Patents by Inventor Andrew Nathan Carroll
Andrew Nathan Carroll 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).
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Patent number: 10028521Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20180199619Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20180170593Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9896228Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9763473Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20170245544Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20170224012Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include a container including a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape and integrity during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. One or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products are compressed between a lid and a base of the container to hinder movement of the one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products within the container. Each preformed smokeless tobacco product can include a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Jason Andrew Macko, James Lindsay Clark, Shannon Maxwell Black, Andrew Nathan Carroll, Srinivasan Janardhan
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Publication number: 20170208854Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9693582Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9648904Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20160360778Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Patent number: 9468233Abstract: A smokeless tobacco system includes a container including a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape and integrity. One or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products are compressed between a lid and a base of the container to hinder movement of the one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products within the container. Each preformed smokeless tobacco product can include a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile. A method of forming and packaging the preformed smokeless tobacco products includes depositing shaped smokeless tobacco bodies into the container and closing the container prior to a relaxation of the shaped smokeless tobacco bodies into preformed smokeless tobacco products.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Jason Andrew Macko, James Lindsay Clark, Shannon Maxwell Black, Andrew Nathan Carroll, Srinivasan Janardhan
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Patent number: 9462827Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9414624Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Patent number: 9345266Abstract: An apparatus for molding and packaging molded tobacco pieces includes a mold having cavities oriented to allow ejection of molded tobacco pieces into a container. The apparatus also includes a knockout for ejecting the molded tobacco pieces, and a cutter having at least two blades for cutting the molded tobacco pieces into vertically aligned slices by passing one or more blades horizontally through the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.Inventors: Shannon Black, Andrew Nathan Carroll, Tom Holland
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Patent number: 9237768Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Tommy C. Holland, Jason Andrew Macko, Christopher Joseph DiNovi
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Publication number: 20150257442Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20150258563Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include a polymer spray head arranged to direct a plurality of polymeric fibers in an upward direction and levitate product portions in a polymer enrobing zone above the polymer spray head. Polymeric fibers produced by the polymer spray head can wrap around the product portions levitated in the polymer enrobing zone to create an enrobed product. Side guide structure(s) and/or air knife(s) can be provided adjacent to the polymer enrobing zone to inhibit levitated product portions from falling out of the polymer enrobing zone and/or to guide levitated product portions along a desired path. Exemplary enrobed products include smokeless tobacco products.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: James David Evans, Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black
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Publication number: 20140261472Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20140261480Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 10 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke