HAND HELD ORAL IRRIGATOR

• US 20070105065A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Callaghan, Roberta, Sokol, Gary, Snyder, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/89
• 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 17/032 using pressurised tap-water , e.g. rinsing devices specially adapted for being connected to the main water supply

Abstract

According to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a hand held oral irrigation device having a tip for dispensing fluids. In one example, an oral irrigation device includes a body portion, and a reservoir for storing fluids, wherein the body and/or the reservoir define a first major diameter at a lower end of the oral irrigation device, and define a second major diameter at an upper end of the oral irrigation device, the first major diameter being larger than the second major diameter. In this example, by providing such a geometry for the device, a user can grasp the device with one hand about the second major diameter during use. In another example, the body includes a pump for pumping fluids from the reservoir to the tip, wherein the pump includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the inlet valve including a reed valve made of flexible fabric material. The outlet valve may also include a reed valve made of flexible fabric material.

Claims

1. A hand-held oral irrigation device, comprising:

a reservoir for storing a fluid;

a body comprising;

a body top surface;

a body bottom surface; and

at least one body sidewall connecting the body top surface and the body bottom surface;

a tip detachably connected to the body;

a pump contained within the body and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir, through the body bottom surface and propel the fluid to the tip;

wherein

the body is fluidly coupled to the reservoir.

2. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 1, wherein the tip is detachably connected to the body top surface.

3. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 2, wherein:

the reservoir comprises;

a reservoir base;

a reservoir vertical support adjacent the reservoir base;

a fluid chamber at least partially defined by the reservoir base and the reservoir vertical support;

and the body bottom surface detachably rests against the reservoir base when the body is coupled to the reservoir.

4. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 3, wherein the a longitudinal axis of the tip is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body and a longitudinal axis of the reservoir.

5. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 1, wherein the body is detachably connected to the reservoir.

6. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 5, wherein the pump is situated between the tip and reservoir.

7. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 6, further comprising:

an inlet channel formed in the reservoir and operative to convey fluid from the reservoir to the pump; and

a seal adjacent the inlet channel, the seal selectively preventing fluid from flowing through the inlet channel.

8. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 7, wherein the seal comprises:

a stopper element; and

a biasing element operative to bias the stopper to close the inlet channel.

9. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 8, wherein:

the stopper element is a sphere; and

the biasing element is a spring.

10. The hand-held oral irrigation device of claim 7, further comprising:

a body inlet operably connected to the pump;

wherein

the body inlet is operative to open the seal and permit fluid flow through the inlet channel when the body is coupled to the reservoir.