Patents Examined by Jamel M Nelson
  • Patent number: 10034493
    Abstract: A package for housing at least a heat source, used for a flavor inhaler, having a columnar shape extending along a predetermined direction and four housing a tubular member having a tubular shape. The package includes a bottom surface and a heat source holder for holding the heat source so that the predetermined direction is directed toward a direction crossing the bottom surface. The heat source holder holds the heat source provided separately of a tubular member and holds the heat source at a state that allows the heat source to swing toward the bottom surface, the tubular member, used for the flavor inhaler, having a tubular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akiyama, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10034492
    Abstract: A cigarette holder for filter-less or hand rolled cigarettes that comprises a hollow tube with a flange extending from its end and at least one spring which presses directly or indirectly against the proximate side of the flange. The spring is compressed and the flanged tube is inserted into the end of a cigarette. The spring is then released and it extends to secure the paper from the cigarette around the outside of the tube and against the flange. The cigarette is then held firmly in place such that it extends away from both the fingers and the lips with the cigarette holder's tube is in its interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Anthony Mark McClure
  • Patent number: 10022896
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a part. The part is heated with the part at least partially surrounded by a surface of a tooling system, while a heatsink system is positioned relative to the part. A thermal conduction between the heatsink system and the part is changed during heating of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith Daniel Humfeld, Steven Michael Shewchuk
  • Patent number: 9999597
    Abstract: Irregular, angular particles are produced by a manufacturing method that comprises forming a film on a substrate and then stretching the substrate along one or more axes to fracture the film into particle structures. The substrate may be moved continuously along a production line as the film is formed and may be stretched by accelerating that movement. The substrate may comprise a surface with elevated patterns to control the fracturing of the film. The particles are particularly suitable for the transdermal delivery of a biologically active substance into the body of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: NDM Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Dewan Fazlul Hoque Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 9976314
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a concrete structure comprises an installation step of installing a formwork 30 for concrete placement, a placement step of performing concrete placement in a state where a curing sheet 10 is attached to an inner surface of the formwork 30, and a demolding step of removing the formwork 30 after placement of concrete C. A contact angle of a contact surface of the curing sheet 10 for use in the placement step with water is 50 degrees or more, wherein the contact surface faces the concrete. Thus, generation of bleeding water is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KAJIMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru Sakata, Kenzo Watanabe, Tatsuya Nukushina, Goro Sakai, Shuji Yanai, Kosuke Yokozeki, Mitsunori Iwata, Kazunori Nishioka, Keiji Kondo, Taizo Goda, Shusaku Hirata
  • Patent number: 9961938
    Abstract: A wrapper (310) for a smoking article comprises a sheet material extending in a first direction (24) in which the wrapper (310) is wrapped around a smoking article and a second direction (20) perpendicular to the first direction (24). The wrapper (310) further comprises a window (312) in the sheet material, the window (312) having a perimeter. Any linear segment of the perimeter forming an angle of less than 10° with respect to the second direction (20) has a length of less than 0.5 millimeters, and any curved portion of the perimeter having a continuum of tangents each forming an angle of less than 10° with respect to the second direction (20) has a length of less than 0.5 millimeters. Such linear segments and curved portions of the perimeter are spaced apart by a distance of at least 0.5 millimeters along the length of the perimeter. The perimeter includes at least one linear segment forming an angle of less than 10 degrees with respect to the second direction (20) and having a length of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Alen Kadiric
  • Patent number: 9952440
    Abstract: An imprint apparatus includes: a heating unit configured to heat an imprint region where an imprint process on a substrate is performed and change a shape of the imprint region. The heating unit includes a first optical system configured to emit a light beam extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a changing unit configured to change a ratio of widths of the light beam emitted from the first optical system in the first direction and the second direction, and an intensity distribution adjusting unit configured to adjust an intensity distribution of the light beam the ratio of which has been changed, and the heating unit heats the imprint region by irradiating the imprint region with the light beam from the intensity distribution adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9943991
    Abstract: A mold comprises a main body and a separable feature. One or more weakened regions join the separable feature to the main body. The one or more weakened regions are breakable to enable the main body to be removed from a shell independently of the separable feature after the shell is formed over the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
  • Patent number: 9943386
    Abstract: A breakable or deflectable mold includes a first section, a second section, and a weakened region that joins the first section to the second section. The weakened region is breakable or deflectable to enable the first section to be removed independently of the second section after a shell is formed over the breakable mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Rohit Tanugula, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
  • Patent number: 9936730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Carraro, Alexis Louvet, Oleg Mironov, Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 9931791
    Abstract: Three-dimensional printer fabrication is improved receiving a digital model of an object, the digital model specifying two or more different build materials; prioritizing the two or more different build materials with a ranking; identifying exclusive locations in the plurality of layers where a surface layer of the object has one of the two or more different build materials; generating an external structure for the object according to one or more design rules; matching a first build material of the external structure to a second build material of the object at each of the exclusive locations; and generating tool instructions for fabricating the object and the external structure using at least the first build material and the second build material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MakerBot Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Sadusk, Filipp Gelman
  • Patent number: 9918492
