Personal hygiene device and method

• US 20060010624A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas H. Cleland
• Original Assignee: Thomas H. Cleland
• Inventors: Cleland, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US10/891,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/29
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/06 with brush driven by the supplied medium
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04

Abstract

A water-driveable personal hygiene device may be used to operate multiple, interchangeable personal hygiene implements. A water-driven rotary wheel, located in the handle of the device and connected to a driveshaft, creates either a back-and-forth or semi-rotating oscillating motion or a first personal hygiene implement, such as a toothbrush. An independently operated water-driveable second personal hygiene implement may be used to cause water to flow to the first personal hygiene implement or to be independently used. A method of using the device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A water-driveable personal hygiene device having a handle, said device adapted to be connected to a pressurized water supply line comprising:

(a) Said handle containing a generally round-shaped, rotatable water pump within said handle, said water pump being open to water from said water supply line at an entry location that is capable of causing rotation of said pump during passage of said water through said pump and upon exit from said pump at an exit location into an exit line;

(b) A valve located on said water supply line capable of opening and closing water flow through said exit line so as when said valve is open, water flows through said rotatable pump, causing rotation thereof, and then passes through said exit line; and

when said valve is closed, water does not flow through said rotatable pump and does not pass through said exit line;

(c) Said rotatable water pump connected to a driveshaft at an off-center location of the pump causing said driveshaft to achieve an oscillating motion upon rotation of said water pump; and

(d) Said driveshaft adapted to be connected to and cause oscillation of a first personal hygiene implement.

2. The personal hygiene device of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) A second water-driveable personal hygiene implement contained in said handle and adapted to be connected to said pressurized water supply line;

(b) A second water line located in said handle and adapted to be connected to said pressurized water supply line at a location prior to said entry location of said rotatable pump; and

(c) A second water line valve located on said water line at a position where opening and closing of said valve does not effect water flow into said rotatable pump thereby permitting independent operation of the water line from said rotatable pump, said water line adapted to be connected to and cause operation of said second personal hygiene implement when said water line valve is in an open position.

3. The personal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said rotatable water pump comprises a generally round shaped paddle wheel.

4. The personal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said first personal hygiene device comprises a toothbrush.

5. The personal hygiene device of claim 4, wherein said toothbrush is of generally round shape and said driveshaft is connected to said toothbrush at a center location whereby said toothbrush is capable of back-and-forth oscillation.

6. The personal hygiene device of claim 4, wherein said toothbrush is of generally round shape and said driveshaft is connected to said toothbrush at an off-center location whereby said toothbrush is capable of semi-rotating oscillation.

7. The personal hygiene device of claim 2 further comprising a pulsation element for imparting a pulsating flow of water into a second personal hygiene implement.

8. The personal hygiene device of claim 7, wherein said pulsation element is located between said second water line valve and said second personal hygiene implement.

9. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said second personal hygiene implement comprises a water line having an nozzle adapted to direct water flow into said first personal hygiene implement and said first personal hygiene implement comprises a toothbrush.

10. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said second personal hygiene implement comprises an irrigator.

11. The personal hygiene device of claim 7, wherein said second personal hygiene implement comprises an irrigator.

12. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said second personal hygiene implement comprises a spray.

13. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said second personal hygiene implement comprises a razor.

14. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said first personal hygiene implement comprises a cleaning brush.

15. The personal hygiene device of claim 1, wherein said valve is located on said exit line.

16. The personal hygiene device of claim 2, wherein said valve is located on said exit line.

17. The personal hygiene device of claim 1, further comprising a system to mix hot and cold water to produce tempered water located in said handle.

18. A method of using a personal hygiene device comprising opening a pressurized water line to cause said pressurized water to pass through and exit from a generally round, rotary pump thereby rotating said pump, said rotating pump connected to a driveshaft at an off-center location on said pump thereby causing back-and-forth oscillation of said driveshaft and oscillation of a first personal hygiene implement connected to said driveshaft.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said oscillation of said first personal hygiene implement is back-and-forth.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said oscillation of said first personal hygiene implement is semi-rotating.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising opening a pressurized water line at a location not effecting rotation of said pump, thereby causing water to pass through said line, enter a second personal hygiene implement, and exit from said second personal hygiene implement.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said water exits into said first personal hygiene implement.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said water exits onto a portion of a user'"'"'s body.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said driveshaft imparts an oscillating motion to said first personal hygiene implement.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said first personal hygiene implement comprises a toothbrush.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising passing pulsating water through said second personal hygiene implement.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising directing water from said second personal hygiene implement into said first personal hygiene implement and said first personal hygiene implement comprises a toothbrush.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said second personal hygiene implement directs a stream of water to irrigate a user'"'"'s mouth.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said second personal hygiene implement directs a spray of water to clean a portion of a mouth of a user.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein said second personal hygiene implement directs a spray of water to clean a portion of a body of a user.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein said second personal hygiene device comprises a cleaning brush to clean an object.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein said second personal hygiene device comprises a razor to shave a portion of a body of a user.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein said pressurized water comprises tempered water.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein said pressurized water comprises tempered water.