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).

  • Patent number: 12193481
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San Li, Barry S. Smith, Christopher S. Tucker
  • Patent number: 12195218
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20250009022
    Abstract: The e-vaping cartridge includes a housing, a first reservoir and a second reservoir defined within the housing, the first reservoir and the second reservoir being in fluid communication with each other, a first tube at least partially defining a central passage, the first tube defining at least one first hole that provides fluid communication between the central passage and the first reservoir, and a wick and a heater in communication with the central passage, distal ends of the wick extending through the at least one first hole and into the first reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Edmond CADIEUX, Barry S. SMITH, William J. CROWE, Nam TRAN
  • Patent number: 12178257
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton
  • Publication number: 20240423292
    Abstract: A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Barry S. SMITH
  • Patent number: 12133298
    Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Charles Dendy
  • Publication number: 20240348069
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON, Eric HAWES, Sean SUNDBERG, Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC
  • Patent number: 12108807
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Travis Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Barry S. Smith, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Patent number: 12108794
    Abstract: The method includes first defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir within a housing of a cartridge, the second reservoir being in fluid communication with the first reservoir, inserting at least one first layer of absorbent material within the first reservoir, and arranging a heater and a wick to be in communication with a central channel, the wick being in contact with the absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Edmond Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, William J. Crowe, Nam Tran
  • Patent number: 12082622
    Abstract: A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Jr., Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Patent number: 12077336
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a small pouch with a predetermined amount of particulate material therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet. The caplet is then deposited into an open hollow pouch closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet between the closed ends of the pouch. The caplet in the pouch is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material may be granular or shredded tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20240261521
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Michael J. MULLINS
  • Patent number: 12040644
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton, Eric Hawes, Sean Sundberg, Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic
  • Patent number: 11975143
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Michael J. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20240099365
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San LI, Barry S. SMITH, Christopher S. TUCKER
  • Publication number: 20240098851
    Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Barry S. SMITH, Charles DENDY
  • Patent number: 11849758
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San Li, Barry S. Smith, Christopher S. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20230397668
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11838996
    Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Charles Dendy
  • Publication number: 20230382573
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. SMITH, Steven R. RINEHART, Danielle R. CRAWFORD