Smoke Separator Or Treater Patents (Class 131/331)
  • Patent number: 11944119
    Abstract: Apparatuses are provided for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Cynthia Stewart Stokes, John Larkin Nelson, Vernon Brent Barnes, Michael Francis Dube
  • Patent number: 11826462
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for solid products configured for oral use, the products including a carrier material; a releasable material; and wherein the releasable material is combined with the carrier material such that the releasable material is configured for sustained release from the solid product when the solid product is positioned in an oral cavity for a consumer. In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a method of preparing a solid product for oral use, the method comprising providing a releasable material in sprayable form; providing a pouch formed of a fibrous material; and spraying a flavor component onto a least a portion of the pouch one or both of before and after filling the pouch with the oral composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: Darrell Eugene Holton, Jr., Dwayne William Beeson, John E. Bunch, Anthony Richard Gerardi, Chris J. Grimes, Ronald K. Hutchens, Christopher Keller, Thomas H. Poole, Allen Riggins, Frank Kelley St. Charles, Cynthia Stokes
  • Patent number: 11819053
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a tobacco rod and a filter connected to the tobacco rod. The filter comprises a first filter segment and a hollow tube segment downstream of the first filter segment. The hollow tube segment defines a cavity at the mouth end of the filter providing an unrestricted flow channel that extends from the downstream end of the first filter segment to the mouth end of the filter. The length of the hollow tube segment is at least about 25 percent of the overall filter length. Further, the smoking article comprises a ventilation zone comprising at least one circumferential row of perforations provided at a location around the first filter segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alen Kadiric, Cecilia Lindholm Delaloye
  • Patent number: 11760811
    Abstract: A carboxymethylated cellulose having a carboxymethyl substitution of no more than 0.50 and a cellulose I type crystallization of at least 50%. Ideally, the anionization is 0.00-1.00 meq/g. The Schopper-Riegler freeness is ideally at least 60.0° SR. Ideally the ratio of filtration residue is 0%-30% by mass. The viscosity (30 rpm, 25° C.) for an aqueous dispersion having a 1% solid content (w/v) is ideally no more than 10.0 mPa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Inoue, Takeshi Nakatani, Yusuke Tada, Kasumi Nishigaya, Hiroyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11752232
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable personalized air purifier intended to be attached to the belt or to the neck of a user. Purified air is generated by filtering, electrochemically, and UV LED treating of a polluted air. Polluted air is forced through a filter into ionized water, which absorbs particles and kills possible air born bacteria. The UV LED disinfects the polluted air. The device further balances the humidity of the air and delivers healthy air towards the face of the user through a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Gholam Hossein Zereshkian
  • Patent number: 11754555
    Abstract: According to a pad which is used for an immunochromatographic device for extracting a substance to be detected contained in a detection target in an analyte with nitrous acid and which contains an acid anhydride having vapor pressure at 25° C. of 5×10?2 Pa or less and solubility in water at 25° C. of 0.1 mg/L or more, the storage stability is improved; a substance to be detected contained in an analyte is detected with high sensitivity; and the complexity of production is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TANAKA KIKINZOKU KOGYO K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kishi
  • Patent number: 11744281
    Abstract: A device for burning smoking material and inhaling the resulting smoke is disclosed. The device can include an truncated conical member formed from a material having an internal elongated cavity extending from an open end to a closed end. The elongated cavity can be configured to receive a smoking material. The smoking accessory can include a filter disposed within the truncated conical member and defining the closed end. The filter can have a recess formed in a surface of the body along a curved face extending from the first end to the second end, the recess extending radially into the body. The smoking accessory can include a capsule containing a flavoring agent disposed within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Good Tree International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunal Shoor, Brandon Puett
  • Patent number: 11723402
    Abstract: An insert for use with a smokable (e.g., such as a pre-rolled or empty cone) with one or more internal cavities for securing flavor releasing mechanism(s) (e.g., flavored “click balls”) is provided. The insert with internal cavities may be provided as a standalone item for use in pre-rolling and/or hand rolling a cone or cigarette. The insert may include a section of smokable material such as paper including a horizontal aperture and vertical fold lines towards one end. The fold lines may be folded back and forth to form an accordion shaped cavity into which the flavor releasing mechanisms may be inserted and held secure. The insert may then be rolled into a tubular shape and coupled with a smokable to serve as the smokable's mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Aidemar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Jawid Wahidi
