Patents Assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11583003
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery devices comprise a control device that includes a battery, a control component, and an outer housing that defines receiving chamber, and a cartridge that includes a mouthpiece portion, a tank that contains a liquid composition, and a heater configured to heat the liquid composition. The cartridge and the control device each include at least one connector configured to provide a magnetic and an electrical connection between the cartridge and the control device such that the cartridge can be removably and operatively received into the cartridge receiving chamber of the control body, wherein the at least one connector of the cartridge is located on the mouthpiece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Matthew Joel Nettenstrom, Steven Michael Schennum, Thomas Michael McKeon, Zachary Hy Burchman
  • Patent number: 11588287
    Abstract: 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. An inlet airflow is defined by a gap between the cartridge and the control device that originates at an interface between an outer peripheral surface the mouthpiece and control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11589421
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device having a detachable power source is provided. A control body may be coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device. The cartridge may contain an aerosol precursor composition and be equipped with a heating element configured to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The control body may comprise a housing and a power source detachably coupled to an outer surface of the housing. A control component may be contained within the housing and configured to operate in an active mode in which the control body is coupled with the cartridge. The control component in the active mode may be configured to direct power from the power source to the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Percy D. Phillips, James W. Rogers, Lisa E. Brown, James Demopoulos
  • Patent number: 11588350
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a receptacle configured to receive a substrate configured to carry an aerosol precursor composition, and a resonant transformer including a transmitter coupling device and a resonant receiver coupling device that is positioned in proximity to the substrate when received in the receptacle. The aerosol delivery device also includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter configured to drive the resonant transformer. The PWM inverter includes a bridge circuit coupled to the transmitter coupling device, and a PWM controller embodied as an integrated circuit and configured to output a PWM signal to the bridge circuit configured to drive the transmitter coupling device to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver coupling device when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, James W. Rogers, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 11589425
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Patent number: 11547816
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes power-source terminals to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device, and a heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The device includes a micro pump to deliver aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to the heating element, and a driver circuit to drive the micro pump. The driver circuit includes a boost converter to step up voltage from the power source to the micro pump to thereby power the micro pump. And the device includes a control component with processing circuitry to control the driver circuit to switchably drive the micro pump to deliver the aerosol precursor composition to the heating element. The processing circuitry is also to switchably connect the power source to the heating element independent of the boost converter and thereby power the heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11553562
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that comprises a control body and an aerosol source member. The aerosol delivery device includes a resonant transformer comprising a resonant transmitter and a resonant receiver. The aerosol source member includes an inhalable substance medium at least a portion of which is positioned proximate the resonant transmitter. The resonant transmitter is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field and induce an alternating voltage in the resonant receiver when exposed to the oscillating magnetic field, such that the alternating voltage causes the resonant receiver to generate heat and thereby vaporize components of the inhalable substance medium to produce an aerosol. In some implementations, the resonant receiver comprises part of the control body. In other implementations, the resonant receiver comprises part of the aerosol source member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Andries Sebastian, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Kathryn Lynn Wilberding, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Curtis Foster Doe, Billy Tyrone Conner, Balager Ademe, Thaddeus Jude Jackson
  • Publication number: 20230000153
    Abstract: A connector in an electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) device, including aerosol delivery devices such as smoking articles that produce aerosol, may include multiple concentric pins, which each have multiple contact points for providing a more reliable connection and for preventing disruptions that may be caused from improper contacts. The connection may be between a cartridge and a battery portion of the aerosol delivery device or with a product use and behavior (“PUB”) instrument that can be attached to an aerosol delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Underly, Jeffrey S. Smith, Bradley Brown
  • Publication number: 20220401669
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices include mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Patent number: 11517688
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flavor delivery article, a cartridge, and/or an aerosol delivery device that includes such flavor delivery article or a component thereof. The flavor delivery article includes a flavor substrate that can be formed of a porous material optionally having a graded porosity across at least a portion thereof. The flavor substrate further includes a flavor material retained thereby. The flavor substrate may be positioned within an outer shell of the flavor delivery article, and the flavor delivery article may be positioned anywhere within an aerosol delivery device (or a mouthpiece or a cartridge of an aerosol delivery device) wherein the flavor substrate retaining the flavor material may be contacted by a gaseous stream, such as a vapor stream and/or aerosol stream formed in the aerosol delivery device so that the flavor material may become entrained in the vapor stream and/or aerosol stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Rebecca H. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11517053
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device comprises a control component and a digital pressure sensor. The digital pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure imposed thereon, and generate a corresponding signal that indicates the pressure so measured. The control component or the digital pressure sensor is further configured to control at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the pressure indicated by the corresponding signal, or a condition of the aerosol delivery device or a user thereof determined from the corresponding signal. Control of the at least one functional element includes output of the pressure or the condition for presentation by a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen B. Sears
  • Patent number: 11504489
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John Brice O'Brien, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Patent number: 11502466
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11484066
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: James W. Rogers, Percy Phillips
  • Patent number: 11475759
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a housing, heating element, communication interface and microprocessor. The heating element may to activate and vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition in response to a flow of air through at least a portion of the housing, with the air being combinable with a thereby formed vapor to form an aerosol. The communication interface may effect a wireless, proximity-based communication link with a computing device. And the microprocessor may be coupled to the communication interface, may control at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on a state of the proximity-based communication link, or in response to a trigger signal received from the computing device over the proximity-based communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Wilson Christopher Lamb, Glen Joseph Kimsey
  • Patent number: 11470689
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a voltage regulator circuit, switching arrangement and processing circuitry. The voltage regulator circuit is coupled between a power source and a load including an aerosol production component, and configured to provide an output voltage in which voltage provided by the power source is regulated. The switching arrangement includes a first switch with first and second inputs coupled to respectively the voltage regulator circuit and ground, and an output coupled to the second switch; and a second switch coupled to and between the voltage regulator circuit and the load. The processing circuitry is configured to output a signal to cause the first switch to switchably connect the output voltage to the second switch and ground, and thereby cause the second switch to switchably connect and disconnect the output voltage to the aerosol production component to power the aerosol production component to produce aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11460631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Michael Ryan Galloway, Justin Holt
  • Patent number: 11458265
    Abstract: Aerosol delivery devices including mechanisms configured to deliver an aerosol precursor composition from a reservoir to an atomizer including a vaporization heating element to produce a vapor are disclosed. For example, a bubble jet head may be configured to dispense the aerosol precursor composition to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may be fixedly coupled to the atomizer. The bubble jet head may include a precursor inlet, an ejection heating element, and a precursor nozzle. The atomizer may include a vaporization heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Brammer, David Jackson, Nigel John Flynn, Eric T. Hunt, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Patent number: 11456480
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes terminals configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device and a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes a boost converter configured to step up voltage from the power source to a higher voltage and an inverter configured to convert the higher voltage to a complementary negative voltage. The aerosol delivery device further includes at least one non-inverting amplifier circuit that includes an operational amplifier configured to receive the voltage from the power source as an input voltage, and receive the higher voltage and the complementary negative voltage as supply voltages. The at least one non-inverting amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the input voltage to an output voltage, and provide a continuous output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11439189
    Abstract: Power harvesting and radio frequency (RF) transmission circuitry for an aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes power harvesting circuitry configured to receive RF energy from an external RF source and harvest power from the RF energy to charge a rechargeable power source and power transmission circuity operatively coupled to the power source and configured to convert electrical energy drawn from the power source to RF energy and transmit the RF energy. RF energy can thus be transmitted through a network of aerosol delivery devices to extend the range of an RF energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur