Patents by Inventor Stephen Benson Sears

Stephen Benson Sears 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: 10226073
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, having a component housing including a power source, and a tubular housing having a first end and a longitudinally-opposed second end, wherein the first or second end is configured to receive the component housing. The tubular housing includes an outer wall defining a cylindrical cavity. An aerosol-generating element is configured to be received within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating element is configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat. An associated aerosol-generating element and related production methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Michael Andrew Liberti, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10219544
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and a related method. The aerosol delivery device includes a heating chamber having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein. A microwave radiation emitting device is operably engaged with the heating chamber and is configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition therein with the microwave radiation to form an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. An outlet port is formed in a housing of the aerosol delivery device and is in fluid communication with the heating chamber. The heating chamber is responsive to a suction applied to the outlet port for the aerosol to be drawn through the outlet port outwardly from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M. Sparklin, Sawyer A. Hubbard, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10206429
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition through radiant heating. The radiant heat source may be a laser diode or further element suitable for providing electromagnetic radiation, and heating may be carried out within an optional chamber, which can be a radiation-trapping chamber. In some embodiments, an interior of such chamber may be configured as a black body or as a white body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Yi-ping Chang, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Taluskie, Susan K. Pike, Nicholas Harrison Watson, Stephen C. Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20190037927
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Taylor Hunt, Timothy Brian Nestor, Paul Andrew Brinkley, Stephen Benson Sears, John DePiano, Matthew C. Ebbs, Kristen Dodds Weight, Michael F. Davis
  • Patent number: 10194694
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides devices configured for vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition that is stored in and/or transported to a heater by a porous monolith, which can be, for example, a porous glass or a porous ceramic. A heater can be in a heating arrangement with an external portion of the porous monolith or can be substantially internal to the porous monolith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Ercilia Hernandez Garcia, Sawyer Hubbard, Percy D. Phillips, James William Rogers, Stephen Benson Sears, Andries Don Sebastian, Karen V. Taluskie
  • Patent number: 10172387
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides components useful in heating, particularly heating of an aerosol precursor solution so as to vaporize the solution and form an aerosol. The disclosure particularly provides an electrically conductive, porous carbon heater. The heater may be combined with an aerosol precursor transport element that also is formed of carbon. The heater and transport element may form an atomizer that can be useful in an electronic smoking article, such as in a cartridge that is adapted for attachment to a control body. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a cartridge of an electronic smoking article, the cartridge being formed substantially completely of carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Balager Ademe, Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Susan K. Pike, David William Griffith, Jr., Stephen Benson Sears, Evon L. Crooks, Karen V. Williams, Timothy Brian Nestor, David Bovender
  • Patent number: 10172388
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic vaporizer, an aerosol delivery device that may include such vaporizer, and methods for forming an aerosol. A microfluidic vaporizer can comprise a substrate that defines: a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a heater adapted to vaporize the liquid; and a capillary channel configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. An aerosol delivery device can comprise a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer. The microfluidic vaporizer and aerosol delivery device can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Michael F. Davis, Karen V. Taluskie, Yi-ping Chang, Eric Taylor Hunt, Andries Don Sebastian
  • Publication number: 20190000144
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Publication number: 20180352869
    Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Stephen Benson Sears, Joseph Dominique, Jared Aller
  • Patent number: 10143236
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Steven Lee Alderman, Grady Lance Dooly, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Timothy Brian Nestor, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr., Stephen Benson Sears, John William Wolber, Michael Laine
  • Publication number: 20180332897
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Eric Taylor Hunt, William Robert Collett, Yi-ping Chang, Kristen Dodds Weight, Jeffrey A. Karg, Graham P. Eacock, Matthew C. Ebbs, Robert C. Uschold, Walker MacLaughlin Sloan, III
  • Patent number: 10117460
    Abstract: Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Timothy Brian Nestor, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Steven Lee Alderman, Michael Ryan Galloway, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr., Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Raymond C. Henry, Jr., Allen Michael East
  • Publication number: 20180303168
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Steven Lee Alderman, Grady Lance Dooly, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Timothy Brian Nestor, Quentin Paul Guenther, JR., Stephen Benson Sears, John William Wolber, Michael Laine
  • Publication number: 20180303169
    Abstract: Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears, Timothy Brian Nestor, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Steven Lee Alderman, Michael Ryan Galloway, Quentin Paul Guenther, JR., Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Raymond C. Henry, JR., Allen Michael East
  • Patent number: 10092039
    Abstract: A smoking article for on-demand delivery of an increased quantity of an aerosol precursor composition, a cartridge, and a method are disclosed. In some aspects, the cartridge includes a housing, and a reservoir disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, with the respective aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal normal quantities. The cartridge further includes an actuator configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and to direct an increased quantity of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased quantity being greater than the normal quantity of the aerosol precursor compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Stephen Benson Sears, Joseph Dominique, Jared Aller
  • Publication number: 20180279672
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides atomizers and elements thereof, such as a combined wick and heater configured to improve vaporization response time, particularly on porous, monolithic wicks. The wick can have a tapered end that engages the interior of a substantially basket-shaped wire heater coil. The heater also may be in the form of a conductive mesh that is present on a portion of the wick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Michael F. Davis, Noah Mark Minskoff, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Patent number: 10085485
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Taylor Hunt, Timothy Brian Nestor, Paul Andrew Brinkley, Stephen Benson Sears, John DePiano, Matthew C. Ebbs, Kristen Dodds Weight, Michael F. Davis
  • Publication number: 20180271150
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and a related method. The aerosol delivery device includes a heating chamber having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein. A microwave radiation emitting device is operably engaged with the heating chamber and is configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition therein with the microwave radiation to form an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. An outlet port is formed in a housing of the aerosol delivery device and is in fluid communication with the heating chamber. The heating chamber is responsive to a suction applied to the outlet port for the aerosol to be drawn through the outlet port outwardly from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Eric M. Sparklin, Sawyer A. Hubbard, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears
  • Publication number: 20180263296
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article provides for separate delivery of two or more components of an aerosol precursor composition to one or more heaters so as to control the rate of delivery or the rate of heating of the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Andries Don Sebastian, Karen V. Taluskie, Stephen Benson Sears, Bradley James Ingebrethsen, Balager Ademe, Steven Lee Alderman, William Robert Collett, Grady Lance Dooly, Charles Jacob Novak, III
  • Publication number: 20180263290
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili