Patents Assigned to Philip Morris USA Inc.
  • Method and apparatus for storage of data for manufactured items
    Patent number: 10380095
    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: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Erwan Fradet, Alain Sager, Patrick Mauroux, Patrick Chanez, Philippe Chatelain
  • Electrically heated smoking system
    Patent number: 10368584
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Marc-Robert Chemla, Fredrik Stahle
  • Reclosable container
    Patent number: 10358283
    Abstract: A reclosable container for consumer items includes a box, a lid hingedly connected to the box, an inner liner wrapped around the consumer items, the inner liner including a section defining an opening for allowing access to the consumer items, means to open and reclose the opening, and an inner frame attached to the box. The inner frame includes a free inner frame portion protruding from the box towards the opening in the inner liner. The free inner frame portion includes a cut out and the inner frame is attached to the inner liner proximate to the cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Bodo-Werner Lutzig
  • CULTURED TOBACCO CELLS AS A MATRIX FOR CONSUMABLE PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20190218509
    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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Alec J. Hayes, Maria Shulleeta, Jason Flora
  • NOVEL FILTER SEGMENT INCLUDING A SUBSTRATE LOADED WITH A SMOKE-MODIFYING AGENT
    Publication number: 20190191759
    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: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Clement BESSO, Charles KUERSTEINER
  • Smoking article with flavor delivery system
    Patent number: 10321710
    Abstract: A flavor delivery release system for a cigarette or cigarette package. The system includes a cigarette, at least one capsule containing a flavorant, the capsule positioned on an external surface of the cigarette; and wherein the flavorant is released upon rupturing the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Gerd Kobal
  • SOFT, CHEWABLE AND ORALLY DISSOLVABLE AND/OR DISINTEGRABLE PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20190175498
    Abstract: A soft, chewable and orally dissolvable and/or disintegrable product includes a biopolymer-sugar based matrix and botanical powder dispersed throughout the biopolymer-sugar based matrix. The biopolymer-sugar based matrix includes at least one biopolymer, at least one sugar and optional additives. Soft, chewable and orally dissolvable and/or disintegrable product can also include flavor beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Gao, Shalva Gedevanishvili, Shengsheng Liu, Munmaya K. Mishra, William R. Sweeney, Randall Baren, Qinglin Li, Darin Colassaco, Salem Chouchane
  • Smoking article with heat resistant sheet material
    Patent number: 10314331
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a sheet material including a fibrous layer formed of cellulosic fibers 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: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Poget, Alexandre Malgat, Christoph Sorg, Andreas Hofenauer, David Croll, Rolf Gericke
  • Shaped heater for an aerosol generating system
    Patent number: 10306707
    Abstract: A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Olivier Greim, Felix Fernando, Charles Higgins
  • Elongate heater for an electrically heated aerosol-generating system
    Patent number: 10299511
    Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes a heating element including a first electrically conductive element electrically insulated from a second electrically conductive element by an electrically insulating portion. The first and second elements are elongate and are electrically connected to each other by an electrically resistive portion. At least one electrically conductive element and the electrically resistive portion are arranged such that they are at least partially in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Olivier Greim, Julien Plojoux, Dani Ruscio
  • Compound horizontal filter assembly machine and process
    Patent number: 10299507
    Abstract: An apparatus and processes for producing compound cigarette filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments onto the horizontally oriented transverse flutes of a continuous belt. Spaced apart hoppers are serially arranged above the belt, and each hopper contains at least one of the multiple segments of the compound filter being assembled. A transfer structure between each hopper and the belt serially delivers the filter segments to the flutes on the belt, and after such assembly the various filter segments are removed as a group from each flute of the continuous belt. The filter segments are then combined as a group with wrapped tobacco rods to thereby produce filtered cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Braunshteyn, Raquel M. Olegario
  • Encapsulated flavorant designed for thermal release and cigarette bearing the same
    Patent number: 10285431
