Patents Examined by Dionne A. Walls
  • Patent number: 6832613
    Abstract: A cigarette filter is surrounded by a wrapping paper, and the wrapping paper includes metal only on portion of a surface thereof, such that air can penetrate through the wrapping paper into the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Trierenberg Holding Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ernst Brunbauer
  • Patent number: 6832495
    Abstract: A molding die includes a pair of molding die members for forming a molding cavity that molds molded products and a holding member that holds therein the molding die members slidably, wherein a pressure-transfer medium supplied to the clearance between the molding die members and the holding member makes the molding die members to be slid and held in the holding member while the molding die members and the holding member are on the non-contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Hosoe
  • Patent number: 6832612
    Abstract: A cigarette filter that has a scavenging effect on smoking induced gas phase free radicals. The filter ingredients are comprised of proanthocyanidins and include, but are not limited to, extracts of barks of pine tree, extracts of cones of cypress trees, extracts of grape seeds, and any combination thereof. Also, vitamin C and other known antioxidant ingredients may be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Horphag Research (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Baolu Zhao, Peter Rohdewald, Jingnong (Charles) Li
  • Patent number: 6830053
    Abstract: A cigarette wrapper paper formed of a pulp containing at least 60% by weight of fibrous components, particularly, a flax pulp. The cigarette wrapper paper permits markedly suppressing the scattering of the cigarette ash without increasing the addition amount of a loading material promoting combustion or the addition amount of a combustion assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Tanaka, Atsushi Nagao
  • Patent number: 6827087
    Abstract: A cigarette with burn rate modification is described. The cigarette has a partial double wrap design and incorporates an inner wrap material which extends partially around the interior portion of the outer wrapper of a cigarette. The inner wrap can be a single element or can be a plurality of strips which extend coaxially along the tobacco column and which affect the burn rate of the cigarette. The partial inner wrap material exhibits a low porosity and forms zones of high diffusion and low diffusion along the length of the tobacco rod. These zones may be singular or may be alternating and are coaxial. The low diffusion zones are aligned with the inner wrap material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph T. Wanna, Douglas R. Hicks
  • Patent number: 6823873
    Abstract: A cigarette includes an ignition element in contact with tobacco, surrounded by a composite outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is impervious to oxygen causing the tobacco to extinguish between puffs. The ignition element, however, has a longer static burn time than the tobacco and remains smoldering between puffs. Upon a subsequent puff, the smoldering ignition element re-ignites the tobacco. One or more initially-occluded perforations in the outer layer maintain the uniformity in combustion of the tobacco and ignition element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Jay A Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby
  • Patent number: 6814080
    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 under sides 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: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Uwe Heitmann, Heinz-Christen Lorenzen
  • Patent number: 6814081
    Abstract: A pocket ashtray consists of at least one hollow body (2, 10) having a cap (1, 9) rotatably fastened on its end surface (s). An orifice (2b, 10b) and a depression (2a, 10b) are present in the end surface (S) of the hollow body (2, 10); either an orifice (1a) is provided in the cap (1) or the cap (9) is specially shaped. By suitable, successive rotation of the cap (1, 9), it is possible to stub out a smoking article (5) in the depression (2a, 10a) and then to load it into the interior of the pocket ashtray and store it away from dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Josef Hasler
  • Patent number: 6810884
    Abstract: A low sidestream smoke cigarette comprises a conventional tobacco rod and a non-combustible treatment material for the rod. The treatment material has a porosity less than about 200 Coresta units and a sidestream smoke treatment composition. The treatment composition comprises, in combination, an oxygen storage and donor metal oxide oxidation catalyst and an essentially non-combustible finely divided porous particulate adjunct for said catalyst. In addition, the invention provides a low sidestream smoke cigarette unit that comprises a cigarette with conventional cigarette paper surrounding a conventional tobacco rod and a non-combustible treatment material surrounding and being substantially in contact with the conventional cigarette paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Stanislav M. Snaidr, Robert E. Becker
  • Patent number: 6810883
    Abstract: An electrically heated cigarette smoking device includes a heater unit, heater blades for applying heat to portions of a cigarette that is supported within the heater unit, the heater unit having an opening adapted to receive an end of a cigarette and adapted to position the end of the cigarette in proximity to the heater blades, and the heater unit defining at least part of a suction flow passage through which ambient air is drawn into contact with the cigarette when a smoker draws on the cigarette positioned in the heater unit. The heater unit is mounted within a partition that positions the heater unit relative to the housing and at least partially defines a bypass flow passage in fluid communication with ambient air surrounding the housing, the partition further defining a flow diverting passage leading from the bypass flow passage to the suction flow passage and through which ambient air is drawn from the bypass flow passage when a smoker puffs on a cigarette inserted in the heater unit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: John Louis Felter, Robert E. Lee, Ashok Solanky, Clint Blake, Pamela Davis, David E. Sharpe, Mark E. Watson, Robert L. Ripley, Brett W. Stevenson, William J. Crowe
  • Patent number: 6805133
    Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing air permeability characteristic of filter cigarettes has a drying unit (20) for preliminarily drying a tip-paper web (W) in the process of supplying the web (W) to a rolling section of a filter attachment machine. The drying unit (20) heats and dries the web (W) with a heater block (22), to thereby stabilize the water-content of the web (W) in an absolute dry region which is a lower water-content region as compared with a normal water-content region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsumura, Yasuyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 6805134
    Abstract: Tobaccos are cured in a manner so as to provide tobaccos having extremely low tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) contents. Harvested Virginia tobacco is subjected to flue-curing so as to provide flue-cured tobacco. During the curing processing steps, contact of the tobacco with nitric oxide gases, such as those produced as combustion products of propane burning heating units, is avoided. Tobacco in curing barns is not subjected to direct-fire curing techniques, but rather, heat for tobacco curing can be provided by heat exchange or electrical heating methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: David McCray Peele
  • Patent number: 6799576
    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: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Aradigm Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Farr
  • Patent number: 6799578
    Abstract: A low sidestream smoke cigarette comprises a conventional tobacco rod, and a combustible treatment paper having a sidestream smoke treatment composition. The treatment composition comprises in combination, an oxygen storage and donor metal oxide oxidation catalyst and an essentially non-combustible finely divided porous particulate adjunct for said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.
    Inventors: Stanislav M. Snaidr, E. Robert Becker
  • Patent number: 6796312
    Abstract: The oral cavity is a source of sensitive biomarkers that allow the development of novel tobacco filters to reverse and eliminate acute adverse effects of tobacco smoke. Useful biomarkers are ubiquitous functional leukocytes and associated essential biochemical mechanisms, including metabolic pathways and specific enzymes, such as myeloperoxidase contained in fluid-cell lavages obtained from the human mouth. These biomarkers derived from the human mouth and sputum from the human respiratory system can be used to evaluate long-term chronic effects of tobacco smoke. A tobacco filter comprising strongly basic anion exchange resins and strongly acidic cation exchange resins with or without activated carbon, is used to detect, reduce and eliminate toxic substances from tobacco smoke while retaining taste and aroma. The novel filter in conjunction with biomarkers allow the establishment of performance standards that permit the direct visualization and measurement of acute adverse reactions caused by tobacco smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Bertram Eichel
  • Patent number: 6792953
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter a copper-containing porphyrin or an iron analog of C.I. Reactive Blue 21 dye. A method of making a first tobacco smoke filter segment, comprising the steps of, first, providing one or more than one substance; producing a mixture of cellulose fiber and the substance; heating the mixture for a sufficient time at one or more than one temperature sufficient to covalently link the substance to the cellulose fiber; and forming the cellulose fiber with covalently bound substance into the first tobacco smoke filter segment. The substance can be a copper-containing porphyrin or an iron analog of C.I. Reactive Blue 21 dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Filligent Limited
    Inventors: Craig A. Lesser, Reid W. Von Borstel
  • Patent number: 6789546
    Abstract: A method of preventing or reducing tobacco smoke-associated injury in the aerodigestive tract of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antioxidant agent capable of preventing or reducing tobacco smoke-associated injury in the aerodigestive tract of a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Abraham Z. Reznick, Rafael M. Nagler, Ifat Klein
  • Patent number: 6789547
    Abstract: Catalytically active carbons are used in cigarette filters for selective oxidation of selected gas phase components in cigarette smoke. The carbons are impregnated with transition metals and sulfur and/or nitrogen ligation. The catalytic activity of the carbon is significantly improved by introducing catalytically active sites by heat treatment in the range of 500-1000° C. in the presence of transition metals and nitrogenous or sulfurous materials. Furthermore, introduction of such metalliferous sites into a active carbon can improve the absorptive affinity of the active carbon for classes of compounds, including aliphatic dienes and aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: John B. Paine, III
  • Patent number: 6786221
    Abstract: A process and system for continuous assay and removal of toxins from tobacco. Products such as tobacco contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, and benzpyrene and its precursors, are subjected to treatment, generally in a solvent medium, to decontaminate the tobacco of the toxin. Continuous monitoring of all harmful toxins eluted from the cleaning solvent is performed by immunoantibody ultraviolet fluorescence, for example. A quality-control process ensures removal of harmful toxins from tobacco before further processing. Decontamination of extracted solvent streams and re-additives ensures safe reuse or disposal of the solvents and re-additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Kerry Scott Lane
  • Patent number: 6786064
    Abstract: Provided are a process for the production of a precision press-molded article having a high transmittance and a method of treating a glass to color or decolor the glass, the process comprising heat-treating a press-molded article containing at least one selected from WO3, Nb2O5 or TiO2 in an oxidizing atmosphere to produce a glass molded article, and the method comprising heat-treating a colored glass containing at least one oxide of WO3 and Nb2O5 in an oxidizing atmosphere to decolor the glass, or heat-treating a glass containing at least one oxide selected from WO3, Nb2O5 or TiO2 in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to color the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Hayashi, Hiromasa Tawarayama, Xuelu Zou, Hiroshi Kawazoe