Patents by Inventor John-Paul Mua

John-Paul Mua 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: 7810507
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of the product is provided, the tobacco product including a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation, the tobacco formulation including a tobacco material and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed within the tobacco material, the plurality of microcapsules including an outer shell encapsulating an internal payload. The internal payload may include an additive such as water, flavorants, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, buffering agents, fillers, disintegration aids, humectants, antioxidants, oral care ingredients, preservatives, additives derived from herbal or botanical sources, and mixtures thereof. Microencapsulated flavorants include tobacco-containing flavorants, such as tobacco extracts or a particulate tobacco material, sweeteners (e.g., sweeteners containing neotame), and vanillin (optionally in a complexed form).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Daniel Verdin Cantrell, John-Paul Mua, Darrell Eugene Holton, Jr., Cynthia Stewart Stokes, James Neil Figlar
  • Publication number: 20090025738
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco composition suitable for use as a smokeless tobacco composition, the process including: providing a slurry comprising water and a tobacco material, the slurry comprising at least about 75% by weight water, based on the total weight of the slurry; heating the slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient to pasteurize the tobacco material; adding an amount of a base to the slurry sufficient to raise the pH of the slurry to at least about 8.5, thereby forming a pH-adjusted slurry; and continuing to heat the pH-adjusted slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient for the pH of the slurry to drop at least about 0.5 pH unit following the adding step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Rosete Monsalud, JR., Darrell Eugene Holton, JR., James Neil Figlar
  • Patent number: 7428905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a smokeable filler material having an increased fill value and processes for making the smokeable filler. The smokeable filler has a fill value of at least 5 cc/g and comprises a cellulose material, a humectant, an inert filler, a binder, and optionally a tobacco containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: John-Paul Mua
  • Publication number: 20080173317
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product is provided. A water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation and configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product is provided. The tobacco formulation includes granular tobacco and a buffer comprised of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. An outer packaging material enveloping the pouch is provided and is sealed so as to allow a controlled environment to be maintained within.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, Laya Katina Palmer Horton, Pankaj Patel, John-Paul Mua, Daniel Verdin Cantrell, James Neil Figlar, Darrell Eugene Holton
  • Publication number: 20080029117
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco formulation includes particles or pieces of tobacco, and may include other ingredients, such as salts, sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, antioxidants, humectants, and preservatives. The moisture content of the particles of the tobacco may vary. Certain smokeless tobacco products have the form of tobacco compositions or formulations that result from casting or otherwise forming a slurry incorporating tobacco material and other components as a film or sheet. Certain smokeless tobacco products have the form of tobacco compositions or formulations that result from pressing, extruding or otherwise forming a mixture incorporating tobacco material and other components into a desired shape. The foregoing tobacco products, as well as snus-type products, can be packaged under conditions of controlled atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Rosete Monsalud
  • Publication number: 20080029110
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of the product is provided, the tobacco product including a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation, the tobacco formulation including a tobacco material and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed within the tobacco material, the plurality of microcapsules including an outer shell encapsulating an internal payload. The internal payload may include an additive such as water, flavorants, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, buffering agents, fillers, disintegration aids, humectants, antioxidants, oral care ingredients, preservatives, additives derived from herbal or botanical sources, and mixtures thereof. Microencapsulated flavorants include tobacco-containing flavorants, such as tobacco extracts or a particulate tobacco material, sweeteners (e.g., sweeteners containing neotame), and vanillin (optionally in a complexed form).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Dube, Daniel Cantrell, John-Paul Mua, Darrell Holton, Cynthia Stokes, James Figlar
  • Publication number: 20080006286
    Abstract: A smoking article having one or more reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap strips is described. One or more split inner wrap strips extend coaxially along the tobacco column between the inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper and the tobacco column. The tobacco blend includes burley and a second tobacco, such as flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, or rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations thereof This blend improves burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels, especially tobacco-specific nitrosamines (i.e., TNSAs). A cigarette with an improved burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Monsalud
  • Publication number: 20070157940
