Patents by Inventor Mary E. Counts
Mary E. Counts 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).
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Patent number: 5750964Abstract: A smoking system is provided in which a replaceable cigarette containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of electrical heater elements contained within a lighter to evolve tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. The cigarette and lighter are adapted to provide air flow patterns through the smoking system such that air flows transversely into the cigarette. Such patterns improve aerosol and flavor delivery to the smoker and reduce the condensation of residual heater-region vapor/aerosol in the smoking system.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Seetharama Deevi, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Mohammad R. Hajalogol, Patrick H. Hayes, Charles T. Higgins, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Billy J. Keen, Jr., Bernard C. Laroy, Peter J. Lipowicz, Donald E. Miser, Constance H. Nichols, William H. Stevens, Mantharam Subbiah, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5730158Abstract: A smoking article is provided in which a replaceable tobacco flavor unit containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of permanent reusable heaters to evolve flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. Each heater heats only a portion of the available tobacco flavor material so that a plurality of individual puffs of tobacco flavor substance can be delivered sequentially to the smoker. The replaceable tobacco flavor unit can also include a filter to reduce the effect of residual aerosol which settles or condenses on the permanent portions of the article and which can result in off-tastes when reheated. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the replaceable tobacco flavor unit is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Alfred L. Collins, Mary E. Counts, Amitabh Das, Seetharama C. Deevi, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Michael L. Watkins, Francis V. Utsch
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Patent number: 5613504Abstract: A smoking article is provided in which a replaceable tobacco flavor unit containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of permanent reusable heaters to evolve flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. Each heater heats only a portion of the available tobacco flavor material so that a plurality of individual puffs of tobacco flavor substance can be delivered sequentially to the smoker. The replaceable tobacco flavor unit can also include a filter to reduce the effect of residual aerosol which settles or condenses on the permanent portions of the article and which can result in off-tastes when reheated. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the replaceable tobacco flavor unit is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Alfred L. Collins, Mary E. Counts, Amitabh Das, Seetharama C. Deevi, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Charles T. Higgins, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Billy J. Keen, Jr., Robert E. Lee, III, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Hugh J. McCafferty, Constance H. Nichols, Wynn R. Raymond, Robert L. Ripley, Renzer R. Ritt, Sr., G. Robert Scott, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn, Francis V. Utsch
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Patent number: 5591368Abstract: A provided heater comprises a supporting hub and a plurality of electrically resistive heater blades defining a receptacle to receive an inserted cigarette. Each blade comprises a first heater blade leg having a first end and a second end and extending at the first end from the supporting hub, a second heater blade leg having a first end and a second end, and a connecting section connecting the second end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg. The second end of the second leg extends toward the supporting hub and is electrically insulated therefrom. A resistive heating circuit is formed to heat the electrically resistive heater blade which in turn heats the inserted cigarette. The first and second legs are separated by a gap to permit entrainment of flavor substances into the heated cigarette upon drawing by a smoker.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Grier S. Fleischhauer, Patrick H. Hayes, Constance H. Morgan, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Michael L. Watkins, Walter A. Nichols, David E. Sharpe, Mary E. Counts
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Patent number: 5505214Abstract: A smoking article is provided in which a replaceable tobacco flavor unit containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of permanent reusable heaters to evolve flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. Each heater heats only a portion of the available tobacco flavor material so that a plurality of individual puffs of tobacco flavor substance can be delivered sequentially to the smoker. The replaceable tobacco flavor unit can also include a filter to reduce the effect of residual aerosol which settles or condenses on the permanent portions of the article and which can result in undesirable flavor generation when reheated. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the replaceable tobacco flavor unit is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1992Date of Patent: April 9, 1996Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Alfred L. Collins, Mary E. Counts, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Billy J. Keen, Jr., D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Constance H. Nichols, Wynn R. Raymond, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn, Francis V. Utsch
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Patent number: 5479948Abstract: An electrical smoking article is provided in which tobacco flavor medium is carried past a heater by a continuous web. The web, which preferably is substantially non-combustible, may bear continuous tobacco flavor medium or spaced-apart portions of tobacco flavor medium. A flavor cassette for such an electrical smoking article is also provided. The cassette resembles a conventional recording tape microcassette, having the web in place of magnetic tape. The cassette may also include the heater past which the tape is indexed to heat individual portions of tobacco flavor medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1993Date of Patent: January 2, 1996Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Kenneth S. Houghton, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Peter J. Lipowicz, James L. Myracle, F. Murphy Sprinkel, James M. Washington, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5388594Abstract: A smoking system is provided in which a replaceable cigarette containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of electrical heater elements contained within a lighter to evolve tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. The cigarette and lighter are adapted to provide air flow patterns through the smoking system such that air flows transversely into the cigarette. Such patterns improve aerosol and flavor delivery to the smoker and reduce the condensation of residual heater-region vapor/aerosol in the smoking system.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1993Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Seetharama C. Deevi, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Mohammad R. Hajalogol, Patrick H. Hayes, Charles T. Higgins, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Billy J. Keen, Jr., Bernard C. Laroy, Peter J. Lipowicz, Donald E. Miser, Constance H. Nichols, William H. Stevens, Mantharam Subbiah, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5369723Abstract: A tobacco flavor unit is provided for use in a smoking article for delivering to a smoker a tobacco flavor substance, the smoking article having electrical heating means disposed in a cavity. The tobacco flavor unit includes a carbon fibrous mat and tobacco flavor medium disposed on the mat for providing for the efficient generation of tobacco flavor substance. The carbon mat includes carbon fibers that are made from a precursor selected from the group consisting of rayon, pitch and polyacrylonitrile. A smoking article incorporating the tobacco flavor unit is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1992Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5269327Abstract: An article is provided in which a tobacco flavor medium is electrically heated to evolve inhalable tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of the tobacco flavor medium which are heated sequentially to provide individual puffs.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1991Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Bernard C. LaRoy, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Francis V. Utsch
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Patent number: 5144962Abstract: Methods and apparatus for releasing flavor components from a flavor-generating medium using an electric heating element are provided. A non-combustion flavor-generating article uses electrical energy to power a heating element which heats tobacco or other flavorants. The flavor-generating medium is formed into a packed bed. Energy delivered to the heating element is regulated to maintain the flavor-generating medium at a relatively constant operating temperature to ensure a relatively constant release of flavor.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1989Date of Patent: September 8, 1992Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, Francis M. Sprinkel, Francis V. Utsch
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Patent number: 5060671Abstract: An article is provided in which a flavor generating medium is electrically heated to evolve inhalable flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of the flavor generating medium which are heated sequentially to provide individual puffs.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1989Date of Patent: October 29, 1991Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary E. Counts, Bernard C. LaRoy, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Francis V. Utsch