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: 20170245544Abstract: 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 12, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20170208854Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9693582Abstract: 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: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9648904Abstract: 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: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Publication number: 20160360778Abstract: 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: July 11, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20160354360Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Patent number: 9462827Abstract: 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: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
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Patent number: 9414624Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Patent number: 9351936Abstract: 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: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150257442Abstract: 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: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: 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: 20150098978Abstract: A tablet that includes a solid solution of soluble fiber and one or more sugar alcohols, the solid solution having a glass transition temperature of less than 40° C., and one or more additives dispersed in the solid solution such that at least one additive is released from the tablet when the tablet is chewed or dissolved within an oral cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke, Gerd Kobal
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Publication number: 20150096575Abstract: A tobacco lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and tobacco plant tissue dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a tobacco lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in tobacco lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The tobacco lozenge is adapted to release the tobacco plant tissue from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult tobacco consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making tobacco lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, tobacco, and less than 15 weight percent water, while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 200° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of tobacco lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Shuzhong Zhuang, Phillip M. Hulan, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150098996Abstract: 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: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150096574Abstract: A tobacco tablet that includes a solid solution of soluble fiber and one or more sugar alcohols, the solid solution having a glass transition temperature of less than 40° C., and tobacco dispersed in the solid solution such that the tobacco is released from the tablet when the tablet is chewed or dissolved within an oral cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150098909Abstract: A soluble fiber lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and one or more additives dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a soluble fiber lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in soluble fiber lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The soluble fiber lozenge is adapted to release one or more additives from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of a consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making soluble fiber lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, one or more additives, and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 200° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of soluble fiber lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Shuzhong Zhuang, Phillip M. Hulan, William J. Burke, Gerd Kobal
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Publication number: 20150096573Abstract: A nicotine tablet that includes a solid solution of soluble fiber and one or more sugar alcohols, the solid solution having a glass transition temperature of less than 40° C., and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the solid solution such that the nicotine or derivative thereof is released from the tablet when the tablet is chewed or dissolved within an oral cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Shuzhong Zhuang, Phillip M. Hulan, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150096577Abstract: An exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix, exhausted-tobacco fiber, and one or more additives (e.g. nicotine or a derivative thereof) dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, an exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The exhausted-tobacco 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 tobacco consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making exhausted-tobacco lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, exhausted-tobacco fiber, one or more additives (e.g., nicotine), and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Phillip M. Hulan, Shuzhong Zhuang, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20150096576Abstract: A exhausted-tobacco tablet that includes a solid solution of soluble fiber and one or more sugar alcohols, the solid solution having a glass transition temperature of less than 40° C., and exhausted-tobacco is dispersed in the solid solution, and one or more additives dispersed in the solid solution such that at least one additive is released from the tablet when the tablet is chewed or dissolved within an adult tobacco consumer's oral cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Feng Gao, Diane L. Gee, Shuzhong Zhuang, Phillip M. Hulan, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20140261480Abstract: 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: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
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Publication number: 20140261472Abstract: 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: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke