Cigar Or Cigarette Patents (Class 131/360)
  • Publication number: 20110083684
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing one or more heavy metals from an aqueous plant extract, comprising: contacting the aqueous plant extract with, and sorbing at least a portion of the one or more heavy metals on, at least one sorbent selected from the group consisting of: one or more surface activated titanium oxide particles, one or more chitosans, one or more calcium phosphates, one or more mercaptoalkyl-substituted silica gels, one or more mercaptoalkyl-substituted mesoporous molecular sieves, one or more finely ground ?-aluminas, one or more photocatalytic titanium dioxide particles, one or more Au-anatases, ceria, and combinations thereof, to form a mixture of sorbent and heavy metal-depleted aqueous plant extract; and separating the sorbent from the mixture to provide a heavy metal-depleted aqueous plant extract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Luan, Donald Miser, Darin Colassaco, W. Geoffrey Chan, Padmanabha Reddy Ettireddy, Sarojini Deevi, Marc Krauss
  • Patent number: 7921856
    Abstract: A cigarette casing for independent making of a Russian cigarette by a smoker or for bulk production. The casing of the Russian cigarette has an empty mouthpiece and a connected empty envelope and at least a part of the cavity of which is intended for the allocation of the smoking material. It contains a separating partition selectively penetrable for the smoke, installed so that at least a part of the cavity of the mouthpiece could be detached from at least a part of the cavity of the envelope, and so that it is possible to overlap at least a part of a cross section of the cavity of the mouthpiece. Its design impedes minor changes in the composition of the smoke, the penetration of the particles of the smoking material located in the cavity of the envelope into the cavity of the mouthpiece while filling the casing with the smoking material and into the mouth of the smoker during smoking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Yuriy Sergeyevich Bilivitin, Oleg Anatoliyevich Grinevskyy
  • Patent number: 7900639
    Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco material incorporates an exogenous tocopherol or derivative thereof, such as in the amount of at least about 0.1 weight percent. A tobacco blend can be formed by combining reconstituted tobacco material incorporating such an additive with one or more additional tobacco materials, such as burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, and flue-cured tobacco. A smoking article, such as a cigarette, contains such a reconstituted tobacco, as part of the smokable material, as part of tobacco paper wrapping material, or as part of a reconstituted tobacco-containing filter element. The invention also provides a method of forming reconstituted tobacco material wherein a tocopherol or derivative thereof is added to the tobacco material, either by adding the tocopherol to an aqueous extract or water insoluble pulp formed during the reconstituted tobacco process or by adding the tocopherol to the solid reconstituted tobacco sheet after the aqueous extract and pulp are recombined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Thomas Albert Perfetti, Curtis Dillard McGee, Jr., James Fitzgerald Best, Jr., Paul Andrew Brinkley, Sharon Pitts Dunlap, Charles Hugh Risner
  • Patent number: 7900638
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by perforated cigar or shell, the shell comprising a sheet of material with an intermediate sheet, the sheet comprising tobacco leaves and/or homogenized tobacco paper. The cigar or shell is packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The cigar or shell remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the cigar or shell is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the cigar or shell with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the cigar or shell to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr., Philip S. Zanghi, III
  • Publication number: 20110048434
    Abstract: A method of preparing a tobacco material for use in a smoking article is provided, including (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof; (ii) heating the mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated mixture into a smoking article as a smokable material. A smoking article in the form of a cigarette is also provided that includes a tobacco material pre-treated to inhibit reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide in mainstream smoke. Upon smoking, the smoking article is characterized by an acrylamide content of mainstream smoke that is reduced relative to an untreated control smoking article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Gong Chen, Anthony Richard Gerardi, John-Paul Mua, Darrell Eugene Holton, JR., Daniel Verdin Cantrell, Frank Kelley St. Charles, Serban C. Moldoveanu, Paul Andrew Brinkley
  • Publication number: 20110005534
    Abstract: Reduced risk tobacco-related products and methods of use. These tobacco-related products (e.g., cigarettes or filters) are designed to reduce the biological insult, for example, DSBs, cell death or perturbation of RNA transcriptome or proteome as compared to the amount of biological insult induced by another cigarette, such as a conventional or reference cigarette (e.g., 2R4F), in human cells, and to provide a reduced risk cigarette that meets a cigarette smoker's sensory/perception needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: VECTOR TOBACCO, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Albino, Gregory Andrew Sulin, Richard L. Coyte, Thomas Jeffrey Clark, Patrick Rainey, Gene Gillman
  • Patent number: 7832410
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic atomization cigarette which only contains nicotine without harmful tar. The electronic atomization cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An electronic circuit board, a normal pressure cavity, a sensor, a vapor-liquid separator, an atomizer, a liquid-supplying bottle are sequentially provided within the shell, wherein the electronic circuit board comprises an electronic switching circuit and a high frequency generator. A stream passage of the sensor is provided on one side of the sensor, and a negative pressure cavity is provided in the sensor. The atomizer and the liquid-supplying bottle is in contact with each other. An atomization cavity is arranged in the atomizer. A retaining ring for locking the liquid-supplying bottle is provided between one side of the liquid-supplying bottle and the shell, and an aerosol passage is provided on the other side of the liquid-supplying bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Best Partners Worldwide Limited
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 7795509
    Abstract: DNA encoding a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) enzyme, and constructs comprising such DNA are provided. Methods of altering quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Mark A. Conkling, Wen Song, Nandini Mendu
  • Patent number: 7789089
    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 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Michael Francis Dube, Paul Stuart Chapman
  • Publication number: 20100206317
    Abstract: Reduced risk tobacco-related products and methods of use. These tobacco-related products (e.g., cigarettes or filters) are designed to reduce the biological insult, for example, DSBs, cell death or perturbation of RNA transcriptome or proteome as compared to the amount of biological insult induced by another cigarette, such as a conventional or reference cigarette (e.g., 2R4F), in human cells, and to provide a reduced risk cigarette that meets a cigarette smoker's sensory/perception needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: VECTOR TOBACCO, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Albino, Gregory Andrew Sulin, Richard L. Coyte, Thomas Jeffrey Clark, Patrick Rainey, Gene Gillman
  • Publication number: 20100200008
    Abstract: A smokeless cigarette that provides for the dispensation of vitamins to the user by way of a vitamin infused cartridge whereby a liquid mixture of vitamins and/or botanicals are injected into a liquid supplying bottle within the nicotine cartridge for inhalation and absorption by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Eli Taieb
  • Publication number: 20100180904
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article. The apparatus includes an ecreteur having at least one trimming disk configured to trim a tobacco rod for a smoking article to have at least one end region of increased tobacco density. The at least one trimming disk is further configured to trim a body region of the tobacco rod such that the body region has a variable tobacco mass per unit length, where the body region is distinct from said at least one end region of increased density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Karl Kaljura
  • Patent number: 7757699
    Abstract: Smoke constituent reduction is achieved by resolving from puff-to-puff analysis at which location along a tobacco rod production of a particular smoke constituent is maximized, and locally applying an attenuator at said resolved location to reduce production of the constituent. A remainder of the rod is left untreated so as to minimize impact on taste and burn characteristics of the cigarette. Reduction of the first puff formaldehyde formation is achieved by treating the cigarette tip with salts, using Burley tobacco in the tip, increasing the rod density, ventilation at the tip, and thermal treatment of the tip. Other classes of smoke constituents such as TSNAs (tobacco specific nitrosamines), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), etc., in particular the PAHs of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, flouranthene and benzo(a)pyrene may be reduced with placement of a carbon-based and/or metallic disc at the tip and with practices of the invention herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Shafer, San Li, Milton Parrish, Susan Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20100175703
    Abstract: A process of impregnating fine adsorbent particles such as carbon dust or APS silica gel powder into the micro-cavities of shaped fibers comprises the steps of continuously conveying shaped fibers with micro-cavities to a reservoir of the fine adsorbent particles. The fibers pass through the reservoir to thereby produce relative motion between the fibers and the particles. Additionally, impact forces are created between the shaped fibers and the fine particles to assist in impregnating the particles into the micro-cavities of the fibers. Any excess particles are removed from the fibers outside the reservoir, and subsequently the shaped fibers impregnated with fine adsorbent particles are collected for later use in filter applications such as cigarette filter and air filter applications, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Luke Xue, Kent B. Koller, Qiong Gao, Tim Sherwood, Charles E. Thomas, George R. Scott, Liqun Yu
  • Patent number: 7753056
    Abstract: A smokable rod for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, possesses a co-axial or concentric construction. The outer material that circumscribes the inner core in an annular fashion is composed of a tobacco material treated with a burn suppressing agent, and the outer material acts as a substrate for an aerosol forming material. A preferred aerosol forming material is glycerin. An outer paper wrapper circumscribes the length of the smokable rod, and another paper wrapping material also can circumscribe the inner core material. In use, one end of the smokable rod is lit, and the tobacco cut filler of the inner core burns to yield tobacco smoke. The outer material smolders, and hence thermal decomposition products of the outer tobacco material and volatilized aerosol forming material are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: August Joseph Borschke, Dwayne William Beeson, Sharon Pitts Dunlap, Thomas Albert Perfetti
