Patents by Inventor Benedikt Heil

Benedikt Heil 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: 8656548
    Abstract: An oral cleaning section for detachable connection with a handle section of an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning section has a connector structure for detachably attaching the oral cleaning section to the handle section. The connector structure has a first receptacle suitable for accommodating a first protrusion of the handle section in the attached state, the first receptacle having a first resilient element provided on a first circumferential side of the first receptacle arranged in a circumferential direction, the circumferential direction being defined with respect to the longitudinal extension axis of the oral cleaning section. The disclosure is also directed to an oral cleaning device that includes an oral cleaning section attached to a handle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Patent number: 8558430
    Abstract: A resonant motor unit that has a resonant motor, a control unit, a measurement unit, and an evaluation unit is described. The control unit drives the resonant motor at a driving frequency, short-circuits the resonant motor during at least a first short-circuiting phase in successive driving cycles and concludes the first short-circuiting phases by switching off the current flow through the resonant motor at least at a predetermined first time instant within the driving cycles. The measurement unit successively measures at least a first voltage signal provided by the resonant motor at the predetermined first time instant, and the evaluation unit for determines whether the first voltage signal has changed between successive measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Klemm, Ingo Vetter, Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil, Kris Lueckel
  • Patent number: 8525373
    Abstract: An oscillatory system for a motorized drive unit for the generation of a rotary oscillatory movement is provided. The system includes a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another. The spring elements are elastic in the direction of the rotary oscillatory movement. For each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Publication number: 20130125327
    Abstract: A body care appliance is disclosed. The body care appliance includes a toothbrush having a first display; a base station for storing and/or charging the toothbrush; and a second display for displaying interactive representations, which are interactively controllable by means of a control unit from the toothbrush. The second display forms a module that is designed separately from the base station and the toothbrush and is separately positionable; the second display having a communication interface for communication with the base station and/or with the toothbrush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Rory McGarry, Wolfgang Stegmann, Duy Phong Vu, Benedikt Heil, Martin Stratmann, Norbert Schaefer, Ivo Kunath, Ingo Vetter, Vladimir Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130125326
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device is disclosed. The device includes a toothbrush; and a display for displaying interactive representations, which are controllable from the display by means of a control device. The control device includes a game controller for controlling a video game on the display and an information controller for making information available on the display, such that a switching device operable by a switching key located on at least the toothbrush or the display is provided for switching between the game presentation generated by the game controller and the information presentation generated by the information controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Rory McGarry, Wolfgang Stegmann, Duy Phong Vu, Benedikt Heil, Martin Stratmann, Norbert Schaefer, Ivo Kunath, Ingo Vetter, Vladimir Fischer
  • Patent number: 8393817
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The tootbrush includes two elements to be driven, wherein the first element is a movable brush head and the second element is a pump; an electric motor; and a device that drives the movable brush head in both directions of rotation of the electric motor and drives the pump in one direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Hansjoerg Reick, Michael Stolper, Andreas Kramp, Norbert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20130025079
    Abstract: A linear electro-polymer motor includes a fixed member, a linear shaft having an axis, a polymer actuator, and a bias member. The polymer actuator includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The bias member includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The polymer actuator changes length after receipt of voltage to linearly move the linear shaft along the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Publication number: 20130025078
    Abstract: A personal care device is disclosed. The personal care device includes an electrically powered driving unit for driving a working implement of the personal care device at a desired speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency; and a control unit for controlling the driving unit in response to load onto the working implement. The control unit includes a detector for detecting an operating parameter of the driving unit responsive to load onto the working implement, and a powering unit for varying the electrical powering of the driving unit in response to a detected change of the value of the operating parameter such that speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency of the working implement is changed from an idling value to an operation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Thomas Fritsch, Ingo Vetter
  • Patent number: 8350447
    Abstract: An electro-polymer motor comprising a fixed member and a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end is presented. The first actuator comprises a polymer positioned between two electrodes. The electrodes are in communication with a power supply. The motor also comprises a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by an axis. The driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator. The motor also comprises a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the second leg of the driven member. The compressible member is spaced apart from the first actuator. The first actuator elongates after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Patent number: 8304938
    Abstract: An oscillatory system for a motorized drive unit for the generation of a rotary oscillatory movement is provided. The system includes a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another. The spring elements are elastic in the direction of the rotary oscillatory movement. For each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Publication number: 20120151698
    Abstract: A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Uwe Schober, Joern Utsch, Andreas Kramp, Frank Ziegler, Benedikt Heil, Marlis Hübner
  • Publication number: 20120066848
    Abstract: A resonant motor unit that has a resonant motor, a control unit, a measurement unit, and an evaluation unit is described. The control unit drives the resonant motor at a driving frequency, short-circuits the resonant motor during at least a first short-circuiting phase in successive driving cycles and concludes the first short-circuiting phases by switching off the current flow through the resonant motor at least at a predetermined first time instant within the driving cycles. The measurement unit successively measures at least a first voltage signal provided by the resonant motor at the predetermined first time instant, and the evaluation unit for determines whether the first voltage signal has changed between successive measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Torsten Klemm, Ingo Vetter, Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil, Kris Lueckel
  • Publication number: 20120036658
    Abstract: A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Uwe Schober, Joern Utsch, Andreas Kramp, Frank Ziegler, Benedikt Heil, Marlis Hübner
  • Publication number: 20110247156
    Abstract: A body care appliance for personal use is disclosed. The body care appliance includes a toothbrush; a display device and a sensing device. The display device displays interactive representations that can be controlled interactively from the toothbrush by means of a control device. The sensing device senses at least one operating parameter relating to the toothbrush, wherein the sensing device has position sensing means for sensing the relative position of the toothbrush to the body part of the appliance user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Rory McGarry, Wolfgang Stegmann, Duy Phong Vu, Benedikt Heil, Martin Stratmann, Nobert Schaefer, Ivo Kunath, Ingo Vetter, Vladimir Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110138562
    Abstract: An oral cleaning section for detachable connection with a handle section of an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning section has a connector structure for detachably attaching the oral cleaning section to the handle section. The connector structure has a first receptacle suitable for accommodating a first protrusion of the handle section in the attached state, the first receptacle having a first resilient element provided on a first circumferential side of the first receptacle arranged in a circumferential direction, the circumferential direction being defined with respect to the longitudinal extension axis of the oral cleaning section. The disclosure is also directed to an oral cleaning device that includes an oral cleaning section attached to a handle section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Jungnickel, Benedikt Heil
  • Publication number: 20100284728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a small electrical appliance, for example an electric toothbrush (1), with two elements to be driven and with an electric motor (10). The small electrical appliance has a device (16.1; 16.2; 16.3) that drives the first and/or the second element depending on the direction of rotation of the electric motor (10). The first element to be driven can be a movable brush head (2), and the second element to be driven can be a pump (7, 14) for conveying a care agent to the brush head (2) from a reservoir, wherein the device (16.1, 16.2, 16.3) drives the brush head (2) in both directions of rotation of the electric motor (10), but drives the pump (7, 14) only in one direction of rotation of the electric motor (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Hansjoerg Reick, Michael Stolper, Andreas Kramp, Norbert Schaefer
  • Patent number: D658382
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Uwe Jungnickel, Wolfgang Stegmann
  • Patent number: D669687
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Uwe Jungnickel, Wolfgang Stegmann
  • Patent number: D691375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: BRAUN GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Uwe Jungnickel, Wolfgang Stegmann, Phong Duy Vu
  • Patent number: D693581
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Kathi Ballmaier, Benedikt Heil, Gerhard Schafer, Carolin Schluter, Alexander Thalheim-Martin