Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Blandino

Thomas P. Blandino 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: 11937643
    Abstract: An inductive heating arrangement for heating smokable material includes a susceptor arrangement, at least first and second inductor coils and a control circuit. The first inductor coil generates a first varying magnetic field heating a first section of the susceptor arrangement and the second inductor coil generates a second varying magnetic field heating a second section of the susceptor arrangement. The control circuit is configured so that when one of the first and second coils is actively being driven to generate a varying magnetic field the other of the first and second inductor coils is inactive, and so that the inactive one of the first and second inductor coils is prevented from carrying a current induced by the active one of the first and second inductor coils sufficient to cause significant heating of the susceptor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Duane Kaufman, Thomas P. Blandino
  • Publication number: 20240041095
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a smokable material, such as tobacco, and a heater for heating the smokable material. The heater comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The heating material has a Curie point temperature that is less than the combustion temperature of the smokable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew WILKE, James J. Frater, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI
  • Patent number: 11825870
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article comprises smokable material, such as tobacco, and a heater for heating the smokable material. The heater comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The heating material has a Curie point temperature that is less than the combustion temperature of the smokable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew Wilke, James J. Frater, Benjamin J. Paprocki
  • Patent number: 11805818
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes smokable material, and a film defining a closed circuit (10a-10f) of heating material. The heating material is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. Also disclosed is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field for use in heating the smokable material. The magnetic field generator includes a film defining a coil of electrically conductive material, and a device for passing a varying electrical current through the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew P. Wilke, James J. Frater
  • Publication number: 20230276853
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes smokable material, and a film defining a closed circuit of heating material. The heating material is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. Also disclosed is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field for use in heating the smokable material. The magnetic field generator includes a film defining a coil of electrically conductive material, and a device for passing a varying electrical current through the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew P. WILKE, James J. FRATER
  • Publication number: 20230263220
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a cavity for receiving smokable material, and a coil of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the cavity. Also disclosed is a system including the article and apparatus. The apparatus has an interface for cooperating with the article, and a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field generator includes a coil for generating a varying magnetic field for penetrating the coil of the article when the interface is cooperating with the article. An impedance of the coil of the magnetic field generator is equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the coil of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew WILKE
  • Patent number: 11659863
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a cavity for receiving smokable material, and a coil of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the cavity. Also disclosed is a system including the article and apparatus. The apparatus has an interface for cooperating with the article, and a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field generator includes a coil for generating a varying magnetic field for penetrating the coil of the article when the interface is cooperating with the article. An impedance of the coil of the magnetic field generator is equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the coil of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew Wilke
  • Publication number: 20230141743
    Abstract: An inductive heating arrangement for heating smokable material includes a susceptor arrangement, at least first and second inductor coils and a control circuit. The first inductor coil generates a first varying magnetic field heating a first section of the susceptor arrangement and the second inductor coil generates a second varying magnetic field heating a second section of the susceptor arrangement. The control circuit is configured so that when one of the first and second coils is actively being driven to generate a varying magnetic field the other of the first and second inductor coils is inactive, and so that the inactive one of the first and second inductor coils is prevented from carrying a current induced by the active one of the first and second inductor coils sufficient to cause significant heating of the susceptor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Duane KAUFMAN, Thomas P. BLANDINO
  • Publication number: 20230000163
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving an article, and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating zone. The article includes smokable material and heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. The magnetic field generator includes a magnetically permeable core and a coil. The core includes a magnetically permeable first portion and magnetically permeable first and second arms extending from the first portion. The coil is wound around the first portion of the core. The first and second arms of the core are on different sides of the heating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Duane A. KAUFMAN, Andrew P. WILKE, Thomas P. BLANDINO, James J. FRATER, Raymond J. ROBEY
  • Publication number: 20220394824
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising smokable material; a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field; and an elongate heating element extending at least partially around the heating zone and comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew P. WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI
  • Patent number: 11470883
    Abstract: An inductive heating arrangement for heating smokable material includes a susceptor arrangement, at least first and second inductor coils and a control circuit. The first inductor coil generates a first varying magnetic field heating a first section of the susceptor arrangement and the second inductor coil generates a second varying magnetic field heating a second section of the susceptor arrangement. The control circuit is configured so that when one of the first and second coils is actively being driven to generate a varying magnetic field the other of the first and second inductor coils is inactive, and so that the inactive one of the first and second inductor coils is prevented from carrying a current induced by the active one of the first and second inductor coils sufficient to cause significant heating of the susceptor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Duane Kaufman, Thomas P. Blandino
  • Patent number: 11452313
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving an article (1, 2, 3), and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating zone. The article includes smokable material and heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. The magnetic field generator includes a magnetically permeable core and a coil. The core includes a magnetically permeable first portion and magnetically permeable first and second arms extending from the first portion. The coil is wound around the first portion of the core. The first and second arms of the core are on different sides of the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Duane A. Kaufman, Andrew P. Wilke, Thomas P. Blandino, James J. Frater, Raymond J. Robey
  • Publication number: 20220117294
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length (L), a width (W) perpendicular to the length (L), and a depth (D) perpendicular to each of the length (L) and the width (W). The length (L) is greater than or equal to the width (W), and the width (W) is greater than the depth (D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew P. WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI, Duane A. KAUFMAN, Raymond J. ROBEY, John Miller
  • Patent number: 11252992
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length (L), a width (W) perpendicular to the length (L), and a depth (D) perpendicular to each of the length (L) and the width (W). The length (L) is greater than or equal to the width (W), and the width (W) is greater than the depth (D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas P. Blandino, Andrew P. Wilke, James J. Frater, Benjamin J. Paprocki, Duane A. Kaufman, Raymond J. Robey, John Miller
  • Publication number: 20220015408
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article comprises smokable material, such as tobacco, and a heater for heating the smokable material. The heater comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The heating material has a Curie point temperature that is less than the combustion temperature of the smokable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI
  • Publication number: 20210145072
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system including: a vaporizer for vaporizing aerosol precursor material for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapor provision system; a power supply for supplying power to the vaporizer; a wall defining an air flow path along which air travels through the electronic vapor provision system when a user inhales or exhales on the electronic vapor provision system; a temperature sensor mounted in the air flow path adjacent a portion of the wall of the air flow path; and a controller configured to cause power to be supplied to the temperature sensor to heat the temperature sensor and to cause power to be supplied to the vaporizer to vaporize the aerosol precursor material in response to detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor; wherein the air flow path is arranged such that, during inhalation or exhalation by the user, air travelling along the air flow path is directed at the temperature sensor in a direction that is towards the portion of the wall adjacent to
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Conrad MULLIN, Thomas P. BLANDINO, Bob SCHOFIELD
  • Patent number: 10952833
    Abstract: A spring mechanism for attaching to a power device drive unit includes a housing connectable to a portion of the power device and a shaft extending through the housing. One end of the shaft is coupled to a workpiece and a bottom member extends from the other end and is positioned adjacent the drive unit. The bottom member includes at least one of a ferromagnetic material and a permanent magnet. The bottom member, shaft and workpiece move upon actuation of the drive unit, and a spring extends laterally outwardly from the shaft between the shaft and the housing. The spring is affixed to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the spring bends between a deformed position and a return position upon the movement of the bottom member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ranir, LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Crossman, Kevin J. Kollar, Kevin G. Yost, Dai Xiaoguo, Michael A. Andrew, Thomas P. Blandino, Stephen J. Dieter, John C. Mehnert, Andrew P. Wilke, Mark A. Penrod
  • Publication number: 20200288774
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a sheet including smokable material, and heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. The sheet may be a planar sheet or a rolled sheet. Also disclosed is a system including the article and apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of the article, and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field to be used in heating the smokable material when the portion of the article is in the heating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew P. WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI, Duane A. KAUFMAN, Raymond J. ROBEY, John Miller
  • Publication number: 20200236994
    Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material and an elongate member within the mass of smokable material. The elongate member includes heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing such an article. The method includes providing an elongate element comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and locating the elongate element within smokable material. The providing and the locating may form an elongate assembly including the elongate element within the smokable material, and the method may include cutting the elongate assembly at a predetermined longitudinal position along the elongate assembly to form the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI
  • Publication number: 20200054069
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising smokable material; a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field; and an elongate heating element extending at least partially around the heating zone and comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. BLANDINO, Andrew P. WILKE, James J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI