TIP FOR ORAL IRRIGATOR

• US 20070202459A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Kurt M., Williams, Brian R., Boyd, Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/679,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/80
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/00 Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water driven brush bodies A46B13/00; massage apparatus with liquid delivery A61H7/002, A61H2201/105; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by liquid carrying members in general, e.g. by pads B05C1/00, B05D1/28
• 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 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B

Abstract

A oral irrigator tip for an oral irrigator. The oral irrigator tip may include a shaft portion with a base, an apex, and a transitional portion linking the base to the apex. The shaft portion may be straight or angled. The shaft portion may be hollow from the base to the apex to define a fluid passage, thus permitting fluid to flow along the shaft portion. A retaining feature may be formed on the shaft portion to facilitate retention of the oral irrigator tip by an oral irrigator. A connector may join a nozzle to the shaft portion. Attached to the connector may be a bristle element, which may include multiple individual bristles glued or otherwise affixed to the connector. The bristles may be arranged in a circular pattern; water may flow around the individual bristles or through the center of the bristles.

Claims

1. An oral irrigator tip, comprising:

a nozzle including an outlet opening and an inlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet opening; and

a bristle element proximate the outlet opening of the nozzle.

2. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the bristle element at least partially comprises a truncated cone.

3. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the bristle element comprises a plurality of bristles.

4. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, further comprising:

a shaft portion including a fluid passage;

the shaft portion configured to provide fluid communication between the oral irrigator and the nozzle.

5. The oral irrigator tip of claim 4, wherein the nozzle is fixedly joined to the shaft portion.

6. The oral irrigator tip of claim 4, wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably coupled to the oral irrigator.

7. The oral irrigator tip of claim 4, wherein the shaft portion comprises a base, an apex, and a transitional portion linking the base to the apex.

8. The oral irrigator tip of claim 7, further comprising a connector configured to be removably coupled to the apex.

9. The oral irrigator of claim 8, wherein the connector is removably coupled to the apex.

10. The oral irrigator of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to be removably coupled to the nozzle.

11. The oral irrigator of claim 10, wherein the connector is removably coupled to the nozzle.

12. The oral irrigator tip of claim 8, wherein the bristle element at least partially extends through the connector.

13. The oral irrigator tip of claim 12, wherein the bristle element is attached to the connector.

14. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is placed within the bristle element.

15. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises rubber.

16. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises plastic.

17. The oral irrigator tip of claim 1, wherein the bristle element is movable relative to the nozzle.

18. The oral irrigator tip of claim 4, wherein the shaft portion comprises a retaining feature.

19. The oral irrigator tip of claim 18, wherein the retaining feature comprises a groove.

20. The oral irrigator tip of claim 4, wherein the shaft portion comprises an anti-rotation feature.