Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Swepston

Jeffrey A. Swepston 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20230053802
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON, Travis M. GARTHAFFNER, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Martin T. GARTHAFFNER
  • Patent number: 11576440
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Travis Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Barry S. Smith, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Publication number: 20230022277
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. BELCASTRO, Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON
  • Patent number: 11490652
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Travis M. Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Martin T. Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 11464920
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Publication number: 20210100280
    Abstract: A tobacco product tip assembly. The tobacco product tip assembly includes a tip portion comprising a tip wall defining an inhalation chamber; the tip portion extending into a body portion comprising a body wall defining an insertion chamber, the insertion chamber being in communication with the inhalation chamber; the body wall comprising a mechanical fastener. A tobacco product assembly and a process for producing a tobacco product assembly are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON, Marc D. BELCASTRO, Christopher L. SIMPSON, John D. THOMSON, Patrick S. MCELHINNEY
  • Publication number: 20210059311
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Patent number: 10856582
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Patent number: 10827780
    Abstract: A tobacco product tip assembly. The tobacco product tip assembly includes a tip portion comprising a tip wall defining an inhalation chamber; the tip portion extending into a body portion comprising a body wall defining an insertion chamber, the insertion chamber being in communication with the inhalation chamber; the body wall comprising a mechanical fastener. A tobacco product assembly and a process for producing a tobacco product assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Marc D. Belcastro, Christopher L. Simpson, John D. Thomson, Patrick S. McElhinney
  • Publication number: 20200329777
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Travis M. Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Martin T. Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 10792442
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating aerosol comprises a capillary tube comprising at least one bend, fluid inlets, and an outlet along the bend. The capillary tube is heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize fluid in the capillary tube, such that the volatilized fluid discharges from the outlet to form an aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Price, Evgeni Sychev, Marc D Belcastro, Jeffrey A Swepston
  • Patent number: 10721962
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Travis M. Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Martin T. Garthaffner
  • Publication number: 20190133196
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston
  • Patent number: 10194698
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D Belcastro, Jeffrey A Swepston
  • Publication number: 20180352850
    Abstract: A tobacco product tip assembly. The tobacco product tip assembly includes a tip portion comprising a tip wall defining an inhalation chamber; the tip portion extending into a body portion comprising a body wall defining an insertion chamber, the insertion chamber being in communication with the inhalation chamber; the body wall comprising a mechanical fastener. A tobacco product assembly and a process for producing a tobacco product assembly are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON, Marc D. BELCASTRO, Christopher L. SIMPSON, John D. THOMSON, Patrick S. MCELHINNEY
  • Publication number: 20180295880
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON, Travis M. Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Martin T. Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 10064428
    Abstract: A tobacco product tip assembly. The tobacco product tip assembly includes a tip portion comprising a tip wall defining an inhalation chamber; the tip portion extending into a body portion comprising a body wall defining an insertion chamber, the insertion chamber being in communication with the inhalation chamber; the body wall comprising a mechanical fastener. A tobacco product assembly and a process for producing a tobacco product assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Marc D. Belcastro, Christopher L. Simpson, John D. Thomson, Patrick S. McElhinney
  • Patent number: 9968131
    Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Swepston, Martin T. Garthaffner, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, Travis Martin Garthaffner
  • Publication number: 20170202269
    Abstract: An indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator comprises a capillary tube adapted to form an aerosol when liquid material in the capillary tube is heated to volatilize at least some of the liquid material therein and a thermally conductive material in thermal contact with the capillary tube. The indirectly heated capillary aerosol generator provides substantially even and uniform heating across the heated length of the capillary tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Marc D. Belcastro, Jeffrey A. Swepston