Patents Assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11785978
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11785988
    Abstract: A security device for an aerosol generation device includes an engagement assembly configured to releasably engage a portion of the aerosol generation device and a locking assembly operably coupled to the engagement assembly. The locking assembly is configured to have a locked state in which the engagement assembly is affixed to the portion of the aerosol generation device, and an unlocked state in which the engagement assembly is released from being affixed to the portion of the aerosol generation device. The engagement assembly is further configured to perform a benefit denial function responsive to removal of the security device from the aerosol generation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Lukan, TJ Root, Patrick Bailey, Rae McNeil, Benjamin Gatti
  • Patent number: 11779051
    Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: 11783395
    Abstract: Identity information can be stored in a decentralized structure. The identity information may include age verification information for the purchase or operation of certain tobacco products, such as an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, which may include aerosol delivery devices. The tobacco products or devices may have an age verification requirement or other identity requirements needed to authenticate a user and that information must be stored. A decentralized structure for storing the identity information may improve the security of that identity information while also providing a mechanism for accessing the information for verification or authentication purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Sawyer Hubbard, Jared Aller, Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11771132
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol delivery devices having a variety of configurations and arrangements. Some aspects of the disclosure provide aerosol delivery devices having a first pump configured to deliver a flow of air; a second pump configured to deliver a flow of liquid; and a nozzle configured to receive the flow of air and the flow of liquid and output the liquid in an atomized form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
  • Patent number: 11771136
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides aerosol delivery devices having a variety of configurations and arrangements. Some aspects of the disclosure provide aerosol delivery devices having a housing with an air pathway extending at least partially therethrough, a reservoir configured to contain a content of a liquid composition, an intermediate chamber configured to temporarily store a fractional content of the liquid composition, a micropump interconnecting the reservoir and the intermediate chamber and configured to deliver the fractional content of the liquid composition from the reservoir to the intermediate chamber under pressure, and a mesh layer positioned at least partially between the intermediate chamber and the air pathway, the mesh layer being adapted to transfer the liquid composition received from the immediate chamber into the air pathway forming an aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Cassidy S. McMahan
  • Patent number: 11758936
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11764687
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes an aerosol precursor composition and a quasi-resonant flyback converter configured to cause components of the aerosol precursor composition to vaporize to produce an aerosol. The quasi-resonant flyback converter includes a transformer including an induction transmitter and an induction receiver, a capacitor that with the induction transmitter forms a tank circuit. The quasi-resonant flyback converter also includes a transistor that is switchable in cycles to cause the induction transmitter to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the induction receiver when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field, the alternating voltage causing the induction receiver to generate heat and thereby vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11759584
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Taylor Hunt, Timothy Brian Nestor, Paul Andrew Brinkley, Stephen Benson Sears, John DePiano, Matthew C. Ebbs, Kristen Dodds Weight, Michael F. Davis
  • Patent number: 11754540
    Abstract: A system for testing a vapor product with a mouthpiece that has a non-circular cross section includes an adaptor coupled to a neck portion of a filter pad holder. The adaptor includes a nose to receive the neck portion and an adaptor body coupled to the nose. An opening is defined by the adaptor body and the nose, the opening extending through the adaptor body and the nose and configured to receive the neck portion. A sealing member is configured to be received by the adaptor and the filter pad holder. The sealing member includes a sealing member nose configured to be received by the neck portion, and a sealing member body coupled to the sealing member nose and configured to be received by the opening. The sealing member body defines an orifice, the orifice extending through the sealing member body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Sean Smith, Jason M. Short, Robert Underly
  • Patent number: 11754635
    Abstract: A system for testing a aerosol delivery device includes a test fixture configured to couple to a power unit for an aerosol delivery device and a vacuum source configured to fluidly couple to the power unit. The vacuum source induces a vacuum within the power unit. A power storage device is configured to electrically couple to the power unit, the power storage device configured to store power provided by the power unit. A power measurement device is electrically coupled to the power storage device, and the power measurement device is configured to measure the power stored in the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Jacob A. Meadows
  • Patent number: 11707088
