Heat Exchanging And/or Insulating Patents (Class 131/194)
  • Patent number: 11963553
    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, with respect 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; an indicator element to move relative to the sensor and the cover element when the cover element is moved between the closed and the open positions, the signal being determined by a position of the indicator element relative to the sensor; and a mechanical linkage translating movement of the cover element between the closed and the open positions into movement of the indicator element with respect to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Borges, Jean-Luc Fringeli, Ilario Melzi, Stefano Pietro Pozzi, Alberto Silvano
  • Patent number: 11957174
    Abstract: An aerosol generating article includes a first body of aerosol forming material, a first tubular member surrounding the first body of aerosol forming material, a second body of aerosol forming material surrounding the first tubular member and a second tubular member surrounding the second body of aerosol forming material. The first tubular member is inductively heatable in the presence of a time varying electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventor: Mark Gill
  • Patent number: 11957173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heater assembly for generating an inhalable aerosol. The heater assembly comprises an electrically insulating element and an electrical resistive heater. The heater comprises a central heating portion, which is configured to be heated. The heater further comprises electrical contacts, which contact the central heating portion and which are configured to supply electrical energy to the central heating portion. The heater further comprises anchoring legs, which are configured bendable. The anchoring legs are arranged adjacent to the central heating portion and configured to mechanically anchor the electrical resistive heater to the electrically insulating element. The anchoring legs are configured forming a chamfer for guiding insertion of an aerosol-generating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Benjamin Luke Mazur, Charley Ann Millard, Angelo D'Onofrio
  • Patent number: 11957155
    Abstract: There is described an aerosol-forming substrate for use in combination with an inductive heating device. The aerosol-forming substrate comprises a solid material which is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol upon heating of the aerosol-forming substrate and at least a first susceptor material for heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least first susceptor material is arranged in thermal proximity of the solid material. The aerosol-forming substrate further comprises at least a second susceptor material which has a second Curie-temperature which is lower than a first Curie-temperature of the first susceptor material. The second Curie-temperature of the second susceptor material corresponds to a predefined maximum heating temperature of the first susceptor material. There is also described an aerosol-delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik
  • Patent number: 11950632
    Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generating apparatus including: a susceptor configured to heat an aerosol generating article inserted into an accommodation space of the aerosol generating apparatus; an induction coil arranged around the susceptor and configured to heat the susceptor by induction heating; a switching module configured to switch an electrical path of the induction coil; and a controller electrically connected to the switching module and configured to detect insertion of the aerosol generating article on the basis of a change in an inductance of the induction coil by setting a control mode for the induction coil to a reception mode, and when the insertion of the aerosol generating article is detected, switch the control mode to a transmission mode for activating the induction heating, via the switching module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KT & G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim, Dae Nam Han, Dong Sung Kim, Seung Won Lee, Seok Su Jang
  • Patent number: 11937645
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a fluid guide to allow movement of fluid, the guide having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer longitudinal regions separated by a barrier, the inner longitudinal region including an inner longitudinal passageway between the distal and proximal ends, and the outer longitudinal region including an outer longitudinal passageway that communicates external fluid through an aperture to the distal end so external fluid can travel along the outer passageway to the distal end of the fluid guide; a tubular element including a gel including an active agent, the tubular element having proximal and distal ends and being disposed at the distal end of the fluid guide; and a cavity between the distal end of the fluid guide and the proximal end of the tubular element. An aerosol-generating device, and a method of manufacturing an aerosol-generating article, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Gennaro Campitelli, Gianpaolo D'Ambra, Onur Dayioglu
  • Patent number: 11937642
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a plurality of elements assembled within a wrapper in the form of a rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end, the plurality of elements including an aerosol-forming substrate disposed at or towards the distal end of the rod; and a susceptor configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, the susceptor including a first susceptor material and a second susceptor material being different from the first susceptor material, the second susceptor material being plated, deposited, or welded onto the first susceptor material, the susceptor being an elongate susceptor having a length dimension that is greater than a width dimension thereof or than a thickness dimension thereof, the susceptor being disposed in a radially central position within the aerosol-forming substrate, and the second susceptor material having a Curie temperature that is lower than 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Oleg Fursa
  • Patent number: 11930840
    Abstract: An aerosol generating article includes an aerosol generator including a first aerosol generating material which does not include nicotine; a tobacco filler arranged adjacent to an end of the aerosol generator and including a second aerosol generating material including nicotine; a cooler arranged adjacent to an end of the tobacco filler and configured to cool aerosol; and a mouth piece arranged adjacent to an end of the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Won Lee, Sung Wook Yoon, Dae Nam Han, Yong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11930848
    Abstract: There is described an aerosol provision article for use in an aerosol provision system for generating an inhalable medium including an aerosol when a user draws on the aerosol provision system. The aerosol provision article includes at least a first heating element and a second heating element for heating liquid from a liquid reservoir 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, which substance modifies a property of the flow of aerosol. The at least a first heating element and a second heating element are positioned so as to additionally heat the substance in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Ugurhan Yilmaz, Mark Potter
  • Patent number: 11930849
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol is provided, the device including a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article containing aerosol-generating substrate, the heating chamber including a heating element, and the heating element being an electrically resistive coating. A method of manufacturing an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Pieter Van Lancker, Louis-Philippe Vancraeynest, Simon Desnerck
  • Patent number: 11930847
    Abstract: A cartridge of an electronic vaping device includes a housing assembly and a reservoir cap assembly. The housing assembly is a single piece housing assembly. The reservoir cap assembly includes a reservoir cap having a hole there through and at least one wick extending through an opening in the reservoir cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Travis M. Garthaffner, Peter Lipowicz
  • Patent number: 11931507
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device comprises a body and a vaporizer. The body comprises a power cell and a processor, and the vaporizer is releasably connectable to the body. The processor is configured to enter a sleep mode when the vaporizer is connected to the body and the device is inactive for an inactive time. Furthermore, the processor is configured to leave the sleep mode and enter a usable mode when the vaporizer is disconnected from the body then reconnected to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Lord
  • Patent number: 11918053
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vapour generating product includes positioning non-liquid vapour generating material in a space defined by one or more walls configured to prevent movement of the vapour generating material by more than 2 mm in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the vapour generating material, the one or more walls extending substantially in the axial direction of the vapour generating material. The method further includes aligning an axis of a rigid insertor with the axial direction of the vapour generating material and inserting the rigid insertor into the vapour generating material from a first end of the vapour generating material. An apparatus for manufacturing a vapour generating product is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventor: Andrew Robert John Rogan
  • Patent number: 11920782
    Abstract: Vaporizer cores are disclosed including a housing and a chamber where the chamber includes a porous lattice structure that is thermally conductive. Further, the housing and the chamber including the porous lattice structure are formed as a single integral structure. Three-dimensional (3D) printing can be used to form the housing and the chamber including the porous lattice structure as a single integral structure. For certain embodiments, a concentric-circle fin design, a crisscross fin design, or a conical fin design is used to form the porous lattice structure for the vaporizer chamber. For further embodiments, techniques are implemented to resolve potential problems with 3D printing of the vaporizer cores. One example technique is encapsulation of the vaporizer core within a shell, such as a two-piece shell, to resolve potential problems with leaks. Disclosed embodiments for the vaporizer cores provide manufacturing, material, and design improvements to prior solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Nasman, Daniel Newman
  • Patent number: 11918737
    Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device including a power cell and a vaporizer, wherein the vaporizer includes a heating element, a vaporization cavity, and an airflow channeler, wherein the airflow channeler is situated outside of the vaporization cavity, and wherein the heating element and a heating element support configured to support the heating element are situated within the vaporization cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Lord
  • Patent number: 11916421
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; a first control device and a second control device which are configured to control at least one of charging and discharging of the power supply; a circuit board on which the first control device and the second control device are provided; a first capacitor which is provided on an input side of the first control device so as to be connected in parallel with the first control device; and a second capacitor which is provided on an input side of the second control device so as to be connected in parallel with the second control device, wherein a capacity of the first capacitor is different from a capacity of the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akao
  • Patent number: 11903427
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating apparatus includes a mouthpiece, an aerosolizing thermal reactor, and an air preheating passage. The aerosolizing thermal reactor has an air inlet upstream of an aerosol outlet, and includes an aerosolizable substance chamber and a thermal distribution casing. The thermal distribution casing surrounds the aerosolizable substance chamber and includes a laminate material with an at least three-layer construction including a metal middle layer between a metal outer layer and a metal inner layer. The thermal conductivity of the metal inner layer is at least double that of each of the metal outer and inner layers. The air preheating passage is located downstream of the air inlet and upstream of the aerosolizable substance chamber, and surrounds the aerosolizable substance chamber. The air preheating passage is defined by an air gap between the chamber outer wall and the metal inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: John Robert Mumford
  • Patent number: 11904089
    Abstract: Devices for generating and releasing vapor. In particular, described herein are portable devices for generating a low-temperature inhalable vapor having an elongated tubular body containing a vaporization chamber and a battery-powered heater, a removable mouthpiece covering the vaporization chamber, a display configured to indicate the temperature of the vaporization chamber; a microcontroller configured to regulate the temperature of the vaporization chamber, and a control to select from among a variety of temperature settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bowen, Krista Hunter, James Monsees, Patrick A. Myall
  • Patent number: 11896061
    Abstract: A method of constructing a heating chamber for an aerosol generation device includes providing a side wall of the heating chamber, providing a heater, and arranging the heater to be in thermal contact with the side wall of the heating chamber. The method may also include attaching a heat shrink layer to the outward facing side of the heater, and heating the heat shrink layer to a temperature such that the heat shrink layer contracts to compress the heater against the side wall. The heating chamber for the aerosol generation device includes a side wall defining an interior volume of the heating chamber, and a heater in thermal contact with the side wall, as well as a heat shrink layer under tension, compressing the heater against an outwardly facing surface of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11871780
    Abstract: A smoking article has an outer surface and a plurality of frangible microcapsules provided on the outer surface, wherein the microcapsules are capable of being manually ruptured by a consumer to release an odorant encapsulated therein. The smoking article preferably comprises a wrapped tobacco rod; and a filter attached to the wrapped tobacco rod by tipping paper, a mouth end portion of which is “over tipped” with a band or strip of “Peel and Sniff” microcapsules and/or a band or strip of “Scratch and Sniff” microcapsules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Clement Besso, Anne Wyss-Peters, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Patent number: 11871786
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a storage container containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a heating element spaced from the container for vaporising the substrate to form an aerosol; a transfer element between the container and the heating element to receive and retain the substrate, and to be coupled with the heating element to supply the received substrate to the heating element, at least one of the transfer element and the heating element being movable between a loading position and a heating position, such that when the movable element is in the loading position, the transfer element is in fluid communication with the outlet of the container and/or with the heating element, and such that when the movable element is in the heating position, the transfer element is in fluid communication with the heating element and the heating element is activated to vaporise the substrate retained in the transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Jerome Christian Courbat, Oleg Mironov, Enrico Stura
  • Patent number: 11865246
    Abstract: Presented are apparatus and methods for generating an inhalable medium. An apparatus including a container holding a liquid, a heater for volatizing the liquid, and a plurality of discrete material elements is used. The liquid held in the container is volatized. At least one of a vapor and an aerosol formed by the volatized liquid is passed through one or more of the plurality of discrete material elements. One or more constituents of the one or more of the plurality of discrete material elements is thereby entrained in the at least one of a vapor and an aerosol to produce the inhalable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Hepworth, Dominic Woodcock, Joseph Sutton, Sharon Goodall
  • Patent number: 11864279
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a device for controlling a heating element in electronic articles, and more particularly for controlling a heating element in electronic cigarettes. In one embodiment A system for controlling a heater can comprise a power source, a memory configured to store programming, an MCU, a solution, a heater configured to heat the solution, and a sensor. The power source, the memory, the MCU, the heater, and the sensor can be electrically coupled. The MCU can receive signals from the sensor and control the heater, and the MCU can be configured to use programming stored in the memory to control the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Fontem Ventures B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Alarcon, Michael Starman
  • Patent number: 11857722
    Abstract: A vaporizing assembly for an aerosol generating system includes a sheet heating element and a delivery device configured to deliver a liquid aerosol-forming substrate from a liquid storing portion to the sheet heating element. The sheet heating element is spaced apart from the delivery device and is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol forming substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Dani Ruscio
  • Patent number: 11857718
    Abstract: On-demand, hand-held vaporizer that operates primarily by convection. The vaporizer is configured to permit very rapid (e.g., within a few seconds) heating of air drawn through an oven chamber to a predetermined or selectable vaporizing temperature to vaporize a material (e.g., loose leaf plant material, etc.) that is held in the oven chamber. The vaporizer provides efficient transfer of air being heated as well as rapid delivery of vaporizable material to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariel Atkins, Adam Bowen, Steven Christensen, Alexander J. Gould, Nicholas J. Hatton, Esteban Leon Duque, Kevin Lomeli, James Monsees, Matthew J. Taschner
  • Patent number: 11856978
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article may be fabricated in the form of a bead. For example, the aerosol-generating article may be fabricated in the form of a sphere having a predetermined diameter. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating article may be fabricated in an oval shape, a droplet shape, etc. Also, the aerosol-generating article may be fabricated in various sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Kyu Kim, Sung Jong Ki, Han Joo Chung, Yong Sook Jin, Dae Nam Han, Jung Ho Han, Tae Hun Kim, Sang Kyu Park, Hwi Kyeong An, Jae Min Lee, Jong Sub Lee, Hun Il Lim
  • Patent number: 11850352
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a handheld apparatus that vaporizes plant-based or synthetic compounds, for the purpose of inhalation, or diffusion into an external environment. More specifically, the disclosure describes a handheld apparatus wherein a laser beam from an internal laser unit heats compounds, such as dried plant, tinctures, resins, or essential oils, to the compound's vaporization temperature for inhalation, or diffusion as part of aromatherapy or other holistic therapeutic treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Lumenary, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Schneider
  • Patent number: 11839234
    Abstract: A filter part (1, 1?) for use in an aerosol generating article and a method of manufacturing the filter part (1, 1?). The filter part (1, 1?) includes an aerosol permeable core (2) within a sleeve (3) formed integrally therearound. The core (2) is shorter than the integrally formed sleeve (3). The method includes conveying a plurality of aerosol permeable cores (2) along a conveying path at a first speed (S1) and forming a sleeve (3) around each core (2) at a second speed (S2). The second speed (S2) is greater than the first speed (S1) to generate a space between consecutive cores (2) within the sleeve (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Eva Ferrari, Yves Jordil, Poh Yoke Tritz
  • Patent number: 11839706
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include an electrical power supply, an electrical heater connected to the electrical power supply, and a substrate container. The substrate container may define a blind cavity containing an aerosol-forming substrate in the form of a gel that is a solid at room temperature. The electrical heater is external to the substrate container and configured to heat the substrate container to generate a vapor without contacting the aerosol-forming substrate. As result, the possibility of unwanted materials building up on the electrical heater can be reduced, thereby providing a more reliable and consistent performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gerard Zuber, Jean-Yves Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11838996
    Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Barry S. Smith, Charles Dendy
  • Patent number: 11832653
    Abstract: An inductive heating apparatus for inductively heating a susceptor of an aerosol forming body, which includes the susceptor and an aerosol source, includes: a power supply, an alternating current generation circuit that generates alternating current from power supplied from the power supply; an inductive heating circuit for inductively heating the susceptor, and a control unit configured to detect the susceptor based on an impedance of a circuit to which the alternating current generated by the alternating current generation circuit is supplied, and start the inductive heating in response to the susceptor being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11832369
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end. The plurality of elements includes an aerosol-forming substrate disposed at or towards the distal end of the rod, and an elongate susceptor is disposed substantially longitudinally within the rod and in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, the susceptor be configured to allow the article to be consumed by an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device having an inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik
  • Patent number: 11819059
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply region including liquid material and a heater-wick element operable to wick liquid material and heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol. The heater-wick element comprises a plurality of fused metal beads or particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Macko, James Anthony Skapars
  • Patent number: 11825567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more microheaters. In various embodiments, the microheaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Collett, Stephen Benson Sears, Dennis Lee Potter, Steven Lee Alderman, Mo Kebaili
  • Patent number: 11819051
    Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including a main unit and a tubular aerosol-generating article. The main unit includes a heating portion disposed at an outer surface of the main unit. The heating portion includes one or more electric heaters. The tubular aerosol-generating article includes a tubular aerosol-forming substrate and an inner passage, wherein the inner passage is configured to receive the heating portion of the main unit. The one or more electric heaters of the heating portion of the main unit are arranged to heat the tubular aerosol-forming substrate when the tubular aerosol-generating article is received on the heating portion of the main unit. The aerosol-generating system further includes means to determine that the tubular aerosol-generating article is received on the heating portion of the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11812777
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, including: a housing; a first assessment section defining a first airflow pathway and including a first conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating system or a smoking article, a first pump in fluid communication with the first conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the first conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a first cover arranged on the housing; and a second assessment section defining a second airflow pathway and including a second conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating device or a smoking article, a second pump in fluid communication with the second conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the second conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a second cover arranged on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ricardo Cali, Pierre Herve, Danny Hirdes, Andreas Loeb, Joern Patscher, Fabrice Teseo, Johan Valette, Jan Verbeeck
  • Patent number: 11800900
    Abstract: An e-vaping case includes a housing, a guide structure, a cartridge receiving portion connected to the guide structure, and an electronics system in the housing. The cartridge receiving portion is configured to be moved along the guide structure between a first surface and a second surface of the housing. The electronics system includes a power supply that is configured to initiate a transfer of power to an electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the first surface of the housing to at least a first position of the housing. The electronics system is configured to interrupt the transfer of power to the electrical contact structure if the cartridge receiving portion is moved towards the second surface of the housing. An electronic vaping device may include a cartridge detachably coupled to the cartridge receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Chris Simpson, Terrance Theodore Bache, David Schiff
  • Patent number: 11796732
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device comprising a control device that is connectable with a cartridge and that can include one or more additional elements for improving one or both of visible indications of use to a user and resistance to infiltration of liquid into the control device. More particularly, the control device may include a light guide configured for transmitting to a window from a light source that is off-set from the window and a controller configured to direct a varying level of light from the light source. The control device may include one or more elements that are configured to limit infiltration of liquids into the control device and thus may be consider to be water-resistant or water-proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Jacob Novak, III, Sean A. Daugherty, Michael Ryan Galloway, Justin Holt
  • Patent number: 11785677
    Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system may include a container, a susceptor material, and an aerosol-forming substrate. The container defines a cartridge cavity. The susceptor material is positioned within the cartridge cavity. The susceptor material may define a plurality of interconnected interstices. The aerosol-forming substrate may be in the form of a gel that is solid at room temperature. The gel may be provided so as to be positioned within the plurality of interconnected interstices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Enrico Stura
  • Patent number: 11758947
    Abstract: An electronic vapour inhaler includes a chamber configured so that a user can place a cartridge into said chamber, an induction coil arranged to extend around the chamber, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature inside the chamber, and a control arrangement arranged to control operation of the induction coil based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor to maintain a predetermined temperature inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Gill, Daniel Vanko, Lubos Brvenik
  • Patent number: 11753750
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aerosol source member, a substrate portion, and a method of creating a substrate portion for use in an aerosol source member. In an example implementation, a substrate portion of the present disclosure may comprise a series of overlapping layers of a composite substrate sheet, wherein the composite substrate sheet may comprise a non-woven web at least partially formed from regenerated cellulose fibers, a plurality of conductive threads integrated into the non-woven web, and a coating that includes a fibrous material and an aerosol precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Stephen B. Sears, Billy T. Conner, Justin William Gage, Luis Monsalud
  • Patent number: 11744287
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device includes: a case into which a cigarette is to be inserted; a cap detachably coupled to a top portion of the case; a cover configured to slide on a top surface of the cap so as to open or close a cigarette insertion hole; a first sensor configured to sense whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or closed; and a controller configured to determine whether the cigarette insertion hole is open or closed based on a signal sensed by the first sensor and set an operational mode of the aerosol generating device as an ON mode or an OFF mode based on a result of the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hun Il Lim
  • Patent number: 11744292
    Abstract: A cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler is provided and includes an elongate induction heatable element and a flavour-release medium adhered to a surface of the elongate induction heatable element. The induction heatable element can include a tube having a wall with inner and outer wall surfaces and the flavour-release medium can be adhered to the outer or inner wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: JT INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Mark Gill, Daniel Vanko, Lubos Brvenik
  • Patent number: 11730195
    Abstract: An aerosol generation device includes a case into which a cigarette is to be inserted; a protrusion pipe of a hollow shape protruding from one end portion of the case and having an opening; a heater installed in the case such that an end portion thereof is positioned inside the protrusion pipe, and configured to generate heat when an electric signal is applied thereto; and a heater fixing portion installed inside the protrusion pipe to support the heater and comprising a round surface that extends from an inner side surface of the protrusion pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jong Sub Lee
  • Patent number: 11717020
    Abstract: A bubble removal preparation device and method for a gel-state electronic liquid (e-liquid) are provided. The preparation device includes a negative-pressure chamber and a cooling element, where the negative-pressure chamber is provided therein with a porous e-liquid containing chamber. A temperature controller is configured to control the temperature of the cooling element, and a gap between the porous e-liquid containing chamber and the cooling element forms an e-liquid containing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wei Zhao, Yunhua Qin, Liu Hong, Yi Han, Xia Zhang, Tinghua Li, Shoubo Li, Xiaowei Gong, Liu Yang
  • Patent number: 11707090
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an atomizer. The atomizer includes a concentrate reservoir volume that is in fluid communication with a concentrate vaporization assembly. The concentrate vaporization assembly includes a frit adapted to absorb concentrate from the concentrate reservoir volume. The concentrate vaporization assembly further includes a heating element adapted to heat the frit and absorbed concentrate. The atomizer further includes a vapor collection and discharge assembly including a vapor accumulation chamber in fluid communication with the frit and a vapor evacuation channel in fluid communication with the vapor accumulation chamber and in fluid communication with an egress port. The heating element is activated by a user control of a switch on a battery, which causes the concentrate contained within the frit filter to vaporize, and the user inhales resulting vapor by inhaling at the egress port of the vapor evacuation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: David Crowe
  • Patent number: 11700886
    Abstract: Provided is a heater assembly for aerosol generating devices, the heater assembly including a thermally conductive element that has a cylindrical shape and includes an accommodation space for accommodating a cigarette, a flexible heater that surrounds at least a portion of an outer surface of the thermally conductive element, and an adhesion member that surrounds the flexible heater such that the flexible heater closely adheres to the thermally conductive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tae Hun Kim, Hun Il Lim, Jong Sun Park
  • Patent number: 11700885
    Abstract: An aerosol generation device includes a case into which a cigarette is inserted, a heater disposed in the case and configured to heat the cigarette inserted into the case, a mainstream smoke passage connecting an end portion of the cigarette to the outside, and a pressure detection sensor configured to detect a change in a pressure of air inhaled to pass through the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung Ho Han, Jae Sung Choi, Hun Il Lim, Tae Hun Kim, Hyung Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 11696599
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a vaporizer that vaporizes at least one active ingredient of a plant material. In response to receiving a first input to the vaporizer, the plant material is heated, in a first heating step. An indication of the temperature of the plant material is detected, and, in response to detecting an indication that the temperature of the plant material is at a first temperature, the first heating step is terminated, by withholding causing further temperature increase of the plant material. The first temperature is less than 95 percent of the vaporization temperature of the active ingredient. Subsequently, a second input is received at the vaporizer. In response thereto, the plant material is heated to the vaporization temperature, in a second heating step. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Yossef Raichman
  • Patent number: 11690403
    Abstract: A flavor generating segment includes a first flavor generating member and a second flavor generating member, wherein: at least either of the first and the second flavor generating members includes a plurality of stacked flavor generating sheets and has, between at least a pair of the neighboring flavor generating sheets, a non-contact part in which the flavor generating sheets do not come into contact with each other; and principal surfaces of the flavor generating sheets face the other flavor generating member, as well as a flavor generating article and a flavor inhalation system equipped therewith. The flavor generating segment gives a good smoking flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Manabu Yamada