Patents by Inventor Kent B. Koller
Kent B. Koller 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).
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Patent number: 6911189Abstract: A filter such as an air having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of an air stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers. Other preferred reagents include aminoethylaminopropylsilyl silica gel (AEAPS) and aminoethylaminoethylaminopropylsilyl silica gel (AEAEAPS).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III
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Patent number: 6907885Abstract: This invention is a highly efficient filter containing fibers that contain small particle size adsorbents/absorbents such as carbon and/or silica to selectively reduce targeted components in mainstream cigarette smoke. The invention relates to a novel class of highly efficient cigarette smoke filters made from much smaller solid fine particles (preferably 1-50 micrometers in diameter) impregnated in shaped fibers that possess open or semi-opened micro-cavity. The invention further relates to a cigarette having a plug/space/plug or plug/space configuration and having the impregnated filters resided in the space in bonded non-woven or freely unbounded manner to allow controlled TPM delivery.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Patent number: 6863074Abstract: Cigarette filters, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of an unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resins, which is capable of removing at least some of at least one gas phase constituent from mainstream smoke through sorption. The unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may be a polymerization product of non-polar styrene and divinyl benzene. Various gas phase constituent can be removed from mainstream tobacco smoke, such as dienes, furans, pyrroles, aromatics and ketones, for example. The cigarette filters and cigarettes can provide low resistance-to-draw and/or high total particulate matter delivery. Additionally, the unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may further include flavorant(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Lixin Xue, Charles Edwin Thomas, Jr., Liqun Yu, Kent B. Koller
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Patent number: 6848450Abstract: A filter such as a cigarette filter having a metal reagent which selectively binds with a gaseous component of a gas stream such as tobacco smoke. The metal reagent comprises nanometer or micrometer size clusters of a transition metal or alloy containing a transition metal. The transition metal can be incorporated in an intermetallic compound such as titanium aluminide or iron aluminide. The metal clusters can be incorporated in or on a support material such as silica gel, porous carbon or a zeolite. The metal reagent can remove the gaseous component by selectively binding to unsaturated hydrocarbons such as 1,3-butadiene. The binding can occur by insertion of a metal atom of the metal reagent into a C—H bond or a C—C bond of the gaseous component.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2001Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Kent B. Koller, John B. Paine, III, Purusottam Jena, Bijan K. Rao
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Publication number: 20040250827Abstract: Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of a catalyst capable converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The catalyst comprises nanoscale metal and/or metal oxide particles supported on high surface area support particles. The catalyst can be prepared by combining a metal precursor solution with high surface area support particles to form a mixture, or by combining a metal precursor solution with a colloidal solution to form a mixture, and then heat treating the mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Sarojini Deevi, Kent B. Koller
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Publication number: 20040250828Abstract: A smoking article composition and a method of making a smoking article composition comprising tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material further comprising a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be formed by combining nanoscale catalyst particles or a metal precursor solution thereof with an alumina-silica sol mixture to form a slurry, gelling the slurry to form the co-gel, heating the co-gel to form a catalyst comprising nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix. The catalyst can be incorporated in tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material by spraying, dusting and/or immersion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Jay A Fournier, Sarojini Deevi, Ila Skinner, Kent B. Koller, Diane L. Gee
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Publication number: 20040250825Abstract: Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper, cigarette filters, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of nanoscale particle composite catalysts capable of acting as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The nanoscale composite catalyst comprises metal and/or metal oxide particles supported on nanoscale support particles. The nanoscale composite catalyst can be prepared by forming a mixture by combining nanoscale particles with a colloidal solution, a metal precursor solution with nanoscale particles, or a metal precursor solution with a colloidal solution, and then heat-treating the mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2003Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Sarojini Deevi, Kent B. Koller
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Patent number: 6814786Abstract: A filter includes at least two monolithic sorbent segments and a mixing segment between the two monolithic sorbent segments. The monolithic sorbent segments comprise porous sorbent materials that are capable of selectively removing one or more selected gaseous constituents from a gas flow. The filter can be incorporated in a smoking article, such as a cigarette, to remove one or more selected constituents from mainstream smoke. Methods for making the filter and smoking articles including the filter, as well as methods for smoking a cigarette comprising the filter, are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Shuzhong Zhuang, John B. Paine, III, Timothy S. Sherwood, Jay A Fournier, Kent B. Koller, Zhaohua Luan, Charles E. Thomas, Jr.
