Patents by Inventor Joel Pinsky

Joel Pinsky 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: 7838846
    Abstract: A toothbrush or the like may be inserted, bristles downward, into an aperture in a cap removably attached to a body of the apparatus. A peg may be inserted into any one of the apertures in order to allow an electric toothbrush head or other non-standard type of toothbrush to be used. An internal ultraviolet (UV) bulb is located in the apparatus to sanitize the toothbrushes. A timer/control circuit may activate the UV bulb for three minutes and then shut off. To prevent the recurrence of bacterial growth over time, the UV bulb may be automatically reactivated by the timer/control circuit after six hours and activated for another 3 minutes or another amount of time, as programmed. A safety mechanism may interact with a spring-loaded microswitch coupled to the timer/control circuit to disable the unit if the cap is removed. The body has a rounded bottom and is weighted such that the sanitizing apparatus sits upright on a flat surface and returns to an upright position if tipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Joel Pinsky
  • Publication number: 20090189084
    Abstract: A toothbrush or the like may be inserted, bristles downward, into an aperture in a cap removably attached to a body of the apparatus. A peg may be inserted into any one of the apertures in order to allow an electric toothbrush head or other non-standard type of toothbrush to be used. An internal ultraviolet (UV) bulb is located in the apparatus to sanitize the toothbrushes. A timer/control circuit may activate the UV bulb for three minutes and then shut off. To prevent the recurrence of bacterial growth over time, the UV bulb may be automatically reactivated by the timer/control circuit after six hours and activated for another 3 minutes or another amount of time, as programmed. A safety mechanism may interact with a spring-loaded microswitch coupled to the timer/control circuit to disable the unit if the cap is removed. The body has a rounded bottom and is weighted such that the sanitizing apparatus sits upright on a flat surface and returns to an upright position if tipped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: 7213603
    Abstract: A toothbrush or the like may be inserted, bristles downward, into any of the one or more apertures in a cap removably attached to a body of the apparatus. A peg may be inserted into any one of the apertures in order to allow an electric toothbrush head or other non-standard type of toothbrush to be used. An internal ultraviolet (UV) bulb is located in the apparatus to sanitize the toothbrushes. A timer/control circuit may activate the UV bulb for three minutes and then shut off. To prevent the recurrence of bacterial growth over time, the UV bulb may be automatically reactivated by the timer/control circuit after six hours and activated for another 3 minutes or another amount of time, as programmed. A safety rod may interact with a spring-loaded microswitch coupled to the timer/control circuit to disable the unit if the cap is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Violight, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Pinsky
  • Publication number: 20040025899
    Abstract: A toothbrush or the like may be inserted, bristles downward, into any of the one or more apertures in a cap removably attached to a body of the apparatus. A peg may be inserted into any one of the apertures in order to allow an electric toothbrush head or other non-standard type of toothbrush to be used. An internal ultraviolet (UV) bulb is located in the apparatus to sanitize the toothbrushes. A timer/control circuit may activate the UV bulb for three minutes and then shut off. To prevent the recurrence of bacterial growth over time, the UV bulb may be automatically reactivated by the timer/control circuit after six hours and activated for another 3 minutes or another amount of time, as programmed. A safety rod may interact with a spring-loaded microswitch coupled to the timer/control circuit to disable the unit if the cap is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: D523674
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventors: Philippe Starck, Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: D528334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventors: Philippe Starck, Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: D539582
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventors: Philippe Starck, Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: D561509
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventors: Philippe Starck, Joel Pinsky
  • Patent number: D573263
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joel Pinsky