Air Patents (Class 131/336)
  • Patent number: 11950563
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco Nic1b locus and associated genes (e.g., a group of ERF genes). Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Further provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or alkaloids while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Sreepriya Pramod, Marcos Fernando de Godoy Lusso, Jesse Frederick, Andrew Carl Adams, Dongmei Xu
  • Patent number: 11833461
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides small diameter tubular porous fiber filters. These tubular porous fiber filters have many uses including but not limited a filtration medium for removing particles of 5 microns or less from liquid or air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Porex Corporation
    Inventors: Nicole Elizabeth Morris-Anastasi, Michael Andrew Clendenning, Michael W. Spencer, Qiang Zhou, Guoqiang Mao
  • Patent number: 11690347
    Abstract: The present application provides tobacco inbred plants dS1746, dS1746MS, dS1564 and dS1564MS. The present application also provides parts of such plants and products made from those parts. The present application also includes progeny of the provided plants including hybrids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Adams, Marcos F. de Godoy Lusso, Sreepriya Pramod, Dongmei Xu
  • Patent number: 11324901
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices for holding one or more vapor sources in a media inhaler. The devices permit vapor from the one or more vapor sources to be introduced and entrained into a stream of inhaled media. The vapor insert device includes a hollow cylinder having a porous surface, an open anterior end, and an open posterior end. An anterior flange is attached to the open anterior end, and a posterior flange is attached to the open posterior end. The anterior flange and the posterior flange each have a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the hollow cylinder to form a circumferential space around the hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alex Stenzler, Steve Han, James Tibbatts, Steven Ellis
  • Patent number: 11317593
    Abstract: The present application provides tobacco inbred plants dS1746, dS1746MS, dS1564 and dS1564MS. The present application also provides parts of such plants and products made from those parts. The present application also includes progeny of the provided plants including hybrids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Adams, Marcos F. de Godoy Lusso, Sreepriya Pramod, Dongmei Xu
  • Patent number: 11297876
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is disclosed. The aerosol delivery device includes an atomizer and a body. The body has an outlet and houses the atomizer. The aerosol delivery device also includes a structure configured to inhibit liquid droplets of an aerosol precursor from exiting the outlet. Embodiments of the structure include micro-patterned surfaces, absorbers, and macro structures to create droplet capturing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Brinkley, Charles Jacob Novak, III, Alfred Charles Bless
  • Patent number: 11219239
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco substrate and a mouthpiece axially aligned in an abutting end to end relationship with the tobacco substrate. Hydrophobic tipping paper is disposed about the mouthpiece. The tipping paper is hydrophobic due to hydrophobic groups covalently bonded to the tipping paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Clément Besso, Aurélien Guyard, Alen Kadiric
  • Patent number: 11083217
    Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a filter paper for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, in particular filter cigarettes, with the following properties the filter paper comprises fibers comprising pulp fibers, at least 80% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, particularly preferably at least 95% by weight and highly particularly preferably 100% by weight of the filter paper is formed by long-fiber pulp fibers, of the fibers, a proportion with respect to the number of the fibers of between 2% and 10%, preferably between 3% and 9% and particularly preferably between 4% and 8% has a length of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: delfortgroup AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bachmann, Christian Mair, Dietmar Volgger
  • Patent number: 11076632
    Abstract: Joint and blunt tips include at least one cut portion made into a corrugated section of the tip. The cut portion provides a suitable width to receive at least one flavor capsule to be nested therein. When rolled, the corrugated section of the tip forms a pattern which prevents the flavored capsule from falling out of the tip when the flavor capsule is crushed. The tip may be provided in a cylindrical tip form or a conical tip form and works with rolling machines. The cut portion may be formed in a vertical or horizontal configuration along the corrugated section of the tip. One embodiment may feature tips which include a cotton or absorbent member inserted within the cut portion nestled with the flavor capsule. Other embodiments include tips with an absorbent layer along the corrugated section to absorb the contents of the flavor capsule when crushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Manuel Ormaza
  • Patent number: 11071320
    Abstract: There is provided a smoking article comprising a tobacco rod, a filter and tipping material attaching the tobacco rod and the filter. The filter comprises a plug of filtration material that defines a furthest downstream end of the smoking article, the plug being surrounded by one or more filter wrappers. The tipping material includes a ventilation zone. The tipping material and the filter wrapper or wrappers have a combined thickness (t) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article, and the smoking article, at a location about the plug of filtration material, has a diameter (D SA) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article. The diameter (D SA) to thickness (t) ratio is less than about 80 and the filtration material extends to the furthest downstream end of the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Martha Martha, Nicolas Cusnir, Alen Kadiric, Charles Kuersteiner
  • Patent number: 10820625
    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 and less than about (50) percent of the overall filter length. Further, the smoking article comprises a ventilation zone in communication with the cavity at a location along the hollow tube segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Cecilia Lindholm Delaloye, Alen Kadiric
  • Patent number: 10779570
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of administering nicotine to a user via inhalation of the nicotine through an aerosol generating device comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aerosol-generating device in which tobacco contained in the aerosol-generating device is electrically heated to a temperature of less than about 400 degrees Celsius; and (b) allowing the user to inhale the aerosol derived from the electrically heated tobacco; wherein the aerosol contains levels of nicotine that are about the same as the levels in combusted tobacco; and wherein the level of one or more harmful or potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) other than nicotine in the aerosol is lower than the level in combusted tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Felix Fernando, Olivier Greim, Christelle Haziza, Nicola Lama, Falk Radtke
  • Patent number: 10667550
    Abstract: The filter for cigarette product includes a mouthpiece end side-filter material and a front stage-filter material. The mouthpiece end side-filter material has a low air flow-resistance unit that is arranged in a part of a cross section from a front end surface to a rear end surface and having a relatively low air flow-resistance, and a high air flow-resistance unit that is arranged in the remainder of the cross section from the front end surface to the rear end surface and having a higher air flow-resistance than the low air flow-resistance unit. At least on the rear end surface of the mouthpiece end side-filter material, the low air flow-resistance unit is arranged only in one semicircular area, of two parts into which the cross section of the mouthpiece end side-filter material is divided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Ito, Yu Ninomiya, Tomiharu Nagata, Hiroyuki Torai, Sadao Ogi, Kazumasa Arae
  • Patent number: 10631571
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source; a wrapper circumscribing the aerosol-forming substrate and at least a rear portion of the combustible heat source; and a plurality of inwardly extending sharp teeth fixed to an inner surface of the wrapper and arranged to grip the combustible heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Malgat, Rui Nuno Batista
  • Patent number: 10617149
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device is provided, including a plurality of components including an aerosol-forming substrate assembled within a wrapper to form a rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end, the heated aerosol-generating article defining a first air-flow path in which air drawn into the aerosol-generating article through the mouth end passes through the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second air-flow path in which air drawn into the aerosol-generating article through the mouth end does not pass through the aerosol-forming substrate, the resistance to draw (RTD) of the second air-flow path being lower than the RTD of the first air-flow path when the heated aerosol-generating article is not coupled to an aerosol-generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Malgat, Stephane Roudier, Ana Carolina Borges de Couraca, Frederic Lavanchy, Cedric Meyer
  • Patent number: 10609955
    Abstract: The invention provides a cigarette with a filter element comprising at least one longitudinally extending section of filter material. The section of filter material comprises a smoke-altering material therein that is useful for removing a quantity of vapor phase chemicals from the mainstream smoke. The section of filter material further comprises one or more tubes inserted into and extending through section of filter material. The one or more tubes each define a channel adapted for passage of mainstream smoke through the section of filter material while substantially avoiding contact of the portion of mainstream smoke therein with the smoke-altering material. The provision of a portion of mainstream smoke substantially unaltered by the smoke-altering material can be useful to retain certain desirable taste and other sensory properties of the mainstream smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Allen Beard, Leigh Ann Blevins Joyce, Stephen Benson Sears, Steven Lee Alderman, Timothy Brian Nestor
