Patents by Inventor Erik Houbolt

Erik Houbolt 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: 10384359
    Abstract: A shaving head is provided that includes one or more cutting blades and actively driveable skin stretching device arranged behind said cutting blade. The actively driveable skin stretching device operates to reduce the possibility of causing nicks and cuts or skin irritation during a shaving operation. The shaving head provides a pivot axis between the shaving head and a handle that is either attached or attachable to the shaving head. The pivot axis is arranged to be essentially parallel to the cutting blade. By providing the pivot axis, the force ratio between a force applied to the actively driveable skin stretching device and forces applied to other parts of the shaving head may be kept constant for different angles of the handle. This improves the functioning of the actively driveable skin stretching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIP N.V.
    Inventors: Erik Houbolt, Marco Christiaan Hamburg, Everhardus Johannes Hoexum, Hendrik Klaas Paauw, Mark Wesseling, Hette Akkerman
  • Patent number: 9993929
    Abstract: A carrier is adapted for use in a shaving device and includes at least one pair (15) of a cutting element (8) and a hair lifting element (14). At least one of the elements (8, 14) of the pair (15) has a bent shape, wherein the bent element (8, 14) is provided with at least two bending lines (17, 18). The bent shape of the at least one of the elements (8, 14) is such that in a functional arrangement of the elements (8, 14) with respect to each other, edge portions (11, 16) of the elements (8, 14) are located at a distance with respect to each other. Thus, a space (22) is present between the elements (8, 14) at the side of their edge portions (11, 16), which can be used for receiving cut-off hair stubbles which might otherwise hinder a movement of the hair lifting element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Hans Van Der Vlis, Paul-Rainer Viktor Karl Slesazeck, Gert Niers, Erik Houbolt
  • Patent number: 9409301
    Abstract: A cap for a shaving head of a shaving apparatus has a skin contacting surface including at least two annular corrugations. The shape of the skin contacting surface of the cap is adapted to realizing a high feeling of comfort for a user of the shaving apparatus. A factor contributing to the feeling of comfort is that an annular central surface of an outermost corrugation has an orientation that is out of line with an expected course of an imaginary smooth flowing plane following a central surface of an adjacent corrugation, where a drooping configuration of the central surface of the outermost corrugation with respect to the central surface of the adjacent corrugation is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Andre Kuijper, Erik Houbolt, Martin Leonard Bakker, Willem Drachten
  • Publication number: 20120011724
    Abstract: A carrier is adapted for use in a shaving device, and comprises at least one pair (15) of a cutting element (8) and a hair lifting element (14). At least one of the elements (8, 14) of the pair (15) has a bent shape, wherein the bent element (8, 14) is provided with at least two bending lines (17, 18). The bent shape of the at least one of the elements (8, 14) is such that in a functional arrangement of the elements (8, 14) with respect to each other, edge portions (11, 16) of the elements (8, 14) are located at a distance with respect to each other. Thus, a space (22) is present between the elements (8, 14) at the side of their edge portions (11, 16), which can be used for receiving cut-off hair stubbles which might otherwise hinder a movement of the hair lifting element (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Hans Van Der Vlis, Paul-Rainer Viktor Karl Slesazeck, Gert Niers, Erik Houbolt
  • Patent number: 7942869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin treatment device (1, F). The device comprises a radiation source (13) in a housing, such that radiation can be emitted through an exit opening in the housing. It further comprises at least one skin presence sensor (43, 63) capable of measuring the presence of skin (7) in a number of respective positions, and a control unit (37). The control unit (37) is constructed to determine a covered portion of the exit opening (15) from a measurement signal of the skin presence sensor and to restrict emission of the radiation (13) to the covered portion of the exit opening (15), e.g. by modifying the control of a radiation beam manipulator (11), or by controlling radiation-blocking means, such as blinds, in the exit opening (15). The invention provides a more efficient and yet safe treatment device (1, 1?), since a larger exit opening (15) can be selected, while unwanted emission of radiation (13) through uncovered portions of the exit opening (15) is still prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Erik Houbolt, Jasper Zuidervaart, Mathijs Niehaus, Antonius Maarten Nuijs, Robbert Adrianus Maria Van Hal, Rieko Verhagen, Paul Anton Josef Ackermans
  • Publication number: 20100139098
