Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Deloach

Kenneth C. Deloach 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).

  • Mixed fiber product for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements and related methods, systems, and apparatuses
    Patent number: 10064429
    Abstract: A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Huamin Gan, Kenneth C. Deloach, Richard L. Sizemore, Dean M. Vick
  • MIXED FIBER PRODUCT FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTE FILTER ELEMENTS AND RELATED METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES
    Publication number: 20130074853
    Abstract: A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Huamin Gan, Kenneth C. Deloach, Richard L. Sizemore, Dean M. Vick