Robert W. Hutson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert William Hutson (June 20, 1919 – May 20, 2001) was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and dentist who is best known for inventing the Oral-B toothbrush.[1]

Biography[edit]

Robert W. Hutson was born on June 20, 1919, in San Luis Obispo County, California.[2] Hutson was an only child. He grew up in the Watsonville, California area.[3]

Hutson studied dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco, and graduated in 1943.[4]

Robert Hutson served in the United States Navy during World War II. Afterwards, he set up a dental practice near the San Jose Hospital. By 1949, he discovered a new way to make a toothbrush that used hundreds of small filaments of nylon to be both strong and gentle on the gums.[5] Hutson was issued a design patent on October 24, 1950, for the design of the toothbrush[6] and subsequently gained a full patent in 1958.[7] Hutson sold the brush business in the 1960s.[5]

On May 20, 2001, he died at the age of 81.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Toothbrush". National Museum of American History.
  2. ^ "Robert W Hutson, Born 06/20/1919 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  3. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2001-05-30). "Robert W. Hutson; Dentist Designed Oral-B Toothbrush..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  4. ^ Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco School of (1987). University of California, San Francisco. School of Dentistry Yearbook. University of California, San Francisco. School of Dentistry.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b Hall, Carl (2001-05-26). "Dr. Robert W. Hutson -- Oral B originator". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  6. ^ US D160604S, Hutson, Robert W., "Toothbrush", published 1950-10-24 
  7. ^ US 2845649, Hutson, Robert W., "Brush", published 1958-08-05 
  8. ^ "Metroactive News & Issues | Metropolis". www.metrosiliconvalley.com.