US Patent No: 8,151,397

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Oral care implement having flexibly supported cleaning elements extending in opposite directions

1 Status Updates

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ALSO PUBLISHED AS: 20090025165
ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

An oral care implement is provided includes a head platform having a plurality of faces with cleaning elements extending therefrom. The oral care implement can have flexibly mounted cleaning elements extending in opposite directions. The oral care implement can include a handle and a head with tooth cleaning elements extending from fixed pods and one or more central pods suspended between the fixed pods via a bridge. The bridge may be formed from an elastomer and permit the one or more central pods to move from an initial position toward and away from the head platform during use. The one or more central pods can include first cleaning elements extending in a first direction toward the first face and second cleaning elements extending in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second cleaning elements can extend through one or more apertures in the head platform.

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First Claim

Related Publications

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANYNEW YORK, NY2916

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Hohlbein, Douglas Pennington, NJ 51 531
Moskovich, Robert - 198 1576
Russell, Bruce - 23 127

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY (36)
5,628,082 Toothbrush with improved efficacy 203 1995
5,625,916 Toothbrush 130 1995
D386905 Toothbrush 45 1995
D390706 Toothbrush 39 1996
D418979 Toothbrush 35 1997
D419304 Toothbrush handle 41 1997
D413728 Toothbrush 28 1997
D404205 Toothbrush 65 1998
D404206 Toothbrush 36 1998
5,938,673 Tongue cleaning device 26 1998
6,088,870 Toothbrush head with flexibly mounted bristles 47 1999
6,276,021 Toothbrush having a bristle pattern providing enhanced cleaning 79 1999
6,314,606 Contouring toothbrush head 38 1999
D440767 Set of bristles for a toothbrush 41 2000
D450457 Set of toothbrush bristles 46 2001
D457323 Toothbrush handle 39 2001
D453998 Toothbrush 35 2001
D454252 Toothbrush 41 2001
D462527 Toothbrush 13 2001
D461313 Toothbrush handle 48 2001
D462178 Toothbrush 46 2001
D467430 Toothbrush 14 2001
D456139 Toothbrush with a combination of filaments and elastomeric tufts 73 2001
D466302 Toothbrush 26 2001
D474608 Toothbrush 48 2001
D463133 Toothbrush handle 44 2002
D480213 Toothbrush 32 2002
D478211 Toothbrush 28 2002
D478425 Toothbrush containing a combination of elastomeric and filament tufts 29 2002
D478213 Toothbrush 29 2002
D476158 Toothbrush 38 2002
6,931,688 Toothbrush 13 2003
2004/0255,416 Toothbrush with tongue cleaning member 68 2003
6,817,054 Toothbrush 45 2003
7,020,928 Toothbrush 24 2005
2006/0200,925 Oral care implement 21 2006
 
GILLETTE CANADA COMPANY (23)
D358938 Toothbrush handle 30 1992
D368163 Toothbrush handle 56 1995
D416685 Toothbrush handle 58 1995
5,781,958 Brush handle 73 1996
D391769 Toothbrush handle 54 1996
5,987,688 Gum-massaging oral brush 47 1996
6,058,541 Crimped bristle toothbrush 59 1997
6,041,467 Toothbrush 84 1997
D419773 Toothbrush handle 58 1998
6,108,869 Brush handle 65 1998
D415352 Toothbrush handle 16 1998
D424808 Set of bristles for a toothbrush 67 1999
D425306 Set of bristles for a toothbrush 74 1999
D434906 Set of bristles for a toothbrush 47 1999
D422413 Toothbrush 28 1999
6,151,745 Gum-massaging oral brush 59 1999
6,108,851 Toothbrush 37 1999
D429566 Toothbrush handle 23 1999
D429567 Toothbrush handle 18 1999
6,553,604 Toothbrush 44 2000
6,298,516 Toothbrushes 59 2000
6,564,416 Toothbrush 35 2000
D446021 Toothbrush handle 28 2000
 
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY (20)
5,165,761 Method of making improved toothbrush having multi-level tufts with substantially uniformly rounded bristle ends in each tuft 31 1991
5,511,275 Toothbrush exhibiting three-dimensional bristle profile and end rounded bristles for improved interproximal cleaning without increasing gum irritation 51 1995
D428702 Toothbrush 24 1996
D407221 Toothbrush head 24 1996
D407222 Toothbrush head 27 1996
D407223 Toothbrush head 27 1996
D420515 Toothbrush head 27 1996
6,219,874 Resiliently flexible bristle bearing head toothbrush 63 1997
5,839,148 Toothbrush with both stationary and moving tufts 46 1997
5,946,759 Brush head 55 1998
6,408,476 Toothbrush with elastomer filled flexible head 43 1998
D421844 Toothbrush 41 1999
6,115,870 Toothbrush 36 1999
D439412 Toothbrush handle 34 1999
6,886,207 Toothbrush 53 2000
6,311,358 Toothbrush comprising gum-massaging sticks 56 2000
6,463,618 Toothbrush comprising improved means for fixing friction elements 39 2000
D461959 Toothbrush head 36 2001
2003/0009,837 Toothbrush with elastomer filled flexible head 31 2002
2004/0200,016 Electric toothbrushes 35 2003
 
