Patents by Inventor Jose Nepomuceno

Jose Nepomuceno 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: 20220095673
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. KARLES, Jeffrey ALLEN, Jose NEPOMUCENO
  • Patent number: 11219243
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20200146343
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The sealed capsule or capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material from the one or more capsules and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The sealed capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Martin Garthaffner, Richard Jupe, Diane Kellogg, Ila Skinner, Jose Nepomuceno, John Layman, Constance Morgan, Jay A. Fournier
  • Patent number: 10568356
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The sealed capsule or capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material from the one or more capsules and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The sealed capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Martin Garthaffner, Richard Jupe, Diane Kellogg, Ila Skinner, Jose Nepomuceno, John Layman, Constance Morgan, Jay A. Fournier
  • Publication number: 20180103682
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 9907335
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20160302479
    Abstract: An activated carbon substrate which is pre-treated to make an exposed surface of the activated carbon substrate substantially hydrophilic, coated with a carbon precursor to form a coated activated carbon, and then the coated activated carbon substrate is heated to carbonize the carbon precursor to from the modified activated carbon. The modified activated carbon comprises a uniform porous carbon membrane formed on an exposed surface of the activated carbon substrate. The carbon membrane can mediate the absorption and/or adsorption kinetics of the activated carbon substrate. The modified activated carbon, which can be incorporated into one or more components of a cigarette, can selectively remove gaseous constituents from mainstream smoke during smoking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Diane L. Gee, Georgios Karles, Ila Skinner, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20160235114
    Abstract: Multi-shelled capsules are made by co-extruding a first liquid flavorant composition and a first shell-forming polymeric material to form droplets which are hardened to form an inner shell containing a first liquid flavorant composition, and then coated with a second shell-forming polymeric material which is hardened to form an outer shell. The result is a capsule where the inner surface of the outer shell is separate and/or separable from the outer surface of the inner shell to define a space, wherein a second liquid flavorant composition may be located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Hongwei LIU, Georgios D. KARLES, Shuzhong ZHUANG, Jose NEPOMUCENO
  • Patent number: 9394179
    Abstract: A process for making modified activated carbon from an activated carbon substrate. The activated carbon substrate is pre-treated to make an exposed surface of the activated carbon substrate substantially hydrophilic, coated with a carbon precursor to form a coated activated carbon, and then the coated activated carbon substrate is heated to carbonize the carbon precursor to from the modified activated carbon. The modified activated carbon comprises a uniform porous carbon membrane formed on an exposed surface of the activated carbon substrate. The carbon membrane can mediate the absorption and/or adsorption kinetics of the activated carbon substrate. The modified activated carbon, which can be incorporated into one or more components of a cigarette, can selectively remove gaseous constituents from mainstream smoke during smoking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Diane L. Gee, Georgios Karles, Ila Skinner, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 9259030
    Abstract: Multi-shelled capsules are made by co-extruding a first liquid flavorant composition and a first shell-forming polymeric material to form droplets which are hardened to form an inner shell containing a first liquid flavorant composition, and then coated with a second shell-forming polymeric material which is hardened to form an outer shell. The result is a capsule where the inner surface of the outer shell is separate and/or separable from the outer surface of the inner shell to define a space, wherein a second liquid flavorant composition may be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Hongwei Liu, Georgios D. Karles, Shuzhong Zhuang, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 9049887
    Abstract: An apparatus for serially delivering filling media to spaced apart cavities of an endless filter rod, which includes a conveyor which conveys a strip of plug wrap along a feed path, a transfer wheel arrangement which serially delivers filter segments to the plug wrap as it moves along the feed path such that the filter segments are arranged in plug-space-plug relation with cavities separated by the filter segments, and a filling wheel which rotates about a horizontal axis and includes pockets or cleats which receive filling media at the loading zone and deliver the filling media to the cavities at a discharge station along the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith, Georgios D. Karles, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 8960199
    Abstract: A component of a smoking article having tobacco beads. The tobacco beads can be located in a filter and/or a tobacco rod. The filter can be a multi-component filter, wherein an sorbent (preferably upstream) removes at least one constituent from mainstream tobacco smoke passing through the filter and downstream tobacco beads compensates for taste lost to the sorbent. The tobacco beads optionally include flavorants in addition to tobacco particulates. The tobacco beads can be located within a cavity in the filter or within the tow. This component can comprise additional flavors, which are released into the mainstream smoke under ambient conditions. The tobacco beads optionally include binders such as microcrystalline cellulose or other cellulosic material, which can be formed into a paste with tobacco powder and optionally with additional flavors. The paste can be extruded and spheronized to form the tobacco beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Shuzhong Zhuang, Georgios D. Karles, Jose Nepomuceno, Richard Jupe, Gerson Assmann, Stephen Zimmermann, Benjamin Lewis, James Sherron, Vivian E. Willis
