Patents by Inventor Yannick Hourmand

Yannick Hourmand 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: 12677876
    Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Publication number: 20260182635
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and internal channels between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The internal channels are configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate. The housing is configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction and/or convection so as to generate an aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2026
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack BLACKMON, III, Patrick GOOD, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Jarrett KEEN, Eric HAWES, Yannick HOURMAND, Niall GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20260150906
    Abstract: A session control system for a device includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The memory is configured to store instructions. The at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to cause the session control system to detect when a session has started, start a session timer, increment a puff variable when an airflow sensor detects that a puff has been taken, monitor the session timer against a time threshold and the puff variable against a puff threshold, and in response to a session threshold being met, end the session. The session timer is configured to measure a length of the session and the puff variable corresponds to a total number of puffs taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2026
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Thomas TRAN, Terry BACHE, Jarrett KEEN, Niall GALLAGHER, Yannick HOURMAND, Guillaume MICHEL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Publication number: 20260137123
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing, a filter, and an aerosol-forming substrate. The housing may have a gas-permeable end and an impermeable end. The filter may be disposed within the housing so as to be adjacent to the impermeable end. The aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed within the housing so as to be between the filter and the gas-permeable end. The housing may be configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via one of conduction, convection, or both conduction and convection so as to generate an aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2025
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Patrick GOOD, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Jarrett KEEN, Eric HAWES, Yannick HOURMAND, Niall GALLAGHER
  • Patent number: 12610981
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and a chamber between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The chamber may have a longest dimension extending from at least one of the inlet openings to a corresponding one of the outlet openings. An aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed within the chamber of the housing. A heater may extend into the housing from an exterior thereof. The heater includes a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section. The intermediate section may be disposed within the aerosol-forming substrate in the chamber. An aerosol-generating device may include the capsule, a mouthpiece, and a device body, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to engage with the capsule, and the device body is configured to receive and retain the capsule and the mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. Blackmon, Eric Hawes, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Raymond W. Lau, Jarrett Keen, Yannick Hourmand
  • Patent number: 12599172
    Abstract: A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 12589207
    Abstract: An auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament includes an elongate housing arranged to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament, the housing having a distal end and a proximal end with an orifice intended to be applied against an injection site. The syringe is slidably arranged with respect to the housing. A spring capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle from a covered position inside the housing into an advanced position through the orifice and past the proximal end (P), operating the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retracting the syringe with the needle into the covered position. After delivering the medicament, an activator arranged to lock the spring in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring for injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Matthew Ekman, Timothy Donald Barrow-Williams, Yannick Hourmand
  • Patent number: 12582163
    Abstract: A non-nicotine pod assembly for a non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a pod body and a connector module. The pod body has an upstream end and a downstream end and is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end of the pod body defines a cavity. The connector module is configured to be seated within the cavity of the pod body. The connector module may include an external face and a side face. The external face of the connector module includes at least one electrical contact and defines a pod inlet. The side face of the connector module defines at least one module inlet. The side face of the connector module faces a sidewall of the cavity in the pod body when the connector module is seated within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 12582162
    Abstract: A nicotine pod assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device may include a pod body and a connector module. The pod body has an upstream end and a downstream end and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end of the pod body defines a cavity. The connector module is configured to be seated within the cavity of the pod body. The connector module may include an external face and a side face. The external face of the connector module includes at least one electrical contact and defines a pod inlet. The side face of the connector module defines at least one module inlet. The side face of the connector module faces a sidewall of the cavity in the pod body when the connector module is seated within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dean Twite, Yannick Hourmand, Charles Dendy, Bipin Patil, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Christopher Newcomb, Niall Gallagher, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 12582774
    Abstract: An auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament includes an elongate housing arranged to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament, the housing having a distal end and a proximal end with an orifice intended to be applied against an injection site. The syringe is slidably arranged with respect to the housing. A spring capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle from a covered position inside the housing into an advanced position through the orifice and past the proximal end (P), operating the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retracting the syringe with the needle into the covered position. After delivering the medicament, an activator arranged to lock the spring in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring for injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Matthew Ekman, Timothy Donald Barrow-Williams, Yannick Hourmand
  • Patent number: 12575607
    Abstract: A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a non-nicotine pod assembly and a device body defining a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly. The non-nicotine pod assembly is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The through hole of the device body includes at least one sidewall that is configured to deflect during an insertion of the non-nicotine pod assembly. One or more sidewalls of the through hole may include at least one protrusion configured to engage with corresponding recesses of the non-nicotine pod assembly so as to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Yannick Hourmand, Christopher Newcomb, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 12569008
    Abstract: A heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol generating device may include a housing including a power supply and an air inlet, a mouthpiece assembly movably attached to the housing, and providing an air outlet, a door assembly moveably attached to the housing, the door assembly including a door and a receptacle movably attached to the door, the receptacle defining a cavity to receive a capsule including an aerosol generating substrate, and a linkage arrangement operationally connected to the door assembly, the mouthpiece assembly and the housing, and the linkage arrangement cooperatively moving the mouthpiece assembly and the receptacle in response to movement of the door to a closed state such that the capsule is retained within the housing and operationally connected with the power supply, the air inlet and the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Zack W. Blackmon, Yannick Hourmand, Guillaume Michel, Nicola Westgarth-Flynn, Ryan Mcginley, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau
  • Publication number: 20260053191
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device includes an aerosol generator, a housing exposing an upper portion of the aerosol generator, a lid, and a filled hinge fixedly coupling the lid to the aerosol generator independently of the housing. The filled hinge defines an axis of rotation crossing a central longitudinal axis of the aerosol generator. The filled hinge includes a hinge knuckle including two knuckle structures spaced apart from each other along the axis of rotation to at least partially define opposite axial ends of a central cavity therebetween, a hinge dowel pin coupled between the two knuckle structures and extending along the axis of rotation between the two knuckle structures, and a torsion spring configured to at least contact the lid, the torsion spring including a spring coil surrounding at least a portion of the hinge dowel pin between the two knuckle structures within the central cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Oliver DE ROECK, Yannick HOURMAND, Jeremy SMITH, Zack W. BLACKMON
  • Patent number: 12557844
    Abstract: A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and internal channels between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The internal channels are configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate. The housing is configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction and/or convection so as to generate an aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack Blackmon, Patrick Good, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Eric Hawes, Yannick Hourmand, Niall Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20260051753
    Abstract: A charging system for an aerosol-generating device includes a processor and a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store instructions is provided. The instructions define at least one of a disable mode, an intra-session mode, or an inter-session mode. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to cause the charging system to detect when the device is connected to a charging device; activate a power source charger in response to the connection to the charging device; identify a selected mode; enable or disable a heater of the capsule dependent upon the selected mode; if the heater is enabled, display a first display indicating the connection of the charging device; if the heater is enabled, detect if a session of the aerosol-generating device is ongoing; and if the session is ongoing, enable or suspend charging in response to the identification of the selected mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. BLACKMON, Thomas TRAN, Terry BACHE, Jarrett KEEN, Niall GALLAGHER, Yannick HOURMAND, Guillaume MICHEL, Rangaraj S. SUNDAR, Raymond W. LAU, Eric HAWES
  • Publication number: 20260048202
    Abstract: According to the invention, an auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament (M) comprises of a substantially cylindrical housing arranged to contain a pre-filled syringe filled with the medicament (M), a needle shroud slibably arranged with respect to the housing and adapted to rest on the skin of a patient receiving an injection, a releasable drive means arranged within the housing that is capable of, upon release, translating the needle shroud in a proximal direction (P) towards a safe position (PS) and a rotating collar rotatably arranged within the housing. The needle shroud in the safe position (PS) surrounds the injection needle after the injection has been carried out. The rotating collar engages the needle shroud in a manner that forces the rotating collar to rotate within the housing when the needle shroud is translated in the proximal direction (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Yannick Hourmand, Timothy Donald Barrow-Williams, Matthew Ekman
  • Patent number: 12551625
    Abstract: An auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament includes an elongate housing arranged to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament, the housing having a distal end and a proximal end with an orifice intended to be applied against an injection site. The syringe is slidably arranged with respect to the housing. A spring capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle from a covered position inside the housing into an advanced position through the orifice and past the proximal end (P), operating the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retracting the syringe with the needle into the covered position. After delivering the medicament, an activator arranged to lock the spring in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring for injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Matthew Ekman, Timothy Donald Barrow-Williams, Yannick Hourmand
  • Patent number: 12550942
    Abstract: A session control system for a device includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The memory is configured to store instructions. The at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to cause the session control system to detect when a session has started, start a session timer, increment a puff variable when an airflow sensor detects that a puff has been taken, monitor the session timer against a time threshold and the puff variable against a puff threshold, and in response to a session threshold being met, end the session. The session timer is configured to measure a length of the session and the puff variable corresponds to a total number of puffs taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Zack W. Blackmon, Thomas Tran, Terry Bache, Jarrett Keen, Niall Gallagher, Yannick Hourmand, Guillaume Michel, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Raymond W. Lau, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: D1128602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Yannick Hourmand, Gary Broadfield
  • Patent number: D1131896
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Zack W. Blackmon, Yannick Hourmand, Guillaume Michel, Nicola Westgarth-Flynn, Ryan Mcginley, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Raymond W. Lau