Billy W Conner

US Patent:

6378528, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Sep 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/400585

Inventors:

Dwayne William Beeson - Kernersville NC
Gary Roger Shelar - Greensboro NC
Chandra Kumar Banerjee - Pfafftown NC
Billy Tyrone Conner - Greensboro NC
Randall Allison Hoots - Yadkinville NC

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24B 1500

US Classification:

131352, 131365, 131359, 131194, 131335, 131353, 131355, 162139

Abstract:

An improved substrate for use in smoking articles is produced by infusing aerosol forming material into tobacco. The infusion can take place in one or multiple steps. Preferably, about 10% to about 40% by weight of aerosol former, such as glycerin is infused into strip tobacco at elevated temperatures. The tobacco containing the aerosol former may then be dried, equilibrated to ambient conditions and/or blended with tobacco which does not have added aerosol former. Preferably the resulting material is again infused with an additional about 5% to about 15% by weight of aerosol former, at elevated temperatures. The new substrate material, and the method for making it, result in a substrate which has reduced migration of aerosol former and substantially improved manufacturing characteristics.

US Patent:

7647932, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Aug 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/194215

Inventors:

Daniel V. Cantrell - Lewisville NC, US
William J. Casey, III - Clemmons NC, US
Evon L. Crooks - Mocksville NC, US
Billy T. Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Joanne N. Taylor - Germanton NC, US
Jeffrey A. Willis - Germanton NC, US
James R. Stone - Advance NC, US

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24D 3/06
A24D 3/04
A24B 1/00

US Classification:

131342, 131335, 131341, 131344, 131360

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).

US Patent:

7726320, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

Oct 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/550634

Inventors:

John Howard Robinson - Kernersville NC, US
Billy Tyrone Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Evon Llewellyn Crooks - Mocksville NC, US

Assignee:

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24F 1/00

US Classification:

131200, 131273, 131359, 131194, 131360, 131331

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.

US Patent:

8079371, Dec 20, 2011

Filed:

Apr 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/763890

Inventors:

John Howard Robinson - Kernersville NC, US
Billy Tyrone Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Evon Llewellyn Crooks - Mocksville NC, US

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24D 1/04
A24D 3/00

US Classification:

131200, 131194, 131273, 131359, 131360, 131331

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.

US Patent:

8424538, Apr 23, 2013

Filed:

May 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/775278

Inventors:

Timothy Frederick Thomas - High Point NC, US
Billy Tyrone Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Andries Don Sebastian - Clemmons NC, US
Evon Llewellyn Crooks - Mocksville NC, US

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24B 3/14

US Classification:

131194, 131356, 131370, 131353

Abstract:

A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source configured to be activated by combustion of a smokable material and an insulation layer of a non-glass material that is woven, knit, or both, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment with aerosol-forming material disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

US Patent:

8464726, Jun 18, 2013

Filed:

Aug 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/546107

Inventors:

Andries Don Sebastian - Clemmons NC, US
Billy Tyrone Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Chandra K. Banerjee - Clemmons NC, US
Steven L. Alderman - Lewisville NC, US
Paul E. Braxton - Summerfield NC, US
Carolyn R Carpenter - Lewisville NC, US
Alvaro Gonzalez-Parra - Clemmons NC, US
Bradley J. Ingebrethsen - Long Branch NJ, US
Kristen L. Murray - Advance NC, US
Timothy B. Nestor - Advance NC, US
Evon Llewellyn Crooks - Mocksville NC, US

Assignee:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - Winston-Salem NC

International Classification:

A24F 47/00

US Classification:

131271

Abstract:

A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source configured to be activated by combustion of a smokable material and an insulation layer of a non-glass material that is woven, knit, or both, and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment with aerosol-forming material disposed between, but physically separate from, each of the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the cigarette rod using tipping material.

US Patent:

20070215167, Sep 20, 2007

Filed:

Mar 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/377630

Inventors:

Evon Llewellyn Crooks - Mocksville NC, US
Billy Conner - Clemmons NC, US
Dempsey Brewer - East Bend NC, US
Louis Read - Winston-Salem NC, US

International Classification:

A24B 1/00

US Classification:

131335000, 131360000, 131361000

Abstract:

A smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a lighting end and a mouth end. The smoking article possesses an aerosol-generation system that includes (i) a heat generation segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generating region or segment. A mouth end piece segment can be located at the mouth end of the smoking article. A segment of tobacco cut filler, gathered tobacco paper, or other type of flavor source material, can be positioned between the mouth end piece segment and the aerosol-generation segment. Optionally, segment composed of tobacco cut filler can be positioned so as to provide a lighting end segment. The smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the mouth end piece segment, the aerosol generation segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, any segment located between the mouth end piece and aerosol generation segments, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment. Alternatively, the smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the aerosol-generating segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, at least a portion of any segment located downstream from the aerosol-generating segment, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment, thereby forming a cigarette rod; and the cigarette rod is connected or attached to a filter element using a tipping type of material and arrangement.

US Patent:

20100186757, Jul 29, 2010

Filed:

Jan 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/688598

Inventors:

Evon L. Crooks - Mocksville NC, US
Billy T. Conner - Clemmons NC, US

International Classification:

A24C 1/26
A24B 1/04

US Classification:

131 58, 131361

Abstract:

A smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a lighting end and a mouth end. The smoking article possesses an aerosol-generation system that includes (i) a heat generation segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generating region or segment. A mouth end piece segment can be located at the mouth end of the smoking article. A segment of tobacco cut filler, gathered tobacco paper, or other type of flavor source material, can be positioned between the mouth end piece segment and the aerosol-generation segment. Optionally, segment composed of tobacco cut filler can be positioned so as to provide a lighting end segment. The smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the mouth end piece segment, the aerosol generation segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, any segment located between the mouth end piece and aerosol generation segments, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment. Alternatively, the smoking article possesses an overwrap (e.g., a single paper overwrap) that extends over the longitudinally extending surface of the aerosol-generating segment, at least a portion of the length of the heat generation segment, at least a portion of any segment located downstream from the aerosol-generating segment, and at least a portion of the length of the optional lighting end segment, thereby forming a cigarette rod; and the cigarette rod is connected or attached to a filter element using a tipping type of material and arrangement.