Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Perfetti
Thomas A. Perfetti 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).
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Patent number: 8251060Abstract: A device and method for delivering a therapeutic drug to a patient in the form of an aerosol includes a heat generating chamber and an aerosol forming chamber separated by a heat conductor. A heating element is disposed within the heat generating chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. A substrate having a therapeutic drug and an aerosol forming agent deposited thereon is disposed within the aerosol forming chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. The heating element ignites a fuel source consisting essentially of a combustible liquefied gas to generate heat that is conducted to the heat conductor and then to the substrate via the heat conductor. The heat generated by the heating element activates the aerosol forming agent to volatilize the therapeutic drug into an aerosol drug contained within the aerosol forming chamber and made available to be inhaled by the patient.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignees: Perfetti and Perfetti, LLCInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Publication number: 20080110454Abstract: A device and method for delivering a therapeutic drug to a patient in the form of an aerosol includes a heat generating chamber and an aerosol forming chamber separated by a heat conductor. A heating element is disposed within the heat generating chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. A substrate having a therapeutic drug and an aerosol forming agent deposited thereon is disposed within the aerosol forming chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. The heating element ignites a fuel source consisting essentially of a combustible liquefied gas to generate heat that is conducted to the heat conductor and then to the substrate via the heat conductor. The heat generated by the heating element activates the aerosol forming agent to volatilize the therapeutic drug into an aerosol drug contained within the aerosol forming chamber and made available to be inhaled by the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Publication number: 20070107743Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco material incorporates an exogenous tocopherol or derivative thereof, such as in the amount of at least about 0.1 weight percent. A tobacco blend can be formed by combining reconstituted tobacco material incorporating such an additive with one or more additional tobacco materials, such as burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, and flue-cured tobacco. A smoking article, such as a cigarette, contains such a reconstituted tobacco, as part of the smokable material, as part of tobacco paper wrapping material, or as part of a reconstituted tobacco-containing filter element. The invention also provides a method of forming reconstituted tobacco material wherein a tocopherol or derivative thereof is added to the tobacco material, either by adding the tocopherol to an aqueous extract or water insoluble pulp formed during the reconstituted tobacco process or by adding the tocopherol to the solid reconstituted tobacco sheet after the aqueous extract and pulp are recombined.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2007Publication date: May 17, 2007Inventors: Thomas Perfetti, Curtis McGee, James Best, Paul Brinkley, Sharon Dunlap, Charles Risner
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Publication number: 20050066985Abstract: A smokable rod for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, possesses a co-axial or concentric construction. A longitudinally extending inner core of tobacco cut filler is positioned within a smokable rod. The outer material that circumscribes the inner core in an annular fashion is composed of a tobacco material treated with a burn suppressing agent, and the outer material acts as a substrate for an aerosol forming material. A preferred aerosol forming material is glycerin. An outer paper wrapper circumscribes the length of the smokable rod, and another paper wrapping material also can circumscribe the inner core material. In use, one end of the smokable rod is lit, and the tobacco cut filler of the inner core burns to yield tobacco smoke. The outer material smolders, and hence thermal decomposition products of the outer tobacco material and volatilized aerosol forming material are produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: August Borschke, Dwayne Beeson, Sharon Dunlap, Thomas Perfetti
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Patent number: 5533530Abstract: The process of the present invention involves extracting components from a tobacco material or other plant material using a solvent having an aqueous character to provide separately an aqueous tobacco extract and a water insoluble tobacco portion. The insoluble tobacco portion is refined and a slurry is produced. The slurry is formed into a predetermined shape, e.g., a formed web. The formed web can be pressed to reduce the moisture content. The tobacco material preferably has a moisture content of at least about 50 percent by weight. The material is contacted with an aqueous mixture of an aerosol precursor material. The ratio of liquid having an aqueous character to aerosol precursor material is typically from about 25 to 75 percent by weight. Immediately after the introduction of the aerosol precursor material, the web is dried at a preselected temperature so that the aerosol precursor material is dispersed evenly throughout the web.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Harvey J. Young, Thomas W. Brown, Sara W. Devine, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5465739Abstract: A cigarette has a blend of tobacco materials and a filter element provided from a non-woven thermoplastic material. The non-woven material comprises polyester or polypropylene fibers. The non-woven material is in intimate contact with a high molecular weight material (e.g., an emulsifier or another polymeric material). As such the filter material is coated with another polymeric material. The coated non-woven material can be in intimate contact with an acidic material (e.g., lactic acid) or a basic material (e.g., sodium hydroxide). Certain cigarettes can have relatively high nicotine smokable blends and filter elements having the coated non-woven filter material in intimate contact with an acidic material. Certain other cigarettes can have relatively low nicotine smokable blends and filter elements having the coated non-woven filter material in intimate contact with a basic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1992Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Thomas A. Perfetti, Dennis L. Carespodi, Barry L. Saintsing, Matthew S. Koschak
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Patent number: 5387416Abstract: A tobacco composition includes a tobacco extract and an edible carrier. The composition allows tobacco to be enjoyed orally.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1993Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5368879Abstract: A process for providing a flavorable composition for use as a food condiment is provided. The composition is provided by extracting a mixture of steak sauce ingredients to provide a steak sauce extract separated from the extracted mixture of steak sauce ingredients. The steak sauce extract is heated in a pressure-controlled environment to above ambient pressure at a temperature above about 100.degree. C. The heat treated extract is then contacted with a substrate which is subsequently ground into powder form to provide a dry, powdered condiment useful as a steak sauce.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5360023Abstract: Cigarettes include a filter element which have a gathered web of paper incorporating a carbonaceous material. The paper is gathered so as to include a plurality of longitudinally extending channels, and the channels provide a cross-sectional void area of about 5 to about 30 percent of the filter element.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1992Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Richard L. Blakley, Gary R. Shelar, Jeffery S. Gentry, Gary W. Worrell, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5318050Abstract: Flavorful tobacco extracts are provided by subjecting a moist spray dried tobacco extract to heat treatment. The moist extract is contacted with a furanone, a pyranone or an alpha-dicarbonyl compound, and exposed to a temperature above about 100.degree. C. in a pressure controlled vessel. Resulting flavorful extracts are useful as forms of tobacco in cigarettes and other smoking articles.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1992Date of Patent: June 7, 1994Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra, Thomas A. Perfetti, Jackie L. White
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Patent number: 5246017Abstract: A cigarette comprises a blend of tobacco materials and a filter element provided from a non-woven thermoplastic material. The non-woven material comprises polyester or polypropylene fibers. The non-woven material is in intimate contact with an acidic material (e.g., phosphoric acid) or a basic material (e.g., sodium hydroxide).Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1992Date of Patent: September 21, 1993Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Barry L. Saintsing, Thomas A. Perfetti, Jerry W. Redding
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Patent number: 5159942Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco material is provided by extracting tobacco material using water to provide an insoluble portion and an aqueous extract. The insoluble portion is formed into a sheet-like shape. The aqueous extract is blended with a further tobacco extract which is provided by treating Burley tobacco strip with ammonia and steam. The aqueous tobacco extract and further tobacco extract optionally can be heat treated, contacted with a water soluble phosphate salt, and/or contacted with levulinic acid. The aqueous extract and further tobacco extract are combined with the insoluble portion, resulting in a reconstituted tobacco material. The reconstituted tobacco material is blended with other tobacco materials and employed as cut filler in cigarette manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1991Date of Patent: November 3, 1992Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Paul A. Brinkley, Thomas W. Brown, Jack G. Flinchum, Jr., Thomas A. Perfetti, James S. Thomasson, Harvey J. Young
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Patent number: 5137034Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a smoking article having a fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means, a mouthend piece, and improved means for delivering one or more flavorants to the user which comprises a carbon filled sheet material longitudinally disposed behind the aerosol generating means in a non-burning portion of the smoking article which carries or otherwise contains one or more flavorants. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a carbon filled sheet of tobacco employed as at least as a portion of the mouthend piece of such articles to carry flavorants, particularly highly volatile flavorants like menthol.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1989Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Thomas A. Perfetti, Gary W. Worrell
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Patent number: 5121757Abstract: Flavorful tobacco extracts are provided by subjecting a tobacco extract to heat treatment. The tobacco extract is contacted with an ammonia compound capable of releasing ammonia or a base capable of releasing ammonia indigenous to the tobacco extract, and then is subjected to a heat treatment above about 100.degree. C. in a pressure controlled environment. Resulting flavorful extracts are useful as forms of tobacco in cigarettes and other smoking articles.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1990Date of Patent: June 16, 1992Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5105834Abstract: A cigarette comprises a blend of tobacco materials and a filter element provided from a non-woven thermoplastic material. The non-woven material comprises polyester or polypropylene fibers. The non-woven material is in intimate contact with a water soluble tobacco extract and a further material for altering the character of mainstream smoke which passes through the filter element. The tobacco extract can be a spray dried extract which has been subjected to heat treatment. The further material can be an acid (e.g., levulinic acid), a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) or a salt (e.g., diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate).Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1990Date of Patent: April 21, 1992Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Barry L. Saintsing, Jerry W. Redding, Milly M. L. Wong, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5105838Abstract: A cigarette having a circumference of about 25 mm includes a rod of tobacco cut filler having a circumference of about 12.5 mm which is in turn circumscribed by an air permeable insulating material. The tobacco cut filler has a packing density of less than about 400 mg/cm.sup.3. The insulating material comprises a fibrous material (e.g., glass fibers), and has a radial thickness of greater than about 0.25 mm, and often greater than about 0.5 mm. The insulating material is in turn circumscribed by a paper wrapping material having a low air permeability (e.g., less than about 15 CORESTA units). The cigarette includes a filter element at one end. The cigarette yields low levels of visible sidestream smoke.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1990Date of Patent: April 21, 1992Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5099862Abstract: Tobacco-derived components of a tobacco extract are provided by fermenting the tobacco extract within a fermentation bath. The extract may be subjected to heat treatment in a pressure controlled environment prior to and/or after fermenting.The fermented tobacco extract is then distilled at a temperatrue to provide a distillate which includes tobacco-derived components of the tobacco extract. If the extract has not previously been subjected to heat treatment, the distillate can be subjected to heat treatment in a pressure controlled environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1990Date of Patent: March 31, 1992Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti, Dennis L. Potter
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Patent number: 5074320Abstract: Cigarettes have filter elements which have a relatively low efficiency for filtering particulate matter of tobacco smoke and a relatively high pressure drop. Such filter elements are provided by shredding, gathering or pleating a sheet-like web of a paper which has a low air permeability and exhibits a pH above about 9. The paper used to provide the filter material of the filter elements incorporates a magnesium hydroxide filter.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1989Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Elbert C. Jones, Jr., Thomas A. Perfetti
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Patent number: 5074319Abstract: Flavorful tobacco-derived flavorful components of a tobacco material are provided by extraction of the tobacco material with an extraction solvent in the form of a polyhydric alcohol or ester thereof. The tobacco material is subjected to extraction conditions above about 100.degree. C. and under conditions sufficient to provide the flavorful tobacco-derived extraction product. The tobacco material and the extraction solvent can be contacted in the presence of at least one reaction component such as at least one amino acid and/or at least one sugar.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jackie L. White, Thomas A. Perfetti, Milly M. L. Wong
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Patent number: 5074321Abstract: Cigarettes include tobacco-containing smokable material wrapped in a low porosity paper wrapper. The smokable material includes an intimate mixture of tobacco extract, pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose, agglomerated calcium carbonate particles, glycerin and carboxymethylcellulose. Such cigarettes yield low levels of incomplete combustion products and generate low levels of visible sidestream smoke.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1989Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyInventors: Jeffery S. Gentry, Gary R. Shelar, Michael D. Shannon, Richard L. Lehman, James L. Resce, Rhonda F. Hayden, Olivia D. Furin, Alan B. Norman, Thomas A. Perfetti