    Abstract: Methods of modifying the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of a tobacco material are described herein. One exemplary method comprises contacting a tobacco material with a composition comprising salt, sugar, enzyme, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, or a combination thereof to reduce the total bacterial content; curing the tobacco material; and fermenting the tobacco material in the presence of one or more microorganisms. The method can provide a fermented tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is reduced relative to a fermented tobacco material that has not been subjected to the disclosed method steps. In certain embodiments, the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of the fermented tobacco material is no more than that of the cured tobacco material. Tobacco-containing products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Marshall, Anthony Richard Gerardi, Luis Monsalud, Jr., Alton Busbee, Jo Ann Hill Hart, Annett Milling
  • Patent number: 9910273
    Abstract: The method according to the invention is used for producing optical components, in particular covers for encapsulating micro-systems, wherein at least one reinforcing element, which is produced before being arranged, is arranged on a first substrate, as a result of which a stack is produced. This stack is heated after being connected to a second substrate, as a result of which the first substrate is deformed such that at least one region, covered by the reinforcing element, of the first substrate is moved and/or is inclined or the first substrate is brought into contact with the reinforcing element. In an alternative method according to the invention, the reinforcing element is arranged on the second substrate, wherein this stack is then connected to the first substrate. The first substrate is subsequently heated and deformed such that a region of the first substrate is brought into contact with the reinforcing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Hans Joachim Quenzer, Ulrich Hofmann, Vanessa Stenchly
  • Patent number: 9896243
    Abstract: A liquid stopper for an electronic cigarette, includes a main body configured for stopping a tobacco liquid of the electronic cigarette. The main body includes a bottom surface, at least one wire hole in communication with the bottom surface, and at least one wire groove formed in the bottom surface and in communication with the at least one wire hole. The at least one wire hole is configured to receive at least one conductive wire of the electronic cigarette, and the at least one wire groove is configured to guide the at least one conductive wire to a peripheral wall of the main body. An electronic cigarette using the liquid stopper is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yonghai Li, Zhongli Xu, Hongxing Duan, Long Cai
  • Patent number: 9894930
    Abstract: There is provided a smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end, the smoking article including a combustible carbonaceous heat source; an aerosol-forming substrate; at least one air inlet downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate; an airflow pathway extending between the at least one air inlet and the mouth end of the smoking article; and an airflow directing element downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. The airflow directing element defines a first portion of the airflow pathway extending from the at least one air inlet towards the aerosol-forming substrate and a second portion of the airflow pathway extending downstream from the first portion towards the mouth end of the smoking article. The airflow directing element includes an aerosol-modifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Bonici, Anca Gabriela Haiduc, Daniele Sanna
  • Patent number: 9884439
    Abstract: A method for producing a foamed molded product includes: using a molding apparatus including a plasticizing cylinder having a high pressure kneading zone and a pressure reduction zone; and a screw; controlling a pressure of the pressure reduction zone to be a first pressure in a state that communication between the high pressure kneading zone and the pressure reduction zone is shut off, the first pressure being not less than an atmospheric pressure and not more than a maximum pressure of the high pressure kneading zone which is reached in a case that a molten resin is brought in contact and kneaded with a physical foaming agent; controlling back pressure of the screw to be a second pressure which is not less than the first pressure; and measuring a predetermined amount of the molten resin from which the gasified physical foaming agent has been separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamamoto, Atsushi Yusa, Hironori Ota, Tetsuya Ano, Hideto Goto
  • Patent number: 9861130
    Abstract: An exemplary atomizing assembly includes a heating component, a holder, an electrode, and a cover. The heating component includes a liquid conducting element and a heating element in contact with the liquid conducting element. The holder includes two arms extending from a first end thereof. The two arms and the cover cooperatively define a receiving space. The heating component is received in the receiving space. The electrode is arranged in the holder and is insulated from the holder. Two ends of the heating element are connected with the holder and the electrode respectively. The holder further includes a connection part arranged at an opposite second end, and the connection part is configured for detachably engaging with an external component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yonghai Li, Zhongli Xu, Hongyong Luo
  • Patent number: 9833018
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hookah with a stem base bifurcated into two sections. A first section permits attachment to wet smoke outlets for smoke, the second section permits pressure release. A bifurcation wall creates an ideal airflow for purging the stem base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Mya Saray, LLC
    Inventor: Nizar Youssef Mehio
  • Patent number: 9821494
    Abstract: A mold release processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold releasing agent, including a fluorine-based silane coupling agent and a solvent, and a mold of which the surface has a porous alumina layer; (b) applying the mold releasing agent onto the surface; and (c) heating, either before or after the step (b), the surface to a temperature not less than 40° C. and less than 100° C. in an ambient with a relative humidity of 50% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidekazu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9815543
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling a structurally reinforced composite structure are disclosed herein. The methods include deforming a composite tubular skin to a deformed conformation to generate clearance to permit a frame assembly to be conveyed into an internal volume that is defined by the composite tubular skin. The methods further include conveying the frame assembly into the internal volume, permitting the composite tubular skin to deform from the deformed conformation to the target conformation, and operatively attaching the frame assembly to the composite tubular skin to form the structurally reinforced composite structure. The systems include a frame support that is configured to support the frame assembly, a frame deformation assembly, a skin support that is configured to support the composite tubular skin, and a skin deformation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Tibor A. Koncz