Patents Issued in June 4, 2024
  • Patent number: 11998032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a food or beverage having enhanced sweetness exhibited by a sugar and a sweetener, a sweetening composition for producing the food or beverage, and a method for producing the food or beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohkuri, Akiko Fujie, Yoshiaki Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11998033
    Abstract: This disclosure provides aqueous steviol glycoside compositions as well as syrups and beverages comprising these compositions. In certain embodiments, the aqueous steviol glycoside composition comprises water and a sweetening composition, wherein the sweetening composition is solubilized in the water and comprises a stevioside composition and rebaudioside D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Damian Browne, Yuan Fang, Naijie Zhang
  • Patent number: 11998034
    Abstract: The invention provides a particulate composition comprising at least 1 wt. % of malate particles, said malate particles having a diameter of 50 to 1000 ?m and comprising at least 70 wt. % of co-crystal of malic acid and alkali metal hydrogen malate. Co-crystals of malic acid and alkali metal hydrogen malate can be produced in the form of powders that exhibit very low hygroscopicity and that are capable of imparting a sour flavour that is very similar to that of malic acid. The invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned malate particles as a food ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Parac Biochem B.V.
    Inventors: Marija Orlovic, Jan Van Krieken
  • Patent number: 11998035
    Abstract: A moisture control apparatus includes at least one electrode configured to receive at least one of an alternating current or a direct current, and to direct at least one of an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a sonic wave, or a supersonic wave toward a substance. The moisture control apparatus further includes a controller configured to communicate with the at least one electrode, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage applied to the at least one electrode to induce a bonded state between water molecules of moisture present in the substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: EVERTRON HOLDINGS PTE LTD
    Inventor: Hisao Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11998036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating composition, a potato product for optional finish-frying provided therewith and a method therefor. The composition includes by weight, relative to the weight of the composition: ?30-60% modified starch including high-amylose starch; ?20-30% flour; ?5-20% dextrin; ?2-10% unmodified starch; and ?0.01-2% carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: FRIES4ALL B.V.
    Inventors: Paulus Bartholomeus Jacobus Vos, Jannes Dokter
  • Patent number: 11998037
    Abstract: A bulk material processing system and method for operation of such a system is provided. In one example, the bulk material processing system may include a conveyor assembly including, a conveyor with a conveyor surface supporting a plurality of constituents of the bulk material received from a bulk material source and a motor configured to generate conveyor movement. The bulk material processing system also includes a heating assembly including a first heater configured to generate heat at a first heating zone on the conveyor surface, and a coating application assembly including a first coating source configured to provide a first liquid coating to a first spray nozzle configured to spray the first liquid coating onto a portion of the plurality of constituents of the bulk material in the first heating zone while the first heater is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: PPM TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Devin Ray Reeser, Jack Reeser
  • Patent number: 11998038
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aerosol generating rod includes providing a sheet of a first non-tobacco material by using at least one first conveying roller; crimping the sheet of the first non-tobacco material by using a first crimping device; applying an aerosol generating material to at least one surface of the sheet of the first non-tobacco material by using a first spray nozzle; applying a liquid containing a tobacco component to at least one surface of the sheet of the first non-tobacco material by using a slit nozzle; drying the sheet of the first non-tobacco material by using a drying device; and forming the aerosol generating rod by forming the sheet of the first non-tobacco material into a rod by using a rod forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eun Mi Jeoung, Sung Jong Ki, Min Kyu Kim, Young Joong Kim, In Su Park, John Tae Lee, Sun Hwan Jung
  • Patent number: 11998039
    Abstract: The garniture includes at least one first garniture section with a first longitudinal length and a first upper surface, a first groove being defined within the first upper surface along the first longitudinal length, the first groove being defined by one or more first mating surfaces, and at least one first insert overlaying the first groove, an upper end of the at least first insert defining a second groove within a second upper surface of the at least one first insert, a lower end of the at least one insert including one or more second mating surfaces, a first upper portion of the first upper surface and a second upper portion of the second upper surface being substantially flush with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Dwight D. Williams
  • Patent number: 11998040
    Abstract: A paper well suited for use as a wrapper in heat but not burn sticks is disclosed. The paper includes a base web made from cellulosic fibers combined with a flame retardant filler and/or can include a coating formed from a reduced ignition composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SWM Holdings US, LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Stefani, Lanig Le Bec
  • Patent number: 11998041
    Abstract: A method for making a sub-unit of a smoking article, specifically an HNB smoking article, includes preparing a rod segment, of the tobacco industry and wrapping a connecting strip of wrapping material round that rod segment, about a wrapping axis, in such a way that a first portion of the connecting strip is superposed on a first end of the rod segment and a second portion of it is axially protruding from the first end of the rod segment thereby defining a tubular wrapping which encloses a containment chamber. Then a filling material of the tobacco industry is placed inside the containment chamber. The method also includes a step of making a wall, transverse to the wrapping axis, defining an at least partial closure of the containment chamber, specifically by folding an end portion of the second portion the connecting strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Eusepi, Marco Esposti, Gabriele Benni, Giuliano Gamberini, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11998042
    Abstract: A water pipe (1) comprises a receptacle (3) and a heating chamber (4) communicating therewith, said heating chamber (4) having a receiving portion (5) for a capsule (10) which holds a smoking medium, said receiving portion at the same time being a heating element for the capsule (10). The receiving portion (5) accurately fits the capsule (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: AIR IP HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Klaus Hagen
  • Patent number: 11998043
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water pipe with a multi-part housing (2) for smoking accessories, an electronic system, and a liquid medium (12), wherein the housing part (3) that receives the liquid medium (12) has at least one suction connection (5) and is connected to the housing part (4) that receives the heating chamber (31) and to a capsule (13) that receives the smoking medium via a suction tube (11) that passes through a housing part (7) which receives the electronic system. The suction tube (11) has a closure unit (10) in the region of the transition between the housing part (7) that has the electronic system and the housing part (3) that receives the liquid medium. The closure unit (10) is designed as a suction tube (11) end piece (38) bent in a U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: AIR IP HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Klaus Hagen
  • Patent number: 11998044
    Abstract: An apparatus for use as a water pipe configured to be disassembled and assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Cameron Whyte
  • Patent number: 11998045
    Abstract: A screen adapter device supports a screen member relative to a smoke inlet tube of a water pipe that has a water container coupled between a drawtube and the smoke inlet tube. The screen adapter device has an adapter plate with a screen aperture supporting the screen member releasably therein. The adapter plate has an outer diameter which is greater than an inner diameter of the smoke inlet tube to be supported spanning across the inlet end of the smoke inlet tube. The device is easily disassembled for ease of cleaning or replacing the screen. Optionally, a resilient support body is joined to the adapter plate assists in securing the adapter plate on the smoke inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Kyle Micheal Meszaniec
  • Patent number: 11998047
    Abstract: A personal vaporizer is constructed so that a tank module is filled with a vaporizing medium prior to being attached to a mouthpiece module. During filling, the tank module is in a first configuration in which a structure blocks media within the tank from flowing into an air path of the tank module. When the mouthpiece module is attached to the tank module after filling, the structure is modified, moving the tank module into a second configuration. However, in the second configuration an elongated tube of the mouthpiece module blocks media within the tank from flowing into the air path of the tank module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: J. Christian Rado
  • Patent number: 11998048
    Abstract: A heatable aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol is provided, the article including: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate including from about 20 to about 200 strands of non-tobacco material including and configured to release at least one aerosol former, each strand having an equivalent diameter of at least about 0.1 millimetre, the strands being assembled such that the strands extend in a longitudinal direction; and a wrapper circumscribing the strands. A method of making a rod for an aerosol-generating substrate in an aerosol-generating article, and a rod for an aerosol-generating substrate in an aerosol-generating article, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11998049
    Abstract: There is described an aerosol provision article for use in an aerosol provision system for generating an inhalable medium comprising an aerosol when a user draws on the aerosol provision system. The aerosol provision article includes a structure for transporting liquid from a liquid reservoir and heating the transported liquid to generate a flow of aerosol; and a region for receiving a substance which, in use, the flow of aerosol passes through and heats the substance before exiting the aerosol provision article, wherein the substance modifies a property of the flow of aerosol and wherein the structure is positioned so that when the structure heats the transported liquid to generate the flow of aerosol the structure also provides additional heat to the substance in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Ugurhan Yilmaz, Mark Potter
  • Patent number: 11998050
    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: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Zack Blackmon, Patrick Good, Rangaraj S. Sundar, Jarrett Keen, Eric Hawes, Yannick Hourmand, Niall Gallagher
  • Patent number: 11998051
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system including a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly is provided, the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly including: an electrically insulating substrate; an aperture formed in the electrically insulating substrate; and a heater element fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions disposed on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, and the plurality of electrically conductive filaments form interstices, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions being configured to allow contact with an external power supply; and the aerosol-generating system having a longitudinal axis and the heater element being substantially flat and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Rui Nuno Batista
  • Patent number: 11998052
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device includes an accommodation space in a cylindrical shape for accommodating a cigarette, an induction coil wound along an outer surface of the accommodation space, a power supply for supplying electric power to the induction coil, a controller for controlling electric power supplied to the induction coil, and a shield film including a ferromagnetic material for shielding electromagnetic interference from electromagnetic waves emitted from the induction coil. The shield film surrounds only a portion of an outer surface of the induction coil to shield the electromagnetic interference from the electromagnetic waves having a frequency that does not exceed 500 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Min Lee, Sang Kyu Park, Hwi Kyeong An, Seung Won Lee, Soung Ho Ju
