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).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230364364
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Ali A. ROSTAMI, Charles E.B. GLENN, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20230303286
    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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. GARTHAFFNER, Barry S. SMITH
  • Patent number: 11751608
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20230275443
    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: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon JORDAN, Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON, Eric HAWES, Sean SUNDBERG, Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC
  • Patent number: 11730901
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami, Charles E.B. Glenn, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11724839
    Abstract: The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Steven R. Rinehart, Danielle R. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20230248067
    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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. SMITH, Douglas A. BURTON
  • Publication number: 20230232900
    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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. TUCKER, Edmond Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, William J. Crowe, Nam Tran
  • Publication number: 20230225398
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Douglas A. BURTON, Patrick J. COBLER, Barry S. SMITH, Peter LIPOWICZ, Kai CAO
  • Patent number: 11691775
    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 the 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 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230189899
    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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Martin GARTHAFFNER, Travis GARTHAFFNER, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Barry S. SMITH, Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON
  • Patent number: 11677252
    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: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Brandon Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton, Eric Hawes, Sean Sundberg, Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic
  • Patent number: 11647794
    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: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Barry S. Smith, Douglas A. Burton
  • Patent number: 11627762
    Abstract: The method includes establishing a first fluid gradient through a central passage, the central passage traversing through a first channel, the first channel defining at least one first hole, a housing covering the first channel, a first reservoir being defined between the housing and the first channel, a second reservoir defined between the first channel and the central passage. The method further includes establishing a second fluid gradient through the at least one first hole, through at least a first portion of the second reservoir, and through at least a second portion of a wick, a heater being in communication with the wick and the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Edmond Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, William J. Crowe, Nam Tran