  • Patent number: 10595558
    Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a combustible heat source; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source; and a wrapper circumscribing at least a rear portion of the combustible heat source and at least a front portion of the aerosol-forming substrate, wherein a plurality of inwardly extending projections are disposed on an inner surface of the wrapper overlying the combustible heat source, and the plurality of inwardly extending projections cover between about 10 percent and about 70 percent of a surface area of the inner surface of the wrapper overlying the combustible heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Malgat, Rui Nuno Batista
  • Patent number: 10542773
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco substrate and a wrapper disposed about the tobacco substrate. At least an inner or outer surface of the wrapper is hydrophobic via hydrophobic groups chemically bonded to the wrapper. The wrapper has a permeability of at least about 15 CORESTA units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Aurelien Guyard, Ping Li, Gianluca Sechi
  • Patent number: 10524503
    Abstract: A smoking article having a proximal end and a distal end is provided, including a combustible heat source disposed at the distal end; an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of the combustible heat source; a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and disposed at the proximal end; and a tubular element, which is slideable from a first position towards the distal end to a second position. In the second position, the tubular element at least partially extends over the combustible heat source and is configured to reduce the air supply to the combustible heat source. The tubular element is configured to modify a heat output of the combustible heat source, and to control a resistance-to-draw of the smoking article by selectively covering air inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Dionisius Elisabeth Antonius Florack, Evan Jochnowitz, Angelos Kolyris, Keethan Dasnavis Fernando
  • Patent number: 10426192
    Abstract: A smoking article (130) comprises a variable flow system configured to vary gaseous flow into or through the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED, BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO JAPAN, LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin Blick, Mike Simpson, James Allerton, Dan White, Keith Herbert
  • Patent number: 10258915
    Abstract: A collapsible device for filtering air comprising a base, a fan functionally attached to the base, an air filter releasably attached to the base, and a substantially air impermeable outer sleeve is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dana Paul Gruenbacher, Steven James Schroeck, Jessica Elizabeth Leon, Paolo Dal Bo, Uwe Schober
  • Patent number: 10231478
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a smoking article, the smoking article having a rod of smoke able material (15) and a cylindrically wrapped layer of sheet material, comprises a holder (3) for holding sheet material, an embossing unit (8) configured to emboss sheet material drawn from the holder and an assembling station (14) for assembling the smoking article, configured to receive embossed sheet material from the embossing unit and to wrap the embossed sheet material at least partially around a part of the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Karl Kaljura, Sanjeev Sharma
  • Patent number: 10178878
    Abstract: There is provided a smoking article comprising an aerosol forming substrate, a mouthpiece axially aligned with the aerosol forming substrate, a liquid delivery member and a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the smoking article. The liquid delivery member is disposed in the aerosol forming substrate or in the mouthpiece, and comprises structural material releasably enclosing liquid. The wrapper includes at least one area permeable to the liquid and at least one area impermeable to the liquid. At least a portion of the at least one permeable area is aligned with or downstream of the liquid delivery member. When the liquid is released from the liquid delivery member, the liquid can migrate to the outer surface of the smoking article via the permeable area or areas of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Camus, Christophe Blanc
  • Patent number: 9986758
    Abstract: A sheath for a smoking article, such as a filter cigarette, including an exterior sheath (5) that provides a ventilation structure which has a reduced possibility of occlusion, and which also prevents a reduction in filter efficacy when the strength of the draw on the smoking article by the consumer is increased, for example in order to overcome the effects of dilution of the smoke flow with ambient air. The sheath may be manufactured as an independent entity and then fitted to prefabricated smoking articles, or alternatively may be constructed as an integral part of the smoking article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Fiebelkorn