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Patent number: 6779528Abstract: Fibers are produced from an acetone solution of cellulose acetate by pulling or extruding such material through a spinneret in a dry spinning process. A vacuum is applied to the thus formed fibers after a certain degree of drying. A dried outer skin is formed, and the vacuum causes the solvent inside the skin to explode or pop and exit the fiber along micro-porous paths thereby producing high surface area fibers with micro-porous cavities and internal void volume. Such micro-cavities are particularly useful for retaining solid and/or liquid reagents in a cigarette filter for selective filtration of various smoke components.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Lixin Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20040131770Abstract: A process of retaining fine adsorbent particles such as carbon material or APS silica gel in the micro-cavities of a shaped fiber comprises the steps of continuously conveying a shaped fiber with micro-cavities to a charging arrangement where the fiber is electrostatically charged. The electrostatically charged fiber is then drawn through a reservoir of the fine adsorbent particles. As the fiber passes through the reservoir the fine particles adhere to the fiber and the micro-cavities thereof. Any excess particles are removed from the fiber outside the reservoir. Subsequently the shaped fiber loaded with fine adsorbent particles is collected for use in filter applications of one type or another such as cigarette filters, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20040040565Abstract: Cigarette filters, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided, which involve the use of an unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resins, which is capable of removing at least some of at least one gas phase constituent from mainstream smoke through sorption. The unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may be a polymerization product of non-polar styrene and divinyl benzene. Various gas phase constituent can be removed from mainstream tobacco smoke, such as dienes, furans, pyrroles, aromatics and ketones, for example. The cigarette filters and cigarettes can provide low resistance-to-draw and/or high total particulate matter delivery. Additionally, the unfunctionalized porous polyaromatic resin may further include flavorant(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2002Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Lixin Xue, Charles Edwin Thomas, Liqun Yu, Kent B. Koller
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Publication number: 20030183237Abstract: This invention is a highly efficient filter containing fibers that contain small particle size adsorbents/absorbents such as carbon and/or silica to selectively reduce targeted components in mainstream cigarette smoke. The invention relates to a novel class of highly efficient cigarette smoke filters made from much smaller solid fine particles (preferably 1-50 micrometers in diameter) impregnated in shaped fibers that possess open or semi-opened micro-cavity. The invention further relates to a cigarette having a plug/space/plug or plug/space configuration and having the impregnated filters resided in the space in bonded non-woven or freely unbounded manner to allow controlled TPM delivery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20030168070Abstract: A process of impregnating fine adsorbent particles such as carbon dust or APS silica gel powder into the micro-cavities of shaped fibers comprises the steps of continuously conveying shaped fibers with micro-cavities to a reservoir of the fine adsorbent particles. The fibers pass through the reservoir to thereby produce relative motion between the fibers and the particles. Additionally, impact forces are created between the shaped fibers and the fine particles to assist in impregnating the particles into the micro-cavities of the fibers. Any excess particles are removed from the fibers outside the reservoir, and subsequently the shaped fibers impregnated with fine adsorbent particles are collected for later use in filter applications such as cigarette filter and air filter applications, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao, Tim Sherwood, Charles E. Thomas, George R. Scott, Liqun Yu
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Publication number: 20030154993Abstract: A smoking article such as a cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter component having a cavity filled with spherical beaded carbon. As mainstream tobacco smoke is drawn through the filter component, targeted gas phase smoke constituents are removed as the smoke passes through the carbon. During the filter manufacturing process the spherical beaded carbon flows like a liquid and substantially completely fills the cavity. Point-to-point contact between the spherical beads together with substantially complete filling of the cavity produces minimal channeling of ambulatory gas phase as well as maximum contact between the gas phase and the carbon surface of the spherical beads during smoking.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2003Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: John B. Paine, Zuyin Yang, Kent B. Koller, Jay A. Fournier, Charles E. Thomas, Timothy S. Sherwood, Zhaohua Luan, Shuzhong Zhuang, Jose M. G. Nepomuceno, Diane L. Gee, Georgios D. Karles
