Patents by Inventor Peter Hilfinger

Peter Hilfinger 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: 8172574
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to toothbrushes and to methods of operating toothbrushes. In some embodiments, a method of operating a toothbrush includes measuring an actual cleaning time of a first teeth cleaning process, comparing the actual cleaning time of the first teeth cleaning process to a standard cleaning time, and determining a target cleaning time of a second, subsequent teeth cleaning process. In certain embodiments, the target cleaning time of the second teeth cleaning process is the standard cleaning time plus additional time when the actual cleaning time of the first cleaning process is less than the standard cleaning time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Goecking, Peter Trawinski
  • Publication number: 20100175208
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to toothbrushes and to methods of operating toothbrushes. In some embodiments, a method of operating a toothbrush includes measuring an actual cleaning time of a first teeth cleaning process, comparing the actual cleaning time of the first teeth cleaning process to a standard cleaning time, and determining a target cleaning time of a second, subsequent teeth cleaning process. In certain embodiments, the target cleaning time of the second teeth cleaning process is the standard cleaning time plus additional time when the actual cleaning time of the first cleaning process is less than the standard cleaning time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Goecking, Peter Trawinski
  • Patent number: 7682153
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device and to a method for automatically indicating the cleaning duration when cleaning teeth, whereby a timer signal is emitted using a time element after the termination of a set cleaning duration in a tooth cleaning session. According to the invention, the set cleaning duration, whose termination prompts the emission of a timer signal, is modified. An actual cleaning duration in the tooth cleaning session is registered by a time registration device. The deviation of the actual cleaning duration from a predetermined standard cleaning duration is determined by means of an evaluation device. The set cleaning duration of a subsequent tooth cleaning session is then defined depending on the deviation that has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Göcking, Peter Trawinski
  • Patent number: 7675203
    Abstract: An electric drive unit for generating an oscillating movement, having a stator, a rotor, a torsion element and a tuning element. The tuning element acts upon the torsion element and serves to mechanically tune the resonant frequency of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kressner, Alexander Schroter, Christian Junk, Peter Hilfinger, Hansjörg Reick, Bernhard Kraus, Uwe Schober
  • Publication number: 20080185922
    Abstract: An electric drive unit for generating an oscillating movement, having a stator, a rotor, a torsion element and a tuning element. The tuning element acts upon the torsion element and serves to mechanically tune the resonant frequency of the drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kressner, Alexander Schroter, Christian Junk, Peter Hilfinger, Hansjorg Reick, Bernhard Kraus, Uwe Schober
  • Patent number: 6785929
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided, which includes a first bristle part that can be made to execute a first, continuously repeating movement. An additional bristle part, connected to the first bristle part, can be made to execute a second, continuously repeating movement, which differs from the first movement of the first bristle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fritsch, Peter Hilfinger
  • Publication number: 20040134000
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device and to a method for automatically indicating the cleaning duration when cleaning teeth, whereby a timer signal is emitted using a time element after the termination of a set cleaning duration in a tooth cleaning session. According to the invention, the set cleaning duration, whose termination prompts the emission of a timer signal, is modified. An actual cleaning duration in the tooth cleaning session is registered by a time registration device. The deviation of the actual cleaning duration from a predetermined standard cleaning duration is determined by means of an evaluation device. The set cleaning duration of a subsequent tooth cleaning session is then defined depending on the deviation that has been determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Alexander Hilscher, Wolfgang Gocking, Peter Trawinski
  • Publication number: 20030163881
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush with a brush head holder on which a bristle holder having a bristle cluster is movably arranged. It is provided that locking means are provided on the attachment section of the brush head holder, which, when the brush head holder is pushed onto the handpiece of the toothbrush with a linear, axial motion engage with the engaging means provided thereon. In order to achieve more efficient cleaning, it is further provided that several groups of bristle tufts are fixed on the motorized drivable bristle holder, and are inclined in different directions, and have different cross-sections, preferably also varying from the circular cross-sections, in order to better penetrate the gaps between teeth and effectively remove plaque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Thomas Fritsch, Michael Harms, Peter Hilfinger, Lars Lieberwirth, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030126698
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided, which includes a first bristle part that can be made to execute a first, continuously repeating movement. An additional bristle part, connected to the first bristle part, can be made to execute a second, continuously repeating movement, which differs from the first movement of the first bristle part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Fritsch, Peter Hilfinger
  • Patent number: 6267593
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically powered dental cleansing device (1) to which a cleansing implement (32) is fitted. In this manner, the cleansing implement (32) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The cleansing implement (32) is configured as an integrally formed part comprising a thin and elongate cleansing shaft (125). The cleansing shaft has at least one longitudinal edge and is provided with a plurality of serrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Haczek, Bernhard Boland, Peter Hilfinger, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6226869
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically operable shaving apparatus (1) including at least one short-hair cutter (3) and a long-hair trimmer unit (2) disposed on a housing, with at least one cutting edge formed by cutting teeth of an outer cutter and an inner cutter, in which a component (4), which acts as a guard protecting the skin, is associated with the cutting edge in at least one operating position, said component (4) ceasing to act as a guard protecting the skin in at least one further operating position, wherein said component (4) is displaceable in conjunction with the long-hair trimmer unit (2) into at least one operating position in which said component (4) acts as a guard protecting the skin, and wherein on displacement into a further operating position the long-hair trimmer unit (2) is released by relative opposing movements of the long-hair trimmer unit (2) and the component (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Eberhard Heintke, Peter Hilfinger, Klaus Oprach, Roland Ullmann, Matthias Wetzel
  • Patent number: 6102700
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically powered dental cleansing device (1) to which a cleansing implement (32) is fitted. In this manner, the cleansing implement (32) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The cleansing implement (32) is configured as an integrally formed part comprising a thin and elongate cleansing shaft (125). The cleansing shaft has at least one longitudinal edge and is provided with a plurality of serrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Haczek, Bernhard Boland, Peter Hilfinger, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6058541
    Abstract: An improved oral brush is provided that includes crimped bristles. The oral brush includes a body and, extending from the body, a plurality of crimped bristles. One such oral brush is an electric toothbrush, with a brush head having a preferred arrangement of tufts of crimped and straight bristles that are flexed by cyclic motions of the brush head toward and away from the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Craig Masterman, Jeffrey Meessmann, Jean Spencer, Georges Driesen, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann, Peter Hilfinger
  • Patent number: 6009589
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a toothbrush having a brush section 20 comprising a bristle carrier 22 and bristles 24 fixedly secured thereto, with the brush section 20 being provided with components made of silver. Separate structures 28 are provided for fixedly securing the bristles 24 in their proper location in the bristle carrier 22, which separate structures 28 are made of a material with oligodynamic action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Peter Hilfinger
  • Patent number: 5974615
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush (1) is described which incorporates a handle (2) and a brush attachment (3). The handle (2) houses an electric motor (8). Protruding from the handle (2) is a shaft (20), which is coupled to the electric motor (8). The brush attachment (3) can be mounted on the handle (2). The brush attachment (3) supports a bristle head (26) which can be coupled to the shaft (20), and from which protrude a multiplicity of bristles (4). In the operating mode, the bristle head (26) describes a rotary motion (49) and a stroke motion (50), with the frequency of the stroke movement (50) being higher, and preferably substantially higher, than the frequency of the rotary movement (49.) The stroke movement (50) provides a poking action of the bristles (4), which serves to loosen plaque from dental surfaces. The rotary movement (49) serves to wipe away plaque loosened from the dental surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Armin Schwarz-Hartmann, Karl Herzog, Peter Hilfinger
  • Patent number: 5943723
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric toothbrush (1) in which a timing element (13) is provided whose purpose it is to indicate to a user the end of at least one cleaning period when the electric toothbrush (1) is activated. Still further, means (12) coupled to the timing element (13) are provided to enable the user to trigger the beginning (T4) of the cleaning period (PZD2). The effect thereby achieved is that the end (T2) of a cleaning period (PZD1) does not automatically start the beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2), but that this particular beginning (T4) of the next cleaning period (PZD2) is freely selectable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Philipp Jung
  • Patent number: 5862558
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush section (1) for an electric toothbrush which includes a mounting tube (2) in which a shaft (7) rotary about a longitudinal axis (3) is received. Further, the brush section (1) includes a bristle carrier (11) from which bristles (15) extend in the direction of a brush axis (14). The bristle carrier (11) is rotary about a transverse axis (19) by means of a bearing pin (21). By means of in particular a tapered disk (24), the brush axis (14) and the transverse axis (19) define between them an angle (28) departing from an apex (29). In operation of the electric toothbrush, the bristle carrier (11) performs a nutating motion about the transverse axis (19). This effects a revolving approaching/receding motion of the free ends of the bristles (15) resulting in an improved cleaning action on a user's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Karl Herzog, Gerhard Kressner
  • Patent number: 5842244
    Abstract: A brush section for an electric toothbrush includes a driver, a mounting tube which receives the driver, where the driver is arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis defined by the mounting tube, a first bristle carrier mounted for rotation about a first brush axis, a second bristle carrier mounted for rotation about a second brush axis, and a mechanism to effect coupling engagement of the driver with the first and second bristle carriers. A motion of the driver effects a rotary motion of the first bristle carrier about the first brush axis and the second bristle carrier about the second brush axis. The first and second brush axes define an approximately right angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Gerhard Kressner, Georges Driesen, Karl Herzog
  • Patent number: 5652990
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush section for an electric toothbrush with a handle section comprising an electric motor, wherein the brush section is adapted to be connected with the handle section and has at its end remote from the handle section an essentially circular cylindrical rotary bristle supporting structure (38) on which bristles (48, 50) are arranged in the form of tufts (60, 62) of different lengths, and wherein the bristle supporting structure (38) has its axis of rotation at approximately right angles to a longitudinal center line of the brush section and is adapted to be driven in an alternating rotary motion over an arc of .+-.20.degree. to .+-.100.degree.. Some of the tufts (60) of bristles are serially located in position on a diameter and on an outer circular ring of the bristle supporting structure (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Peter Hilfinger
  • Patent number: 5613258
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a brush for cleaning the teeth, the brush being suitable for use in a toothbrush having a handle member and a brush member and comprising a bristle supporting structure and bristles fixedly secured thereto. The bristle supporting structure is configured as a rod-shaped stem having a first and a second end portion and carrying no bristles in the region of the second end portion. The bristles extend radially relative to the stem in the region of the first end portion and are arranged in a circumferentially distributed pattern. The length of the bristles decreases starting from the first end portion of the stem in the direction of the second end portion of the stem. This brush allows effective and gentle cleaning of the teeth, in particular the interproximal spaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Hilfinger, Bernhard Boland