(19)

(11)

EP 4 404 781 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 31.07.2024 Bulletin 2024/31 (21) Application number: 22777853.7 (22) Date of filing: 02.09.2022

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24F 40/50(2020.01) A24F 40/53(2020.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): A24F 40/50; A24F 40/53; A24F 40/10 (86) International application number: PCT/US2022/042476 (87) International publication number: WO 2023/043633 (23.03.2023 Gazette 2023/12)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 20.09.2021 US 202117479260 (71) Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC Richmond, Virginia 23230 (US)	(72) Inventors: BLACKMON, Zack W. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) HAWES, Eric Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) KEEN, Jarrett Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) SUNDAR, Rangaraj S. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) LAU, Raymond W. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) GALLAGHER, Niall Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) (74) Representative: Marks & Clerk LLP  15 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BW London EC4A 1BW (GB)