Patents by Inventor Andreas Birk

Andreas Birk 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: 9463593
    Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ulrich Pfeifer, Matthew Lloyd Newman, Li Wen, Andreas Birk, Andreas Bresselschmidt, Andrew Joseph Horton, Siegfried Kurt Hustedt, Jochen Erich Kawerau, Heidrun Annika Schmelcher, Franziska Schmid, Jens Uwe Stoerkel, Benjamin John Wilson, Tilmann Winkler
  • Publication number: 20150257520
    Abstract: A head for an oral care implement has a mounting surface and at least one tuft mounted thereon. The tuft has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tuft comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical filaments. Each filament has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-sectional area of an individual filament has a substantially non-circular shape. The plurality of filaments is arranged such that the cross-sectional area of the tuft has a scaled-up shape of the individual filament's cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Ulrich STOERKEL, Simone BERTRAND, Martis HUEBNER, Andreas BIRK, Franziska SCHMID, Alexander HILSCHER, Heidrun SCHMELCHER, Jochen GANNINGER, Jochen KAWERAU, Uwe JUNGNICKEL, Benedikt HElL, Christian MANDL, Eva KAISER, Kathi BALLMAIER, Christine HIELSCHER, Britta STOCKINGER
  • Publication number: 20150130259
    Abstract: A process for creating multiple tufts for a tufted article comprises directing the initial filament bundle into a first channel, causing the bundle to move through the first channel while splitting the bundle into a plurality of tufts according to a predetermined pattern, and directing the plurality of tufts into the plurality of second channels such that each of the plurality of tufts has its own second channel. An apparatus comprises a first plate having a first channel for receiving a filament bundle, a splitting element for separating the bundle into the plurality of individual tufts, a second plate having a plurality of second channels for receiving the plurality of tufts, and a driving means for moving the filaments in the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andreas BIRK
  • Patent number: 8915552
    Abstract: A brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, may have a plurality of cleaning elements, in particular bristle tufts, which are anchored by an end section in a brush carrier, wherein the cleaning elements may be cast with positive engagement in blind-hole shaped retaining recesses. For producing such a brush head different cleaning elements, such as bristle tufts may be fused by heat and may be placed in a mold cavity to be over-molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birk, Lars Foerster, Ulrich Pfeifer, Klaus Amsel, Guenther Alschweig
  • Publication number: 20140352091
    Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a head, a neck portion and a handle, wherein the neck portion and the handle portion are connected to one another via a coupling element. The connection is constructed as an inseparable connection, i.e., after being combined once, the neck portion and the handle cannot be separated without the brush being destroyed by such separation. A method for producing such a toothbrush may comprise the following steps: providing a head, a neck portion, a handle, and a coupling element, and combining the neck portion to the handle by the coupling element so that an irreversible connection is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andreas BIRK, Holger SCHULZ, Wolfgang STEGMANN, Jochen GANNINGER, Michael JÖST, Karl HERZOG, Andreas REUSCHENBACH
  • Publication number: 20140352093
    Abstract: A method for producing a toothbrush comprises providing a head, a neck portion, and a handle; providing a coupling element; and combining the neck portion to the handle by the coupling element so that an irreversible connection is formed. The individual parts of the toothbrush to be formed can be produced in parallel or successively, wherein some of the parts can be produced by injection molding. A toothbrush formed by the method comprises a head, a neck portion, and a handle; these elements can be produced as building blocks separately and may be connected to one another via a coupling element to form an inseparable connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andreas BIRK, Holger SCHULZ, Wolfgang STEGMANN, Jochen GANNINGER, Michael Jõst, Karl HERZOG, Andreas REUSCHENBACH
  • Patent number: 8845034
    Abstract: A brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, may have a plurality of cleaning elements, in particular bristle tufts, which are anchored by an end section in a brush carrier, wherein the cleaning elements may be cast with positive engagement in blind-hole shaped retaining recesses. For producing such a brush head different cleaning elements may be placed successively or simultaneously in different mold cavities and may be over-molded using different plastic materials from which injection-molding sections of the bristle carrier are formed in the process. In doing so, a first cleaning element is over-molded in a first mold cavity using a first plastic material, while a second cleaning element is over-molded in a second mold cavity using a second plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birk, Lars Foerster, Ulrich Pfeifer, Klaus Amsel, Guenther Alschweig
  • Publication number: 20140232173
    Abstract: A brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, may have a plurality of cleaning elements, in particular bristle tufts, which are anchored by an end section in a brush carrier, wherein the cleaning elements may be cast with positive engagement in blind-hole shaped retaining recesses. For producing such a brush head different cleaning elements, such as bristle tufts may be fused by heat and may be placed in a mold cavity to be over-molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas BIRK, Lars FOERSTER, Ulrich PFEIFER, Klaus AMSEL, Guenther ALSCHWEIG
  • Patent number: 8739351
