IP Library Granted Patent US 12,612,312
Granted Patent B2
US 12,612,312 · App. 17/844,834 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Hydrated ionic clay and tobacco material compositions

Inventors: Anusha Saripalli (Santa Clara, CA); Krishnamohan Sharma (Milpitas, CA)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
C01B33/40A24B15/167A24B15/243A24B15/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,612,312
App. No.
17/844,834
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Compositions made from combinations including an hydrated ionic clay and a tobacco material are described herein. Methods of manufacture, as well as methods of extracting nicotine from these compositions are also described. The compositions can be used to prepare liquid vaporizable materials by extracting nicotine from tobacco material and directly from the tobacco material and into a liquid vaporizable material.

Claims (24)

1 . A composition comprising:

a gel matrix comprising a hydrated ionic clay and a tobacco material; and

a solution comprising a solvent configured to extract nicotine from the tobacco material, wherein the gel matrix is immersed in the solution.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrated ionic clay is between 1 wt % to 10 wt % of the gel matrix.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material is between 20 wt % to 95 wt % of the gel matrix.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrated ionic clay is a gel forming grade or a sol forming grade.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrated ionic clay is Laponite.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises an organic acid, a flavoring agent, or both.

7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material is a pure tobacco or a tobacco blend.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein

the hydrated ionic clay is between 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of the gel matrix, and

the tobacco material is between 20 wt % to 95 wt % of the gel matrix.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material has a particle size distribution ranging from 50 to 5000 microns.

10 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the gel matrix is formed as a pellet, brick, bead, tablet, plug, cylinder, or porous rod.

11 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the gel matrix retains its shape within the solution.

12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solution has a pH between 3 and 7.

13 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the tobacco material to the hydrated ionic clay is from 1:1 to 15:1.

14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein 60% to 80% by mass of nicotine is released from the gel matrix into the solution.

15 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises a humectant.

16 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein the humectant is vegetable glycerol, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof.

17 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein the solvent further comprises water.

18 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the solution comprises propylene glycol, vegetable glycerol, and water at a ratio of 60:30:10.

19 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol is from 100:0 to 50:50.

20 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of vegetable glycerol to propylene glycol is from 50:50 to 100:0.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: ENVENIO INC.; JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 069185/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2023
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064252/0225 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062114 FRAME: 0196. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062214/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062114/0195 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061578/0865 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: SARIPALLI, ANUSHA; SHARMA, KRISHNAMOHAN
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060319/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: SARIPALLI, ANUSHA; SHARMA, KRISHNAMOHAN
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060319/0179 →