THE GILLETTE COMPANY (12)
5,396,678 Toothbrush with rectangular bristles 60 1992
D463131 Toothbrush 35 2001
D464796 Toothbrush 26 2001
D457325 Toothbrush 40 2001
D463132 Toothbrush 34 2001
D475531 Toothbrush 40 2001
D463668 Toothbrush and a toothbrush handle 64 2001
D477465 Portion of a toothbrush 55 2002
D485989 Toothbrush body with a handle having a transparent surface in its lower portion for rendering visible handle-embedded decorations 43 2002
D487195 Toothbrush body 41 2002
D480214 Toothbrush body 53 2002
2004/0177,462 Toothbrush head 38 2003
 
DR. FRESH, LLC (9)
D402116 Brushhead for a toothbrush 67 1997
D403510 Brushhead for a toothbrush 69 1997
D448569 Bristle head for a toothbrush 32 2000
D448174 Toothbrush 30 2000
D448570 Toothbrush 17 2000
D448571 Toothbrush 27 2000
D469958 Toothbrush 31 2002
D476487 Toothbrush handle 23 2002
D478424 Toothbrush 44 2002
 
CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC. (8)
5,392,483 Multi-level bristle tuft toothbrush 157 1994
5,398,369 Toothbrush with pliable pressure pad 112 1994
5,802,656 Toothbrush with flexibly mounted bristles 139 1996
5,735,012 Resiliently flexible toothbrush 55 1997
D401069 Toothbrush 48 1997
5,970,564 Brush having an elastomeric bridge 93 1997
5,991,959 Toothbrush with flexibly mounted bristles 71 1998
6,000,083 Electric toothbrush 112 1998
 
JOHN O. BUTLER COMPANY (7)
5,778,476 Interdental brushes having roughened, tapered and rounded bristle ends and method of making the same 24 1996
D412064 Toothbrush handle 40 1997
D421841 Toothbrush handle 39 1998
6,496,999 Toothbrush with bristle configuration adapted for cleaning tooth surfaces and interproximal areas 34 2000
6,601,272 Dental hygiene system handle 49 2001
D459086 Toothbrush handle 42 2001
2004/0025,272 Dental hygiene system handle 26 2003
 
SINORITA SENDIRIAN BERHAD (7)
D420802 Toothbrush 39 1998
D452615 Toothbrush 28 2001
D479047 Toothbrush 26 2002
D478727 Toothbrush 39 2002
D478728 Toothbrush 13 2002
D483569 Toothbrush 41 2003
D488621 Toothbrush 35 2003
 
AVANTGARDE S.P.A. (5)
D272683 Toothbrush 32 1981
D272687 Toothbrush 27 1981
D272689 Toothbrush 41 1981
D272690 Toothbrush 42 1981
D273635 Toothbrush 58 1981
 
CHESEBROUGH-POND'S USA CO., DIVISION OF CONOPCO, INC. (5)
D334288 Toothbrush 60 1991
5,481,775 Toothbrush with movable head 50 1995
5,875,510 Replaceable head toothbrush 71 1997
5,908,038 Unitarily molded toothbrush 21 1998
6,141,817 Toothbrush 18 1999
 
UNILEVER HOME & PERSONAL CARE USA, DIVISION OF CONOPCO, INC. (5)
6,446,295 Electric toothbrush 85 2000
2002/0138,931 Toothbrush 45 2002
D482199 Toothbrush 54 2002
2004/0134,007 Toothbrush 73 2003
D503538 Toothbrush 50 2004
 
M + C SCHIFFER GMBH (4)
5,054,154 Toothbrush with flexible head 136 1989
6,311,360 Brush and method of producing the same 33 1998
6,374,448 Toothbrush 43 2001
6,641,764 Method for producing a toothbrush 16 2002
 
TRISA HOLDING AG (4)
6,708,364 Flexible brush head for a toothbrush 14 1999
D458453 Toothbrush 53 2001
6,687,940 Toothbrush 61 2001
6,988,777 Process for producing a toothbrush 30 2003
 