  • Patent number: 7740019
    Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Larkin Nelson, Vernon Brent Barnes, Louis John Read, Jr., Brent Walker Carter
  • Publication number: 20100132725
    Abstract: Smoking article components, cigarettes, methods for making cigarettes and methods for smoking cigarettes are provided that use nitrided transition metal oxide nanoscale particles and/or nitrided transition metal oxide clusters capable of catalyzing and/or oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or adsorbing carbon monoxide and catalyzing and/or reducing nitric oxide to nitrogen and/or adsorbing nitric oxide. Cut filler compositions, cigarette paper and cigarette filter material can comprise nitrided transition metal oxide nanoscale particles and/or nitrided transition metal oxide clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Budda V. Reddy, Firooz Rasouli
  • Patent number: 7726320
    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: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn Crooks, Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7712472
    Abstract: A smoking article includes a tobacco column, a binder surrounding the tobacco column, a first wrapper surrounding the binder, and at least one additional removable wrapper which surrounds the first wrapper and is removably secured to a wrapper beneath the additional removable wrapper. Packaging for a smoking article involves a supportive tube surrounding the smoking article and sealed in a package, where the package is made from a front and a rear sheet sealed together to form a sealed envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: National Honey Almond/NHA, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kang, Thomas Kang
  • Publication number: 20100108086
    Abstract: Articles of manufacturing for preventing or reducing tobacco smoke- and smokeless-tobacco associated injury in the aerodigestive tract of a subject are disclosed, which comprise at least one agent capable of reducing or preventing tobacco associated loss of peroxidase activity in said aerodigestive tract, said at least one agent being selected from the group consisting of a cyanide chelator and an iron chelator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd
    Inventors: Abraham Z. Reznick, Rafael M. Nagler
  • Patent number: 7690385
    Abstract: An electrically heated cigarette smoking system includes a cigarette that is formed with a tobacco rod portion, a filter tube portion, a tobacco mat layer wrapped around the tobacco rod portion and the filter tube portion with opposite ends of the tobacco mat layer abutting along a seam parallel to the central axis of the cigarette and cigarette paper wrapped around the tobacco mat layer and bonded to itself along an overlapped seam that is offset from the seam of the tobacco mat layer. The method of manufacturing the cigarette includes wrapping the tobacco mat layer and the cigarette paper around the tobacco rod portion and the filter tube portion on a single, high-speed machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 7690386
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by perforated cigar or shell, the shell comprising a sheet of material with an intermediate sheet, the sheet comprising tobacco leaves and/or homogenized tobacco paper. The cigar or shell is packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The cigar or shell remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the cigar or shell is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the cigar or shell with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the cigar or shell to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr., Philip S. Zanghi, III
  • Publication number: 20100068120
    Abstract: CuO—ZnO—CeO2 catalyst and aged CuO—ZnO catalyst catalytically active for low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide. The catalysts are co-precipitated, filtered, washed, dried, and calcined. The catalysts can be incorporated into a component of a cigarette or can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sarojini Deevi, Unnikrishnan Pillai
  • Patent number: 7677256
    Abstract: Smokable rods of cigarettes are manufactured using wrapping materials that incorporate at least one fibrous material (e.g., flax fibers, hardwood pulp fibers and/or softwood pulp fibers) at least one filler material (e.g., calcium carbonate in particulate form). The wrapping materials possess multi-layer coatings. The wrapping materials possess coatings in the form of series of spaced apart bands, each band possessing a series of layers. At least one of the coating layers can have a filler material dispersed or suspended within a film-forming material of that layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Paul Stuart Chapman, Sara Sutton Williard, Charles Ray Ashcraft, James Herbert Ellis, Jr., James Ray Hutchens, Gregory Scott Pierce, John Joseph Tomel, Jr., Mark Stuart Powell
  • Patent number: 7665470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 176, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 176, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 176, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 176, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 176 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 176, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 176 plants, cultivar AOB 176 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 176. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alliance One International, Inc.
    Inventors: Irno L. Mallmann, Claudir Lorencetti
  • Patent number: 7665471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 171, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 171, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 171, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 171, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 171 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 171, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 171 plants, cultivar AOB 171 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 171. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alliance One International, Inc.
    Inventors: Irno L. Mallmann, Claudir Lorencetti
  • Patent number: 7665472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 175, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 175, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 175, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 175, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 175 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 175, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 175 plants, cultivar AOB 175 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 175. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alliance One International, Inc.
    Inventors: Irno L. Mallmann, Claudir Lorencetti
  • Publication number: 20100037905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter or filter element with a substantially cylindrical filter body, which contains, in particular, at least two different additives, the additives being located in at least two zones which are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal-axial direction of the filter body and/or in at least two zones, more particularly layers, which at least in sections lie one above the other in the radial direction of the filter body. The invention also relates to a filter or filter element for tobacco smoke, comprising a substantially cylindrical filter body that can be made from a material which in its initial state is flat, more particularly endlessly curled filaments, paper, fibrous webbing, textile material, non-woven and the like, the filter body comprising at least two zones which are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal-axial direction of the filter body, a tobacco-end zone containing an additive and a mouth-end zone being free from additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Günter Maurer, Eberhard Teufel, Paul Rustemeyer, Eckart Schütz
  • Patent number: 7647932
    Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a lighting end and a mouth end. The lighting end is a longitudinally extending segment comprising smokable material that is intended to be lit and burned, and the resulting smoke generated by the burning of that smokable material is intended to be drawn into the mouth of the smoker through the mouth end of smoking article. A mouth end piece is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generation system that is located between the lighting end segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation system includes (i) a heat generation segment located adjacent to the lighting end segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generation region located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation region incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Daniel V. Cantrell, William J. Casey, III, Evon L. Crooks, Billy T. Conner, Joanne N. Taylor, Jeffrey A. Willis, Dempsey B. Brewer, Jr., Wayne E. Davis, Jr., James R. Stone
  • Patent number: 7645925
    Abstract: DNA encoding a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) enzyme, and constructs comprising such DNA are provided. Methods of altering quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Mark A. Conkling, Wen Song, Nandini Mendu
  • Publication number: 20090301503
    Abstract: A method of preparing a rod for use in the preparation of a smoking article is described. The rod has a first end and a second end. The rod has located therein a solid support. The solid support extends in a linear fashion from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod. At least a portion of said solid support is coated and/or impregnated with an additive. The rod is prepared using rod forming means, wherein said rod forming means comprises a channel ending in an open exit, wherein material may pass through at least part of the channel and leave via the open exit in the form of a rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: White Rex Peter, William David Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090288671
    Abstract: A filter element having a longitudinally extending core and a wrapper (8) engaged around the core, wherein the core comprise filtration material (6) and optionally a particulate material (7) interspersed in the filtration material, and the wrapper (8) comprises a particulate material (9) adhered to two or more portions of said wrapper (8) wherein at least one of said two or more portions extends over the full longitudinal length of said wrapper. Also taught herein is a smoking article comprising said filter element and/or filter comprising said filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Rex White, Martin Graham Duke, William David Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090260645
    Abstract: A tobacco product comprising nanocrystalline particles and methods of reducing the levels of undesirable compounds in tobacco smoke are provided. The nanocrystalline particles are effective sorbents of numerous toxic compounds released by burning tobacco and may be incorporated into the tobacco itself, incorporated into a filter element, or incorporated into the fibers of a wrapping paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: NANOSCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Brotton, Olga B. Koper
  • Patent number: 7569510