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod having a smokable filler material contained within a circumscribing outer wrapping material, and one or more inner wrapping strips positioned between the tobacco rod and the outer wrapping material and extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod. The inner wrapping strips comprise a binder in the form of an alkali metal salt and comprise a total alkali metal content of at least about 30,000 ?g based on the total weight of the inner wrapping strips. The total alkali metal content can be derived from the alkali metal salt binder alone or a combination of the alkali metal salt binder and a second alkali metal additive. The inner wrapping strips can exhibit an ignition temperature of at least about 625° C. and may comprise 1 to about 8 strips, each strip having a width of about 2 to about 10 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Barbara Arzonico, Melissa Clark, Luis Monsalud, Alan Norman, Rodney Schluter
  • Publication number: 20060130859
    Abstract: A process for reducing lignin and nitrogenous content in tobacco lamina and tobacco fiber material, including whole leaf, stems, scraps, fines and lamina, as well as burley leaf and stem, in an extraction with a solution containing hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide. The treated tobacco may then be further processed for use in cigarettes and other smoking articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Brad Hayes, Kenneth Bradley
  • Publication number: 20060021626
    Abstract: The invention relates to a smokeable filler material having an increased fill value and processes for making the smokeable filler. The smokeable filler has a fill value of at least 5 cc/g and comprises a cellulose material, a humectant, an inert filler, a binder, and optionally a tobacco containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventor: John-Paul Mua
  • Publication number: 20050263161
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a smoking material with reduced levels of nitrogenous compounds by contacting a tobacco material with an aqueous solvent, separating the aqueous solvent from the tobacco fiber portion, mixing the tobacco fiber portion with a cellulose containing material, and optionally adding back the aqueous solvent which may have been treated and/or concentrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventor: John-Paul Mua
  • Publication number: 20050241657
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a process for removing nitrogen containing compounds from tobacco with minimum removal of desired compounds. The process includes the steps of mixing a tobacco containing material with an aqueous solvent to form an extract; the extract is then separated from the tobacco containing material and contacted with an adsorbent material. The adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of a bentonite and a charcoal material, ?-cyclodextrin, cellulose acetate and combinations thereof. The extract is then added back to the tobacco containing material that may or may not have been processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Brown & Williamson Tabacco Corporation
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Brad Hayes
  • Publication number: 20050056294
    Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco sheet for use in a cigarette includes up to about 80% by weight of wood pulp, up to about 30% by weight of a binder, and up to about 80% by weight of tobacco. A humectant and a flavor may be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Wanna, Douglas Hicks, Luis Monsalud, John-Paul Mua
  • Publication number: 20050039767
    Abstract: A smoking article having one or more reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap strips is described. One or more split inner wrap strips extend coaxially along the tobacco column between the inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper and the tobacco column. The tobacco blend includes burley and a second tobacco, such as flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, or rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations thereof. This blend improves burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels, especially tobacco-specific nitrosamines (i.e., TNSAs). A cigarette with an improved burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Monsalud
  • Patent number: 6772767
    Abstract: A process for reducing lignin and nitrogenous content in tobacco lamina and tobacco fiber material, including whole leaf, stems, scraps, fines and lamina, as well as burley leaf and stem, in an extraction with a solution containing hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide. The treated tobacco may then be further processed for use in cigarettes and other smoking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Brad L. Hayes, Kenneth J. Bradley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040045565
    Abstract: A process for reducing lignin and nitrogenous content in tobacco lamina and tobacco fiber material, including whole leaf, stems, scraps, fines and lamina, as well as burley leaf and stem, in an extraction with a solution containing hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide. The treated tobacco may then be further processed for use in cigarettes and other smoking articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Brad L. Hayes, Kenneth J. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6508254
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing reconstituted tobacco with reduced nitrogenous content by submitting cured tobacco material, including whole leaf, stems, scraps, fines and lamina, as well as burley leaf and stem, to an extraction with a solution containing sodium acetate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof. The extraction process, in addition to denitrifying the tobacco material, also produces reconstituted tobacco paper with characteristics similar to flue cured tobacco leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Terryl V. Baker, Kenneth John Bradley, Jr., William R. Conway, Walter M. Drexler