Patents Examined by Thor S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11896053
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device comprises a control body having an outer housing, an electrical energy source located within the housing, a control component operatively connected to the electrical energy source, a heating assembly operatively connected to the control component, and an aerosol source member that includes an aerosol generating component configured to be positioned proximate the heating assembly. The heating assembly comprises a series of heating members, and each heating member is independent and distinct and configured to heat a segment of the aerosol source member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Hejazi, Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11898245
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a baking chamber for processing a chamber component are provided herein. In some embodiments, a baking chamber includes: an enclosure defining a first chamber, wherein the first chamber comprises: a first chamber body having a first floor and first sidewalls that couple the first floor to a first lid of the first chamber body to define a first interior volume; a first support disposed in the first interior volume; a first gas line disposed in the first interior volume proximate the first lid; a first showerhead disposed between the first gas line and the first support; a first exhaust coupled to the first floor; and a first heater disposed in the first interior volume between the first support and the first floor; and wherein the enclosure includes a door configured to facilitate transferring the chamber component into and out of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Min Liao, Chi-Feng Liu, Yi Nung Wu, Hsiu Yang, Yixing Lin, Boon Sen Chan, Siamak Salimian
  • Patent number: 11871860
    Abstract: Drinkware with active temperature control can be a mug made of metal, and optionally coated with a ceramic material. At least one heating element that can thermally communicate with a surface of the drinkware to thereby effect heat transfer through the base in the drinkware. At least one sensor is configured to sense a parameter of the liquid in the drinkware, and at least one power storage element is configured to provide power to the at least one heating element. Control circuitry is configured to control operation of the one or more heating elements, and a transceiver is configured to transmit operating information to a remote electronic device and to receive operating instructions from the remote electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Alexander, Christopher Thomas Wakeham, Daren John Leith, Mikko Juhani Timperi, Frank Victor Baumann, Farzam Roknaldin
  • Patent number: 11871792
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a cartridge including a housing, a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation in the housing, a vaporizer, and an airflow diverter. The vaporizer may be configured to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation. The vaporizer may include a heater and a wick, the wick may be in fluid communication with the pre-vapor formulation reservoir, and the heater may be configured to vaporize at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation in the wick to form a vapor. The heater may be positioned in a transverse direction in the housing, and the airflow diverter may be located on an opposite side of the heater relative to a mouth-end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventor: David Kane
  • Patent number: 11864591
    Abstract: An element for an aerosol-generating system, a cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, and an aerosol-generating system, wherein the element, the cartridge and the aerosol-generating system each include a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate and a manually operated disabling mechanism for rendering the element, the cartridge, or the aerosol-generating system irreversibly inoperable. The element, the cartridge, and the aerosol-generating system may include an aerosol generator and one or more air passages. The disabling mechanism may be configured to render at least one of the storage portion, the aerosol generator, and the one or more air passages irreversibly inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11867430
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater bundle. The heater bundle includes a plurality of heater assemblies. Each heater assembly includes a plurality of heater units and an insulating material, and each heater unit defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The heater bundle includes power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units. The heater bundle includes a power supply device configured to modulate power to each of the independently controlled heater zones of the heater units through the power conductors. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, Michael W. Ruhr, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark L. G. Hoven, Richard T. Williams
  • Patent number: 11865251
    Abstract: The e-vaping device includes a vaporizer assembly, which includes a heating element, a pre-vapor formulation reservoir, a pre-vapor formulation level indicator including a plurality of discrete indicator segments, and at least one processor. The pre-vapor formulation reservoir may be configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation and the at least one processor may be configured to determine a difference between a first duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element and a second duty cycle of power supplied to the heating element; and adjust the indicator based on the determined duty cycle difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Terrance Theodore Bache, Christopher S. Tucker, Raymond W. Lau
  • Patent number: 11852356
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a tub for a humidifier comprising a container made of a first material, a heating element, and a lining made of a second, preferably biocompatible, material different from the first material, wherein the container comprises a base and a side wall defining a reservoir for a supply of liquid to be evaporated, the heating element is provided on the base of the container, and the lining covers the heating element and a substantial portion of the inner surface of the side wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christian Bayer, Robert Eibl, Johann Sebastian Burz, Achim Biener, Bernd Christoph Lang, Jens Rothfuss, Johannes Nickol, Andreas Kirchberger
  • Patent number: 11852378
    Abstract: An improved convection fan cover is provided. In one or more implementations, the improved convection fan cover has a shutter system. As the convection heating system operates, the shutter system opens and closes (or blocks and unblocks) vents in the convection fan cover, creating an oscillation effect that alters the flow of air throughout an oven cavity, contributing to a more even cooking profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSR Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Colehour
  • Patent number: 11849768
    Abstract: An additive assembly for an e-vaping device includes an adsorbent material that includes adsorbed carbon dioxide. The additive assembly may be in fluid communication with a vaporizer assembly that forms a generated vapor. The adsorbent material may release the carbon dioxide into the generated vapor based on at least a portion of the generated vapor adsorbing on the adsorbent material. The additive assembly may include a flavor material including a flavorant. The adsorbent material may generate heat based on at least a portion of the generated vapor adsorbing on the adsorbent material, and the flavor material may release flavorant into the generated vapor based at least in part on the heat generated by the adsorbent material. One or more of the adsorbent material and the flavor material may be included in beads. Adsorbent material and flavor material may be included in multiple additive structures within the additive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Tracy M. Ogbonlowo, Danielle Crawford, San Li
