Patents by Inventor Frank A. Ziegler

Frank A. Ziegler 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: 11859687
    Abstract: A motor and a personal-care device having the motor. The motor has a motor carrier made at least partially from a sheet metal material, a movable motor part, and a spring element that couples the movable motor part with the motor carrier. The sheet metal material comprises at least one coupling area where the sheet metal material is folded so that its two layers are facing each other while each of the two layers comprises a slot, the slots being aligned with one another. A connection extension of the spring element extends through the aligned slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Ziegler, Thomas Meinke, Thomas Brum, Kenji Ohi, Takeshi Hotta
  • Patent number: 11167436
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a drive unit having first and second drive components adapted to magnetically interact with each other, and a magnetic shielding at least partially surrounding the drive unit. Said magnetic shielding is formed by structural parts supporting the drive unit and/or transmitting drive movements of the drive unit, wherein such structural parts are made of a soft magnetic material. More particularly, a mounting frame and a transmitter frame together form a magnetic shielding cage which is movable as the mounting frame and the transmitter frame are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Braun GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10913171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a first spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other, and a second spring device for movably linking the drive unit to a structural element of the appliance. The first spring device is made from plastics such as long-chained PPS, whereas the second spring device is made from steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Braun GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10864644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other. The spring device includes at least one leaf spring having a constricted section in a central region of the leaf spring, wherein surfaces of the at least one leaf spring neighboring the constricted section are shaped convex. Such convex surfaces may have a parabolic contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Braun GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20200347907
    Abstract: A motor and a personal-care device having the motor. The motor has a motor carrier made at least partially from a sheet metal material, a movable motor part, and a spring element that couples the movable motor part with the motor carrier. The sheet metal material comprises at least one coupling area where the sheet metal material is folded so that its two layers are facing each other while each of the two layers comprises a slot, the slots being aligned with one another. A connection extension of the spring element extends through the aligned slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Frank ZIEGLER, Thomas MEINKE, Thomas BRUM, Kenji OHI, Takeshi HOTTA
  • Patent number: 10792825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other. Said spring device includes a ring element made in one piece from plastic including at least one pair of leaf springs and a pair of cross-bars extending crosswise to said leaf springs and connecting said leaf springs to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Braun GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10587177
    Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature mounted for driven linear oscillation substantially along a longitudinal direction; a secondary mass mounted for linear oscillation substantially along the longitudinal direction; and a coupling unit for coupling the armature and the secondary mass. The coupling unit includes at least two coupling spring assemblies and at least a coupling element, the coupling spring assemblies being arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart from each other, and the coupling element being fixedly connected with the coupling spring assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Robert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10470857
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Uwe Schober, Joern Utsch, Andreas Kramp, Frank Ziegler, Benedikt Heil, Marlis Hübner
  • Patent number: 10433636
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Jannik Scheele, Martin Haas, Norbert Schaefer, Robert Schäfer, Sven Alexander Franke, Uwe Schober, Ingo Vetter, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180319028
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a drive unit having first and second drive components adapted to magnetically interact with each other, and a magnetic shielding at least partially surrounding the drive unit. Said magnetic shielding is formed by structural parts supporting the drive unit and/or transmitting drive movements of the drive unit, wherein such structural parts are made of a soft magnetic material. More particularly, a mounting frame and a transmitter frame together form a magnetic shielding cage which is movable as the mounting frame and the transmitter frame are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180311842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a first spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other, and a second spring device for movably linking the drive unit to a structural element of the appliance. The first spring device is made from plastics such as long-chained PPS, whereas the second spring device is made from steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180311841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other. Said spring device includes at least one leaf spring having a constricted section in a central region of the leaf spring, wherein surfaces of said at least one leaf spring neighboring said constricted section are shaped convex. Such convex surfaces may have a parabolic contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180311843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other by a spring device and adapted to magnetically interact with each other. Said spring device includes a ring element made in one piece from plastic including at least one pair of leaf springs and a pair of cross-bars extending crosswise to said leaf springs and connecting said leaf springs to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Patent number: 9993930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other and adapted to magnetically interact with each other, wherein a drive support is provided for supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure. The drive support supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure of the installation environment is adapted to provide for at least one axis of rotation for the drive unit allowing said drive unit to rotate relative to the mounting structure, said axis of rotation being spaced apart from the drive unit to provide for a transmission ratio increasing or decreasing the oscillation amplitude of the functional element driven by the drive unit vis-à-vis the oscillation amplitude of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180019650
    Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature mounted for driven linear oscillation substantially along a longitudinal direction; a secondary mass mounted for linear oscillation substantially along the longitudinal direction; and a coupling unit for coupling the armature and the secondary mass. The coupling unit includes at least two coupling spring assemblies and at least a coupling element, the coupling spring assemblies being arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart from each other, and the coupling element being fixedly connected with the coupling spring assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Robert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9806591
    Abstract: A linear motor is disclosed. The linear motor includes an armature mounted for driven linear oscillation substantially along a longitudinal direction; a secondary mass mounted for linear oscillation substantially along the longitudinal direction; and a coupling unit for coupling the armature and the secondary mass. The coupling unit includes at least two coupling spring assemblies and at least a coupling element, the coupling spring assemblies being arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart from each other, and the coupling element being fixedly connected with the coupling spring assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Robert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20170145380
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing compositions including embryonic proteins. The method includes culturing cells under hypoxic conditions on a biocompatible surface in vitro. The culturing method produces both soluble and non-soluble fractions, which may be used separately or in combination to obtain physiologically acceptable compositions useful in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gail K. Naughton, Frank Ziegler, Mark Baumgartner, Kyle Nickey
  • Patent number: 9512403
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing compositions including embryonic proteins. The method includes culturing cells under hypoxic conditions on a biocompatible surface in vitro. The culturing method produces both soluble and non-soluble fractions, which may be used separately or in combination to obtain physiologically acceptable compositions useful in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Histogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail K. Naughton, Frank Ziegler, Mark Baumgartner, Kyle Nickey
  • Publication number: 20160331120
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jannik SCHEELE, Martin HAAS, Norbert SCHAEFER, Robert SCHÄFER, Sven Alexander FRANKE, Uwe SCHOBER, Ingo VETTER, Frank ZIEGLER
  • Publication number: 20160181901
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other and adapted to magnetically interact with each other, wherein a drive support is provided for supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure. The drive support supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure of the installation environment is adapted to provide for at least one axis of rotation for the drive unit allowing said drive unit to rotate relative to the mounting structure, said axis of rotation being spaced apart from the drive unit to provide for a transmission ratio increasing or decreasing the oscillation amplitude of the functional element driven by the drive unit vis-à-vis the oscillation amplitude of the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Bernhard Kraus, Thomas Verstege, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler