Patents by Inventor Christopher John Grant

Christopher John Grant 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: 11471622
    Abstract: An inhaler article includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end and a capsule cavity defined within the body. A mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end. An end cap is disposed within the distal end and extends to the capsule cavity. The end cap extends from an end cap distal end to an end cap inner end. The end cap includes an air channel extending from the end cap distal end to the end cap inner end. The air channel is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Christopher John Grant, Gerard Zuber, Daniele Sanna, Gianluca Sechi, Judith Waller, Niki Meloncelli
  • Patent number: 11363836
    Abstract: The method for intermediately storing double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products comprises the step of providing a tipping apparatus and forming double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in the tipping apparatus. The method further comprises the steps of providing a cutting device and cutting the double-length semi-finished product into single products with the cutting device and providing a packer and packing single products in the packer. The method yet further comprises the steps of transporting the double-length semi-finished products from the tipping apparatus to the cutting device and transporting the single products from the cutting device to the packer, and intermediately buffering double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in a buffer arranged between the tipping apparatus and the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Christopher John Grant, Pierre-Yves Gindrat
  • Patent number: 10888111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multicomponent aerosol-forming article defining a longitudinal axis, the article comprising: —a first rod-shaped component comprising a first longitudinal surface having a first and a second axially opposed ends, said first longitudinal surface being at least partially wrapped around the longitudinal axis in a first wrapping sheet; —a second rod-shaped component comprising a second longitudinal surface having a first and a second axially opposed ends, said second longitudinal surface being at least partially wrapped around the longitudinal axis in a second wrapping sheet, the first end of the second component being in direct abutment to the second end of the first component along said longitudinal axis; —wherein a portion of said second longitudinal surface at said first end of said second component is free of said second wrapping sheet; and—wherein said first wrapping sheet is wrapped for at least an overlapping length along the longitudinal axis on the second wrapping shee
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 10820623
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating semi-finished products comprise the steps of combining substantially cylindrical segments along a longitudinal first motion path. The following steps are performed along the first motion path: feeding a stream of at least three different segments along the first motion path, thereby arranging the at least three segments in alternating order, wrapping the stream of at least three segments in a sheet material to form an endless rod of segments, and cutting the endless rod of segments, thereby separating the endless rod of segments into wrapped segment rods. The method also comprises the step of processing wrapped segment rods along a second motion path, wherein the following step is performed along the second motion path: receiving the wrapped segment rods in flutes of a fluted receiving drum, wherein an end of the first motion path is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the flutes of the fluted receiving drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20200221757
    Abstract: The method for intermediately storing double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products comprises the step of providing a tipping apparatus and forming double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in the tipping apparatus. The method further comprises the steps of providing a cutting device and cutting the double-length semi-finished product into single products with the cutting device and providing a packer and packing single products in the packer. The method yet further comprises the steps of transporting the double-length semi-finished products from the tipping apparatus to the cutting device and transporting the single products from the cutting device to the packer, and intermediately buffering double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in a buffer arranged between the tipping apparatus and the cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher John Grant, Pierre-Yves Gindrat
  • Patent number: 10638790
    Abstract: The method for intermediately storing double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products comprises the step of providing a tipping apparatus and forming double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in the tipping apparatus. The method further comprises the steps of providing a cutting device and cutting the double-length semi-finished product into single products with the cutting device and providing a packer and packing single products in the packer. The method yet further comprises the steps of transporting the double-length semi-finished products from the tipping apparatus to the cutting device and transporting the single products from the cutting device to the packer, and intermediately buffering double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in a buffer arranged between the tipping apparatus and the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Christopher John Grant, Pierre-Yves Gindrat
  • Publication number: 20190307976
    Abstract: An inhaler article includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a mouthpiece end to a distal end and a capsule cavity defined within the body. A mouthpiece air channel extends from the capsule cavity to the mouthpiece end. An end cap is disposed within the distal end and extends to the capsule cavity. The end cap extends from an end cap distal end to an end cap inner end. The end cap includes an air channel extending from the end cap distal end to the end cap inner end. The air channel is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher John Grant, Gerard Zuber, Daniele Sanna, Gianluca Sechi, Judith Waller, Niki Meloncelli
  • Patent number: 10375989
