Water jet unit and handle

• US 20070203439A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyd, Brian, Williams, Brian, Taylor, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US11/361,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/162
• 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. A flow control knob may be turned to selectively adjust the water pressure supplied by the tip between a minimum and a maximum value. The reservoir may be removed from the base unit so that it may be filled with the fluid. The reservoir may support a container for storing tips or other items. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue.

Claims

1. A container for storing items, comprising:

a container base including a surface operative to be received within a reservoir;

a lid connected to and movable relative to the container base;

at least one first aperture defined on the container base;

at least one second aperture defined on the lid;

wherein

the container base and the lid define for at least one movable position a substantially enclosed volume for storing at least one item.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is rotatable relative to the container base.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container base further includes at least one pair of walls configured to receive and retain a tip therebetween.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container base further includes at least one tip column configured to support a tip including a tip fluid passage in a generally vertical orientation when the tip column receives the tip fluid passage.

5. A water dental jet handle comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

a tip attachment mechanism operationally attached to the housing;

a visual indicator operationally attached to the housing, the visual indicator first indicating when the tip is attached to the housing and second indicating when the tip is detached from the housing;

a pause button;

a stop plunger attached to the pause button and at least partially received within the cavity;

wherein

depressing the pause button halts a fluid flow through the cavity and to the tip.

6. The water jet handle of claim 5, wherein the stop plunger extends transversely to a direction of the fluid flow through the cavity when the pause button is depressed.

7. The water jet handle of claim 5, wherein the visual indicator includes a handle knob.

8. The water jet handle of claim 7, wherein the first indication comprises a movement of the handle knob from a first position to a second position.

9. The water jet handle of claim 8, wherein the second indication comprises a movement of the handle knob from the second position to the first position.

10. The water jet handle of claim 7, wherein the handle knob is movable about a longitudinal axis of the housing.

11. The water jet handle of claim 5, further comprising a mechanism for audibly indicating when the tip is attached to the housing.

12. An apparatus for adjusting a fluid pressure supplied by a pump to a tip, comprising:

a pump body defining a fluid chamber;

a flow control rotatably connected to the pump body

a flow regulation conduit at least partially defined by the flow control;

a bypass valve in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the flow regulation conduit;

a fluid passage between the fluid chamber and the tip;

wherein

the pump body and the flow control together define a return channel in fluid communication with the flow regulation conduit;

the depth of the flow regulation conduit proximate the bypass valve may be varied by selectively moving the flow control relative to the pump body; and

varying the depth of the flow regulation conduit varies a fluid pressure within the fluid passage.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid pressure within the fluid passage increases as the depth of the fluid regulation conduit proximate the bypass valve decreases.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a pump inlet body connected to the pump body;

wherein

the pump inlet body and the pump body together define a fluid return chamber in fluid communication with the return channel.

18. The water dental jet unit of claim 16, wherein the at least one vibration reduction mount is made of rubber.

20. The water dental jet unit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of footings are composed of a vibration dampening material.

14. The apparatus of 13, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the return channel.

17. A water dental jet unit comprising:

a base unit defining a cavity;

a reservoir in fluid communication with a pump contained within the cavity and connected to the base unit by at least one vibration reduction mount; and

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

19. A water dental jet unit comprising:

a base unit defining a cavity;

a plurality of footings attached to the base unit and operative to elevate the base unit above a surface supporting the base unit;

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

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

21. The water dental jet unit of claim 19, wherein the vibration dampening material is rubber.

23. The dental water jet unit pump of claim 21, wherein the eccentric end plate is rotatably movable relative to the pump chassis.

25. The dental water jet unit of claim 23, wherein the pump includes a fluid outlet containing the reed valve.

27. The dental water jet unit of claim 25, wherein the reservoir defines a curved outer surface conforming to a curved surface defined by the basin.

22. A dental water jet unit pump comprising:

a pump chassis;

an eccentric end plate movably connected to the pump chassis;

a first alignment shaft connected to the pump chassis;

a second alignment shaft connected to the eccentric end plate;

a first gear rotating around a longitudinal axis of the first alignment shaft; and

a second gear engaging the first gear and rotating around a longitudinal axis of the second alignment shaft;

wherein

selectively moving the eccentric end plate relative to the pump chassis selectively moves the second gear relative to the first gear.

24. A dental water jet unit comprising:

a base unit defining a cavity;

a reservoir in fluid communication with a pump contained within the cavity;

a tip in fluid communication with the pump; and

a reed valve located within the base unit;

wherein

the reed valve regulates a flow of a fluid from the pump to the tip; and

the reed valve prevents the fluid from flowing from the tip to the pump.

26. A dental water jet unit comprising:

a base unit including a basin for receiving a reservoir;

a reservoir valve initially biased to a closed position and operationally attached to the reservoir;

a tube projection connected to the base unit and opening the valve when the reservoir is received within the basin;

wherein

the basin and the reservoir are configured to guide the reservoir valve adjacent to the tube projection.

28. The dental water jet unit of claim 26, wherein the curved outer surface of the reservoir and the curved surface of the basin permit a single position of the reservoir relative to the basin for receipt of the reservoir within the basin.