Patents Examined by Phu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9826776
    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: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9814268
    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: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    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: 9808952
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus and an associated method for slitting a tobacco sheet material into cut pieces used to form smoking articles are provided. The cutting apparatus includes a rotatable cutter assembly having a drum member configured to rotate about an axis defined thereby. The cutter assembly includes a plurality of knife members disposed about the periphery of the drum member and extending radially therefrom. A fixed counter-knife assembly is disposed adjacent to the periphery of the drum member and is configured to interact with the rotatable cutter assembly during rotation thereof about the axis. The counter-knife assembly includes a ledger member having a plurality of cutting insert members removably engaged therewith. The cutting insert members are configured to interact with the knife members during rotation of the cutter assembly with respect to the counter-knife assembly so as to slit the tobacco sheet material received therebetween into cut pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Timothy Franklin Tilley, James Phillip Hollandsworth, Terry Leonard Bullins, Mark Allen Vernon
  • Patent number: 9808034
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 9801416
    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: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    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: 9801410
    Abstract: A method for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide is provided which utilizes specific supported catalyst particles. The supported catalyst comprises catalyst particles that are supported on particles of an electrically conductive support selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and a partially reduced oxide of a transition metal of the Magnéli phase selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Miser, Diane Gee
  • Patent number: 9788568
    Abstract: A process for treating a tobacco material comprising: (a) extracting a tobacco material with a solvent to produce a tobacco extract and a tobacco residue; (b) contacting the tobacco extract with an antioxidant; and (c) contacting the mixture of (b) with an antioxidant scavenger, to produce a treated tobacco extract. The treated tobacco extract is reapplied to the tobacco residue to form a treated tobacco material. In addition, a smoking composition, a smoking article and a smokeless tobacco oral delivery product contain the treated tobacco material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Robert Krauss
  • Patent number: 9775376
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material, a sugar alcohol, and a natural gum binder component, wherein the composition is in the form of a pastille. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is also provided. The process includes providing an aqueous mixture comprising a hydrated natural gum binder component, mixing a tobacco material with the aqueous mixture to form a smokeless tobacco mixture, heating the smokeless tobacco mixture, depositing the heated smokeless tobacco mixture into a mold, and curing the smokeless tobacco mixture to form a smokeless tobacco composition pastille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Daniel Verdin Cantrell, Joshua D. Morton, Steven D. Hume, Barry Bratcher, Robert Frank Boutin, Thomas Hinkemeyer, Thaddeus J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9730470
    Abstract: A filter (11) for a smoking article (10) comprises a first flow path (13) through the filter, a second flow path (14) through the filter, the second flow path being disposed around the first flow path, and a selector (16) for allowing flow selectively through the first and second flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Bailey, Karl Kaljura, Paul Farenden, David Russell, Wilbert Schoenmakers, Darren Seymour, David Spendlove
  • Patent number: 9723872
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic cigarette and a soft power source stem thereof. The power source stem includes a power source stem sleeve with a built-in battery. One end of the power source stem sleeve is closed, while the other end thereof is provided with an absorption stem connector for connecting with an absorption stem of the electronic cigarette. Herein, the power source stem sleeve is made of soft material; and an outer wall of the power source stem sleeve is sleeved with a holding member for clamping the absorption stem connector and power source stem sleeve. The electronic cigarette and a soft power source stem have good experience when held in hand, are able to reduce production cost, have stable construction and are convenient to attach a paper layer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9723870
    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: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Kind Consumer Limited
    Inventor: Alex Hearn
  • Patent number: 9717279
    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 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 9693584
    Abstract: A simulated cigarette device with a substantially cylindrical cigarette-like shape comprising a reservoir of a pressurized composition including an inhalable substance and a propellant. A refill valve is in communication with the reservoir via which the reservoir is refilled. A breath-activated valve selectively controls the flow through a reservoir outlet and hence through an inhaling outlet in the device. The size of the reservoir, the pressure within the reservoir and the size of the reservoir outlet at its narrowest point are arranged so that, when the breath-activated valve is fully opened, the reservoir will discharge in less than 30 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Kind Consumer Limited
    Inventors: Alex Hearn, Moritz Bolle
  • Patent number: 9687028
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic cigarette including a suction part, an atomizer structure body, a liquid storing part, a main body including a switch, and a battery. In this case, the atomizer structure body includes a flexible nonflammable metal net, an absorption part configured to absorb a condensed liquid, a returning part configured to return and supply the condensed liquid, a crucible, and a liquid charging cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Sun Soon Park
  • Patent number: 9681685
    Abstract: A pipe that has a machined body that accepts a standard disposable type lighter. A mouthpiece fits in the bottom of the machined body. The mouthpiece has a tube that collects smoke from the bowl and also has a flared end so the smoker can extract the smoke. The end of the mouthpiece is also used to secure the lighter in place. Once assembled, the user fills the bowl of the pipe, pushes the lighter forward to ignite it and draws the flame into the bowl to light the pipe. Once lit, the user releases the lighter and can then smoke normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Cal C. Giordano
  • Patent number: 9675111
    Abstract: A vaporizer for use with a water pipe or hookah has electrically heated beating element. The heating element extends through a vaporizer body and carries a cup member atop thereof. A pre-determined quantity of a vaporizable substance is placed in the cup member and is heated to cause release of an inhalable gas. An adapter directs the inhalable gas beneath water surface of a water reservoir of the water pipe. By drawing on an outlet end of the water pipe the user can inhale the inhalable substance released during heating of the vaporizable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Matthew Ellis
  • Patent number: 9675105
    Abstract: Menthol-sorbed activated charcoal stably holding menthol during storage, and smoothly releasing menthol only during passage of tobacco smoke therethrough is provided. The menthol-sorbed activated charcoal is featured in that to activated charcoal having a specific surface area of 1500 m2/g or more but 1700 m2/g or less as measured by the BET method, menthol is sorbed at a sorption rate of 80% or more but 92% or less with reference to the saturated amount of menthol for the activated charcoal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Sakai
  • Patent number: 9675103
    Abstract: A smoking article provides one or more sheets of material that can be rolled and packaged, at least one sheet including cellulose. In one embodiment, cellulose and tobacco sheet material are separately rolled layers that can optionally be wrapped around a form casing (or pre-rolled inside) and then packaged. In another embodiment, the sheet is a laminated sheet of tobacco and cellulose layers that can be optionally wrapped around (or pre-rolled inside) a form casing. These sheets can be filled with custom tobacco to make one or more new cigars for an end user. In another embodiment, a complete cigar filled with tobacco material can be disassembled by an end user to produce tobacco and cellulose sheets, enabling the end user to form two new cigars using his or her own custom tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9675109
    Abstract: A smoking device for generating and releasing smoking vapor free from contamination into the mouth of a user comprising a mouthpiece for providing vapor for inhalation to a user including a tubular casing containing a heater for heating a smoking substance at a substantially constant low temperature by regulating the flow of fuel by a thermal regulator and further having means for visual indication of the operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: J. T. International SA
    Inventors: James Monsees, Adam Bowen
  • Patent number: 9675106
    Abstract: A smoking glove includes a glove having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening located at a finger portion of the glove. The second opening is distal from the first opening at a distance of at least half a length of the finger portion of the glove. The smoking glove includes tubing, the tubing stretching from the first opening of the glove to the second opening of the glove. The tubing is located within the glove. The smoking glove includes a bowl located at a first end of the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TSG INNOVATIONS LTD
    Inventor: Edward M. Barry, Jr.