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol precursor consumable, and an aerosol delivery device that comprises a control unit that defines a receiving chamber, and a removable and replaceable aerosol precursor consumable, at least a portion of the consumable configured to be received into the receiving chamber. The aerosol precursor consumable comprises a housing defining an outer wall, an aerosol precursor composition reservoir located in the housing and configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition, an atomizer located in the housing, and at least one aroma diffuser. The atomizer is configured to vaporize the aerosol precursor composition to generate an aerosol for oral delivery to a user, and the at least one aroma diffuser is configured to diffuse an aroma composition for olfactory delivery to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
  • Patent number: 11703633
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices comprising a power unit and a cartridge that is configured for engagement with the power unit. In particular, the cartridge can be configured for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof so as to be insertable into a chamber of the power unit in a plurality of different orientations. Further, the aerosol delivery device can include processing circuitry that can be configured for detection of the cartridge orientation and execution of a control function assigned to the respective orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Michael Ryan Galloway, Jason L. Wood, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11696604
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and related methods and computer program products for controlling an aerosol delivery device based on input characteristics. For example, a method may include an aerosol delivery device determining a characteristic of a user input to the aerosol delivery device. The method may further include the aerosol delivery device determining a control function having a defined association with the characteristic. The method may additionally include the aerosol delivery device performing the control function in response to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Frederic Philippe Ampolini
  • Patent number: 11690405
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes sensor(s) to produce measurements of properties during use of the device, and processing circuitry to record data for a plurality of uses of the device, for each use of which the data includes the measurements of the properties. The processing circuitry is configured to build a machine learning model to predict a target variable, using a machine learning algorithm, at least one feature selected from the properties, and a training set produced from the measurements of the properties. The processing circuitry is configured to then deploy the machine learning model to predict the target variable, and control at least one functional element of the device based thereon. The device may also include a digital camera to capture an image of a face of an attempted user to enable facial recognition to alter a locked state of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11684087
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 11684731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Taylor Hunt, Timothy Brian Nestor, Paul Andrew Brinkley, Stephen Benson Sears, John DePiano, Matthew C. Ebbs, Kristen Dodds Weight, Michael F. Davis
  • Patent number: 11684732
    Abstract: A control body is coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, with the cartridge being equipped with a heating element. The control body includes first and second positive conductors connectable with respectively a power supply and the heating element. The control body includes a series pull-up resistor and switch connected to and between the first and second positive conductors. A microprocessor is configured to operate the switch in a closed state in a standby mode in which the pull-up resistor causes a logical high level of voltage at the second positive conductor when the control body and cartridge are uncoupled, and in which the heating element is unpowered causes a logical low level of the voltage when the control body and cartridge are coupled. The microprocessor is configured to measure the voltage and control operation of functional element(s) of the aerosol delivery device based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Frisbee, Paul Stapleton, Milton G. Carawan, Frederic Philippe Ampolini
  • Patent number: 11682946
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include an atomizer, a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition and an electrical circuit coupled to the atomizer. The electrical circuit may include an electrical generator assembly including a moveable input member and an electrical generator configured to produce an electrical current from movement of the moveable input member. The electrical circuit may be configured to direct the electrical current to the atomizer to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. A related aerosol production method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred C. Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 11678700
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridge comprises a mouthpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the mouthpiece having an exit portal defined therethrough, a tank defining a proximal end and a closed distal end, the tank being configured to contain a liquid composition that includes a distinctive characteristic, and a heater configured to heat the liquid composition. The distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to engage the proximal end of the tank, and when the cartridge is coupled with the aerosol delivery device at least one feature of the cartridge, or at least one feature of the control device, or at least one feature of both the cartridge and the control device, provides a visual indication of a color associated with the distinctive characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Aller, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Michael Ryan Galloway, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Thomas Michael McKeon