  • Patent number: 11998053
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device includes a housing having an opening configured to receive an aerosol-generating article; an accommodating space configured to accommodate the aerosol-generating article inserted through the opening; a heat-dissipating structure comprising an inner wall forming the accommodating space, and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall such that an inner space is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall; and a coil arranged between the outer wall and the housing, and configured to generate an induced magnetic field, wherein the inner wall is configured to generate heat by the induced magnetic field generated from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Wook Yoon, Yong Hwan Kim, Seung Won Lee, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11998054
    Abstract: An electronic smoking device is provided comprising a power supply, a liquid reservoir storing a liquid therein and having a liquid reservoir opening, and an atomizer adapted to atomize the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir when operated by the power supply. Further provided are at least two plates provided with an adjustable spacing therebetween, wherein a liquid flow passage is formed between the at least two plates extending from the liquid reservoir opening to the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Fontem Ventures B.V.
    Inventors: Vaclav Borkovec, Nicole Tschierske
  • Patent number: 11998055
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette has a mouthpiece portion and a power supply portion. The mouthpiece portion has an atomizer seating to receive an atomizer. An atomizer lock is located in the atomizer seating and is moveable between an open position and a locked position. An ejection mechanism with a biased ejection surface is moveable within the atomizer seating and is biased toward an extended position. The ejection mechanism is moved to a retracted position when an atomizer is introduced to the atomizer seating; the atomizer lock grips the atomizer to hold it in a fixed position. The atomizer is ejected from the atomizer seat when the atomizer lock is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew Robert John Rogan, Robin Jergen, Damir Luso
  • Patent number: 11998056
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision system including: a vaporizer for vaporizing aerosol precursor material for inhalation by a user of the electronic vapor provision system; a power supply for supplying power to the vaporizer; a wall defining an air flow path along which air travels through the electronic vapor provision system when a user inhales or exhales on the electronic vapor provision system; a temperature sensor mounted in the air flow path adjacent a portion of the wall of the air flow path; and a controller configured to cause power to be supplied to the temperature sensor to heat the temperature sensor and to cause power to be supplied to the vaporizer to vaporize the aerosol precursor material in response to detecting a change in temperature of the temperature sensor; wherein the air flow path is arranged such that, during inhalation or exhalation by the user, air travelling along the air flow path is directed at the temperature sensor in a direction that is towards the portion of the wall adjacent to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Conrad Mullin, Thomas P. Blandino, Bob Schofield
  • Patent number: 11998057
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating aerosol from an aerosolizable medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing; a chamber for receiving an article, a sensor and a cover system. The article includes an aerosolizable medium and a detectable element provided in association with the article. The sensor is configured to sense the detectable element when an article is received within the chamber. The cover system can be configured in at least a first configuration to substantially cover the sensor, and a second configuration, in which a field of view of the sensor is substantially without obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Patrick Moloney, Anton Korus, Justin Han Yang Chan
  • Patent number: 11998058
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a housing; a cavity to receive an aerosol-generating article; an aperture at least partially defined by the housing and disposed at an end of the cavity for insertion of the article through the aperture; a cover element to move relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position; a sensor to provide an electrical signal indicative of a position of the cover element with respect to the aperture and including an optical sensor; and an indicator element to move relative to the sensor when the cover element is moved between the closed and the open positions and including an optical surface, the signal being determined by a position of the indicator element relative to the sensor, and the optical surface being configured to move relative to the optical sensor when the cover element moves between the closed and the open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Borges, Jean-Luc Fringeli, Ilario Melzi, Stefano Pietro Pozzi, Alberto Silvano
  • Patent number: 11998059
    Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generation device that suppresses the effect that errors in the production of structural elements have on the accuracy with which shortage of an aerosol source is detected. An aerosol generation device that comprises: a power source; a load that has a temperature-variable electrical resistance value and atomizes an aerosol source by generating heat due to supply of power from the power source; a first circuit that is used for the load to atomize the aerosol source; a second circuit that is connected in parallel to the first circuit, has a higher electrical resistance value than the first circuit, and is used to detect voltage that changes as a result of changes in the temperature of the load; an acquisition part that acquires the value of voltage that is applied to the second circuit and the load; and sensors that output the value of the voltage that changes as a result of changes in the temperature of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11998060
