Mouth douche

• US 4,442,830 A
• Filed: 09/29/1982
• Issued: 04/17/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Oral Care Division, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gimelli & Company AG
• Inventors: Markau, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US06/427,317
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 128/66, 128/62 A, 128/200.21, 433/80, 433/88, 222/321, 222/402.24
• US Class Current: 601/162
• 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

Abstract

A mouth douche including a water reservoir, a water pump and a nozzle insertable into the oral cavity is provided with a detachable power unit operable by a preferably rechargeable battery. The power unit advantageously is the body of an electric toothbrush insertable upside down, without its bristle-carrying head, into the base of the mouth douche for operative coupling of its shaft with the water pump.

Claims

1. A device for oral hygiene, comprising:

a mouth douche including a base provided with a water reservoir, a nozzle insertable into the oral cavity of a user, and a water pump in a conduit linking said nozzle with said reservoir;

a toothbrush assembly including a power unit having a drive shaft having means for operatively connecting a bristle-carrying head thereto, said base being provided with a seat removably accommodating said assembly, said base further having a socket having means for receiving a part of said drive shaft; and

coupling means in said base engageable with said drive shaft upon insertion of said part thereof into said socket for operatively linking said power unit with said water pump to actuate the latter, said drive shaft being decoupled from said water pump upon removal of said assembly from said base to facilitate the use of said assembly for tooth brushing.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket and said seat are separated from each other on said base, said drive shaft being disengaged from said coupling means upon said assembly being held by said seat.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said part is a tip of said drive shaft adapted to be fitted with said bristle-carrying head, said power unit being partly receivable in said socket in an upside-down position.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said power unit is self-contained with an energy source of its own.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said energy source is a rechargeable battery.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 or 5, further comprising a holder for said power unit provided with recharging means connectable to a utility outlet.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said holder is an extension of said base.

6. A device for oral hygiene, comprising:

a mouth douche including a base provided with a water reservoir, a nozzle insertable into the oral cavity of a user, and a water pump in a conduit linking said nozzle with said reservoir;

a battery-operated power unit detachable from said mouth douche and insertable into a socket of said base; and

coupling means in said base operatively linking said power unit with said water pump for driving the latter upon insertion of said power unit into said socket, said power unit comprising a body of a battery-powered electric toothbrush having a drive shaft having means for attaching a bristle-carrying head thereto, said drive shaft being engageable with said coupling means upon insertion of said body in an upside-down position into said socket.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said power unit is provided with a rechargeable battery.