Patents by Inventor Douglas Hohlbein

Douglas Hohlbein 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).

  • Publication number: 20110239387
    Abstract: An oral care toothbrush includes a handle having a head at one end of the handle, the head having at least one cleaning element. The head has at least one oral care dispenser. The oral care dispenser is configured to release an oral care material within about five seconds when exposed to water at a temperature of about 35° C. to about 40° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, James R. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110146016
    Abstract: An oral care implement (100), comprising an oral care region (124,127) attached to a body (125), a portion (126) of the body being configured for gripping by a user; a memory configured to store a plurality of audio signals from an external signal source; at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of the oral care region (124,128); and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of the plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter from. the at least one measurement component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: John Gatzemeyer, Eduardo Jimenez, Robert Moskovich, Kenneth Waguespack, James Kemp, Douglas Hohlbein, Mary Horchos, Thomas Mintel
  • Patent number: 7954191
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a prophylaxis polishing cup closely surrounded by cleaning elements in the form of a bristle ring extending above the upper surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cups could be in the form of arrays of densely packed cleaning elements. The area formed by these configurations retains toothpaste on the toothbrush during use. Additional cleaning elements may be arranged about the periphery of the toothbrush head. The toothbrush may be a powered toothbrush wherein the cups and/or bristle rings rotate, oscillate or reciprocate to better clean teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 7845042
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tooth cleaning elements may be flexibly mounted in the head for movement from an initial position with respect to the head during use. The soft tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue. The soft tissue cleanser may include a face having hills and valleys upon which the projections are located. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, John J. Gatzemeyer, Bruce Russell, Peter Andersen, Luca Casini, John Hancock, Douglas Hohlbein, Eduardo Jimenez, Thomas Küchler, Tanja Langgner, Thomas Mintel, Michael Rooney, Alan V. Sorrentino, Joachim Storz
  • Patent number: 7836539
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue, which may include cleaning between the papillae of a user's tongue. The soft tissue cleanser may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, Bruce Russell, Luca Casini, Douglas Hohlbein, Thomas Küchler, Tanja Langgner, Thomas Mintel, Michael Rooney, Joachim Storz
  • Publication number: 20100275397
    Abstract: An oral care implement having a handle and a head having a flexible support from which cleaning elements extend. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head attached to the handle; a flexible support attached to the head and having a face; a plurality of cleaning elements attached to the flexible support and projecting outwardly from the face, the cleaning elements including bristles and wall-like elements and being movable in the outward direction from the head; wherein the cleaning elements comprise a row of first cleaning elements substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head and traversing a central region of the flexible support; and wherein some of the wall-like cleaning elements laterally radiate from the central region of the flexible support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, John J. Gatzemeyer, Bruce Russell, Peter Andersen, Luca Casini, John Hancock, Douglas Hohlbein, Eduardo Jimenez, Thomas Küchler, Tanja Langgner, Thomas Mintel, Michael Rooney, Alan V. Sorrentino, Joachim Storz
  • Patent number: 7823243
    Abstract: A toothbrush with a flexible head is disclosed. At least the head of the toothbrush may be manufactured by in-molded technology. A blend of thermoplastic elastomer and polypropylene is used to impart added flexibility to the head. That flexibility is further enhanced by the tapered profile of the head. Cleaning elements may be secured in place during manufacture using in-molded techniques or staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20100257683
    Abstract: An oral care implement includes a handle and a head connected to the handle. A tissue cleanser is positioned on the head and has a textured surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethough. Each of a plurality of tissue cleaning elements extends through one of the apertures and extends outwardly from the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Boyd, Douglas Hohlbein, Joe Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20090320224
    Abstract: An oral care implement (210) includes a handle (214) and a head (212) mounted to one end of the handle (214) that includes a first face (237) having plurality of tooth cleaning elements (226) extending therefrom, a second face (247) and a store of oral care material (232). A soft tissue cleaner (241) can be included on the second face (247). Oral care material can be provided simultaneously to the first (237) and second faces (247) during use from the store of oral care material (232). The oral care implement can include a plurality of oral care material stores (232), which can include different dentifrices. A store of oral care material (232) can be located within an arrangement of the tooth cleaning elements (226) and can extend through the head (212) to an arrangement of soft tissue cleaning elements (226). The toothbrush (210) can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, Alan Sorrentino, James Herbert Kemp, Emily Fink
  • Publication number: 20090320226
    Abstract: An oral care implement includes a handle, a head mounted to one end of the handle that includes a first face having plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom and a second face, a store of dentifrice retained at the head, and a film matrix retained at the head containing at least one rapidly releasable agent. A soft tissue cleaner can be included on the second face. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the film matrix. In addition, dentifrice can be provided to the first and/or second faces during use from the store of dentifrice. The at least one rapidly releasable agent can include, for example, a flavoring agent, a dentifrice, or a therapeutic agent. The toothbrush can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Richard Scott Robinson, Guofeng Xu, Douglas Hohlbein, Alan Sorrentino
  • Publication number: 20090313777
    Abstract: An oral care implement or toothbrush 100 includes a head 104, a tooth cleaning element region 116 and a tissue cleaning element region 114. The tissue cleaning element region 114 includes a plurality of flexible, angled projections 120. The projections 120 are configured to flex from an at-rest position to a substantially flat position when the tissue cleaning element region 114 is in contact with the tongue and is pushed into the mouth. The projections 120 are also configured to flex to a substantially upright position when the tissue cleaning element region 114 is in contact with the tongue and is pulled out of the mouth. This arrangement aids in preventing debris from being pushed into the mouth and in removing debris from the mouth and tongue. The flexible projections 120 may be used in conjunction with rigid projections 122 having a generally vertical configuration to aid in removing debris from the mouth and in engaging the cheek to improve saliva production during brushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Thomas Boyd, Douglas Hohlbein, Joe Vazquez, Ian Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20090314307
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device is provided having a head and a handle. The handle is configured to accommodate a user's hand grip when the head is inserted into a user's mouth. The head is further configured to accommodate, at a distal end of the handle, a proximal end of the head. One of the head and the handle is provided with a cavity configured to receive a supply of floss. The cavity becomes accessible when the head and the handle are at least partially detached from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, Alan Sorrentino, James Herbert Kemp, Emily Fink
  • Publication number: 20090025165
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided includes a head platform having a plurality of faces with cleaning elements extending therefrom. The oral care implement can have flexibly mounted cleaning elements extending in opposite directions. The oral care implement can include a handle and a head with tooth cleaning elements extending from fixed pods and one or more central pods suspended between the fixed pods via a bridge. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central pods to move from an initial position toward and away from the head platform during use. The one or more central pods can include first cleaning elements extending in a first direction toward the first face and second cleaning elements extending in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second cleaning elements can extend through one or more apertures in the head platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, Douglas Hohlbein, Bruce Russell
  • Publication number: 20090007359
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a hollow handle which has an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material which can be expanded or contracted to provide an adjustable diameter grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: COLGATE PALMOLIVE
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, Natan Vaisman
  • Patent number: 7472448
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a hollow handle which has an outer sleeve made of an elastomeric material which can be expanded or contracted to provide an adjustable diameter grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, Natan Vaisman
  • Patent number: 7386909
    Abstract: A toothbrush (10) is disclosed with soft fingers (16) mounted on the toothbrush head (14). During use of the tooth-brush the fingers move laterally relative to the axis of the tooth-brush thereby improving the tooth cleaning and gum massaging performance of the toothbrush. The lateral movement of the fingers is accomplished by relatively stiff ribs (24) which physically interconnect the fingers to flexible portions of the toothbrush head. The ribs translate flexure of the head into the lateral movement of the fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20080104786
    Abstract: An oral care toothbrush includes a head mounted to one end of the handle containing a plurality of oral care elements. An oral care accessory is mounted to the opposite end of the handle. An oral care material dispenser is mounted in the head within the cleaning field defined by the oral care elements. The toothbrush is preferably made of small size and of lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, James Kemp, Alan Sorrentino, Thomas Mintel
  • Publication number: 20080086827
    Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a head frame and a cleaning elements assembly attached thereto with tooth cleaning elements extending from one or more carriers. One or more central carriers can be suspended via a flexible bridge between a pair of support carriers attached to the head frame. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central carriers to move from an initial position toward the head frame during use. The bridge may include rigid supports and flexible elastomeric supports. The carriers and the bridge can be formed as a unitary assembly attached to the head frame, such as via mechanical connections. The mechanical connections could include snap-fit connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth Waguespack, Robert Moskovich, Bruce Russell, Douglas Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D628389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Thasma Ramaswamy Ravindran, Rishi Srivastava, Aalok Vidyarthi, Wen Jin Xi, Xiangji Ding, Yanmei Ji, Douglas Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D628808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Wen Jin Xi, Douglas Hohlbein, Xiangji Ding, Yanmei Ji, Robert Moskovich