Patents by Inventor Sean G. Gilligan

Sean G. Gilligan 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: 5780099
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss brush comprising alternating portions of thread sections which do not stretch significantly under tension and brush sections which stretch under slight tension, includes the step of coating at least the thread sections of a reverse twisted high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. The thread sections of the yarn are thereafter heated to vaporize solvent therefrom while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1N. In the humidifier assembly, having a housing which defines a humidifier zone, the brush sections of the yarn are exposed to a mixture of steam and gas, the steam and gas mixture having a temperature of from 130.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean G. Gilligan, Dermot T. Freeman, Larry J. Oliphant, Jeffrey S. Meessmann, Patrick J. Hanley, Gerald S. Szczech
  • Patent number: 5558901
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss brush comprising alternating portions of thread sections which do not stretch significantly under tension and brush sections which stretch under slight tension, includes the step of coating at least the thread sections of a reverse twisted high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. The thread sections of the yarn are thereafter heated to vaporize solvent therefrom while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1N. In the humidifier assembly, having a housing which defines a humidifier zone, the brush sections of the yarn are exposed to a mixture of steam and gas, the steam and gas mixture having a temperature of from 130.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean G. Gilligan, Dermot T. Freeman, Larry J. Oliphant, Jeffrey S. Messmann, Patrick J. Hanley, Gerald S. Szczech
  • Patent number: 5526831
    Abstract: A continuous process for manufacturing a continuous floss brush comprises steps of first applying a polymer solution at a repeated preselected distance interval to a continuous length of floss yarn under tension and solidifying the polymer while the floss yarn is under tension to produce a continuous floss product of yarn sections which stretch under slight tension separated by thread sections which do not significantly stretch under tension. The floss yarn is treated to expand the yarn sections to form brush sections. The passage of a predetermined number of segments comprising thread and brush portions is determined while the continuous floss brush is under substantially zero tension using a optical detector. Finally, a length of the continuous floss segments containing the predetermined number of segments comprising thread and brush portions is cut for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean G. Gilligan, Dermot T. Freeman, Larry J. Oliphant, Jeffrey S. Meessmann, Patrick J. Hanley, Gerald S. Szczech
  • Patent number: 5505216
    Abstract: A dental floss brush made from a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn comprising at least two thread sections having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 min. The thread sections are separated by a floss brush section integral therewith having a diameter of from up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of from 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05N. The brush floss has a breaking strength of at least 5N. The floss brush section can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax alone or in combination with a flavoring oil, silicone oil lubricant or mixtures thereof. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Sean G. Gilligan, John A. Kaminski, Adrian Hart, Dermot T. Freeman, Patrick J. Hanley, Jeffrey S. Meessmann, Larry J. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 5284169
    Abstract: A dental floss brush made from a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn comprising at least two thread sections having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 mm. The thread sections are separated by a floss brush section integral therewith having a diameter of from up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of from 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05 N. The brush floss has a breaking strength of at least 5 N. The floss brush section can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax alone or in combination with a flavoring oil, silicone oil lubricant or mixtures thereof. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Gillette Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean G. Gilligan, John A. Kaminski, Adrian Hart, Dermot T. Freeman, Patrick J. Hanley, Jeffrey S. Meessmann, Larry J. Oliphant