Patents Examined by Dionne A. Walls
  • Patent number: 8424541
    Abstract: Provided is a tobacco-free oral flavor delivery pouch product that provides and engaging and flavorful experience to a user. The pouch product includes a porous pouch wrapper and an inner filling material. The inner filling material can include a non-tobacco, botanical component, at least one functional ingredient and a solid flavor component dispersed throughout the inner filling material. The pouch product delivers multiple textures to the user's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Danielle R. Crawford, Karen Brooks, Kenneth A. Newman, William R. Sweeney, Fernando L. Chappell, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8402976
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form an aerosol, a power supply for supplying power to the heating element, electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the heating element, and an interface for establishing a communications link with a host. The communications link may be a USB link and the host may be a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Fredrik Stahle, Jean-Pierre Cordey, Laurent Manca
  • Patent number: 8397733
    Abstract: A degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow and a plug wrap surrounding the filter element, and a pill dispersed in the tow. The pill includes a material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate tow that is encapsulated with an inner layer of a water soluble or water permeable material and an outer layer of a cellulose acetate having a D.S. in the range of 2.0-2.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese Acetate LLC
    Inventor: Raymond M. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8393332
    Abstract: An improved packaging for rolling papers used in roll your own smoking articles that includes a single member having an inner and an outer surface, the member being folded over towards the inner surface at each end to form a substantially parallel portion at each end and a generally open interior. The unfolded portion of the member extends along a path between the ends. The path includes at least one substantially straight planar portion and a semi-cylindrical portion. The pair of substantially parallel portions are configured such that a plurality of rolling papers may be removably packaged between the pair of substantially parallel portions. The plurality of rolling papers at least initially retains a curved shape after removal from the improved packaging such that a tobacco product may be placed in the curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP
    Inventor: Joshua D. Kesselman
  • Patent number: 8393331
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, an aerosol passage, and a mouthpiece are sequentially interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8393334
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco rod, a filter located at the mouth end of the smoking article, at least one tipping material, to attach the filter to the tobacco rod, wherein the at least one tipping material includes at least one transparent section, wherein the smoking article further includes a ventilation zone upstream of the at least one transparent section. A tipping material for such a smoking article is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Cecchetto, Frédéric Chapuis, Marco Presello, Kuersteiner Charles
  • Patent number: 8387626
    Abstract: An oral tobacco product (1) has a pouch (2) made from a nonwoven fabric sheet and containing tobacco particles made from tobacco materials, for being designed to be put in a user's mouth to allow the user to absorb active constituents of tobacco from the tobacco particles via saliva, and a piece of string (6) with a flavoring added, disposed inside the pouch (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Kawata, Manabu Takeuchi, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 8387622
    Abstract: A cigarette making machine is provided with an improved securement of the nozzle member to the casing of the machine. Another improvement is through the retraction of the internally disposed tobacco compactor which is slightly retracted in the final movement position of the operating handle so as to alleviate pressure or friction on the compacted tobacco by the compactor during movement of the compacted tobacco into the cigarette paper/sleeve disposed on the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald Moscovitch
  • Patent number: 8381736
    Abstract: A method of preparing a rod for use in the preparation of a smoking article is described. The rod has a first end and a second end. The rod has located therein a solid support. The solid support extends in a linear fashion from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod. At least a portion of said solid support is coated and/or impregnated with an additive. The rod is prepared using rod forming means, wherein said rod forming means comprises a channel ending in an open exit, wherein material may pass through at least part of the channel and leave via the open exit in the form of a rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: British America Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Peter Rex White, William David Lewis
  • Patent number: 8381739
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a system and method for treating conditions responsive to nicotine therapy. More specifically, the invention relates to pulmonary administration of a nicotine containing formulation to effect smoking cessation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Aradigm Corporation
    Inventor: Igor Gonda
  • Patent number: 8375957
    Abstract: An emulation aerosol sucker includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly. An external thread electrode is located in one end of battery assembly. An internal thread electrode is located in one end of atomizer assembly. Said battery assembly and said atomizer assembly are connected by the screwthread electrode. Said cigarette bottle assembly is inserted into the other end of said atomizer assembly and both form one cigarette type or cigar type body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8375958
    Abstract: The invention provides a cigarette filter including at least one filter segment having one or more composite fiber structures imbedded therein, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and an adsorbent fiber, the adsorbent fiber including an adsorbent material. The filter can include one or more segments of fibrous tow material, with the one or more composite fiber structures imbedded within the fibrous tow, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and a carbonaceous fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Ronald Keith Hutchens
  • Patent number: 8365742
    Abstract: An aerosol electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly and a cigarette bottle assembly and also includes a shell (a) which is hollow and integrally formed. Said battery assembly connects with said atomizer assembly and both are located in said shell (a). Said cigarette bottle assembly is located in one end of the shell (a), which is detachable. Said cigarette bottle assembly fits with said atomizer assembly. Said shell (a) has through-air-inlets (a1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ruyan Investment (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8360071
    Abstract: A covered ashtray which has a reversible top which is reversed when the ashtray is in use. The reversed side allows for the use of the ashtray in a standard fashion. Upon completion of use, the top may be placed back into the original position, wherein the ash and cigarette butts will be deposited into a chamber in the bottom portion of the ashtray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: David F. Dorsey
  • Patent number: 8360070
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable water pipe, has a smoking pipe body and a smoking hose connected with the smoking pipe body. The smoking pipe body comprises a cover, a cut tobacco burning device and a water bottle. The cover is provided with air inlet holes, and an opening is provided in the top surface of the water bottle, and thus an enclosed space is formed by the cover and the water bottle. The cut tobacco burning device is provided in the enclosed space and is fixed at the opening of the water bottle by connecting elements. When in use, water is firstly filled in the water bottle, and then the cut tobacco placed in the cut tobacco burning device is lit and the cover is placed. A smoker begins smoking through the smoking hose. Smoke produced by the burning of the cut tobacco in the cut tobacco burning device is discharged through a smoke filtering tube and is then filtered through water and discharged through the smoking hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Guangzhou Zhaoying Hardware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lubin Zhao
  • Patent number: 8361236
    Abstract: A smokable composition includes (a) a smokable material; and (b) a supramolecular assembly. The supramolecular assembly comprises a flavorant and at least one selected from the group consisting of O,O?-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid, a hydrate thereof or a salt thereof, and ditoluoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid, a hydrate thereof or a salt thereof. In addition, a smoking article comprises a rod of tobacco or tobacco substitute, optionally a filter attached to the rod, and the supramolecular assembly, as menthol-release agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Biao Duan, Munmaya K. Mishra, Peter J. Lipowicz, Shengsheng Liu
  • Patent number: 8356606
    Abstract: A method of providing a comestible plant material taken orally by coating a micronized plant material with a first layer of polysaccharides or proteins, then a second layer of polysaccharides or proteins is disclosed. A bi-encapsulated plant material produced by this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Tapashi Sengupta, Munmaya K. Mishra, William R. Sweeney, Douglas A. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 8353302
    Abstract: Provided is a smoking article including a smokeable filler with a high aerosol former content and a filter. Preferably, the smokeable filler includes about 4 wt % glycerin to about 35 wt % glycerin. The filter includes a cylindrical tube attached to the tobacco rod with tipping paper, a first filter segment at a location along said cylindrical tube adjacent and in a downstream relation to said tobacco rod, and a flow restricting filter segment at a location adjacent and in a downstream relation to the first filter segment. In an embodiment, the filter also includes a cavity adjacent and in a downstream relation to the flow restricting filter segment, and a ventilation zone at a location along the cavity including perforations that extend through the tipping paper and the cylindrical tube. Preferably, the ventilation zone is in a downstream relation to the flow restricting filter segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Raquel Olegario, San Li
  • Patent number: 8353299
    Abstract: A system of applying liquid flavor to cut tobacco material includes a first tank of concentrated liquid flavor and a second tank of water. A venturi device is constructed and arranged to receive and meter concentrated liquid flavor and water from the first and second tanks and to discharge mixed flavor and water from an outlet end. A first line is connected between the first tank and a suction port on the venturi device, and a second line is connected between the second tank and an intake port on the venturi device. A spray assembly is in fluid communication with the discharge outlet of the venturi device for applying mixed flavor and water to cut tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Sherron, Ashok Kumar
  • Patent number: 8347892
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a disposable hookah bowl and hookah bowl product that are moisture-sealed. The hookah bowl includes a tobacco compartment, an ignitable product shelf, a heat inlet seal, and a particulate outlet seal. The hookah bowl product includes the hookah bowl and a combustible product, such as massell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mya Saray, LLC
    Inventor: Nizar Youssef Mehio