Patents by Inventor John R. Hearn

John R. Hearn 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: 6823873
    Abstract: A cigarette includes an ignition element in contact with tobacco, surrounded by a composite outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is impervious to oxygen causing the tobacco to extinguish between puffs. The ignition element, however, has a longer static burn time than the tobacco and remains smoldering between puffs. Upon a subsequent puff, the smoldering ignition element re-ignites the tobacco. One or more initially-occluded perforations in the outer layer maintain the uniformity in combustion of the tobacco and ignition element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Jay A Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby
  • Publication number: 20020174875
    Abstract: A cigarette includes an ignition element in contact with tobacco, surrounded by a composite outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is impervious to oxygen causing the tobacco to extinguish between puffs. The ignition element, however, has a longer static burn time than the tobacco and remains smoldering between puffs. Upon a subsequent puff, the smoldering ignition element re-ignites the tobacco. One or more initially-occluded perforations in the outer layer maintain the uniformity in combustion of the tobacco and ignition element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jay A. Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby
  • Patent number: 6367481
    Abstract: A cigarette includes an ignition element in contact with tobacco, surrounded by a composite outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is impervious to oxygen causing the tobacco to extinguish between puffs. The ignition element, however, has a longer static burn time than the tobacco and remains smoldering between puffs. Upon a subsequent puff, the smoldering ignition element re-ignites the tobacco. One or more initially-occluded perforations in the outer layer maintain the uniformity in combustion of the tobacco and the ignition element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Jay A Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby
  • Patent number: 6311694
    Abstract: A smoking article comprises a smoking accessory and a cigarette. The smoking accessory includes a holder and a substantially air-impermeable sleeve which is coupled to a distal portion of the holder and is coaxial therewith. The cigarette is received in the smoking accessory such that a distal end of the cigarette is located substantially flush with a distal end of the sleeve. The cigarette includes a column of tobacco which is shorter than that used in conventional cigarettes, e.g., 20 mm in length or less. An air gap separates an outer surface of the cigarette from the sleeve, and plural openings are formed in the sleeve to supply air to the cigarette. In use, the sleeve restricts the flow of air to the cigarette, thereby slowing combustion and reducing sidestream smoke between puffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Jay A. Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby
  • Patent number: 5345951
    Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a heat source is provided. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source to the flavor bed is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Serrano, Kenneth S. Houghton, Harry V. Lanzillotti, Edward B. Sanders, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Charles R. Hayward, John R. Hearn, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Grier S. Fleischhauer, Willie G. Houck
  • Patent number: 5159940
    Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a carbon heat source is provided wherein the carbon heat source and the flavor bed are contained within a non-combustible substantially cylindrical hollow ceramic sleeve. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles R. Hayward, Harry V. Lanzillotti, David E. Merrill, Edward B. Sanders, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., John R. Hearn
  • Patent number: 5076296
    Abstract: A carbonaceous heat source for a smoking article is provided. The heat source is designed to maximize heat transfer to a flavor bed in the smoking article. The heat source undergoes substantially complete combustion leaving minimal residual ash, has a relatively low degree of thermal conductivity and ignites under normal lighting conditions for a conventional cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: William S. Nystrom, Leo C. Lanzel, Harry V. Lanzillotti, Charles R. Hayward, A. C. Lilly, Jr., John R. Hearn
  • Patent number: 5060676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a tasteless carbon heat source from a preformed article of a ligno-cellulosic material according to which the article is pyrolyzed in a continuously exchanged inert atmosphere at a temperature within the range of from about 800.degree. to about 1100.degree. C., for from about 0.5 to about 3 hours, then cooled in the inert atmosphere at a rate of from about 500.degree. to about 10.degree. C. per hour to a temperature within the range of from about 275.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C., and then subjected to at least one additional process step selected from an oxygen absorption step, a salt impregnation followed by heat treatment step, and a water desorption step. The present invention also relates to a smoking article including the carbon heat source, and a flavor generator comprising a substrate material containing at least one thermally releasable flavorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: John R. Hearn, Vincent Lanzillotti, George H. Burnett
  • Patent number: 4991606
    Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a carbon heat source is provided. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source to the flavor bed is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Serrano, Kenneth S. Houghton, Harry V. Lanzillotti, Edward B. Sanders, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Charles R. Hayward, John R. Hearn, D. Bruce Losee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4981522
    Abstract: A flavor source to be used as a thermally releasable flavorant for smoking articles that do not combust tobacco. The material includes tobacco particles, an aerosol precursor that forms an aerosol upon exposure to heat, and a filler material that absorbs and radiates heat to minimize the likelihood that the flavor material will ignite. The material is mixed in an extruder, extruded through a die, and cut into pellets having a substantially uniform shape. The pellets are loaded into a chamber for inclusion in a smoking article as a flavor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter A. Nichols, Harry V. Lanzillotti, Richard A. Thesing, Alex S. Gergely, Constance H. Morgan, Bruce E. Waymack, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., John R. Hearn, Johnny L. Miller
  • Patent number: 4966171
    Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a carbon heat source is provided. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source to the flavor bed is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Serrano, Kenneth S. Houghton, Harry V. Lanzillotti, Edward B. Sanders, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Charles R. Hayward, John R. Hearn, D. Bruce Losee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4366824
    Abstract: An improved process for expanding tobacco is disclosed wherein tobacco components such as stems, midribs and veins are contacted with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution to effect expansion, washed and then dried and/or roasted to produce an expanded tobacco material highly suitable for use in smoking products. Prior to contact with the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution, the tobacco materials are subjected to a pretreatment step with gaseous ozone to prevent clumping and/or interadherence of the tobacco shreds which would otherwise occur during the drying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Norman B. Rainer, John R. Hearn