Patents Examined by Phu H Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10342251
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Dwayne William Beeson, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., Huamin Gan
  • Patent number: 10334876
    Abstract: A simulated smoking device (1) comprising a simulated cigarette having a substantially cylindrical cigarette-like shape and a refill device (2, 50) having a substantially cuboid housing with a cigarette pack-like shape containing refill gas (32, 59) for the simulated cigarette and having means for selectively retaining the simulated cigarette. The simulated cigarette may be retained wholly within the housing. It may be retained at a location different from the refill location. A dose counter may be provided to give a visual indication of the doses in the refill device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KIND CONSUMER LIMITED
    Inventor: Alex Hearn
  • Patent number: 10327473
    Abstract: The inductively heatable tobacco product for aerosol-generation comprises an aerosol-forming substrate containing a susceptor in the form of a plurality of particles. The aerosol-forming substrate is a crimped tobacco sheet comprising tobacco material, fibers, binder, aerosol-former and the susceptor in the form of the plurality of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 10321709
    Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John Larkin Nelson, Vernon Brent Barnes, Louis John Read, Jr., Brent Walker Carter
  • Patent number: 10306917
    Abstract: Rotary conveyor drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) for use in tobacco industry machines, for transferring a stream of rod-like elements (S), the drum having a first front base and a second front base and a lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) onto which the rod-like elements (S) are delivered successively one by one, the lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) being provided with spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52) between which the rod-like elements (S) are conveyed, the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) being equipped with guiding means (21, 51) forcing the rod-like elements (S) to travel from the first front base to the second front base of the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) during the rotation of the drum while the rod-like elements (S) are oriented substantially transversally to the spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Jacek Slowik
  • Patent number: 10292417
    Abstract: A method of constructing a cigar includes the providing of a plurality of frusto-conically shaped tubes, each tube being of a smokable material such as a spirally wrapped layer of tobacco material. The tubes are nested, one tube inside the other tube. The nested tubes are then attached to a mouthpiece having a socket that is internally threaded. The nested tubes and mouthpiece are packaged either filled with tobacco filler material, partially filled, or unfilled in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10244793
    Abstract: Devices for generating and releasing vapor. In particular, described herein are portable devices for generating a low-temperature inhalable vapor having an elongated tubular body containing a vaporization chamber and a battery-powered heater, a removable mouthpiece covering the vaporization chamber, a display configured to indicate the temperature of the vaporization chamber; a microcontroller configured to regulate the temperature of the vaporization chamber, and a control to select from among a variety of temperature settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Juul Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: James Monsees, Adam Bowen, Patrick Myall, Krista Hunter
  • Patent number: 10231478
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a smoking article, the smoking article having a rod of smoke able material (15) and a cylindrically wrapped layer of sheet material, comprises a holder (3) for holding sheet material, an embossing unit (8) configured to emboss sheet material drawn from the holder and an assembling station (14) for assembling the smoking article, configured to receive embossed sheet material from the embossing unit and to wrap the embossed sheet material at least partially around a part of the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Karl Kaljura, Sanjeev Sharma
  • Patent number: 10231488
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llwellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10231482
    Abstract: Smoking articles have a mouth end portion that includes a central filter plug having an outer surface. The mouth end portion further includes a peripheral region disposed about the outer surface of the central filter plug. The peripheral region may include one or more channels through which smoke may flow. The smoking article includes an exterior wrap that is disposed about the peripheral region of the mouth end filter portion. The permeability of smoke through the peripheral region is five times or more greater than the permeability of smoke through the central filter plug. By increasing the permeability of smoke around the central filter plug, less smoke travels through the central filter plug in the mouth end portion and less staining of the mouth end of the central filter plug results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Dorothy Tritz, Charles Kuersteiner, Leonardo Nappi, Alen Kadiric
  • Patent number: 10226079
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10226069
    Abstract: A finished tobacco product is formed by an inner shell and attached outer pre-rolled sheet where the inner shell has a means to open an interior volume to add selected tobacco filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10226067
    Abstract: A smoking composition for inclusion in a combustible smoking article includes a combustible organic material, such as tobacco and/or tobacco substitutes and at least one alkanoylated glycoside for enhancing the flavor of mainstream smoke. Optionally, dry hops extract can also be included in the smoking composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Chan, Christophe Galopin, Andreas Czepa, Mike Nuckols, Beverley Woodson
  • Patent number: 10219548
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10219537
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco composition suitable for use as a smokeless tobacco composition, the process including: providing a slurry comprising water and a tobacco material, the slurry comprising at least about 75% by weight water, based on the total weight of the slurry; heating the slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient to pasteurize the tobacco material; adding an amount of a base to the slurry sufficient to raise the pH of the slurry to at least about 8.5, thereby forming a pH-adjusted slurry; and continuing to heat the pH-adjusted slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient for the pH of the slurry to drop at least about 0.5 pH unit following the adding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Rosete Monsalud, Jr., Darrell Eugene Holton, Jr., James Neil Figlar
  • Patent number: 10219999
    Abstract: Use of a nicotine-cellulose combination for the preparation of a snuff composition for achievement of a fast onset of action of nicotine after application of the snuff composition to the oral cavity of a subject, wherein the composition has a high release rate so that when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test about 45% or more of the total content of nicotine is released within 30 minutes. Moreover, the invention relates to an improved snuff composition for application to the oral cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Niconovum USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Anders Axelsson, Arne Kristensen, Henri Hansson
  • Patent number: 10010110
    Abstract: A rod is provided, formed from a first sheet including an aerosol-forming material and a second sheet including a non-tobacco material, the first and second sheets being gathered together and circumscribed by a wrapper. The rod may be used as a component part of an aerosol-generating article. The second sheet preferably includes a material configured to modify an aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming material or to modify other properties of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Metrangolo, Pierre-Yves Gindrat, John Faulkner, Jean-Pierre Schaller, Jean-Claude Schneider
  • Patent number: 9974330
    Abstract: A package of smokeless tobacco includes a flavor patch located in the package to provide flavor to smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of packaging smokeless tobacco by combining a package with a flavor patch disposed inside the package, the flavor patch comprising a flavor and an adsorbent, so that the flavor patch resides in an interior of the package; and adding smokeless tobacco to the package with the flavor patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew N. Carroll, Steven J. Hovjacky, Beverly C. Woodson
  • Patent number: 9974325
    Abstract: An oral product includes a matrix including a mixture of a plurality of capsules, a powdered component, a viscous component and a binder and wherein the matrix is molded into a shape. In a preferred embodiment, the capsules provide functional and flavorful ingredients. In an embodiment, the matrix is enclosed in a porous material that forms a pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Danielle R. Crawford, Shon Gedevani, William R. Sweeney, Chris Irving
  • Patent number: 8322162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating glass panels for tempering. The horizontal glass panels are heated in a lehr by upper and lower convection blast and by upper and lower radiation heating, information representing a load of the glass panels and used for the control and/or regulation of heating is read, the upper radiation heating is controlled and/or regulated in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto. At least the upper convection blast is controlled and/or regulated in various sections of the lehr in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto, and the relative blast effects of convection blowing elements successive in the conveying direction are regulated for a profiling in the conveying direction. The invention relates also to an apparatus applying the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Glaston Services Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Janhunen, Tarmo Pesonen