Patents Assigned to Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
  • Patent number: 5826592
    Abstract: A cigarette smoke filter element is provided which permits a higher level of flavor to reach the smoker during initial smoking of the cigarette and consequently an enhanced flavor-to-tar ratio, by employing an elongate filter of microfine fibers which is provided with openings therethrough at the upstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. et al.
    Inventor: Warren A. Brackmann
  • Patent number: 5794771
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging system for hand made cigarettes using loose tobacco and pre-made, filter tipped cigarette tubes. The packaging system includes a reusable container with a bottom section and a top section. Loose tobacco is stored in the bottom section and is separated by a divider from the top section. A removable storage canister holds the empty cigarette tubes and fits within the top portion of the reusable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek S. Krawec, Edward G. A. Simpson, Jean L. Mailhot
  • Patent number: 5752528
    Abstract: A cigarette extinguishing and storage device is of tubular shape and provided by telescoping elements which define an enclosure in which a lit cigarette is received to extinguish the same and in which the extinguished cigarette is stored until the smoker wishes to relight the same. Charcoal or other suitable deodorant means is provided at the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb condensates from tobacco smoke. The device preferably is made of one or more plies of paper, so as to be disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Ayres, Gary D. Black, Larry Bowen, Warren A. Brackmann, Benedict Keaveney, John D. Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 5709228
    Abstract: Significant decreases in sidestream smoke production, approximately 30 to 70%, are obtained when compared to a tobacco filler rod wrapped in a conventional cigarette paper by double-wrapping the filler rod, first with a relatively non-porous paper having a Coresta porosity of about 1 to about 10% and then with a conventional cigarette paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Cohen, Larry Bowen
  • Patent number: 5699812
    Abstract: A novel reconstituted tobacco sheet material is provided which is useful in providing a novel smoking product which has a smoking quality closely approximating that of cigarettes having conventional paper wrappers. The reconstituted tobacco sheet is prepared by a paper-making process in which the water-soluble material extracted in the paper-making process is not added back to the sheet, or if added back, to an extent of no more than 20 wt % of the reconstituted tobacco sheet. In the novel smoking product, a tobacco filler rod is enclosed within an outer wrapper, which usually comprises an inner binder layer and an outer wrapper layer, one or both formed of reconstituted tobacco sheet material. When the tobacco filler rod is double-wrapped, the novel smoking product also exhibits a significant reduction in sidestream smoking production in comparison to a conventionally-wrapped cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Bowen, George Edward Ayres, Gary Black, Jacques Daoust
  • Patent number: 5524647
    Abstract: A high level of flavour can be provided in cigarette smoke at a low tar level while providing a more uniform delivery of flavour and tar as the cigarette is smoked, in comparison to a conventional cigarette. A tobacco blend is employed using higher-than-normal quantities of tobacco from the upper levels of a tobacco plant, to provide an initial high flavour-to-tar ratio. A flavour reset technique is employed to attenuate the flavour strength of the smoke to the smoker, so that such attenuated but acceptable flavour level is provided at a much lower tar level. In addition, latter puff manipulation of the tobacco smoke is effected to decrease the flavour level and tar produced in the latter puffs of smoking to provide a more uniform flavour delivery. Filter element structures and other specific elements to achieve these results are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren A. Brackmann
  • Patent number: 5501332
    Abstract: A cigarette extinguishing and storage device is of tubular shape and provided by telescoping elements which define an enclosure in which a lit cigarette is received to extinguish the same and in which the extinguished cigarette is stored until the smoker wishes to relight the same. Charcoal or other suitable deodorant means is provided at the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb condensates from tobacco smoke. The device preferably is made of one or more plies of paper, so as to be disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Ayres, Gary D. Black, Larry Bowen, Warren A. Brackmann, Benedict Keaveney, John D. Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 5487468
    Abstract: A cigarette package is dimensioned to hold an array of cigarettes in multiple rows and comprises a plurality of vertical walls defining a hexagon in cross-section. The walls are dimensioned to bear against an array of cigarettes in the package and having the same cross-sectional shape as the package. The package has a distinctive external appearance while permitting twenty or twenty-five cigarettes to be accommodated in three or four rows in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventor: Michael H. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 5462073
    Abstract: A novel reconstituted tobacco sheet material is provided which is useful in providing a novel smoking product which has a smoking quality closely approximating that of cigarettes having conventional paper wrappers. The reconstituted tobacco sheet is prepared by a paper-making process in which the water-soluble material extracted in the paper-making process is not added back to the sheet, or if added back, to an extent of no more than 20 wt % of the reconstituted tobacco sheet. In the novel smoking product, a tobacco filler rod is enclosed within an outer wrapper, which usually comprises an inner binder layer and an outer wrapper layer, one or both formed of reconstituted tobacco sheet material. When the tobacco filler rod is double-wrapped, the novel smoking product also exhibits a significant reduction in sidestream smoking production in comparison to a conventionally-wrapped cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Bowen, George E. Ayres, Gary Black, Jacques Daoust
  • Patent number: 5379788
    Abstract: A novel cigarette system is described which has a greater number of puffs than a conventional cigarette of same dimensions and length of tobacco rod, namely at least about 14 puffs. The cigarettes are intended to be partially smoked, extinguished, stored and then resmoked. A filter is attached to the tobacco rod of the cigarette constructed to provide a per-puff delivery profile of tar, nicotine and flavor to the smoker which is approximately the same for both smokings of the cigarette. The greater-than-normal number of puffs may be achieved by employing a slower burning tobacco blend, greater tobacco density and/or burn rate retardant paper. An extinguishing and storage device is provided to extinguish the cigarette after the initial smoking of the cigarette and to store the extinguished cigarette between smokings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Bowen, Warren A. Brackmann, Norman Cohen, George Fazekas, Joseph Heffernan, Peter P. Kaczmarek, Stanislav M. Snaidr
  • Patent number: 5377826
    Abstract: A cigarette extinguishing and storage device is of tubular shape and provided by telescoping elements which define an enclosure in which a lit cigarette is received to extinguish the same and in which the extinguished cigarette is stored until the smoker wishes to relight the same. Charcoal or other suitable deodorant means is provided at the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb condensates from tobacco smoke. The device preferably is made of one or more plies of paper, so as to be disposable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Ayres, Gary D. Black, Larry Bowen, Warren A. Brackmann, Benedict Keaveney, John D. Kilpatrick
  • Patent number: 5374869
    Abstract: A novel cigarette is described which has a greater number of puffs, at least about 2 more, preferably at least about 4 more and more preferably at least about 6 more, than a conventional cigarette of same dimensions and length of tobacco rod. The cigarettes may be partially smoked, extinguished, stored and then resmoked. The greater-than-normal number of puffs may be achieved by employing a slower burning tobacco blend, a lower draw resistance tobacco, a greater tobacco density and/or a burn rate retardant wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Bowen, Warren A. Brackmann, Norman Cohen, George Fazekas, Joseph Heffernan, Peter P. Kaczmarek, Stanislav M. Snaidr
  • Patent number: 5303721
    Abstract: A planar elongate cigarette snipping device for removing the burnt end of a partially-smoked cigarette to expose fresh tobacco for relighting the cigarette, includes a pair of planar knife blades which are moved from a rest position to an operative position in which they overlap in an aperture through the device, activated by a corresponding pair of arms which are normally biased to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Bowen, Benedict Keaveney
  • Patent number: 5267578
    Abstract: Fibrous materials are opened from a metered flow thereof using an opening roller and are subjected to a controlled and adjustable further opening operation to input desirable properties to the fibers. The invention is particularly described with respect to cut tobacco fibers and glass fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Stanislav M. Snaidr, Takeshi Nehyo, Michael H. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 5190061
    Abstract: A novel cigarette smoke filter element is provided which achieves an increased removal of tar from cigarette smoke while retaining a higher flavor level than is achieved using conventional filter materials. The filter comprises an elongate cylinder of microfine fibers which is closed at the upstream end of the filter element and tobacco smoke filter material located both externally and internally of the cylinder of microfine fibers. A tobacco smoke flow path blocking means is provided at the downstream end of the filter element to permit filtered tobacco smoke to pass from the filter element only from the tobacco smoke filter material located internally of the cylinder of microfine fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignees: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Tow P. Liew
  • Patent number: 5105830
    Abstract: Individual assembly of cigarettes from cut tobacco and preformed cigarette paper tubes is facilitated by providing charges of cut tobacco in cartridges. An extension in the form of a hollow tube is provided at one end of the cartridge to enable the sheath enclosing the tobacco to be removed and the tobacco discharged into the paper tube. Specific equipment to effect the assembly also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Kenneth P. Davidson, Hans Klotz, Michael H. Sheahan, Stanislav M. Snaidr
  • Patent number: 5080112
    Abstract: Fibrous materials are opened from a metered flow thereof using an opening roller and are subjected to a controlled and adjustable further opening operation to input desirable properties to the fibers. The invention is particularly described with respect to cut tobacco fibers and glass fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignees: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Stanislav M. Snaidr, Takeshi Nehyo, Michael H. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 4967770
    Abstract: Degradation of tobacco brought about by refuser and recycle procedures in conventional cigarette-making machine operations is eliminated by feeding, metering and opening tobacco from a reservoir directly onto the external surface of a rotary or rectilinear transportation device which conveys the tobacco to rod formation. Specific modifications to the Molins Mark IX and Hauni Protos cigarette-making machines are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignees: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Stanislav M. Snaidr, Takeshi Nehyo, Michael H. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 4953570
    Abstract: Degradation of tobacco brought about by refuser and recycle procedure in conventional cigarette-making machine operations is eliminated by feeding, metering and opening tobacco from a reservoir directly onto the external surface of a rotary or rectilinear transportation device which conveys the tobacco to rod formation. Specific modifications to the Molins Mark IX and Hauni Protos cigarette-making machines are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignees: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Stanislav M. Snaidr, Takeshi Nehyo, Michael H. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 4896681
    Abstract: A cigarette filler rod-forming method and apparatus therefor are described for production of a filler rod containing two different blends of tobacco, so as to provide to a cigarette formed from the filler rod more uniform smoking characteristics. Discrete bunches of tobacco of a first blend are formed by employing a vacuum wheel having a belt which forms chords of a circle, so that, after trimming, the bunches have a flat surface adjacent the belt and a curved outer surface. Spaces between the bunches are filled with tobacco of another blend at least to the maximum height of the bunches of the first blend of tobacco, by a variety of procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignees: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., Rothmans International Services Limited
    Inventors: Warren A. Brackmann, Takeshi Nehyo, Michael H. Sheahan, Stanislav M. Snaidr