(19)

(11)

EP 4 572 621 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 25.06.2025 Bulletin 2025/26 (21) Application number: 23787284.1 (22) Date of filing: 19.09.2023

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A24F 40/40(2020.01) A24F 40/46(2020.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): A24F 40/40; A24F 40/46; A24F 40/20; A24F 40/51; A24F 40/42; A24F 40/70; A24B 15/186 (86) International application number: PCT/US2023/074559 (87) International publication number: WO 2024/064667 (28.03.2024 Gazette 2024/13)

(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 ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 19.09.2022 US 202263407927 P 07.11.2022 US 202217982138 (71) Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC Richmond, Virginia 23230 (US)

(72) Inventors: BLACKMON, Zack W. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) KEEN, Jarrett Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) LAU, Raymond W. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) HAWES, Eric Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) TWITE, Dean Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) MCGINLEY, Ryan Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) SUNDAR, Rangaraj S. Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) TRAN, Thomas Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) HOURMAND, Yannick Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) BROADFIELD, Gary Richmond, Virginia 23219 (US) (74) Representative: Potter Clarkson  Chapel Quarter Mount Street Nottingham NG1 6HQ Nottingham NG1 6HQ (GB)