Patents by Inventor Willie G. Houck
Willie G. Houck 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: 6911189Abstract: A filter such as an air having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of an air stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers. Other preferred reagents include aminoethylaminopropylsilyl silica gel (AEAPS) and aminoethylaminoethylaminopropylsilyl silica gel (AEAEAPS).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III
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Patent number: 6595218Abstract: A cigarette filter having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of a smoke stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes from tobacco smoke. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements such as tipping paper, shaped paper insert, mouthpiece plug, solid filter element, or free-flow filter element. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as tipping or filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers. Other preferred reagents include aminoethylaminopropylsilyl (AEAPS) silica gel and aminoethylaminoethylaminopropylsilyl (AEAEAPS) silica gel.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III
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Patent number: 6209547Abstract: A cigarette filter having a reagent which chemically reacts with and removes a gaseous component of a smoke stream. The reagent contains functional groups covalently bonded to a non-volatile inorganic substrate which is incorporated in the filter. The filter can remove gaseous components such as aldehydes from tobacco smoke. Preferred functional groups are 3-aminopropylsilyl groups covalently bonded to silica gel (APS silica gel). The reagent can be contained in a space in the filter or incorporated in one or more filter elements such as tipping paper, shaped paper insert, mouthpiece plug, solid filter element, or free-flow filter element. The reagent can be part of or coated on paper such as tipping or filter paper or incorporated in non-paper filter elements formed from fibrous materials such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene fibers.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Kent B. Koller, Susan E. Wrenn, Willie G. Houck, Jr., John B. Paine, III
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Patent number: 5954979Abstract: A novel electrical smoking system and method of establishing resistance to draw upon a cigarette while smoking a cigarette in an electrical smoking system comprising the step of operatively interposing a frit between a source of ambient air and the cigarette.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary Ellen Counts, William J. Crowe, John L. Felter, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Patrick H. Hayes, Willie G. Houck, H. Neal Nunnally
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Patent number: 5915387Abstract: A novel cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system comprising a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a novel process comprising the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: James D. Baggett, Jr., David A. Clark, Mary Ellen Counts, Patrick C. Cowling, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Michael A. Moore, Wesley G. Sanderson, Richard G. Uhl, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5878752Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cleaning an electrical lighter are provided. A sleeve, e.g., ceramic or metal, surrounds the heater fixture, and a resistive heating element is in thermal proximity with the sleeve. The resistive heating element is either a dedicated element or the cigarette heating elements. The sleeve serves as a aerosol barrier and condensate accumulator to protect other components. Periodically, e.g., substantially contemporaneously with a battery recharge, the heating element is activated to thermally liberate condensates deposited on the sleeve during smoking and also heats, and thereby cleans, other components. Also, a cleaning element is optionally inserted into the cigarette receptacle of the electrical lighter or placed at the exit thereof to absorb, attract and/or catalytically break down the thermally liberated condensates. The sleeve also directs a desired flow path for drawn air within an electrical lighter toward the cigarette.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: John M. Adams, William J. Crowe, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Jay A. Fournier, Mohammad R. Hajaligol, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Donald B. Losee, Constance H. Morgan, John D. Naworal, H. Neal Nunnally, John B. Paine, III, Wynn R. Raymond, Robert L. Ripley, Jeffrey I. Seeman, Francis M. Sprinkel, Michael L. Watkins
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Patent number: 5865185Abstract: 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: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Alfred L. Collins, Mary Ellen 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: 5816263Abstract: A novel cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system comprising a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a novel process comprising the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Inventors: Mary Ellen Counts, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Michael A. Moore, Wesley G. Sanderson, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
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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: 5708258Abstract: 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: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary Ellen Counts, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Mohammad R. Hajalogol, Patrick H. Hayes, Charles T. Higgins, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Bernard C. Laroy, Peter J. Lipowicz, Constance H. Nichols, Mantharam Subbiah, Michael L. Watkins
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Patent number: 5692526Abstract: A novel cigarette of an electrical cigarette system and method of making same, the cigarette comprising a tubular tobacco web and a plug disposed within said tubular tobacco web which provides a structural connection that remains intact after a smoking of the cigarette. The disclosure includes a double-belled plug extending between a free end and a tipped end of a tobacco rod, or in the alternative, a column of tobacco with higher and lower density segments. The disclosure includes a method comprising the steps of producing a continuous plug, passing same through a die, overwrapping the rod with tobacco mat and overwrap, and severing the rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: John M. Adams, Mary Ellen Counts, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Kenneth S. Houghton, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Billy J. Keen, Jr., Wesley G. Sanderson, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5692525Abstract: A cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system having a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a process having the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1995Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary Ellen Counts, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Michael A. Moore, Wesley G. Sanderson, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
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Patent number: 5666978Abstract: 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 30, 1995Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Mary Ellen 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: 5649554Abstract: A lighter is provided having a tobacco flavor heating system which includes a rotatable tobacco containing disc or spiral. This disc or spiral is registered in thermal proximity to a heating element and heated to generate tobacco flavors in response to a sensor. The disc and spiral are sized to provide a convenient number of puffs before disposal. Housings are provided for the disc and spiral to store, register and dispose the tobacco product efficiently. An induction heating system can be employed.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: F. Murphy Sprinkel, Amitabh Das, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Everett C. Grollimund, Willie G. Houck, Jr., Peter J. Lipowicz, Ulysses Smith, James M. Washington, Susan E. Wrenn
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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: 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: 5345951Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 12, 1992Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: 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
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Patent number: 4998543Abstract: The sidestream smoke associated with a cigarette or cigarette-like smoking article is reduced by wrapping the tobacco in a double layer of paper. Each layer includes calcium carbonate (i.e., about 30-40% by weight in the outer paper and about 2-15% by weight in the inner paper, the calcium carbonate in the outer paper having a surface area of about 20-80 square meters per gram by the BET method) and a burn control chemical. The outer layer also preferably includes monoammonium phosphate and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose. The calcium carbonate employed has a relatively high surface area per unit weight. The porosity of the outer layer is about 50-100 cubic centimeters per minute by the Coresta method, and may be adjusted by electrostatic perforation.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1989Date of Patent: March 12, 1991Inventors: Barbro L. Goodman, Willie G. Houck, Jr.