Patents by Inventor Gerhard Kressner

Gerhard Kressner 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: 20150245895
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush may be provided by combining an attachment part for an electric toothbrush such as an attachable brush head and a handpiece. The attachment part comprises a tubular connecting piece connectable to a neck of a handpiece by axial movement along a longitudinal axis thereof. The connecting piece may have at least one peripheral mating surface engagable with inner and/or outer peripheral surfaces of the neck of the handpiece, wherein a radially movable latching element is configured to lock the attachment part relative to the handpiece. A handpiece of the toothbrush having a neck provided with inner and outer peripheral surfaces to be coupled with the inner and outer mating surfaces of the attachment part. The coupling includes a latching element and a latching contour to lockingly engage each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: Gerhard KRESSNER
  • Publication number: 20150164625
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush may be provided by combining an attachment part for an electric toothbrush such as an attachable brush head and a handle section. The attachment part has a tubular connecting piece adapted to be connected to a neck of a handle section of the toothbrush, wherein the connecting piece has an inner and outer tubular structure forming a double cone comprising an inner and an outer conical surfaces that face each other and that define an essentially ring-shaped groove therebetween, wherein the inner and outer conical surfaces are structured and configured to be engaged with inner and outer conical surfaces of the neck of the handle section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventor: Gerhard KRESSNER
  • Publication number: 20150150662
    Abstract: A tool head for an electric toothbrush has at least one tool carrier movably supported on a base part by means of a bearing device. The bearing device includes rotational support means for rotatably supporting the tool carrier about an axis of movement and axial support means for axially movably supporting the tool carrier along the axis of movement, and drive means for driving the tool carrier in an oscillating manner to rotationally oscillate about said axis of movement and to axially oscillate along said axis of movement. The drive means include a cam surface for transforming a rotation of said tool carrier into axial movement of the tool carrier relative to the base part along the axis of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventor: Gerhard KRESSNER
  • Publication number: 20150150663
    Abstract: A toothbrush handle part of an electric toothbrush has a handle part neck connectable to an attachment, at least one drive element for driving the attachment, said drive element being supported movably relative to said handle part neck, and a retarding element for retarding and/or locking and/or blocking and/or slowing down the drive element. The retarding element is movable relative to said drive element from a retarding position preventing movement of said drive element to an unretarding position allowing free movement of said drive element. The retarding element is accommodated between the handle part neck and the drive element to be slidable along said drive element in the longitudinal direction thereof from said retarding position in which said retarding element is in engagement with both the drive element and the handle part neck, to said unretarding position in which the retarding element is in engagement with not more than one of the drive element and the handle part neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventor: Gerhard KRESSNER
  • Patent number: 8701235
    Abstract: A handle portion of an electric toothbrush includes an electric motor; a first drive shaft being attachable to a head portion axle of a head portion of an electric toothbrush; a second drive shaft being attachable to a housing of a head portion of an electric toothbrush; and a drive comprising a first drive section and a second drive section. The first drive section is located between the electric motor and one of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The first drive section is arranged to convert a rotational motion of the electric motor into an oscillating pivoting of one of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The second drive section is arranged to transfer an oscillating pivoting of the first drive shaft or the second drive shaft to the respective other drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8671492
    Abstract: An attachment part for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The attachment has a brush head, a tubular connecting piece being connected to the brush head for connecting the same to the head of a toothbrush handle, and a drive shaft for driving the working head. The connecting piece has at least one interior latching element that is arranged such that it is suitable to move into the interior of the neck of the handle and to create a disengageable connection of the attachment part to the neck of the handle, the interior latching element being radially inwardly offset, with regard to the diameter thereof, relative to an internal cylindrical surface of the connecting piece, such that a gap remains between the exterior of the interior latching element and the internal cylindrical surface, the gap being suitably made such that a wall of the neck of the handle can be moved into it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8661597
    Abstract: A brush head for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The brush head includes a neck connectable to a handle of the electric toothbrush, and a bristle carrier pivotally supported by a pivot support at the neck about a pivot axis extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8453287
    Abstract: A toothbrush head having a cleaning element support attached to a cleaning head support is described. The cleaning element support has a plurality of cleaning element support segments which are movable relative to each other. Each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments is outboard of a central portion of the cleaning element support. A top surface of cleaning element support defines a first plan and a top surface of at least one of the plurality of cleaning element support segments defines a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are not co-planar. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the central portion and each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kressner, Michael Stolper
  • Patent number: 8418301
    Abstract: A toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush extending longitudinally and having a hand part, the toothbrush head including a drive rocker, a brush-head carrier coupled to the drive rocker, a main bristle carrier and an additional bristle carrier, both carriers bearing a bristle arrangement and moveably attached to the brush-head carrier and driven in oscillation by the drive rocker, and a drive-coupler affixed to at least one of the bristle carriers and coupled to the drive rocker. The head can include two separately mounted bristle carriers, supporting bristle arrangements, which are driven about different movement axes by the drive rocker to enhance the cleaning action of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8256055
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric toothbrush. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the toothbrush handle part having a coupling device for coupling an attachment thereto, especially an attachable brush, and a drive train, especially a drive shaft, which can be driven by a drive motor, for driving the attachment. In another embodiment, the invention relates to the above attachment which especially may be an attachable brush, comprising a connecting piece that can be placed on the handle part neck of the toothbrush handle part. The toothbrush handle part comprises disengageable arresting means for arresting, blocking, and/or braking the drive train part. Advantageously, the arresting means are automatically released when the attachable brush is attached and are transferred to the arrested state when the attachable brush is removed. In the arrested state of the drive train part, the drive motor is automatically switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20120204365
    Abstract: A toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush extending longitudinally and having a hand part, the toothbrush head including a drive rocker, a brush-head carrier coupled to the drive rocker, a main bristle carrier and an additional bristle carrier, both carriers bearing a bristle arrangement and moveably attached to the brush-head carrier and driven in oscillation by the drive rocker, and a drive-coupler affixed to at least one of the bristle carriers and coupled to the drive rocker. The head can include two separately mounted bristle carriers, supporting bristle arrangements, which are driven about different movement axes by the drive rocker to enhance the cleaning action of the toothbrush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8209808
    Abstract: An attachment for an electric toothbrush, including a working head and coupling member mountable on a toothbrush handpiece. The coupling member includes a sleeve-shaped coupling insert with an engagement section for locking with the handpiece. The coupling insert is displaceable relative to the coupling member or an actuating member such that an axial movement of the coupling insert relative to the coupling member or actuating member produces an unlocking/locking movement of the engagement section in a direction transverse to the attachment longitudinal direction. The attachment or actuating member is first moved axially relative to a locked coupling insert until the axial relative movement releases the lock for the coupling insert and the attachment to be separated from the toothbrush handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 8185991
    Abstract: A toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush extending longitudinally and having a hand part, the toothbrush head including a drive rocker, a brush-head carrier coupled to the drive rocker, a main bristle carrier and an additional bristle carrier, both carriers bearing a bristle arrangement and moveably attached to the brush-head carrier and driven in oscillation by the drive rocker, and a drive-coupler affixed to at least one of the bristle carriers and coupled to the drive rocker. The head can include two separately mounted bristle carriers, supporting bristle arrangements, which are driven about different movement axes by the drive rocker to enhance the cleaning action of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20120060309
    Abstract: A brush head for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The brush head includes a neck connectable to a handle of the electric toothbrush, and a bristle carrier pivotally supported by a pivot support at the neck about a pivot axis extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20120011667
    Abstract: A handle portion of an electric toothbrush includes an electric motor; a first drive shaft being attachable to a head portion axle of a head portion of an electric toothbrush; a second drive shaft being attachable to a housing of a head portion of an electric toothbrush; and a drive comprising a first drive section and a second drive section. The first drive section is located between the electric motor and one of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The first drive section is arranged to convert a rotational motion of the electric motor into an oscillating pivoting of one of the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The second drive section is arranged to transfer an oscillating pivoting of the first drive shaft or the second drive shaft to the respective other drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20110083288
    Abstract: An attachment part for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The attachment has a brush head, a tubular connecting piece being connected to the brush head for connecting the same to the head of a toothbrush handle, and a drive shaft for driving the working head. The connecting piece has at least one interior latching element that is arranged such that it is suitable to move into the interior of the neck of the handle and to create a disengageable connection of the attachment part to the neck of the handle, the interior latching element being radially inwardly offset, with regard to the diameter thereof, relative to an internal cylindrical surface of the connecting piece, such that a gap remains between the exterior of the interior latching element and the internal cylindrical surface, the gap being suitably made such that a wall of the neck of the handle can be moved into it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 7917982
    Abstract: A handpiece of an electric toothbrush having a housing in which a drive unit is received. The housing has a forward or rearward housing opening adapted to be closed by a cover in a preferably moisture- and liquid-proof manner, with snap-action detent elements provided on the housing and/or the cover for locking the cover on the housing with a snap action. A combination of snap-fitting and threaded engagement releases the snap-fitting engagement between the cover and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kressner, Martin Haas
  • Publication number: 20110005014
    Abstract: A toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush extending longitudinally and having a hand part, the toothbrush head including a drive rocker, a brush-head carrier coupled to the drive rocker, a main bristle carrier and an additional bristle carrier, both carriers bearing a bristle arrangement and moveably attached to the brush-head carrier and driven in oscillation by the drive rocker, and a drive-coupler affixed to at least one of the bristle carriers and coupled to the drive rocker. The head can include two separately mounted bristle carriers, supporting bristle arrangements, which are driven about different movement axes by the drive rocker to enhance the cleaning action of the toothbrush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20100325823
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush, which comprises a handpiece equipped with a drive, a brush head carrier that is connectible to the handpiece, and several bristle supports that carry a respective bristle set, are movably mounted on the brush head carrier and drivable in an oscillatory manner by the drive, each of the bristle supports being adapted to be coupled to a translator element of the drive by means of a respective drive coupling. According to the invention the bristle supports each have drive coupling means enabling them to be coupled to eccentric drivers of the drive translator element which is adapted to be driven for rotation about a longitudinal axis. Owing to the arrangement of two separately mounted bristle supports which are driven by a common drive translator element about various axes of motion, it is possible to achieve an improved cleaning effect by simple means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Gerhard Kressner
  • Publication number: 20100306942
    Abstract: A toothbrush head having a cleaning element support attached to a cleaning head support is described. The cleaning element support has a plurality of cleaning element support segments which are movable relative to each other. Each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments is outboard of a central portion of the cleaning element support. A top surface of cleaning element support defines a first plan and a top surface of at least one of the plurality of cleaning element support segments defines a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are not co-planar. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the central portion and each of the plurality of cleaning element support segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Gerhard Kressner, Michael Stolper