Patents by Inventor Michel THORENS

Michel THORENS 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).

  • Patent number: 11974599
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a shell and a replaceable mouthpiece. The shell includes an electric power supply and electric circuitry. The mouthpiece includes a liquid storage portion and a capillary wick having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wick extends into the liquid storage portion for contact with liquid therein. The mouthpiece also includes a heating element for heating the second end of the capillary wick, an air outlet, and an aerosol forming chamber between the second end of the capillary wick and the air outlet. When the shell and mouthpiece are engaged or connected, the heating element is in electrical connection with the power supply via the circuitry, and a flowpath for air is defined from at least one air inlet to the air outlet via the aerosol forming chamber. In use, liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion towards the heating element by capillary action in the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand
  • Patent number: 11969007
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 11969016
    Abstract: The method includes defining a duct within a capillary medium, forming an air impingement surface that defines a first opening, the air impingement surface including electrically conductive filaments, and connecting the air impingement surface to a first surface of the capillary medium to form an assembly, at least one first portion of the air impingement surface extending into the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20240123164
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate is provided, the aerosol-generating system including: an aerosol-forming chamber; and a leakage preventer configured to prevent or reduce leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol-generating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Patent number: 11963266
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20240081415
    Abstract: An electrically heatable aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge configured to be used with the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device including: a device housing, an inductor coil, and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high-frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil; and the cartridge including: a cartridge housing configured to engage the device housing and containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the cartridge housing having an external surface surrounding the aerosol-forming substrate, and a fluid-permeable susceptor element. A cartridge for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Michel THORENS
  • Patent number: 11883581
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate is provided, the aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-forming chamber; and leakage prevention cavity configured to prevent or reduce leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol-generating system, the cavity being in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber and being configured to collect liquid condensate formed from the aerosol-forming substrate, and in which the cavity is in a form of an annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 11856993
    Abstract: A cartridge for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system is provided, the system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, the device including a device housing defining a cavity to receive the cartridge, an inductor coil around or adjacent to the cavity, and a power supply connected to the coil and to provide a high-frequency oscillating current; the cartridge including: a cartridge housing to engage the device housing and containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the cartridge housing having an external surface, at least part of which is formed by a fluid permeable susceptor element that is electrically isolated from any other electrically conductive components; a first capillary material in the cartridge housing in contact with the susceptor element; and a second capillary material in the cartridge housing in contact with the first material, the first material having a higher thermal decomposition temperature than the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20230371129
    Abstract: A heat diffuser for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device is configured to be removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device. The heat diffuser includes a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from an electric heating element. The porous body is thermally conductive such that, in use, air drawn through the porous body is heated by the heat absorbed by the porous body. Example embodiments also provide a heated aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating system, both comprising the heat diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20230263231
    Abstract: A cartridge for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system is provided, the system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, the device including a device housing defining a cavity to receive the cartridge, an inductor coil around or adjacent to the cavity, and a power supply connected to the coil and to provide a high-frequency oscillating current; the cartridge including: a cartridge housing to engage the device housing and containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the cartridge housing having an external surface, at least part of which is formed by a fluid permeable susceptor element that is electrically isolated from any other electrically conductive components; a first capillary material in the cartridge housing in contact with the susceptor element; and a second capillary material in the cartridge housing in contact with the first material, the first material having a higher thermal decomposition temperature than the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20230226289
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a storage portion to store an aerosol-forming substrate and having an outer housing and an internal passageway, the storage portion forming a reservoir for the substrate between the outer housing and the internal passageway; a vaporizer being at least partially inside the internal passageway; and a porous interface at least partially lining the internal passageway to convey the substrate from the storage portion towards the vaporizer, the device being electrically operated and the vaporizer including an electric heater to heat the substrate, the heater including first and second cylindrical electrical connection portions, and a cylindrical heating filament between the first and the second portions, the first and the second portions being in the form of hollow tubes, the cylindrical shape of the first and the second portions and the filament defining a cylindrical bore with an air flow route therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien DUBIEF, Olivier COCHAND, Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Yvan DEGOUMOIS
  • Publication number: 20230200446
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided for an aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, the aerosol-generating device including: a device housing, an inductor coil positioned on or within the housing, and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high-frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil; and the cartridge including: a cartridge housing containing an aerosol-forming substrate and a fluid-permeable susceptor element positioned to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming substrate being a liquid at room temperature and being configured to form a meniscus across a surface of the fluid-permeable susceptor element, and a mouthpiece portion having an outlet through which aerosol generated by the system can be drawn into a user's mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Michel THORENS, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK
  • Patent number: 11638793
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device is provided, including a storage portion to store an aerosol-forming substrate and having an outer housing and an internal passageway, the portion forming a reservoir for the substrate between the housing and the passageway; a vaporizer including an electric heater to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, the vaporizer at least partially inside the passageway; and a porous interface at least partially lining the passageway to convey the substrate towards the vaporizer, the device being electrically operated, the heater including first and second electrical connection portions, and a heating filament therebetween, a cylindrical shape of the connection portions and the filament define a cylindrical bore, an air flow route is defined through the bore, and the first connection portion being a first cylindrical electrical connection portion, the second connection portion being a second cylindrical electrical connection portion, and the filament being a cylindrical heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien Dubief, Olivier Cochand, Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Yvan Degoumois
  • Patent number: 11632827
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol generating system, including providing a flexible wick; applying tension to the flexible wick; assembling a heating element around the flexible wick; and releasing the tension from the flexible wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Alexis Louvet, Yvan Degoumois, Flavien Dubief
  • Publication number: 20230113967
    Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one electric heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. The heater includes a heating element of a first cross section electrically connected to a plurality of elongate support elements. Each support element has a cross section greater than the first cross section. At least one of the support elements is integrally formed with the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 11617396
    Abstract: There is provided a cartridge for use in an aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge configured to be used with the device, wherein the device includes a device housing, an inductor coil positioned on or within the housing, and a power supply connected to the inductor coil and configured to provide a high frequency oscillating current to the inductor coil, the cartridge including a cartridge housing containing an aerosol-forming substrate and a ferrite mesh susceptor element positioned to heat the aerosol-forming substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Michel Thorens, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik
  • Patent number: 11606979
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system, the cartridge including: an aerosol-forming substrate including a liquid held in a capillary material; and a susceptor element including first and second fluid-permeable portions, the first fluid-permeable portion being disposed on a first side of the capillary material, and the second fluid-permeable portion being disposed on a second side of the capillary material opposite to the first side such that the capillary material is located in between the first and the second fluid-permeable portions of the susceptor element, the susceptor element being electrically isolated from other electrically conductive components. A heater assembly for an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system, and an electrically heatable aerosol-generating system, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20230085097
    Abstract: The method includes defining a duct within a capillary medium, first forming an air impingement structure, the air impingement structure including electrically conductive filaments, and connecting a first surface of the capillary medium to a second surface of the air impingement structure to form an assembly, a first end of the duct abutting the second surface, at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extending into the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20230031058
    Abstract: The method includes defining a duct within a capillary medium, forming an air impingement surface that defines a first opening, the air impingement surface including electrically conductive filaments, and connecting the air impingement surface to a first surface of the capillary medium to form an assembly, at least one first portion of the air impingement surface extending into the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20230014502
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS