Patents by Inventor Benjamin L. Ragland

Benjamin L. Ragland 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: 20240099367
    Abstract: An oral pouch product includes a wrapper and a filling material. The wrapper defines a cavity. The filling material is in the cavity. The filling material includes a dry mixture and a liquid mixture. The dry mixture includes a cellulosic material and a water-soluble filler. The liquid mixture includes an oil and liquid nicotine. The oil includes a triglyceride, a diglyceride, a monoglyceride, or any combination thereof. The liquid nicotine is dissolved in the oil. The filling material is free of water or includes water in an amount less than or equal to 5 weight percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Baiwei CHEN, Feng GAO, Shannon M. BLACK, Shaoyong YU, Shuzhong ZHUANG, Benjamin L. RAGLAND, Rebecca M. GRAY, Fadi ALDEEK
  • Publication number: 20230240359
    Abstract: An oral pouch product includes a wrapper and a filling material. The wrapper defines a cavity. The filling material is in the cavity. The filling material includes a dry mixture and a liquid mixture. The dry mixture includes a cellulosic material and a water-soluble filler. The liquid mixture includes an oil and liquid nicotine. The oil includes a triglyceride, a diglyceride, a monoglyceride, or any combination thereof. The liquid nicotine is dissolved in the oil. The filling material is free of water or includes water in an amount less than or equal to 5 weight percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Baiwei CHEN, Feng GAO, Shannon M. BLACK, Shaoyong YU, Shuzhong ZHUANG, Benjamin L. RAGLAND, Rebecca M. GRAY, Fadi ALDEEK
  • Publication number: 20220313614
    Abstract: A method for forming encapsulated nicotine granules (ENGs) includes heating a first mixture to form a molten mixture, the first mixture includes one or more polyols; cooling the molten mixture to a first temperature to form a cooled molten mixture; adding at least one of nicotine and one or more nicotine salts to the cooled molten mixture to form a second mixture; cooling the second mixture to a second temperature to form one or more solidified structures, where the second temperature is different from the first temperature; and fragmenting the one or more solidified structures so as to form a plurality of encapsulated nicotine granules. The first temperature may be between about 120° C. and about 200° C. The second temperature may be below a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the one or more polyols. For example, the second temperature may be between about 65° C. and about 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Feng GAO, Benjamin L. RAGLAND, David J. PHILLIPS, Rebecca M. GRAY, Pauline MARCQ, Christian SCHUH, Krasnodara N. CAMERON
  • Publication number: 20220312822
    Abstract: A method for forming encapsulated sweetener granules (ESGs) may include heating a first mixture to form a molten mixture, the first mixture includes one or more polyols and one or more hydrocolloids; cooling the molten mixture to a first temperature to form a cooled molten mixture; adding one or more high-intensity sweeteners to the cooled molten mixture to form a second mixture; cooling the second mixture to a second temperature to form one or more sheets, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and fragmenting the one or more sheets to form a plurality of encapsulated sweetener granules. The first temperature may be between about 120° C. and about 200° C. The second temperature may be below a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the one or more polyols and the one or more hydrocolloids. For example, the second temperature may be between about 65° C. and about 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Feng Gao, Anthony H. Kieu, David J. Phillips, Pauline Marcq, Benjamin L. Ragland, Rebecca M. Gray
  • Publication number: 20220312826
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to an oral product. In at least one example embodiment, the oral product comprises a liquid mixture. The liquid mixture includes a triglyceride and liquid nicotine dissolved in the triglyceride. At least a portion of the liquid nicotine is free-base nicotine. A weight ratio of the triglyceride to the liquid nicotine in the liquid mixture ranges from 1:1 to 9:1. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of increasing buccal absorption of nicotine in an oral product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Feng GAO, David PHILLIPS, Benjamin L. RAGLAND, Pauline MARCQ, Anthony KIEU, Jeanie BAILEY, Fadi Aldeek
  • Publication number: 20220313679
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a chewing gum. In at least one example embodiment, the chewing gum comprises a gum base polymer and oil. The gum base polymer includes polyvinyl acetate (PVA) in an amount ranging from 35 weight percent to 55 weight percent of the chewing gum. The oil is present in an amount greater than 8 weight percent of the chewing gum. The oil includes a triglyceride, triacetin, and nicotine or a nicotine derivative. The triglyceride is present in an amount greater than or equal to 5 weight percent of the chewing gum. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of preparing a controlled-release nicotine chewing gum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Feng GAO, David PHILLIPS, Pauline MARCQ, Anthony KIEU, Benjamin L. RAGLAND