  • Patent number: 11596171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter component comprising a plug of filter material comprising a body of a first filtering material and at least one element of a second filtering material, wherein the at least one element of the second filtering material is inserted in the body of a first filtering material, and wherein a volume ratio between a volume of the at least one element of a second filtering material and a volume of the plug is comprised between about 0.3 and about 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Gnan
  • Patent number: 11589608
    Abstract: A filter for a smoking article has improved biodegradability and improved taste during smoking of the smoking article. The filter includes a segment having a filtration substrate including natural cellulose fibres, and a wrapper at least partly surrounding the segment. The filtration substrate contains a composition including an additive for reducing phenols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Ryo Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 11576428
    Abstract: A smoking article filter comprising: a filter material having a circular cylinder shape with first and second end surfaces and a side surface, and including a corrugated film with ridge portions and valley portions arranged alternately, the ridge portions and valley portions extending from the first end surface to the second end surface to form a plurality of air flow paths that allow air to flow from the first end surface to the second end surface; a plurality of particles arranged in the air flow paths; and a filter wrapping paper wrapping the filter material such that the side surface is covered with the filter wrapping paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Michihiro Inagaki, Hiroshi Shibuichi
  • Patent number: 11564415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a slide-on attachment (500) for use with an electronic smoking device (10), the slide-on attachment (500) comprising a body (100) and a plurality of end-caps (300) fitted on the body (100), the body (100) comprising a plurality of cavities, the plurality of cavities (106, 108) comprising a central cavity (106) capable of facilitating fitting the slide-on attachment (500) on the electronic smoking device (10), and at least one lateral cavity (108) comprising a material imbibed with flavored fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Fontem Ventures B.V.
    Inventor: Neha Daryani
  • Patent number: 11540556
    Abstract: There is provided a heated aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol, the heated aerosol-generating article including: an aerosol-forming substrate that is a homogenized tobacco material including tobacco, a fat having a melting point between 20° C. and 50° C., and one or more aerosol-formers, the homogenized tobacco material containing at least 60% tobacco on a dry weight basis. A homogenized tobacco material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Sciboz, Corinne Deforel, Johannes Petrus Maria Pijnenburg, Marine Jarriault
  • Patent number: 11490655
    Abstract: A vaporizer cartridge and tank guard including an elongated member. The long member is a cylindrical member. The long member has a vertical hole located through a middle section. The interior of the hole is surrounded by a flexible material. This material allows a glass cartridge or tank to be removably secured within the hole. A second material is placed around the flexible material. The second material is a hard, protective material that prevents the cylinder from being crushed. The long member has an ergonomic exterior. This exterior is created by tapering the long member inward at the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph Somers
  • Patent number: 11395509
    Abstract: An insert for use with a smokable (e.g., such as a pre-rolled or empty cone) with one or more internal cavities for securing flavor releasing mechanism(s) (e.g., flavored “click balls”) is provided. The insert with internal cavities may be provided as a standalone item for use in pre-rolling and/or hand rolling a cone or cigarette. The insert may include a section of smokable material such as paper including a horizontal aperture and vertical fold lines towards one end. The fold lines may be folded back and forth to form an accordion shaped cavity into which the flavor releasing mechanisms may be inserted and held secure. The insert may then be rolled into a tubular shape and coupled with a smokable to serve as the smokable's mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventor: Jawid Wahidi
  • Patent number: 11286619
    Abstract: A bale of sheets made of virgin cellulose fibers and cellulose ester (CE) staple fibers can be fed to a hydropulper. The CE staple fibers have: i. a denier per filament (DPF) of less than 3, or ii. a cut length of less than 6 mm, or iii. crimping, or iv. a combination of any two or more of (i)-(iii). The bales can be fed and dropped in as entire bales to a hydropulper, or a blend tank directly or indirectly in fluid communication with a hydropulper, using the same feed system employed for feeding cellulose to the hydopulper and avoiding having to defiberize by pulling or drawing fibers from a box container into a hydropulper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Stuart Everett, Melvin Glenn Mitchell, Kenny Randolph Parker