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device comprises: includes a first electrical resistive heater for vaporizing a precursor material to generate vapor in an airflow for inhalation by a user and a second electrical resistive heater for vaporizing the precursor material and/or heating said airflow. The first electrical resistive heater has a first thermal coefficient of resistance which is less than a second thermal coefficient of resistance of the second electrical resistive heater. The device further includes a control system to monitor for a change in the resistance of at least the second electrical resistive heater. The second electrical resistance heater therefore serves both as a heater and as a temperature monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenny Otiaba, David Leadley
  • Patent number: 11998061
    Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generating apparatus including: a heater configured to heat an aerosol generating article inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol generating apparatus; a sensing module including at least one of an inductive sensor configured to detect a change in an inductance of the accommodation space or a temperature sensor configured to detect a change in a temperature of the heater; and a processor configured to: detect, via the sensing module, whether the aerosol generating article that is inserted into the accommodation space is at least partially moved from the accommodation space; and based on detecting that the aerosol generating article is at least partially moved from the accommodation space, control a power supply to the heater, based on at least one of the change in the inductance or the change in the temperature acquired via the sensing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim, Dong Sung Kim, Seung Won Lee, Seok Su Jang, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11998062
    Abstract: A connectivity dongle for providing connectivity between an aerosol delivery device and a management service. The connectivity dongle comprises a wireless connectivity interface configured to establish a wireless data connection to an aerosol delivery device to receive data from the aerosol delivery device; and a data connectivity interface configured to establish a network connection to the management service and to pass data received from a connected aerosol delivery device to the management service via the network connection. In some embodiments, each aerosol delivery device may comprise an electronic nicotine delivery “END” device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Kersey, Darryl Baker, Patrick Moloney
  • Patent number: 11998063
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hopper for receiving aerosolisable material, the hopper comprising an opening in a lower end of the hopper; and a doser disposed below the hopper, the doser comprising a dosing cavity. The doser is movable between a first position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with the opening such that aerosolisable material is movable from the hopper into the dosing cavity, and a second position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with a container such that the aerosolisable material is movable from the dosing cavity into the container. A method of providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Jonathan Bray
  • Patent number: 11998064
    Abstract: A cleaning kit for an aerosol generating device includes a power supplier; a cleaner configured to clean the aerosol generating device by moving while contacting at least one of an accommodation unit and a heater of the aerosol generating device, and a driver configured to operate the cleaner according to power from the power supplier, and including a gear unit for changing an operating torque of the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hwi Kyeong An, Jong Myung Kim, Seok Sun Yoon, Jong Ik Lee, Seung Peel Yim
  • Patent number: 11998065
    Abstract: An assist garments worn on or below the waist has finger loops mounted on a band to assist in dressing and undressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Janice Gladney
  • Patent number: 11998066
    Abstract: A kigurumi staging support apparatus to be worn by a performer of kigurumi. The kigurumi staging support apparatus acquires environmental information of surroundings of the kigurumi, stores staging information of the kigurumi, and outputs, based on the staging information, staging of the kigurumi in accordance with the environmental information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: THE POKEMON COMPANY
    Inventors: Junichi Yamagiwa, Masami Ishikawa, Kana Takizawa, Miki Sakurai, Masafumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11998067
    Abstract: A safety device adapted to be worn by a wearer (6) for preventing the injuries in particular to the hips by airbag inflation, comprises: a portable inflatable bag (1); a source (2) of releasable gas coupled to the bag (1); a belt buckle (3, 4) in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, one of which measures the ambient temperature and the other thermal sensor (5) measures the body temperature of a wearer (6) to enable triggering of the airbag in case of a fall only when the device is worn by a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SERVICE A LA PERSONNE TECHNOLOGIE ACTIVE SARL
    Inventor: Thierry Jeandupeux
  • Patent number: 11998068
    Abstract: The disclosed garments are designed to address the need for a one-piece garment with convenient restroom accessibility. The activewear garment disclosed herein has a rear access space that address the limitations of existing one-piece garments. The rear access space is located at a wearer's lower back and may be widened to an extended position to allow for easy restroom use. The rear access space solution provides the wearer with security and comfortability during normal use and prevents the need to remove the entire garment to use the restroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Spanx, LLC
    Inventors: Bethany Young, Jolene Danielson, Kelsey Smith, Katie Paquet
  • Patent number: 11998069
    Abstract: The disclosed garments are designed to address the need for a one-piece garment with convenient restroom accessibility. The activewear garment disclosed herein has a rear access space that address the limitations of existing one-piece garments. The rear access space is located at a wearer's lower back and may be widened to an extended position to allow for easy restroom use. The rear access space solution provides the wearer with security and comfortability during normal use and prevents the need to remove the entire garment to use the restroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Spanx, LLC
