Patents by Inventor Barry S. Smith
Barry S. Smith 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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Publication number: 20260137880Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a non-combustible smoking element including a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a vapor and provide the vapor to a channel, a tobacco heating element configured to heat at least a portion of tobacco and generate an aroma and a tobacco housing configured to contain the tobacco and provide the aroma to the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2026Publication date: May 21, 2026Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: San LI, Raquel OLEGARIO, Richard JUPE, Christopher S. TUCKER, Barry S. SMITH, Edmond J. CADIEUX, David BENNETT, Georgios D. KARLES, Ben RAGLAND
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Patent number: 12605516Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2024Date of Patent: April 21, 2026Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
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Patent number: 12527926Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a non-combustible smoking element including a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a vapor and provide the vapor to a channel, a tobacco heating element configured to heat at least a portion of tobacco and generate an aroma and a tobacco housing configured to contain the tobacco and provide the aroma to the channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: San Li, Raquel Olegario, Richard Jupe, Christopher S. Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Edmond J. Cadieux, David Bennett, Georgios D. Karles, Ben Ragland
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Publication number: 20250345535Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets. The electronic cigarette can also include an air flow diverter which directs incoming air away from a heating zone of the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2025Publication date: November 13, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Charles E.B. GLENN, SR.
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Publication number: 20250318581Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a section of an electronic-vaping device including a pressure sensor configured to measure a current ambient pressure, the pressure sensor further configured to output the current ambient pressure measurement in accordance with a read request frequency, and a controller configured to determine a mode of operation of the electronic-vaping device, control the read request frequency based on the determined mode of operation, and detect a threshold pressure change based on the current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2025Publication date: October 16, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Phillip DIANA, Sean SUNDBERG, David BENNETT, Christopher TUCKER, Barry S. SMITH, Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Paul BUTLER, Jarrett KEEN, Patrick COBLER, Kai CAO
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Publication number: 20250316996Abstract: A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2025Publication date: October 9, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON, Eric HAWES, Sean SUNDBERG, Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC
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Patent number: 12419358Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a section of an electronic-vaping device including a pressure sensor configured to measure a current ambient pressure, the pressure sensor further configured to output the current ambient pressure measurement in accordance with a read request frequency, and a controller configured to determine a mode of operation of the electronic-vaping device, control the read request frequency based on the determined mode of operation, and detect a threshold pressure change based on the current ambient pressure and a baseline pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2023Date of Patent: September 23, 2025Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Phillip Diana, Sean Sundberg, David Bennett, Christopher Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Paul Butler, Jarrett Keen, Patrick Cobler, Kai Cao
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Publication number: 20250280874Abstract: A cartomizer of an electronic vaping device includes a heater circuit which is located adjacent an air passage thereof. The heater circuit includes an electrically resistive heater in electrical communication with a secondary coil. A wick extends across the air passage. The wick is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir toward the heater. The heater is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor. The cartomizer is connectable to a power supply component which includes a power source in electrical communication with a primary coil. The power supply component is configured to induce sufficient voltage in the secondary coil of the heater circuit such that the secondary coil is configured to heat the heater and vaporize the pre-vapor formulation when the primary coil is powered by the power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2025Publication date: September 11, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Patrick J. COBLER, Barry S. SMITH, Peter LIPOWICZ, Kai CAO
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Publication number: 20250269124Abstract: In one embodiment, the electronic vaping device includes a cartridge and a battery section. The cartridge and the battery section are connectable so as to define an air inlet between a portion of the cartridge and a portion of the battery section.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2025Publication date: August 28, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Michael J. MULLINS
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Patent number: 12364826Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets. The electronic cigarette can also include an air flow diverter which directs incoming air away from a heating zone of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2023Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Charles E. B. Glenn, Sr.
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Patent number: 12368308Abstract: A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2024Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton, Eric Hawes, Sean Sundberg, Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic
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Patent number: 12357032Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a conductive element extending through an interior of a dispensing interface to which a heating element is coupled. The conductive element may have a greater temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity than the heating element. The dispensing interface may include a fibrous wicking material, and the conductive element may be woven through an interior of the fibrous wicking material. A temperature of the dispensing interface may be determined based on monitoring an electrical resistance of the conductive element. An amount of pre-vapor formulation may be determined based on an electrical resistance of the bridge electrical circuit to an electrical signal between the heating element and the conductive element through the dispensing interface.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2022Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Barry S. Smith, Ed Cadieux, Patrick J. Cobler
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Publication number: 20250222212Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2025Publication date: July 10, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI
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Patent number: 12317926Abstract: A cartomizer of an electronic vaping device includes a heater circuit which is located adjacent an air passage thereof. The heater circuit includes an electrically resistive heater in electrical communication with a secondary coil. A wick extends across the air passage. The wick is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir toward the heater. The heater is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor. The cartomizer is connectable to a power supply component which includes a power source in electrical communication with a primary coil. The power supply component is configured to induce sufficient voltage in the secondary coil of the heater circuit such that the secondary coil is configured to heat the heater and vaporize the pre-vapor formulation when the primary coil is powered by the power source.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2023Date of Patent: June 3, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Douglas A. Burton, Patrick J. Cobler, Barry S. Smith, Peter Lipowicz, Kai Cao
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Patent number: 12296091Abstract: In one embodiment, the electronic vaping device includes a cartridge and a battery section. The cartridge and the battery section are connectable so as to define an air inlet between a portion of the cartridge and a portion of the battery section.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2022Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
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Patent number: 12263300Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami
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Publication number: 20250100723Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. SMITH, Steven R. RINEHART, Danielle R. CRAWFORD
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Publication number: 20250098784Abstract: An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2024Publication date: March 27, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON
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Publication number: 20250089763Abstract: A cartridge includes an air flow passageway defining a first airflow direction, a heating element having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first airflow direction, and a jacket at least partially surrounding the heating element along the longitudinal axis of the heating element and defining a second airflow direction perpendicular to the first airflow direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2024Publication date: March 20, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: San LI, Barry S. SMITH, Christopher S. TUCKER
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Publication number: 20250024895Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Martin GARTHAFFNER, Travis GARTHAFFNER, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Barry S. SMITH, Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON