Patents by Inventor Steven L. Worm

Steven L. Worm 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: 9974334
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electronic smoking articles exhibiting improved moisture control of a reservoir contained therein. The reservoir can be formed of fibrous materials, such as cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The disclosure further provides methods for forming electronic smoking articles and methods of packaging electronic smoking articles (including cartridges thereof) so as to improve moisture control of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Grady Lance Dooly, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Williams, Gary M. Dull, Steven L. Worm, Wesley Steven Jones, Steven Lee Alderman, Paul A. Brinkley, Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9964284
    Abstract: A lock assembly for securing a container having an interior region is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the lock assembly includes a keypad having a plurality of buttons on a first surface of the keypad, a light-emitting diode, and a bezel surrounding at least a portion of the keypad. The bezel includes a reflective surface positioned to reflect a light from the light-emitting diode, the reflected light illuminating the plurality of buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Clark, George Marshall Horne, Steven L. Worm, Alan C. Billings
  • Patent number: 9930915
    Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Publication number: 20180077970
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, Michael Ryan Galloway, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Randy Lee McKnight, David Glen Christopherson
  • Patent number: 9913493
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Patent number: 9845618
    Abstract: A lock assembly (30, 30?) is provided that includes a housing (32), a rotary bolt (36) or a translating bolt (36?), and a bolt blocker (38) that moves between a blocking position blocking movement of the bolts (36, 36?) and an unblocking position permitting the bolts (36, 36?) to move to a retracted position. The lock assemblies (30, 30?) are resistant to shocks being applied to the locks assemblies (30, 30?) in an effort to open the lock assemblies (30, 30?) without authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David G. Christopherson, Michael R. Clark
  • Patent number: 9839238
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, Michael Ryan Galloway, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Randy Lee McKnight, David Glen Christopherson
  • Publication number: 20170284631
    Abstract: A lock assembly for securing a container having an interior region is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the lock assembly includes a keypad having a plurality of buttons on a first surface of the keypad, a light-emitting diode, and a bezel surrounding at least a portion of the keypad. The bezel includes a reflective surface positioned to reflect a light from the light-emitting diode, the reflected light illuminating the plurality of buttons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Robert Clark, George Marshall Horne, Steven L. Worm, Alan C. Billings
  • Publication number: 20170273355
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body with a first connector portion and a cartridge with a second connector portion. The first connector portion and the second connector portion may be configured to releasably engage each other. One of the first connector portion and the second connector portion may include an extension and the other of the first connector portion and the second connector portion may include a receptacle configured to receive the extension. The extension may include contact sections positioned along a longitudinal length thereof. The contact sections may be electrically insulated from one another by at least one spacer and may be configured to form an electrical connection with the receptacle. A related assembly method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: James William Rogers, Steven L. Worm, David G. Christopherson
  • Publication number: 20170150757
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, JR., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Publication number: 20170099877
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: STEVEN L. WORM, DAVID GLEN CHRISTOPHERSON, RAYMOND CHARLES HENRY, JR., FREDERIC PHILIPPE AMPOLINI, JASON L. WOOD, ALAN CURTIS BILLINGS
  • Publication number: 20160178159
    Abstract: A lock assembly for securing a container having an interior region is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the lock assembly includes a keypad having a plurality of buttons on a first surface of the keypad, a light-emitting diode, and a bezel surrounding at least a portion of the keypad. The bezel includes a reflective surface positioned to reflect a light from the light-emitting diode, the reflected light illuminating the plurality of buttons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Robert Clark, George Marshall Horne, Steven L. Worm, Alan C. Billings
  • Publication number: 20160050975
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, JR., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Publication number: 20150272225
    Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Publication number: 20150245658
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, Michael Ryan Galloway, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Randy Lee McKnight, David Glen Christopherson
  • Publication number: 20150201674
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electronic smoking articles exhibiting improved moisture control of a reservoir contained therein. The reservoir can be formed of fibrous materials, such as cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The disclosure further provides methods for forming electronic smoking articles and methods of packaging electronic smoking articles (including cartridges thereof) so as to improve moisture control of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Grady Lance Dooly, Stephen Benson Sears, Karen V. Williams, Gary M. Dull, Steven L. Worm, Wesley Steven Jones, Steven Lee Alderman, Paul A. Brinkley, Jack Gray Flinchum
  • Patent number: 9078473
    Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David G. Christopherson, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Balager Ademe
  • Patent number: D758004
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Freshwater, Benjamin Siôn Mainwaring, James Demopoulos, Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Steven L. Worm, Michael Edward Laut
  • Patent number: D758655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Freshwater, Benjamin Siôn Mainwaring, James Demopoulos, Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Steven L. Worm, Michael Edward Laut
  • Patent number: D758656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Freshwater, Benjamin Siôn Mainwaring, James Demopoulos, Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Steven L. Worm, Michael Edward Laut