Patents Examined by Eric Yaary
  • Patent number: 12262747
    Abstract: An article for generating an inhalable medium using an irradiative light source. The article includes smokable material including at least two regions having a different composition from each other. The article is arranged such that the at least two regions of smokable material can be heated by light emitted by an irradiative light source of an apparatus with which the article can be engaged in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Alfred Vincent Spencer, Anna Azzopardi, Paul Frobisher
  • Patent number: 12264664
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device includes a pump. The pump includes a first pump chamber and a second pump chamber on opposing sides of a separation element. Each of the first pump chamber and the second pump chamber have an inlet valve and an outlet valve configured to establish a pumping direction. The pump also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is associated with the first pump chamber and the second actuator is associated with the second pump chamber. The first actuator and the second actuator are each configured to change a chamber volume of the respective pump chamber. The pump further includes a common inlet, and a common outlet. The common inlet and common outlet are in fluid communication with the first pump chamber and the second pump chamber and are configured to establish a flow direction. The pumping direction is aligned with the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Ben Mazur
  • Patent number: 12256774
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including an aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-generating substrate being a rod including a gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material circumscribed by a wrapper, the gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material including one or more aerosol-formers and having an aerosol-former content of greater than 5% on a dry weight basis, and the rod having a length of between 5 mm and 20 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre-Yves Gindrat
  • Patent number: 12256784
    Abstract: A vaporization device includes a cartridge for a vaporizer device. For example, the vaporizer cartridge and/or features thereof may improve management of leaks of vaporizable material from the vaporizer cartridge, control of airflow within and/or near the vaporizer cartridge, heating of vaporizable material in the vaporizer cartridge, management of condensate in the vaporizer cartridge, and/or other assembly features of the vaporizer cartridge. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, James P. Westley
  • Patent number: 12250962
    Abstract: A method of treating cut stem tobacco material by expanding the cut stem to provide a first expanded tobacco material having a fill value at least about 10% greater than the fill value of the untreated cut stem tobacco material; intermittently contacting the first expanded tobacco material with a heated surface to provide a second expanded tobacco material with a moisture content of from 0 to about 10% OV and a fill value at least 5% greater than the fill value of the first expanded tobacco material; and (c) adjusting the moisture content of the second expanded tobacco material from about 5% to about 30% OV to provide an expanded product, wherein the fill value of the expanded product is at least 50% greater than the fill value of the untreated cut stem tobacco material when measured at a normalized moisture content of 14.5% OV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Dietmar Franke, Frank Plueckhahn, Matthias Link, Horst Grzonka, Thomas Lindner
  • Patent number: 12239159
    Abstract: Various structures for interfaces for a smokable element to connect to a smoke and/or tar filter, and related methods, are provided. For example, the structures and methods enable repeatably and securely connecting or interfacing a smokable element, e.g., an herbal joint, to an air filter, e.g., a smoke and/or tar filter. For instance, an interface can have a horn-shaped end with a deformable opening that receives a smokable element, creating at least a partial seal between the deformable opening of the horn-shaped end and the smokable element. Also, the other end of the interface can have a round end that attaches to an air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Filter420, LLC
    Inventor: Lane Kleppen
  • Patent number: 12232519
    Abstract: A cannabis joints manufacturing machine comprises a plurality of different cannabis joints manufacturing stations, each for performing on one cannabis cone at a time a step among a sequence of steps for manufacturing a cannabis joint; one of the cannabis joints manufacturing stations including a cannabis oil injector; the plurality of different cannabis joints manufacturing stations being positioned side-by-side according to the sequence of steps for manufacturing a cannabis joint; and a cannabis cone support for receiving a plurality of cannabis cones and for sequentially moving together the plurality of cannabis cones between each of the plurality of different cannabis joints manufacturing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Le Groupe Solid Packaging Robotik Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Archambault, Daniel Martel, Harold Bouchard
  • Patent number: 12232541
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and assemblies for data exchange related to an electronic smoking device and use thereof. A pack for an electronic smoking device comprises: a rechargeable battery for powering the pack; a power interface configured to receive electric power from an external power source to charge the rechargeable battery; a communication interface configured to exchange data with a first external device or network; and a smoking device connector configured to engage the electronic smoking device and provide electric power to the electronic smoking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Fontem Ventures B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, Jason Healy
  • Patent number: 12225941
    Abstract: A vaporization device includes a cartridge for a vaporizer device. For example, the vaporizer cartridge and/or features thereof may improve management of leaks of vaporizable material from the vaporizer cartridge, control of airflow within and/or near the vaporizer cartridge, heating of vaporizable material in the vaporizer cartridge, management of condensate in the vaporizer cartridge, and/or other assembly features of the vaporizer cartridge. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Christopher L. Belisle, Steven Christensen, Alexander M. Hoopai, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason King, Esteban Leon Duque, Matthew Rios, Christopher James Rosser, Andrew J. Stratton, Alim Thawer, James P. Westley
  • Patent number: 12225929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongated smoking article (100) that extends in a longitudinal direction (L). The elongated smoking article (100) comprises a heatable tobacco material (11) and a filter element (20) aligned with the smoking body (10). The filter element (20) has at least one filter portion (30) and at least one hollow section (40), wherein the at least one hollow section (40) is disposed between the smoking body (10) and at least one of the at least one filer portion (30). The filter element (20) is sheathed by a tipping paper (50) together with the smoking body (10). The filter portion (30) comprises a material for reducing unwanted substances from an aerosol and a hollow section (40) has a barrier layer (51) disposed on its inner surface (41) and a carrier layer (52) disposed on the barrier layer (51). The carrier layer (52) contains a volatile additive (80) and the barrier layer (51) is impermeable to the volatile additive (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO VENTURES LIMITED
    Inventor: Mido Elmy
  • Patent number: 12219999
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article including aerosol-forming substrate; a first air inlet fluidly connected with the cavity and configured to enable ambient air to be drawn into the cavity; a second air inlet fluidly connected with the cavity and configured to enable ambient air to be drawn into the cavity; and airflow controller for controlling one or both of airflow through the first air inlet and the second air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Ricardo Cali, Adela Sahraoui
  • Patent number: 12213518
    Abstract: The method including providing a filler material that is water insoluble, the providing provides the filler material with more than 98% alpha-cellulose, 0.01% to less than 2% ash and a remainder hemicellulose, infusing at least one first consumable within the filler material and inserting a matrix within at least one first containing structure to form an insert, the matrix including the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Danielle Crawford, Dwight David Williams, Eric Hawes, Terry Bache, Raymond W. Lau, Shaoyong Yu
  • Patent number: 12213535
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette or vaporizer may include a shell and a cartomizer receivable within a chamber within a portion of the shell. A basin may be included in the cartomizer to hold a vaporizable fluid, dry substance, or other vaporizable substance such as a wax. A heating element may be provided within the basin which may have a flexible non-conductive material and a flexible conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: VMR Products LLC
    Inventors: Jan Andries Verleur, Dan Recio, Yifeng Lu, Yinjun Zhang, Arturo Fajardo, Hans Verleur
  • Patent number: 12207681
    Abstract: A tube filter for smoking a smokable substance that includes a receiving section having a receiving chamber dimensioned to receive the substance, a smoke section having a smoke chamber to output smoke produced while the substance is ignited, wherein the smoke section has a first open end into the smoke chamber and the receiving section has a second open end into the receiving chamber that is opposite to the first end, and first, second, and third indentations that are disposed between the two chambers, wherein a portion of the first indentation and a first portion of the second indentation are disposed within a first cross-section of the filter and a portion of the third indentation and a second portion of the second indentation are disposed within a second cross-section of the filter, and the third indentation is entirely disposed above the first indentation along the center longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: R.Y.L. INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Ou, Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 12207682
    Abstract: Cigar hole punches are disclosed herein. An example cigar hole punch includes a first body having an end with an opening, a second body coupled to the first body, a cutting blade at least partially disposed in the first body, a positioning pin at least partially disposed in the first body, and an actuator to move the cutting blade and the positioning pin into and out of the opening in response to relative movement between the first and second bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: VPR Brands, LP
    Inventor: Douglas Fisten
  • Patent number: 12201154
    Abstract: A device for converting a consumable into an aerosol with high heat without burning the consumable by packaging the consumable containing an internal susceptor inside an encasement having a plurality of holes with an induction heating element wrapped around the consumable-containing package to heat the susceptor using a magnetic field generated by the induction heating element. Combustion of the consumable-containing package can be minimized by limiting air inside the consumable-containing package by coating the encasement material that melts at high temperatures. The coating may also include a flavoring. Efficiency of the device can be enhanced with a self-resonant oscillator, moving coils, multi-prong susceptors, sensors, heat dissipation, air flow control, alignment mechanisms, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventors: Alexander Chinhak Chong, William Bartkowski, David Crosby, David Wayne
  • Patent number: 12201139
    Abstract: A device and method for converting a consumable into an aerosol with high heat without burning the consumable by packaging the consumable containing an internal susceptor inside a housing. The consumable can be in the form of a compressed powder. A first end of the housing can be capped with an end cap and a second end of the housing can have a mouthpiece. The housing containing the consumable and the susceptor can be placed inside a case with an inductive heating element configured to heat the susceptor. Heating the susceptor results in the consumable being released as an aerosol for inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventors: Alexander Chinhak Chong, William Bartkowski, David Crosby, David Wayne
  • Patent number: 12201156
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette with a memory and ability to record the amount and duration of inhalation of nicotine vapor. The electronic cigarette may be integrated with a smart phone application or other software to record usage and provide feedback to the smoker. The application may include an algorithm for the development of a withdrawal schedule for the user to quit smoking or vaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SMOKEWATCHERS SAS
    Inventors: Benjamin Choukroun, Thomas Serval
  • Patent number: 12193476
    Abstract: An exemplary smoking article includes a smoking rod filled with a combination including tobacco filler material and cellulose filler material. The tobacco filler material and cellulose filler material can be arranged such that the constituent material particles are generally distributed throughout the smoking rod, the tobacco filler material at least partially surrounds the cellulose filler material along a length of the smoking rod, and/or the cellulose filler material particles have a higher concentration along a central axis of the smoking rod than the tobacco filler material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Shaoyong Yu, Bernard S. Appleton, Weiling Li
  • Patent number: 12193472
    Abstract: A liquid aerosol formulation for an electronic smoking article includes an aerosol former, water, nicotine, and an acid including tartaric acid. The acid is included in an amount sufficient to provide the liquid aerosol formulation with a pH ranging from about 4 to about 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Peter Lipowicz, Pauline Marcq, Gerd Kobal, Munmaya K. Mishra, Georgios D. Karles, San Li