CLEANING APPLIANCE

• US 20180055212A1
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: FOLLOWS, Thomas James Dunning, BEX-RUSSELL, William John, STICKNEY, Timothy Nicholas, COURTNEY, Stephen Benjamin, GAMMACK, Peter David
• Granted Patent: US 10,485,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/04 with reservoir or other means for supplying substances
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/08 as a rotating disc
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• 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 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/36 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/40 orbiting, e.g. nutating

Abstract

A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, and a cleaning tool detachably connected to the handle. The cleaning tool includes a nozzle for delivering a burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user, a stem extending between the handle and the nozzle, and a fluid reservoir for storing working fluid. The fluid reservoir is connected to, and extends around, the stem.

Claims

1. A dental cleaning appliance comprising:

a handle comprising a handle conduit system; and

a cleaning tool detachably connected to the handle, the cleaning tool comprising a cleaning tool conduit system, the cleaning tool conduit system comprising;

a cleaning tool fluid inlet port,

a nozzle for delivering a burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user, and

a fluid reservoir for storing working fluid, the fluid reservoir comprising an inner wall, an external wall connected to and extending around the inner wall, and a fluid port,

wherein the handle conduit system comprises a handle fluid inlet port for receiving working fluid from the fluid port of the fluid reservoir and a handle fluid outlet port for conveying a burst of working fluid to the cleaning tool fluid inlet port.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to store a liquid working fluid.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir has a capacity which is in the range from 5 to 50 ml.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is refillable.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid port is formed in the external wall of the fluid reservoir.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein at least part of the external wall is transparent.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the external wall has one of a curved shape, a convex shape, and a faceted shape.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the external wall has a curvature which is one of ellipsoidal, spheroidal and spherical.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery system comprises a pump for drawing working fluid from the reservoir through both the handle fluid inlet port and the fluid port of the reservoir.

10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the inner wall is tubular in shape.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the inner wall and the external wall together define the capacity of the fluid reservoir.

12. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the cleaning tool comprises a head from which the nozzle protrudes, and the nozzle is moveable relative to the head between a distal position and a proximal position.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the nozzle is biased towards the distal position.

14. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the head comprises one or more engagements for engaging the teeth of the user during use of the appliance, and wherein the nozzle is moveable relative to the one or more engagements.

15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein, when the nozzle is in the distal position, the tip of the nozzle protrudes beyond at least some of the one or more engagements.

16. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the one or more engagements are formed from resilient material.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the one or more engagements comprises a plurality of resilient members arranged around the nozzle.

18. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the one or more engagements comprises a plurality of bristles arranged about the nozzle.

19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the bristles are mounted on a bristle carrier which is moveable relative to the nozzle.