IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,386,931
Granted Patent B2
US 12,386,931 · App. 18/545,320 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Systems and methods for age restricted product activation

Inventors: Michael F. Sweeney (Winston-Salem, NC); Thomas J. Stopyra (Winston-Salem, NC)
Assignee: Integrated Solutions International, LLC
G06F21/31G06K7/10722G06K7/1413
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,386,931
App. No.
18/545,320
Filed
Dec 19, 2023
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2876
USPC
726/7
Abstract

Embodiments of devices and methods for restricting access to certain age related devices are disclosed, including an accessory for an aerosol delivery device comprising an interface that is configured to provide access to age restricted material within the aerosol delivery device; and authentication circuitry that is configured to receive an age verification of a user, wherein the access is not provided to the aerosol delivery device without the age verification.

Claims (39)

1. A system comprising:

an age verification system configured to verify an age of a user;

an aerosol delivery device comprising:

hardware that provides aerosol to the user; and

an accessory configured to provide access to age restricted material of the aerosol delivery device when the accessory is unlocked,

wherein the accessory is unlocked in response to the user being authenticated with the age verification system;

wherein the accessory is initially unlocked in response to the user performing an initial age verification with the age verification system by providing an electronic identification card, and the accessory is subsequently unlocked in response to an authentication that comprises a verification of a user's identity without requiring evidence of age.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user is authenticated by the accessory communicating with the age verification system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the accessory further comprises authentication circuitry configured for communication with the age verification system.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory couples a power supply with the aerosol delivery device.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a host device coupled with the accessory, wherein the host device provides communication with the age verification system over a network.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a network through which the age verification system is coupled with the host device.

7. An accessory for an aerosol delivery device comprising:

an interface that is configured to provide access to age restricted material within the aerosol delivery device; and

authentication circuitry that is configured to receive an age verification of a user,

wherein the access is not provided to the aerosol delivery device without the age verification by providing an electronic identification card;

subsequently transitioning from preventing the access from being provided to the aerosol delivery device to permitting the access to be provided to the aerosol delivery device in response to a subsequent authentication that comprises a verification of a user's identity without requiring the evidence of age.

8. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the interface comprises a switch configured to provide the access via an interface on the accessory to the aerosol delivery device upon the age verification, and

further wherein the switch does not allow the access via the interface when the age verification fails.

9. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the age verification comprises an authentication that includes communicating with an age verification system over a network.

10. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein the authentication is required and references the age verification of the user.

11. The accessory of claim 9 , wherein an initial age verification operation is performed using identifying documentation.

12. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the age verification comprises an initial age verification for a user and comprises subsequent authentications of that user.

13. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the initial age verification comprises an association of a user with an age, such that the subsequent authentications comprise requests to authenticate the association with the user.

14. The accessory of claim 13 , wherein the initial age verification occurs around a time of purchase.

15. The accessory of claim 12 , further comprising I/O components to facilitate connection to one or more user interfaces.

16. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein subsequent authentications comprises data for subsequent authentications to data stored from the initial age verification for the user.

17. The accessory of claim 7 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a passive data-source.

18. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the accessory is configured to be a host device.

19. The accessory of claim 18 , wherein the host device is configured to communicate with an age verification system over a network regarding the age verification.

20. The accessory of claim 18 , wherein the host device is configured to communicate with the accessory through electric pulses or data pulses.

21. The accessory of claim 7 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a bus for assisting with delivery of the age restricted material.

22. A method for operating a charging accessory with an age restricted device, the method comprising:

receiving an initial age verification for a user by providing an electronic identification card;

accessing, when the age verification is authenticated, the age restricted device;

preventing from accessing, when the age verification is not authenticated, the age restricted device; and

subsequently transitioning from preventing the accessing to permitting the access to be provided to the age restricted device in response to a subsequent authentication that comprises a verification of a user's identity without requiring evidence of age.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising: communicating, over a network, with an age verification system for receiving the age verification of the user.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the age verification comprises information on whether the user has a verified age or not.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2024
From: SWEENEY, MICHAEL F.; STOPYRA, THOMAS J.
To: INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 067612/0805 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17467654 · Sep 7, 2021
Continuation In Part 17225192 · Apr 8, 2021
Continuation PCTUS2019055337 · Oct 9, 2019
Provisional Application 62815147 · Mar 7, 2019
Provisional Application 62746675 · Oct 17, 2018
Related Publication 20240311455A1 · Sep 19, 2024
References Cited (155)
US 7734779B1 · Piccionelli · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8392975B1 · Raghunath · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8485440B1 · Arora et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8967460B1 · Baykal et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9558387B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9721147B1 · Kapczynski · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9734377B2 · Sevier et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9984266B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10257052B1 · Lønborg · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10339351B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10726226B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10867143B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10867144B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11074603B1 · Smith · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11880438B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 11886952B2 · Sweeney et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20030037075A1 · Hannigan et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030061172A1 · Robinson · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030132292A1 · Gomez et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030152947A1 · Crossman et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040181749A1 · Chellapilla et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050059339A1 · Honda et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050080649A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060157559A1 · Levy et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060252055A1 · Francis et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060256388A1 · Erol et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060280364A1 · Ma et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070005173A1 · Kanitz et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070047818A1 · Hull et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070138260A1 · Keys · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080191035A1 · Cheon · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080207296A1 · Lutnick et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080247363A1 · Lee et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090001173A1 · Sevier et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090036405A1 · Kennedy · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090039146A1 · Seo · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090092578A1 · Su et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090108057A1 · Mu et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090307232A1 · Hall · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100251336A1 · Allen, Jr. et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120166309A1 · Hwang et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130018794A1 · Ungerland et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130112746A1 · Krell et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140039932A1 · Walton · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140136012A1 · Tam · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140136223A1 · Phillips · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140222948A1 · Terasawa · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140246035A1 · Minskoff et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140279526A1 · Jackson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140279540A1 · Jackson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140289107A1 · Moshal · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150076225A1 · Sweeney et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150081460A1 · Chong et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150106291A1 · Robinson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150120529A1 · Faaborg · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150124791A1 · Mazandarany et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150181945A1 · Tremblay · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150245668A1 · Memari et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160021930A1 · Minskoff et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160098581A1 · Ascencio et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160100111A1 · Atkinson · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160143361A1 · Juster et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160342970A1 · Horn et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160380774A1 · Lovelock et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170098108A1 · Sweeney et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170116450A1 · Sevier et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170124587A1 · White · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170295014A1 · Baras et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180018659A1 · Bolton · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180020720A1 · Matischek et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180043114A1 · Bowen et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180068105A1 · Shapiro et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180197263A1 · Pearson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180263283A1 · Popplewell et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180296777A1 · Terry et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190050921A1 · Ryner et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190095665A1 · Sweeney · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190158938A1 · Bowen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190167922A1 · Cole · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190258838A1 · Sweeney · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190272359A1 · Popplewell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190295353A1 · Cipriano · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200000143A1 · Anderson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200001027A1 · Jackson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200019920A1 · Durkee · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200140256A1 · Setchell et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200175802A1 · Crawford et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210174417A1 · Kawamoto · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210209204A1 · Flokos · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210350374A1 · Keen · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210350446A1 · D'Haenens et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210358285A1 · Schorey et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210390556A1 · Bermudez · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210401061A1 · Davis et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210403239A1 · Patel · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210405602A1 · Patel · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210406970A1 · Patel et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220071299A1 · Patel · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220256930A1 · Thomas et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220264956A1 · Kim et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230322487A1 · Patel · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240311595A1 · Sweeney et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CA 2924503C · 2022 [cited by applicant]
DE 10334012A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 1548664A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 1811472A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 3047423A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
ES 2786254 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010031110A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011147433A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015042060A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019162157A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020081316A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020081317A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020176898A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Sep. 27, 2024, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 18/545,695. [cited by applicant]
Advisory Action, dated Jul. 21, 2016, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Advisory Action, mailed Jun. 2, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/205,809. [cited by applicant]
CA Office Action, mailed Apr. 8, 2022, by the CIPO, re Application No. 3,115,293. [cited by applicant]
CA Office Action, mailed Mar. 28, 2022, by the CIPO, re Application No. 3, 115,275. [cited by applicant]
EP Exam Report, dated Jan. 19, 2023, by the European Patent Office, in connection with EP Application No. 19797866.2. [cited by applicant]
EP Exam Report, dated Jan. 19, 2023, by the European Patent Office, in connection with EP Application No. 19797867.9. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, dated Jun. 6, 2023, by the USPTO, re Application No. 17/225, 192. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, dated Mar. 13, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/205,809. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, dated May 18, 2016, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, dated Oct. 13, 2015, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, dated Oct. 18, 2022, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 17/225,192. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion, dated Dec. 3, 2014, by the ISA/EP, regarding PCT/US2014/055916. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report, dated Jan. 20, 2020, by the ISA/EP, regarding PCT/US2019/055334. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report, dated Jan. 20, 2020, by the ISA/EP, regarding PCT/US2019/055337. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Dec. 13, 2016, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Feb. 20, 2018, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 15/382,319. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Mar. 15, 2019, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 15/954,909. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Mar. 26, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/418,285. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Sep. 18, 2023, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 17/225,192. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Sep. 29, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/205,809. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Sep. 3, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/403,785. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance; mailed Sep. 18, 2023; by the USPTO; re Application No. 17/225, 192. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance; mailed Sep. 20, 2023; by the USPTO; re U.S. Appl. No. 17/467,654. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Apr. 27, 2023, by the USPTO, regarding U.S. Appl. No. 17/467,654. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Dec. 13, 2018, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 15/954,909. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Dec. 28, 2016, by the CIPO, re CA App No. 2,924,503. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Feb. 1, 2023, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 17/225,192. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Jan. 5, 2016, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Jul. 13, 2017, by the EPO, re EP App No. 14777999.5. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Jun. 8, 2022, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 17/225,192. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated May 22, 2020, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/403,785. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated May 29, 2015, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 14/487,952. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Nov. 24, 2017, by the CIPO, re CA App No. 2,924,503. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Nov. 25, 2019, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/418,285. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Oct. 2, 2019, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 16/205,809. [cited by applicant]
Office Action, dated Sep. 12, 2017, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 15/382,319. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion, dated Jan. 20, 2020, by the ISA/EP, regarding PCT/US2019/055334. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion, dated Jan. 20, 2020, by the ISA/EP, regarding PCT/US2019/055337. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance, dated Apr. 15, 2025, by the USPTO, re U.S. Appl. No. 18/545,695. [cited by applicant]