Patents by Inventor Erwin Buchholz

Erwin Buchholz 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: 11425987
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush is provided herein. The brush head includes a holding part connected to a carrier part, at least one bristle bundle formed by bristle filaments, and a resiliently soft cleaning element. The carrier part includes passage bores, through which the bristle bundle and resiliently soft cleaning element project, and each is fixed to the carrier part by way of a thickened portion formed by a filament material or a resiliently elastic material, respectively. A method of producing a brush head is also provided, including preparing the carrier part as a separate component with passage bores, fixing the bristle bundle and the resiliently clastic cleaning element to the carrier part with a thickened portion provided on the bristle bundle and the resiliently elastic cleaning element, respectively, and connecting the carrier part to the holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Erwin Buchholz, Berthold Meyer, Eric Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20200015578
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush is provided herein. The brush head includes a holding part connected to a carrier part, at least one bristle bundle formed by bristle filaments, and a resiliently soft cleaning element. The carrier part includes passage bores, through which the bristle bundle and resiliently soft cleaning element project, and each is fixed to the carrier part by way of a thickened portion formed by a filament material or a resiliently elastic material, respectively. A method of producing a brush head is also provided, including preparing the carrier part as a separate component with passage bores, fixing the bristle bundle and the resiliently clastic cleaning element to the carrier part with a thickened portion provided on the bristle bundle and the resiliently elastic cleaning element, respectively, and connecting the carrier part to the holding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin BUCHHOLZ, Berthold MEYER, Eric SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10299900
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush includes a holding part (2) that provides at least one connecting element for mechanically coupling the brush head to the electric drive of the toothbrush, wherein the holding part (2) integrally forms a stud (4) defining a pivot axis (S) about which the brush head is pivotable, and a plate (6) which at its end facing away from the stud (4) carries at least one bristle bundle (8) which at its attachment-side end includes a thickening (14) formed by surface melting. For improving the brush head, a substantially disc-shaped bristle carrier (10) is connected to a holding part (2) and includes a bore that is penetrated by the bristle bundle (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: M+C SCHIFFER GMBH
    Inventors: Eric Schmidt, Erwin Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20170128178
    Abstract: A brush head for an electrically driven toothbrush includes a holding part (2) that provides at least one connecting element for mechanically coupling the brush head to the electric drive of the toothbrush, wherein the holding part (2) integrally forms a stud (4) defining a pivot axis (S) about which the brush head is pivotable, and a plate (6) which at its end facing away from the stud (4) carries at least one bristle bundle (8) which at its attachment-side end includes a thickening (14) formed by surface melting. For improving the brush head, a substantially disc-shaped bristle carrier (10) is connected to a holding part (2) and includes a bore that is penetrated by the bristle bundle (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Schmidt, Erwin Buchholz
  • Patent number: 9609942
    Abstract: A method for making a toothbrush including a handle, a head including at least one cleaning element extending therefrom, and a hinge arranged between the head and the handle, said hinge including a joint between the handle and the head of a harder thermoplastic component covered by a softer thermoplastic component is provided, the method including: forming a base body by injection molding of a first thermoplastic material forming one of the handle or the head, and injection molding of a second thermoplastic material for forming the other of the handle or the head to thereby fuse the second thermoplastic material against the first thermoplastic material; placing the base body into a further mold; and injection molding the softer thermoplastic component for covering the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: M+C SCHIFFER GMBH
    Inventor: Erwin Buchholz
  • Patent number: 9101204
    Abstract: A toothbrush is provided including: a handle; a head attached to the handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements projecting outwardly from a first surface of the head; and a cleanser including at least one projection protruding outwardly from a second surface for removal of microbial and other debris from soft tissue in the mouth, which second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface; wherein the at least one projection is made of a hard component; wherein the second surface is an elastomeric second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: M+C SCHIFFER GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin Buchholz, Berthold Meyer
  • Publication number: 20150089758
    Abstract: A method for making a toothbrush including a handle, a head including at least one cleaning element extending therefrom, and a hinge arranged between the head and the handle, said hinge including a joint between the handle and the head of a harder thermoplastic component covered by a softer thermoplastic component is provided, the method including: forming a base body by injection molding of a first thermoplastic material forming one of the handle or the head, and injection molding of a second thermoplastic material for forming the other of the handle or the head to thereby fuse the second thermoplastic material against the first thermoplastic material; placing the base body into a further mold; and injection molding the softer thermoplastic component for covering the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20150082564
