Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Hohlbein

Douglas J. 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: 20040255416
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a handle portion formed with a neck at one end thereof and extending along a first longitudinal axis. A head section is coupled to the neck. The head section includes a plurality of first cleaning members provided on a first head side thereof which extends outwardly from the first head side generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The head section further includes a second cleaning member provided on a second head side thereof opposite to the first head side. In order to reliably clean the tongue surface, the second cleaning member includes a plurality of flat-tipped conical-shaped cleaning elements which extend outwardly from the second head side of the head section generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. Alternately, the second cleaning member can include a plurality of grated cleaning elements which extend outwardly from the second head side of the head section generally perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20040237226
    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: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, James Kemp, Alan V. Sorrentino, Thomas Mintel
  • Patent number: 6442787
    Abstract: A toothbrush having two head sections, the sections being normally biased to assume an angle with respect to each other, to thereby define a generally concave bristle tip configuration. The two sections of the head having facing ends joined by a thin bridge section integral with the two heads. In one embodiment, there is one bridge section near the lower surface of the head. In another embodiment, there are two longitudinally spaced bridge sections each near the lower head surface. In a third embodiment, the bridge section is a thin integral connection between facing ends of the two sections. In other embodiments, the two head sections are normally aligned and are also joined by a thin, integral bridge section, with the bristles of the head section most remote from the handle being of uniformly different lengths. The space between the two facing ends is filled with an elastomer, typically SANTOPRENE (brand). The two head sections define an articulated head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Publication number: 20010047557
    Abstract: A toothbrush having two head sections, the sections being normally biased to assume an angle with respect to each other, to thereby define a generally concave bristle tip configuration. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge section integral with the two heads. In one embodiment, there is one bridge section near the lower surface of the head. In another embodiment, there are two longitudinally spaced bridge sections each near the lower head surface. In a third embodiment, the bridge section is a thin integral connection between facing ends of the two sections. In other embodiments, the two head sections are normally aligned and are also joined by a thin, integral bridge section, with the bristles of the head section most remote from the handle being of uniformly different lengths. The space between the two facing ends is filled with an elastomer, typically Santoprene (brand). The two head sections define an articulated head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 6314606
    Abstract: A toothbrush having two head sections, the sections being normally biased to assume an angle with respect to each other, to thereby define a generally concave bristle tip configuration. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge section integral with the two heads. In one embodiment, there is one bridge section near the lower surface of the head. In another embodiment, there are two longitudinally spaced bridge sections each near the lower head surface. In a third embodiment, the bridge section is a thin integral connection between facing ends of the two sections. In other embodiments, the two head sections are normally aligned and are also joined by a thin, integral bridge section, with the bristles of the head section most remote from the handle being of uniformly different lengths. The space between the two facing ends is filled with an elastomer, typically SANTOPRENE (brand). The two head sections define an articulated head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 6276021
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a plurality of peripheral bristle tufts and a plurality of adjacent bristle bars located internally within the head thereto, which bristle bars provide support for the peripheral bristle tufts during brushing, such that the stiffness and associated cleaning ability of the peripheral bristle tufts is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 6088870
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush having bristles mounted on a flexibly resilient lattice network, such that the bristles deflect during brushing to conform to the various arcuate surfaces of the teeth for more effective cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 6073299
    Abstract: A toothbrush having two head sections, the sections being normally biased to assume an angle with respect to each other, to thereby define a generally concave bristle tip configuration. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge section integral with the two heads. In one embodiment, there is one bridge section near the lower surface of the head. In another embodiment, there are two longitudinally spaced bridge sections each near the lower head surface. In a third embodiment, the bridge section is a thin integral connection between facing ends of the two sections. In other embodiments, the two head sections are normally aligned and are also joined by a thin, integral bridge section, with the bristles of the head section most remote from the handle being of uniformly different lengths. The space between the two facing ends is filled with an elastomer, typically SANTOPRENE (brand). The two head sections define an articulated head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 6041468
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a novel bristle configuration and trim pattern is described. The bristles of the tufts are of varying lengths and are so arranged to form a concave shape resembling the shape of a rubber prophy cup used by dentists and hygienists for polishing teeth. The individual bristles are of varying length and so placed into or mounted in the head to yield tufts having the same concave shape but without the requirement for trimming the bristle ends. In a variant construction, the upper ends of a number of tufts are so contoured, either by trimming or by insertion of various length bristles, that each tuft upper end has a surface which is a portion of a larger concave surface. Thus in one type of arrangement each tuft has its own prophy brush shape at its upper end. In another type of arrangement there is only one prophy brush shape for the entire head, each tuft making its own partial contribution to the single prophy shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Albert C Chen, Kenneth G. Waguespack, Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 5991958
    Abstract: A toothbrush having two head sections, the sections being normally biased to assume an angle with respect to each other, to thereby define a generally concave bristle tip configuration. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge section integral with the two heads. In one embodiment, there is one bridge section near the lower surface of the head. In another embodiment, there are two longitudinally spaced bridge sections each near the lower head surface. In a third embodiment, the bridge section is a thin integral connection between facing ends of the two sections. In other embodiments, the two head sections are normally aligned and are also joined by a thin, integral bridge section, with the bristles of the head section most remote from the handle being of uniformly different lengths. The space between the two facing ends is filled with an elastomer, typically SANTOPRENE (brand). The two head sections define an articulated head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Pamolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 5946758
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a bristle-bearing head divided into at least two sections is disclosed. The free end section, when unstressed, is normally biased to assume an angle of about 15.degree. with respect to the other, to thereby define an articulated head. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge or hinge section integral with the two head sections, the bridge or hinge forming a groove between adjacent head sections. The upper surface of the bridge section is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head (opposite to the bristle-bearing surface). The space between the two facing ends is filled with a soft elastomer of about 5 to about 30, preferably about 13 to about 30 Shore A hardness. This hinge construction defines an articulated head of limited flex motion, wherein, when utilized by the average adult brusher, who applies an average brushing force of 0.5 pounds, flexes to a substantially flattened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Thomas Edward Mintel
  • Patent number: 5863102
    Abstract: Methods and machines are disclosed to attach tufts of individual bristles to a toothbrush with a resiliently flexible head, wherein the flexible head may be segmented with joints connecting adjacent segments or it may be angled or curved or combinations thereof, and to then trim such tufts of individual bristles to a desired length--or lengths in the case of brushes with multi-level tufts--and to then round the free ends of the individual bristles in each such tuft. The disclosed method and apparatus require only the modification of conventional toothbrush tufting machines having tuft insertion tools that travel in a defined direction and the modification of conventional trimming machines and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Gerald Waguespack, Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D511249
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D456138
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D456139
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D463133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D474608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D404205
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D404206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Douglas J. Hohlbein
  • Patent number: D429887
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Hohlbein, Albert C. Chen, Martin H. Klee