    Abstract: Catalysts for the conversion, or oxidation, of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Cigarettes with filters containing the catalysts have acceptable resistance to draw. Additionally, the catalysts can be used to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide from a vehicle exhaust emission, a gas used in a CO2 laser, a gas used in a fuel cell and/or ambient air undergoing air filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Sarojini Deevi, Padmanabha Reddy Ettireddy
  • Patent number: 7560410
    Abstract: A catalyst comprising gold nanodots on cerium oxide, catalytically active for oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature. The catalyst is prepared by deposition-precipitation followed by aging or ultrasound treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Sarojini Deevi
  • Patent number: 7549427
    Abstract: A novel nanocatalyst is disclosed containing titanium oxide, iron oxide, and calcium oxide. The catalyst comprises a layer of iron oxide in the gamma form supported on a titanium oxide core. Addition of calcium cations helps to stabilize the iron oxide in the gamma form. The iron oxide layer is on the order of a few nanometers thick on the surface of the titanium oxide core, in an “egg-in-shell” structure. The nanocatalyst is highly active in promoting the oxidation of compounds such as hydroquinone, catechol, other hydrocarbons, chlorinated phenols, and carbon monoxide, even at moderately elevated temperatures. The catalyst remains active in a pyrolytic environment for extended periods of time, and possesses high redox cycling potential. The efficiency of the catalyst is not strongly affected by coking in a combustion environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Harold B. Dellinger, Slawomir M. Lomnicki
  • Patent number: 7546839
    Abstract: A colored smoke module is disclosed that is mountable to at least a portion of a cigarette or other smoking device. The colored smoke module produces colored smoke when burned. Further, the colored smoke module is user mountable to a cigarette or other smoking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Gal Markel
  • Patent number: 7543590
    Abstract: A tobacco product is formed by perforated cigar or shell, the shell comprising a sheet of material with an intermediate sheet, the sheet comprising tobacco leaves and/or homogenized tobacco paper. The cigar or shell is packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The cigar or shell remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the cigar or shell is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the cigar or shell with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a “roll-your-own” tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the cigar or shell to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Blunt Wrap U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Sinclair, Jr., Philip Salvatore Zanghi, III
  • Publication number: 20090139533
    Abstract: A tobaccoless nicotine delivery device permits delivery of nicotine in a manner similar to a cigarette. The device may include an impermeable outer layer surrounding a micro-encapsulated nicotine layer that includes a measured amount of nicotine in a form that allows nicotine vapor to be released upon rupture of the micro-encapsulation. A permeable membrane may be disposed adjacent to the micro-encapsulated nicotine layer that allows pressure to be applied to the micro-encapsulated nicotine layer while permitting permeation of released nicotine into a central channel for inhalation by a user. A mouthpiece may be disposed at an open end of the central channel in order to provide air resistance to simulate the inhalation effect of a cigarette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Sung K. Park, Douglas C. Dayton
  • Publication number: 20090119806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 175, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 175, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 175, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 175, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 175 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 175, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 175 plants, cultivar AOB 175 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 175. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Irno L. Mallmann, Claudir Lorencetti
  • Publication number: 20090094711
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for producing transgenic plants. In specific embodiments, transgenic plants comprise a construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding microRNA167 (miR167), or precursor thereof, operably linked to a plant pericycle-specific promote, wherein the miR167 is ectopically overexpressed in the transgenic plants, and wherein the promoter is optionally a constitutive or inducible promoter. In some embodiments, the transgenic plant has an improved agronomic or nutritional characteristic when cultivated in nitrogen-rich conditions as compared to a wild type plant cultivated in the same conditions. Also provided herein are commercial products (e.g., pulp, paper, paper products, or lumber) derived from the transgenic plants (e.g., transgenic trees) produced using the methods provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Gloria Coruzzi, Kenneth D. Birnbaum, Miriam Gifford, Rodrigo A. Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20090090373
    Abstract: The lighting end or tip of the smoking article is configured in such a manner that the entire front or upstream face thereof does not lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. For example, at least a portion of the front face of the smoking article lies in a plane (e.g., a generally flat plane) that is positioned about 40° to about 50° relative to the longitudinal axis of that smoking article. As such, the overall nature or character of the mainstream aerosol generated by a smoking article can be altered. This shape may include an ellipse, or may include a first section in a plane not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the face of the lighting end may have a shape such that its surface area is greater than the cross-sectional area of the smoking article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: August Joseph Borschke, Buddy Gene Brown
