surface (32), the second engaging surface engagable with the first engaging surface (31) to limit relative longitudinal movement between the first and second parts. The first engaging surface (31) and/or second engaging surface (32) is preferably formed on a folded over portion of sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited, British American Tobacco Japan, Ltd., Tobacco Research and Development Institute (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard Le Roux, Karl Kaljura, Mark Austin, Gary Fallon, John Richardson, Kevin Blick, Mike Simpson
  • Patent number: 8616217
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a multilayered tube member (9) including at least one metal layer and one paper layer, a carbon heat source (4) arranged in an end portion of the tube member (9) to be at least partly in direct close contact with an inner surface of the tube member (9), the carbon heat source emitting heat when ignited, a smoking flavor releasing source (8) arranged in the tube member (9) to adjoin the carbon heat source (4), and a holder part (14) keeping the carbon heat source (4) in direct contact with said end portion and holding the carbon heat source (4) against said end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Tsurizumi, Hiroshi Sasaki, Naoki Hamamoto, Tomoichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8602035
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article. The apparatus includes an ecreteur having at least one trimming disk configured to trim a tobacco rod for a smoking article to have at least one end region of increased tobacco density. The at least one trimming disk is further configured to trim a body region of the tobacco rod such that the body region has a variable tobacco mass per unit length, where the body region is distinct from said at least one end region of increased density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventor: Karl Kaljura
  • Patent number: 8539959
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarette components. As will be disclosed, an electronic cigarette may have a translucent conduit and light chamber which, together, allow light from the light source to be diffused therethrough in such a way that the light emitted during inhalation simulates the natural burn of a traditional tobacco cigarette during inhalation. The electronic cigarette may also have a translucent ash simulator to further simulate the natural burn of a traditional tobacco cigarette during inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: NJOY, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Scatterday
  • Patent number: 8528568
    Abstract: A non-combustible smoking article includes an aerosol-generating part including an aerosol-generating substance configured to generate aerosol by heating, and a heat source physically separated from the aerosol-generating part and disposed at an tip end of the aerosol-generating part, and configured to heat the aerosol-generating substance by combustion heat, in which the heat source includes at least one carbonaceous strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Onishi, Takeshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8499767
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a rod of smokable material circumscribed by a rod wrapper and a filter comprising at least one filter segment circumscribed by a filter wrapper. The rod of smokable material and the filter are attached to one another by tipping paper and the smoking article comprises a tear ribbon between the at least one filter segment and the tipping paper. The tear ribbon is affixed to at least one of the tipping paper and the filter wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Martin Ricketts, Dionis Borgognon, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Publication number: 20130087159
    Abstract: A cigar comprises a mouth end; a tobacco section comprising tobacco material; at least one sweetener dispersed throughout the tobacco section; and/or a flavor potentiator and/or a taste modifier on an outer surface of the mouth end for enhancing the sweet taste of the cigar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Sweeney, Pauline Marcq, Joseph Pierotti, Deborah Thiem
  • Patent number: 8393335
    Abstract: A smoking article provides one or more sheets of material that can be rolled to a tube or shell or tube-like shape and then packaged in an unfilled or partially filled condition, one end portion of the tube or shell or tube-like shape being at least partially closed. In one embodiment, multiple sheets are rolled layers that can optionally be wrapped around a form casing (or pre-rolled inside) and then packaged with one end closed or partially closed. In another embodiment, a rod that assists in loading tobacco into the shell cavity is provided. In one embodiment, the plug takes the form of a mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8393334
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco rod, a filter located at the mouth end of the smoking article, at least one tipping material, to attach the filter to the tobacco rod, wherein the at least one tipping material includes at least one transparent section, wherein the smoking article further includes a ventilation zone upstream of the at least one transparent section. A tipping material for such a smoking article is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Cecchetto, Frédéric Chapuis, Marco Presello, Kuersteiner Charles
  • Patent number: 8387623
    Abstract: Tobacco articles having tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco articles can provide tobacco to an adult consumer in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to furnish tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. The tobacco can be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Frank Scott Atchley, James Arthur Strickland, James M. Rossman
  • Publication number: 20130019888
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a multilayered tube member (9) including at least one metal layer and one paper layer, a carbon heat source (4) arranged in an end portion of the tube member (9) to be at least partly in direct close contact with an inner surface of the tube member (9), the carbon heat source emitting heat when ignited, a smoking flavor releasing source (8) arranged in the tube member (9) to adjoin the carbon heat source (4), and a holder part (14) keeping the carbon heat source (4) in direct contact with said end portion and holding the carbon heat source (4) against said end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
  • Patent number: 8267095
    Abstract: A colored smoke module is disclosed that is mountable to at least a portion of a cigarette or other smoking device. The colored smoke module produces colored smoke when burned. Further, the colored smoke module is user mountable to a cigarette or other smoking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Gal Markel
  • Patent number: 8251072
    Abstract: A wrapper is fabricated of a biodegradable burnable material. The wrapper is in a generally cylindrical configuration. The wrapper has front and rear ends. In this manner a major chamber is formed. A bowl is fabricated of a biodegradable burnable material. The bowl has a peripheral edge. The bowl is attached to the wrapper adjacent to the front end of the wrapper. The bowl forms a minor chamber within the major chamber. The bowl extends interiorly of the wrapper. A quantity of smokable material is inserted into the bowl. In this manner the smokable material is lit and smoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Scott D. Zepp
  • Patent number: 8240315
    Abstract: A smoking article, which provides lower amounts of total particulate matter in a latter portion of its puff count, includes a cylinder of smoking material, a combustible hollow tube within the cylinder of smoking material, and a heat sink at a downstream end of the hollow tube. The smoking article also includes a filter system attached to the cylinder of smoking material having a sorbent material and at least one downstream segment of filtering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Raquel M. Olegario, Mike Braunshteyn, Gail Yoss, Jim Lyons-Hart
