Patents by Inventor Peter Hilfinger
Peter Hilfinger 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).
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Patent number: 8172574Abstract: This disclosure relates to toothbrushes and to methods of operating toothbrushes. In some embodiments, a method of operating a toothbrush includes measuring an actual cleaning time of a first teeth cleaning process, comparing the actual cleaning time of the first teeth cleaning process to a standard cleaning time, and determining a target cleaning time of a second, subsequent teeth cleaning process. In certain embodiments, the target cleaning time of the second teeth cleaning process is the standard cleaning time plus additional time when the actual cleaning time of the first cleaning process is less than the standard cleaning time.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Goecking, Peter Trawinski
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Publication number: 20100175208Abstract: This disclosure relates to toothbrushes and to methods of operating toothbrushes. In some embodiments, a method of operating a toothbrush includes measuring an actual cleaning time of a first teeth cleaning process, comparing the actual cleaning time of the first teeth cleaning process to a standard cleaning time, and determining a target cleaning time of a second, subsequent teeth cleaning process. In certain embodiments, the target cleaning time of the second teeth cleaning process is the standard cleaning time plus additional time when the actual cleaning time of the first cleaning process is less than the standard cleaning time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Goecking, Peter Trawinski
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Patent number: 7682153Abstract: The invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device and to a method for automatically indicating the cleaning duration when cleaning teeth, whereby a timer signal is emitted using a time element after the termination of a set cleaning duration in a tooth cleaning session. According to the invention, the set cleaning duration, whose termination prompts the emission of a timer signal, is modified. An actual cleaning duration in the tooth cleaning session is registered by a time registration device. The deviation of the actual cleaning duration from a predetermined standard cleaning duration is determined by means of an evaluation device. The set cleaning duration of a subsequent tooth cleaning session is then defined depending on the deviation that has been determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Göcking, Peter Trawinski
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Patent number: 7675203Abstract: An electric drive unit for generating an oscillating movement, having a stator, a rotor, a torsion element and a tuning element. The tuning element acts upon the torsion element and serves to mechanically tune the resonant frequency of the drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2004Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Gerhard Kressner, Alexander Schroter, Christian Junk, Peter Hilfinger, Hansjörg Reick, Bernhard Kraus, Uwe Schober
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Publication number: 20080185922Abstract: An electric drive unit for generating an oscillating movement, having a stator, a rotor, a torsion element and a tuning element. The tuning element acts upon the torsion element and serves to mechanically tune the resonant frequency of the drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2004Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: BRAUN GMBHInventors: Gerhard Kressner, Alexander Schroter, Christian Junk, Peter Hilfinger, Hansjorg Reick, Bernhard Kraus, Uwe Schober
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Patent number: 6785929Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided, which includes a first bristle part that can be made to execute a first, continuously repeating movement. An additional bristle part, connected to the first bristle part, can be made to execute a second, continuously repeating movement, which differs from the first movement of the first bristle part.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Thomas Fritsch, Peter Hilfinger
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Publication number: 20040134000Abstract: The invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device and to a method for automatically indicating the cleaning duration when cleaning teeth, whereby a timer signal is emitted using a time element after the termination of a set cleaning duration in a tooth cleaning session. According to the invention, the set cleaning duration, whose termination prompts the emission of a timer signal, is modified. An actual cleaning duration in the tooth cleaning session is registered by a time registration device. The deviation of the actual cleaning duration from a predetermined standard cleaning duration is determined by means of an evaluation device. The set cleaning duration of a subsequent tooth cleaning session is then defined depending on the deviation that has been determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2004Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Gocking, Peter Trawinski
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Publication number: 20030163881Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush with a brush head holder on which a bristle holder having a bristle cluster is movably arranged. It is provided that locking means are provided on the attachment section of the brush head holder, which, when the brush head holder is pushed onto the handpiece of the toothbrush with a linear, axial motion engage with the engaging means provided thereon. In order to achieve more efficient cleaning, it is further provided that several groups of bristle tufts are fixed on the motorized drivable bristle holder, and are inclined in different directions, and have different cross-sections, preferably also varying from the circular cross-sections, in order to better penetrate the gaps between teeth and effectively remove plaque.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Applicant: Braun GmbHInventors: Georges Driesen, Thomas Fritsch, Michael Harms, Peter Hilfinger, Lars Lieberwirth, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
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Publication number: 20030126698Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided, which includes a first bristle part that can be made to execute a first, continuously repeating movement. An additional bristle part, connected to the first bristle part, can be made to execute a second, continuously repeating movement, which differs from the first movement of the first bristle part.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Thomas Fritsch, Peter Hilfinger
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Patent number: 6267593Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically powered dental cleansing device (1) to which a cleansing implement (32) is fitted. In this manner, the cleansing implement (32) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The cleansing implement (32) is configured as an integrally formed part comprising a thin and elongate cleansing shaft (125). The cleansing shaft has at least one longitudinal edge and is provided with a plurality of serrations.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Werner Haczek, Bernhard Boland, Peter Hilfinger, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
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Patent number: 6226869Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically operable shaving apparatus (1) including at least one short-hair cutter (3) and a long-hair trimmer unit (2) disposed on a housing, with at least one cutting edge formed by cutting teeth of an outer cutter and an inner cutter, in which a component (4), which acts as a guard protecting the skin, is associated with the cutting edge in at least one operating position, said component (4) ceasing to act as a guard protecting the skin in at least one further operating position, wherein said component (4) is displaceable in conjunction with the long-hair trimmer unit (2) into at least one operating position in which said component (4) acts as a guard protecting the skin, and wherein on displacement into a further operating position the long-hair trimmer unit (2) is released by relative opposing movements of the long-hair trimmer unit (2) and the component (4).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1998Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Hans-Eberhard Heintke, Peter Hilfinger, Klaus Oprach, Roland Ullmann, Matthias Wetzel
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Patent number: 6102700Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically powered dental cleansing device (1) to which a cleansing implement (32) is fitted. In this manner, the cleansing implement (32) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The cleansing implement (32) is configured as an integrally formed part comprising a thin and elongate cleansing shaft (125). The cleansing shaft has at least one longitudinal edge and is provided with a plurality of serrations.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1996Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Werner Haczek, Bernhard Boland, Peter Hilfinger, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
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Patent number: 6058541Abstract: An improved oral brush is provided that includes crimped bristles. The oral brush includes a body and, extending from the body, a plurality of crimped bristles. One such oral brush is an electric toothbrush, with a brush head having a preferred arrangement of tufts of crimped and straight bristles that are flexed by cyclic motions of the brush head toward and away from the tooth.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.Inventors: Thomas Craig Masterman, Jeffrey Meessmann, Jean Spencer, Georges Driesen, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann, Peter Hilfinger
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Patent number: 6009589Abstract: The invention is directed to a toothbrush having a brush section 20 comprising a bristle carrier 22 and bristles 24 fixedly secured thereto, with the brush section 20 being provided with components made of silver. Separate structures 28 are provided for fixedly securing the bristles 24 in their proper location in the bristle carrier 22, which separate structures 28 are made of a material with oligodynamic action.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1995Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Georges Driesen, Peter Hilfinger
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Patent number: 5974615Abstract: An electric toothbrush (1) is described which incorporates a handle (2) and a brush attachment (3). The handle (2) houses an electric motor (8). Protruding from the handle (2) is a shaft (20), which is coupled to the electric motor (8). The brush attachment (3) can be mounted on the handle (2). The brush attachment (3) supports a bristle head (26) which can be coupled to the shaft (20), and from which protrude a multiplicity of bristles (4). In the operating mode, the bristle head (26) describes a rotary motion (49) and a stroke motion (50), with the frequency of the stroke movement (50) being higher, and preferably substantially higher, than the frequency of the rotary movement (49.) The stroke movement (50) provides a poking action of the bristles (4), which serves to loosen plaque from dental surfaces. The rotary movement (49) serves to wipe away plaque loosened from the dental surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1996Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Armin Schwarz-Hartmann, Karl Herzog, Peter Hilfinger
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Patent number: 5943723Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric toothbrush (1) in which a timing element (13) is provided whose purpose it is to indicate to a user the end of at least one cleaning period when the electric toothbrush (1) is activated. Still further, means (12) coupled to the timing element (13) are provided to enable the user to trigger the beginning (T4) of the cleaning period (PZD2). The effect thereby achieved is that the end (T2) of a cleaning period (PZD1) does not automatically start the beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2), but that this particular beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2) is freely selectable by the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Philipp Jung
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Patent number: 5862558Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush section (1) for an electric toothbrush which includes a mounting tube (2) in which a shaft (7) rotary about a longitudinal axis (3) is received. Further, the brush section (1) includes a bristle carrier (11) from which bristles (15) extend in the direction of a brush axis (14). The bristle carrier (11) is rotary about a transverse axis (19) by means of a bearing pin (21). By means of in particular a tapered disk (24), the brush axis (14) and the transverse axis (19) define between them an angle (28) departing from an apex (29). In operation of the electric toothbrush, the bristle carrier (11) performs a nutating motion about the transverse axis (19). This effects a revolving approaching/receding motion of the free ends of the bristles (15) resulting in an improved cleaning action on a user's teeth.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Karl Herzog, Gerhard Kressner
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Patent number: 5842244Abstract: A brush section for an electric toothbrush includes a driver, a mounting tube which receives the driver, where the driver is arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis defined by the mounting tube, a first bristle carrier mounted for rotation about a first brush axis, a second bristle carrier mounted for rotation about a second brush axis, and a mechanism to effect coupling engagement of the driver with the first and second bristle carriers. A motion of the driver effects a rotary motion of the first bristle carrier about the first brush axis and the second bristle carrier about the second brush axis. The first and second brush axes define an approximately right angle therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Gerhard Kressner, Georges Driesen, Karl Herzog
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Patent number: 5652990Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush section for an electric toothbrush with a handle section comprising an electric motor, wherein the brush section is adapted to be connected with the handle section and has at its end remote from the handle section an essentially circular cylindrical rotary bristle supporting structure (38) on which bristles (48, 50) are arranged in the form of tufts (60, 62) of different lengths, and wherein the bristle supporting structure (38) has its axis of rotation at approximately right angles to a longitudinal center line of the brush section and is adapted to be driven in an alternating rotary motion over an arc of .+-.20.degree. to .+-.100.degree.. Some of the tufts (60) of bristles are serially located in position on a diameter and on an outer circular ring of the bristle supporting structure (38).Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1994Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Georges Driesen, Peter Hilfinger
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Patent number: 5613258Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush for cleaning the teeth, the brush being suitable for use in a toothbrush having a handle member and a brush member and comprising a bristle supporting structure and bristles fixedly secured thereto. The bristle supporting structure is configured as a rod-shaped stem having a first and a second end portion and carrying no bristles in the region of the second end portion. The bristles extend radially relative to the stem in the region of the first end portion and are arranged in a circumferentially distributed pattern. The length of the bristles decreases starting from the first end portion of the stem in the direction of the second end portion of the stem. This brush allows effective and gentle cleaning of the teeth, in particular the interproximal spaces thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1996Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Braun AktiengesellschaftInventors: Peter Hilfinger, Bernhard Boland