  • Patent number: 7503330
    Abstract: A smokable rod for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, possesses a co-axial or concentric construction. A longitudinally extending inner core of tobacco cut filler is positioned within a smokable rod. The outer material that circumscribes the inner core in an annular fashion is composed of a tobacco material treated with a burn suppressing agent, and the outer material acts as a substrate for an aerosol forming material. In use, one end of the smokable rod is lit, and the tobacco cut filler of the inner core burns to yield tobacco smoke. The outer material smolders, and hence thermal decomposition products of the outer tobacco material and volatilized aerosol forming material are produced. When the opposite end of the smokable rod is drawn upon, an aerosol composed of tobacco smoke, thermal decomposition products of tobacco, and volatilized aerosol forming material, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: August Joseph Borschke, Dwayne William Beeson, Sharon Pitts Dunlap, Thomas Albert Perfetti
  • Publication number: 20090050166
    Abstract: Shredded tobacco of the invention is treated with metal iodate. A method of treating tobacco of the present invention includes adding metal iodate to shredded tobacco to decompose tobacco specific nitrosamines and polyphenols in the shredded tobacco, thereby reducing the TSNAs and polyphenols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Shinya YOSHIDA, Yoji UWANO, Takako MORIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7484511
    Abstract: A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter comprising a bed of adsorbent and a flavor-releasing filter segment located downstream of the bed of adsorbent. In the preferred embodiment, the adsorbent is also flavor-bearing and comprises high surface area, activated carbon. As mainstream smoke is drawn through the upstream portion of the filter, gas phase smoke constituents are removed and flavor is released from the adsorbent bed. Thereafter additional flavor is released into the mainstream smoke as it passes through the flavor-releasing filter segment. Ventilation is provided to limit the amount of tobacco being combusted during each puff and is arranged at a location spaced downstream from the adsorbent bed to lower mainstream smoke velocity through the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Jupe, Ronald William Dwyer, Don Earl Laslie, Arlington L. Finley, Barbara G. Taylor, Cecil M. Smith, Vivian E. Willis
  • Publication number: 20090000631
    Abstract: Provided is a smoking article and method for reducing TPM cytotoxicity and targeted constituents in mainstream smoke. The smoking article includes tobacco material including a salt of a lanthanide metal. The method includes combining a salt of a lanthanide metal, water, and optionally glycerin to produce a solution that is applied to tobacco material. Preferably, the salt is an acetate, a sulfate, or a gluconate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Xue, W. Geoffrey Chan
  • Publication number: 20090000632
    Abstract: Provided is a method for reducing TPM cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and/or phenolic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the particulate phase of mainstream smoke. Also provided is a smoking article including tobacco material treated with a bismuth containing compound and optionally glycerin. The method includes forming a suspension of a bismuth containing compound, water, and optionally glycerin. Tobacco material is contacted with the suspension, and then dried to evaporate the water. The tobacco material is used to form smoking articles with potentially reduced TPM cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and/or targeted constituents in mainstream smoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Xue, W. Geoffrey Chan
  • Publication number: 20080314401
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a distal end which, in use, contains a smoke producing substance. A proximal end has smoke drawn from it during smoking. At least one channel is provided which runs from the proximal end to at least part way towards the distal end. At least one vent hole is arranged such that an airflow path is defined through the vent hole, via the channel and to the proximal end of the smoking article. A smoke supplement composition is housed along the airflow path, such that, when the smoking article is smoked, air is drawn along the airflow path and over the composition so that the composition becomes air born and is delivered to the smoker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: GALLAHER LIMITED
    Inventors: David William John McLaughlin, Michael Terrace Hollywood, Bernard Eugene Fitzsimons
  • Publication number: 20080264433
    Abstract: Provided is a cucurbituril-containing tobacco. The cucurbituril-containing tobacco includes a cucurbituril represented by Formula 1. The cucurbituril-containing tobacco can produce a reduced amount of harmful substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Kimoon Kim, Kyeng-Min Park, Young-Ho Ko, Narayanan Selvapalam
  • Publication number: 20080202538
    Abstract: Methods for increasing the concentration of antioxidants during senescence and curing of tobacco leaves include application of a chemical solution. The methods include spraying the solution onto the tobacco plant prior to harvest and/or applying the chemical solution to the soil surrounding roots of growing tobacco plants. The application of the chemical solution preferably occurs between topping and harvest, and is optimized to stimulate the production of antioxidants and interfere with the formation of TSNAs during curing. The tobacco can be burley tobacco subjected to air curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Qinglin Li, Walter P. Hempfling, Marc R. Krauss