Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Pilcher

Kenneth A. Pilcher 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: 10441764
    Abstract: The applicator includes a housing and a motor contained therewithin which includes an output member, such as a shaft, which in operation moves in a reciprocating manner. A contact member is mounted for operation and moves in response to the action of the output shaft, such that the contact element in operation repeatedly contacts a selected skin area, moving toward and away from the skin area, substantially perpendicularly thereto. The contact member moves at a frequency within the range of 50 Hz to 200 Hz and with an amplitude of 0.010 to 0.075 inches. The repeated tapping action of the contact member against the skin increases the absorption of a skin formulation into the skin area being contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Akridge, David Giuliani, Christopher J. McEvoy, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Richard A. Reishus
  • Publication number: 20180242711
    Abstract: A brush comprises a plurality of filaments having a crimp structure and a J structure to provide a full distribution of filaments at an end surface of the brush, wherein the crimp structure of a majority of the filaments is configured with a period length of 2 mm to 5 mm and a peak to peak length of not greater than 0.8 mm, and the J structure is configured with a long length about 0.02 inches to about 1.2 inches, and a difference between the long length and a short length is about 0.2 inches to about 0.5 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Aaron David Poole, Gerald Keith Brewer, Robert E. Akridge, Kenneth A. Pilcher
  • Publication number: 20180178032
    Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for treatment of skin conditions which includes a brushhead member which comprises a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating in operation through a selected angle at a selected frequency and a second portion which also includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts concentric with the first portion, the second portion remaining stationary in operation. At least one monochromatic light source is included, providing light directed from the brushhead in a direction substantially the same as the bristle tufts, such that the light impinges on the area of skin of the user acted on by the oscillating brushhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth A Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Patent number: 9763508
    Abstract: The tip assembly includes a base portion which is sufficiently rigid to be conveniently insertable onto and removable from a drive end of a motor for the applicator and a tip portion which is securely attached to the base portion either by casting or molding, and is sufficiently soft to provide comfortable contact with the skin, the tip portion having a concave front surface for receiving skin formulations which are applied to the skin, such as the facial skin, of a user during operation of the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Richard A. Reishus, Michael M. Itano, Kenneth A. Pilcher
  • Patent number: 9554963
    Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for treatment of skin conditions which includes a brushhead member which comprises a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating in operation through a selected angle at a selected frequency and a second portion which also includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts concentric with the first portion, the second portion remaining stationary in operation. At least one monochromatic light source is included, providing light directed from the brushhead in a direction substantially the same as the bristle tufts, such that the light impinges on the area of skin of the user acted on by the oscillating brushhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Patent number: 9301657
    Abstract: A cleansing workpiece suitable for use with a personal care appliance. The cleansing workpiece includes a cleanser and a cleansing component, such as a number of tufts each having a plurality of bristles. In use, the cleansing workpiece can be rotated, reciprocated, oscillated, etc., over a subject's skin in order for the cleansing workpiece to dispense or apply a quantity of the cleanser onto the subject's skin and/or for the cleansing component to clean, massage, and/or exfoliate a subject's skin with the aid of dispensed cleanser. The cleanser may be continuously applied to the subject's skin as the cleansing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Zane Bowman Allen Miller, Kenneth A. Pilcher
  • Publication number: 20150265825
    Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to address the primary problem of long application durations to deliver an effective dose of an active ingredient. The devices combine mechanical motion with electrically induced flux (e.g., iontophoresis). The combination of techniques in a single device can reduce the treatment time required to deliver the active ingredient in an effective dose, or deliver a larger dose over the same duration of application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Zane Bowman Allen Miller, Kenneth A. Pilcher, James Christopher McInnes
  • Patent number: 9107486
    Abstract: Exfoliating brush heads are disclosure for use with a personal care appliance. The personal care appliance is configured to oscillate the exfoliating brush head to provide improved smoothing and exfoliation of a patient's epidermis with or without the antecedent application of skin care formula. The oscillating action of the exfoliating brush head may be rotational, translational, or a combination thereof. In use, the personal care appliance oscillates the exfoliating brush head over a patient's skin in order to remove dead skin from the patient's epidermis. The exfoliating brush head may include first and second groups of tufts, wherein the first and second groups of tufts have different bristle heights and/or stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Gerald Keith Brewer, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Publication number: 20150182078
    Abstract: A cleansing workpiece suitable for use with a personal care appliance. The cleansing workpiece includes a cleanser and a cleansing component, such as a number of tufts each having a plurality of bristles. In use, the cleansing workpiece can be rotated, reciprocated, oscillated, etc., over a subject's skin in order for the cleansing workpiece to dispense or apply a quantity of the cleanser onto the subject's skin and/or for the cleansing component to clean, massage, and/or exfoliate a subject's skin with the aid of dispensed cleanser. The cleanser may be continuously applied to the subject's skin as the cleansing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Zane Bowman Allen Miller, Kenneth A. Pilcher
  • Patent number: 9060595
    Abstract: The compensating/performance regulation system includes a power skin brush having a handle, an oscillating brushhead workpiece and a drive system, wherein the brushhead workpiece has an RFID tag. An RFID reader is provided in the handle and is responsive to the RFID tag moving past the reader to produce an indication of use of the brushhead. A microprocessor calculates a value of actual use from the RFID information and uses stored information to determine the decline in performance from the calculated use. A compensating change in drive frequency or duty cycle of the drive signal is then determined by the microprocessor from stored information and transmitted to the drive system to maintain performance of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Joseph Grez, Gerald Brewer, Kenneth Pilcher
  • Publication number: 20140367131
    Abstract: The compensating/performance regulation system includes a power skin brush having a handle, an oscillating brushhead workpiece and a drive system, wherein the brushhead workpiece has an RFID tag. An RFID reader is provided in the handle and is responsive to the RFID tag moving past the reader to produce an indication of use of the brushhead. A microprocessor calculates a value of actual use from the RFID information and uses stored information to determine the decline in performance from the calculated use. A compensating change in drive frequency or duty cycle of the drive signal is then determined by the microprocessor from stored information and transmitted to the drive system to maintain performance of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Grez, Gerald Brewer, Kenneth Pilcher
  • Publication number: 20140373003
    Abstract: An electronic appliance having control firmware includes an operating part which requires periodic replacement for effective operation of the appliance. The replacement operating part has an RFID tag attached thereto which includes updated firmware for the appliance. The appliance further includes an RFID reader which reads the updated firmware on the RFID tag when the replacement part is operatively positioned in the appliance, and updates/replaces the existing firmware or a portion thereof with the read firmware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Joseph Grez, Kenneth Pilcher, Scott Straka
  • Patent number: 8882720
    Abstract: The skin formulation dispenser includes a housing and a reservoir positioned within the housing containing a skin formulation. The dispenser includes an outlet nozzle from which the skin formulation exits and a pump assembly connecting the reservoir to the nozzle. An actuator is provided by which a user can mechanically apply pressure to the pump assembly to move the formulation from the reservoir to the nozzle. The nozzle extends from an end portion of the dispenser into a mating opening in an infuser portion of the applicator in such a manner to insure that the dispenser is authorized for use in the applicator, wherein the nozzle is configured so as to permit movement of the formulation by reasonable force from the reservoir through the nozzle while also preventing overly rapid evaporation of the formulation exiting from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Richard A. Reishus, Kenneth A. Pilcher
  • Publication number: 20140309662
    Abstract: Exfoliating brush heads are disclosure for use with a personal care appliance. The personal care appliance is configured to oscillate the exfoliating brush head to provide improved smoothing and exfoliation of a patient's epidermis with or without the antecedent application of skin care formula. The oscillating action of the exfoliating brush head may be rotational, translational, or a combination thereof. In use, the personal care appliance oscillates the exfoliating brush head over a patient's skin in order to remove dead skin from the patient's epidermis. The exfoliating brush head may include first and second groups of tufts, wherein the first and second groups of tufts have different bristle heights and/or stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Gerald Keith Brewer, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Patent number: D711656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Keith Brewer, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Patent number: D715553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Keith Brewer, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Robert E. Akridge
  • Patent number: D715554
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Hosler, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Richard A. Reishus, Suk P. Wong
  • Patent number: D715555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Oreal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Hosler, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Richard A. Reishus, Suk P. Wong
  • Patent number: D742647
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: L'Oreal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Hosler, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Richard A. Reishus, Suk P. Wong
  • Patent number: D767897
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: L'Oréal USA Creative, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Hosler, Kenneth A. Pilcher, Richard A. Reishus, Suk P. Wong