Patents by Inventor Norbert Schaefer

Norbert Schaefer 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: 20160331120
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jannik SCHEELE, Martin HAAS, Norbert SCHAEFER, Robert SCHÄFER, Sven Alexander FRANKE, Uwe SCHOBER, Ingo VETTER, Frank ZIEGLER
  • Publication number: 20160302900
    Abstract: An oral cleaning tool for an electric oral hygiene device is disclosed. The oral cleaning tool includes a housing having a head section with a head cavity for accommodating a movable oral cleaning head and a neck section with a neck cavity and a handle coupling section; a first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element being provided in the neck section for mechanical handle drive shaft connection by magnetic interaction. The first magnetic coupling element is mounted at a motion transmitter, the motion transmitter extending inside the neck cavity to the head cavity, the motion transmitter arranged so as to be movable in a linear or longitudinal direction. The motion transmitter is coupled with the oral cleaning head, the oral cleaning head arranged so as to oscillate in a rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9387059
    Abstract: An oral cleaning tool for an electric oral hygiene device is disclosed. The oral cleaning tool includes a housing having a head section with a head cavity for accommodating a movable oral cleaning head and a neck section with a neck cavity and a handle coupling section; a first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element being provided in the neck section for mechanical handle drive shaft connection by magnetic interaction. The first magnetic coupling element is mounted at a motion transmitter, the motion transmitter extending inside the neck cavity to the head cavity, the motion transmitter arranged so as to be movable in a linear or longitudinal direction. The motion transmitter is coupled with the oral cleaning head, the oral cleaning head arranged so as to oscillate in a rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9358088
    Abstract: An oral hygiene implement attachable to a handle of an oral hygiene device is provided. The implement includes a housing; a functional element movably mounted at the housing such that it can be driven into a motion; a motion transmitter element coupled with the functional element; and an adhesive layer provided at the motion transmitter element for adhesively coupling the motion transmitter element with a drive shaft of the handle when being attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Daniel Dietzel
  • Patent number: 9226808
    Abstract: An attachment section suitable for connection to a handle section of an oral hygiene device is disclosed. The attachment section includes an attachment housing having a first coupling structure suitable for establishing a connection with a second coupling structure of the handle section; at least a functional element mounted at the attachment housing for driven movement; a motion transmitter extending in a cavity formed inside of the attachment housing, the motion transmitter being functionally connected on one end with the functional element; and a first magnetic coupling element arranged at another end of the motion transmitter, the first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element suitable for establishing a magnetic connection with a second magnetic coupling element provided in the handle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150381096
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a resonant motor and a motor control unit for applying a periodic voltage signal with a driving frequency at the resonant motor for driving the resonant motor into an oscillating motion with an oscillating frequency equal to the driving frequency. The motor control unit comprises a synthesizer circuit for digitally synthesizing the periodic voltage signal from voltage pulses of variable length provided with a pulse frequency higher than the driving frequency such that at least two voltage pulses are applied at least in one of two half cycles of each period of the periodic voltage signal .
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Torsten KLEMM, Kervin Küchler, Andreas MOEHRING, Norbert SCHAEFER, Martin STRATMANN, Carl Stückrath
  • Patent number: 9186229
    Abstract: A storage device for tooth cleaning attachments of a tooth cleaning device is provided. The storage device includes a storage body for storing the tooth cleaning attachments. The storage body has a storage base with at least one storage depression for receiving a tooth cleaning attachment in flat-lying alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Phong Vu, Ivo Kunath, Martin Haas, Norbert Schaefer, Alexander Hilscher
  • Publication number: 20150320529
    Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a longitudinal axis, a carrier element mounted for driven movement, a motion transmitter that has a first end for transferring a drive force to the carrier element, which first end is provided at a position being offset from the longitudinal axis, and the motion transmitter has a second end positioned essentially on on the longitudinal axis or is arranged for being positioned essentially on the longitudinal axis during operation, wherein the motion transmitter has a first coupling part comprising the first end, which first coupling part essentially extends along a centre axis arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second coupling part comprising the second end, which first coupling part is fixedly connected with a first connecting portion of an elastic pivot element that allows that the first coupling part and the second coupling part can pivot with respect to each other at least in a first pivoting plane span
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert SCHAEFER, Jörn UTSCH, Thomas FRITSCH
  • Patent number: 9154025
    Abstract: A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Uwe Schober, Joern Utsch, Andreas Kramp, Frank Ziegler, Benedikt Heil, Marlis Hübner
  • Patent number: 9003590
    Abstract: A handle section of a small electric device is described that has a handle housing in which a drive unit is disposed, a first connector element extending from the housing being adapted for connection with an attachment section, the first connector element being coupled to the drive unit; a second connector element extending from the housing being adapted for connection with the attachment section, the second connector element being coupled to the drive unit, wherein the first connector element linearly reciprocates relative to the housing during operation and the second connector element linearly reciprocates relative to the housing with a 180 degrees phase shift with respect to the first connector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Norbert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150020324
    Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and having a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity, a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole, wherein the through hole defines a first and a second opening in the head section housing, and wherein a cap element separately made from the head section housing is connected with the head section housing to essentially cover the first opening and a carrier element separately made from the head section housing is arranged to cover the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Thomas Fritsch, Joern Utsch, Wolfgang Stegmann
  • Publication number: 20150007398
    Abstract: An oral hygiene implement attachable to a handle of an oral hygiene device is provided. The implement includes a housing; a functional element movably mounted at the housing such that it can be driven into a motion; a motion transmitter element coupled with the functional element; and an adhesive layer provided at the motion transmitter element for adhesively coupling the motion transmitter element with a drive shaft of the handle when being attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Daniel Dietzel
  • Patent number: 8858580
    Abstract: A head portion for a tongue cleaning device is disclosed. The head portion includes a mechanical tongue cleaning section and a tongue cleaning electrode. The mechanical tongue cleaning section includes a cleaning protrusion. The tongue cleaning electrode enables a current flow into a user's tongue during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Vladimir Gartstein, Donald James White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8813292
    Abstract: A brush head for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The brush head includes a bristle support having mounting means for the movable mounting of the bristle support and a plurality of bristle tufts arranged on the bristle support in at least one outer ring and one middle ring, the middle ring being nested within the outer ring and having a central area. The outer ring includes outer bristle tufts having an elongated tuft cross-section, which outer bristle tufts are mounted on opposing sides of the outer ring. The middle ring includes at least two middle bristle tufts that each have a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the outer bristle tufts and a central area including at least one bristled section that consists of two center bristle tufts having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the middle bristle tufts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Michael Schmid, Norbert Schaefer, Hansjoerg Reick, Stefan Schamberg, Eva Susanne Thurnay, Rory McGarry
  • Publication number: 20140101872
    Abstract: An oral cleaning tool for an electric oral hygiene device is disclosed. The oral cleaning tool includes a housing having a head section with a head cavity for accommodating a movable oral cleaning head and a neck section with a neck cavity and a handle coupling section; a first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element being provided in the neck section for mechanical handle drive shaft connection by magnetic interaction. The first magnetic coupling element is mounted at a motion transmitter, the motion transmitter extending inside the neck cavity to the head cavity, the motion transmitter arranged so as to be movable in a linear or longitudinal direction. The motion transmitter is coupled with the oral cleaning head, the oral cleaning head arranged so as to oscillate in a rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8631532
    Abstract: An oral cleaning tool for an electric oral hygiene device is disclosed. The oral cleaning tool includes a housing having a head section with a head cavity for accommodating a movable oral cleaning head and a neck section with a neck cavity and a handle coupling section; a first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element being provided in the neck section for mechanical handle drive shaft connection by magnetic interaction. The first magnetic coupling element is mounted at a motion transmitter, the motion transmitter extending inside the neck cavity to the head cavity, the motion transmitter arranged so as to be movable in a linear or longitudinal direction. The motion transmitter is coupled with the oral cleaning head, the oral cleaning head arranged so as to oscillate in a rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Norbert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8479750
    Abstract: A head portion for a mouth cleaning device is disclosed. The head portion includes an electrical connecting element; cleaning elements for cleaning teeth; and a tongue cleaning electrode for enabling a current flow into a user's tongue during use. The cleaning elements and the tongue cleaning electrode are arranged on substantially opposing sides of the head portion. The electrical connecting element on the head portion is electrically coupled to the tongue cleaning electrode for establishing an electrical connection with a corresponding electrical connecting element located at a handle portion in a connected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Vladimir Gartstein, Donald james White, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130125327
    Abstract: A body care appliance is disclosed. The body care appliance includes a toothbrush having a first display; a base station for storing and/or charging the toothbrush; and a second display for displaying interactive representations, which are interactively controllable by means of a control unit from the toothbrush. The second display forms a module that is designed separately from the base station and the toothbrush and is separately positionable; the second display having a communication interface for communication with the base station and/or with the toothbrush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Rory McGarry, Wolfgang Stegmann, Duy Phong Vu, Benedikt Heil, Martin Stratmann, Norbert Schaefer, Ivo Kunath, Ingo Vetter, Vladimir Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130125326
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device is disclosed. The device includes a toothbrush; and a display for displaying interactive representations, which are controllable from the display by means of a control device. The control device includes a game controller for controlling a video game on the display and an information controller for making information available on the display, such that a switching device operable by a switching key located on at least the toothbrush or the display is provided for switching between the game presentation generated by the game controller and the information presentation generated by the information controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schmid, Rory McGarry, Wolfgang Stegmann, Duy Phong Vu, Benedikt Heil, Martin Stratmann, Norbert Schaefer, Ivo Kunath, Ingo Vetter, Vladimir Fischer
  • Patent number: 8430590
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a handle part and an attachment part, wherein the handle part has a housing, in which a reservoir for a care substance, a pump for delivering the care substance and a drive unit for driving the pump are arranged. The housing is divided into a liquid-tight first chamber and a second chamber by a partition extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The first chamber housing the drive unit is arranged in the first chamber and the reservoir and the pump are arranged in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Boland, Uwe Bielfeldt, Christof Miltenberger, Peter Schaefer, Norbert Schaefer, Michael Sauer