  • Patent number: 11844905
    Abstract: A medical tube has a tube wall, a first end and a second end. At least one heater wire is wrapped around the wall. Near or at one of the first end or the second end, there is at least one recess in an outer surface of the wall. The heater wire passes over the at least one tube recess such that the wire does not contact the wall in the area of the tube recess. Also disclosed are methods of making the tube and components used in making the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: David John Sims
  • Patent number: 11846450
    Abstract: A tankless electric water heater system including a heating chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a heating element connected to the heating chamber, a first temperature sensor disposed near the first end of the heating chamber, a second temperature sensor disposed near the second end of the heating chamber, a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of water and disposed near the heating chamber, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the flow sensor, and the heating element. The controller is configured to have a set point temperature, to detect temperature and flow data from the first and second temperature sensors, and the flow sensor, and to provide as output a power setting to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Hayden, Eric Robert Jurczyszak, Sergiu Gabriel Mihu, Richard Joseph Corcoran, Jens Bolleyer, Jeffrey Dean Hankins
  • Patent number: 11832655
    Abstract: The heating array includes first heating elements arranged in an elongated array, the first heating elements spanning from a first end to a second end of the elongated array, a midsection of each one of the first heating elements bowing concentrically outward from a radial centerline running longitudinally through the first end and the second end, the first heating elements being configured to flex concentrically inward when a hoop force is applied to sides of the elongated array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Greim, Felix Fernando, Charles Higgins
  • Patent number: 11826675
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a reservoir configured to hold pre-vapor formulation, a vaporizer assembly configured to draw at least some of the pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir and vaporize the drawn pre-vapor formulation to form a vapor, and a superabsorbent polymer configured to absorb free water from pre-vapor formulation held in the reservoir. The superabsorbent polymer includes a cross-linked polyacrylate copolymer that is substantially inert to the pre-vapor formulation. The superabsorbent polymer may be included in a layer on one or more surfaces in the cartridge. The layer may include the superabsorbent polymer and a binder. The superabsorbent polymer may be included with the pre-vapor formulation in a formulation mixture. The superabsorbent polymer may be included in an interior of at least one element comprising the cartridge. The superabsorbent polymer may be included in a separate compartment in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Erica Sena
  • Patent number: 11821656
    Abstract: A heating apparatus is disclosed. The heating apparatus comprises a PTC heating element, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first protection layer, a second protection layer, a first interlayer, and a second interlayer. A hardness of the first protection layer is greater than that of the first interlayer. A hardness of the second protection layer is greater than that of the second interlayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIALS CORP.
    Inventor: Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 11805818
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes smokable material, and a film defining a closed circuit (10a-10f) of heating material. The heating material is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. Also disclosed is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field for use in heating the smokable material. The magnetic field generator includes a film defining a coil of electrically conductive material, and a device for passing a varying electrical current through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew P. Wilke, James J. Frater
  • Patent number: 11800900
    Abstract: An e-vaping case includes a housing, a guide structure, a cartridge receiving portion connected to the guide structure, and an electronics system in the housing. The cartridge receiving portion is configured to be moved along the guide structure between a first surface and a second surface of the housing. The electronics system includes a power supply that is configured to initiate a transfer of power to an electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the first surface of the housing to at least a first position of the housing. The electronics system is configured to interrupt the transfer of power to the electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the second surface of the housing. An electronic vaping device may include a cartridge detachably coupled to the cartridge receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Chris Simpson, Terrance Theodore Bache, David Schiff
  • Patent number: 11800601
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Ed Cadieux, Barry Smith
  • Patent number: 11785989
    Abstract: A vaporizer assembly for an e-vaping device includes a heater coil structure, a set of electrical lead structures coupled to opposite ends of the heater coil structure, and a non-conductive connector structure connected to each of the electrical lead structures, such that the electrical lead structures are coupled together independently of the heater coil structure. The vaporizer assembly may contact a dispensing interface structure through the heater coil structure. The vaporizer assembly may heat pre-vapor formulation drawn from a reservoir by the dispensing interface. The heater coil structure may define a surface, and the vaporizer assembly may apply a mechanical force to the dispensing interface structure, such that the heater coil structure is in compression with the dispensing interface structure and the heater coil structure surface is substantially flush with a surface of the dispensing interface structure. The heater coil structure may define a three-dimensional surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Ali A. Rostami
  • Patent number: 11785990
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an input for production of atomizers and atomizers formed from a sheet of a material, and which may be employed in an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The input may include a carrier and heating elements coupled thereto. The heating elements may include first and second ends and interconnected alternating loops disposed therebetween. The heating elements may be oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier, or perpendicular thereto. The heating elements may be coupled to a liquid transport element by bending the interconnected loops at least partially around the liquid transport element. The ends of the heating element may be coupled to heater terminals. A related method for forming atomizers is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Michael Laine, Robert Alden Metcalfe, John William Wolber