Patents Examined by Dionne Walls Mayes
  • Patent number: 8997755
    Abstract: The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Alan Benson Norman, Bradley James Ingebrethsen
  • Patent number: 8991402
    Abstract: Devices, cartridges, and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein a device generates an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract, while reducing Hoffman analytes and mutagenic compounds delivered to the user as compared to a common tobacco cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: PAX Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bowen, James Monsees
  • Patent number: 8955522
    Abstract: A vapor dispensation system includes a base having a vaporizing element, a cylindrical vapor tube extending along a longitudinal axis, a mouthpiece connected to the vapor tube opposite the base, a vial body surrounding the vapor tube from the base to the mouthpiece, and a cartridge dimensioned to fit within the vial body. The cartridge has a frangible seal ruptured by the seal penetrating element when the cartridge is enclosed in the vial body between the mouthpiece and base. A method of filling a vapor dispensation system includes disengaging a mouthpiece, removing a spent cartridge, inserting a fluid containing cartridge with a frangible seal of the cartridge oriented toward the vapor dispensation system, rupturing the frangible seal upon full insertion, and engaging the mouthpiece onto the longitudinal end of a vapor dispensation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Crystal Coast Innovations
    Inventors: Ronald Bowen, Corey S. Duber, Patrick Murphy, Drew Brisley
  • Patent number: 8939157
    Abstract: A system (1) for portioning and packaging a tobamel smoking mixture (2) comprises a unit (3) internally of which the mixture (2) is prepared by blending tobacco en masse with agglutinants such as honey or molasses, and an extruder unit (17) by which the mixture (2) is shaped into a continuous rod (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fulvio Boldrini
  • Patent number: 8936029
    Abstract: A pack (1) for tobacco industry products, comprises a housing defining an enclosure in which a plurality of tobacco industry products (4) can be accommodated, and a capsule (10) containing a substance such as flavoring substance, disposed in or on the pack, arranged to be opened manually such that, when opened, flavoring substance is released from the capsule and absorbed by tobacco industry products disposed in the pack, to refresh their flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin Blick, Dennis Lee Potter
  • Patent number: 8931492
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to electronic cigarette components. As will be disclosed, an electronic cigarette may have a translucent conduit and light chamber which, together, allow light from the light source to be diffused therethrough in such a way that the light emitted during inhalation simulates the natural burn of a traditional tobacco cigarette during inhalation. The electronic cigarette may also have a translucent ash simulator to further simulate the natural burn of a traditional tobacco cigarette during inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: NJOY, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Scatterday
  • Patent number: 8931493
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is provided. A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product comprises a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation that includes a granular tobacco composition, wherein the pouch comprises a fleece material configured to provide enhanced flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, E. Matthew Reddick
  • Patent number: 8925556
    Abstract: Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Li, Firooz Rasouli, Rajesh K. Garg, Randall E. Baren, Marc W. Rose, Peter J. Lipowicz, Tony A. Phan, Timothy S. Sherwood, Szu-Sung Yang, Donald E. Miser, Milton E. Parrish
  • Patent number: 8910641
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8905043
    Abstract: Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Li, Firooz Rasouli, Rajesh K. Garg, Randall E. Baren, Marc W. Rose, Peter J. Lipowicz, Tony A. Phan, Timothy S. Sherwood, Szu-Sung Yang, Donald E. Miser, Milton E. Parrish
  • Patent number: 8899239
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8893726
    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: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8893723
    Abstract: Method and device for removing foreign bodies from a first tobacco stream that is conveyed via an air flow in a region of a first foreign body detection device. Method includes detecting, with a first foreign body detection device, the foreign bodies in the first tobacco stream based on at least one property, and removing, with a jet of compressed air, the foreign bodies from the first tobacco stream. In this manner, a foreign body freed tobacco stream and a second tobacco stream including tobacco particles and the foreign bodies entrained by the jet of compressed air are formed. Method also includes at least one of: accelerating the second stream at a distance from the first tobacco stream; and detecting, with a second foreign body detector, foreign bodies in the second stream based on at least one property and removing the detected foreign bodies with a second jet of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Matthias Jahnke, Harry Drewes, Torsten Grigutsch, Hans Dierken, David Felts, Jeroen Erinkveld, Diederick van Klaarbergen
  • Patent number: 8893724
    Abstract: The invention relates to heat not burn products comprising an encapsulated aerosol generating agent, the encapsulation having the effect of controlling the release of the agent during use of the heat not burn product. The encapsulation will control the timing of the release of the aerosol generating agent during the use of the heat not burn product, to allow greater control of the puff yield. In the case of some aerosol generating agents, the encapsulation may also increase the stability of the agent and/or prevent its migration within the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Dominic Woodcock, James Murphy
  • Patent number: 8875716
    Abstract: Oral smokeless tobacco products and oral smokeless non-tobacco snuff products include carbamide or carbamide salt(s). The carbamide salt is chosen from the group including carbamide calcium sulphate [4(CH4N2O).CaSO4], carbamide magnesium sulphate [6(CH4N2O).MgSO4.2H2O] and carbamide sodium chloride [CH4N2O).NaCl.H2O]. Moreover, carbamide or carbamide salt(s) are used in the manufacturing of oral smokeless tobacco products or oral smokeless non-tobacco snuff products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Swedish Match North Europe AB
    Inventors: Herman Norström, Dowen Birkhed
  • Patent number: 8869803
    Abstract: A finished tobacco product is formed by a set of pre-rolled sheets. In one embodiment a form casing is used which includes at least two portions—a non-smokable portion along with a container portion which includes tobacco filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8869804
    Abstract: Provided is a moist smokeless tobacco product including a hydrated membrane coating and a portion of tobacco material. Preferably, the tobacco material is pre-portioned and formed to include at least one dimple and/or at least one hole through the tobacco material so as to increase the surface area of the tobacco product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, William R. Sweeney, Shengsheng Liu, Dennis Geib
  • Patent number: 8863752
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette 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. The battery assembly and the atomizer assembly are connected by the screwthread electrode. The cigarette bottle assembly is inserted into the other end of the atomizer assembly and both form a cigarette type or cigar type body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 8863754
    Abstract: Strands of homogenized tobacco material include at least one aerosol former, An aerosol-generating substrate includes a plurality of those strands of homogenized tobacco material. A smoking article may further include the aerosol-generating substrate. Those strands of homogenized tobacco material preferably have a mass-to-surface-area ratio of at least about 0.09 mg/mm2 and an aerosol former content of between about 12% and about 25% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Phillip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Renaud, Jean-Jacques Pladé, Jacques Zuber, Fabien Zuchuat, Anu Ajithkumar, Samuel Bonnely, Johannes Petrus Maria Pijnenburg
  • Patent number: 8863756
    Abstract: A chewing gum formulation including tobacco particles and a gum base, where the gum base includes one or more hydrophobic gum base polymers, and where the tobacco particles are made from tobacco leaves. The amount of tobacco particles is between 0.5 and 30% by weight of the chewing gum formulation, and nicotine is released from the tobacco particles when chewing the chewing gum formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Okono A/S
    Inventor: Carsten Andersen