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Patent number: 6595218Abstract: A cigarette filter having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of a smoke stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes from tobacco smoke. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements such as tipping paper, shaped paper insert, mouthpiece plug, solid filter element, or free-flow filter element. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as tipping or filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers. Other preferred reagents include aminoethylaminopropylsilyl (AEAPS) silica gel and aminoethylaminoethylaminopropylsilyl (AEAEAPS) silica gel.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III
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Patent number: 6584979Abstract: This invention is a highly efficient filter containing fibers that contain small particle size adsorbents/absorbents such as carbon and/or silica to selectively reduce targeted components in mainstream cigarette smoke. The invention relates to a novel class of highly efficient cigarette smoke filters made from much smaller solid fine particles (preferably 1-50 micrometers in diameter) impregnated in shaped fibers that possess open or semi-opened micro-cavity. The invention further relates to a cigarette having a plug/space/plug or plug/space configuration and having the impregnated filters resided in the space in bonded non-woven or freely unbounded manner to allow controlled TPM delivery.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20030116293Abstract: Fibers are produced from an acetone solution of cellulose acetate by pulling or extruding such material through a spinneret in a dry spinning process. A vacuum is applied to the thus formed fibers after a certain degree of drying. A dried outer skin is formed, and the vacuum causes the solvent inside the skin to explode or pop and exit the fiber along micro-porous paths thereby producing high surface area fibers with micro-porous cavities and internal void volume. Such micro-cavities are particularly useful for retaining solid and/or liquid reagents in a cigarette filter for selective filtration of various smoke components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Lixin Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20020020420Abstract: This invention is a highly efficient filter containing fibers that contain small particle size adsorbents/absorbents such as carbon and/or silica to selectively reduce targeted components in mainstream cigarette smoke. The invention relates to a novel class of highly efficient cigarette smoke filters made from much smaller solid fine particles (preferably 1-50 micrometers in diameter) impregnated in shaped fibers that possess open or semi-opened micro-cavity. The invention further relates to a cigarette having a plug/space/plug or plug/space configuration and having the impregnated filters resided in the space in bonded non-woven or freely unbounded manner to allow controlled TPM delivery.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2001Publication date: February 21, 2002Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao
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Publication number: 20020014453Abstract: A filter such as a cigarette filter having a metal reagent which selectively binds with a gaseous component of a gas stream such as tobacco smoke. The metal reagent comprises nanometer or micrometer size clusters of a transition metal or alloy containing a transition metal. The transition metal can be incorporated in an intermetallic compound such as titanium aluminide or iron aluminide. The metal clusters can be incorporated in or on a support material such as silica gel, porous carbon or a zeolite. The metal reagent can remove the gaseous component by selectively binding to unsaturated hydrocarbons such as 1,3-butadiene. The binding can occur by insertion of a metal atom of the metal reagent into a C—H bond or a C—C bond of the gaseous component.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Inventors: A. Clifton Lilly, Kent B. Koller, John B. Paine, Purusottam Jena, Bijan K. Rao
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Patent number: 6209547Abstract: A cigarette filter having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of a smoke stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes from tobacco smoke. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements such as tipping paper, shaped paper insert, mouthpiece plug, solid filter element, or free-flow filter element. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as tipping or filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III