Patents by Inventor Charles Thomas Howell

Charles Thomas Howell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6465028
    Abstract: A method of brewing a fluid extract using a filter pouch containing flavor extractable particles. One step is supporting a fully compliant, fluid-permeable filter pouch partially filled with flavor extractable particles such that the pouch is inclined at an angle to horizontal ranging from about 30° to about 90° so that the particles accumulate at a bottom end of the filter pouch. Another step is directing brew water to near an upper end of the filter pouch above the particles. The brew water enters the filter pouch without the need for an opening in the pouch, and drops to infiltrate the particles. The particles are partially fluidized by and suspended in the brew water and they rise with the brew water into an empty portion of the filter pouch without a need for opposing sides of the filter pouch to separate to generate internal space. A further step includes brewing a fluid extract from the particles in the filter pouch and discharging the fluid extract from the filter pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Roger William Gutwein, Amy Suzanne Dawson, Charles Thomas Howell
  • Publication number: 20010014361
    Abstract: A method of brewing a fluid extract using a filter pouch containing flavor extractable particles. One step is supporting a fully compliant, fluid-permeable filter pouch partially filled with flavor extractable particles such that the pouch is inclined at an angle to horizontal ranging from about 30° to about 90° so that the particles accumulate at a bottom end of the filter pouch. Another step is directing brew water to near an upper end of the filter pouch above the particles. The brew water enters the filter pouch without the need for an opening in the pouch, and drops to infiltrate the particles. The particles are partially fluidized by and suspended in the brew water and they rise with the brew water into an empty portion of the filter pouch without a need for opposing sides of the filter pouch to separate to generate internal space. A further step includes brewing a fluid extract from the particles in the filter pouch and discharging the fluid extract from the filter pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Roger William Gutwein, Amy Suzanne Dawson, Charles Thomas Howell
  • Patent number: 6245371
    Abstract: A method of brewing a fluid extract using a filter pouch containing flavor extractable particles. One step is supporting a fully compliant, fluid-permeable filter pouch partially filled with flavor extractable particles such that the pouch is inclined at an angle to horizontal ranging from about 30° to about 90° so that the particles accumulate at a bottom end of the filter pouch. Another step is directing brew water to near an upper end of the filter pouch above the particles. The brew water enters the filter pouch without the need for an opening in the pouch, and drops to infiltrate the particles. The particles are partially fluidized by and suspended in the brew water and they rise with the brew water into an empty portion of the filter pouch without a need for opposing sides of the filter pouch to separate to generate internal space. A further step includes brewing a fluid extract from the particles in the filter pouch and discharging the fluid extract from the filter pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Roger William Gutwein, Amy Suzanne Dawson, Charles Thomas Howell