Twin duckbill valve assembly

• US 7,722,278 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Black, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak; David J
• Application Number:
  US10/581,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20070113903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 401/270, 401/282, 401/286, 401/287, 401/291, 137/512.15, 137/847
• US Class Current: 401/287
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0079 Arrangements for preventing undesired leakage or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/063 by means of a supply pipe
• 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 1/0061 Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02
• 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 17/0217 having means for manually controlling the supply of two or more fluids, e.g. water and air
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves

Abstract

The duckbill valve assembly includes at least two duckbill valve members and a flexible, flat flange member which joins the two duckbill valve members together. The flange connects the duckbill valve members together at their respective bases, thereby maintaining the two duckbill valve members in a particular orientation and arrangement relative to each other.

Claims

1. A toothbrush brushhead assembly, comprising:

a toothbrush stem;

a bristle plate including a cavity;

a duckbill valve assembly which includes at least two duckbill valve members; and

a flexible flange member extending between and joining the duckbill valve members, such that the duckbill valves are flexibly movable relative to each other in a particular orientation in a unitary assembly which is insertable into and removable as a unit from the cavity.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the flange member joins the two duckbill valve members at their respective bases, and wherein the flange member is substantially flat.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve members have slit openings through which fluid moves and are spaced apart from each other, but arranged so that their respective slit openings are parallel.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve members have slit openings through which fluid moves and are oriented such that their respective slit openings are in a single line.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve members are substantially identical.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the two duckbill valve members are sufficiently separated to permit a plurality of bristles to be mounted therebetween to the bristle plate.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve assembly includes just two duckbill valve members.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve assembly includes more than two duckbill valve members.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the duckbill valve members are different in size and otherwise arranged to accommodate different fluids to flow therethrough.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a holding member is disposed over the duckbill valve assembly in the cavity, holding the duckbill valve assembly against the bristle plate.