Patent US3601716A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5060671A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5060671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flavor generating article
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc
•
Filing: 1989-12-01
•
Granted: 1991-10-29
•
Expires: 2009-12-01
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary E. Counts
- 👤 Bernard C. LaRoy
- 👤 D. Bruce Losee, Jr.
- 👤 Constance H. Morgan
- 👤 Ulysses Smith
- 👤 F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr.
- 👤 Francis V. Utsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:26
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24F; A24F40/00; A24F40/40; A24F40/46; A24F40/10; A24B; A24B15/00; A24B15/18; A24B15/28; A24B15/42; A24F40/30; A24F40/50; A24F40/20; A24F40/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 85
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An article for delivering to a consumer an inhalable flavor-containing substance, said article comprising: a plurality of pre-measured charges of flavor generating medium; electrical heating means for individually heating each of said pluralilty of charges; a source of electrical energy for powering said electrical heating means; and p1 control means for selectively applying said electrical energy to said electrical heating means to selectively heat said plurality charges in a predetermined sequence, each of said charges being heated only once and, when heated, delivering a predetermined quantity of flavor-containing substance to said consumer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An article for delivering to a consumer an inhalable flavor-containing substance, said article comprising: a plurality of pre-measured charges of flavor generating medium; electrical heating means for individually heating each of said pluralilty of charges; a source of electrical energy for powering said electrical heating means; and p1 control means for selectively applying said electrical energy to said electrical heating means to selectively heat said plurality charges in a predetermined sequence, each of said charges being heated only once and, when heated, delivering a predetermined quantity of flavor-containing substance to said consumer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flavor generating medium comprises tobacco; and when said flavor generating medium is heated, a flavor-containing substance comprising tobacco components is formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flavor generating medium comprises an aerosol-forming material; and when said flavor generating medium is heated, an aerosol is formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises glycerine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 4 wherein said aerosol-forming material further comprises water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein: said flavor generating medium comprises tobacco and an aerosol-forming material; and when said flavor generating medium is heated, an aerosol comprising tobacco components is formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 7 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises glycerine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 8 wherein said aerosol-forming material further comprises water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 7 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 7 wherein said flavor generating medium is a dried slurry comprising ground tobacco and said aerosol-forming material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flavor generating medium comprises tobacco extracts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flavor generating medium comprises condensed components of smoke produced by combustion of tobacco.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said electrical heating means comprises resistant heating means in contact with said flavor generating medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 14 wherein: said resistance heating means is a mesh of resistive wire; and said flavor generating medium is deposited on said wire mesh.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 15 further comprising an adhesion agent for adhering said flavor-generating medium to said mesh.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 16 wherein said adhesion agent is a pectin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 17 wherein said pectin is a citrus pectin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 15 wherein: said flavor generating medium is a dried slurry comprising ground tobacco and an aerosol-forming material; and said slurry is coated onto said mesh.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 19 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises glycerine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 20 wherein said aerosol-forming material further comprises water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 19 wherein said aerosol-forming material comprises water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said flavor-generating medium is concentrated, thereby reducing the amount of electrical energy necessary to form said flavor-containing substance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium are deposited on a substrate; and said electrical heating means is in contact with said substrate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 24 further comprising an adhesion agent for adhering said flavor generating medium to said substrate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 25 wherein said adhesion agent is a pectin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 26 wherein said pectin is a citrus pectin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said electrical heating means comprises a plurality of heating elements corresponding to said plurality of charges.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said electrical heating means comprises: a heating element; and means for indexing said substrate past said heating element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein: said flavor generating medium comprises an electrically conductive material having a selected resistance; whereby: said electrical heating means is integral with said flavor generating medium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 30 wherein said electrical heating means comprises means for conducting electrical energy from said source of electrical energy to said electrically conductive flavor generating medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 31 wherein said electrical heating means comprises a plurality of said conducting means corresponding to said plurality of charges, each of said conducting means contacting one of said charges.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The article of claim 30 wherein: said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium are deposited on a substrate; and said electrical heating means comprises a plurality of conducting means corresponding to said plurality of charges, each of said conducting means contacting one of said charges.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The article of claim 30 wherein: said plurality of charges of flavor-generating medium are deposited on a substrate; and said electrical heating means comprises: a conducting means for contacting said charges, and means for indexing said substrate past said conducting means, whereby: said conducting means sequentially contacts each of said charges.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said electrical heating means comprises graphite.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 35 further comprising an adhesion agent for adhering said flavor generating medium to said graphite.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 36 wherein said adhesion agent is a pectin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 37 wherein said pectin is a citrus pectin.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 35 wherein said graphite is compounded with other forms of carbon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 35 wherein: said electrical heating means further comprises electrical contact means for contacting said graphite; and said graphite is coated with a contact-resistance reducing substance.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 40 wherein said contact-resistance reducing substance comprises tantalum.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
93 words
The article of claim 35 wherein said heating means comprises a cylindrical structure comprising graphite having a plurality of radial vanes, at least one surface of each of said vanes being coated with said flavor generating medium such that each of said vanes has one of said plurality of charges thereon and has a radial edge and an axial edge, all of one of said edges being connected in common to said source of electrical energy, and each of the other of said edges being connected individually to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
76 words
The article of claim 42 wherein said heating means comprises a cylinder comprising graphite, said cylinder having a continuous cylindrical surface and a plurality of said vanes extending inwardly therefrom and extending to an inner edge at a point short of the axis of said cylinder, said outer surface serving as said common connection to said source of electrical energy, and each said inner edge serving as said individual connection to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
76 words
The article of claim 42 wherein said heating means comprises a cylinder comprising graphite, said cylinder having a cylindrical inner core and a plurality of said vanes extending outwardly therefrom and extending to an outer edge at a point remote from the axis of said cylinder, said inner core serving as said common connection to said source of electrical energy, and each said outer edge serving as said individual connection to said source of electrical energy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
90 words
The article of claim 44 wherein said heating means comprises a hollow cylinder comprising graphite, said cylinder having said flavor generating medium coated thereon, said cylinder being divided by at least one pair of opposed partial circumferential slits into a plurality of opposed circumferential strips, each strip of an opposed pair of strips being connected to a pole of said source of electrical energy forming a ring-like heater segment, the flavor generating medium on said inner side of each of said ring-like segments forming one of said plurality of charges.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of claim 45 wherein said heating means comprises a cylinder comprising graphite, said cylinder having an outer surface having a plurality of grooves therein separated by lands thereon, each of said grooves being coated with said flavor generating medium and forming one of said individual charges thereof, each of said grooves being heated by applying power from said source of electrical energy to a land on either side of said groove.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
123 words
The article of claim 46 wherein said heating means comprises a ring comprising graphite and having first and second ends, and divided by first and second interleaved sets of slits, each set of slits extending from a respective one of said ends more than halfway to an opposite one of said ends, into a plurality of bases adjacent said first end and fingers adjacent said second end, said fingers being coated with said flavor generating medium, individual charges of said flavor generating medium being heated by one of (a) applying power from said source of electrical energy to one of said bases and one of said fingers, and (b) applying power from said source of electrical energy to adjacent ones of said bases.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
56 words
The article of claim 47 wherein said flavor generating medium is coated onto said ring in a circumferential band in an area overlapped by both said first and second sets of slits, individual charges of said flavor generating medium being heated by applying power from said source of electrical energy to adjacent ones of said bases.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of claim 47 wherein said flavor generating medium is coated on to said ring in a circumferential band in an area beginning at said second and extending toward said first end a shorter distance than said set of slits extending from said second end, individual charges of said flavor generating medium being heated applying power from said source of electrical energy to one of said bases and one of said fingers.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
80 words
The article of claim 47 wherein said heating means comprises an elongated sheet comprising graphite, said sheet being laterally divided into opposed pairs of strips by opposed pairs of slits extending inwardly from longitudinal edges of said sheet, said flavor generating medium being coated onto said sheet in a longitudinal band spaced from said longitudinal edges, individual charges of said flavor generating medium being heated by applying power from said source of electrical energy to opposed ones of said strips.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
131 words
The article of claim 50 wherein said heating means comprises a plurality of U-shaped vanes, each of said vanes having two legs interconnected at their proximate ends by a base, one of said legs being longer than the other of said legs, said vanes being joined to an electrically conductive hub at distal ends of said longer legs such that said vanes are oriented radially with said longer legs adjacent one another, said bases extending radially outward, and said shorter legs extending parallel to said longer legs but spaced radially outwardly therefrom, said vanes being coated with said flavor generating medium, individual charges of said flavor generating medium being heated by applying power from said source of electrical energy to said hub and to a respective one of said shorter legs.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said source of electrical energy comprises a battery.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 52 wherein said battery is disposable.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 52 wherein said battery is rechargeable.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 54 wherein said source of electrical energy comprises a capacitor.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 55 wherein said source of electrical energy further comprises means for charging said capacitor.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 56 wherein said capacitor charging means comprises a battery.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 56 wherein said battery is disposable.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
10 words
The article of claim 56 wherein said battery is rechargeable.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 56 wherein said capacitor charging means comprises contact means for connecting said capacitor to an external voltage source.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 60 wherein said capacitor has a capacitance sufficient to store energy for heating one of said charges of flavor generating medium.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 60 wherein said capacitor has a capacitance sufficient to store energy for heating at least some of said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 62 wherein said capacitance is sufficient to store energy for heating all of said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
54 words
The article of claim 63 wherein said control means comprises: means for selecting one of said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium; and means for, when a consumer desires to puff said article, applying a pulse of electrical energy to heat said selected one of said plurality of charges of flavor generating medium.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 64 wherein said selecting means is manual.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 64 wherein said selecting means is automatic.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 66 wherein said automatic selecting means selects each of said plurality of charges sequentially.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 66 wherein said control means further comprises sequential indication means for indicating which of said plurality of charges is selected.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 64 wherein said pulse applying means applies a pulse of predetermined duration.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 69 wherein said control means further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when said pulse is being applied.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claim 69 wherein said pulse applying means comprises actuation means and applies said pulse in response to actuation of said actuation means by a consumer.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 71 wherein said control means further comprises lockout means for disabling said actuation means for a predetermined lockout period after an actuation thereof.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 71 wherein said actuation means comprises a pushbutton.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 71 wherein said actuation means comprises a switch actuated when a consumer draws on said article.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 74 wherein said switch is actuated by a pressure-sensitive sensor.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 74 wherein said switch is actuated by a flow-sensitive sensor.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 64 wherein said control means further comprises pulse indication means for indicating when said pulse is being applied.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 600° C.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 78 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium to a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 500° C.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 79 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium to a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 400° C.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium for a duration of from about 0.1 second to about 4 seconds.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 81 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium for a duration of from about 0.5 second to about 1.5 seconds.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 82 wherein said control means causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium for a duration of from about 0.8 second to about 1.2 seconds.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 83 wherein said control means further causes said heating means to heat each charge of said flavor generating medium to a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 400° C.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |