Patents Examined by Kelly M Gambetta
  • Patent number: 11825869
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of manufacturing a crimped sheet (70) of material for an aerosol-generating article. The method comprises the step of feeding a substantially continuous sheet of material to a set of crimping rollers (11, 21) in a transport direction (1), the set of crimping rollers comprising a first roller (11) having a first surface (12) and having a first plurality of ridges (17) across at least a portion of its width and a second roller having a second surface, the second surface (22) being formed at least for a portion thereof in a material having an hardness lower than the hardness of a material forming the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Stefano Zappoli
  • Patent number: 11826942
    Abstract: A die for extrusion molding includes an extrusion port configured to extrude a plastic composition, and a plastic flow channel configured to cause the supplied plastic composition to flow to the extrusion port. The plastic flow channel includes a supply flow channel, and an extrusion flow channel. The supply flow channel is configured to be supplied with the plastic composition. The extrusion flow channel has an upstream end coupled to the supply flow channel, and downstream end having the extrusion port. In the extrusion flow channel, a flow channel cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction of the plastic composition in the extrusion flow channel gradually changes to the extrusion port, and an inner wall surface of a flow channel has a protruding surface protruding toward an inside of the flow channel in a cross section including an extrusion central axis and parallel to the extrusion central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11825883
    Abstract: A personal vaporizer is configured to be used with a battery assembly. An atomizer of the personal vaporizer is configured to atomize vaporizing media, which atomized media becomes entrained in air flowing through the vaporization chamber to form a vapor. The personal vaporizer can include a warming element that warms vaporizing media within the tank without atomizing such media in order to reduce the viscosity of such media and improve media flow within the tank. The warming element can be passive or electrically powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lubby Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: J. Christian Rado
  • Patent number: 11819056
    Abstract: The method includes first defining chambers within a housing, the chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber, providing at least one aligning element within the housing, the at least one aligning element being configured to align a first consumable and a second consumable in a fixed orientation within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively; and configuring a mouthpiece to be selectively connected to the housing on a first side of the chambers in at least a first position or a second position, the first position aligning an inlet opening of the mouthpiece to direct at least one first airflow in a first direction through the first chamber while circumventing the second chamber, the second position aligning the inlet opening to direct the at least one first airflow in the first direction through the second chamber while circumventing the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11819052
    Abstract: A flavor inhaler comprising: a tubular holder that extends from a mouthpiece end to a distal end; a combustion type heat source that is provided at the distal end, contains activated carbon, and carries a first flavorant; and a flavor source that is held in the holder and carries a second flavorant, wherein the first flavorant contains at least one selected from the group consisting of anethole, 2-pinene, 3-citronellol, linalyl acetate, limonene, anisaldehyde, 4-terpineol, 2-?-pinene, jasmone, sabinene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, phenethyl alcohol, and myristicin, and the second flavorant contains at least one selected from the group consisting of ?-terpinene, ?-terpinene, nerol, geraniol, and decanal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Takeshi Akiyama, Takashi Oda, Masaaki Suzuki, Takayuki Nakazono
  • Patent number: 11820066
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for supplying a semi-finished product to a thermoforming machine as a starting material for thermoforming. The arrangement has a deposition device on which cuttings of the starting material which are to be processed in succession can be provided, in each case in an at least partially automated manner, and a movable loading unit. This loading unit is set up for at least one of the cuttings to be received on the loading unit. The loading unit can be positioned to receive the cutting from the deposition device, and the loading unit can subsequently be positioned to deposit the cutting received from the deposition device in a working region of the thermoforming machine. The invention further relates to a thermoforming arrangement and to a method for supplying a semi-finished product to a thermoforming machine as a starting material for thermoforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GEISS AG
    Inventor: Miroslaw Wiercinski
  • Patent number: 11805803
    Abstract: A flavor-containing sheet for a smoking article, the sheet comprising a thickening polysaccharide, a flavor, an emulsifier, and a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Sugyo, Yasuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11806906
    Abstract: In a parting locking device for an injection molding mold assembly, a first engagement element and a first spring are mounted in the base holder. With a locking plate inserted in a plate insertion hole, the first engagement element moves to a locking position where the base holder and a locking member are coupled together. When a locking bar is pulled out of a bar insertion hole, the first engagement element is pushed and moved to an unlocking position where the base holder and the locking member are uncoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AIYUKI GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11806900
    Abstract: A mold tool assembly includes a first tool having a protrusion for producing a respective hole in a foam body and a second tool configured to cooperate with the first tool to mold the foam body. The second tool defines a cavity corresponding to the protrusion. The mold tool assembly also includes a movable plunger for clearing flash corresponding to and located at least partially within the cavity in the second tool, and movable between a disengaged position when the first and second tools are separated, and an engaged position when the first and second tools are closed. The mold tool assembly also includes an actuator configured to move the movable plunger between the engaged position and the disengaged position. In the engaged position, the movable plunger contacts the protrusion to seal the cavity, and in the disengaged position, at least a portion of the movable plunger extends below a bottom surface of the second tool into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darren Legh, Antony Baxter, Myriam Molina, Christopher Whiley
  • Patent number: 11805807
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for analysing the operation of an automatic machine which processes products in the tobacco industry includes the following steps: introducing into the machine an endoscopic probe whose shape and size correspond to the shape and size of the products the machine is designed to process and which the machine processes as if it were a real product. During processing in the machine, the probe acquires data through a sensor of its own. The method also includes determining the positions adopted by the probe while it is being processed in the machine and associating them with the data acquired by the probe while it is being processed in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: G.D S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Vecchietti, Sergio Morelli, Franco Spisni, Eugenio Navacchia, Maria Eleonora Cesarini, Gaetano De Pietra, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11793234
