Patents by Inventor Ronald R. Duff

Ronald R. Duff 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).

  • Vibrating toothbrush
    Patent number: 8332982
    Abstract: A toothbrush has a head extending from a neck which extends from a handle, and the head has a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom. A first group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards a free end of the head, and a second group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards the outside of the head. A third group of tooth cleaning elements, which alternate with the second group of tufts, are oriented at an acute angle to a top surface of the head in a direction that is across the width of the head. A fourth group of tooth cleaning elements is located toward the inside of the head, and each is made of a thermoplastic elastomer and each is in the shape of a curved wall. A fifth group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards the inside of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Phillip M Braun, Joseph Syndosis, Ronald R Duff, Jr., Richard H. Cohen, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Vibrating Toothbrush
    Publication number: 20100162499
    Abstract: A toothbrush has a head extending from a neck which extends from a handle, and the head has a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom. A first group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards a free end of the head, and a second group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards the outside of the head. A third group of tooth cleaning elements, which alternate with the second group of tufts, are oriented at an acute angle to a top surface of the head in a direction that is across the width of the head. A fourth group of tooth cleaning elements is located toward the inside of the head, and each is made of a thermoplastic elastomer and each is in the shape of a curved wall. A fifth group of tooth cleaning elements is located towards the inside of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Phillip M. Braun, Joseph Synodis, Ronald R. Duff, JR., Richard H. Cohen, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Oral devices
    Patent number: 6823554
    Abstract: An oral device is provided that includes a handle, a head, extending from the handle and having a pair of elongated arms that include opposed surfaces; and a pair of opposed cleaning elements, mounted on the opposed surfaces, the cleaning elements being constructed and positioned to be inserting into the interproximal regions of a user's mouth when the oral is moved back and forth over the user's teeth. Each of the cleaning elements are positioned at an acute angle with respect to an interproximal line defined through the interproximal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Company
    Inventors: Phillip M. Braun, Amit Birla, Ronald R. Duff, Karen Claire
  • Toothbrush head
    Publication number: 20040177462
    Abstract: A toothbrush head has a tooth cleaning element extending from the head. The head is divided into at least two portions which can be moved independent of each other. The tooth cleaning element is rotatable relative to that portion of the head from which it extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Thomas A. Christman, Joseph A. DePuydt, Ronald R. Duff, Edward J. Mangan, Phillip M. Braun, Karen Claire-Zimmet, Helge Zimmet, Joanna Q. Deng, Rudolf Majthan, Rainer Hans
  • Polyurethane bristles
    Publication number: 20020189041
    Abstract: Oral brushes and bristles for oral brushes are provided. The bristles include a polyurethane and have a relatively high stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald R. Duff, Scott Batson, Helge Zimmet, Jerry Szczech, Michael Roberts
  • Dental hygiene article
    Patent number: 6145516
    Abstract: A dental hygiene article, including a dental floss, and a microcapsule associated with a portion of the floss. The microcapsule includes a pigment encapsulated within the microcapsule for changing the color of a portion of the floss associated with the microcapsule upon rupture of the microcapsule as an indication of use or release of an active agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon G. Guay, Jean L. Spencer, Ronald R. Duff, Jr.
  • Notched dental hygiene article
    Patent number: 6018840
    Abstract: A dental hygiene article including a notched filament. The dental hygiene article can be a dental floss, or an oral brush (e.g., an electronic toothbrush, a manual toothbrush, or an interdental brush).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon G. Guay, Ronald R. Duff, Jr.
  • Dental hygiene article
    Patent number: 5941256
    Abstract: A dental hygiene article, including a dental floss, and a microcapsule associated with a portion of the floss. The microcapsule includes a pigment encapsulated within the microcapsule for changing the color of a portion of the floss associated with the microcapsule upon rupture of the microcapsule as an indication of use or release of an active agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon G. Guay, Jean L. Spencer, Ronald R. Duff, Jr.