    Inventors: Bethany Young, Jolene Danielson, Kelsey Smith, Katie Paquet
  • Patent number: 11998070
    Abstract: A towel and mitt combination having a towel and a mitt is disclosed. In one configuration, the towel and mitt combination includes a towel that includes a front fastener. The towel and mitt combination also includes a mitt that includes a mitt fastener. The mitt fastener is configured to be releasably secured to the front fastener. The mitt is configured to be operatively and removably connected to the towel via the mitt fastener and the front fastener, when the mitt fastener is releasably secured to the front fastener. In another configuration, the towel includes a tab which includes the front fastener. These and other embodiments foster a coherent towel and mitt combination that enables a user to fasten a mitt to a towel with great convenience and ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Temp-Tations Brands LLC
    Inventors: Charles Swope, Tara Tesher
  • Patent number: 11998071
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to vented and insulating garments having an interior garment assembly comprising an interior panel and a middle panel attached at one or more seams defining chambers for retaining thermally-insulating fill material. The seams have a first plurality of openings extending through the interior and middle panels. An exterior garment assembly has a second plurality of openings positioned on the exterior garment assembly such that the second plurality of openings are offset from the first plurality of openings when the exterior garment assembly is worn with the interior garment assembly. The offsetting of the openings may achieve moisture vapor or air transfer from the inside the garment to the outside environment. The exterior garment assembly and the interior garment assembly may be discrete garment pieces or may be attached at one or more locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke A. Pezzimenti
  • Patent number: 11998072
    Abstract: An outdoor item such as a sleeping bag, jacket, hat or blanket with one or more ventilation/temperature adjustment openings. Each ventilation/temperature adjustment opening includes, in one embodiment, a mechanism that serves to either form an opening in one or both of the outer layer, and the inner layer of the outdoor item. In another embodiment, the one or more ventilation/temperature adjustment mechanism includes an air bladder which, when inflated, serves to push aside any insulation adjacent the deflated air bladder while in both embodiments, allowing the outdoor item to vent better, thereby cooling an occupant using or wearing the outdoor item thereby offering temperature regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NEMO EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Wilson Sparberg Patton, Hannah Selene Chabot, Noah Pitchforth, Camon Brensinger
  • Patent number: 11998073
    Abstract: A non-woven protective clothing against blood and viruses is composed from a non-woven fabric layer, which has two surfaces; and a moisture-permeable layer, which is a porous film that is laminated to one of the surfaces of the non-woven fabric layer; and an elastic pore filling layer, which is a hydrophilic polyurethane. The elastic pore filling layer is coated or printed onto the surface of the moisture-permeable layer, and the thickness of the elastic pore filling layer is thinner than that of the moisture-permeable layer. The synthetic blood permeability of the non-woven protective clothing against blood and viruses can resist a pressure of 2.0 psi for one minute, and the Phi-X174 bacteriophage penetrability thereof can resist a pressure of 2.0 psi for one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: WEB-PRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fu-Chun Lin, Ping-Sen Liao, Ya-Tong Cai, Tsung-Chia Wang, Chiu-Ti Wang
  • Patent number: 11998074
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a garment having adjustable closure modules to reduce unwanted exposure. In an illustrative example, a continuous one-piece swimsuit may include at least one distributed tension closure system (DTCS) at each side of the swimsuit. The DTCS, for example, may include an elastic layer disposed underneath a longitudinally adjustable tension member coupled to opposing lateral edges of the DTCS. For example, when the swimsuit is donned by a wearer and lengths of the adjustable tension members are individually adjusted to a corresponding desired tension, each adjustable tension members urges the opposing lateral edges together by the corresponding desired tension such that an aperture of the hip openings is adjusted to reduce unwanted exposure of a body of the wearer. Various embodiments may advantageously provide modest fittings while maintaining a substantially smooth layer fitting comfortably to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Karena Klabunde
  • Patent number: 11998075
    Abstract: The invention features a holder for prosthetic eyelashes comprising a clamp having two jaws and a closure linkage designed to retain and convey the two jaws in and between an open conformation and a closed conformation. Each jaw has one or more articulated linkages, with the articulated linkages being designed to permit adjustment of a jaw curvature conforming to a desired curvature of a prosthetic eyelash. The two jaws provide rigidity in a dimension for permitting an application of clamping force against the prosthetic eyelash. A spring is fixedly attached to each of the two jaws, and the spring is biased to urge the jaws into the closed conformation. A stand may be attached to the spring, with the stand being designed to hold the clamp in a working position for retention of the prosthetic eyelash for preparation of application to a human eyelid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SRAHBEE LLC
    Inventor: Melissa Erin Taylor-Knop
  • Patent number: 11998076
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pair of opposing arms having a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are joined at proximal ends. Each of the first arm and the second arm include a first section comprising the proximal end, a second section positioned between and connected to the first section of and a third section, and the third section having a first end portion and a second end portion. The third section having a first curvature disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The third section of the first arm includes a plurality of separating elements that extend from an interior surface of the third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lashify, Inc.
