Patents Assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
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Patent number: 12011042Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device that comprises a housing defining an outer wall, and further including a power source and a control component, a mouthpiece portion that defines an aerosol exit path, a first reservoir configured to contain a first liquid composition, a second reservoir configured to contain a second liquid composition, a first atomization assembly configured to vaporize the first liquid composition to generate a first aerosol having a first aerosol particle size, and a second atomization assembly configured to vaporize the second liquid composition to generate a second aerosol having a second aerosol particle size. The first liquid composition may be different than the second liquid composition, and the first particle size may be different than the second particle size.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2022Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
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Patent number: 12005184Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. A system may include assembly cells each including an assembly track and assembly carriages that ride thereon and which engage components of partially-assembled cartridges. A transfer apparatus may transfer partially-assembled cartridges between the assembly cells. In another example system, cartridges may be assembled on platforms on a rotary track. The platforms may include assembly grippers with sequentially-opening clamps configured to receive the components of the partially-assembled cartridges. Related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: William Robert Collett, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr., Paul Andrew Brinkley, Jeffrey Edward Allgeyer, Ethan Matthew Bernhardt, Andrew Ross Matthews, Roger Ritter, Stephen Todd Schafer, Mathieu Leboeuf, Martin Lee Maple, Trenton S. Noonan, Kevin Paul Schafer
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Patent number: 12004572Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a cartridge coupled with a control body. The cartridge is equipped with a heating element, an authentication device and a second switching circuit. The control body includes a first switching circuit and is configured to exchange authentication signals with the authentication device to authenticate the cartridge for use with the control body and, only in instances in which the cartridge is authenticated, direct power to the heating element. The control body and the cartridge include respectively a two-wire electrical connector and a corresponding two-wire electrical connector coupled with one another, and across which the authentication signals are exchanged and the power is directed. The first switching circuit is coupled with the second switching circuit to form switching circuitry configured to manage the authentication signals and the power across the two-wire electrical connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: James W. Rogers, Percy Phillips
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Patent number: 11998687Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a housing enclosing a reservoir retaining an aerosol precursor composition. A first power-source terminal connects a power source to the aerosol delivery device. A heating element is configured to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. A switch is coupled between the first power-source terminal and the heating element. A micro pump is arranged between the reservoir and the heating element to deliver aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to the heating element. A driver circuit is coupled between the first power-source terminal and the micro pump, to drive the micro pump. A control component includes processing circuitry configured to switchably control the driver circuit to drive the micro pump, and switchably control the switch to connect the power source to the heating element and thereby power the heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.Inventor: Rajesh Sur
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Patent number: 11998686Abstract: A contained liquid system for use with a refillable aerosol delivery device is provided. The contained liquid system includes an aerosol delivery device having an adapter therein for receiving aerosol precursor composition within a reservoir of the aerosol delivery device, and a container of aerosol precursor composition having a corresponding adapter therein for transferring aerosol precursor composition from the container. The adapter and the corresponding adapter are removably, sealably connectable for refilling the aerosol delivery device with aerosol precursor composition. The adapter engages a valve of the corresponding adapter and includes a body defining separate and distinct filling airflow ports. The filling port transfers aerosol precursor composition from the container into the aerosol delivery device. The airflow port enables a flow of air through at least the portion of the aerosol delivery device when the adapter and valve are disengaged.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: John Brice O'Brien, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
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Patent number: 11992607Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Jason L. Wood, Alan Curtis Billings
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Patent number: 11992061Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes at least one housing structured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, and an atomizer. A microprocessor is configured to operate in an active mode in which the control body is configured to control the atomizer to activate and produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. A heart rate monitor is configured to obtain biopotential measurements from a user, the biopotential measurements forming an identifier of the user. The microprocessor is operably coupled with the heart rate monitor and is configured to perform a biometric authentication of the user based on the identifier, and to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the biopotential measurements, with the controlling operation of at least one functional element including altering a locked state of the aerosol delivery device based on the biometric authentication.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2023Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Sawyer A. Hubbard, Kyung Soo Hong, Stephen B. Sears
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Patent number: 11986009Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
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Patent number: 11986012Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a control body, an atomizer body including an atomizer, and a cartridge including a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The control body may be configured to releasably engage the atomizer body and the atomizer body may be configured to releasably engage the cartridge. The atomizer may be configured to receive an electrical current from the control body and the aerosol precursor composition from the cartridge to produce an aerosol.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: James William Rogers, Noah Mark Minskoff
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Patent number: 11989990Abstract: A charger for an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, which may include aerosol delivery devices provides functionality for authentication, including age verification. Such devices may be restricted based on age or other factors that require some form of authentication, verification, and/or identification to satisfy the restriction. The accessory or charger may provide or connect with a verification system for confirming an age of a user. If the authentication or verification is not satisfied, the charger or accessory will not charge the device, rendering it unusable.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Sawyer Hubbard, Leigh Ann Joyce, Jared Aller, Jake Novak, Sean Daugherty
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Patent number: 11980220Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
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Patent number: 11974603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Jared Aller, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Michael Ryan Galloway, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Thomas Michael McKeon
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Patent number: 11969545Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device that includes a housing including a power source and a control component, a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, a liquid delivery component including a micropump, and an atomizing assembly including a vibrating component and a mesh plate. The micropump is configured to be controlled by the control component to deliver at least a portion of the liquid composition to the atomizing assembly, the atomizing assembly is configured to be controlled by the control component to vaporize the portion of the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the micropump and the atomizing assembly are integrated together using a common element. In another implementation, the micropump comprises a biomimetic micropump. In some implementations, the biomimetic micropump may include a xylem model structure and a leaf model structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Justin Dakota Holt, Andries Don Sebastian, Stephen B. Sears, Vahid Hejazi, Rajesh Sur, Cassidy S. McMahan, S. Keith Cole
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Patent number: 11964301Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device that may comprise a housing defining an outer wall and further including a power source and a control component. The device also includes a mouthpiece portion that defines an exit aerosol path, a tank portion that includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, and an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. The atomization assembly includes a mesh plate and a vibrating component, wherein the mesh plate and the vibrating component are configured to be separable from each other at a detachable interface. The detachable interface may be located at various locations of the device, including between the mouthpiece portion and the tank portion, within the mouthpiece portion, within the tank portion, within a separable atomization assembly, within a cartridge, within a control unit, or between a cartridge and a control unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
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Patent number: 11964098Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of producing such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition that is contained in a reservoir and transported to a heating element by a liquid transport element. The liquid transport element may include a porous monolith.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Percy D. Phillips, James W. Rogers, Frederic P. Ampolini, David A. Clemens, William K. Carpenter, Owen L. Joyce, Michael L. King, Sean M. Ahr
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Patent number: 11967793Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device comprises a control device that includes an outer housing defining a cartridge receiving chamber, and further includes a power source and a control component, and a cartridge that includes a mouthpiece, a tank, a heating assembly, and a bottom cap. The mouthpiece defines an exit portal in an end thereof, and the tank is configured to contain a liquid composition therein. The cartridge is configured to be removably coupled with the receiving chamber of the control device, and the heating assembly defines a vaporization chamber and is configured to heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. The heating assembly comprises a substantially planar heating member and a liquid transport element, wherein the heating member is installed in a bowed orientation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Jared Aller, Michael Ryan Galloway, Justin Holt, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Steven Michael Schennum
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Patent number: 11950633Abstract: An atomizer and an aerosol delivery device are described, where the atomizer has a fluid transport element formed from a rigid monolith having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The atomizer also has a heater. The heater provides a substantially planar heating surface. The heating surface is positioned to face the first side of the rigid monolith.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventor: Vahid Hejazi
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Publication number: 20240099375Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Eric Taylor Hunt, William Robert Collett, Yi-ping Chang, Kristen Dodds Weight, Jeffrey A. Karg, Graham P. Eacock, Matthew C. Ebbs, Robert C. Uschold, Walker MacLaughlin Sloan, III
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Patent number: 11937647Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, a valve configured to control a flow of aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a sensor configured to measure reflectance or temperature at the heating element and generate a signal corresponding to the reflectance or temperature so measured, and a control component. The control component controls operation of the valve including receiving the signal and based thereon determining a volume of aerosol precursor composition at the heating element, and causing the valve to decrease or increase a rate of the flow of aerosol precursor composition in response to the volume being respectively above or below a predetermined threshold volume.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
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Patent number: 11935350Abstract: An aerosol delivery or electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device may include smoking articles that produce aerosol. The device may operate upon authentication. The authentication may first include an age verification before an authentication allows for operation of the device. The authentication may include a control signal communication to the device. The control signal communication may include an audio signal, such as an authentication tone that is detected by a microphone or pressure sensor on the device. The control signal communication may include a visual, optical, or light signal that is detected by a light sensor or photodiode on the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.Inventor: Sawyer Hubbard