Patents by Inventor Michael F. Roberts

Michael F. Roberts 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).

  • Gum-massaging oral brush
    Patent number: 6151745
    Abstract: An oral brush is provided that includes an elongated body, a head portion extending from the body, and a plurality of bristles, formed of particular thermoplastic elastomers, extending from the body. In various embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore A hardness of at least 30; the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyetheramides, polyesters, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyolefin elastomers, and mixtures thereof; and the thermoplastic elastomer has a flexural modulus of at least 5 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Roberts, T. Craig Masterman, Edward Hosung Park, Philip J. Sweeney, Mingchih M. Tseng, Stephen C. Witkus
  • Toothbrush
    Patent number: 6041467
    Abstract: A toothbrush for cleaning teeth, especially the interproximal region between adjacent, closely spaced or normally contacting teeth, has at least one fin extending from the body of the toothbrush through the bristled head. The fin is a thin, tapering, blade-like member with a distal edge for cleaning teeth by scraping motion. The fin is molded from plastic resin, and is constructed so as to resist buckling loads to tend to penetrate and clean the interproximal tooth surfaces, even to the point of temporarily separating lightly contacting surfaces of adjacent teeth. Various fin embodiments are presented, including one that has an outwardly-biasing loop portion. Methods of use and manufacture and preferred materials are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Roberts, Thomas Craig Masterman, William A. Bredall, Robert L. Hicks, Donna J. Beals, Bradley Edward Castillo
  • Dental floss
    Patent number: 6027592
    Abstract: Improved dental flosses are provided, including multicomponent coextruded filaments and/or filaments having a multilobal cross-section. Some preferred flosses of the invention are capable of bulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Thomas Craig Masterman, Edward Hosung Park, Michael F. Roberts, Jean L. Spencer
  • Gum-massaging oral brush
    Patent number: 5987688
    Abstract: An oral brush is provided that includes an elongated body a head portion extending from the body, and a plurality of bristles, formed of particular thermoplastic elastomers, extending from the body. In various embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer has a Shore A hardness of at least 30; the thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyetheramides, polyesters, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, polyurethanes, polyolefin elastomers, and mixtures thereof; and the thermoplastic elastomer has a flexural modulus of at least 5 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Roberts, T. Craig Masterman, Edward Hosung Park, Philip J. Sweeney, Mingchih M. Tseng, Stephen C. Witkus
  • Dental floss
    Patent number: 5904152
    Abstract: Improved dental flosses are provided, including multicomponent coextruded filaments and/or filaments having a multilobal cross-section. Some preferred flosses of the invention are capable of bulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Thomas Craig Masterman, Edward Hosung Park, Michael F. Roberts, Jean L. Spencer
  • Dental floss
    Patent number: 5845652
    Abstract: Improved dental flosses are provided, including multicomponent coextruded filaments and/or filaments having a multilobal cross-section. Some preferred flosses of the invention are capable of bulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventors: Mingchih M. Tseng, Thomas Craig Masterman, Edward Hosung Park, Michael F. Roberts, Jean L. Spencer