Patents Assigned to John O. Butler Company
  • Publication number: 20040025272
    Abstract: A dental hygiene system handle including a proximal grip section, a central control section, and a distal brush section, the central control section including four elastomeric lands for receiving the thumb and forefinger of a user on opposite sides of the central control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Christopher Stvartak, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: 6601272
    Abstract: A dental hygiene system handle including a proximal grip section, a central control section, and a distal brush section, the central control section including four elastomeric lands for receiving the thumb and forefinger of a user on opposite sides of the central control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Christopher Stvartak, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: 6496999
    Abstract: A toothbrush which is particularly well adapted for properly cleaning tooth surfaces and interproximal areas having a plurality of tufts of bristles mounted in the head of the toothbrush with the tufts cut in a series of at least two rounded peaks extending laterally across the head and in which the tufts of bristles may be arranged in at least two longitudinally disposed outer rows defining an inner area lying therebetween and at least one longitudinally disposed inner row is positioned in the inner area, with the tips of the inner row of tufts of bristles being feathered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Gleason, Dominic Squillaci, Kevin G. Yost, Christopher J. Stvartak
  • Publication number: 20020170145
    Abstract: A dental hygiene system handle including a proximal grip section, a central control section, and a distal brush section, the central control section including four elastomeric lands for receiving the thumb and forefinger of a user on opposite sides of the central control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Christopher Stvartak, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: 6446640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dental hygiene devices carrying dental hygiene elements and to a method for assembling them. The dental hygiene devices have two intersecting cavities, with a dental hygiene element positioned in one cavity and a plug positioned in the other cavity. The plug engages a portion of the stem, thereby locking the dental hygiene element in place in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Gekhter, Christopher J. Stvartak, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: 5934295
    Abstract: A dental hygiene system in which a single elongated handle having a recess in its distal end receives a plurality of carrying members holding different dental hygiene elements. The carrying members have resilient portions retained in the handle recess by way of either a latching portion in a slot in the handle or by way of a frictional fit in the handle recess. A lever is positioned in the slot in the handle for releasing the carrying members with the latching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Vladamir Gekhter, Leoncio Angel Gonzalez, Christopher J. Stvartak, Mark D. Gleason, David E. Hidding, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: 5791740
    Abstract: An interdental twisted wire brush having roughened, tapered and rounded bristle ends prepared by rotating the interdental brush both transversely to the axis of the brush and axially along its longitudinal axis, while flexing the bristles and grinding the bristle ends of the interdental brush against a flat, moving abrasive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Dominic Squillaci, Scott Koepsel, John Shimkus, Kiyoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 5778476
    Abstract: An interdental twisted wire brush having roughened, tapered and rounded bristle ends prepared by rotating the interdental brush both transversely to the axis of the brush and axially along its longitudinal axis, while flexing the bristles and grinding the bristle ends of the interdental brush against a flat, moving abrasive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic Squillaci, Scott Koepsel, John Shimkus, Kiyoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 5758382
    Abstract: An interdental toothbrush handle for holding a twisted wire brush includes a handle with a locking retainer connected thereto by a living hinge. The handle has two opposing side walls which extend perpendicularly from the handle and are adjacent to the living hinge. At least one of the walls includes a V-shaped gap for receiving the stem of a twisted wire brush. The handle also preferably has an indentation between the two opposing side walls and the locking retainer preferably includes a protrusion in communication with the indentation. A nub on the protrusion prevents the locking retainer from opening more than about 30.degree. to 40.degree.. The stem of a twisted wire brush is inserted into the V-shaped gap when the locking retainer is open. As the locking retainer is closed, the stem of the twisted wire brush is captured between the handle and locking retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Maekawa, Scott Koepsel
  • Patent number: 5702686
    Abstract: A clear, mildly abrasive, low-viscosity dentrifice gel for use with twisted wire interdental brushes which comprises optimal humectant, silica abrasive and water concentration levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Maekawa, Christina M. Calhoon
  • Patent number: 5488751
    Abstract: An interdental handle having a molded-in-place twisted wire brush that includes a handle having a generally tapered first portion of reduced cross-section at one end with a flexing and substantially resilient capability, and a second portion of a larger cross-section at an opposite end which is relatively rigid. A brush with a twisted wire stem includes a distal end embedded in at least the first portion of the handle and a proximal end projecting from the first portion of the handle. At least one concentric groove is adjacent the distal end of the twisted wire stem for preventing protrusion of the twisted wire stem from the first portion during the manufacturing process. The concentric groove includes a diameter which is substantially larger than the diameter of the twisted wire stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Gekhter, John Shimkus
  • Patent number: 5347675
    Abstract: An interdental toothbrush has a hinged locking retainer on the end of an elongated handle for capturing the stem of a twisted wire brush. The locking retainer has a hole which is adapted to receive the stem of a twisted wire brush. A land is formed in the handle adjacent the groove so that the wire brush stem is captured between that land area and a land area on the retainer. A latch on the locking retainer has a top end with a double cam surface thereon. One of the cam surfaces guides the latch into a locking position as the retainer is closed. The other of the cam surfaces releases the locking retainer when pushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Emanuel B. Tarrson, Dane Maric, Lew Blahuta, Scott Koepsel
  • Patent number: D441143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Stvartak, Jannette B. Sinsakul, Steven P. Finnerty
  • Patent number: D441504
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Stvartak, Jannette B. Sinsakul
  • Patent number: D459086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Antonio J. Belton, Patrick A. McCormick, Christopher Stvartak, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: D463129
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: H. Allen Achepohl, Scott H. Koepsel, John G. Shimkus, Judith M. Yablong
  • Patent number: D351733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Maekawa, Scott Koepsel
  • Patent number: D364708
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: Emanuel B. Tarrson, Andrew Alger, Lew Blahuta
  • Patent number: D412064
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: H. Allen Achepohl, Scott H. Koepsel, Judith M. Yablong, Kevin G. Yost
  • Patent number: D421841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: John O. Butler Company
    Inventors: H. Allen Achepohl, Scott H. Koepsel, Judith M. Yablong, Kevin G. Yost