Kiyoshi Maekawa

57917400, Aug 11, 1998

Mar 12, 1996

8/613589

Dominic Squillaci - Lake Villa IL
Scott Koepsel - Waukegan IL
John Shimkus - Bolingbrook IL
Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL

John O. Butler Company - Chicago IL

A46D 104

300 21

An interdental twisted wire brush having roughened, tapered and rounded bristle ends prepared by rotating the interdental brush both transversely to the axis of the brush and axially along its longitudinal axis, while flexing the bristles and grinding the bristle ends of the interdental brush against a flat, moving abrasive surface.

D3517330, Oct 25, 1994

Oct 5, 1993

D/013879

Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL
Scott Koepsel - Chicago IL

John O. Butler Company - Chicago IL

D 4104

51935597, Mar 16, 1993

May 1, 1992

7/877694

Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL
Timothy D. Ladd - Matthews NC

A61C 1500

132321

A dental cleaning instrument for cleaning the interproximal area between teeth is constructed with three threads of yarn. The first thread is initially supported on a first post and a second thread of yarn is supported on a second post. The third thread is wound on a bobbin and then interlaced around and between the first and second threads in a figure-8 pattern, while the first and second threads are simultaneously advanced in a direction normal to the plane in which the bobbin is moving. The resulting instrument consists of woven threads having a combined denier in the range of 480-1240, with superior spreadability and separation of ends.

57026866, Dec 30, 1997

Jul 18, 1995

8/503716

Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL
Christina M. Calhoon - Elgin IL

John O. Butler Company - Chicago IL

A61K 716
A61K 718

424 49

A clear, mildly abrasive, low-viscosity dentrifice gel for use with twisted wire interdental brushes which comprises optimal humectant, silica abrasive and water concentration levels.

57784760, Jul 14, 1998

Jun 20, 1996

8/671788

Dominic Squillaci - Lake Villa IL
Scott Koepsel - Waukegan IL
John Shimkus - Boilingbrook IL
Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL

John O. Butler Company, Inc. - Chicago IL

A46B 904

151671

An interdental twisted wire brush having roughened, tapered and rounded bristle ends prepared by rotating the interdental brush both transversely to the axis of the brush and axially along its longitudinal axis, while flexing the bristles and grinding the bristle ends of the interdental brush against a flat, moving abrasive surface.

57583820, Jun 2, 1998

Sep 12, 1995

8/528472

Kiyoshi Maekawa - Mount Prospect IL
Scott Koepsel - Waukegan IL

John O. Butler Company, Inc. - Chicago IL

A46B 901

151671

An interdental toothbrush handle for holding a twisted wire brush includes a handle with a locking retainer connected thereto by a living hinge. The handle has two opposing side walls which extend perpendicularly from the handle and are adjacent to the living hinge. At least one of the walls includes a V-shaped gap for receiving the stem of a twisted wire brush. The handle also preferably has an indentation between the two opposing side walls and the locking retainer preferably includes a protrusion in communication with the indentation. A nub on the protrusion prevents the locking retainer from opening more than about 30. degree. to 40. degree. The stem of a twisted wire brush is inserted into the V-shaped gap when the locking retainer is open. As the locking retainer is closed, the stem of the twisted wire brush is captured between the handle and locking retainer. A latch on the locking retainer passes through a hole in the handle to lock the retainer in place and hold the stem of the twisted wire brush firmly and securely.