Patents Assigned to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
  • Patent number: 11412775
    Abstract: Isolated O-methylated flavonoid compounds and mixtures of o-methylated flavonoid compounds derived from a plant of the Nicotiana species and methods of obtaining such compounds are provided. The o-methylated flavonoids can be combined with tobacco materials to produce tobacco products (e.g., smoking articles) to enhance the sensory characteristics thereof. The o-methyl flavonoids can alternatively be combined with non-tobacco materials for dietary supplement and/or pharmaceutical use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Anthony Richard Gerardi
  • Patent number: 11395510
    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 a main body having a mouthend and a rotating end portion. The main body may define a receiving compartment configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge proximate a distal end of the main body. The main body may further define an aerosol passage extending from the receiving portion through the mouthend. The rotating end portion may be configured to rotate to and from an open position, in which the rotating end portion is turned outward so as to provide access to the receiving compartment, and a use position, in which the rotating end portion is turned inward so as to cover the heat source of an inserted cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Billy T. Conner, Thaddeus Jackson, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Taylor Leigh, Randall Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya
  • Patent number: 11388927
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a rod member used to manufacture cigarette filter elements, involve an insertion device for inserting objects into and along the rod member formed from a continuous filter material supply. The insertion device includes an insertion member adjacent to the filter material supply and defining a series of receptacles about a periphery thereof. The insertion member rotates in a first rotational direction to receive the objects in the receptacles at a first rotational position and to insert the objects from the receptacles into the rod member at a second rotational position. A cleaning element is adjacent to the insertion member between the second and first rotational positions in the first rotational direction, and engages each of the receptacles upon rotation of the insertion member between the second and first rotational positions to remove residual material from the receptacles prior to the first rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark F. Harris, Eric S. Welch
  • Patent number: 11383477
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing cigarette filter rods comprises providing a continuous supply of filter material in a direction of travel; forming the filter material into a continuous rod; and rotating a wheel in a vertical plane, in operable communication with the filter material such that a portion of the wheel contacts the filter material at a predetermined location, and such that general direction of travel of the rotating wheel and the filter material, when in contact, are in generally the same direction. The method also comprises providing a lower hopper in operable communication with the rotatable wheel; providing an upper hopper in operable communication with the lower hopper; and wrapping an overwrap material around the filter material. The method further comprises controlling speed of rotation of the wheel relative to feedback from an inspection system; and subdividing the continuous rod at pre-determined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Frederick Thomas, Robert William Benford, Barry Smith Fagg
  • Patent number: 11375741
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of obtaining and/or deriving proteins from plants of the Nicotiana species and methods for incorporation of such proteins into various products. For example, a method for obtaining a protein-enriched material from a plant of the Nicotiana species or portion thereof is provided, comprising: extracting one or more proteins from the plant material into a solvent to form a liquid protein-containing extract; separating a solid extracted plant material from the liquid protein-containing extract; clarifying the liquid protein-containing extract to form a clarified protein-containing extract and a solids fraction; and treating the clarified protein-containing extract so as to provide a protein-enriched material comprising at least about 60% protein by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Kyle Ford, Leigh Ann Blevins Joyce, Margarette Elisa Lovette, Joshua D. Morton, Leigh Hagan, Barry Bratcher, Samuel Mark Debusk
  • Patent number: 11375745
    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: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Billy Tyrone Conner, Timothy Franklin Tilley
  • Patent number: 11369136
    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: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: 11352614
    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, for 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: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, John P. Mua, David Neil McClanahan, Sammy Eni Eni, Thaddeus J. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20220170210
    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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Andries D. SEBASTIAN, Craig T. DEMAREST, Percy D. PHILLIPS, Michael F. DAVIS, Pankaj C. PATEL
  • Patent number: 11344057
    Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a releasable component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include a water-permeable fabric pouch formed so as to define a cavity therein, and a composition contained within the cavity of the water-permeable fabric pouch, the composition including one or more releasable components that are released from the composition under mouth conditions and that are capable of movement through the water-permeable fabric pouch. The composition includes nicotine and at least one particulate non-tobacco material. The pouched product also includes at least one capsule contained within the cavity of the water-permeable fabric pouch, the capsule having a capsule wall surrounding an inner payload comprising at least one botanical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Paul Stuart Chapman, David Troy Turfler
  • Publication number: 20220162577