    Abstract: A hookah device (202) which attaches to a hookah (246). The hookah device (202) comprises a plurality of ultrasonic mist generator devices (201) for generating a mist for inhalation by a user. The hookah device (202) comprises a driver device (202) which controls the mist generator devices (201) to maximize the efficiency of mist generation by the mist generator devices (201) and optimize mist output from the hookah device (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shaheen Innovations Holding Limited
    Inventors: Imad Lahoud, Mohammed Alshaiba Saleh Ghannam Almazrouei, Sajid Bhatti, Jeff Machovec, Clement Lamoureux
  • Patent number: 11793237
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heater of a nicotine e-vapor device includes detecting, from a removable pod included in the nicotine e-vapor device, power information indicating a first power level and a second power level; and supplying power to the heater based on the detected power information by determining a first amount of power based on the first power level, supplying the first amount of power to the heater during a first operation mode of the heater, determining a second amount of power based on the second power level, and supplying the second amount of power to the heater during a second operation mode of the heater, the second amount of power being higher than the first amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Niall Gallagher, William Wykeham, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes, Terry Bache, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen
  • Patent number: 11793235
    Abstract: A pouched product adapted for release of a water-soluble component therefrom is provided herein. The pouched product can include an outer water-permeable pouch defining a cavity containing a composition that includes a water-soluble component capable of being released through the water-permeable pouch and has a surface area, wherein the outer water-permeable pouch can include a nonwoven web including a plurality of heat sealable binder fibers blended with a second plurality of dissimilar fibers. The nonwoven web can be carded, hydroentangled and point bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Alton Busbee, Jeremy Barrett Mabe, Yan Pu, Eric Taylor Hunt, Bruce Alan Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 11794409
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining resin in a system including a main feed tank and at least one vat, each of the at least one vats associated with a 3-D printing machine. The method includes the steps of: transferring resin from the main feed tank to the at least one vat; operating the associated 3-D printing machine in a build cycle; returning the resin from the at least one vat to the main feed tank; and repeating in a cycle the steps of transferring the resin, operating the 3-D printing machine, and returning the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynn DePalma, William Cosmo Murphy, Travis Sands
  • Patent number: 11786408
    Abstract: A push-in earplug is provided. The push-in earplug comprises an elongate core comprising a core material. The push-in earplug also comprises an outer layer comprising a foam material, the outer layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the elongate core. The push-in earplug also comprises a channel extending through the elongate core from a first end of the elongate core to the second end of the elongate core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jacob H. Ely, Robert C. Coffin, James D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11788189
    Abstract: A coating system for coating, with a surface coating process, an interior surface of a housing defining an interior volume, having: a first closure and a second closure to sealingly engage with the housing; one or more first flow lines and second flow lines fluidically coupled to the first and second closure, respectively; a pressurized cell comprising a pressurized gas comprising at least one reactant and at a pressure of greater than a pressure within the housing, wherein the pressurized cell is fluidically coupled to a pressurized cell line comprising one of the first flow lines or second flow lines; and a controller in electronic communication with the pressurized cell and configured to control injection of a pulse of the pressurized gas into a flow of inert gas in the pressurized cell line, whereby the pulse is introduced into the interior volume, coating the interior surface with a coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, James M. Price, William Joseph Soltmann
  • Patent number: 11788187
    Abstract: A coating system for coating an interior surface of a housing comprising: first and second closures engaging first and second ends, respectively, of the housing to provide an enclosed volume; first and second flow lines coupled to the first and second closures, respectively, the first flow line and/or the second flow line connected to an inert gas source; a reactant gas source(s) comprising a reactant gas and coupled to the first and/or second flow line; and a controller in electronic communication with the reactant gas and inert gas sources, and configured to control flow of inert gas into the enclosed volume, and counter current injection of reactant gas from the reactant gas source(s) into the enclosed volume whereby introduction of pulse(s) of the reactant gas into the enclosed volume are separated by introduction of inert gas into the enclosed volume, and coating layer(s) are deposited on the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, James M. Price, William Joseph Soltmann, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 11785985
    Abstract: A hookah device (202) which attaches to a hookah (246). The hookah device (202) comprises a plurality of ultrasonic mist generator devices (201) for generating a mist for inhalation by a user. The hookah device (202) comprises a driver device (202) which controls the mist generator devices (201) to maximize the efficiency of mist generation by the mist generator devices (201) and optimize mist output from the hookah device (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shaheen Innovations Holding Limited
    Inventors: Imad Lahoud, Mohammed Alshaiba Saleh Ghannam Almazrouei, Sajid Bhatti, Jeff Machovec, Clement Lamoureux
  • Patent number: 11780134
    Abstract: A molding system and a method for operation of the molding system are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a shot tuning chamber from an upstream device, adjusting a temperature of and/or pressure applied to the molten polymeric material in the shot tuning chamber, and flowing the molten polymeric material from the shot tuning chamber into a mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Allen Baghdadi, Sami Mohamad Fakhouri, Joseph Thomas Muth, Bradley C. Tutmark, H. Kenneth Hanson, III, Danny David Lumpkin, Robert L Ritchie, Shawn J. Schnee
  • Patent number: 11780137
    Abstract: A mold includes a stationary mold, a movable mold, a coupling unit that performs coupling and uncoupling of the stationary mold and the movable mold, a coupling portion movement unit that moves a coupling portion of the stationary mold and the movable mold in a mold closing direction, and a control unit that controls the coupling unit and the coupling portion movement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Iwaki, Toshihiko Iizuka, Yasuhiro Kotani