Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Hohlbein

Douglas J. Hohlbein 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: 11751675
    Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Chi Shing Wong, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Kenneth Waguespack, Al Sprosta, Wen Jin Xi, Xiangji Ding
  • Publication number: 20210169207
    Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Chi Shing Wong, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Kenneth Waguespack, Al Sprosta, Wen Jin Xi, Xiangji Ding
  • Patent number: 10307235
    Abstract: An oral care device such as an oral care implement or a toothbrush. The oral care device may include a handle and a head. The head may have a plurality of cleaning elements extending therefrom. The head may comprise an open space or cavity. A plurality of electrodes may be located within the open space or cavity. The electrodes may be coupled to a voltage source. The electrodes may be used to generate a chemical agent via the application of an electrical potential across the electrodes when in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine hypochlorite, ions, peroxides, and/or other chemical agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Eduardo J. Jimenez, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Heng Cai, Sharon Kennedy, Thomas Mintel, Bruce M. Russell
  • Patent number: 10070715
    Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Chi Shing Wong, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Kenneth Waguespack, Al Sprosta, Wen Jin Xi, Xiangji Ding
  • Patent number: 10016053
    Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle and a head. The head may include a support structure formed of a rigid material and a monolithic cleaning block formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. The support structure may have a front surface and a recess formed therein, the recess extending partially through the support structure and terminating in a floor. The monolithic cleaning block may include an anchor portion disposed within the recess of the support structure, a base portion having a bottom surface overlying at least a portion of the front surface of the support structure, and a plurality of cleaning elements extending from a top surface of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9872558
    Abstract: An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle, the head having a first face, a second face, and at least one port extending through the head from the first face to the second face; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material and a plurality of tissue engaging elements extending from the pad; and an elastomeric tooth cleaning element extending from the first face of the head, the elastomeric tooth cleaning element integrally formed with the pad and extending through the port in the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20170215575
    Abstract: An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle, the head having a first face, a second face, and at least one port extending through the head from the first face to the second face; a plurality of tufts of bristles extending from the first face of the head; a soft tissue cleanser positioned on the second face of the head, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a pad formed of an elastomeric material and a plurality of tissue engaging elements extending from the pad; and an elastomeric tooth cleaning element extending from the first face of the head, the elastomeric tooth cleaning element integrally formed with the pad and extending through the port in the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9655436
    Abstract: An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head; a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material positioned within the receiving cavity, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a base surface that is flush with the second face of the head and a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: COLGATE—PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9554640
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided. The implement comprises: a handle having a core (118) comprising recycled material and a cover (112) enveloping the core (118); and a head comprising at least one cleaning element, the head (120) being connected to, or connectable to, the handle. Also provided is a method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising: providing recycled material; and enveloping the recycled material with cover material to form a handle of the oral care implement, the handle having a core comprising the recycled material and a cover comprising the cover material enveloping the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20160354188
    Abstract: An oral care device such as an oral care implement or a toothbrush. The oral care device may include a handle and a head. The head may have a plurality of cleaning elements extending therefrom. The head may comprise an open space or cavity. A plurality of electrodes may be located within the open space or cavity. The electrodes may be coupled to a voltage source. The electrodes may be used to generate a chemical agent via the application of an electrical potential across the electrodes when in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine hypochlorite, ions, peroxides, and/or other chemical agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Eduardo J. Jimenez, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Heng Cai, Sharon Kennedy, Thomas Mintel, Bruce M. Russell
  • Patent number: 9445878
    Abstract: A method of cleaning teeth by providing a device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The device may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The device may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Eduardo J. Jimenez, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Heng Cai, Sharon Kennedy, Thomas Mintel, Bruce M. Russell
  • Patent number: 9364075
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements for enhanced cleaning of the teeth. The tooth cleaning elements include cleaning elements that define a radial array arrangement for better retention of the dentifrice. A radial array may be strategically disposed in an off-axis arrangement within other cleaning elements on the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Thomas Mintel, Bruce Russell, Kenneth Waguespack, Urs Troxler
  • Publication number: 20160128459
    Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle and a head. The head may include a support structure formed of a rigid material and a monolithic cleaning block formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. The support structure may have a front surface and a recess formed therein, the recess extending partially through the support structure and terminating in a floor. The monolithic cleaning block may include an anchor portion disposed within the recess of the support structure, a base portion having a bottom surface overlying at least a portion of the front surface of the support structure, and a plurality of cleaning elements extending from a top surface of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: DOUGLAS J. HOHLBEIN
  • Patent number: 9265337
    Abstract: A toothbrush including a handle and a head mounted to one end of said handle, the head having a cleaning block forming a front surface of the head. A plurality of cleaning elements extend outwardly from the front surface of the head. A depression is formed into the front surface of the head, the depression having a floor. A dispenser is at least partially disposed within the depression. The cleaning elements and the cleaning block are unitarily formed of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9167890
    Abstract: An oral car implement (100) having a decorative member (150) recessed in a handle (120) of the oral care implement and having at least a portion thereof exposed via an aperture (140), and a method of forming the same. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement (120) comprising: a handle having a longitudinal axis and a head (110) connected to the handle; the handle comprising a first transverse section (122) and a second transverse section (121), the first transverse section coupled to the second transverse section; a decorative member disposed between the first transverse section and the second transverse section; and an aperture extending through the first transverse section that exposes at least a portion of the decorative member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9066581
    Abstract: An oral care implement includes a releasable sensory material that invokes a sensory response when in contact with tissues or surfaces of a mouth of a user. In one embodiment, an element is provided that is visually indicative of the sensory response. The oral care implement may also include a soft tissue cleaner provided with the sensory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Chi Shing Wong, Wen Jin Xi, James Herbert Kemp, Al Aquanza Sprosta
  • Publication number: 20150173499
    Abstract: An toothbrush having a handle and a head. The handle may include a first component and a second component covering at least a portion of the first component. The first and second components may be chemically compatible. The first and second components may both comprise a hard polyolefin. The first and second components may have different transparencies. In one aspect, the first component may be opaque and the second component may be transparent or semi-transparent. In some aspects, the handle may also include a third component comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. Furthermore, there may be at least one projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Chi Shing Wong, Douglas J. Hohlbein, Kenneth Waguespack, Al Sprosta, Wen Jin Xi, Xiangji Ding
  • Publication number: 20150164211
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided. The implement comprises: a handle having a core (118) comprising recycled material and a cover (112) enveloping the core (118); and a head comprising at least one cleaning element, the head (120) being connected to, or connectable to, the handle. Also provided is a method of manufacturing an oral care implement, the method comprising: providing recycled material; and enveloping the recycled material with cover material to form a handle of the oral care implement, the handle having a core comprising the recycled material and a cover comprising the cover material enveloping the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D732831
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Al Sprosta, Alan Sorrentino
  • Patent number: D782825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Al Sprosta, Alan Sorrentino