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additives is provided through encapsulation. The encapsulated additives can be formed by encapsulating additives using co-ionic cross-linking, in-situ overcoating, and/or step-growth overcoating. By encapsulating additives, additives can be made heat and moisture stable and migration and/or loss of the additives within a cigarette, such as an activated carbon containing cigarette, can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Jay A Fournier, Kathy E. Paine
  • Methods for preparing pecific polypeptide-binding antibodies
    Patent number: 10287598
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to transgenic plants, including transgenic tobacco plants and derivative seeds, genetically modified to impede the transport of Cadmium (Cd) from the root system to aerial portions of transgenic plants by reducing the expression levels of HMA-related transporters. Various embodiments are directed to transgenic tobacco plants genetically modified to stably express a RNAi construct encoding RNAi polynucleotides that enable the degradation of endogenous NtHMA RNA variants. Reduced expression of NtHMA transporters in transgenic plants results in substantially reduced content of Cadmium (Cd) in the leaf lamina. Various consumable products that are substantially free or substantially reduced in Cd content can be produced by incorporating leaves derived from transgenic tobacco plants modified to reduce the expression of NtHMA transporters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Alec J. Hayes, Rutger S. van der Hoeven
  • INDIRECTLY HEATED CAPILLARY AEROSOL GENERATOR
    Publication number: 20190133196
    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: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Inhibition of Undesired Sensory Effects By The Compound Camphor
    Publication number: 20190133175
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product or medicinal nicotine product includes nicotine and camphor dissolved in a non-flavored oily carrier. Preferably, the camphor is present in a concentration ranging from about 600 ppm to about 1300 ppm. Also disclosed are methods of making such products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd Kobal, Prasad Polur, Maria Gogova, Diana McKinney
  • Cultured tobacco cells as a matrix for consumable products
    Patent number: 10280396
    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: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Alec J. Hayes, Maria Shulleeta, Jason W. Flora
  • Reclosable container
    Patent number: 10273074
    Abstract: A reclosable container for consumer items includes a box, a lid hingedly connected to the box, an inner liner wrapped around the consumer items, the inner liner including a section defining an opening for allowing access to the consumer items, means to open and reclose the opening, and an inner frame attached to the box. The inner frame includes a free inner frame portion protruding from the box towards the opening in the inner liner. The free inner frame portion includes a cut out and the inner frame is attached to the inner liner proximate to the cut out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Bodo-Werner Lutzig
  • Tobacco with an increased level of natural tar diluents
    Patent number: 10271573
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for preparing tobacco such that components of tobacco tar are reduced, while maintaining the total tar delivery of a composition or device containing tobacco treated with one or more natural tar diluents. Artificial tar diluents can also be used in combination with one more natural tar diluents. The tobacco compositions have decreased levels of tobacco specific nitrosamines and/or other components found in tar when the composition is smoked, while maintaining the total tar delivery of the smoking article, such as a cigarette, when using a tar diluent at a level sufficient to achieve desired taste qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Lipowicz
  • SMOKING ARTICLE INCLUDING ALKANOYLATED GLYCOSIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING
    Publication number: 20190116867
    Abstract: A method of smoking a smoking article comprising a filter containing a carbon sorbent and a tobacco rod containing at least one alkanoylated glycoside in a smoking composition comprising tobacco, the method comprising combusting the tobacco and passing tobacco smoke through the filter. Optionally, dry hops extract can also be included in the smoking composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: W. Geoffrey Chan, Christophe Galopin, Andreas Czepa, Mike Nuckols, Beverley Woodson
  • ADDITIVES FOR TOBACCO CUT FILLER
    Publication number: 20190116866
    Abstract: Tobacco smoking mixtures capable of producing tobacco smoke are provided which reduce the cytotoxicity and/or mutagenicity of the tobacco smoke. The tobacco smoking mixtures include tobacco cut filler and glycerin in an amount effective to reduce cytotoxicity and/or mutagenicity of smoke produced by the tobacco smoking mixture. The tobacco smoking mixtures enable a further reduction in cytotoxicity and/or mutagenicity when glycerin is combined with palladium or salts of calcium and/or magnesium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: San Li, Raquel Olegario, Joseph L. Banyasz, Kenneth H. Shafer