  • Patent number: 9861123
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first filter section, and a second filter section located downstream of the first filter section. The first filter section comprises a material with a first pressure drop per unit length, the second filter section comprises a material with a second pressure drop per unit length, and the second pressure drop per unit length is greater than the first pressure drop per unit length. The smoking article comprises a ventilation system configured to selectively provide ingress of a variable level of ventilating air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Karl Kaljura
  • Patent number: 9739013
    Abstract: A low ignition propensity cigarette has wrapping paper (6) wrapping filling material into a rod-like shape, and the wrapping paper (6) includes highly conducting bands (10) formed by calendering and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the cigarette, the highly conducting bands (10) having higher thermal conductivity than inherent thermal conductivity of the wrapping paper (6), and burning depression bands (16) formed in the wrapping paper (6) and superposed upon the respective highly conducting bands (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shinzo Kida, Masaaki Fukaya, Ken Uyama
  • Patent number: 9668523
    Abstract: A device includes a casing extending in a longitudinal direction, a vaporizer configured to generate, a vapor, a mouth-end insert at an end of the casing, and a power supply configured to supply power to the vaporizer. The mouth-end insert includes a single, non-recessed end surface, and a plurality of non-diverging outlets in the mouth-end insert. The outlets are generally coplanar at the single, non-recessed end surface of the mouth-end insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker, Geoffrey B. Jordan, Barry S. Smith, Ali A. Rostami
  • Patent number: 9670618
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having orifice groups, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless-path and repetitively through the chamber box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Cunningham, Marc W. Rose, Thomas A. Fletcher
  • Patent number: 9538787
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a sleeve and a cigarette holder cover received in the sleeve, wherein, the sleeve defines at least one inhaling hole at a side surface of an end of the sleeve near the cigarette holder cover, and the cigarette holder cover comprises a cap and a main body extending from a bottom surface of the cap; the main body defines a first groove at an outer surface thereof, the first groove is aligned with the inhaling hole of the sleeve to cooperatively form a channel configured for flowing of smoke, and the channel is configured to guide smoke in the electronic cigarette to reach the inhaling hole and inhaled by a user at a joint of the first groove and the inhaling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9516896
    Abstract: A filter rod used in manufacture of a smoking article contains: (a) a rod of filter material, and (b) a plug wrap surrounding the rod of filter material. The overlapping side edges of the plug wrap are secured together with a plug wrap adhesive and the plug wrap adhesive comprises a disintegration accelerating agent. Alternatively or in addition, the plug wrap may contain perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Milton E. Parrish, Lixin L. Xue, Jon A. Regrut, Marvyn Steele, Thomas J. Gannon, Wesley Gilliam Sanderson
  • Patent number: 9383053
    Abstract: A suction nozzle cover and an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette includes a tube and a suction nozzle cover. The suction nozzle cover includes a cap and a cover body which extends along a lower surface of the cap. An annular platform is formed by the cap with respect to a periphery of the cover body. A lateral wall of the annular platform is at least provided with one first suction outlet, a lateral wall of the cover body is at least provided with one first groove, and the first groove and the suction outlet are connected to each other to form a channel for smoke extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9364022
    Abstract: A low ignition propensity wrapper comprising a first region and a second region different to the first region, wherein the first region is an embossed region. A low ignition propensity smoking article incorporating the wrapper and an apparatus and a method for forming the wrapper are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Karl Kaljura, Leonardo Nappi, Richard Fiebelkorn
  • Patent number: 9307788
    Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses a smokable rod and a filter element. The smokable rod is secured to the filter element using tipping material. The cigarette possesses more than one layer of tipping material. An outer layer of tipping material can overlie at least a portion of an underlying inner layer of tipping material, and during use by the smoker, the outer layer can be removed from the cigarette. Thus, it is possible for a cigarette manufacturer to provide a cigarette that can be used as such by the smoker, or that can be adapted by the smoker to provide a different sensory experience (e.g., the visual, organoleptic, trigeminal, aromatic, and tactile characteristics of the cigarette can be altered by removal of the outer tipping material). Alternatively, the use of the outer layer of tipping material can be used to improve the physical integrity of the cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Paul Stuart Chapman
  • Patent number: 9247771
    Abstract: A smoking article has a tobacco rod wrapped within a wrapping material and having first and second ends, a filter rod and ventilation, wherein the filter rod is connected to the first end of the tobacco rod by a tipping material partially overlapping the tobacco rod and at least partially overlapping the filter rod, and wherein the wrapping material is provided with a first region having a first permeability and/or porosity, the first region extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod from an intermediate position along the portion of the tobacco rod which is not overlapped by the tipping material towards the tipping material and with a second region having a second porosity and/or permeability higher than the first porosity and/or permeability, the second region extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod from the intermediate position towards the second end of the tobacco rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Fiebelkorn
  • Patent number: 9179707
    Abstract: A smoking article comprising a first part moveable relative to a second part, and defining an interface between the first and second parts located around the first part are provided, among other aspects. A cover is configured to cover the interface and obstruct ingress of air into the smoking article directly at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Karl Kaljura, Ian Dunckley, Philip Fawcus, Stuart Dunlop
  • Patent number: 9138016
    Abstract: A smoking article having a tobacco rod, which is adapted to produce mainstream smoke, and a filter attached to said tobacco rod. A permeable wrapping paper circumscribes the tobacco rod and the filter. The filter has an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, and includes a flow restricting segment of smoke impermeable material, which includes at least one open flow passage therethrough to deliver mainstream smoke, and a cavity downstream of the flow restricting segment. The smoking article also includes at least one ventilation zone upstream of the flow restricting segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Randall E. Baren, Darin S. Colassaco, Firooz Rasouli
  • Patent number: 9125436
    Abstract: A smoking article comprising a rod of smokeable material (3) and a wrapper (4) wrapped around the rod of smokeable material, wherein the wrapper comprises a region of ventilation embossing (9) overlapping the smokeable material. A manufacturing method and apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventor: Leonardo Nappi
  • Patent number: 9119418
    Abstract: A smoking article (1) in which a patch of web material (7) such as paper containing an adsorbent material therein, such as activated carbon, is positioned towards the mouth end of the smoking article (1) to achieve a flatter puff profile compared to a conventional cigarette by decreasing the smoke constituents in the final few puffs. Characteristics of the smoking articles may be changed to increase the delivery of smoke constituents in the first few puffs in order to maintain a constant ISO NFDPM yield. The adsorbent-containing paper extends over only a portion of the smoking article towards the mouth end and does not comprise a flavorant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Fiebelkorn
  • Publication number: 20150144149
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) incorporates a tobacco rob (12) and a filter attached to the tobacco rod. The filter includes a concentric filter segment (20) having a central core portion (23) with sorbent material and an outer periphery layer (24) circumscribed about the central core portion. At least about 80 weight % of the sorbent in the smoking article is disposed in the central core portion. The central core portion has a lower RTD than the periphery layer. A ventilation zone (30) is disposed adjacent an upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Helene Blangy, Nadine Lacroix Oggier
  • Publication number: 20150136152
    Abstract: This application provides high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics and development of these plants via breeding. This application also provides hybrid seeds that give rise to high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application provides methods of growing and harvesting high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application further provides tobacco products made from high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics, and methods making such tobacco products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Altria Client Services Inc.
