The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 20, 2003
Dale Bowman Poindexter, East Bend, NC (US);
Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., King, NC (US);
Franklin Allan Stump, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Dale Bowman Poindexter, East Bend, NC (US);
Jack Gray Flinchum, Jr., King, NC (US);
Franklin Allan Stump, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC (US);
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
A method of expanding tobacco involves introducing a steam flow and a tobacco material into a duct having an inlet and an outlet and defining an arcuate flow path. The tobacco is entrained in the steam flow and conveyed along the arcuate flow path and toward the outlet. The presence of the steam results in volumetric expansion of the tobacco as the steam and entrained tobacco travel along the flow path. The steam and entrained tobacco are then collected and separated. As such, an expanded tobacco is provided.