  • Patent number: 11266177
    Abstract: A filter (10) for cigarettes having a wax tubular member (20) with at least one through opening (30) to allow the smoke to pass through. A second detachable tubular member (125) can be optionally added. Through opening (30) may have different shapes that determine how much the smoke temperature is reduced. Member (20) can be selectively depressed to further constrain the passage of smoke to reduce the smoke temperature and trap more gunk. The present was filter is biodegradable and may be used as a carrier for seeds that may bloom when the filter is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Attilio Tebano
  • Patent number: 11246335
    Abstract: A smokeable material for inclusion in a smoking article, the material comprising particles or fragments comprising acacia gum, wherein the particles or fragments do not comprise a diluent, flavourant or aerosol generating material; and substantially comprise or consist of acacia gum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jocelyn Benning, Edward Dennis John, Samuel Paul Whiffen
  • Patent number: 11230811
    Abstract: A bale of sheets made of waste/recycle cellulose fibers and cellulose ester (CE) staple fibers can be fed to a hydropulper. The CE staple fibers have: i. a denier per filament (DPF) of less than 3, or ii. a cut length of less than 6 mm, or iii. crimping, or iv. a combination of any two or more of (i)-(iii). The bales can be fed and dropped in as entire bales to a hydropulper, or a blend tank directly or indirectly in fluid communication with a hydropulper, using the same feed system employed for feeding cellulose to the hydopulper and avoiding having to defiberize by pulling or drawing fibers from a box container into a hydropulper. The waste/recycle cellulose fibers and CE staple fibers can be co-refined prior to making the bale of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles Stuart Everett, Melvin Glenn Mitchell, Kenny Randolph Parker
  • Patent number: 11083215
    Abstract: A heat-not-burn tobacco aerosol source member or consumable includes a first heating section with a front end. The first heating section contains a liquid aerosol precursor existing as a free liquid in an unbound form. A second heating section is provided with a mouth end. The second heating section contains a solid tobacco substrate. A first thermal barrier that is vapor permeable but liquid impermeable is located between the first heating section and the second heating section. The system has a simple structure and lowers processing costs, and greatly reduces undesirable harmful chemicals because of its lower heating temperatures for the first and second heating sections of the consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Andries Don Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11006663
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a tobacco rod and a filter connected to the tobacco rod. The filter comprises a first filter segment and a hollow tube segment downstream of the first filter segment. The hollow tube segment defines a cavity at the mouth end of the filter providing an unrestricted flow channel that extends from the downstream end of the first filter segment to the mouth end of the filter. The length of the hollow tube segment is at least about 25 percent of the overall filter length. Further, the smoking article comprises a ventilation zone comprising at least one circumferential row of perforations provided at a location around the first filter segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alen Kadiric, Cecilia Lindholm Delaloye
  • Patent number: 11000062
    Abstract: A smoking article includes smokable material, a filter downstream of the smokable material, and a breakable capsule (80). The filter is plasma treated or has an increased surface energy relative to standard filter material. The breakable capsule (80) includes a core surrounded by a frangible shell. The core contains a liquid composition comprising a sensory-enhancing agent. The breakable capsule is positioned to cause the liquid composition to contact the filter material (32) when the shell is ruptured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Jérôme Uthurry
  • Patent number: 10667553
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering an aerosol-forming composition and a separate functional composition for generating a functionalized aerosol vapor which emulates the organoleptic characteristics and properties of mainstream smoke experienced by smoking traditional tobacco-based smoking articles. The apparatus comprises an aerosol-forming liquid which is adapted to deliver aerosol-forming liquid to a heating device and a downstream chamber or zone containing an functional composition comprising one or more organoleptic components such as a taste, fragrance and/or nicotine delivery components. The method comprises generating an aerosol from an aerosol forming liquid and functionalizing the aerosol by subjecting the aerosol to a matrix for the purpose of transferring, delivering or imparting one or more organoleptic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V.
