Patents Assigned to U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
  • Publication number: 20230203518
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Dongmei XU, Mark T. Nielsen, Yanxin Shen
  • Publication number: 20230107024
    Abstract: The present document generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco or smokeless tobacco product comprising chlorate. For example, chlorate can be used to reduce tobacco specific nitrosamine content in tobacco or smokeless tobacco products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventor: John R. CHIPLEY
  • Patent number: 11547138
    Abstract: The present document generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco or smokeless tobacco product comprising chlorate. For example, chlorate can be used to reduce tobacco specific nitrosamine content in tobacco or smokeless tobacco products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventor: John R. Chipley
  • Publication number: 20220167658
    Abstract: A tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. The tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur STRICKLAND, Frank Scott ATCHLEY
  • Patent number: 11332753
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Dongmei Xu, Mark T. Nielsen, Yanxin Shen
  • Publication number: 20220142229
    Abstract: An encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener for use with smokeless tobacco and related products. The encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener comprises a core encapsulated with a lipid-based coating that provides stability when in contact with tobacco, yet releases flavor over time when the product is used. The core comprises a carrier, such as silica, tobacco, beet fiber, citrus fiber, artificial sweetener, or the like, coated or loaded with a flavorant. Flavor loading may be in the range of approximately 10% to 60%, by weight. Flavorants include, but are not limited to, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), cinnamon (e.g., cinnamon oil), peppermint (e.g., peppermint oil), and spearmint (oil of spearmint).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventor: Frank ATCHLEY
  • Patent number: 11252988
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur Strickland, Frank Scott Atchley
  • Publication number: 20210274830
    Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur STRICKLAND, Frank Scott ATCHLEY, James M. ROSSMAN, Armand J. DESMARAIS, Scott A. WILLIAMS, Tod J. MILLER, Cherne W. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 11000059
    Abstract: The present invention features Nicotiana nucleic acid sequences such as sequences encoding constitutive, or ethylene or senescence induced polypeptides, in particular cytochrome p450 enzymes, in Nicotiana plants and methods for using these nucleic acid sequences and plants to alter desirable traits, for example by using breeding protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. SMOKELESS TOBACCO COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Dongmei Xu, Mark T. Nielsen, Yanxin Shen
  • Patent number: 10954526
    Abstract: The present invention features tobacco nicotine demethylase nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, tobacco plants and plant components containing such sequences, including tobacco plants and plant components having reduced expression or altered enzymatic activity of nicotine demethylase, methods of use of nicotine demethylase sequences to create plants having altered levels of nornicotine or N?-nitrosonornicotine (“NNN”) or both relative to a control plant, as well as tobacco articles having reduced levels of nornicotine or NNN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventor: Dongmei Xu
  • Patent number: 10945454
    Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur Strickland, Frank Scott Atchley, James M. Rossman, Armand J. Desmarais, Scott A. Williams, Tod J. Miller, Cherne W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210045430
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes a plurality of orally disintegrable granules. Each granule has a core and at least one layer surrounding the core. The at least one layer includes tobacco particles and a binder. Also disclosed are methods of making tobacco granules that comprise a core and at least one layer having tobacco particles and a binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Yan Helen SUN, Frank Scott ATCHLEY
  • Patent number: 10820622
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes a plurality of orally disintegrable granules. Each granule has a core and at least one layer surrounding the core. The at least one layer includes tobacco particles and a binder. Also disclosed are methods of making tobacco granules that comprise a core and at least one layer having tobacco particles and a binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Yan Helen Sun, Frank Scott Atchley
  • Publication number: 20200329755
    Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James A. STRICKLAND, Frank S. ATCHLEY, James M. ROSSMAN, Armand J. DESMARAIS, Scott A. WILLIAMS, Tod J. MILLER, Cherne W. JOHNSON, Vernie A. DUE
  • Patent number: 10765140
    Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James A. Strickland, Frank S. Atchley, James M. Rossman, Armand J. Desmarais, Scott A. Williams, Tod J. Miller, Cherne W. Johnson, Vernie A. Due
  • Publication number: 20200277615
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Dongmei Xu, Mark T. Nielsen, Yanxin Shen
  • Publication number: 20200146332
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur STRICKLAND, Frank Scott ATCHLEY
  • Patent number: 10597668
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and materials involved in producing tobacco plants having reduced levels of conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, tobacco plants comprising mutations in a nicotine demethylase gene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed toward nicotine demethylase RNA interference, tobacco plants comprising a nicotine demethylase RNA interference transgene, and tobacco compositions and products thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: Dongmei Xu, Mark T. Nielsen, Yanxin Shen
  • Patent number: 10555551
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur Strickland, Frank Scott Atchley
  • Publication number: 20190387785
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a tobacco article may include tobacco disposed in a porous matrix. The tobacco article may provide tobacco, tobacco constituents, or both tobacco and tobacco constituents to the consumer's mouth in the form of particles, liquid, or vapor so as to provide tobacco satisfaction to the consumer. In some circumstances, the tobacco may be integrally molded with a plastic material so that at least a portion of the tobacco is disposed in pores of the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
    Inventors: James Arthur STRICKLAND, Frank Scott ATCHLEY