    Abstract: A toothbrush is provided including: a handle; a head attached to the handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements projecting outwardly from a first surface of the head; and a cleanser including at least one projection protruding outwardly from a second surface for removal of microbial and other debris from soft tissue in the mouth, which second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface; wherein the at least one projection is made of a hard component; wherein the second surface is an elastomeric second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Erwin Buchholz, Berthold Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100043165
    Abstract: Brush, particularly toothbrush and method for the manufacture thereof The present invention relates to a brush, particularly a toothbrush, comprising a brush head carrying bundles of bristles, and a handle with an injection-molded basic body which comprises a fastening section extending up to the brush head. To provide a brush that meets the hygienic standards as much as possible and can be manufactured in an easy way, it is suggested according to the invention that the bundles of bristles should be bonded to the basic body via a casting compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: M + C Schiffer GMBH
    Inventors: Tim Juentgen, Erwin Buchholz, Juergen Weissenfels
  • Patent number: 6854811
    Abstract: A method for producing a brush, wherein a filament bundle strand is unwound from a spool and moved past a cutting device that severs a predetermined length of the strand for connection with the bristle carrier of the brush. In order to increase productivity, airflow is used to transport the unwound strand and the severed strand length. A pressure or vacuum source is provided which communicates with the take-off guide channel and/or the guide channel and which produces in the respective channel an airflow that is effective in the direction of transport of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Buchholz, Andreas Lanvers, Richard Ramakers, Thomas Wolters
  • Patent number: 6808236
    Abstract: A method for producing toothbrushes by way of injection molding is provided, wherein a brush body is formed in a mold cavity, bristle filaments are connected to the brush body for forming bristles, and at least one flexible element extending substantially in parallel with the bristle filaments is preferably formed by injection onto the brush body. The contouring and/or finishing of the bristle filaments can be carried out without any impairment by the flexible cleaning elements. During the finishing operation, the flexible cleaning element is removed from the operative area of the finishing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lanvers, Erwin Buchholz, Armin Seifert
  • Patent number: 6582028
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which comprise a brush body and at least one bristle bundle composed of a plurality of oriented bristle filaments, the method comprising the steps of introducing the bristle bundle into a channel which is formed on a moulding tool component, partially melting the bristle bundle at its fixing-side end so as to form an enlargement, closing the moulding tool and filling it with a flowable material. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the method is further developed in that at least a weakened length area of the bristle filaments, which is created when the bristle bundle is partially melted, is completely surrounded by the enlargement. According to a further aspect of the present invention, hot gas is used for forming the enlargement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: M+C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20030001427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing brushes, in particular toothbrushes, by way of injection molding, wherein a brush body is formed in a mold cavity, bristle filaments are connected to the brush body for forming bristles, and at least one flexible element extending substantially in parallel with the bristle filaments is preferably formed by injection onto the brush body. It is the object of the present invention to improve the above-mentioned method such that contouring and/or finishing of the bristle filaments can be carried out without any impairment by the flexible cleaning elements. According to the invention said object is achieved in that the useful ends of the brush are finished, the at least one flexible cleaning element being removed from the operative area of the finishing tool during said finishing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Lanvers, Erwin Buchholz, Armin Seifert
  • Publication number: 20020180253
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a brush. In accordance with said method, a strand of a single filament or of a bundle of filaments is unwound from a spool and moved past a cutting means in which a predetermined length piece of the strand is cut off. Subsequently, said length piece is connected to a bristle carrier. In order to increase the productivity, the present invention suggests that, when the strand or rather the length piece has been cut to length, it should be transported by means of an airflow. The risk that a filament kinks during transport of the strand can be excluded in this way. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises, in a manner known per se, at least one spool keeping a strand of a single filament or of a filament bundle ready for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Erwin Buchholz, Andreas Lanvers, Richard Ramakers, Thomas Wolters
  • Publication number: 20020056941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which comprise a brush body and at least one bristle bundle composed of a plurality of oriented bristle filaments, said method comprising the steps of introducing said bristle bundle into a channel, which is formed on a moulding tool component, partially melting said bristle bundle at its fixing-side end so as to form an enlargement, closing the moulding tool and filling it with a flowable material. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the method according to the generic clause is further developed in that at least a weakened length area of the bristle filaments, which is created when the bristle bundle is partially melted, is completely surrounded by the enlargement. According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is suggested that hot gas should be used for forming the enlargement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventor: Erwin Buchholz
  • Patent number: D774775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: M+C Schiffler GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Buchholz