Patents by Inventor Martin Garthaffner
Martin Garthaffner 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: 12187507Abstract: The container includes a base and a lid pivotally coupled to the base. The base includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, where a plurality of receptacles are defined in the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall is configured to be moved from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to a first portion of the peripheral wall in a first direction and a second force to a second portion of the peripheral wall in a second direction. The lid includes a top wall and a plurality of projections. In the relaxed position, the lid is configured to engage the receptacles so as to retain the lid in a closed configuration. The container is configured to be moved from the closed configuration to an open configuration by moving the lid in a third direction while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Christopher J. Hession, Travis Martin Garthaffner, William J. Bogdziewicz
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Publication number: 20240359838Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Tamika MURRELL, Ahmet ERCELEBI
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Patent number: 12108807Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Travis Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Barry S. Smith, Jeffrey A. Swepston
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Publication number: 20240325664Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation and a heating element configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation. The heating element includes a metal tube having a first end and a second end. The metal tube defines an opening therethrough. The metal tube includes a sidewall defining at least one spiral channel extending substantially continuously along a portion of the metal tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Charles L. DENDY
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Patent number: 12060183Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2023Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Tamika Murrell, Ahmet Ercelebi
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Patent number: 12036362Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation and a heating element configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation. The heating element includes a metal tube having a first end and a second end. The metal tube defines an opening therethrough. The metal tube includes a sidewall defining at least one spiral channel extending substantially continuously along a portion of the metal tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2023Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Charles L. Dendy
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Publication number: 20240226470Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction. The housing includes a sidewall, a transverse wall at the first end of the sidewall, and an inner tube integrally formed with the housing. The sidewall is generally cylindrical and a first end and a second end. The transverse wall includes at least one outlet therein. The inner tube extends in the longitudinal direction. The inner tube is concentrically positioned with respect to the sidewall. The inner tube communicates with the at least one outlet. The cartridge also includes a reservoir between the sidewall and the inner tube. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2024Publication date: July 11, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Peter J. LIPOWICZ
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Publication number: 20240174401Abstract: A system for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable drum that is configured to hold a plurality of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a tagging drum that is configured to tag a respective label to a housing of each of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a pressing roller that is configured to press a leading edge of the label against the housing after the tagging. The system may further include a rolling drum that is configured to roll the label around the housing after the pressing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2024Publication date: May 30, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventor: Martin GARTHAFFNER
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Publication number: 20240101289Abstract: An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Jeremy Jay STRAIGHT
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Patent number: 11904090Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction. The housing includes a sidewall, a transverse wall at the first end of the sidewall, and an inner tube integrally formed with the housing. The sidewall is generally cylindrical and a first end and a second end. The transverse wall includes at least one outlet therein. The inner tube extends in the longitudinal direction. The inner tube is concentrically positioned with respect to the sidewall. The inner tube communicates with the at least one outlet. The cartridge also includes a reservoir between the sidewall and the inner tube. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2023Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Peter J. Lipowicz
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Patent number: 11897655Abstract: A system for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable drum that is configured to hold a plurality of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a tagging drum that is configured to tag a respective label to a housing of each of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a pressing roller that is configured to press a leading edge of the label against the housing after the tagging. The system may further include a rolling drum that is configured to roll the label around the housing after the pressing.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventor: Martin Garthaffner
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Publication number: 20230415933Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Tamika MURRELL, Ahmet ERCELEBI
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Patent number: 11834213Abstract: An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Jeremy Jay Straight
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Patent number: 11814203Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Tamika Murrell, Ahmet Ercelebi
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Publication number: 20230285695Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation and a heating element configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation. The heating element includes a metal tube having a first end and a second end. The metal tube defines an opening therethrough. The metal tube includes a sidewall defining at least one spiral channel extending substantially continuously along a portion of the metal tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Charles L. DENDY
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Patent number: 11690965Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation and a heating element configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation. The heating element includes a metal tube having a first end and a second end. The metal tube defines an opening therethrough. The metal tube includes a sidewall defining at least one spiral channel extending substantially continuously along a portion of the metal tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Charles L. Dendy
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Publication number: 20230189899Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. CADIEUX, Martin GARTHAFFNER, Travis GARTHAFFNER, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Barry S. SMITH, Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON
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Publication number: 20230149645Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction. The housing includes a sidewall, a transverse wall at the first end of the sidewall, and an inner tube integrally formed with the housing. The sidewall is generally cylindrical and a first end and a second end. The transverse wall includes at least one outlet therein. The inner tube extends in the longitudinal direction. The inner tube is concentrically positioned with respect to the sidewall. The inner tube communicates with the at least one outlet. The cartridge also includes a reservoir between the sidewall and the inner tube. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin GARTHAFFNER, Peter J. LIPOWICZ
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Patent number: 11576440Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Travis Garthaffner, Christopher R. Newcomb, Barry S. Smith, Jeffrey A. Swepston
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Patent number: 11559638Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a housing extending in a longitudinal direction. The housing includes a sidewall, a transverse wall at the first end of the sidewall, and an inner tube integrally formed with the housing. The sidewall is generally cylindrical and a first end and a second end. The transverse wall includes at least one outlet therein. The inner tube extends in the longitudinal direction. The inner tube is concentrically positioned with respect to the sidewall. The inner tube communicates with the at least one outlet. The cartridge also includes a reservoir between the sidewall and the inner tube. The reservoir is configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Travis Martin Garthaffner, Peter J. Lipowicz