SCHEIER, PAUL A. (3)
5,355,546 Toothbrush with resilient flexible bristle support 36 1992
5,483,722 Toothbrush with resilient flexible bristle support 53 1994
5,839,149 Toothbrush with resilient flexible bristle support 33 1996
 
AMTEC PRODUCTS, INC. (2)
6,015,293 Oral cleaning apparatus 38 1997
5,967,152 Oral cleaning apparatus 41 1998
 
ATHENA NORDIC AB (2)
D371680 Toothbrush 34 1994
D420804 Toothbrush head and handle set 27 1998
 
BERHAD, SINORITA SENDIRIAN (2)
D453270 Toothbrush 53 2001
D479914 Toothbrush 40 2002
 
CORONET-WERKE GMBH (2)
6,161,245 Brush-ware with adjustable bristle hardness 38 1998
6,421,867 Brush, in particular for an electric toothbrush 64 2000
 
G.B. BOUCHERIE N.V. (2)
6,702,394 Method and device of melting together fiber ends 19 2001
6,779,851 Method of producing a brush having a bristle plate 34 2001
 
GAVNEY, JAMES A., JR. (2)
6,319,332 Squeegee device and system 49 1999
6,571,417 Dentition cleaning device and system 67 2000
 
LINGNER & FISCHER GMBH (2)
5,651,158 Toothbrush with resiliently flexible head 69 1995
5,813,079 Toothbrush having a flexibility linked zone in its head 43 1996
 
MCNEIL-PPC, INC. (2)
D397219 Brush head for a tongue hygiene brush 30 1997
2002/0004,964 Toothbrush with individually embedded bristles 50 2001
 
RANIR, LLC (2)
D462528 Toothbrush 43 2002
D480877 Toothbrush handle 25 2002
 
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM CONSUMER HEALTHCARE GMBH (2)
6,178,582 Toothbrush comprising a resilient flex region 43 1998
6,442,786 Toothbrush comprising a resilient flex region 20 2001
 
ADVANCED DENTAL TECHNOLOGIES (1)
5,398,366 Rocker toothbrush 53 1993
 
AMDEN CORPORATION (1)
6,322,573 Electric tongue cleaner 26 2000
 
APPLE INC. (1)
6,230,365 Hinge for a notebook computer 32 2000
 
ASHER, RANDALL S. (1)
5,735,011 Plaque removing toothbrush 101 1996
 
BENEDENT CORPORATION (1)
5,673,454 Three-head toothbrush 24 1995
 
BEROL CORPORATION (1)
5,926,901 Foam grip 30 1998
 
BLANC; MAX A. (1)
4,299,208 Gum massage device 34 1980
 
BRAUN GMBH (1)
2002/0138,926 Electric toothbrush head 73 2001
 
CONAIR CORPORATION (1)
D456607 Brush disk for rotary electric toothbrushes 60 2001
 
CONFIRM PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRIAL CORP. (1)
6,098,233 Bath brush with massage means 36 1999
 
COPELAND, CHARLOTTE (1)
5,920,941 Denture brush 29 1997
 
CORONET-WERKE HEINRICH SCHLERF GMBH (1)
5,176,427 Bristle treatment 36 1991
 
CRA LABS, INC. (1)
5,758,380 Device for comprehensive oral hygiene 42 1997
 
DISCUS DENTAL IMPRESSIONS, INC. (1)
6,383,202 Dual action tongue scraper 23 2000
 
EUREKA TECHNOLOGIES INNOVATION ENGINEERING (1987) LTD. (1)
5,689,850 Accessory device for toothbrushes 32 1995
 
FIRMA G.B. BOUCHERIE, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP (1)
6,290,303 Method for manufacturing brushes and brush manufacturing machine applying this method 27 1999
 
FRISETTA KUNSTSTOFF GMBH & CO. KG (1)
D441958 Toothbrush 28 2000
 
GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE GMBH & CO. KG (1)
D483184 Toothbrush 49 2002
 
HING; MARILYN O. (1)
5,249,327 String and ribbon floss holder for brushes 59 1992
 
INGENIEURBURO A. MAURER & PARTNER (1)
5,964,508 Method for producing brushes with flexible bristles and brushes with stiff bristles 21 1997
 
INTERBROS GMBH (1)
5,555,590 Tooth brush 13 1995
 
JACOBS, ODELEYA (1)
D465847 Tongue scraper 41 2001
 
JAMES B. COPELAN TRUST DATED DECEMBER 30, 1988, JAMES B. COPELAN, TRUSTEE, THE (1)
5,445,825 Disposable personal dental hygiene assembly 39 1992
 
JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC. (1)
5,339,482 Toothbrush having non-slip surface 102 1992
 
MUNCHKIN, INC. (1)
2002/0100,134 Suction cup toothbrush with improved characteristics 34 2001
 
NOAH AMIT (1)
5,120,225 Method and apparatus for brushing teeth with cyclically rotating brush strokes 96 1991
 
NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION (1)
5,818,856 Ozone compatible stimulated brillouin scattering materials 22 1996
 
NOVELL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC. (1)
6,108,849 Toothbrush having a resilient neck and conical brush bundles 27 1998
 
ONE DROP ONLY CHEMISCH-PHARMAZEUTISCHE VERTRIEBS GMBH (1)
6,289,545 Device for cleaning within the oral cavity 24 1999
 
PLASTICOS Y TECNOLOGIA, S.A. DE C.V. (1)
D483568 Toothbrush with sucker attachable holder 29 2002
 
PULSE INNOVATIONS INC. (1)
RE35941 Mechanical toothbrush 64 1995
 
RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (1)
5,345,560 Prefetch buffer and information processing system using the same 31 1992
 
SILICON VALLEY BANK (1)
5,305,492 Brush element for an acoustic toothbrush 63 1992
 
SINORITA SDN. BHD. (1)
D421184 Toothbrush 15 1998
 
SMITHKLINE BEECHAM P.L.C. (1)
5,896,614 Bristle arrangement for a toothbrush 94 1997
 
SONEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (1)
5,546,624 Apparatus to selectively couple ultransonic energy in a therapeutic ultransonic toothbrush 49 1994
 
T&T PRODUCTS, LLC (1)
6,119,296 All-sided mouthbrush 53 1998
 
TARTSCH, RITA (1)
4,827,551 Electrical device for mouth care 67 1988
 
TEAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
5,511,273 Variable engagement toothbrush 39 1995
 
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. (1)
5,980,542 Tongue cleaner 49 1999
 
TRISA HOLDING (1)
6,802,097 Toothbrush having a vibrating head part 27 2002
 
TRISA, S.A. (1)
D486649 Toothbrush 55 2002
 
TUCEL INDUSTRIES, INC. (1)
4,291,431 Tufted angular brush consturction 34 1979
 
TVERAS; RIMVYDAS (1)
D376695 Handle for a toothbrush and tongue cleaner 40 1995
 
ULTRADENT PRODUCTS, INC. (1)
6,625,839 Flocked tongue cleaning device 28 2001
 
UNION PLANTERS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (1)
D350851 Infant massager toothbrush 38 1992
 
VERESK BIOSYSTEMS LIMITED (1)
6,179,503 Brush 24 2000
 
VERIFRESH LTD. (1)
5,984,935 Tongue cleaner 40 1998
 
WAGNER, EUGENE C. (1)
6,352,545 Breath system appliance with dorsal applicator and scraper 37 1999
 
WAGSTAFF, ROBERT K. (1)
6,792,642 Tongue cleaning device 26 2001
 
WATER PIK, INC. (1)
5,779,654 Clean breath wand 37 1997
 
WILDEN AG SCHWEIZ (1)
6,353,958 Toothbrush 44 1997
 
YUDELMAN; GILLIAN C. (1)
5,957,942 Oral hygiene device having plaque collection and quantification capabilities 27 1997
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (90)
4,328,604 Toothbrushes 36 1980
4,364,142 Body squeegee 37 1980
4,356,585 Hygienic dental appliance 83 1981
4,455,704 Toothbrush and tongue cleaner 58 1982
4,628,564 Toothbrush 51 1983
4,488,327 Combination toothbrush and tongue scraper 55 1983
4,694,844 Toothbrush 52 1985
D287072 Toothbrush 33 1985
4,654,922 Brush with universal joints 56 1985
4,610,043 Oral hygiene brush 72 1985
4,721,021 Handle structure 51 1986
D295695 Combination tooth brush and tongue scraper 35 1986
4,783,869 Rotative toothbrush 17 1987
4,888,844 Toothbrush for natural teeth and dentures 29 1988
5,040,260 Tooth cleaning and polishing device 87 1989
D317986 Toothbrush 16 1989
5,005,246 Replaceable tooth brush with tongue scaler 88 1989
5,032,082 Device for removing adhesive from the palate 64 1989
D309528 Tongue brush 43 1990
5,027,796 Gum massager 34 1990
5,033,797 Method of and apparatus for making brushes 18 1990
5,230,118 Orthodontic tooth-brush 29 1991
5,242,235 Toothbrush 45 1992
5,226,197 Tongue hygiene device 105 1992
5,273,425 Portable pet teeth cleaning abrasive instrument 33 1992
5,325,560 Orthodontic toothbrush 48 1993
5,305,489 Ergonomic topographic toothbrush 77 1993
5,491,866 Toothbrush 18 1993
5,438,726 Tooth cleaning system with timer and signaling means 101 1994
5,613,262 Lingual brush 91 1994
5,604,951 Prophy toothbrush 98 1994
5,535,474 Brush for cleaning and polishing teeth while stimulating gums 63 1995
5,530,981 Toothbrush having a tongue scraper disposed therein 36 1995
5,528,786 Toothbrushes 44 1995
5,524,319 Toothbrush having spring-mounted bristle holders 30 1995
5,584,690 Dental cleaning assembly 71 1995
5,570,487 Toothbrush having multiple brushing surface configurations 71 1995
5,630,244 Elastic toothbrush 60 1996
5,930,860 Prophy bristle toothbrush 91 1996
6,171,323 Tongue cleaner 34 1996
5,709,004 Toothbrush with device for cleaning the tongue 32 1996
5,765,252 Finger or hand mounted brush 44 1996
5,778,475 Tongue debridement aid 32 1996
5,810,856 Wiping element for an oral hygiene device, window wiper, or the like 68 1996
5,766,193 Tongue cleaner 39 1996
5,792,159 Tongue cleaner 73 1997
5,735,864 Disposable tongue cleaner 59 1997
5,928,254 Tongue cleaning device 26 1997
D396288 Tongue cleaner 27 1997
5,817,114 Hygienic tongue cleaner 28 1997
5,915,433 Combined toothbrush and tongue scraper with anti-slip bumps therebetween 32 1997
5,845,358 Combination toothbrush and tongue scraper 28 1998
D399349 Tooth brush to cleanse mouth as well as teeth 39 1998
5,860,183 Safety tooth brush with wear indicator 31 1998
6,004,334 Tongue cleaning apparatus 35 1998
5,980,541 Oral hygiene device 34 1998
5,951,578 Tongue cleaning system 27 1998
6,032,315 Device for cleaning a human tongue 30 1998
D405272 Tongue brush 34 1998
5,913,346 Tongue cleaning device 23 1998
6,131,228 Brush for cleaning the tongue root 49 1998
6,105,191 Toothbrush with inter-gingiva-sulcus scraping bristles 51 1998
6,049,936 Toothbrush 23 1998
6,338,176 Manual rotary brush 11 1999
D423785 Combined toothbrush, tongue scraper and floss tool 27 1999
D423786 Combined tooth and tongue brush with timing device 24 1999
D423787 Combined toothbrush and gum massager 27 1999
D424809 Toothbrush with auxiliary bristles 26 1999
6,254,390 Oral burnisher 70 2000
6,332,233 Toothbrush handle 18 2000
6,402,768 Device for cleaning a human tongue 26 2000
6,345,405 Two-in-one toothbrush 23 2000
D447238 Tongue scraping tool 25 2000
6,260,227 Orthodontic toothbrush 26 2000
6,440,149 Tongue and tooth cleaning device 19 2001
D471276 Tongue and tooth cleaning device 28 2001
6,546,586 Toothbrush with flossing functionality 35 2001
6,463,619 Squeegee device and system 62 2001
6,865,767 Device with multi-structural contact elements 29 2001
D459087 Toothbrush 25 2001
6,647,581 Tongue cleaner inside toothbrush handle 25 2002
2003/0163,149 Breath freshener lollipop 30 2002
6,820,299 Dentition cleaning device and system 53 2003
6,729,789 Toothbrush assembly with toothpaste dispenser 27 2003
2004/0006,837 Toothbrush with elastomer filled flexible head 27 2003
2005/0038,461 Tongue squeegee 16 2003
2004/0068,810 Complex type toothbrush 20 2003
2004/0221,409 Squeegee device and system 23 2004
6,895,629 Double sided toothbrush 39 2004
2006/0272,113 DOUBLE SIDED TOOTHBRUSH FOR CLEANING TEETH 6 2006

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
BRAUN GMBH (1)
8,434,183 Brush section for an electric toothbrush 0 2010

Maintenance Fees

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3.5 Year Payment $1600.00 $800.00 $400.00 Oct 10, 2015
7.5 Year Payment $3600.00 $1800.00 $900.00 Oct 10, 2019
11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 Oct 10, 2023
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Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable $700.00 $350.00 $175.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional $1,640.00 $820.00 $410.00