Patents by Inventor Michael Vankov

Michael Vankov 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: 11096478
    Abstract: An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Michael Vankov
  • Publication number: 20190254415
    Abstract: An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: Michael VANKOV
  • Patent number: 10314389
    Abstract: An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael Vankov
  • Publication number: 20160353874
    Abstract: An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Michael VANKOV
  • Patent number: 9089202
    Abstract: A method for producing a brush head for a toothbrush head is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a bristle carrier; providing cleaning elements having first ends which will not be embedded in the bristle carrier and second ends which will be embedded in the bristle carrier, wherein the cleaning elements are selected from at least two different types of cleaning elements or at least two distinctive cleaning elements of the same type; placing the first ends of the cleaning elements in the bristle carrier in a carrier part for holding; and supplying different amounts of heat to the second ends in the bristle carrier by reflecting the heat supplied partially from the carrier part and/or absorbing the heat supplied partially by the carrier part resulting in the second end being molten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Jochen Kawerau, Michael Machlitt
  • Publication number: 20130326834
    Abstract: A method for producing a brush head for a toothbrush head is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a bristle carrier; providing cleaning elements having first ends which will not be embedded in the bristle carrier and second ends which will be embedded in the bristle carrier, wherein the cleaning elements are selected from at least two different types of cleaning elements or at least two distinctive cleaning elements of the same type; placing the first ends of the cleaning elements in the bristle carrier in a carrier part for holding; and supplying different amounts of heat to the second ends in the bristle carrier by reflecting the heat supplied partially from the carrier part and/or absorbing the heat supplied partially by the carrier part resulting in the second end being molten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Jochen Kawerau, Michael Machlitt
  • Publication number: 20090241279
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a function element carrier with function elements, for example, individual tufts made up of bristles and/or massage elements, interproximal cleaning elements, or other elements designed to be fastened to a toothbrush and also perform special functions. The function elements are equipped at their ends intended for anchoring in a toothbrush with an anchor, retainer or axle element. The method includes: (a) inserting several function elements in corresponding recesses of an injection mold, said injection mold being connected via grid or bar shaped channels formed in a die to recesses in the areas of the anchoring ends of the function elements; (b) filling the grid or bar shaped channels with liquefied plastic material and injecting said material at the anchoring ends of the function elements or embedding them therein; and (c) allowing the plastic material to cool and removing a function element carrier made up of a grid or bar shaped plastic frame and the function elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Stein, Mark McConnell, Joseph DePuydt, Michael Vankov, Ahmet Cem Firatli
  • Publication number: 20090239046
    Abstract: A hot-film embossing method for printing a surface and a corresponding embossing film, in particular for printing a plastic surface. The embossing film has at least one patterned layer or ink layer and one melt layer. The embossing film is pressed against the surface by means of an embossing ram, whereby a heat input into the melt layer is achieved by means of high-frequency radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Harald De Buhr
  • Publication number: 20050146200
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a function element carrier with function elements, for example, individual tufts made up of bristles and/or massage elements, interproximal cleaning elements, or other elements designed to be fastened to a toothbrush and also perform special functions. The function elements are equipped at their ends intended for anchoring in a toothbrush with an anchor, retainer or axle element. The method includes: (a) inserting several function elements in corresponding recesses of an injection mold, said injection mold being connected via grid or bar shaped channels formed in a die to recesses in the areas of the anchoring ends of the function elements; (b) filling the grid or bar shaped channels with liquefied plastic material and injecting said material at the anchoring ends of the function elements or embedding them therein; and (c) allowing the plastic material to cool and removing a function element carrier made up of a grid or bar shaped plastic frame and the function elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Stein, Mark McConnell, Joseph Depuydt, Michael Vankov, Ahmet Firatli
  • Patent number: 6820941
    Abstract: A clamping device for restraining filament tufts in a bristle cluster includes fixed and movable clamping plates. The clamping plates have apertures that are aligned in the unloaded position and that are offset relative to each other in the loaded position. The movable clamping plates can be displaced relative to the fixed clamping plates, and each movable clamping plate secures a specific portion of the bristle cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Bernd Stein, Christian Stief, Michael Machlitt, Uwe Tretrop
  • Publication number: 20030155802
    Abstract: A clamping device for restraining filament tufts in a bristle cluster includes fixed and movable clamping plates. The clamping plates have apertures that are aligned in the unloaded position and that are offset relative to each other in the loaded position. The movable clamping plates can be displaced relative to the fixed clamping plates, and each movable clamping plate secures a specific portion of the bristle cluster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Bernd Stein, Christian Stief, Michael MacHlitt, Uwe Tretrop
  • Publication number: 20030157872
    Abstract: An abrasive device includes at least two abrasive tracks disposed on a support portion, the abrasive tracks having abrasive surfaces with abrasive elements. The abrasive device may be used to perform various abrasive processes either consecutively or in parallel by means of different abrasive surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Bernd Stein, Christian Stief, Michael Machlitt
  • Publication number: 20030041402
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a function element carrier with function elements, for example, individual tufts made up of bristles and/or massage elements, interproximal cleaning elements, or other elements designed to be fastened to a toothbrush and also perform special functions. The function elements are equipped at their ends intended for anchoring in a toothbrush with an anchor, retainer or axle element. The method includes: (a) inserting several function elements in corresponding recesses of an injection mold, said injection mold being connected via grid or bar shaped channels formed in a die to recesses in the areas of the anchoring ends of the function elements; (b) filling the grid or bar shaped channels with liquefied plastic material and injecting said material at the anchoring ends of the function elements or embedding them therein; and (c) allowing the plastic material to cool and removing a function element carrier made up of a grid or bar shaped plastic frame and the function elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Bernd Stein, Mark McConnell, Joseph DePuydt, Michael Vankov, Ahmet Cem Firatli
  • Patent number: 6490799
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a long-hair cutter unit (LHS) for a dry shaving apparatus (TR), with a dimensionally stable cutting comb (11) having one cutting teeth row (17) and at least one bearing surface (110) for at least one engagement surface (120) of an arcuately curved, hardened cutting blade (12) having one cutting teeth row (18) and held in engagement with the cutting comb (11) by a pressure of at least one spring element (19, wherein the curvature of the hardened cutting blade (12) is partially configured by means of a forming process such as to ensure conformance and slidable contact of the engagement surface (120) of the cutting blade (12) with the bearing surface (110) of the cutting comb (11) by means of the partial curvatures as well as their restoring forces under the action of the pressure of the spring element (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Eich, Reinhold Eichhorn, Michael Harms, Sebastian Hottenrott, Peter Junk, Rudolf Majthan, Michael Odemer, Jens Störkel, Michael Vankov, Jürgen Wolf
  • Publication number: 20020092177
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a long-hair cutter unit (LHS) for a dry shaving apparatus (TR), with a dimensionally stable cutting comb (11) having one cutting teeth row (17) and at least one bearing surface (110) for at least one engagement surface (120) of an arcuately curved, hardened cutting blade (12) having one cutting teeth row (18) and held in engagement with the cutting comb (11) by a pressure of at least one spring element (19, wherein the curvature of the hardened cutting blade (12) is partially configured by means of a forming process such as to ensure conformance and slidable contact of the engagement surface (120) of the cutting blade (12) with the bearing surface (110) of the cutting comb (11) by means of the partial curvatures as well as their restoring forces under the action of the pressure of the spring element (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Eich, Reinhold Eichhorn, Michael Harms, Sebastian Hottenrott, Peter Junk, Rudolf Majthan, Michael Odemer, Jens Storkel, Michael Vankov, Jurgen Wolf
  • Patent number: 5802932
    Abstract: A cutter which performs the function of either the outer or the inner cutter in a cutting device comprised of outer and inner cutters of an electric shaving apparatus or an electric beard trimmer. The cutter includes in its cutting area configured as a plane sliding surface a plurality of teeth extending from a comb strip with slots therebetween and with cutting edges formed on the tooth edges. Arranged on the cutter are one or several wall portions angled relative to the cutting area. The cutting area of the cutter includes a blade made of hardened sheet steel, with the teeth of the blade being produced by etching. The wall portions of the cutter are formed by welding one or several formed sheet metal sections to the blade. The weldment is effected such that the resulting rise in temperature of the blade is so low that the hardened sheet metal material is neither adversely affected by deformations nor exposed to significant losses in respect of hardness and wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Vankov, Karlheinz Johne, Dieter Huth, Gunther Seidel, Rudolf Majthan, Lutz Voigtmann