Patents by Inventor Leah A. Meyers

Leah A. Meyers 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: 20230397645
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert C. LONGEST, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Tamika S. MURRELL, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Travis M. GARTHAFFNER, Leah A. MEYERS, James D. EVANS
  • Patent number: 11744275
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert C. Longest, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner, Leah A. Meyers, James D. Evans
  • Publication number: 20230002087
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC, Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington LONGEST, JR., Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Tamika S. MURRELL, Leah A. MEYERS, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Travis M. GARTHAFFNER
  • Patent number: 11447277
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington Longest, Jr., Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Leah A. Meyers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner
  • Publication number: 20210112846
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Cary LONGEST, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Tamika S. MURRELL, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Travis M. GARTHAFFNER, Leah A. MEYERS, James D. EVANS
  • Patent number: 10888108
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert C. Longest, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner, Leah A. Meyers, James D. Evans
  • Publication number: 20190352026
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington LONGEST, JR., Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Tamika S. MURRELL, Leah A. MEYERS, Jeremy J. STRAIGHT, Travis M. GARTHAFFNER
  • Patent number: 10399712
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington Longest, Jr., Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Leah A. Meyers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner
  • Publication number: 20150183532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington Longest, JR., Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Leah A. Meyers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner