Patents by Inventor Colin Dickens
Colin Dickens 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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Patent number: 12256777Abstract: An article for use within a non-combustible aerosol provision system includes an aerosol-generating material having a top side, a barrier positioned adjacent to the top side of the aerosol-generating material and at least one passageway defined by the barrier and extending away from the top side of the aerosol-generating material. The at least one passageway is configured to, in use, allow aerosol to escape from the aerosol-generating material and provide a condensation region for the escaping aerosol.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Justin Han Yang Chan, Liu Chuan, Caner Yurteri, Colin Dickens, Walid Abi Aoun, John McAughey
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Patent number: 12232533Abstract: An inductive heating assembly for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor material in an aerosol provision system, the inductive heating assembly including: a susceptor; and a drive coil arranged to induce current flow in the susceptor to heat the susceptor and vaporize aerosol precursor material in proximity with a surface of the susceptor, and wherein the susceptor includes regions of different susceptibility to induced current flow from the drive coil, such that when in use the surface of the susceptor in the regions of different susceptibility are heated to different temperatures by the current flow induced by the drive coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain
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Patent number: 12114694Abstract: An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol for user inhalation can include a first aerosol generating area and a second aerosol generating area each for receiving an aerosol precursor material; a mouthpiece from which a user inhales generated aerosol during use, wherein the mouthpiece comprises first and second mouthpiece openings; a first pathway extending from the first aerosol generating area to the first mouthpiece opening for transporting a first aerosol generated from the aerosol precursor material in the first aerosol generating area; and a second pathway extending from the second aerosol generating area chamber to the second mouthpiece opening for transporting a second aerosol generated from the aerosol precursor material in the second aerosol generating area, wherein the first and second pathways are physically isolated from one another to prevent mixing of the first and second aerosols as the first and second aerosols are transported along the respective pathways.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Connor Bruton, Colin Dickens, Patrick Moloney, Anton Korus, Alfred Vincent Spencer, Kevin David Blick, Anna Azzopardi, Richard Hepworth, Lisa Harvey
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Patent number: 12070070Abstract: Embodiments of an electronic vapor provision system having a longitudinal axis are disclosed. The electronic vapor provision system includes a control unit and at least one cartridge configured to engage with and disengage from the control unit substantially along the longitudinal axis. The at least one cartridge includes a reservoir of liquid to be vaporized. The electronic vapor provision system further includes an induction heating assembly including at least one drive coil and a plurality of heater elements. The heaters elements are located in the at least one cartridge for vaporizing the liquid. The at least one cartridge is configured to feed liquid from the reservoir onto the heater elements for vaporization. The at least one cartridge is located, when engaged with the control unit, such that the heater elements are within the at least one drive coil. The electronic vapor provision system is configured to support selective energization of different heater elements from the plurality of heater elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain
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Patent number: 12016996Abstract: A receptacle section for an aerosol provision article is described. The aerosol provision article is for generating a flow of aerosol in use. The receptacle section is arranged for receiving therein an activatable element for modifying, once activated, a property of the flow of aerosol. The receptacle section includes at least one activating element operable to apply, after an installation of the activatable element in the receptacle section by a user, a force to the activatable element to activate the activatable element installed in the receptacle section in use.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Richard Hepworth, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11957833Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system includes a vaporizer for vaporizing a payload for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapor provision system, the vaporizer taking a finite period of time from having power supplied to it to vaporize the payload; a power supply for supplying power to the vaporizer to vaporize the payload in response to a user activation; one or more sensors operable to output respective signals in response to interaction of the user with the electronic vapor provision system; an estimation processor configured to estimate a user's expected moment of activation, based upon analysis of one or more of the respective signals; and a control processor configured to cause power to be supplied to the vaporizer at a time that precedes the user's estimated expected moment of activation.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Patrick Moloney, Colin Dickens, Justin Han Yang Chan
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Patent number: 11896055Abstract: An aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from a source liquid, the aerosol provision system including: a reservoir of source liquid; a planar vaporizer comprising a planar heating element, wherein the vaporizer is configured to draw source liquid from the reservoir to the vicinity of a vaporizing surface of the vaporizer through capillary action; and an induction heater coil operable to induce current flow in the heating element to inductively heat the heating element and so vaporize a portion of the source liquid in the vicinity of the vaporizing surface of the vaporizer. In some example the vaporizer further comprises a porous wadding/wicking material, e.g. an electrically non-conducting fibrous material at least partially surrounding the planar heating element (susceptor) and in contact with source liquid from the reservoir to provide, or at least contribute to, the function of drawing source liquid from the reservoir to the vicinity of the vaporizing surface of the vaporizer.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain
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Patent number: 11882877Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system includes a control unit and a cartridge configured to engage with and disengage from one another substantially along a longitudinal axis. The cartridge includes a reservoir of liquid to be vaporized, and the control unit includes a battery and a tube portion disposed along said longitudinal axis. The system further includes an induction heating assembly comprising a drive coil and a heater element. The heater element is located in the cartridge for vaporizing the liquid. The cartridge is configured to feed liquid from the reservoir onto the heater element for vaporization. The drive coil is located in the tube portion of the control unit and disposed about the longitudinal axis. The cartridge is located at least partly within the tube portion when engaged with the control unit, such that the heater element is within the drive coil.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain
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Patent number: 11871795Abstract: Described is an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol to be inhaled by a user from a plurality of discrete aerosol generating areas each containing an aerosol generating component, the aerosol provision device including a mouthpiece from which a user inhales generated aerosol during use; a first flow pathway arranged to pass through a first aerosol generating area and fluidly connected to the mouthpiece; and a second flow pathway arranged to pass through a second aerosol generating area and fluidly connected to the mouthpiece, wherein the first and second flow pathways are each provided with a flow restriction member configured to vary the flow of air through the respective flow pathways based on the presence of an aerosol generating component in the respective aerosol generating areas in the device and/or a parameter associated with the respective aerosol generating component in the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Connor Bruton, Anna Azzopardi, Patrick Moloney, Anton Korus, Colin Dickens, Alfred Vincent Spencer, Lisa Harvey, Kevin David Blick
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Patent number: 11864588Abstract: Described is an aerosol provision system including a device part and a removable cartridge part, wherein the cartridge part is coupled to the device part for use; and wherein the device part includes a heater; and the cartridge part includes a reservoir for source liquid and a vaporization surface arranged to be in fluid communication with the reservoir for source liquid, wherein the vaporization surface is brought into thermal communication with the heater when the cartridge part is coupled to the device part for use such that the vaporization surface is heated when the heater is activated to cause vaporization of at least a portion of source liquid in fluid communication with the vaporization surface. There has also been described a cartridge part, a device part, and a method of producing a vapor for inhalation.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Patrick Moloney, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11844374Abstract: A consumable component for an aerosol provision system includes an outer housing including an outer wall extending between first and second end walls to define an interior chamber; a plurality of elements of solid aerosol forming material for generating an aerosol for user inhalation, wherein the plurality of elements of solid aerosol forming material are retained within the interior chamber by the housing and wherein the first and second end walls comprise openings to allow air to flow into the interior chamber through the first end wall and out of the interior chamber through the second end wall during use, and a heater located within the interior chamber and configured to heat the elements of solid aerosol forming material during use to generate a vapor for user inhalation.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Richard Hepworth, Patrick Moloney, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11833294Abstract: An aerosol provision system comprises a heating element for generating an aerosol from a source liquid and control circuitry for controlling a supply of electrical power from a power supply to the heating element. The control circuitry is configured to measure an indication of a derivative of an electrical characteristic of the heating element with respect to time. Based on the measured time derivative, the control circuitry is configured to determine whether or not a fault condition has arisen for the electronic aerosol provision system. The overall change in the electrical characteristic for the heating element caused by the localized heating may be small and so difficult to reliably identify, but the rate at which the change occurs can be expected to be relatively high, such that the time derivative of the local characteristic is a more reliable indicator of occurrence of the fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Helmut Buchberger, Colin Dickens, Rory Fraser
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Patent number: 11800898Abstract: Described is an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from a plurality of aerosol generating areas each configured to receive an aerosol precursor material, wherein the aerosol provision device includes a power source for providing power to a first atomizing element configured to generate aerosol from a first aerosol precursor material present in the first aerosol generating area and to a second atomizing element configured to generate aerosol from a second aerosol precursor material present in a second aerosol generating area; and power distribution circuitry configured to distribute power between the first and second atomizing elements based on at least one parameter of aerosol precursor material currently present in the first and second aerosol generating areas respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Connor Bruton, Colin Dickens, Patrick Moloney, Anton Korus, Alfred Vincent Spencer, Kevin David Blick, Lisa Harvey, Anna Azzopardi
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Patent number: 11752284Abstract: An aerosol delivery device including: control circuitry for controlling an operating mode of the device; a motion sensor arranged to detect motion of the device and to output corresponding motion detection signals to the control circuitry; and an airflow sensor arranged to detect a flow of air in the device and to output corresponding airflow detection signals to the control circuitry; wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine from the motion detection signals when there is a tapping event corresponding to the device being tapped by a user and to determine from the airflow detection signals when there is an airflow event, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the device to switch from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to the detection of a predefined sequence of events comprising at least one tapping event and at least one airflow event.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Colin Dickens, Rory Fraser
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Publication number: 20230012023Abstract: An aerosol provision system including a consumable having a plurality of regions of aerosol generating material, and a heater comprising a plurality of heating elements, each heating element corresponding to a region of the plurality of regions of aerosol generating material, wherein in use the heater is arranged to controllably heat at least two of the plurality of regions of aerosol generating material to produce a personalised aerosol for inhalation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2020Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventors: Junior Kabirat, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11413410Abstract: An aerosol provision system comprises a heating element for generating an aerosol from a source liquid and control circuitry for controlling a supply of electrical power from a power supply to the heating element. The control circuitry is configured to measure an indication of a derivative of an electrical characteristic of the heating element with respect to time. Based on the measured time derivative, the control circuitry is configured to determine whether or not a fault condition has arisen for the electronic aerosol provision system. The overall change in the electrical characteristic for the heating element caused by the localized heating may be small and so difficult to reliably identify, but the rate at which the change occurs can be expected to be relatively high, such that the time derivative of the local characteristic is a more reliable indicator of occurrence of the fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Helmut Buchberger, Colin Dickens, Rory Fraser
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Patent number: 11253000Abstract: A receptacle section for an aerosol provision article, arranged for receiving an element for modifying a property of aerosol passing through said element received in the receptacle section in use. The receptacle section having a configuration defining a flow path for said aerosol to flow through the receptacle section. The receptacle section including a first portion and a second portion moveable, the second portion being slidably mounted to the first portion. The receptacle section being arranged to allow at least one of insertion or removal of the element into or from the receptacle section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle section.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Richard Hepworth, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11213635Abstract: A receptacle section for an aerosol provision article is described. The aerosol provision article is for generating a flow of aerosol in use. The receptacle section is arranged for having installed therein an activatable element for modifying, once activated, a property of the flow of aerosol. The receptacle section is arranged to apply, on installation of the activatable element in the receptacle section by a user, a force to the activatable element to activate the activatable element.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) LimitedInventors: Richard Hepworth, Colin Dickens
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Patent number: 11185110Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system includes a control unit and a cartridge configured to engage with and disengage from one another substantially along a longitudinal axis. The cartridge includes a reservoir of liquid to be vaporized, and the control unit includes a battery and a tube portion disposed along said longitudinal axis. The system further includes an induction heating assembly comprising a drive coil and a heater element. The heater element is located in the cartridge for vaporizing the liquid. The cartridge is configured to feed liquid from the reservoir onto the heater element for vaporization. The drive coil is located in the tube portion of the control unit and disposed about the longitudinal axis. The cartridge is located at least partly within the tube portion when engaged with the control unit, such that the heater element is within the drive coil.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Nicoventures Trading LimitedInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain
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Patent number: 11033055Abstract: An inductive heating assembly for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor material in an aerosol provision system, the inductive heating assembly including: a susceptor; and a drive coil arranged to induce current flow in the susceptor to heat the susceptor and vaporize aerosol precursor material in proximity with a surface of the susceptor, and wherein the susceptor includes regions of different susceptibility to induced current flow from the drive coil, such that when in use the surface of the susceptor in the regions of different susceptibility are heated to different temperatures by the current flow induced by the drive coil.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITEDInventors: Rory Fraser, Colin Dickens, Siddhartha Jain