    Abstract: A cap (11), which is suitable to be applied in a shaving head of a shaving apparatus, has a skin contacting surface (21) which comprises at least two annular corrugations (22, 23, 24). The shape of the skin contacting surface (21) of the cap (11) is adapted to realizing a high feeling of comfort for a user of a shaving apparatus which is equipped with at least one shaving head comprising the cap (11). A factor contributing to the feeling of comfort is that an annular central surface (22a) of an outmost corrugation (22) has an orientation which is out of line with an expected course of an imaginary smooth flowing plane (30) following the at least one central surface (23a, 24a) of the at least one other corrugation (23, 24), wherein a drooping configuration of the central surface (22a) of the outmost corrugation (22) with respect to the at least one central surface (23a, 24a) of the at least one other corrugation (23, 24) is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Andre Kuijper, Erik Houbolt, Martin Leonard Bakker, Willem Drachten
  • Publication number: 20080319429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for removing hair (46) from skin (30), comprising an optical hair cutting device(12, 14, 20), and a hair and debris removing system. The hair removing system comprises a remover part (36) that mechanically engages the hair (46) in order to remove it after severing, or cutting. The use of mechanical engaging has the advantage that the optical contactless severing method, which by itself is not capable of removing hairs after cutting, is assisted in actual removing the hairs. The debris removing system may comprise a brush (36), a tape or fluid dispenser, etc., and may be assisted by a suction device (48).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Robbert Adrianus Maria Van Hal, Jasper Zuidervaart, Erik Houbolt, Mathijs Niehaus, Rieko Verhagen, Paul Anton Josef Ackermans, Antonius Maarten Nuijs
  • Publication number: 20080004611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin treatment device (1, 1?). The device comprises in a housing a source of radiation (13), that is emittable through an exit opening in the housing. It further comprises a plurality of skin presence sensors (43, 63) that are able to measure the presence of skin (7) at their respective positions, and a control unit (37). The control unit (37) is constructed to determine a covered part of the exit opening (15) from measurement signals of the skin presence sensors, and to restrict emission of the radiation (13) to the covered part of the exit opening (15), e.g. by modifying the control of a radiation beam manipulator (11), or by controlling radiation blocking means, such as blinds, in the exit opening (15). The invention provides a more efficient and yet safe treatment device (1, 1?), since a larger exit opening (15) may be selected, while unwanted emission of radiation (13) through uncovered parts of the exit opening (15) is yet prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Erik Houbolt, Jasper Zuidervaart, Mathijs Niehaus, Antonius Nuijs, Robbert Van Hal, Rieko Verhagen, Paul Ackermans
  • Publication number: 20070213791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the treatment of skin (13) by means of a radiation beam (5). The device comprises a radiation source (9) for generating the radiation beam, a beam exit window (15), an optical detecting system (31) for determining a target position (22) of the radiation beam relative to the skin, and a beam manipulator (17) for positioning the radiation beam in the target position. The radiation beam and the detecting system have a first optical axis (45) and a second optical axis (47), respectively. According to the invention, seen from the radiation source (9) towards the beam exit window (15), the first and the second optical axis (45, 47) coincide starting at a position (S) between the radiation source and the beam manipulator (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Robbert Van Hal, Erik Houbolt, Jasper Zuidervaart, Antonius Nuijs, Mathijs Niehaus, Paul Ackermans, Rieko Verhagen
  • Publication number: 20070089297
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a shaving head (8) comprising at least one cutting blade (10, 12) and actively driveable skin stretching means (14) arranged behind said cutting blade (10, 12) relative to a cutting direction (16) of said cutting blade (10, 12). The actively driveable skin stretching means (14) are provided to reduce the possibility that ni cks and cuts or irritations of the skip to be shaved are created during the shaving operation. In accordance with the invention the shaving head (8) comprises means (18) for providing a pivot axis (20) between the shaving head (8) and a handie (22) attached or attachable to said shaving head (8), said pivot axis (20) being arranged at least essentially parallel to said cutting blade (10, 12). By providing the pivot axis (20) the for ratio between a force applied to the actively driveable skin stretching means (14) and forces applied to other parts of the shaving head (8) may be kept constant for different angles of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Erik Houbolt, Marco Hamburg, Everhardus Hoexum, Hendrik Paauw, Mark Wesseling, Hette Akkerman