Patents by Inventor William W. Alston

William W. Alston 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: 20260096598
    Abstract: A mouthpiece for a vaporizer device includes a vapor inlet and an aerosol outlet. A first plurality of air inlets and a second plurality of air inlets are disposed between the vapor inlet and the aerosol outlet and configured to provide air streams. The air streams form a first vortex and a second vortex. The air streams mix with a vapor entering from the vapor inlet and form an aerosol exiting through the aerosol outlet. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventor: William W. Alston
  • Patent number: 12471629
    Abstract: A mouthpiece for a vaporizer device includes a vapor inlet and an aerosol outlet. A first plurality of air inlets and a second plurality of air inlets are disposed between the vapor inlet and the aerosol outlet and configured to provide air streams. The air streams form a first vortex and a second vortex. The air streams mix with a vapor entering from the vapor inlet and form an aerosol exiting through the aerosol outlet. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Alston
  • Publication number: 20250303076
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including a power source; a reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and configured to contain vaporizable material and couple to the housing; and a PTCR heating element configured to electrically couple to the power source and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol. The PTCR heating element includes an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature. The electrical resistivity includes an electrical resistivity transition zone including an increase in electrical resistivity over a temperature range such that, when the PTCR heating element is heated to a first temperature within the transition zone, current flow from the power source is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees
  • Publication number: 20250280879
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2025
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, JR.
  • Publication number: 20250255344
    Abstract: A vaporizer device includes a housing including an air inlet, a heating element within the housing and a heat exchanger. The heating element includes a nonlinear positive temperature coefficient of resistance material. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heating element and arranged to receive airflow from the air inlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the heating element and the airflow to produce a heated airflow. The heated airflow exiting the heat exchanger is configured to vaporize a vaporizable material. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Ian Garcia-Doty, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Paul R. Vieira
  • Patent number: 12329897
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including a power source; a reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and configured to contain vaporizable material and couple to the housing; and a PTCR heating element configured to electrically couple to the power source and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol. The PTCR heating element includes an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature. The electrical resistivity includes an electrical resistivity transition zone including an increase in electrical resistivity over a temperature range such that, when the PTCR heating element is heated to a first temperature within the transition zone, current flow from the power source is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees
  • Patent number: 12232530
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12232529
    Abstract: A vaporizer device includes a housing including an air inlet, a heating element within the housing and a heat exchanger. The heating element includes a nonlinear positive temperature coefficient of resistance material. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heating element and arranged to receive airflow from the air inlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the heating element and the airflow to produce a heated airflow. The heated airflow exiting the heat exchanger is configured to vaporize a vaporizable material. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Ian Garcia-Doty, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Paul R. Vieira
  • Publication number: 20230054752
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heating elements that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements, as well as heating and airflow systems for use in vaporization devices for generating the combined inhalable aerosol are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Eddie G. Gonzalez, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Bretton M. Swope, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230042402
    Abstract: A mouthpiece for a vaporizer device includes a vapor inlet and an aerosol outlet. A first plurality of air inlets and a second plurality of air inlets are disposed between the vapor inlet and the aerosol outlet and configured to provide air streams. The air streams form a first vortex and a second vortex. The air streams mix with a vapor entering from the vapor inlet and form an aerosol exiting through the aerosol outlet. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: William W. Alston
  • Publication number: 20220370736
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including a power source; a reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and configured to contain vaporizable material and couple to the housing; and a PTCR heating element configured to electrically couple to the power source and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol. The PTCR heating element includes an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature. The electrical resistivity includes an electrical resistivity transition zone including an increase in electrical resistivity over a temperature range such that, when the PTCR heating element is heated to a first temperature within the transition zone, current flow from the power source is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees
  • Publication number: 20220279846
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, JR.
  • Patent number: 11413409
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including a power source; a reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and configured to contain vaporizable material and couple to the housing; and a PTCR heating element configured to electrically couple to the power source and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol. The PTCR heating element includes an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature. The electrical resistivity includes an electrical resistivity transition zone including an increase in electrical resistivity over a temperature range such that, when the PTCR heating element is heated to a first temperature within the transition zone, current flow from the power source is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees
  • Patent number: 11350664
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Andrew J. Pappas, Paul R. Vieira, Timothy J. Watson, Joseph S. Wilinski, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210337872
    Abstract: A vaporizer device includes a housing including an air inlet, a heating element within the housing and a heat exchanger. The heating element includes a nonlinear positive temperature coefficient of resistance material. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the heating element and arranged to receive airflow from the air inlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the heating element and the airflow to produce a heated airflow. The heated airflow exiting the heat exchanger is configured to vaporize a vaporizable material. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: William W. ALSTON, Adam BOWEN, Ian GARCIA-DOTY, Joshua A. KURZMAN, James MONSEES, Paul R. VIEIRA
  • Patent number: 10725061
    Abstract: A device for counting particles on a sample surface includes a scanner probe having a first opening for receiving particles from a sample surface and one or more second openings, a particle detector for detecting particles passed there-through, a modulator for modulating air flowing there-through, a pump for producing a first airstream flowing from the first opening and through the particle detector, and for producing a second airstream flowing through the modulator and to the one or more second openings, and control circuitry for controlling the modulator to modulate an amplitude of the second airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: PENTAGON TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David Browne, Don Lutz, William W. Alston
  • Publication number: 20200146352
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a vaporization device are described that include one or more features, such as for generating a combined inhalable aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporization device can include one or more heaters that are configured to heat one or more vaporizable materials. Various embodiments of heating elements and heating systems for use in vaporization devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Jacob R. Davis, Ian Garcia-Doty, Bradley J. Ingebrethsen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees, Paul R. Vieira
  • Publication number: 20200077707
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including a power source; a reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and configured to contain vaporizable material and couple to the housing; and a PTCR heating element configured to electrically couple to the power source and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol. The PTCR heating element includes an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature. The electrical resistivity includes an electrical resistivity transition zone including an increase in electrical resistivity over a temperature range such that, when the PTCR heating element is heated to a first temperature within the transition zone, current flow from the power source is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: William W. Alston, Adam Bowen, Joshua A. Kurzman, James Monsees
  • Publication number: 20180224475
    Abstract: A device for counting particles on a sample surface includes a scanner probe having a first opening for receiving particles from a sample surface and one or more second openings, a particle detector for detecting particles passed there-through, a modulator for modulating air flowing there-through, a pump for producing a first airstream flowing from the first opening and through the particle detector, and for producing a second airstream flowing through the modulator and to the one or more second openings, and control circuitry for controlling the modulator to modulate an amplitude of the second airstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: David Browne, Don Lutz, William W. Alston
  • Publication number: 20160018347
    Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for determining the composition of liquids, including the identity of one or more drugs in the liquid, the concentration of the drug, and the type of diluent using immittance spectroscopy. These devices, systems and methods are particularly useful for describing the identity and, in some variations, concentration of one or more components of a medical liquid such as intravenous fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Vladimir J. DRBAL, Matthew F. SMITH, William W. ALSTON, Michael J. WEICKERT, Leonid F. MATSIEV, Kit BLANKE