Patents Assigned to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
  • Patent number: 12213509
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Dwayne William Beeson, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., Huamin Gan
  • Patent number: 12201143
    Abstract: A flavor delivery article is provided including a substantially rod-shaped carrier element and a wrapping element. The wrapping element surrounds at least a portion of the carrier element. The delivery article includes a flavor material within one or both of the carrier element and the wrapping element. The flavor delivery article is adapted for delivery of the flavor material to the mouth of a user under mouth conditions in the absence of combustion or other external heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventor: Dwayne William Beeson
  • Patent number: 12201138
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a smoking article rod is provided. A forming device is configured to engage a continuous stream of a smokable filler material with a first surface of a longitudinally-continuous web of a wrapping material, the web having first and second edge portions extending along the web, and a second surface opposing the first surface. A wrapping device is configured to longitudinally overlap the first and second edge portions such that the first surface about the first edge portion extends over the second surface about the second edge portion, to contain the smokable filler material within the web. An adhesive applicator device is configured to apply an adhesive material to the second surface about and longitudinally along the second edge portion, between the overlapped edge portions, prior to the wrapping device engaging the overlapped edge portions, with the adhesive material therebetween, to form a sealed seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven P. Bass, Paul Stuart Chapman
  • Patent number: 12178240
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a cigarette filter rod member defining a longitudinal axis. A rod-forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit configured to insert a carrier carrying a plurality of frangible microcapsule objects into the rod member. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Vernon Brent Barnes, Robert William Benford, Margarette Elisa Lovette, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr., Jerry Wayne Pipes, William Robert Collett
  • Patent number: 12180179
    Abstract: The invention provides certain nicotine salt co-crystals and provides novel polymorphic forms of certain nicotine salts. In particular, certain nicotine salt-co-crystals are described, including nicotine and two different coformers. The invention further provides methods of preparation and characterization of nicotine salts, co-crystals, and salt co-crystals. In addition, tobacco products, including smoking articles, smokeless tobacco products, and electronic smoking articles comprising nicotine salts, co-crystals, and/or salt co-crystals are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Dull, Susana del Rio Gancedo, Judit Galcera Julia
  • Patent number: 12178237
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides protein-enriched, tobacco-containing products, suitable for use as oral formulations. Products of the present disclosure typically include at least one tobacco material (e.g., a particulate tobacco material or a tobacco-derived extract), at least one protein-enriched material (e.g., a tobacco-derived protein-enriched material), and at least one sugar alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Gong Chen, Thaddeus Jude Jackson, Anthony Richard Gerardi, Kyle Ford, Barry Smith Fagg, Melissa Ann Clark
  • Patent number: 12178239
    Abstract: A system for portioning a beaded substrate in a rod. The system includes a suction conveyor belt. The suction conveyor belt includes a belt suction chamber, a first belt end, and a second belt end, the second belt end opposite and downstream of the first belt end. The system also includes a metering device configured to provide the beaded substrate to the suction conveyor belt, and more specifically to the first belt end. The metering device includes a reach and a hopper. The metering device may provide the beaded substrate to the first belt end prior to the suction conveyor belt biasing a filler material onto the first belt end. The system may further includes a cutting mechanism that cooperates with the metering device to position the beaded substrate a first distance away from a first cut end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: 12163167
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for expressing an endolysin in a bacterium or in a tobacco plant or plant part. Expression of the endolysin can reduce the total bacterial load on the plant and in tobacco products produced from the plant. Accordingly, the level of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA) in a cured tobacco product can be decreased when the tobacco leaves used in the product were harvested from a plant expressing endolysin or when bacteria modified to express endolysin is used to treat the tobacco. Thus, bacteria and tobacco plants and plant parts are provided that express an endolysin. Further provided are methods for decreasing the microbial load on a tobacco plant and in a tobacco product by applying a solution of bacteria modified to express an endolysin or by modifying a tobacco plant to express endolysins. Smokeless tobacco products including such modified tobacco plant parts are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Marshall, Anthony Richard Gerardi
  • Patent number: 12089628
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having opposed lighting and mouth ends, and including a mouth end portion at the mouth end. A tobacco portion is between the lighting end and the mouth end portion. An aerosol-generation system is between the lighting end and the tobacco portion. The aerosol-generation system includes a heat generation portion, comprising an elongate fluted member actuated by ignition of the lighting end. The fluted member defines grooves extending longitudinally between opposed first and second ends, with the first end being at the lighting end and the grooves being equidistantly spaced apart about the fluted member. Each groove has a maximum depth. The depth maxima of the grooves define a circle having a radius. The maximum depth of each groove is no more than the radius of the circle. A heat generation apparatus for an aerosol-generation system of a smoking article is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Billy Tyrone Conner, Timothy Franklin Tilley
  • Patent number: 12082607
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one implementation, the holder may include first and second body portions that may be rotatably attached at a hinge feature and that may define respective first and second ends. One or more of the first or second body portions may define a receiving compartment proximate a distal end thereof that is configured to receive the removable cartridge, and one or more of the first or second body portions may define an aerosol passage extending from the receiving compartment through the first end thereof. One or more of the first or second body portions may be configured to rotate relative to the other portion to and from an open position, in which the receiving compartment is accessible, and a closed position, in which the receiving compartment is substantially enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Billy T Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Edmond Strother Smith, III
  • Patent number: 12075819
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for use with an aerosol delivery device. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may comprise a holder, and a cartridge comprising an outer housing, a heat portion comprising a heat source, and a substrate portion comprising a substrate material including an aerosol precursor composition. The outer housing may comprise a heat end and a substrate end, wherein at least one of the ends of the outer housing includes at least one opening, and wherein the cartridge is configured to be removable and replaceable within the holder. Some implementations may include an intermediate housing, wherein the heat portion and the substrate portion are contained within the intermediate housing. Other implementations may include an inner housing, wherein an inner chamber is defined within the inner housing and an outer chamber is defined between the inner and outer housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Keri Meggan Cox, Jason Lee Wood
  • Patent number: 12077518
    Abstract: The invention provides certain nicotine salts, co-crystals, and salt co-crystals and provides novel polymorphic forms of certain nicotine salts. In particular, nicotine salts with orotic acid are described. The invention further provides methods of preparation and characterization of such nicotine salts. In addition, tobacco products, including smoking articles, smokeless tobacco products, and electronic smoking articles comprising nicotine salts, co-crystals, and/or salt co-crystals are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Dull, Andrew Carr, Emma Sharp
  • Patent number: 12065681
    Abstract: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate oxygenase (RuBisCO) protein fibers and a method of producing them are disclosed herein. The method of producing one or more RuBisCO protein fibers including obtaining RuBisCO, tbr example from tobacco, combining the RuBisCO with one or more plasticizers, heating the combination of the RuBisCO and the one or more plasticizers up to about 140 degrees C., filtering the heated combination through an about 20 ?m filter, and passing the filtered combination through an orifice to produce one or more RuBisCO protein fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, John Paul Mua, David Neil McClanahan, Sammy Eni Eni, Thaddeus J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 12059021
    Abstract: The disclosure describes methods for the purification of protein-enriched extracts to provide concentrates and isolates and methods for incorporation of such materials into products. The purification methods are adapted for removal of nicotine and may have other benefits, e.g., lightening the color of the protein-enriched extracts. The methods generally include treatment with peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide and filtrations. A protein composition in the form of a concentrate or isolate is provided, the protein composition including RuBisCO, F2 fraction proteins, or combination thereof extracted from a plant of the Nicotiana species, wherein the protein composition is characterized by relatively low nicotine content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Kyle Ford, John-Paul Mua, Nicholas Partain, Joshua D. Morton, Barry Bratcher
  • Patent number: 12048325
    Abstract: An aerosol-generation system for a smoking article comprises an aerosol-generating segment and a heat generation segment. The heat generation segment has a length and includes a heat source. The aerosol-generation system for a smoking article also comprises an insulator having at least a portion extending beyond the second end of the heat source, such that the portion is axially arranged in a lengthwise direction proximate to the aerosol-generating segment. Each segment is physically separate and in a heat exchange relationship. The heat source comprises a carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Stephen Benson Sears, Joanne Naomi Taylor
  • Patent number: 12048321
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco pastille can include (i) a tobacco material present in an amount of less than about 40 dry weight percent, based on the total dry weight of the pastille; (ii) at least one natural gum binder present in an amount of at least about 25 dry weight percent; and (iii) a plurality of sugar alcohols present in a total amount of at least about 40 dry weight percent, the predominant component of the plurality of sugar alcohols being isomalt or erythritol, wherein the shape of the smokeless tobacco pastille is moldable in the oral cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Marshall, Daniel Verdin Cantrell, Serban C. Moldoveanu
  • Patent number: 12022859
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides thermal energy absorbers for use in smoking articles. In an example embodiment, the smoking article may comprise an outer wrap circumscribing at least a portion of the smoking article, wherein the smoking article is defined by an upstream lighting end and a downstream mouth end, a carbon heat source positioned proximate the lighting end, a tobacco material positioned downstream of the carbon heat source and spatially separated from the mouth end of the smoking article, and a thermal energy absorber at least partially positioned between the tobacco material and the carbon heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Yi-Ping Chang, Luis Monsalud, Darrell Williams, Billy T. Conner, Karen Cleckley
  • Patent number: 12006636
    Abstract: A method of making a package including forming a moisture barrier coated paper material that includes a moisture barrier coated paper material including a base substrate, a first polymer coating, a second polymer coating, and a third polymer coating, the first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating applied over a first side of the base substrate, the first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating providing a barrier for moisture and air exchange through the paper material, the first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating providing heat and pressure sealability capabilities to the paper material, cutting a packaging blank from the paper material; folding the packaging blank into the package, and sealing the package by providing heat and pressure to overlapped portions of the paper material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Craig T. Demarest, Percy D. Phillips, Michael F. Davis, Pankaj C. Patel
  • Patent number: 11957163
    Abstract: The invention provides an article, such as an aerosol-generating smoking article that does not combust tobacco, that includes a tobacco rod and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end proximal to the tobacco rod and an end distal from the tobacco rod, wherein the filter element includes a first section of filter material and a second section of filter material, and further includes a smoke-altering flavorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Steven Lee Alderman, Leigh Ann Blevins Joyce, Stephen Benson Sears, Kenneth Allen Beard, Timothy Brian Nestor
  • Patent number: 11944119
    Abstract: Apparatuses are provided for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Cynthia Stewart Stokes, John Larkin Nelson, Vernon Brent Barnes, Michael Francis Dube