    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: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne MARSHALL, Anthony Richard GERARDI
  • Patent number: 11330838
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a holder of a smoking article comprising a receiving end and a mouth end opposite the receiving end. The holder defines a socket that is configured to receive a proximal section of a cartridge. The holder has a lighting configuration in which the holder is configured to secure a proximal section of the cartridge to the holder with a heat source of the cartridge opposite the proximal section disposed beyond the receiving end of the holder. The holder has a received configuration in which the holder is configured to secure the proximal section of the cartridge in the socket with the heat source disposed proximate the receiving end of the holder. The receiving end comprises a substantially solid outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Keri Meggan Cox, Edmond Strother Smith, III, Zachary Kevin Francis, Thaddeus Jackson, Billy T Conner, Taylor Leigh, Randall M. Bachtel, Frank Bascas, Hannah Tam, Moises Araya
  • Patent number: 11324249
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising an aerosol source member. In an example embodiment, an aerosol source member of the present disclosure may comprise a substrate portion comprising a nanocellulose material impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition, a heat source configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition from the substrate portion forming an aerosol, and an aerosol pathway extending from the substrate portion to a mouth-end of the aerosol delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, John-Paul Mua, Luis Monsalud, Stephen Benson Sears, Jennifer Rowe, Cynthia Stokes
  • Patent number: 11278050
    Abstract: A method for reducing the content of nitrosamines in a tobacco material is provided herein, the method involving the steps of contacting a tobacco material with a treatment solution so as to form a treatment composition containing, in addition to the tobacco material, an acid, a complexing agent, a solvent, and, optionally, a salt, at a pH of about 5.5 or less, to obtain a tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is lower than the initial tobacco-specific nitrosamine content. The method can optionally include further processing of the tobacco material. Smoking articles and other tobacco products incorporating such treated tobacco materials are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John E Bunch, Robert Reinbold
  • Patent number: 11268245
    Abstract: Provided herein is a cigarette pack formed of a moisture barrier coated paper material. The paper material includes 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 provide a barrier for moisture and air exchange through the paper material. The first polymer coating, the second polymer coating, and the third polymer coating also provide heat and pressure sealability capabilities to the paper material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Craig T. Demarest, Percy D. Phillips, Michael F. Davis, Pankaj C. Patel
  • Patent number: 11225468
    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: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Dull, Susana del Rio Gancedo, Judit Galcera Julia
  • Patent number: 11219244
    Abstract: A method of forming a carbon material from the stalk or roots of a plant of the Nicotiana species is provided herein, wherein the method includes i) receiving a tobacco material comprising at least one of a stalk material and a root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species; and ii) pyrolyzing the tobacco material to remove volatiles and to form a tobacco-derived carbon material. Optionally, the method can further include activating the tobacco-derived carbon material. The tobacco-derived carbon material can be incorporated into a tobacco product. A carbon material derived from pyrolyzing a tobacco material in the form of at least one of a tobacco stalk material and a tobacco root material of a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species is also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Thomas Albert Perfetti, Rick Lehman, Bob Horvath
  • Publication number: 20220000175
    Abstract: A container configured to hold one or more units of a product is provided. The container may comprise a lid and a base. The lid and/or the base may be constructed from a pulp derived from a plant material. For example, the pulp derived from the plant material may be a wood pulp material. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Pankaj Patel, August Joseph Borschke
  • Patent number: 11197496
    Abstract: A smoking article is disclosed herein. The smoking article includes a shell defining an interior space, a consumable substance within the interior space, a heat source effective to increase the temperature of at least a portion of the shell, and a label attached to at least a portion of the shell. The label includes a base film, a cover film, and a temperature dependent material disposed between the base film and the cover film. The temperature dependent material is configured to transition between a first appearance and a second appearance responsive to the increase of the temperature of at least a portion of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Craig T. Demarest, Jarkko Tuominen, Annukka Kokkonen, Antti Sunnari, Sanna Uusitalo, Olli-Heikki Huttunen
  • Patent number: 11172702
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided for manufacturing a smokeless tobacco product including tobacco material and at least one object. A forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a pouch material into a continuous tubular member defining a longitudinal axis. A tobacco insertion unit is configured to introduce tobacco material into a pouch member portion of the tubular member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce objects into the tubular member, with at least one of the objects being introduced into the pouch member portion. A closing and dividing unit is configured to close and divide the tubular member at intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, to form the tubular member into a plurality of discrete pouch member portions such that each discrete pouch member portion includes the tobacco material and the at least one of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Novak, III, David Charles Bovender