Smoke Treating Patents (Class 131/200)
  • Patent number: 11896051
    Abstract: There is provided aerosol-generating system (200) comprising a cartridge (100). The cartridge comprises a heater assembly comprising at least four individually activatable heating elements (116, 118 . . . 140) arranged in an array. There is an aerosol-forming substrate on each of the heating elements. The system also comprises an aerosol-generating device (201) configured to engage the cartridge. The aerosol-generating device comprises a power supply (206) and control circuitry (212). The control circuitry is configured to control a supply of power from the power supply to each of the heating elements to generate an aerosol. The control circuitry is configured to activate the heating elements sequentially such that no two spatially adjacent heating elements are activated consecutively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Irene Taurino
  • Patent number: 11864590
    Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system is provided, the cartridge including: a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and a heater assembly including an electrical heating element configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol, and a capillary body configured to convey the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the electrical heating element, the electrical heating element being disposed at a porous outer surface of the capillary body. A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system, and aerosol-generating system, and a method of manufacturing a cartridge for an aerosol-generating system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Jerome Courbat
  • Patent number: 11849772
    Abstract: A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Andrew Terry, Noah Mark Minskoff
  • Patent number: 11825873
    Abstract: A hookah, including a high-frequency heating component and a filter assembly. The high-frequency heating component includes a conductive cup and a magnetic induction coil. The conductive cup is disposed in the magnetic induction coil and configured to accommodate a tobacco material. When in use, an alternating current is introduced to the magnetic induction coil, and a magnetic induction effect is generated, so that the conductive cup is heated and the heat is transferred to the tobacco material whereby the tobacco material is heated and smoke is produced. The smoke is filtered in the filter assembly and inhaled by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Tuanfang Liu
  • Patent number: 11723409
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a container to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof; a fluid-permeable heater assembly extending across a first pair of opposite side portions of the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the liquid storage portion and including an arrangement of one or more filaments, and a capillary material between the liquid storage portion and the arrangement and being configured to convey the substrate to the filaments; and conductive contacts in a main housing and making electrical contact with corresponding contacts of the heater assembly, the liquid storage portion being at a first side of the heater assembly, and a portion of a first airflow channel being at a second side of the heater assembly, and the first airflow channel including several channel portions upstream of the heater assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Keethan Dasnavis Fernando
  • Patent number: 11684730
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a cartridge, a vaporiser section configured to receive the cartridge, and a power supply section configured to supply electrical power to the vaporiser section. The cartridge may include a cartridge housing containing a solid aerosol-forming substrate and defining a cartridge air inlet that extends through a wall portion of the cartridge housing. The vaporiser section may include a vaporiser housing containing an electric heater and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining a vaporiser air outlet that extends through a wall portion of the vaporiser housing. The cartridge wall portion is configured to abut the vaporiser wall portion when the cartridge is received within the vaporiser section. The cartridge configured to be rotatable with respect to the vaporiser section to vary the amount of overlap between the cartridge air inlet and the vaporiser air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11684088
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 11596178
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a cartridge, the cartridge including: a first compartment including a nicotine source; a second compartment including a second substance source; a first susceptor arranged within the nicotine source in the first compartment and being configured to heat the nicotine source; and a second susceptor arranged within the second substance source in the second compartment and being configured to heat the second substance source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Oleg Fursa
  • Patent number: 11559083
    Abstract: An electronic aerosol-generating smoking device includes a main body having a heating region for heating aerosol-forming substrate. The main body includes a front housing defining a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate, and a heater in the main body and configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cavity. At least a portion of an internal surface of the main body is at least one of a hydrophobic and super-hydrophobic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Michel Bessant, Fabien Duc
  • Patent number: 11523635
    Abstract: An electronic aerosol-generating smoking device includes a main body having a heating region for heating aerosol-forming substrate. The main body includes a front housing defining a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate, and a heater in the main body and configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the cavity. At least a portion of an internal surface of the main body is at least one of a hydrophobic and super-hydrophobic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Michel Bessant, Fabien Duc
  • Patent number: 11490659
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a container to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the storage portion and including electrically conductive filaments having a substantially flat orientation; a capillary material between the storage portion and the assembly; and conductive contacts in electrical contact with contacts of the assembly, the storage portion being at a first side of the assembly, and first and second portions of a first airflow channel at a second side of the assembly, the first portion to direct air from outside the system in a direction towards a surface of the capillary material, and the second portion to direct air from the outside in a direction away from the surface before such air enters the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Keethan Dasnavis Fernando
  • Patent number: 11470875
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices for inhaling gases, such as smoke or vapor, produced from a combustible material, as well to methods for producing these devices and methods for inhaling such gases. Devices according to the present disclosure utilize one or more electrical arcs for the combustion of the desired combustible material as opposed to prior art methods that utilize, e.g., fire. The electrical arcs produced by devices according to the present disclosure cause an electrical field to form that ionizes the gas to be inhaled by the user, and cause a larger proportion of negatively ionized particles to be ingested by the user. Methods for forming such devices, including methods for assembly that allow for access to electronic circuitry for forming the electrical arcs for, e.g., recharging purposes, are also described, as are methods for inhalation of the gas produced by the combustible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Xander Victor Tweedie
  • Patent number: 11330843
    Abstract: Devices and methods for providing inhalable vapor are disclosed. A device may include a body with a first distal and proximal section; a first connector that releasably couples with a cartridge that provides a volatizable material; and a sleeve integral with or releasably coupled to the body, the sleeve defining a first aperture dimensioned to accommodate at least the width of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Bergstrom Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Bergstrom, Charles Ankner, Christopher Teague, Robert Current
  • Patent number: 11297880
    Abstract: A heater, a cartridge, an atomizer and an electronic cigarette having same are disclosed, the heater includes a porous body, configured for absorbing tobacco liquid; the porous body having an absorbing surface and an atomizing surface opposite with each other; the tobacco liquid permeating from the absorbing surface to the atomizing surface; a heating element, disposed on the atomizing surface and configured to atomize the tobacco liquid stored in the porous body into an aerosol; and part of the porous body that is near the atomizing surface having a less thermal conductivity than part of the porous body that is near the absorbing surface, resulting in a big amount of aerosol while not easy to generate burnt flavor and improving user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen First Union Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qing Zhang, Zhengfa Li, Yunkai Zhang, Baoling Lei, Desheng Huang, Zhongli Xu, Yonghai Li
  • Patent number: 11213075
    Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system includes a secondary unit capable of receiving a smoking article having an aerosol-forming substrate. The secondary unit includes at least one heating element and an interface for connection to a primary power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one heating element during a pre-heating mode, to increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to an operating temperature. The secondary unit further includes a secondary power supply arranged to supply electrical power to the at least one heating element during a smoking mode, to maintain the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate at substantially the operating temperature. The secondary unit also includes secondary circuitry. The electrically heated smoking system optionally includes a primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Marc-Robert Chemla, Fredrik Stahle
  • Patent number: 11202872
    Abstract: The electronic system for vaporizing smokable materials for personal inhalation includes two or more heating elements for vaporizing cannabis, tobacco, e-cigarette fluid and other inhalable materials. Includes a power source and two or more heating elements, each connected to a multi-heating-element circuit-switching-element that allows individual control of the duration and amount of heat applied to each heating element. Each heating element applies heat to one smokable material, which can be contained in a cartridge. The multi-heating-element circuit-switching-element can be a slide switch, push button, rotary encoder, pressure switch, infrared switch, a voice activated switch or a graphical user interface attached to a integrated circuit. The power source can be a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Mark James Grote
  • Patent number: 11116919
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device configured to impart flavoring to an airstream admitted the device prior to the airstream reaching an aerosol generator of the device, the device thereby operable to deliver a flavored aerosol from an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BATMARK LIMITED
    Inventor: Helmut Buchberger
  • Patent number: 11103011
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 11097075
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device configured to impart flavoring to an airstream admitted the device prior to the airstream reaching an aerosol generator of the device, the device thereby operable to deliver a flavored aerosol from an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BATMARK LIMITED
    Inventor: Helmut Buchberger
  • Patent number: 11077261
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette, including an atomizing assembly and a battery assembly. The atomizing assembly is disposed on the battery assembly. The atomizing assembly includes a mouthpiece cover, a mouthpiece, a rubber ring, a regulating ring, a first fixed ring adapted to fixing the regulating ring, a silica ring, a connector, an upper seal ring, an atomization core, a first pressure sheet, a positive terminal, a positive silicone, a connection tube, an upper cover, a first seal ring sealing the upper cover, an e-liquid conservator, a lower seal ring, a second fixed ring, a second pressure sheet, a second seal ring, a filling pipe, a first spring, a filling funnel, a third seal ring sealing the filling funnel, and a fourth seal ring. The rubber ring and the silica ring are disposed on two ends of the connector, respectively. The regulating ring is disposed on the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Tuanfang Liu
  • Patent number: 11051552
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the portion and including an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive flat filaments; a capillary material disposed between the portion and the heater assembly and being configured to convey the substrate to the one or more filaments; and conductive contacts, disposed in electrical contact with corresponding contacts of the heater assembly, the portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel being disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, and the first airflow channel defining an airflow pathway that extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane and to a surface of the capillary material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Keethan Dasnavis Fernando
  • Patent number: 11044945
    Abstract: Provided is a flavor inhaler comprising: an atomizing unit that generates an aerosol from an aerosol source; a flavor source provided downstream from the atomizing unit; a mouthpiece section provided downstream from the flavor source; a control unit that controls the atomizing unit; an aerosol flow path leading to the mouthpiece section from the atomizing unit; and an information source for holding identification information associated with a correction value for correcting a reference aerosol amount that is the amount of aerosol generated by the atomizing unit and that is an amount designed in advance. The aerosol flow path branches between the atomizing unit and the flavor source into a first branch flow path through which the flavor source passes and a second branch flow path that differs from the first branch flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Akihiko Suzuki, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11051366
    Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a housing containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the housing having an open end; and a fluid-permeable heater assembly including: an electrical heating element configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol, the electrical heating element including a planar filament arrangement having one or more electrically conductive filaments, an electrically insulating substrate including a ceramic material and having a planar attachment face, the filament arrangement disposed in contact with the planar attachment face, and connectors arranged at opposite ends of the electrical heating element and forming two separate electrical contacts configured to apply power to the filament arrangement, the fluid-permeable heater assembly being arranged over the open end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Rui Batista, Jean-Marc Widmer, Jens Ulrik Poulsen
  • Patent number: 11019846
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette atomization core comprising an atomizing core body, and the atomizing core body is provided with an e-liquid storage chamber for receiving e-liquid and a heating chamber for accommodating the heating element, the heating element is abutted against an outer wall of one end of the e-liquid storage chamber for transferring heat to the e-liquid in the e-liquid storage chamber to atomize the e-liquid when the heating element generates heat, the e-liquid storage chamber and the heating chamber are disconnected to each other; the atomizing core body further comprises a heat insulating bracket sleeved between the e-liquid storage chamber and the heating chamber for thermally insulating the e-liquid storage chamber when the heating element generates heat. The present invention achieves that the smoke atomized by the electronic cigarette atomization core is pure in taste, has no risk of inhaling metal ions, and is healthy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN JIANAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Jianjun Ding
  • Patent number: 10827781
    Abstract: A smoking device includes a first heating assembly, a second heating assembly, and an electric control assembly. The first heating assembly has a receiving chamber used to receive a substance to be heated, and the first heating assembly is used to heat the substance to be heated. The second heating assembly has an airflow passage being in communication with the outside, the airflow passage is in communication with the receiving chamber so as to allow outside air to enter the receiving chamber through the airflow passage, and the second heating assembly is configured to heat the air entering the airflow passage. The electric control assembly is electrically connected to both heating assemblies to control heating operations of the heating assemblies, such that when the smoking device is working, at least one of the first heating assembly and the second heating assembly performs the heating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Smiss Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiatai Chen, Zhonghu Xu, Shikai Chen
  • Patent number: 10750784
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-generating substrate and defining an opening; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to the opening and including at least one electrically operated heating element; and a first channel defining a first flow route, a portion of the first channel being arranged with respect to the plane transverse to the opening such that at least a portion of the first channel is configured to direct air originating from outside the system to impinge against and across a surface portion of the at least one electrically operated heating element. A method for guiding an airflow in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Keethan Dasnavis Fernando
  • Patent number: 10750780
    Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system is provided, the cartridge including: a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and a heater assembly including: an electrical heating element configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol, and a capillary body having a porous outer surface and being configured to convey the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the electrical heating element, the electrical heating element being disposed along the porous outer surface, the liquid storage portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and an airflow channel is disposed at an opposite side of the heater assembly to the first side and adjacent to the electrical heating element, defining an airflow path that extends past the electrical heating element and is configured to convey the aerosol. A heater assembly and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Jerome Courbat
  • Patent number: 10729181
    Abstract: There is provided a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system including a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the heater assembly including an electric heater having at least one heating element configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol, and a capillary body configured to convey the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion of the aerosol-generating system to the at least one heating element, the at least one heating element being formed from an electrically conductive material deposited directly onto a porous outer surface of the capillary body. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system and a method for manufacturing such a cartridge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Ihar Nikolaevich Zinovik, Jerome Courbat
  • Patent number: 10716333
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system(includes a cartridge, a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol-generating device. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device includes a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, an airflow inlet, and an airflow sensor. The airflow sensor is in fluid communication with the airflow inlet and the cavity). The aerosol-generating device includes a bypass air inlet in fluid communication with the cavity, an electric heater configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a power supply, and a controller. The aerosol-generating system is configured so that the cartridge housing substantially prevents airflow through the bypass air inlet when the cartridge is received within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 10568363
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 10477900
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device comprises two reservoirs, each arranged to contain a separate aerosol producing composition; means for drawing the compositions from the reservoirs to generate an aerosol for inhalation for a user, and means for mixing the compositions after they have been drawn from the reservoirs, the mixing means being arranged to allow a user to select the relative proportions of the two compounds in the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventor: Jason Hopps
  • Patent number: 10426199
    Abstract: A cartridge is provided for use with an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium. The cartridge has a container for holding a liquid and a receptacle for receiving a solid material. A shell is provided around the outside of the liquid container. A channel is defined between the liquid container and the shell. Liquid exiting the container can flow, in the form of at least one of a vapor and an aerosol, through the channel to the receptacle and through solid material received by the receptacle in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Dominic Turner, Colin Dickens
  • Patent number: 10426200
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John DePiano, David Smith, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Frank S. Silveira, Steven Lee Alderman, Grady Lance Dooly, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Timothy Brian Nestor, Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr., Stephen Benson Sears, John William Wolber, Michael Laine
  • Patent number: 10405576
    Abstract: A portable smoke filtering system has a central tube in a cylindrical configuration with a forward end and a rearward end. Male screw threads are formed in the forward end and the rearward end. An input tube in a cylindrical configuration has a forward end and a rearward end. The input tube has female screw threads. The forward end of the central tube is threadedly received in the rearward end of the input tube. A first filter has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The first filter is received in the input tube. Dryer sheets are provided in the central tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew Adams
  • Patent number: 10316443
    Abstract: A braided, open structure composite made with large prepreg tow can be cured without bonding at the yarn crossovers and after removal from the mandrel, it can be used directly as a spring in which the spring constant in bending, torsion, tension or compression can be controlled by the geometry of the braided structure as well as the size of the structural elements. Alternatively the spring may be curved in multiple directions to form complex shapes and then crossovers can be re-bonded to make more rigid open structure composites that would be difficult or impractical to manufacture by conventional techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AUBURN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Royall M. Broughton, Jr., David G. Beale, David J. Branscomb, Austin R. Gurley
  • Patent number: 10244796
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 10159283
    Abstract: An aerosol-forming article for use in an electrically heated aerosol-generating device is provided, the aerosol-forming article including a mouthpiece, an aerosol-forming substrate, and a plurality of magnetic particles including a magnetic material having a Curie temperature of between 60 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius. An electrically heated aerosol-generating device for receiving the aerosol-forming article is also provided, the device including a heater element configured to heat the aerosol-forming article, an inductor, and a controller configured to measure an inductance of the inductor and to control a supply of electrical current to the heater element in response to the measured inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Oleg Mironov
  • Patent number: 10123570
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 10111465
    Abstract: An electronic smoke apparatus comprising an inhale sensor, a smoke source containing vapor-able smoke flavored substances, an electric heater for heating up the smoke flavored substances, and a power management controller to control power supply to operate the heater; wherein the power management controller is to adaptively supply operating power to the heater according to characteristics of a smoking inhaling event detected at said inhale sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Loi Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 10064429
    Abstract: A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Andries D. Sebastian, Huamin Gan, Kenneth C. Deloach, Richard L. Sizemore, Dean M. Vick
  • Patent number: 10010110
    Abstract: A rod is provided, formed from a first sheet including an aerosol-forming material and a second sheet including a non-tobacco material, the first and second sheets being gathered together and circumscribed by a wrapper. The rod may be used as a component part of an aerosol-generating article. The second sheet preferably includes a material configured to modify an aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming material or to modify other properties of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Metrangolo, Pierre-Yves Gindrat, John Faulkner, Jean-Pierre Schaller, Jean-Claude Schneider
  • Patent number: 9901118
