Oral irrigator with slide pause switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An oral irrigator handle comprisinga housing;
- a fluid inlet into the housing;
a fluid outlet from the housing;
a valve body positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the valve body defining a valve inlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the housing and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the valve inlet and in selective fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the housing;
a valve spool positioned within the valve body;
a sealing assembly connected to the spool and movable therewith; and
a mechanical pause control actuator that interfaces with the valve spool, wherein actuation of the mechanical pause control actuator moves the valve spool from an open position to a paused position within the valve body, wherein in the paused position, the sealing assembly seals the valve outlet to interrupt fluid flow from the valve inlet to the fluid outlet of the housing.
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Abstract
An oral irrigator including a handle through which fluid flows to a tip. Fluid flows to the tip during irrigate mode, and fluid flow may be interrupted by selecting a pause mode. The handle includes a mechanically controlled actuator for selecting the pause mode. The actuator may include a rack gear operably connected to a pinion gear formed on a valve spool inside the handle. The valve spool may include a ball that blocks fluid flow to the tip during pause mode but not during irrigate mode.
571 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An oral irrigator handle comprising
a housing; -
a fluid inlet into the housing; a fluid outlet from the housing; a valve body positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the valve body defining a valve inlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the housing and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the valve inlet and in selective fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the housing; a valve spool positioned within the valve body; a sealing assembly connected to the spool and movable therewith; and a mechanical pause control actuator that interfaces with the valve spool, wherein actuation of the mechanical pause control actuator moves the valve spool from an open position to a paused position within the valve body, wherein in the paused position, the sealing assembly seals the valve outlet to interrupt fluid flow from the valve inlet to the fluid outlet of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An oral irrigator comprising
a reservoir; -
a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir; a handle in fluid communication with the pump, comprising a housing, a handle inlet into the housing and a handle outlet from the housing; and a pause switch assembly connected to the handle comprising an actuator slidably connected to the handle and movable between a first position and a second position; and a valve assembly connected to the actuator and positioned between the handle inlet and the handle outlet, the valve assembly comprising; a valve body received within a cavity of the handle, the valve body defining a valve chamber having a valve inlet in fluid communication with the handle inlet and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the valve inlet and the handle outlet; and a spool rotatably connected to the actuator and received within the valve chamber; and a sealing assembly connected to the spool and rotatable therewith;
whereinmovement of the actuator from the first position to the second position rotates the spool of the valve assembly from an open position to a paused position; and in the paused position, the sealing assembly seals the valve outlet to prevent fluid flow between the valve inlet and the handle outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A handle for an irrigating device comprising
a housing in fluid communication with a fluid source and comprising a housing inlet and a housing outlet; -
a tip removably connected to the housing and in fluid communication with the housing outlet; and a pause switch connected to the housing and configured to selectively interrupt fluid flow from the housing outlet to the housing inlet, the pause switch comprising a switch movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a first position and a second position; a valve body received within the housing, the valve body defining a valve inlet in fluid communication with the housing inlet and a valve outlet in fluid communication with the valve inlet and the housing outlet; a valve member rotatably coupled to the switch and received within the valve body; and a sealing assembly connected to the valve member and rotatable therewith;
whereinmovement of the switch from the first position to the second position rotates the valve member and the sealing assembly from an open position to a paused position; and in the open position the fluid flows uninterrupted from the housing inlet to the tip; and in the paused position the sealing assembly seals the valve outlet such that the fluid flow is blocked between the housing inlet and the tip. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification