Patents Assigned to ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
  • Patent number: 12193476
    Abstract: An exemplary smoking article includes a smoking rod filled with a combination including tobacco filler material and cellulose filler material. The tobacco filler material and cellulose filler material can be arranged such that the constituent material particles are generally distributed throughout the smoking rod, the tobacco filler material at least partially surrounds the cellulose filler material along a length of the smoking rod, and/or the cellulose filler material particles have a higher concentration along a central axis of the smoking rod than the tobacco filler material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Shaoyong Yu, Bernard S. Appleton, Weiling Li
  • Patent number: 12193517
    Abstract: A device assembly includes a controller, which is configured to control the non-nicotine electronic vaping device to output an indication of a current level of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation in the non-nicotine reservoir of a non-nicotine pod assembly in response to determining that an aggregate amount of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the non-nicotine reservoir or an aggregate amount of vaporized non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation is greater than or equal to the at least one non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Niall Gallagher, Terrance Theodore Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 12193492
    Abstract: A cartridge for use with an aerosol generating device includes a housing defining a closed end, an open end, and an aperture between the closed end and the open end. The cartridge further includes a composition including nicotine in the housing in proximity to the closed end. The cartridge also includes a flow control apparatus in the housing. The flow control apparatus includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal airflow passageway between the distal end and the proximal end. A seal is formed between an exterior of the flow control apparatus and an interior of the housing. The seal is between the open end of the housing and the aperture of the housing. A channel is at least partially defined by the interior of the housing. The channel is in communication with the aperture and directs air from the aperture towards the composition including nicotine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Onur Dayioglu, Jean-Yves Vollmer, Gerard Zuber
  • Patent number: 12193502
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device includes an inner frame defining an opening and a corrugated heater. The corrugated heater is supported by the inner frame and extends across at least a portion of the opening defined by the inner frame. An aerosol-forming substrate is at least partially disposed within the opening, such that the aerosol-forming substrate is on each side of the corrugated heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Zack Blackmon
  • Patent number: 12193480
    Abstract: A device comprises a sensor and processing circuitry coupled to the sensor. The sensor is configured to obtain authentication information from an identification label of a cartridge of an electronic vaping device. The processing circuitry is configured to perform authentication of the cartridge based on the authentication information; and determine whether to unlock a battery section of the electronic vaping device to power the cartridge based on a result of the authentication of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Arie Holtz, Bernard Juster, Shmuel Gavrielov
  • Patent number: 12200832
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a main body, a cartridge, and a connecting component. The main body includes a main body housing enclosing a power supply. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing enclosing a reservoir of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge is releasably connectable to the main body by the connecting component. The connecting component is fixed to the main body housing and is less stiff in at least one direction than the main body housing. The connecting component that is less stiff the main body housing and the cartridge housing can act as a shock absorber when the aerosol-generating system experiences a significant impact, such as when dropped on a surface. This reduces damage to other components of the system and, in particular, may prevent leaks of liquid resulting from damage to the liquid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Keethan Dasnavis Fernando, Guillaume Frederick, Alasdair David MacBean, Khai Shin Chong
  • Patent number: 12193473
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 12200828
    Abstract: A cartridge of an e-vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir in the housing, a heater in the housing, and an absorbent material at least partially surrounding the sinusoidal shaped member. The reservoir is configured to store a pre-vapor formulation. The heater has a sinusoidal shaped member translating about an elliptical shape to define a channel there through. The absorbent material is in fluid communication with the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Gavrielov, Yuval Malka, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Isaac Weigensberg, David Rubli, Moshe Eliyahu, Arye Weigensberg, Christopher S. Tucker
  • Patent number: 12194226
    Abstract: A capsule for a heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include a first frame, a second frame, a first heater, a second heater, and/or an aerosol-forming substrate. The first frame has a first interior face and a first exterior face. In addition, the first frame defines a first opening. The first heater may be secured to the first frame so as to cover the first opening. The second frame is connected to the first frame. The second frame has a second interior face and a second exterior face. Furthermore, the second frame defines a second opening. The second heater may be secured to the second frame so as to cover the second opening. The aerosol-forming substrate may be between the first heater and the second heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Griscik, Thien Nguyen, Carl Kite, David Alvarez, Terrance Bache, Zack Blackmon, Patrick Good, Raymond Lau, Eric Hawes, Cristian Popa, James Yorkshades, Adam Parrott