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a handle, a head with oral care elements and a neck connecting the head with the handle is described. The toothbrush has a base structure of the handle, and the neck and the head are formed by a hard plastic component. Said basic structure of the handle is covered, at least in part, by a first soft plastic component. Said head including a second soft plastic component and said neck including a through-opening, wherein at least one section of a boundary wall of the opening is provided with an elastic muscle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Bjoern Kling, Andreas Birk
  • Publication number: 20140137350
    Abstract: A personal care article, such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity made in one molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: LI WEN, Matthew Lloyd NEWMAN, Andreas BIRK, Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andrew Joseph HORTON, Siegfried Kurt Martin HUSTEDT, Scott JACKSON, Jochen KAWERAU, Ulrich PFEIFER, Richard Darren SATTERFIELD, Heidrun Annika SCHMELCHER, Franziska SCHMID, Jens Uwe STOERKEL, Benjamin John WILSON, Tilmann WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20140138880
    Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ulrich PFEIFER, Matthew Lloyd NEWMAN, Cathy WEN, Andreas BIRK, Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andrew Joseph HORTON, Siegfried Kurt Martin HUSTEDT, Jochen KAWERAU, Heidrun Annika SCHMELCHER, Franziska SCHMID, Jens Uwe STOERKEL, Benjamin John WILSON, Tilmann WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20140137349
    Abstract: A personal care article, such as a toothbrush handle having an inner cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Matthew Lloyd NEWMAN, Cathy WEN, Andreas BIRK, Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andrew Joseph HORTON, Siegfried Kurt Martin HUSTEDT, Jochen KAWERAU, Ulrich PFEIFER, Richard Darren SATTERFIELD, Heidrun Annika SCHMELCHER, Franziska SCHMID, Jens Uwe STOERKEL, George WEST, Tilmann WINKLER
  • Patent number: 8701239
    Abstract: A toothbrush head with a bristle support to which a plurality of tuft-shaped cleaning elements are affixed is described. The bristle support including at least one movable rocker having a first end attached to it on the side remote from a handpiece and having a free second end which is on the side close to the handpiece. Said rocker carrying at least one row of cleaning elements. At least the cleaning elements arranged on the rocker furthest from a longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush head have their free ends inwardly tilted towards said longitudinal center plane at an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Bauernfeind, Andreas Birk
  • Publication number: 20140047656
    Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Lloyd NEWMAN, Li WEN, Andreas BIRK, Andreas BRESSELSCHMIDT, Andrew Joseph HORTON, Stephen Alan HOUGHTON, Siegfried Kurt HUSTEDT, Scott Andrew JACKSON, Jochen Erich KAWERAU, Ralph Edwin NEUFARTH, Ulrich PFEIFER, Bradley John PHILLIPS, Hansjoerg REICK, Richard Darren SATTERFIELD, Heidrun Annika SCHMELCHER, Franziska SCHMID, Jens Uwe STOERKEL, Andrew M. UHE, George Michael WEST, Tilmann WINKLER, Christopher Thomas RYAN
  • Publication number: 20120317738
    Abstract: A brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, may have a plurality of cleaning elements, in particular bristle tufts, which are anchored by an end section in a brush carrier, wherein the cleaning elements may be cast with positive engagement in blind-hole shaped retaining recesses. For producing such a brush head different cleaning elements, such as bristle tufts may be fused by heat and may be placed in a mold cavity to be over-molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birk, Lars Foerster, Ulrich Pfeifer, Klaus Amsel, Guenther Alschweig
  • Publication number: 20120317737
    Abstract: A brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, may have a plurality of cleaning elements, in particular bristle tufts, which are anchored by an end section in a brush carrier, wherein the cleaning elements may be cast with positive engagement in blind-hole shaped retaining recesses. For producing such a brush head different cleaning elements may be placed successively or simultaneously in different mold cavities and may be over-molded using different plastic materials from which injection-molding sections of the bristle carrier are formed in the process. In doing so, a first cleaning element is over-molded in a first mold cavity using a first plastic material, while a second cleaning element is over-molded in a second mold cavity using a second plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birk, Lars Foerster, Ulrich Pfeifer, Klaus Amsel, Gunther Alschweig
  • Publication number: 20120036662
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a handle, a head with oral care elements and a neck connecting the head with the handle is described. The toothbrush has a base structure of the handle, and the neck and the head are formed by a hard plastic component. Said basic structure of the handle is covered, at least in part, by a first soft plastic component. Said head including a second soft plastic component and said neck including a through-opening, wherein at least one section of a boundary wall of the opening is provided with an elastic muscle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Bjoern Kling, Andreas Birk
  • Publication number: 20120030891
    Abstract: A toothbrush head with a bristle support to which a plurality of tuft-shaped cleaning elements are affixed is described. The bristle support including at least one movable rocker having a first end attached to it on the side remote from a handpiece and having a free second end which is on the side close to the handpiece. Said rocker carrying at least one row of cleaning elements. At least the cleaning elements arranged on the rocker furthest from a longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush head have their free ends inwardly tilted towards said longitudinal center plane at an acute angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Siegfried Bauernfeind, Andreas Birk
  • Patent number: D696022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birk, Ellen Conrad, Tilmann Winkler
  • Patent number: D698157
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Bauernfeind, Andreas Birk, Björn Kling, Siegfried Kurt Martin Hustedt