公开(公告)号：US12195218B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US18447448

申请日：2023-08-10

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Barry S. Smith ,  Steven R. Rinehart ,  Danielle R. Crawford

IPC: B65B5/06 ,  B65B1/00 ,  B65B1/02 ,  B65B1/16 ,  B65B1/36 ,  B65B5/04 ,  B65B7/20 ,  B65B29/00 ,  B65B35/20 ,  B65B35/40 ,  B65B39/04 ,  B65B39/14 ,  B65B43/26 ,  B65G51/00 ,  B65G51/02 ,  B65G53/04 ,  B65G53/06 ,  B65G53/16

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.

公开(公告)号：US11975143B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-07

申请号：US17970121

申请日：2022-10-20

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Christopher S. Tucker ,  Geoffrey Brandon Jordan ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Ali A. Rostami ,  Michael J. Mullins

IPC: A61M15/06 ,  A24F40/10 ,  A24F40/40 ,  A24F40/44 ,  A24F40/485 ,  A24F40/70 ,  A61M11/00 ,  A61M11/04 ,  A61M15/00 ,  A61M16/00 ,  A61M21/00 ,  H01C17/00 ,  H05B1/02 ,  H05B3/00 ,  H05B3/10 ,  H05B3/12 ,  H05B3/16 ,  H05B3/42 ,  H05B3/44

CPC classification number: A61M15/06 ,  A24F40/485 ,  A24F40/70 ,  A61M11/003 ,  A61M11/042 ,  H01C17/00 ,  H05B1/0244 ,  H05B3/0014 ,  H05B3/10 ,  H05B3/12 ,  H05B3/16 ,  H05B3/42 ,  H05B3/44 ,  A24F40/10 ,  A24F40/40 ,  A24F40/44 ,  A61M11/001 ,  A61M11/04 ,  A61M15/002 ,  A61M2016/0018 ,  A61M2021/0016 ,  A61M2205/3653 ,  A61M2205/8206 ,  A61M2205/8268 ,  A61M2209/02 ,  F04C2270/0421 ,  H05B2203/021 ,  Y10T29/49083

Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.

公开(公告)号：US11547145B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-10

申请号：US16456292

申请日：2019-06-28

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Edmond J. Cadieux ,  Douglas A. Burton ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Peter Lipowicz ,  Patrick J. Cobler

IPC: A24F40/465 ,  A61M15/06 ,  A24F40/42 ,  A24F40/50 ,  A24F40/10

Abstract: A liquid reservoir component of an electronic vaping device includes an outer casing extending in a longitudinal direction, an air inlet, and a vapor outlet. An inner tube is within the outer casing defining a central air passage communicates with the inlet and the outlet. A liquid reservoir is in an annular space between the outer casing and the inner tube. A susceptor is adjacent the central air passage, and a wick is in communication with the liquid reservoir and in thermal communication with the susceptor such that the susceptor is operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature to vaporize the liquid material and form a vapor in the central air passage. The liquid reservoir component is configured to connect with a power supply component such that an induction source is operable to generate an inductive field to heat the susceptor when powered by the power source.

公开(公告)号：US10980277B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16000165

申请日：2018-06-05

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Geoffrey Brandon Jordan ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Douglas A. Burton ,  Eric Hawes ,  Sean Sundberg ,  Berina Yerkic-Husejnovic

IPC: A24F47/00 ,  H02J7/00 ,  A24F40/90

Abstract: A charger assembly is configured to charge the electronic vaping device. The charger assembly includes a base including a housing defining a port. The port is configured to receive a tip end of an electronic vaping device. The port includes a magnetic electrical contact centrally positioned at a bottom of the port and a first pin positioned at the bottom of the port. The charger assembly also includes a microprocessor electrically connected to the magnetic electrical contact and the first pin.

公开(公告)号：US10888116B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-12

申请号：US17000444

申请日：2020-08-24

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Barry S. Smith ,  Douglas A. Burton

IPC: A24F40/80 ,  G01N19/00 ,  A24F40/90 ,  G01N27/00

Abstract: An exemplary smoking topography circuit of an electronic aerosol smoking article, includes at least one sensor configured to measure user interaction with the smoking article, a processor, and memory. The processor is configured to detect a smoking event based an output of the at least one sensor, collect data associated with the smoking event, and arrange the data in a pattern that associates the smoking event to shifts in battery voltage. The memory is configured to store the data pattern in a structured multi-byte format.

公开(公告)号：US10676228B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-09

申请号：US15869615

申请日：2018-01-12

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Edmond J. Cadieux ,  Martin Garthaffner ,  Barry S. Smith

IPC: B65C9/02 ,  B65C9/08 ,  B65C9/26 ,  B65G47/86 ,  A24F47/00 ,  A24C5/32 ,  A61M15/06 ,  B65C3/08 ,  B65C3/06

Abstract: A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.

公开(公告)号：US10660363B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-26

申请号：US16004750

申请日：2018-06-11

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Edmond J. Cadieux ,  Douglas A. Burton ,  Patrick J. Cobler ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Peter Lipowicz ,  Kai Cao

IPC: A24F40/465 ,  A61M11/04 ,  A24F47/00 ,  A61M15/06

Abstract: A cartomizer of an electronic vaping device includes a heater circuit which is located adjacent an air passage thereof. The heater circuit includes an electrically resistive heater in electrical communication with a secondary coil. A wick extends across the air passage. The wick is configured to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir toward the heater. The heater is configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation and form a vapor. The cartomizer is connectable to a power supply component which includes a power source in electrical communication with a primary coil. The power supply component is configured to induce sufficient voltage in the secondary coil of the heater circuit such that the secondary coil is configured to heat the heater and vaporize the pre-vapor formulation when the primary coil is powered by the power source.

公开(公告)号：US10433585B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US15391926

申请日：2016-12-28

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Christopher S. Tucker ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Ed Cadieux ,  David Bennett ,  Raquel Olegario ,  San Li ,  Georgios Karles ,  Richard Jupe ,  Peter Lipowicz ,  Benjamin Ragland

IPC: A24F13/00 ,  A24F17/00 ,  A24F25/00 ,  A24F47/00 ,  H05B1/02

Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides a non-combustible smoking system or kit, comprising: a cartridge having a first end and a second end; and a tobacco containing section having a third end and a fourth end. The cartridge includes: a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element. The tobacco containing section includes a tobacco housing and a tobacco heating element. The first end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section, and the second end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the third end of the tobacco containing section.

公开(公告)号：US20190183182A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-20

申请号：US16284061

申请日：2019-02-25

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Christopher S. Tucker ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Charles Dendy

IPC: A24F47/00 ,  H05B3/42

CPC classification number: A24F47/008 ,  H05B3/42 ,  H05B2203/014

Abstract: A heater assembly for an electronic vaping device and a method of manufacturing the electronic vaping device are provided. The heater assembly includes a chimney cage extending longitudinally, a heater extending longitudinally within the chimney cage, a heater gauze positioned about an outer circumference of the heater, the chimney case positioned about an outer circumference of the heater gauze, and a cathode clip electrically connected to a first end portion of the heater.

公开(公告)号：US10098386B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-16

申请号：US15065467

申请日：2016-03-09

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Christopher S. Tucker ,  Geoffrey Brandon Jordan ,  Barry S. Smith ,  Ali A. Rostami

IPC: A24F47/00 ,  H05B3/02 ,  H05B1/02 ,  H05B3/16 ,  A61M15/06 ,  H01C17/00 ,  A61M11/04 ,  H05B3/42 ,  H05B3/00 ,  H05B3/10 ,  H05B3/12 ,  H05B3/44 ,  A61M11/00 ,  A61M16/00 ,  A61M21/00 ,  A61M15/00

Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.