  • Publication number: 20120174934
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for supplying a plurality of crutches in use with a handmade smoking instrument. The device includes a business card divided into a perforated and on-perforated portions. The smoking instrument is typically a cylindrical smoking instrument created in the normal manner of rolling a handmade cigarette. The perforated portions are divided into a series of perforations, each perforation defining a strip, each strip defining a crutch. Upon removal, a perforated strip from the device, the strip is manipulated into the shape to fit within one end of the smoking instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Reuben Nahouraii
  • Publication number: 20120167906
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette including an atomizer, a cartridge, a mouthpiece, a power switch, and an electronic cigarette refilling apparatus for use therein is disclosed. A method of dispensing a liquid into an electronic cigarette and a method of inhaling a vapor from an electronic cigarette are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: David Gysland
  • Publication number: 20120067360
    Abstract: A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source and an insulation layer and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment including a substrate, which may include tobacco pellets and aerosol-forming material disposed in a substrate cavity between the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment and includes a foil strip laminated thereon; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the mouth-end segment using tipping material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Billy Tyrone Conner, Andries Don Sebastian, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Timothy Frederick Thomas, James Richard Stone, Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Yi-Ping Chang, Vernon Brent Barnes, Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, David Neil McClanahan, Carolyn Rierson Carpenter, Timothy Brian Nestor, Jackie Lee White
  • Patent number: 8113217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter-tip cigarette with a tobacco rod (1) wrapped in a cigarette paper and a filter (6) wrapped along its length in tipping paper (4) or other wrapper being other than plugwrap, and a strip of material (5) fully covering the tipping paper of the filter and the cigarette paper of the wrapped tobacco rod in the region of the abutment between tobacco rod and filter bonds together the filter and tobacco rod. In addition, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of such a filter, which may also be employed for the manufacture of ‘double unit cigarettes’.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventor: Horst Grzonka
  • Patent number: 8100134
    Abstract: A cigarette includes a rod comprising a wrapped tobacco column that is joined to an axially aligned filter by a band of air impermeable tipping paper. The filter end of the rod is inserted into a mouthpiece having an air impermeable outer surface that comprises a ventilation tube and a second filter, separated by a mixing chamber. The ventilation tube has an air permeable annular wall that defines a central axial passage through which the rod extends. In use, the end surface of the annular wall at the rod end of the ventilation tube, which extends radially outward around the rod, acts as a ventilation surface through which air is drawn into the mixing chamber, where it mixes with mainstream smoke from the burning tobacco rod. The air/smoke mixture is drawn through the second filter into the consumer's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Cédric Meyer, Antoun Frédéric, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Publication number: 20120006344
    Abstract: A smoking article provides one or more sheets of material that can be rolled and packaged, at least one sheet including cellulose. In one embodiment, cellulose and tobacco sheet material are separately rolled layers that can optionally be wrapped around a form casing (or pre-rolled inside) and then packaged. In another embodiment, the sheet is a laminated sheet of tobacco and cellulose layers that can be optionally wrapped around (or pre-rolled inside) a form casing. These sheets can be filled with custom tobacco to make one or more new cigars for an end user. In another embodiment, a complete cigar filled with tobacco material can be disassembled by an end user to produce tobacco and cellulose sheets, enabling the end user to form two new cigars using his or her own custom tobacco.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: BLUNT WRAP U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110305888
    Abstract: A recycling program provides a monetary incentive to encourage recycling of target waste materials, such as paper, glass and plastic products. A precious metal, such as gold, silver, platinum or palladium, is incorporated into the target waste material during manufacturing to provide an incentive for recycling the target material. A visual marking is placed on the target material to distinguish from other waste items that do not contain a precious metal. A deposit is collected from consumers when purchasing the target material, and the deposit is paid back when the target material is delivered to a recycling collection point. Recycling of the target material is encouraged by efforts to reclaim the precious metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Mike Lafebere
  • Publication number: 20110271971
    Abstract: A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source configured to be activated by combustion of a smokable material and an insulation layer of a non-glass material that is woven, knit, or both, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment with aerosol-forming material disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Billy Tyrone Conner, Andries Don Sebastian
  • Patent number: 7987856
    Abstract: A smoking article having a tobacco rod of a smokable material and a filter system attached to the tobacco rod of smokable material. The filter system includes a first filter portion and a second filter portion, the second filter portion concentrically positioned with respect to the first filter portion and having a lower resistance to draw than the first filter portion during an initial puff on the smoking article. The second filter portion closes upon contact with the mainstream smoke of the initial puff, such that after the initial puff, the first filter portion has the lower resistance to draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Shalva Gedevanishvili, Mohammad R. Hajaligol
  • Publication number: 20110174324
    Abstract: A degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow and a plug wrap surrounding the filter element, and a pill dispersed in the tow. The pill includes a material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate tow that is encapsulated with an inner layer of a water soluble or water permeable material and an outer layer of a cellulose acetate having a D.S. in the range of 2.0-2.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Raymond M. Robertson
  • Patent number: 7980250
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter which has a tar retention of at most 50% and comprises a relatively high draw resistance downstream filtering plug of at most 50% tar retention, a relatively low draw resistance upstream filter plug of at most 22% tar retention spaced longitudinally upstream therefrom, and a filter wrapper engaging around and joining the spaced plugs to define a cavity therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Filtrona International Limited
    Inventor: Paul Francis Clarke
  • Publication number: 20110108044
    Abstract: The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Alan Benson Norman, Bradley James Ingebrethsen