  • Patent number: 12193487
    Abstract: A cartridge of an e-vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir in the housing, a heater in the housing, and an absorbent material at least partially surrounding the sinusoidal shaped member. The reservoir is configured to store a pre-vapor formulation. The heater has a sinusoidal shaped member translating about an elliptical shape to define a channel there through. The absorbent material is in fluid communication with the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Gavrielov, Yuval Malka, Rangaraj Sundar, Isaac Weigensberg, David Rubli, Moshe Eliyahu, Arye Weigensberg, Scott A. Fath, Christopher S. Tucker, William J. Bogdziewicz
  • Patent number: 12193479
    Abstract: A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dwight David Williams, Charles David Howe
  • Patent number: 12195236
    Abstract: The insert includes a base with an upper brim, the base including a first depression extending from a first flat major surface of the upper brim, the first depression including a floor with walls that define a first cavity, the walls including a first pair of opposing walls and a second pair of opposing walls, the first pair of opposing walls taper towards each other along a longitudinal length of the first depression from a first end to a second end of the first depression, and a lid connected to the upper brim, the lid covering the first cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T Peeler, William J. Bogdziewicz, Christopher Simpson
  • Patent number: 12193519
    Abstract: A saturation sensor measures at least one electrical characteristic of the wick between the heating element and the probe wire at a first time and a second time, wherein the at least one electrical characteristic includes a resistance, a capacitance, or both a resistance and a capacitance. Control circuitry is configured to cause the nicotine e-vaping device to: calculate a refill rate at which the nicotine pre-vapor formulation flows onto the wick based on the at least one electrical characteristic at the first time and the at least one electrical characteristic at the second time; determine that the refill rate is less than a threshold refill rate; and output a low nicotine pre-vapor formulation alert in response to determining that the refill rate is less than the threshold refill rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Lacovara, Phillip Diana, Nam Tran
  • Patent number: 12193474
    Abstract: A stabilizing process for tobacco and tobacco products includes sterilizing the tobacco by applying an electron beam treatment to the tobacco. The process may also include treating the tobacco. The treating the tobacco includes pre-conditioning the tobacco, pasteurizing the tobacco, curing the tobacco, fermenting the tobacco, or combinations thereof. The method may also include forming a smokeless tobacco product containing the tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Yahya Karga, James Powell, Dongmei Xu, James A. Strickland, Ujwala Warek
  • Patent number: 12193489
    Abstract: The method includes defining a cavity within a housing of a vapor-generating article, the vapor-generating article having a first end, a second end and a middle section, first inserting at least one portion of a retention medium within the housing between the first end and the middle section, and second inserting a first frangible capsule to be near or at least partially within the retention medium, the first frangible capsule including a first volatile substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 12193518
    Abstract: The method includes first arranging pairs of conductors on an aerosol-generating device, and second arranging conductive portions in a physical pattern on a consumable, the physical pattern being configured to electrically connect to at least one first subset of the pairs of conductors to complete at least one first circuit, of a plurality of circuits, that identifies the consumable, the plurality of circuits including the conductive portions and the pairs of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Stephane Bilat
  • Patent number: 12193472
    Abstract: A liquid aerosol formulation for an electronic smoking article includes an aerosol former, water, nicotine, and an acid including tartaric acid. The acid is included in an amount sufficient to provide the liquid aerosol formulation with a pH ranging from about 4 to about 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Peter Lipowicz, Pauline Marcq, Gerd Kobal, Munmaya K. Mishra, Georgios D. Karles, San Li
  • Patent number: 12193475
    Abstract: A machine and method for packaging tobacco sachets, comprising a plurality of linearly arranged, multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers having fluid sealing means on lower portions thereof, conveyor means disposed below the plurality of multi-functional, vertically moveable chambers, and a lidding apparatus disposed downstream of and in communication with the plurality of vertically moveable chambers through the conveyor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Travis M. Garthaffner, Herbert Cary Longest
  • Patent number: 12200821
    Abstract: The method includes electrically connecting a first line and a second line to a first terminal and a second terminal, the first line and the second line being in parallel, first configuring an aerosol-generator and a first barrier element within the first line, and second configuring an identifying element and a second barrier element within the second line. The first barrier element and the second barrier element each have an asymmetric electrical conductance. The first and second configuring configures the aerosol-generating system so that a first electrical current applied through the first and second terminal in a first direction allows the first electrical current to pass through the identifying element without activating the aerosol-generator, and a second electrical current applied through the first and second terminal in a second direction allows the second electrical current to activate the aerosol-generator without the second electrical current passing through the identifying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 12195218
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford