Patents by Inventor Douglas Fernandez

Douglas Fernandez 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: 20230240351
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. MISHRA, Douglas FERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 11627756
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20210169131
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. MISHRA, Douglas FERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 10925310
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20190261673
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10334873
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170360078
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20080029106
    Abstract: Delivery of additives in a smoking article is provided through thermally degradable, robust immobilized additive inserts. Additives can be immobilized in an elongated device or an insert, wherein the elongated device or the insert is sufficiently robust to allow the elongated device or the insert to be manually or machine inserted into a smoking article while maintaining the structure of the elongated device or the insert. By providing additives in the form of thermally degradable immobilized additive inserts, migration and/or loss of the additives in a smoking article prior to smoking can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Munmaya Mishra, Jay Fournier, Marc Krauss, Douglas Fernandez, Peter Lipowicz
  • Publication number: 20060090768
    Abstract: A tobacco smoking mixture and/or a cigarette wrapper with high-temperature ammonia-release agents therein are provided, wherein the high-temperature ammonia-release agents are present in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter formed during smoking of the cigarette. The high-temperature ammonia-release agents are capable of reducing the cyotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter by evolving ammonia at temperatures greater than about 200° C., wherein the ammonia can interact with the particulate matter. Additionally, the high-temperature ammonia-release agents can be formed by heating an aqueous mixture of an iron precursor compound, an ammonia source compound and an acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Jay Fournier, John Paine, Douglas Fernandez
  • Patent number: 6517641
    Abstract: An improved process for cleaning a semiconductor wafer surface during manufacture to remove metallic contaminants without the use of robotics and without risk of scanning droplets falling from the wafer, in a faster time than with a manual process using a vacuum wand, comprising: a) positioning a wafer on a rotating plate pivotably mounted above a platform; b) contacting the wafer with a metals scanning solution droplet from the tip of a drop probe, the solution being adhered in a bottom portion of the drop probe above the wafer in a material of a surface tension sufficiently higher than the surface tension on the wafer, the drop probe being pivotably connected to a pivot arm which upon pivoting or turning one notch enables droplet sweeping of metal contaminants on a concentric circle on the wafer on the rotating plate; c) successively turning the pivot arm a sufficient number of notches to enable completion of wafer droplet sweepings through concentric circles to reach the edge of the wafer until all of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP
    Inventor: Douglas Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20020170578
    Abstract: An improved process for cleaning a semiconductor wafer surface during manufacture to remove metallic contaminants without the use of robotics and without risk of scanning droplets falling from the wafer, in a faster time than with a manual process using a vacuum wand, comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Fernandez