Patents Assigned to Philip Morris USA Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240415166
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a sheet material including a fibrous layer formed of cellulosic fibres and at least 50% by weight of inorganic filler material having a particle size in range of from 0.1 microns and 50 microns, wherein the sheet material has a tensile strength of at least 900 N/m. The fibrous layer includes a binder material, such as an organic binder material. The organic binder material can be a cellulosic binder material. A coating layer may be provided on at least one side of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent POGET, Alexandre MALGAT, Christoph SORG, Andreas HOFENAUER, David CROLL, Rolf GERICKE
  • Publication number: 20240415170
    Abstract: A filter segment for use in a filter of a smoking article includes a substrate loaded with at least one smoke-modifying agent. The substrate is located within the body of the filter segment and is formed from filter plug wrap having an air permeability ranging from about 6,000 Coresta units to about 24,000 Coresta units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Clement BESSO, Charles KUERSTEINER
  • Publication number: 20240411742
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for storing data for a batch of manufactured items. The method comprises defining in a processor, using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range. The item identifiers are stored in allocated storage space. If an upper limit identifier is specified for each time interval, an amount of storage specified for all manufactured items during a production time period is calculated as a sum of a first product and a second product, the first product being a product of a production time and a size allocated to each upper limit identifier, and the second product being a product of the production time, a total number of manufactured items, and a percentage of unused identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Erwan FRADET, Alain SAGER, Patrick MAUROUX, Patrick CHANEZ, Philippe CHATELAIN
  • Patent number: 12161145
    Abstract: An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd Kobal, Justin Heynekamp, Timothy B. Langston, Peter Reeh, Munmaya K. Mishra, Jason W. Flora
  • Publication number: 20240378543
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying manufactured items in containers, where each container is suitable for containing two or more units, and where the method comprises the steps of: associating each unit with a unique unit identifier, uniquely identifying each unit, allocating two or more units to be contained in each container, uniquely identifying each container, for each container, determining one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container, and storing, in a database, a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container. There is also provided methods and apparatus for authenticating, tracking and tracing the units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick CHANEZ, Alain SAGER, Philippe CHATELAIN, Erwan FRADET
  • Publication number: 20240359852
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is then deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Barry SMITH
  • Publication number: 20240359836
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content is provided. An endless web substrate, with or without flavor film thereon, is formed into a tubular shape with a longitudinal seam. The tube is cut to individual lengths, and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end, filled and crimp-closed at the other end to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam of the pouch is midway between the sides of the pouch and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends of the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Dwight D. WILLIAMS, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, David J. WEBB, Carl G. MILLER
  • Patent number: 12121040
    Abstract: A process for preparing an orally-enjoyable film of encapsulated plant material includes combining particles of finely divided plant material, a first coating material, and a second coating material, then inducing gelation to form a gel matrix of the particles coated with the first coating material embedded in the second coating material, followed by forming a film from the gel matrix. Also disclosed is a film of coated particles of finely-divided plant material, made of a gel matrix of plant material at least partially surrounded by a first coating material and embedded in a second coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Tapashi Sengupta, Munmaya K. Mishra, William R. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 12116154
    Abstract: An oral pouch product having a soft edge includes an inner filling material enclosed inwardly of at least one seam between opposed layers of porous pouch wrapper. The at least one seam is separated from the periphery of the porous pouch wrapper by an unbonded area of the opposed layers so as to form a soft edge of the pouch wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando L. Chappell, Sr., Danielle R. Crawford
  • Patent number: 12116591
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to consumable products incorporating a matrix of cultured tobacco cells. Any tobacco variety may be utilized for establishing in vitro tobacco cultures, including native tobacco varieties and genetically modified tobacco varieties derived from any tobacco variety. Various embodiments are directed to methods for producing tobacco products incorporating cellular material and/or extracts derived from tobacco cells cultured in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Alec J. Hayes, Maria Shulleeta, Jason W. Flora
  • Publication number: 20240335626
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20240334962
    Abstract: A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user's mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Munmaya K. MISHRA, Biao DUAN, Daqing WU, William R. SWEENEY
  • Patent number: 12106311
    Abstract: Manufactured goods are marked or labeled with a secure unique identifier. A central checking centre allows users to verify the authenticity of a particular good such as a cigarette pack or carton via any convenient interface such as the internet or a cell phone. A system of secret sharing allows secure authentication of each item and prevents code breaking or misuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Sager, Philippe Chatelain, Erwan Fradet
  • Patent number: 12097309
    Abstract: An aerosol generator includes a composite conduit to transport multiple liquids to a heating element at flow rates such that the liquids arrive at the heating element in desirable concentrations. The heating element volatilizes the liquids to form volatilized fluid, which mixes with ambient air to form an aerosol with desirable concentrations of the multiple liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zuyin Yang, Susan E. Wrenn
  • Patent number: 12090266
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Patent number: 12086751
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying manufactured items in containers, where each container is suitable for containing two or more units, and where the method comprises the steps of: associating each unit with a unique unit identifier, uniquely identifying each unit, allocating two or more units to be contained in each container, uniquely identifying each container, for each container, determining one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container, and storing, in a database, a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container. There is also provided methods and apparatus for authenticating, tracking and tracing the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Chanez, Alain Sager, Philippe Chatelain, Erwan Fradet
  • Patent number: 12075821
    Abstract: A filter segment for use in a filter of a smoking article includes a substrate loaded with at least one smoke-modifying agent. The substrate is located within the body of the filter segment and is formed from filter plug wrap having an air permeability ranging from about 6,000 Coresta units to about 24,000 Coresta units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Clement Besso, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Patent number: 12079190
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for storing data for a batch of manufactured items. The method comprises defining in a processor, using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range. The item identifiers are stored in allocated storage space. If an upper limit identifier is specified for each time interval, an amount of storage specified for all manufactured items during a production time period is calculated as a sum of a first product and a second product, the first product being a product of a production time and a size allocated to each upper limit identifier, and the second product being a product of the production time, a total number of manufactured items, and a percentage of unused identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Erwan Fradet, Alain Sager, Patrick Mauroux, Patrick Chanez, Philippe Chatelain
  • Patent number: 12077336
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is then deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Patent number: 12075817
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a sheet material including a fibrous layer formed of cellulosic fibres and at least 50% by weight of inorganic filler material having a particle size in range of from 0.1 microns and 50 microns, wherein the sheet material has a tensile strength of at least 900 N/m. The fibrous layer includes a binder material, such as an organic binder material. The organic binder material can be a cellulosic binder material. A coating layer may be provided on at least one side of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Poget, Alexandre Malgat, Christoph Sorg, Andreas Hofenauer, David Croll, Rolf Gericke