Patents by Inventor Aju N. Lekwauwa

Aju N. Lekwauwa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5415186
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stabilized substrate composition for smoking articles, particularly cigarettes. In general, the stabilized substrate composition comprises an admixture of a binder and an aerosol forming material which plasticizes the binder, together with optional fillers and/or base materials. In the stabilized substrate compositions of the present invention the relative amounts of binder and aerosol former depend particularly on the situation in which the substrate composition is used. In general, the ratio of aerosol former to binder is between about 3:1 and about 40:1. When the stabilized composition is used on a base material such as tobacco cut filler, the ratio of aerosol former to binder should be at least about 15:1, and preferably is from about 25-35:1, with a maximum ratio of about 40:1. If the composition is formed into a cast sheet, the minimum ratio is about 3:1, the preferred ratio is about 8:1, and the maximum ratio is about 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: William J. Casey, III, Jeffery S. Gentry, Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, Aju N. Lekwauwa, Dennis M. Riggs, Gary R. Shelar, Kenneth W. Swicegood, Ronald O. Wagoner, Jeffrey A. Willis, Walter R. D. Young, Jr., Kelly K. Hutchison
  • Patent number: 5396911
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stabilized substrate composition for smoking articles, particularly cigarettes. In general, the stabilized substrate composition comprises an admixture of a binder and an aerosol forming material which plasticizes the binder, together with optional fillers and/or base materials. In the stabilized substrate compositions of the present invention the relative amounts of binder and aerosol former depend particularly on the situation in which the substrate composition is used. In general, the ratio of aerosol former to binder is between about 3:1 and about 40:1. When the stabilized composition is used on a base material such as tobacco cut filler, the ratio of aerosol former to binder should be at least about 15:1, and preferably is from about 25-35:1, with a maximum ratio of about 40:1. If the composition is formed into a cast sheet, the minimum ratio is about 3:1, the preferred ratio is about 8:1, and the maximum ratio is about 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: William J. Casey, III, Jeffery S. Gentry, Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, Aju N. Lekwauwa, Dennis M. Riggs, Gary R. Shelar, Kenneth W. Swicegood, Ronald O. Wagoner, Jeffrey A. Willis, Walter R. D. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5339838
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a reconstituted tobacco material. The process includes contacting tobacco material with a liquid having an aqueous character to provide a mixture (slurry). The slurry is then contacted with a pectin release agent. The tobacco material having released tobacco pectins is then formed into a predetermined shape. The formed slurry having released tobacco pectins is subjected to conditions sufficient to crosslink the released tobacco pectins (e.g., contacting with a crosslinking agent). The formed slurry having crosslinked tobacco pectins is dried to provide a reconstituted tobacco material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Young, Edward Bernasek, Aju N. Lekwauwa, Walter R. D. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5327917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a reconstituted tobacco material. The method includes contacting tobacco material dispersed in a liquid having an aqueous character with a humectant or binding agent or both under high shear mixing conditions at a temperature of at least about 35.degree. C. to provide a mixture. The mixture is then contacted with a pectin release agent, preferably at a pH of about 5 to about 9, while maintaining the high shear mixing conditions to provide a tobacco material having released tobacco pectins. Preferably, the tobacco material having released tobacco pectins is then formed into a predetermined shape and subjected to conditions sufficient to cause the released tobacco pectins to undergo crosslinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Aju N. Lekwauwa, Walter R. D. Young, Jr.