    Inventor: Sahara Lotti
  • Patent number: 11998077
    Abstract: Proposed is lower rollers of a hot air welder, and more particularly, to a lower roller structure of a hot air welder, which includes a first lower roller unit installed on a worktable to be pivoted vertically and a second lower roller unit installed on a main body to be slidably moved in front and rear, such that a welding operation of flat fabric and a welding operation of a cylindrical shape can be performed in a single hot air welder through alternate use of the first and second lower roller units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Han-Na Seo
  • Patent number: 11998078
    Abstract: A two-piece chin strap pad for helmets and the like is generally oval shaped, and is split roughly evenly down the middle to form two pieces, or halves. Each half of the chin strap pad includes a hole or slot, so that a coupling member and/or a strap may fit therethrough. Additionally, each half of the chin strap pad may include corresponding hook and loop fastening material, or other temporary fastening means, so that the halves of the chin strap pad may be temporarily joined together when the coupling members are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Alana Cox
  • Patent number: 11998079
    Abstract: A helmet can comprise an outer shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the outer shell comprises an integrally formed locking mechanism. The helmet can also comprise a locking liner formed of a foam material and disposed within the outer shell adjacent the inner surface of the outer shell. The locking liner can further comprise at least one side piece sized to fit between a lower edge of the outer shell and top portion of the outer shell, a top piece disposed at the top portion of the outer shell and comprising a central opening, and a rotatable foam locking piece sized to fit within the central opening and comprising a tab that is sized to mateably couple with the integrally formed locking mechanism of the outer shell to releasably couple the locking liner to the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben D. Pritz, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin W. Penner, Brian W. Eisman
  • Patent number: 11998080
    Abstract: Films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles including thermoplastic elastomeric compositions are described, as are methods of making the films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles. These films, fibers, filaments, yarns and textiles can be used to make articles of apparel, footwear, and sporting equipment. When thermoformed, the thermoplastic elastomeric compositions can impart abrasion resistance, traction, and other advantageous properties to the articles. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Devon Frazier, Walter M. Hancock, Dave Klinger, Robert Mervar, Brian G. Prevo, Hilary Walker
  • Patent number: 11998081
    Abstract: Sole structures, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other foot-receiving devices include: (a) a first footwear component having a ground-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the ground-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces and (b) a second footwear component having an upper-facing surface, wherein a forefoot portion of the upper-facing surface includes arched medial and lateral surfaces that face (and optionally contact) the respective arched medial and lateral surfaces of the first footwear component. The first and second footwear components are movably engaged together such that: (a) the arched medial surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched medial surface of the second footwear component and (b) the arched lateral surface of the first footwear component moves with respect to and along the arched lateral surface of the second footwear component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Austin Orand
  • Patent number: 11998082
    Abstract: Foot support systems for articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include a compressor or other gas source used to control gas pressure provided in one or more pressure adjustable fluid-filled bladders used to support a wearer's foot. Additional features relate to fluid flow control systems and methods that include a plurality of valves to control an inflation configuration for supplying gas to the one or more adjustable fluid filled bladders or a deflation configuration for releasing gas from the one or more adjustable fluid filled bladders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Levi J. Patton