Dental water jet device

• US 10,010,389 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyd, Brian, Williams, Brian R., Taylor, Kurt M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODWARD, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/546,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0084 Supply units, e.g. reservoir arrangements, specially adapted pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0092 Pumps specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/02 Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication combined with receptacles for spittle A61C17/14; combined with power-driven cleaning or polishing devices A61C17/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0202 Hand-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0205 Container filling apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/028 with intermittent liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/02 Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags A61C5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 13/005 Hydraulic gum massage
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/24 Bypassing

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a pressurized water stream for cleaning gums and teeth. The embodiment includes a base unit defining a cavity. The cavity contains a pump, which may move pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. The pump may be secured within the cavity by at least one vibration reduction mount. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue. The base may include a plurality of footings that elevate the base unit above a surface supporting the base unit. Also, the base may include a basin for receiving a reservoir. The basin may include a reservoir valve initially biased to a closed position and operationally attached to the reservoir, and a tube projection connected to the base unit and opening the valve when the reservoir is received within the basin. The basin and the reservoir are configured to guide the reservoir valve adjacent to the tube projection.

Claims

1. A dental water jet handle comprising

a housing including a fluid conduit;

a nozzle tip operationally and releasably attached to the housing and having an annular groove formed therein;

a pause button;

a valve body having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle tip; and

a stop plunger positioned at least partially within the valve body and coupled to the pause button, wherein

the stop plunger is positioned in a first position within the valve body such that the fluid inlet is uncovered allowing fluid to flow into the valve body from the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet; and

depressing the pause button causes the stop plunger to move to a second position within the valve body, covering the fluid inlet and preventing fluid flow into the valve body, halting a fluid flow to the nozzle tip.

2. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle tip latch biased to engage the annular groove to hold the nozzle tip in place.

3. The dental water jet handle of claim 2, wherein the nozzle tip latch comprises

a latch body;

a latch aperture defined by the latch body and proportioned to receive the nozzle tip;

wherein

at least a portion of the latch body engages the annular groove of the nozzle tip.

4. The dental water jet handle of claim 3, wherein the nozzle tip latch further comprises a latch spring for biasing the latch body toward the annular groove.

5. The dental water jet handle of claim 4, wherein the nozzle tip further comprises

a latch stub extending from the latch body and configured to receive the latch spring;

wherein

the latch spring is positioned between the latch body and the housing.

6. The dental water jet handle of claim 4, further comprising a latch actuator button fixed to the latch body and positioned on an opposite side of the nozzle tip latch from the latch spring.

7. The dental water jet handle of claim 6, wherein engaging the latch actuator button compresses the latch spring and disengages the latch body from the annular groove.

8. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, wherein the stop plunger extends transversely to a direction of the fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the pause button is depressed.

9. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, wherein

the stop plunger comprises a stop plunger aperture;

and

the pause button further comprises a stop plunger projection received within the stop plunger aperture to connect the stop plunger and pause button together, such that movement of the pause button causes movement of the stop plunger.

10. A dental water jet device comprising

a base unit defining a cavity;

a reservoir;

a pump contained within the cavity and in fluid communication with the reservoir, the pump comprising

an inlet body shaft in fluid communication with the reservoir and defining a pump chamber;

a check valve movably positioned within the pump chamber, wherein the check valve moves between a closed position, preventing flow from the reservoir into the pump chamber and an open position allowing flow from the reservoir into the pump chamber solely by fluid pressure generated by the pump;

a piston housing in fluid communication with the inlet body shaft;

a piston positioned within the piston housing and configured to draw fluid from the reservoir into the piston housing; and

a pump body outlet in fluid communication with the pump chamber; and

a nozzle tip operative to deliver a stream of pressurized fluid and in fluid communication with the pump.

11. The dental water jet device of claim 10, wherein the check valve comprises

a hollow valve shaft containing a ball positioned at a first end of the valve shaft and a valve spring;

and

a valve cap positioned at a second end of the valve shaft, contacting the valve spring, and creating a fluid seal with the inlet body shaft;

wherein

a backstroke of the piston pulls the check valve away from the inlet body shaft into the open position and allows fluid to flow from the reservoir to the pump body outlet.

12. The dental water jet of claim 10, further comprising

a reservoir opening having a diameter;

a reservoir valve positioned within the reservoir opening and configured to move within the reservoir opening to prevent or allow fluid to flow from the reservoir to the pump;

one or more projections from the base unit and configured to bias the reservoir valve to allow fluid to flow from the reservoir to the pump.

13. The dental water jet of claim 12, wherein the reservoir valve comprises

a reservoir valve head having a diameter greater than the diameter of the of the reservoir opening;

a reservoir valve shaft, positioned within the reservoir opening and attached to the reservoir valve head; and

one or more reservoir valve legs extending radially outward from the reservoir valve shaft.

14. The dental water jet of claim 13, wherein the one or more projections contact at least one of the reservoir valve shaft or the one or more reservoir valve legs.

15. A dental water jet handle comprising:

a housing defining a fluid conduit;

a nozzle tip operationally and releasably attached to the housing and having an annular groove formed therein;

a pause button;

a stop plunger attached to the pause button and at least partially received within the fluid conduit, wherein depressing the pause button halts a fluid flow through the fluid conduit and the nozzle tip; and

a nozzle tip latch biased to engage the annular groove to hold the nozzle tip in place, wherein the nozzle tip latch comprises;

a latch body;

a latch aperture defined by the latch body and proportioned to receive the nozzle tip;

a latch spring for biasing the latch body towards the annular grove;

a latch actuator connected to the latch body;

wherein

a force on the latch actuator causes the latch body to move in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing to engage or disengage from the annular groove of the nozzle tip.

16. The dental water jet handle of claim 15, wherein the nozzle tip further comprises a latch stub extending from the latch body, wherein the spring is received around the latch stub and the spring is positioned between the latch body and the housing.

17. The dental water jet handle of claim 15, wherein the latch actuator is positioned on an opposite side of the nozzle tip latch from the latch spring.

18. The dental water jet handle of claim 15, wherein engaging the latch actuator button compresses the latch spring and disengages the latch body from the annular groove.