    Inventors: Marcos Fernando de Godoy Lusso, Greg Davis, Jerry W. Morris
  • Publication number: 20150122277
    Abstract: A flow delivery article (1) comprises a flow control component (5) configured to provide at least one flow during a draw on the flow delivery article (1), said at least one flow comprising a respective plurality of flow peaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Frobisher, Michael Newnham, Edward Awty, Jane Nicholls, Charanjit Nandra, David Boast, Simon Smith, Stuart Abercrombie
  • Publication number: 20150114412
    Abstract: The invention relates to smoking articles (10) comprising a rod of smokeable material (11) and a filter (12) attached to one end of the rod, said filter comprising at least two sections and being wrapped in a porous plug wrap, wherein a first tipping wrapper (14) overlies the join between the rod of smokeable material and the filter, and at least one additional tipping wrapper (15) is provided around the filter, spaced from and separate to the first tipping wrapper such that a portion of the porous plug wrap is exposed between the first and at least one additional tipping wrapper, and wherein the tipping wrappers are normally less porous than the plug wrap. However if the tipping wrappers are more porous than the plug wraps, the split tipping will still retain its functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Dittrich, Mike Bevan, David Rushforth, David Lewis
  • Publication number: 20150096578
    Abstract: A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Lee Philip O'Donovan, Eva Menon
  • Publication number: 20150059788
    Abstract: A filter for a smoking article comprises a mouth end filter segment and a rod end filter segment. The rod end filter segment has a passage extending longitudinally therethrough. The passage has a diameter of about 1.0 mm or greater. In one embodiment, the rod end filter segment is comprised of an infinite pressure drop material. In another embodiment, the rod end filter segment is comprised of a low pressure drop material having a hollow tubular element disposed within to define the passage with an inner diameter greater than about 1.55 mm. Air dilution means are disposed in one of said filter segments to admit ventilating air into the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Steven E. Brown, Luis A. Sanchez, Kai Tang, Suzanne F. Roof
  • Publication number: 20150027476
    Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises: a tobacco rod (12); and a filter (14) connected to the tobacco rod and comprising one or more filter segments (16) circumscribed by a filter wrapper (18), including a sorbent material (20). The filter includes a ventilation zone (24) provided upstream of the sorbent material (20). The level of mainstream gas phase smoke constituents delivered (14) during smoking of the smoking article (10) with the ventilation zone (24) open is within up to 40% of the level of mainstream gas phase smoke delivered during smoking of the smoking article (10) with the ventilation zone (24) blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Celine Gambs, Ping Li
  • Patent number: 8925555
    Abstract: A smoking device for generating and releasing smoking vapor free from contamination into the mouth of a user comprising a mouthpiece for providing vapor for inhalation to a user including a tubular casing containing a heater for heating a smoking substance at a substantially constant low temperature by regulating the flow of fuel by a thermal regulator and further having means for visual indication of the operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ploom, Inc.
    Inventors: James Monsees, Adam Bowen
  • Patent number: 8915254
    Abstract: A smoking device for generating and releasing smoking vapor free from contamination into the mouth of a user comprising a mouthpiece for providing vapor for inhalation to a user including a tubular casing containing a heater for heating a smoking substance at a substantially constant low temperature by regulating the flow of fuel by a thermal regulator and further having means for visual indication of the operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ploom, Inc.
    Inventors: James Monsees, Adam Bowen
  • 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: 20140326261
    Abstract: A mouthpiece lining paper for a smoking article, which mouthpiece lining paper forms the outermost layer of the casing of the filter. The mouthpiece lining paper is provided with locally limited raised areas that are formed by hardened lacquer. Between the raised areas, surface regions of the mouthpiece lining paper are provided, above which the raised areas protrude by at least 5 ?m in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the mouthpiece lining paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Guenther Griesmayr, Barbara Puehringer, Marco Scheuchl
  • Publication number: 20140318562
    Abstract: A smoking article (10, 30, 40, 50, 70) with variable ventilation comprises a mouthpiece (12) circumscribed by a first wrapper (24) and a second wrapper (25). The first wrapper (24) and the second wrapper (25) are substantially air impermeable and are movable relative to one another between a low ventilation configuration and a high ventilation configuration. The mouthpiece (12) comprises a first airflow pathway (18, 19) through the first wrapper (24) or the second wrapper (25) and a second airflow pathway (26) through the first wrapper (24) or the second wrapper (25). In the low ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the first airflow pathway (18, 19) is restricted and airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the second airflow pathway (26) is substantially unrestricted. In the high ventilation configuration airflow into the mouthpiece (12) through the first airflow pathway (18, 19) and the second airflow pathway (26) is substantially unrestricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Emmett, Jerome Uthurry, Alen Kadiric, Enrique Dalmau