    Inventors: Luis A. Sanchez, Kai Tang, Steven E. Brown
  • Patent number: 10595559
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol-generating article (10) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate (12) and a mouthpiece (14) secured to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate (12). The mouthpiece (14) comprises at least one segment of filter material (20) and a vented segment (27) downstream of the at least one segment of filter material (20) and comprising at least one freshener delivery element (26). The vented segment (27) comprising the at least one freshener delivery element (26) is detachable from the at least one segment of filter material (20) to decrease the ventilation of the aerosol-generating article (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Clement Besso
  • Patent number: 10588341
    Abstract: Described are paper wrappers and smoking articles that can include the paper wrappers. The paper wrapper can include a weak organic acid or salt thereof. The addition of the weak organic acid or salt thereof to the paper wrapper can enhance the sensory characteristics of a smoking article that includes the paper wrapper. For instance, the addition of the weak organic acid can enhance the taste and/or smell of a smoking article that includes the paper wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Cai Chen, Michel Barale
  • Patent number: 10575552
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco rod and a wrapper disposed about the tobacco rod. The wrapper includes a plurality of aggregated particles. The aggregated particles include particles of functional material and a whitener bound in a polymeric binder. The particles of functional material may be a catalyst or an oxidant, such as an iron oxide-containing particle. The whitener may be calcium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Aurelien Guyard, Ping Li
  • Patent number: 10542776
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source having a front portion and a rear portion; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the rear portion of the combustible heat source; and a wrapper circumscribing the front portion and the rear portion of the combustible heat source. The wrapper is in contact with the rear portion of the combustible heat source. All or part of the front portion of the combustible heat source is of reduced diameter compared to the rear portion of the combustible heat source so that the wrapper is radially spaced from all or part of the front portion of the combustible heat source by an air gap of at least about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Lavanchy, Ana Carolina Borges de Couraca
  • Patent number: 10421033
    Abstract: A nonwoven filtration medium that includes a fibrous base media including synthetic and/or natural fibers and micro fibrillated cellulose fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Janelle M. Hampton, Derek Owen Jones, Suresh Laxman Shenoy
  • Patent number: 10376657
    Abstract: A system for filtering vaporized medicinal compounds includes a vaporizer configured to release one or more volatilized medicinal compounds in gaseous form, together with solid or semi-solid particulate byproducts, and one or more removable filters for efficiently removing at least a portion of the particulate byproducts while allowing passage of medicinally active volatilized compounds. The vaporizer includes a mouthpiece through which one or more volatilized medicinal compounds may be drawn. The filter is made of a chemically inert material (e.g., polypropylene or other polyolefin) and may be configured to detachably interface with an exposed surface of a vaporizer mouthpiece. The filter acts to remove solid or semi-solid particulate matter passing through the mouthpiece with minimal chemical and/or physical interference with volatilized medicinal compounds, which pass through the filter. The removable filter can also prevent cross-contamination by multiple users of the vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Inventor: Brendan Jones
  • Patent number: 10368575
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises a tobacco rod (12) and a filter (14) connected to the tobacco rod (12). The filter (14) comprises a first filter segment (20) and a hollow tube segment (22) downstream of the first filter segment (20). The hollow tube segment (22) defines a cavity (24) at the mouth end of the filter (14) providing an unrestricted flow channel that extends from the downstream end of the first filter segment (20) to the mouth end of the filter (14). The length of the hollow tube segment (22) is at least about 25 percent of the overall filter length. Further, the smoking article (10) comprises a ventilation zone (26) comprising at least one circumferential row of perforations provided at a location around the first filter segment (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alen Kadiric, Cecilia Lindholm Delaloye
  • Patent number: 10357057
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises a tobacco rod (12) and a filter (14) connected to the tobacco rod (12). The filter (14) comprises a first filter segment (18, 20) comprising one or more breakable capsules, wherein each breakable capsule comprises an outer shell and an inner core containing an additive. The filter (14) further comprises a hollow tube segment (22) downstream of the first filter segment (18, 20) and positioned between a downstream end of the first filter segment (18, 20) and the mouth end of the filter (14). The hollow tube segment (22) defines a cavity (24) at the mouth end of the filter (14). A plug wrap (23) circumscribes the first filter segment (18, 20) and the hollow tube segment (22), wherein the plug wrap (23) has a basis weight of less than 90 grams per square meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Alen Kadiric
  • Patent number: 10342254
    Abstract: There is provided a filter for a smoking article, the filter including a hollow tube of filter material having an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The filter further includes a flow restrictor disposed in the hollow tube. At least one cross sectional dimension of the flow restrictor is larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, such that the flow restrictor engages with the hollow tube to retain the flow restrictor in the hollow tube. There is also provided a smoking article including such a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Leonardo Nappi, Clement Besso
