Patents Examined by Dionne A. Walls
  • Method of and apparatus for making perforations in the wrappers of rod-shaped products
    Patent number: 6880559
    Abstract: An method for increasing the permeability of tubular wrappers of a succession of cigarettes by at least one pulsed beam of coherent radiation issuing from a laser has a hollow drum-shaped conveyor cooperating with a rolling member to define an arcuate channel wherein successive cigarettes roll while advancing sideways past a perforating station. Each beam of coherent radiation is generated in or is caused to enter the interior of the conveyor prior to being influenced by one or more deflecting and/or focussing elements to be propagated substantially radially and through an opening of the hollow conveyor and to impinge upon the wrapper of a cigarette rolling at the perforating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Dombek
  • Apparatus and method for processing winnowers at a cigarette maker
    Patent number: 6877516
    Abstract: Size reduction equipment is added at the feed end of a cigarette maker to take separated winnowers and other overages from a tobacco feed to the maker, cut or shred the overages to appropriate size and reintroduce the cut or shred overages into the lamina stream from a tobacco feed hopper for the cigarette maker. The winnowers may be pneumatically or mechanically conveyed back into the feed stream in the cigarette maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Johnny K. Cagigas
  • Method of making a tobacco rod
    Patent number: 6877515
    Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the undersides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Uwe Heitmann, Heinz-Christen Lorenzen
  • System for effecting smoking cessation
    Patent number: 6874507
    Abstract: A system is disclosed which makes it possible for a patient to be delivered gradually reduced amounts of nicotine over time thereby allowing the patient to be gradually weaned off of dependence on nicotine and quit smoking. The system is comprised of a means for aerosolizing a formulation and containers of formulation. The formulation is comprised of nicotine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably, a plurality of containers are produced wherein the concentration of nicotine in the different containers or different groups of containers is reduced. The patient uses containers with the highest concentration initially and gradually moves towards using containers with lower and lower concentrations of nicotine until the patient's dependence on nicotine is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Aradigm Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Farr
  • Filtration method and filter consisting of nitrogen-containing cycles or heterocycles such as DNA or RNA
    Patent number: 6866045
    Abstract: The methods concerns a method for general use and more particularly used for tobacco products. The method uses in particular nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as DNA and RNA bases and complementarily polymer fibers. Said molecules and said fibers can partly halogenated, or in halogenated salt media. The halogen is preferably fluorine. Fluorine may be added to may bei n the form of a medium of fluorinated salts such as NaF, KF, Na2PO3F. The filtering acts against the formation of human intracellular DNA or RNA adducts, while preserving the nicotine and the tobacco aromas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Zero
    Inventors: Frederic Maillard, Guy Hadad
  • Cigarette filters comprising unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resins for removing gas phase constituents from mainstream tobacco smoke
    Patent number: 6863074
    Abstract: Cigarette filters, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of an unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resins, which is capable of removing at least some of at least one gas phase constituent from mainstream smoke through sorption. The unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may be a polymerization product of non-polar styrene and divinyl benzene. Various gas phase constituent can be removed from mainstream tobacco smoke, such as dienes, furans, pyrroles, aromatics and ketones, for example. The cigarette filters and cigarettes can provide low resistance-to-draw and/or high total particulate matter delivery. Additionally, the unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may further include flavorant(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Xue, Charles Edwin Thomas, Jr., Liqun Yu, Kent B. Koller
  • Low fire-spreading cigarette
    Patent number: 6860274
    Abstract: A low fire-spreading cigarette has a tobacco section including a columnar tobacco filler material, an inside wrapper paper sheer wrapping the outer circumferential surface of the columnar tobacco filler material and an outside wrapper paper sheet wrapping the outer circumferential surface of the inside wrapper paper sheet. The heat conductivity of the inside wrapper is 0.5 W·K?1·m?1 or more and the heat conductivity of the outside wrapper paper sheet is less than 0.5 W·K?1·m?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Matsufuji, Takeo Tsutsumi, Keigo Miura
  • Cigarette with adsorbent at tip end thereof
    Patent number: 6860273
    Abstract: A zone or plug of porous adsorbent material, primarily activated carbon, is placed in the tobacco rod of a cigarette a short distance from the lighting end thereof. The amount of activated carbon is sufficient for effective removal of volatile smoke constituents while allowing the cigarette to burn continuously. The activated carbon traps volatile smoke constituents in close proximity to the burning coal in the first puffs of the cigarette. As the cigarette continues to burn, the burning coal consumes the activated carbon. The adsorbed smoke constituents are effectively removed without releasing them back into the mainstream smoke. Following the consumption of the activated carbon in the tobacco rod, the cigarette is unchanged from a cigarette of conventional design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Charles E. Thomas, Jr.
  • Nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts for low temperature or near-ambient temperature catalysis and methods for making such catalysts
    Patent number: 6857431
    Abstract: Nanocomposite copper-ceria catalysts are provided, which comprise copper oxide nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, or a mixture thereof combined with ceria nanoparticles. Methods for making such catalysts are also provided, which involve the steps of (i) combining ceria nanoparticles in an aqueous suspension with copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form a slurry; (ii) heating the slurry formed in step (i) under an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen-argon atmosphere, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause decomposition of the copper 2,4-pentanedionate to form copper nanoparticles and/or copper oxide nanoparticles that are combined with the ceria nanoparticles; and (iii) optionally, subjecting the product formed in step (ii) to a heat treatment process under conditions effective to convert at least some of the copper nanoparticles to copper oxide nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Sarojini Deevi, Sohini PalDey
  • Method for nozzle-injection of gas into molten glass
    Patent number: 6854291
    Abstract: A method and device for nozzle-injection of gas into molten glass is disclosed wherein a gas stream is introduced into the molten glass in a temporally pulsed throughput such that the gas stream is interrupted between two sequential pulses, the duration of each pulse amounting to less than one second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Hildegard Romer, Nicole Surges, Paul Kissl, Thomas Kirsch
  • Tobacco product
    Patent number: 6854471
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by rolling moistened tobacco leaves about a cylindrical form casing and allowing the leaves to dry to form a shell. After the form casing is removed a consumer can fill the shell with crushed tobacco leaves of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Low fire-spreading smoking article and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 6848449
    Abstract: A smoking article is manufactured through supplying a tobacco filler material onto a tobacco wrapping paper sheet that is transferred, wrapping the tobacco filler material supplied onto the tobacco wrapping paper sheet with the tobacco wrapping paper sheet so as to prepare a rod body, and cutting the rod body into a plurality of tobacco rods each having a prescribed length. The tobacco filler material contains at least 20% by weight of expanded tobacco material. The tobacco wrapping paper sheet is coated with the burn adjusting agent during transfer of the tobacco wrapping paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitao, Keigo Miura, Takaaki Matsufuji, Takeo Tsutsumi, Fumio Sashide, Sadayoshi Matsuura
  • Composition to reduce or quit smoking addiction
    Patent number: 6845777
    Abstract: A method and composition to help persons reduce or quit smoking is disclosed, employing raw tobacco leaves, or tobacco fluid extract, or food grade tobacco like flavor and aroma, and Antioxidants, with or without and SAMe and caffeine. All ingredients can be in a micro-powdered or liquid form, for buccal administration. The composition can be in a tablet or capsule that is intended to be slowly sucked and dissolved in the mouth, and that delivers the nicotine, caffeine or SAMe, proved to be effective in alleviating smoking withdrawal symptoms. The composition can also be embedded inside a soft squeezable plastic cigarette for simulated smoking, providing additional periodic doses of nicotine, caffeine and SAMe to satisfy cravings for cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Ivo E. Pera
  • Ashtray apparatus
    Patent number: 6843255
    Abstract: An ashtray apparatus comprising a container, a cap member, and a handle assembly. The container includes a base and a surround member extending from the base. The base and surround member cooperate to define a cavity having an opening. The cap member is engageable with the container. The cap member and container cover at least a portion of the opening of the container. The cap member further includes a channel extending therethrough which permits communication with the cavity of the container. The handle assembly is releasably associable with at least one of the base and the cap member so that a user can selectively utilize the handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: TNT Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Thornell, Orville V. Crain, Fredrick Thornell
  • Filter-attachment machine and method of operating a filter-attachment machine
    Patent number: 6840247
    Abstract: A filter-attachment machine in the tobacco-processing industry is provided. The machine has a plurality of conveying devices for products in the tobacco-processing industry, and at least one main drive that drives the plurality of conveying devices. The machine also has a pull-off device for pulling a cover tape ribbon from a cover tape supply, a cover-tape cutting device for cutting the cover tape ribbon into sections of a predetermined length, and at least one secondary drive that drives the pull-off device and the cover-tape cutting device. The cover tape ribbon is conveyed from the pull-off device to the cover-tape cutting device, and the sections of cover tape ribbon are transferred to the products on one of the plurality of conveying devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Berthold Maiwald, Manfred Dombek, Manfred Folger, Karl-Heinz Pawelko, Franz Rottmann
  • Device and method of using explosive forces in a contained liquid environment
    Patent number: 6837971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for subjecting a material in a liquid to explosive force is provided. The method and apparatus involve a vessel having a length greater than it width. The vessel has a top which is quickly and easily lockable and removable so as increase the material processing rate of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Dynawave Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon E. Staton, Vann E. Staton
  • Reduced ignition propensity smoking article
    Patent number: 6837248
    Abstract: A smoking article having reduced ignition propensity is disclosed. The smoking article includes a tobacco column, a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and a filter element. The wrapper has a base permeability, an untreated area and a least one discrete area treated with a composition to reducing the base permeability. The discretely treated area interacts with a coal of a burning tobacco firecone as it advances to self-extinguish the smoking article. The composition of the treated area includes a permeability reducing substance, a burn rate retarding substance and a burn rate accelerating substance. Either the burn rate retarding substance or the burn rate accelerating substance acts as an organoleptic enhancing substance. In this way a smoker's experience when smoking either the at least one treated area or the untreated area is substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Lorillard Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Zawadzki, Arthur M. Ihrig, David A. Grider, Terry D. Jessup, David L. Williams
  • Smokeless tobacco product
    Patent number: 6834654
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product suitable for human consumption is prepared from powdered tobacco. In one aspect, the powdered tobacco has a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) which is 0.3 &mgr;g/g or less. In another aspect, a smokeless tobacco product comprises powdered tobacco and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % peppermint, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % spearmint, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % eucalyptus. The powdered tobacco can be prepared by pulverizing cured tobacco or, alternatively, from an aqueous extract of tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Regent Court Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jonnie R. Williams
  • Paper web with pre-flocculated filler incorporated therein
    Patent number: 6835282
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a paper web. The paper web is prepared from a low-grade furnish, which contains low-grade pulps, such as recycled pulp and/or groundwood pulp, and which, in one preferred embodiment, is a newsprint furnish. In accordance with the disclosed process, a pre-flocculated filler is added to the furnish prior to forming the paper web from the furnish. Filler will be retained in the web, and retention of undesired components of the furnish in the web will be reduced as compared with newsprint in which a filler is incorporated via conventional processes. Another embodiment contemplates the incorporation of a pre-flocculated coated broke slurry into a paper furnish prior to paper formation. The paper web formed via the process of the invention will have improved properties as a result of the incorporation of the pre-flocculated filler or treated broke into the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Grain Processing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Harvey, Stuart W. Mabee, James M. Crandall
  • Apparatus for expanding tobacco
    Patent number: 6834653
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for expanding foodstuffs and luxury foodstuffs/tobacco materials capable of being expanded, in particular moist tobacco materials, wherein said materials in a carrier flow comprising steam pass through an expansion zone, comprising a Laval nozzle, in which the speed of sound is attained in the narrowest cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Pluckhahn, Gerald Schmekel, Arno Weiss