Patents by Inventor Thomas Sudlow

Thomas Sudlow 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).

  • Publication number: 20260198576
    Abstract: There is disclosed an aerosol-generation apparatus which is suitable for use as part of an aerosol-delivery system of a type which may be used as a smoking substitute. The fluid-transfer article comprises a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and for transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, said activation surface being disposed at an end of said article configured for thermal interaction with a heater of an aerosol-generation apparatus. The heating surface has at least one channel therein and is configured such that, the or each channel opposes said activation surface and opens towards said activation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow, Benjamin Illidge, Alfred Madden, Ben Astbury
  • Publication number: 20260198575
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery system has a fluid transfer article with a first region for holding an aerosol precursor, and a wick which extends from the reservoir and makes abutting unbonded contact with a heating region of a heater of the aerosol-delivery system. There may be a seal closing the reservoir, with the wick extending through the seal so that aerosol precursor may pass from the reservoir through the wick to the heating surface. When the heater is active, that aerosol precursor will be heated to form an aerosol or vapour. When the user sucks or inhales through the aerosol delivery system, air flows through the air-flow pathway across the heating surface of the heater, so that aerosol passes from the heater and/or wick to the user in the air-flow. The heating region of the heater may be flexible. It may therefore deform due to the contact between itself and the wick ensuring good contact therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow, Ben Illidge, Alfred Madden, Ben Astbury
  • Publication number: 20260198577
    Abstract: A fluid transfer article has a first region having an aerosol precursor and for transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, said activation surface being disposed at an end of said article configured for thermal interaction with a heater of an aerosol-generation apparatus, and the aerosol precursor having a first dynamic viscosity in an unheated state and a lower second dynamic viscosity in a heated state, wherein in the unheated state the aerosol precursor is substantially retained in the fluid transfer article, both at atmospheric pressure and when a pressure below atmospheric pressure is applied; and in the heated state the aerosol precursor is substantially drawn from the activation surface of said article when a pressure below atmospheric pressure is applied. Advantageously, this combination of features provides a fluid transfer article that does not substantially leak excess aerosol precursor when heated by a heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2026
    Publication date: July 16, 2026
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow, Benjamin Illidge, Alfred Madden, Ben Astbury
  • Patent number: 12628880
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and system e.g. a smoking substitute device and system. In particular an aerosol delivery device comprising: a movement detection unit configured to detect a movement of the device; a power source having a charge status; and a feedback element configured to provide feedback based on the charge status of the power source wherein the feedback element provides feedback in response to a movement of the device detected by the movement detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Marchbank, Thomas Sudlow, David Thomas, Oliver Talbot, Peter Lomas, Molly McGuinness, Carlos Fabrellas-Garcia
  • Patent number: 12458070
    Abstract: There is disclosed an aerosol-generation apparatus having a heater and a fluid-transfer article, the fluid-transfer article including a first region holding an aerosol precursor and transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, the activation surface being disposed at an end of the article configured for thermal interaction with a heating surface of the heater. The activation surface has at least one channel therein and is configured such that, when the fluid transfer article is arranged with respect to the heating surface for thermal interaction therebetween, the channel(s) opposes the heating surface and opens towards said heating surface. The heater has a substrate forming the heating surface and at least one heating element on a part of that heating surface. The channel(s) opposes a part of the heating surface other than part of the heating surface on which the heating element is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow, Ben Illidge, Alfred Madden, Ben Astbury
  • Publication number: 20250288757
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a first aerosol generator to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor and to introduce the first aerosol into a first fluid flow pathway, and a second aerosol generator to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor and to introduce the second aerosol into a second fluid flow pathway. The first aerosol is sized for pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol generator comprises a Venturi aperture to dispense and aerosolise the second aerosol precursor in the second aerosol generator. The second aerosol precursor is a liquid, and the second aerosol is sized to inhibit pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol is transmissible within a mammalian oral and/or nasal cavity. The second aerosol includes an active component for activating at least one of: one or more taste receptors in the oral cavity and one or more olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: David JONES, Chris LORD, Thomas SUDLOW
  • Patent number: 12396491
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute device. The smoking substitute device comprises: an elongate main body, the main body having a body length in a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a body width in a transverse dimension. The main body includes a curved portion having a curved longitudinal axis along the longitudinal dimension. The curved longitudinal axis is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Harden, Jonathan Marchbank, Thomas Sudlow, Pete Lomas, Chris Lord, John Mckeon, Britt Jensen, Brian Leach
  • Publication number: 20250255354
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute device. The smoking substitute device comprises: an elongate main body, the main body having a body length in a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a body width in a transverse dimension. The main body includes a curved portion having a curved longitudinal axis along the longitudinal dimension. The curved longitudinal axis is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Harden, Jonathan Marchbank, Thomas Sudlow, Pete Lomas, Chris Lord, John McKeon, Britt Jensen, Brian Leach
  • Patent number: 12337105
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a first aerosol generator to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor and to introduce the first aerosol into a first fluid flow pathway, and a second aerosol generator to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor and to introduce the second aerosol into a second fluid flow pathway. The first aerosol is sized for pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol generator comprises a Venturi aperture to dispense and aerosolise the second aerosol precursor in the second aerosol generator. The second aerosol precursor is a liquid, and the second aerosol is sized to inhibit pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol is transmissible within a mammalian oral and/or nasal cavity. The second aerosol includes an active component for activating at least one of: one or more taste receptors in the oral cavity and one or more olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED
    Inventors: David Jones, Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow
  • Publication number: 20250082042
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device having: a control unit; a battery configured to supply power to the smoking substitute device; a movement sensing component configured to sense movement of the smoking substitute device; and a battery level indicator configured to, when activated, provide an indication of charge remaining in the battery. The control unit is configured to activate the battery level indicator when a predetermined movement of the smoking substitute device is detected using the movement sensing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Oliver TALBOT, Thomas SUDLOW, Jonathan MARCHBANK, Daniel HARDEN, Brian LEACH, Britt JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20250057249
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery system e.g. a smoking substitute system. In particular, it relates to an aerosol generating system comprising a vaporiser, an air flow sensor configured to detect a user inhalation through the system, and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to activate the vaporiser only when the duration of the user inhalation exceeds a predefined duration threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Samantha Murray, Thomas Sudlow, Dean Cowan
  • Patent number: 12178260
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device having: a control unit; a battery configured to supply power to the smoking substitute device; a movement sensing component configured to sense movement of the smoking substitute device; and a battery level indicator configured to, when activated, provide an indication of charge remaining in the battery. The control unit is configured to activate the battery level indicator when a predetermined movement of the smoking substitute device is detected using the movement sensing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Talbot, Thomas Sudlow, Jonathan Marchbank, Daniel Harden, Britt Jensen, Brian Leach
  • Publication number: 20240365882
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device (102) comprising a communication interface (124) configured to communicate with a mobile device (300), a user interface (160) configured to receive a user input sequence, and a memory (122) configured to store an access key (166). The device (102) further comprises a controller (120) configured to compare a user input sequence received by the user interface (160) with the stored access key (166). and control communication between the aerosol delivery device (102) and the mobile device (300) based on the comparison. Also disclosed is an access system for managing access to an aerosol delivery device. The system comprises a server (400) configured to store a server key (404) that corresponds to the access key (166) of the aerosol delivery device (102), the server (400) further configured to receive user verification data. determine whether the user verification data meets a user verification criteria. and provide the server key (404). upon request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan Marchbank, Thomas Sudlow, David Thomas, Oliver Talbot
  • Publication number: 20240349797
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery system has a fluid-transfer article with a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and a second region to which the aerosol precursor is transferred from the first region. The second region includes an activation surface which interacts thermally with a heater of the aerosol delivery system to form an aerosol from said aerosol precursor. When the user sucks or inhales through the aerosol delivery system, the diaphragm flexes to open an air-flow pathway between the activation surface and the heater, so that aerosol passes from the heater to the user in the airflow. When the user ceases to suck or inhale, the flexible diaphragm flexes to close the air-flow pathway and reduce escape of aerosol precursor from the second part of the fluid-transfer article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas SUDLOW, Ben ILLIDGE, Alfred MADDEN, Ben ASTBURY
  • Patent number: 12114701
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device comprises an aerosol-generation apparatus, including a heater and a fluid-transfer article. The fluid-transfer article has a reservoir for the holding an aerosol precursor, a wick arrangement to receive aerosol precursor from the reservoir, and a wick support element. The wick support element has at least one capillary bore therethrough. Hence, it allows aerosol precursor to pass from the reservoir to the wick in a capillary manner through the or each bore. Preferably, the heater makes abutting, unbonded contact with an activation surface of the wick soas to interact thermally therewith. This allows the heater to separable from the wick, for example, when the fluid-transfer article is separated from the rest of the device. This may be necessary when the aerosol precursor in the reservoir of the fluid transfer article has been consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow, Ben Illidge, Alfred Madden, Ben Astbury
  • Publication number: 20240325662
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a first aerosol generator to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor and to introduce the first aerosol into a first fluid flow pathway, and a second aerosol generator to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor and to introduce the second aerosol into a second fluid flow pathway. The first aerosol is sized for pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol generator comprises a Venturi aperture to dispense and aerosolise the second aerosol precursor in the second aerosol generator. The second aerosol precursor is a liquid, and the second aerosol is sized to inhibit pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol is transmissible within a mammalian oral and/or nasal cavity. The second aerosol includes an active component for activating at least one of: one or more taste receptors in the oral cavity and one or more olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: David JONES, Chris LORD, Thomas SUDLOW
  • Patent number: 12029846
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a first aerosol generator to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor and to introduce the first aerosol into a first fluid flow pathway, and a second aerosol generator to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor and to introduce the second aerosol into a second fluid flow pathway. The first aerosol is sized for pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol generator comprises a Venturi aperture to dispense and aerosolise the second aerosol precursor in the second aerosol generator. The second aerosol precursor is a liquid, and the second aerosol is sized to inhibit pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol is transmissible within a mammalian oral and/or nasal cavity. The second aerosol includes an active component for activating at least one of: one or more taste receptors in the oral cavity and one or more olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED
    Inventors: David Jones, Chris Lord, Thomas Sudlow
  • Publication number: 20230389619
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device having: a control unit; a battery configured to supply power to the smoking substitute device; a movement sensing component configured to sense movement of the smoking substitute device; and a battery level indicator configured to, when activated, provide an indication of charge remaining in the battery. The control unit is configured to activate the battery level indicator when a predetermined movement of the smoking substitute device is detected using the movement sensing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Oliver TALBOT, Thomas SUDLOW, Jonathan MARCHBANK, Daniel HARDEN
  • Patent number: 11771141
    Abstract: A smoking substitute device having: a control unit; a battery configured to supply power to the smoking substitute device; a movement sensing component configured to sense movement of the smoking substitute device; and a battery level indicator configured to, when activated, provide an indication of charge remaining in the battery. The control unit is configured to activate the battery level indicator when a predetermined movement of the smoking substitute device is detected using the movement sensing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Talbot, Thomas Sudlow, Jonathan Marchbank, Daniel Harden
  • Publication number: 20230293833
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device includes a first aerosol generator to generate a first aerosol from a first aerosol precursor and to introduce the first aerosol into a first fluid flow pathway, and a second aerosol generator to generate a second aerosol from a second aerosol precursor and to introduce the second aerosol into a second fluid flow pathway. The first aerosol is sized for pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol generator comprises a Venturi aperture to dispense and aerosolise the second aerosol precursor in the second aerosol generator. The second aerosol precursor is a liquid, and the second aerosol is sized to inhibit pulmonary penetration. The second aerosol is transmissible within a mammalian oral and/or nasal cavity. The second aerosol includes an active component for activating at least one of: one or more taste receptors in the oral cavity and one or more olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: David JONES, Chris LORD, Thomas SUDLOW