  • Patent number: 10258084
    Abstract: There is provided a smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end, the smoking article including a heat source positioned at the distal end; an aerosol-forming substrate adjacent to the heat source; and a cap configured to at least partially cover the heat source. The cap is attached at a line of weakness to the distal end, including a cylindrical plug of material circumscribed by a wrapper, and is removable to expose the heat source prior to use of the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Mironov, Frederic Lavanchy, Alexis Louvet, Andrea Carraro, Johann Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10154690
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source having a front portion and a rear portion; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the rear portion of the combustible heat source; and a wrapper circumscribing the front portion and the rear portion of the combustible heat source. The wrapper is in contact with the rear portion of the combustible heat source. All or part of the front portion of the combustible heat source is of reduced diameter compared to the rear portion of the combustible heat source so that the wrapper is radially spaced from all or part of the front portion of the combustible heat source by an air gap of at least about 0.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Lavanchy, Ana Carolina Borges de Couraca
  • Patent number: 9936730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Carraro, Alexis Louvet, Oleg Mironov, Christopher John Grant
  • Patent number: 9808749
    Abstract: A device for the suction filtration of fluids, such as urea solutions for exhaust gas after-treatment systems, has a tank (2) storing the fluid, and a filter element (34) arranged in the tank and provided with a filter medium (32) separating the tank contents from a clean-side inner filter cavity (20). The filter cavity extends from the bottom (10) of the tank (2) to a filling level height (28) and corresponds to a part of the filling volume of the tank (2). On the filter cavity (20), a suction connection (22) discharges the cleaned fluid by a suction pressure corresponding to a system operating pressure. The filter element (34) is provided with a filter medium (32), which is air-impermeable if suction pressures are within the range of a low system operating pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sann, Viktor Josef Lauer, Stefan Hennes, Michael Sakraschinsky, Alexander Wohlers, Paul Seibold
  • Patent number: 9775377
    Abstract: A tobacco product wrapping, material comprising composite particles is described, the composite particles being obtainable by a method in which an aqueous suspension containing calcium carbonate particles is prepared, and a metal salt comprising an aluminum cation is added. The metal salt is able to form a basic metal component in the suspension; and has a solubility of greater than 9.0 mg/L in water, measured at the pH value of the prepared suspension and at a temperature of 20° C. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the tobacco product wrapping material, the use of such tobacco product wrapping material for the production of tobacco products, and the tobacco products produced with the tobacco product wrapping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Julius Glatz GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Fritzsching, Christoph Nover, Marijan Vucak
  • Patent number: 9717271
    Abstract: A smoking article comprising a filter segment, the filter segment comprising a tow material and triacetin, wherein the filter segment further comprises an amino acid acetate salt and glycerine. The amino acid acetate salt and glycerine stabilize the triacetin in order to maintain the structural firmness of the tow material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Celine Gambs, Irfan Gunduz, Ping Li, Roger Hofer
  • Patent number: 9687024
    Abstract: Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article A smoking article (10), comprises a first part, and a second part movable relative to the first part. An indexing mechanism comprises a first indexing surface (18) on one of the first part or second part; and a second indexing surface (19) on the other of the first and second parts. The second indexing surface (19) is configured to engage with the first indexing surface (18) to control relative movement between the first part and second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Karl Kaljura, Paul Clarke, Ian Dunckley, Philip Russell Fawcus, Kevin Blick, David Paton, John Richardson, Kie Seon Park, Stuart Dunlop, Patrick Meredith, Graham Penrose
  • Patent number: 9688015
    Abstract: A compact deformation-based micro-texturing apparatus and method employ flexure bearing houses for rotatably supporting opposite ends of each of a first (e.g. upper) roll and a second (e.g. lower) roll to provide a working roll gap between the rolls, wherein at least one of the rolls has one or more micro surface features to plastically deform a surface of a workpiece deformed by rolling action in the roll gap. An electrical current may be passed through the workpiece to assist micro deformation. A roll gap adjusting device is operably associated with the first and second flexure bearing houses for adjusting the roll gap dimension to the final depth of the micro surface features to be imparted to the surface of the workpiece by the rolling action. A sheet material or antifriction element (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Jian Cao, Rui Zhou, Kornel F. Ehmann
  • Patent number: 9682203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a depot for storing and dispensing a substance into a gas phase, having a hybrid structure made of an open-pored macroporous support skeleton, through which a gas can flow, and nanoporous particles immobilized on the support skeleton, which in the pores thereof contain at least one active ingredient to be released, wherein the support skeleton consists of particles or fibers that are permanently connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SURFLAY NANOTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Dähne, Gabriella Egri, Claudia Aldenhoven
