Patents by Inventor Michihiro Inagaki

Michihiro Inagaki 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: 11963550
    Abstract: A inhaler includes a piezoelectric element substrate having an IDT constructed by use of a pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes, a liquid supplier for supplying liquid, which is to be atomized, to a front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate on which the pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes is positioned, a sensor, which includes at least a pair of detection parts which are opposite to each other, for detecting liquid supplied to the front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate, and a controller for controlling, based on result of detection by the sensor, the liquid supplier in such a manner that the liquid supplier supplies a certain quantity of the liquid to the front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Minami, Takahisa Kudo, Michihiro Inagaki, Jumpei Inoue, Yuki Abe, Adam Geernaert, Franck Rubiconi, Simon Cox, Rishi Jobanputra
  • Publication number: 20240074490
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a filter in which a liquid having phenol filtration capability is prevented from leaking out even after prolonged storage; and a flavor inhalation article equipped with said filter. The problem is solved by a filter that is for a flavor inhalation article, and that has a filtering medium including a biodegradable material, and a paper roll wound around the filtering medium. The filtering medium contains a liquid having a phenol filtration capability. A surface of the roll paper where a contact is made with the filtering medium is made of a layer exhibiting liquid-repellent properties with respect to said liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Michihiro INAGAKI, Hiroyuki KUBOTA, Kuanhsuan LIN, Ryota Matsuba, Toru SAKURAI, Takeo TSUTSUMI, Tsukasa MANO, Pranav KULKARNI, Diego DA SILVA ROSA
  • Patent number: 11864579
    Abstract: A flavor inhaler includes a control unit configured to control operation of the flavor inhaler; a main switch electrically connected to an input side of the control unit, the main switch configured to send a signal to the control unit to start operation of the control unit; and a sub switch electrically connected to the control unit, the sub switch configured to send a signal to the control unit to start supplying liquid from a liquid holding unit accommodating an aerosol base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Michihiro Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11576428
    Abstract: A smoking article filter comprising: a filter material having a circular cylinder shape with first and second end surfaces and a side surface, and including a corrugated film with ridge portions and valley portions arranged alternately, the ridge portions and valley portions extending from the first end surface to the second end surface to form a plurality of air flow paths that allow air to flow from the first end surface to the second end surface; a plurality of particles arranged in the air flow paths; and a filter wrapping paper wrapping the filter material such that the side surface is covered with the filter wrapping paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Michihiro Inagaki, Hiroshi Shibuichi
  • Publication number: 20220071271
    Abstract: A flavor inhaler includes a control unit configured to control operation of the flavor inhaler; a main switch electrically connected to an input side of the control unit, the main switch configured to send a signal to the control unit to start operation of the control unit; and a sub switch electrically connected to the control unit, the sub switch configured to send a signal to the control unit to start supplying liquid from a liquid holding unit accommodating an aerosol base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Michihiro Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20220022551
    Abstract: An aerosol supply device includes: an accommodating part (cartridge) configured to accommodate a liquid; an atomization unit having a storing part to store the liquid, the atomization unit being configured to generate an aerosol by atomizing the liquid; and a temperature control part configured to control the temperature of the liquid at a given location between the accommodating part (cartridge) and the storing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro INAGAKI, Yuki ABE, Miki WAKAMATSU, Tatsuya SUGANUMA
  • Publication number: 20220022534
    Abstract: This aerosol supply device is provided with: an accommodating section (cartridge) that accommodates a liquid; an atomizing unit that atomizes the liquid to generate an aerosol; and an atomizing amount adjusting unit (gyro sensor and control unit) that adjusts the atomizing amount of the atomizing unit. The aerosol supply device is characterized in that the atomizing amount adjusting unit (gyro sensor and control unit) stabilizes the atomizing amount regardless of the inclination of the aerosol supply device within at least a certain range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro INAGAKI, Yuki ABE, Miki WAKAMATSU, Tatsuya SUGANUMA
  • Publication number: 20220022546
    Abstract: An aerosol supply device includes: an accommodating part (cartridge) configured to accommodate a liquid; an atomization unit configured to atomize the liquid to generate an aerosol; a discharge port configured to discharge the generated aerosol to the outside of the aerosol supply device; and a volatilization preventing part (solenoid valve or duckbill valve) capable of opening and closing a passage (first passage or second passage) through which at least one of the liquid or the aerosol flows between the accommodating part and the outside of the aerosol supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro INAGAKI, Yuki ABE, Miki WAKAMATSU, Tatsuya SUGANUMA
  • Patent number: 11202465
    Abstract: A non-heating, non-combustion type flavor inhaler including a supply flow path unit including a first flow path leading aerosol toward a user side and a suction port, a liquid holding unit accommodating an aerosol base, a second flow path having one end communicating with the liquid holding unit and the other end which is located in the supply flow path unit and is opened toward the suction port side, and having a conductive portion, a liquid feeding system feeding the aerosol base, a power supply and a control unit applying a voltage to the conductive portion, to atomize the aerosol base and to eject the aerosol from an opening of the other end, and a static elimination unit neutralizing charge of the aerosol ejected from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Michihiro Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20210321667
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a filter for a smoking article that can reduce a stimulus component such as formaldehyde, and that does not reduce any more than necessary a component affecting the smoke flavor included in mainstream smoke. This problem is solved by providing a smoking article filter comprising a filter segment that has a porous material containing: a hydrotalcite particle; and a nonfibrous binder resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KUBOTA, Michihiro INAGAKI, Toshitaka UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20210321666
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a filter for a smoking article, or the like, which does not reduce, more than necessary, components affecting flavor which are contained in mainstream smoke, and which does not release aroma components other than an aroma component which is attributable to tobacco smoke. The foregoing problem is solved by a filter for a smoking article, the filter comprising a filter segment which does not release aroma components and which has a porous material that includes: inactive particles which do not selectively reduce components contributing to flavor with respect to raw tar in tobacco smoke; and a non-fibrous binder resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki KUBOTA, Michihiro INAGAKI, Toshitaka UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20210076734
    Abstract: An inhaler includes a first liquid storage unit; a second liquid storage unit; an atomizing unit which includes a piezoelectric element substrate having an IDT constructed by use of a pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes and is constructed to atomize liquid by a surface acoustic wave generated by applying a high-frequency voltage to the pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes; and a mouthpiece for guiding aerosol which is generated by atomizing the liquid in the atomizing unit. The atomizing unit is constructed to atomize first liquid supplied from the first liquid storage unit and second liquid supplied from the second liquid storage unit, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki MINAMI, Takahisa KUDO, Michihiro INAGAKI, Jumpei INOUE, Yuki ABE, Adam GEERNAERT, Franck RUBICONI, Simon COX, Jobanputra RISHI
  • Publication number: 20210030069
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an atomizing unit, wherein the atomizing unit includes a piezoelectric element substrate including an IDT including a pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes, and a liquid supplier configured to supply liquid, which is to be atomized, to the piezoelectric element substrate; wherein the piezoelectric element substrate is configured to atomize the liquid by use of a surface acoustic wave generated by applying a high-frequency voltage to the pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes; and the controller is configured to periodically change amplitude and/or a frequency of the high-frequency voltage applied to the pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki MINAMI, Takahisa KUDO, Michihiro INAGAKI, Jumpei INOUE, Yuki ABE, Adam GEERNAERT, Franck RUBICONI, Simon COX, Jobanputra RISHI
  • Publication number: 20210022406
    Abstract: An inhaler includes an atomizing unit including a piezoelectric element substrate having a first IDT including a pair of interlocking comb-shaped electrodes. The atomizing unit is configured to atomize liquid by a surface acoustic wave generated by applying a high-frequency voltage to the pair of interlocking comb-shaped electrodes, and a controller is configured to monitor a resonant frequency of the pair of interlocking comb-shaped electrodes and apply a voltage to the pair of interlocking comb-shaped electrodes at a frequency determined based on the monitored resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki MINAMI, Takahisa KUDO, Michihiro INAGAKI, Jumpei INOUE, Yuki ABE, Adam GEERNAERT, Franck RUBICONI, Simon COX, Jobanputra RISHI
  • Publication number: 20210022391
    Abstract: A inhaler includes a piezoelectric element substrate having an IDT constructed by use of a pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes, a liquid supplier for supplying liquid, which is to be atomized, to a front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate on which the pair of interlocking comb-shaped metallic electrodes is positioned, a sensor, which includes at least a pair of detection parts which are opposite to each other, for detecting liquid supplied to the front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate, and a controller for controlling, based on result of detection by the sensor, the liquid supplier in such a manner that the liquid supplier supplies a certain quantity of the liquid to the front surface of the piezoelectric element substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki MINAMI, Takahisa KUDO, Michihiro INAGAKI, Jumpei INOUE, Yuki ABE, Adam GEERNAERT, Franck RUBICONI, Simon COX, Jobanputra RISHI
  • Patent number: 10736351
    Abstract: Provided is a smoking article that allows easy inhaling of a powder at a smoker's own timing, and can suppress powder spill at an unintentional timing such as during production or shipment. The smoking article includes: a tobacco rod containing tobacco; and a filter connected to an end part of the tobacco rod through a tipping paper. The filter includes a powder-containing substance that is a lump of a crude powder containing at least one of a gustatory component and a flavor component, and turns into powder when external force is applied thereon, a cavity in which the powder-containing substance is placed, and a flow path that connects the cavity and a mouthpiece end, allows passage of the powder, and has a smaller inner diameter than an outer diameter of the powder-containing substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kaihatsu, Shota Hashimoto, Michihiro Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20200107574
    Abstract: A smoking article filter comprising: a filter material having a circular cylinder shape with first and second end surfaces and a side surface, and including a corrugated film with ridge portions and valley portions arranged alternately, the ridge portions and valley portions extending from the first end surface to the second end surface to form a plurality of air flow paths that allow air to flow from the first end surface to the second end surface; a plurality of particles arranged in the air flow paths; and a filter wrapping paper wrapping the filter material such that the side surface is covered with the filter wrapping paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Michihiro INAGAKI, Hiroshi SHIBUICHI
  • Publication number: 20190230982
    Abstract: A non-heating, non-combustion type flavor inhaler including a supply flow path unit including a first flow path leading aerosol toward a user side and a suction port, a liquid holding unit accommodating an aerosol base, a second flow path having one end communicating with the liquid holding unit and the other end which is located in the supply flow path unit and is opened toward the suction port side, and having a conductive portion, a liquid feeding system feeding the aerosol base, a power supply and a control unit applying a voltage to the conductive portion, to atomize the aerosol base and to eject the aerosol from an opening of the other end, and a static elimination unit neutralizing charge of the aerosol ejected from the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Michihiro Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20180064161
    Abstract: Provided is a smoking article that allows easy inhaling of a powder at a smoker's own timing, and can suppress powder spill at an unintentional timing such as during production or shipment. The smoking article includes: a tobacco rod containing tobacco; and a filter connected to an end part of the tobacco rod through a tipping paper. The filter includes a powder-containing substance that is a lump of a crude powder containing at least one of a gustatory component and a flavor component, and turns into powder when external force is applied thereon, a cavity in which the powder-containing substance is placed, and a flow path that connects the cavity and a mouthpiece end, allows passage of the powder, and has a smaller inner diameter than an outer diameter of the powder-containing substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Shota HASHIMOTO, Michihiro INAGAKI
  • Patent number: 9138550
    Abstract: A non-heating tobacco flavor suction device (1) comprises a suction holder (2) with a suction path defined inside and a filler (8) arranged in the suction path. The filler (8) is formed of tobacco particles. The suction path and the filler (8) arranged therein provide a ventilation resistance of between about 40 and about 80 mmAq in cooperation with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Takeuchi, Michihiro Inagaki, Morio Yajima, Kazuhiko Katayama, Atsuro Yamada, Manabu Yamada