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: 12285051
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Michel Thorens, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik
  • Patent number: 12268809
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien Dubief, Olivier Cochand, Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Yvan Degoumois
  • Publication number: 20250089780
    Abstract: The method includes defining a cavity within a housing of a vapor-generating article, the vapor-generating article having a first end, a second end and a middle section, first inserting at least one portion of a retention medium within the housing between the first end and the middle section, and second inserting a first frangible capsule to be near or at least partially within the retention medium, the first frangible capsule including a first volatile substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Patent number: 12256469
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 12193489
    Abstract: The method includes defining a cavity within a housing of a vapor-generating article, the vapor-generating article having a first end, a second end and a middle section, first inserting at least one portion of a retention medium within the housing between the first end and the middle section, and second inserting a first frangible capsule to be near or at least partially within the retention medium, the first frangible capsule including a first volatile substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20240335626
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20240315334
    Abstract: The assembly includes a capillary medium defining a duct, and an air impingement structure including electrically conductive filaments, a surface of the capillary medium being connected to a first surface of the air impingement structure, a first end of the duct abutting the first surface of the air impingement structure, at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extending into the surface of the capillary medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20240314894
    Abstract: The method includes establishing a porous body to absorb heat from an electric heating element and emitting at least some of the absorbed heat into an airflow that is drawn through the porous body, the porous body being non-combustible, and configuring an aerosol-forming substrate to be exposed to the airflow from the porous body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20240299678
    Abstract: The method includes establishing an aerosol-generating device with an electric heating element, and configuring a porous body and a liquid retention medium within an aerosol-generating article, a first end of the aerosol-generating article being formed in part by the porous body, the porous body being configured to absorb heat from the electric heating element and emit at least some of the absorbed heat into an airflow that is drawn into the first end and through a second end of the aerosol-generating article, the liquid retention medium being between the first end and the second end, the aerosol-generating article being selectively connectable to the aerosol-generating device, the electric heating element being in direct contact with the porous body when the aerosol-generating article is connected to the aerosol-generating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20240268465
    Abstract: The assembly including a capillary medium defining a duct, and an air impingement structure defining a first opening, the air impingement structure including electrically conductive filaments, the air impingement structure being connected to a surface of the capillary medium, at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extending into the surface of the capillary medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Patent number: 12059524
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Publication number: 20240260649
    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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND
  • Publication number: 20240245104
    Abstract: The method includes establishing a retention medium, connecting a plurality of elements together to form an aerosol-generating article, the plurality of elements including a retention medium directly abutting a heat diffuser, the heat diffuser including a porous body on a distal end of the aerosol-generating article, the porous body being configured to absorb heat such that the porous body heats air drawn through the porous body and the retention medium during an operational use of the aerosol-generating article, providing at least one frangible capsule that releasably contains a substrate, and inserting the at least one frangible capsule within the retention medium, the retention medium being configured to absorb and retain the substrate after the at least one frangible capsule is ruptured by an application of an external force, the retention medium being devoid of the substrate prior to a release of the substrate from the at least one frangible capsule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Patent number: 12023439
    Abstract: A refillable heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device has an outlet end for insertion into a user's mouth during use, and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The article includes a refillable liquid retention section and an aerosol-generation section located within a casing. The refillable liquid retention section includes a liquid retention medium, and the aerosol-generation section is located downstream of the refillable liquid retention section. The liquid retention medium has a capacity to absorb up to 35 microliters of liquid. The article is configured such that, during use, air can be drawn through the article from the distal end to the end, passing through the refillable liquid retention section. The article defines an opening or port for allowing the refillable liquid retention section to be charged with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 12004565
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Patent number: 11998682
    Abstract: The aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating article with an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The system also includes an electrically operated aerosol-generating device including a housing having a cavity configured to receive the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, an electric heating element, and a heat diffuser including a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from the electric heating element such that, in use, air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end is heated by the heat absorbed in the porous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • Publication number: 20240173494
    Abstract: A refillable heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device has an outlet end for insertion into a user's mouth during use, and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The article includes a refillable liquid retention section and an aerosol-generation section located within a casing. The refillable liquid retention section includes a liquid retention medium, and the aerosol-generation section is located downstream of the refillable liquid retention section. The liquid retention medium has a capacity to absorb up to 35 microliters of liquid. The article is configured such that, during use, air can be drawn through the article from the distal end to the end, passing through the refillable liquid retention section. The article defines an opening or port for allowing the refillable liquid retention section to be charged with liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Patent number: 11997776
    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 configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element. The porous body is formed from a heat storage material such that, in use, air drawn through the porous body is heated by the heat absorbed by and stored in the porous body. Example embodiments also provide heated aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating system, both comprising the heat diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel Thorens
  • 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