Patents by Inventor William J. Burke
William J. Burke 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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Publication number: 20210021695Abstract: a A system for interfacing a third-party system with a client device, the system includes a platform having one or more computing devices communicatively coupled to the third-party system and the client device, the platform is configured to receive, from a third-party system, a request for a client device, translate the request from the third-party system to a client specific protocol, transmit the request in the client specific protocol to the client device, and receive a response from the client device based on the request.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: Virtual Peaker, Inc.Inventor: William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20200404961Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan CARROLL, Shannon Maxwell BLACK, Yan Helen SUN, William J. BURKE, Christopher Joseph DINOVI, David PHILLIPS, Jason Andrew MACKO, Robert SMITH
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Patent number: 10813382Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph Dinovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20200297715Abstract: A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150 ° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Feng GAO, Diane L. GEE, Phillip M. HULAN, Shuzhong ZHUANG, William J. BURKE
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Patent number: 10765142Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20200218218Abstract: Systems and methods for time use optimization are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining time of use pricing data associated with purchase of energy from an energy provider, partitioning a predetermined amount of time into a plurality of segments, where the plurality of segments corresponds with the higher cost tier and the lower cost tier, and creating an energy set point schedule for setting a set point of a controllable device, where the energy set point schedule sets the set point of the controllable device to a predetermined value for each of the plurality of segments. Some embodiments include determining energy utilized by the controllable device during at least a portion of the energy set point schedule and iteratively altering the energy set point schedule, based on a comparison of the energy utilized and a current status of the energy set point schedule.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventor: William J. Burke
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Patent number: 10702516Abstract: A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making nicotine lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, nicotine, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of nicotine lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20200196655Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan CARROLL, Shannon Maxwell BLACK, Yan Helen SUN, William J. BURKE, Robert SMITH
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Patent number: 10642239Abstract: Systems and methods for time use optimization are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining time of use pricing data associated with purchase of energy from an energy provider, partitioning a predetermined amount of time into a plurality of segments, where the plurality of segments corresponds with the higher cost tier and the lower cost tier, and creating an energy set point schedule for setting a set point of a controllable device, where the energy set point schedule sets the set point of the controllable device to a predetermined value for each of the plurality of segments. Some embodiments include determining energy utilized by the controllable device during at least a portion of the energy set point schedule and iteratively altering the energy set point schedule, based on a comparison of the energy utilized and a current status of the energy set point schedule.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Virtual Peaker, Inc.Inventor: William J. Burke
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Patent number: 10588339Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20200060330Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 10 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan CARROLL, Shannon Maxwell BLACK, Yan Helen SUN, William J. BURKE
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Patent number: 10531685Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 10499683Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20190339657Abstract: A method for managing energy in a controllable device includes determining a plurality of future energy prices, where each of the future energy prices represents a price of a unit of energy over a predetermined time period, determining a duration to charge a controllable device, correlating the duration to charge the controllable device with at least one predetermined time period based at least in part on the price per unit energy over the at least one predetermined time period, and directing a utility to charge the controllable device at the at least one predetermined time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventor: William J. Burke
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Patent number: 10463070Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 10 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20190329916Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan CARROLL, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph Dinovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20190297935Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan CARROLL, Shannon Maxwell BLACK, Yan Helen SUN, William J. BURKE
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Publication number: 20190274351Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 10394205Abstract: Systems and methods for real time control are provided. One embodiment includes executing a first control cycle that includes retrieving an input message, where the input message includes an identifier of a network device with an input and an actuator and retrieving a context object that includes a serialized controller data structure from a previous control sample. The first control cycle may additionally include retrieving data related to the input for the network device and bundle the data related to the input with the serialized controller data structure into a run message, de-serializing the serialized controller data structure, and using the controller data structure in conjunction with the data related to the input to determine a new actuator position of the actuator. In some embodiments, the first control cycle includes updating and serializing the controller data structure and causing the actuator to be set to the new actuator position.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Virtual Peaker, Inc.Inventor: William J. Burke
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Patent number: 10384816Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith