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).

  • Publication number: 20220218034
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20220031971
    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: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20220015431
    Abstract: An electrically heatable aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge, the cartridge including: a cartridge housing including an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall being disposed within the outer wall and defining an internal passage through which air can flow, the inner and outer walls defining a hollow space therebetween, an aerosol-forming substrate contained within the space, and a susceptor element; and the device including: a device housing defining a cavity to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, an inductor coil positioned in the device housing around or adjacent to the cavity and positioned outside of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the cavity, and a power supply connected to the coil and to provide a high-frequency oscillating current to the coil, such that a magnetic field generated by the coil causes generation of heat in the susceptor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Michel THORENS, lhar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK
  • Publication number: 20210186105
    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: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND
  • Publication number: 20210153547
    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: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20210127745
    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: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20210076739
    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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien DUBIEF, Olivier COCHAND, Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Yvan DEGOUMOIS
  • Publication number: 20210052004
    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: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Michel THORENS, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK
  • Publication number: 20210022408
    Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge configured to be removably coupled with the device, the device including a device housing comprising a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge when the device housing is engaged with the device housing, an inductor coil disposed around or adjacent to the cavity, 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, at least a portion of the external surface being formed by a fluid permeable susceptor element configured to allow the aerosol-forming substrate, in liquid phase, to permeate therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20210007397
    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: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20200352251
    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: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Alexis LOUVET, Yvan DEGOUMOIS, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20200323268
    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 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20200237008
    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: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20200008462
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of components assembled in the form of a rod, the article having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end, and the article further including a combustible heat-generating element disposed at the distal end of the article and configured to heat air drawn into the article, and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate disposed downstream of the combustible heat-generating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20190380393
    Abstract: The e-vaping system includes a storage portion with a housing holding a pre-vapor formulation and a capillary medium, the housing defining a first opening. The e-vaping system further includes a heater assembly that is fluid permeable, the heater assembly including electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface, the electrically conductive filaments forming a mesh, the heater assembly extending across the first opening of the housing. The capillary medium is in contact with the heater assembly, where the capillary medium is configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation to the electrically conductive filaments. The capillary medium defines a second opening allowing an airflow to pass through the capillary medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20190297949
    Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge configured to be removably coupled with the device, the device including a device housing comprising a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge when the device housing is engaged with the device housing, an inductor coil disposed around or adjacent to the cavity, 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, at least a portion of the external surface being formed by a fluid permeable susceptor element configured to allow the aerosol-forming substrate, in liquid phase, to permeate therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg MIRONOV, Ihar Nikolaevich ZINOVIK, Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20190223509
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion including housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a capillary medium. The housing has an opening. A fluid permeable heater assembly includes an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface. The fluid permeable heater assembly extends across the opening of the housing. The filament arrangement defines a filament opening allowing airflow to pass through. The capillary medium is provided in contact with the heater assembly. The capillary medium is configured to draw the liquid aerosol forming substrate to the electrically conductive filament arrangement. The capillary medium includes a capillary medium opening extending the filament opening through the capillary medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Michel THORENS
  • Publication number: 20190059447
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, including a storage portion for storing the aerosol-forming substrate and a vaporizer for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. The storage portion has an outer housing and an internal passageway, the storage portion forming a reservoir for the aerosol-forming substrate between the outer housing and the internal passageway, and the vaporizer extends at least partially inside the internal passageway in the storage portion. The device further includes a porous interface at least partially lining the internal passageway for conveying the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion towards the vaporizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien DUBIEF, Olivier COCHAND, Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Yvan DEGOUMOIS
  • Publication number: 20180279685
    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: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20180015237
    Abstract: The aerosol-generating article include a plurality of elements coaxially aligned and assembled within a wrapper, the article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The article includes a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and a liquid retention medium for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The wrapper is formed from a sheet of liquid-impervious material, the liquid retention medium being in a first element of the plurality of elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Michel THORENS