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).

  • Patent number: 5750964
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5730158
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5613504
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5591368
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Grier S. Fleischhauer, Patrick H. Hayes, Constance H. Morgan, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Michael L. Watkins, Walter A. Nichols, David E. Sharpe, Mary E. Counts
  • Patent number: 5505214
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5479948
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5388594
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 5369723
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary E. Counts, Susan E. Wrenn
  • Patent number: 5269327
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary E. Counts, Bernard C. LaRoy, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Francis V. Utsch
  • Patent number: 5144962
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary E. Counts, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, Francis M. Sprinkel, Francis V. Utsch
  • Patent number: 5060671
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Mary E. Counts, Bernard C. LaRoy, D. Bruce Losee, Jr., Constance H. Morgan, Ulysses Smith, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Francis V. Utsch