    Abstract: The present application provides an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette includes: a body of the electronic cigarette, a suction end, a liquid storage, an atomizing assembly, and a battery rod assembly. The liquid storage is arranged on the body of the electronic cigarette at an end away from the suction end; the atomizing assembly is disposed between the battery rod assembly and the liquid storage, and two ends of the atomizing assembly are respectively provided with a first connection section and a second connection section which have different connecting structures; the atomizing assembly is connected to the battery rod assembly via the first connection section, and the atomizing assembly is connected to the liquid storage via the second connection section. When the electronic cigarette subjected an external screwing force along one direction, only one of the battery rod assembly and the liquid storage can be screwed out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Huizhou Kimree Technology Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Branch
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9894934
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an exemplary aerosol generating device for heating a tobacco block. The aerosol generating device includes a shell, a mouthpiece assembly at an end of the shell, and an atomizing assembly received in the shell. The atomizing assembly includes a hollow heating body configured for inserting into the tobacco block. The heating body includes an inner surface and an outer surface for heating the tobacco block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yonghai Li, Zhongli Xu, Yansheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9693587
    Abstract: There is provided an extractor for an aerosol-generating device configured to receive a smoking article including an aerosol-forming substrate and including a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form the aerosol. The extractor is configured to extract the smoking article received in the device, and includes a sliding receptacle configured to receive the smoking article, and a sleeve configured to receive the sliding receptacle. The sliding receptacle is slidable in the sleeve between a first position in which the substrate of the smoking article is positioned so as to be heated by the heater, and a second position in which the substrate is substantially separated from the heater. The sliding receptacle includes a support configured to support the substrate when the sliding receptacle and the smoking article are moved from the first position to the second position. There is also provided an electrically heated smoking system including the extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Julien Plojoux, Olivier Greim, Dani Ruscio
  • Patent number: 9516899
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate and configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate using both an internal heater, positioned within the substrate, and an external heater positioned outside of the substrate. The use of both an internal and an external heater allows each heater to operate at a lower temperature than would be required when using either an internal or external heater alone. By operating the external heater at a lower temperature than the internal heater, the substrate can be heated to have a relatively uniform temperature distribution while the external temperature of the device can be kept to an acceptably low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Julien Plojoux, Olivier Greim
  • Patent number: 9386801
    Abstract: A process for producing a coated filter plug for a smoking article including: (a) incorporating an additive to a porous filter plug, thereby obtaining an impregnated filter plug; (b) coating a surface of the impregnated filter plug with a cross-linkable polymer material; and (c) cross-linking the cross-linkable polymer material, to form a cross-linked, breakable coating substantially enclosing the impregnated filter plug. The process may further include at least partially coating the impregnated filter plug with a cross-linking agent prior to, or subsequent to, coating with the cross-linkable polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Georgios Karles, Shuzhong Zhuang, Yi Zeng, Hongwei Liu, Daqing Wu
  • Patent number: 8899238
    Abstract: A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140174458
    Abstract: Embodiments include an electronic smoking device that produces authentic smoke and ash by incinerating smoking material placed directly onto a heating source that obtains a high temperature. This heat could also be harnessed for warmth or lighting cigars and cigarettes. The device may be an electronic pipe with a housing compartment, a power source, an atomizer heating source, a mouthpiece, a power trigger, a charger, and airflow ducts. The heating source may include one or more filaments that get heated in the burnable material compartment. The device may be conical in shape as to be a compatible water-pipe accessory. The housing may include several separable sections, including a battery housing and a burn housing that may separate from each other. The device may include adapters including plugged bifurcated adapters, to mitigate leaking from burn housing into the battery adapter, a ceramic dish, and insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: SAMUEL AARON KATZ
  • Patent number: 8534296
    Abstract: This apparatus for the smoking of tobacco and other bulk dried material enables those persons who enjoy smoking to do so in a healthier manner. In the described appliance a water bath cools and filters the smoke before it reaches the mouth and lungs of the smoker. An array of, preferably conical, diffusion screens (210) restricts the size of particulate matter passing through the device from the combustion bowl (180) to the user. By controlling air pressures, valves (240) in series with the diffuser (210) prevent water from flowing into it thereby minimizing the pressure a user must apply to draw smoke through the appliance. This keeps solids from accumulating on or in the diffuser which facilitates cleaning. A static turbine (300) in the throat (110) of the appliance aids additional cooling while reducing the amount of suction that must be applied by a user to clear the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Geoffrey W. Groff
  • Patent number: 8439046
    Abstract: In a filter cigarette having a tobacco strand, a wrapping and a filter, the filter possesses at least one gas phase-active filter part which contains at least one gas phase-reducing substance. The gas phase-reducing substances are embedded in a filter material matrix. They are introduced in a quantity of at least 75 mg per filter and at least 5 mg/mm of the length of the gas phase-active filter part. The filter cigarette exhibits a filter ventilation of at most 30% (or of from 30% to 70%). The NFDPM value is between 4 and 10 mg/cigarette (or in the range of from 2 to 4 mg/Cigarette), as measured in accordance with ISO smoking conditions. The gas phase quotient Q1, defined as (?g of benzene per cigarette)/(mg of CO per cigarette) and measured in accordance with ISO smoking conditions, is less than 1.5, preferably less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Peters, Paul-Georg Henning, Thomas Pienemann, Henning Seidel