CLEANING APPLIANCE

• US 20180116774A1
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: COLEMAN, James David, WALTON, Andrew Nicholas, DAVISON, Luke William, TWEEDIE, Robert Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US15/794,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20180116774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0062 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0079 Arrangements for preventing undesired leakage or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0096 Indication of the level of the remaining fluid, e.g. through transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/04 with reservoir or other means for supplying substances
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0004 with a controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• 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 17/028 with intermittent liquid flow
• 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 17/28 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/36 with rinsing means

Abstract

A dental cleaning appliance includes a nozzle having a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a channel extending between the fluid chamber and the fluid outlet. A water reservoir provides water to a pump for generating a burst of pressurized water, which is supplied to the nozzle by a fluid conduit. Following the delivery of the burst of water to the teeth of the user, a valve draws water back into the fluid chamber from the channel to prevent that water from dripping from the fluid outlet before the next water burst is generated by the pump. Simultaneously, air may be drawn into the fluid chamber, for example, through the fluid outlet, for mixing with the next water burst to generate a fluid burst for delivery to the user'"'"'s teeth.

Claims

1. A dental cleaning appliance comprising:

a liquid reservoir for storing a working liquid; and

a fluid delivery system for delivering a burst of working liquid to the teeth of the user, the fluid delivery system comprising;

a fluid emission nozzle comprising a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a channel extending between the fluid chamber and the fluid outlet,

a liquid burst generator,

a fluid conduit for conveying a burst of working liquid from the liquid burst generator to the nozzle, and

a valve for drawing fluid into the fluid chamber of the nozzle following the delivery of a burst of working liquid to the teeth of the user.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to draw working liquid back into the fluid chamber from the channel.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to draw a volume of air into the fluid delivery system.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the valve is configured to draw a volume of air into the fluid chamber as working liquid is drawn back into the fluid chamber from the channel.

5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the valve is configured to draw air into the fluid chamber through the fluid outlet of the nozzle.

6. The appliance of claim 3, comprising an air inlet through which air is drawn into the fluid delivery system by the valve.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the nozzle comprises said air inlet, said air inlet being spaced from the fluid outlet of the nozzle.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the air inlet is located opposite to the fluid outlet.

9. The appliance of claim 6, comprising a one way valve for inhibiting the emission of working liquid through the air inlet.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the nozzle comprises a second one way valve for inhibiting the drawing of air into the fluid chamber through the fluid outlet.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the second one way valve is located at or adjacent the fluid outlet.

12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the fluid outlet of the nozzle is in the form of a one way valve.

13. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a duckbill valve.

14. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is located in a fluid flow path extending from the liquid burst generator to the nozzle.

15. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is located adjacent to the liquid burst generator.

16. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is located in a housing of the liquid burst generator.

17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve is located adjacent to the fluid outlet from the liquid burst generator.

18. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a one way valve.

19. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a duckbill valve.

20. The appliance of claim 1, comprising a handle, and a stem extending between the handle and the nozzle, and wherein the liquid burst generator is located in the handle.

21. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the liquid burst generator comprises a positive displacement pump.

22. The appliance of claim 21, wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a fluid displacement member which is actuable to draw working liquid into the pump from the liquid reservoir, and to urge a burst of working liquid from the pump towards the nozzle.

23. The appliance of claim 22, wherein the valve is arranged to draw working liquid back into the fluid chamber of the nozzle as the fluid displacement member is actuated to draw working liquid into the pump from the liquid reservoir.

24. The appliance of claim 22, wherein the valve is arranged simultaneously to inhibit the drawing of working liquid back into the pump from the fluid conduit as the fluid displacement member is actuated to draw working liquid into the pump from the liquid reservoir.

25. A dental cleaning appliance comprising:

a nozzle comprising a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet and a channel extending between the fluid chamber and the fluid outlet;

a liquid reservoir for storing a working liquid;

a pump comprising a fluid displacement member which is actuable to draw a volume of working liquid into the pump from the liquid reservoir, and to urge a burst of working liquid from the pump towards the nozzle;

a fluid conduit for conveying the burst of working liquid towards the fluid chamber; and

a valve for, following the delivery of the burst of working liquid to the teeth of the user, (i) preventing working liquid from being drawn back into the pump from the fluid conduit as the fluid displacement member is actuated to draw a second volume working liquid into the pump from the liquid reservoir, and (ii) simultaneously, drawing fluid into the fluid chamber.