  • Patent number: 9603385
    Abstract: Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Shuzhong Zhuang, Georgios D. Karles
  • Patent number: 9522391
    Abstract: The first object is to increase the life of a selective CO methanation catalyst, and the second object is to enhance the CO removal rate of a selective CO methanation catalyst to reduce the outlet CO concentration in a wide temperature range. Provided a selective CO methanation catalyst including a supported metal catalyst which selectively methanizes CO in a hydrogen-rich gas containing CO and CO2 and a coating layer which covers a surface of the supported metal catalyst, has many pores, and is configured to reduce a CO concentration on the surface of the supported metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: University of Yamanashi
    Inventors: Toshihiro Miyao, Kazutoshi Higashiyama, Weihua Shen, Hisao Yamashita, Noboru Hashimoto, Shigehito Deki, Masahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9408939
    Abstract: An anti-microbial air processor is configured and arranged to fit at least substantially across an airway in a personal patient-warming apparatus to thereby inactivate airborne microbes before those airborne microbes are exposed to a patient via warming air delivered by the personal patient-warming apparatus. By one approach, the anti-microbial air processor comprises an anti-microbial air filter. By another approach, in lieu of the foregoing or in combination therewith, the anti-microbial air processor comprises one or more ultraviolet light sources configured to expose at least one inner surface of the personal patient-warming apparatus to ultraviolet light to thereby inactivate microbes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Giles, Peter Nichol
  • Patent number: 9392817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a paper that disintegrates quickly in water, for use as a filter material or filter wrapper paper of a cigarette filter. At least 80 wt % of the paper is formed by cellulose fibers. Of the cellulose fibers, at least 80 wt % are a mixture of long fiber pulp and mercerized pulp. 0 to 90 wt % of the content of the mixture is formed by mercerized pulp, and the rest is formed by long fiber pulp. The cellulose fibers of the mixture have a freeness of at most 30° SR according to ISO 5267. In the disintegration test using an apparatus as described in TAPPI T 261, the paper exhibits a disintegration of at least 60% after 30 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: delfortgroup AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bachmann, Dietmar Volgger, Dieter Möhring, Kannika Pesendorfer, Guido Reiter
  • Patent number: 9326546
    Abstract: A filter cigarillo comprises a bunch, which includes tobacco surrounded by a binder. A first section, different from a general bunch and providing some strengthening effect, is arranged at one end of the bunch. A natural-leaf wrapper surrounds the general bunch and the first section. A second section, which comprises filter material, is arranged downstream of the first section. The second section is connected to the natural-leaf wrapper by an outer tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd.
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Garcia Urbano, Jorge Alonso Rueda, Regine Wolfgramm, Henning Seidel, Fabian Rieth
  • Patent number: 9289013
    Abstract: To provide a cigarette filter that can achieve both strength in a dry state and disintegration in a wet state, this cigarette filter has a filter plug containing a cellulose ester staple fiber, a pulp, and an alkali metal salt of a water-soluble anionic polymer. The filter plug has an alkali metal content of 2 to 100 ?mol per gram of the filter plug. The water-soluble anionic polymer may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylic acid and a polysaccharide having a carboxyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Taniguchi, Hiroki Karakane
  • Patent number: 9220301
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a carbonaceous heat source. A mouth end piece segment is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece segment allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generating segment located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece segment. The aerosol-generating segment incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors). The heat generation segment is in a heat exchange relationship with the aerosol-generating region such that heat generated by the burning fuel element acts to volatilize aerosol-forming material for aerosol formation. The carbonaceous heat source is in intimate contact with coarse, fine or ultrafine particles of materials such as cerium oxide, or mixtures of cerium oxide and palladium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Chandra Kumar Banerjee, Stephen Benson Sears, Joanne Naomi Taylor
  • Patent number: 9185939
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the plurality of elements including an aerosol-forming substrate, and a mouthpiece filter located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate within the rod. The aerosol-generating article further includes a volatile flavor-generating component disposed between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece filter within the rod. In some embodiments, the volatile flavor-generating component is supported by a low resistance support element located between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece filter. In some embodiments, the volatile flavor-generating component is menthol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Marine Jarriault, Alexis Louvet, Cedric Meyer, Daniele Sanna, Gerard Zuber
  • Patent number: 9125437
    Abstract: A smoking article including: a first part defining a first end surface, and a second part defining a second end surface. The first part is rotatable relative to the second part. The first and second end surfaces are configured to engage to limit rotation between the first and second parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventor: Karl Kaljura