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source having opposed front and rear end faces; an aerosol-forming substrate having opposed front and rear end faces, wherein the front end face of the aerosol-forming substrate is downstream of the rear end face of the combustible heat source; and a non-combustible holder configured to hold the combustible heat source. The holder includes a barrier between the rear end face of the combustible heat source and the front end face of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a plurality of first retention fingers connected to the barrier. The first retention fingers extend from the barrier along the exterior of the combustible heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ana Carolina Borges de Couraca, Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20180325167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multicomponent aerosol-forming article defining a longitudinal axis, the article comprising: —a first rod-shaped component comprising a first longitudinal surface having a first and a second axially opposed ends, said first longitudinal surface being at least partially wrapped around the longitudinal axis in a first wrapping sheet; —a second rod-shaped component comprising a second longitudinal surface having a first and a second axially opposed ends, said second longitudinal surface being at least partially wrapped around the longitudinal axis in a second wrapping sheet, the first end of the second component being in direct abutment to the second end of the first component along said longitudinal axis; —wherein a portion of said second longitudinal surface at said first end of said second component is free of said second wrapping sheet; and —wherein said first wrapping sheet is wrapped for at least an overlapping length along the longitudinal axis on the second wrapping she
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 9936730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Carraro, Alexis Louvet, Oleg Mironov, Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 9801412
    Abstract: A smoking article is formed from two component parts. These parts are a rod comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a removable cap. The removable cap can be coupled to the rod in two configurations. In a first configuration, the removable cap is coupled to a first end of the rod and a heat source located at or near a second end of the rod heats the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an inhalable aerosol. In a second configuration, the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod and at least substantially covers the heat source. The smoking article is arranged in the second configuration for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20170273352
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating semi-finished products comprise the steps of combining substantially cylindrical segments along a longitudinal first motion path. The following steps are performed along the first motion path: feeding a stream of at least three different segments along the first motion path, thereby arranging the at least three segments in alternating order, wrapping the stream of at least three segments in a sheet material to form an endless rod of segments, and cutting the endless rod of segments, thereby separating the endless rod of segments into wrapped segment rods. The method also comprises the step of processing wrapped segment rods along a second motion path, wherein the following step is performed along the second motion path: receiving the wrapped segment rods in flutes of a fluted receiving drum, wherein an end of the first motion path is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the flutes of the fluted receiving drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20170238600
    Abstract: The method for intermediately storing double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products comprises the step of providing a tipping apparatus and forming double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in the tipping apparatus. The method further comprises the steps of providing a cutting device and cutting the double-length semi-finished product into single products with the cutting device and providing a packer and packing single products in the packer. The method yet further comprises the steps of transporting the double-length semi-finished products from the tipping apparatus to the cutting device and transporting the single products from the cutting device to the packer, and intermediately buffering double-length substantially cylindrical semi-finished products in a buffer arranged between the tipping apparatus and the cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20170196261
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source having opposed front and rear end faces; an aerosol-forming substrate having opposed front and rear end faces, wherein the front end face of the aerosol-forming substrate is downstream of the rear end face of the combustible heat source; and a non-combustible holder configured to hold the combustible heat source. The holder includes a barrier between the rear end face of the combustible heat source and the front end face of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a plurality of first retention fingers connected to the barrier. The first retention fingers extend from the barrier along the exterior of the combustible heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ana Carolina BORGES DE COURACA, Christopher John GRANT
  • Publication number: 20160120216
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing an airflow directing segment for a smoking article. The method includes feeding a continuous web of material having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge; applying adhesive to the web material; forming the web into a channel; forming the channel into a closed tube of web material, the first longitudinal edge overlapping with the second longitudinal edge; compressing the tube of web material; feeding at least one continuous porous material about the formed tube of web material to form a substantially continuous airflow directing segment; and cutting the substantially continuous airflow directing segment to form discrete airflow directing segments. There is also provided a smoking article including the airflow directing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Christopher John GRANT
  • Publication number: 20150289566
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Carraro, Alexis Louvet, Oleg Mironov, Christopher John Grant
  • Publication number: 20150027458
    Abstract: A smoking article is formed from two component parts. These parts are a rod comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a removable cap. The removable cap can be coupled to the rod in two configurations. In a first configuration, the removable cap is coupled to a first end of the rod and a heat source located at or near a second end of the rod heats the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an inhalable aerosol. In a second configuration, the removable cap is coupled to the second end of the rod and at least substantially covers the heat source. The smoking article is arranged in the second configuration for disposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 6599201
    Abstract: A golf muscle weight training apparatus for attachment to the shaft of a golf club or other sports implement includes a weight carrier having an elongated weight supporting portion, a weight, and a clamp mechanism. The clamp mechanism cooperates with the weight carrier to clamp the weight carrier to the shaft with the axis of the weight supporting portion extending substantially perpendicular to a plane extending through the axis of the shaft and being offset laterally with respect to the axis of the golf club. The weight supporting portion supports a weight mass, with the weight mass extending in overlying relation with the head of the golf club. In another embodiment, the axis of the weight mass extends perpendicular to the axis of the golf club shaft. One or more extension weights can be coupled to the weight carrier to increase the weight mass of the weight training apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher John Grant