  • Patent number: 8746254
    Abstract: Smoking articles, filters, and methods for selectively removing selected components from tobacco smoke are disclosed. The smoking articles and filters include composites composed of a porous alumina and/or aluminosilicate matrix containing particles of activated carbon and zeolite molecular sieve adsorbents distributed throughout the matrix which can selectively remove selected components of tobacco smoke. The composites may be made by admixing the adsorbent mixture and a binder such as aluminum hydroxide or montmorillonite clay, adding an aqueous mineral acid to gel the mixture and drying and firing the gel paste. The proportions and adsorption capacities of the components can be selected to tailor the adsorption characteristics of the composites to selectively remove targeted constituents such as acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in tobacco smoke. Methods for making filters and smoking articles using the composites, as well as methods for smoking products comprising the composites, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Diane L. Gee, Jose Nepomuceno, Shuzhong Zhuang, Jay A Fournier
  • Publication number: 20140026900
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 8459272
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Patent number: 8381738
    Abstract: Smoking articles, filters, and methods for selectively removing selected components from tobacco smoke are disclosed. The smoking articles and filters include composites composed of a porous alumina and/or aluminosilicate matrix containing particles of activated carbon and zeolite molecular sieve adsorbents distributed throughout the matrix which can selectively remove selected components of tobacco smoke. The composites may be made by admixing the adsorbent mixture and a binder such as aluminum hydroxide or montmorillonite clay, adding an aqueous mineral acid to gel the mixture and drying and firing the gel paste. The proportions and adsorption capacities of the components can be selected to tailor the adsorption characteristics of the composites to selectively remove targeted constituents such as acrolein and 1,3-butadiene in tobacco smoke. Methods for making filters and smoking articles using the composites, as well as methods for smoking products comprising the composites, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Diane L. Gee, Jose Nepomuceno, Shuzhong Zhuang, Jay A Fournier
  • Publication number: 20120028774
    Abstract: An apparatus for serially delivering filling media to spaced apart cavities of an endless filter rod, which includes a conveyor which conveys a strip of plug wrap along a feed path, a transfer wheel arrangement which serially delivers filter segments to the plug wrap as it moves along the feed path such that the filter segments are arranged in plug-space-plug relation with cavities separated by the filter segments, and a filling wheel which rotates about a horizontal axis and includes pockets or cleats which receive filling media at the loading zone and deliver the filling media to the cavities at a discharge station along the feed path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Martin T. Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith, Georgios D. Karles, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20120024305
    Abstract: Multi-shelled capsules are made by co-extruding a first liquid flavorant composition and a first shell-forming polymeric material to form droplets which are hardened to form an inner shell containing a first liquid flavorant composition, and then coated with a second shell-forming polymeric material which is hardened to form an outer shell. The result is a capsule where the inner surface of the outer shell is separate and/or separable from the outer surface of the inner shell to define a space, wherein a second liquid flavorant composition may be located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Hongwei Liu, Georgios D. Karles, Shuzhong Zhuang, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20120017926
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more oval capsules containing releasable additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The oval capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and have the long axis thereof arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. When the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Georgios D. Karles, Jeffrey Lynn Allen, Jose Nepomuceno
  • Publication number: 20110155154
    Abstract: A component of a smoking article having tobacco beads. The tobacco beads can be located in a filter and/or a tobacco rod. The filter can be a multi-component filter, wherein an sorbent (preferably upstream) removes at least one constituent from mainstream tobacco smoke passing through the filter and downstream tobacco beads compensates for taste lost to the sorbent. The tobacco beads optionally include flavorants in addition to tobacco particulates. The tobacco beads can be located within a cavity in the filter or within the tow. This component can comprise additional flavors, which are released into the mainstream smoke under ambient conditions. The tobacco beads optionally include binders such as microcrystalline cellulose or other cellulosic material, which can be formed into a paste with tobacco powder and optionally with additional flavors. The paste can be extruded and spheronized to form the tobacco beads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Shuzhong Zhuang, Georgios D. Karles, Jose Nepomuceno, Richard Jupe, Gerson Assmann, Stephen Zimmermann, Benjamin Lewis, James Sherron, Vivian E. Willis