Patents by Inventor Michael CHURCHER

Michael CHURCHER 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: 20260347085
    Abstract: A pack comprising a base and a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions, the lid being configured to separate from an upper edge of the base when rotated into the open position; wherein the base comprises front and rear panels separated by side panels, wherein corners of the base between the front panel and side panels each comprise a right angled corner section and a chamfered or filleted corner section, the right angled corner section extending between the upper edge of the base and the chamfered or filleted corner section, and wherein corners of the base between the rear panel and side panels form a right angled corner along their full length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2025
    Publication date: November 5, 2026
    Inventors: Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Publication number: 20260347086
    Abstract: A hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is disclosed. The hinged-lid pack comprises a base and a lid rotatable about the base between open and closed positions. The lid comprises a lid front wall that forms a line of juncture with the base when the lid is in a closed position. A lid front wall flap extends from the lid front wall and is attached to the base. The lid front wall and lid front wall flap are separated by a line of weakness. The arrangement being such that the lid front wall and the lid front wall flap separate along the line of weakness when the lid is rotated into an open position for the first time. A method of manufacturing a hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: November 5, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen LEWIS, Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Publication number: 20260317047
    Abstract: A hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is disclosed. The hinged-lid pack is substantially parallelepiped in shape having a width and a height greater than the width. The pack comprises a base and a lid. The lid is rotatable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position in which the lid and the base meet at a line of juncture. The hinged-lid pack further comprises a label attached to the pack that bridges the line of juncture. The label has a length and a width, the length being longer than the width. The length of the label is such that the label extends over at least a majority of the height of the pack. The label is configured to be broken to allow the lid to be rotated about the hinge into an open position for the first time, to provide a visible indication that the lid has previously been rotated into an open position when the lid is subsequently closed. A collation of parallelepiped-shaped hinged-lid packs for delivery systems is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: October 15, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen LEWIS, Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Patent number: 12722875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package (10) for an aerosol provision system component or an article. The package comprises a container (11) with an access (15), and an inner pack (20) located within the container such that the inner pack can be accessed via the access. The inner pack comprises a sheet material that is arranged to form the inner pack. The inner pack comprises a first end wall (22) proximate to the access and a second end wall (23) distal to the access longitudinally distant from the first end wall. The first end wall comprises first and second flaps (25, 26) of the sheet material which extend from opposing sides of the first end wall. The first and second end flaps of sheet material are secured in position by an adhesive (29) configured to seal the inner pack. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacture of a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Hodges, Stephen Lewis, Thomas Allen, Michael Churcher, Isaak Mustafa
  • Publication number: 20260233922
    Abstract: A hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is disclosed. The hinged-lid pack comprises a base and a lid rotatable relative to the base between open and closed positions about a hinge defined by a discontinuous line about which the material of the pack folds. The material of the pack creases when the lid is rotated about the hinge into an open position for the first time such that the discontinuous line becomes a continuous line to provide a visible indication that the lid has previously been in an open position when the lid is subsequently closed. Also disclosed is a hinged-lid pack for delivery systems where the hinge line comprises a region delimited by a line of weakness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: August 13, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen LEWIS, Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Publication number: 20260225790
    Abstract: A hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is disclosed. The pack comprises a base; a lid rotatable about the base between an open and a closed position in which the lid and the base meet at a line of juncture; and a sealing member that bridges the line of juncture and is formed from an amorphous material that is configured to break when the lid is rotated about the hinge into an open position for the first time, to provide a visible indication that the lid has previously been rotated into an open position when the lid is subsequently closed. A method of manufacturing a hinged-lid pack for delivery systems is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2024
    Publication date: August 6, 2026
    Applicant: British American Tobacco Exports Limited
    Inventors: Stephen LEWIS, Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Publication number: 20240351774
    Abstract: A pack including a base and a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions, the lid being configured to separate from an upper edge of the base when rotated into the open position; wherein the base includes front and rear panels separated by side panels, wherein corners of the base between the front panel and side panels each include a right angled corner section and a chamfered or filleted corner section, the right angled corner section extending between the upper edge of the base and the chamfered or filleted corner section, and wherein corners of the base between the rear panel and side panels form a right angled corner along their full length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Michael CHURCHER, Paul HODGES
  • Publication number: 20230278776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package (10) for an aerosol provision system component or an article. The package comprises a container (11) with an access (15), and an inner pack (20) located within the container such that the inner pack can be accessed via the access. The inner pack comprises a sheet material that is arranged to form the inner pack. The inner pack comprises a first end wall (22) proximate to the access and a second end wall (23) distal to the access longitudinally distant from the first end wall. The first end wall comprises first and second flaps (25, 26) of the sheet material which extend from opposing sides of the first end wall. The first and second end flaps of sheet material are secured in position by an adhesive (29) configured to seal the inner pack. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacture of a package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Paul HODGES, Stephen LEWIS, Thomas ALLEN, Michael CHURCHER, Isaak MUSTAFA
  • Publication number: 20230271772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package (1) for an aerosol provision system component or article. The package comprises a container, and an inner pack (2) located within the container. The inner pack comprises a sheet of material that is arranged to form the inner pack. The sheet material comprises at least 90% of a first material (by mass) and has a water vapour permeability of less than 6 g/m2/24 hr. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacture of a package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Paul HODGES, Stephen LEWIS, Thomas ALLEN, Michael CHURCHER, Isaak MUSTAFA
  • Publication number: 20230271763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a package (10) for an aerosol provision system component or article. The package comprises a container (11) with an access (15), and an inner pack (20) located within the container such that the inner pack can be accessed via the access. The inner pack comprises a sheet material (21) that is arranged to form the inner pack. The inner pack comprises a first end wall (22) proximate to the access and a second end wall (23) distal to the access. The first end wall comprises a first flap (25) and a second flap (26), which extend from opposing sides of the first end wall and are attached to each other and configured to seal the inner pack. The sheet material comprises a portion having the first flap of the first end wall. The portion is at least partially separable from a remainder of the sheet material to unseal the inner pack and allow access to the inside of the inner pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Paul HODGES, Stephen LEWIS, Thomas ALLEN, Michael CHURCHER, Isaak MUSTAFA