Hand held oral irrigator
First Claim
1. A hand-held oral irrigation device, comprising a body comprising a body top surface;
- a body bottom surface; and
at least one body sidewall connecting the body top surface and the body bottom surface;
a tip detachably connected to the body;
a reservoir for storing a fluid removably coupled with the body;
a pump contained within the body and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir, through the body bottom surface, and propel the fluid to the tip, the pump comprisingan interior fluid channel disposed between the tip and the reservoir;
a first valve regulating fluid flow into the interior channel from the reservoir, the first valve comprisinga first rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the first valve;
a first flap portion extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the first rim so as to define a crescent-shaped opening between the first flap portion and the first rim; and
a first hinge portion between the first flap portion and the first rim, the first hinge portion configured to allow the first flap portion to move relative to the first rim;
a second valve regulating fluid flow from the interior channel to the tip, the second valve comprisinga second rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the second valve;
a second flap portion extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the second rim so as to define a crescent-shaped opening between the second flap portion and the second rim;
a second hinge portion between the second flap portion and the second rim, the second hinge portion being configured to allow the first flap portion to move relative to the first rim;
a pump body defining a chamber in fluid communication with the interior fluid channel;
a piston positioned within the chamber of the pump body, wherein when the piston moves downwards within the chamber the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and when the piston moves upwards within the chamber the second valve is open and the first valve is closed;
a pump gear comprisinga first disc portion; and
a second disc portion extending from the first disc portion, wherein the second disc portion is offset relative to a center axis of the first disc portion;
a gear pin coaxial with an axis of the first disc portion and about which the pump gear rotates; and
a connecting rod comprisinga ball end, wherein the ball end is operatively connected to the piston; and
a cylindrical end, wherein the cylindrical end is operatively connected to the second disc portion;
wherein when the pump gear rotates, the ball end moves in an upward and downward motion within the chamber.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a hand held oral irrigation device having a tip for dispensing fluids. In one example, an oral irrigation device includes a body portion, and a reservoir for storing fluids, wherein the body and/or the reservoir define a first major diameter at a lower end of the oral irrigation device, and define a second major diameter at an upper end of the oral irrigation device, the first major diameter being larger than the second major diameter. In this example, by providing such a geometry for the device, a user can grasp the device with one hand about the second major diameter during use. In another example, the body includes a pump for pumping fluids from the reservoir to the tip, wherein the pump includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the inlet valve including a reed valve made of flexible fabric material. The outlet valve may also include a reed valve made of flexible fabric material.
465 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A hand-held oral irrigation device, comprising a body comprising a body top surface;
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a body bottom surface; and at least one body sidewall connecting the body top surface and the body bottom surface; a tip detachably connected to the body; a reservoir for storing a fluid removably coupled with the body; a pump contained within the body and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir, through the body bottom surface, and propel the fluid to the tip, the pump comprising an interior fluid channel disposed between the tip and the reservoir; a first valve regulating fluid flow into the interior channel from the reservoir, the first valve comprising a first rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the first valve; a first flap portion extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the first rim so as to define a crescent-shaped opening between the first flap portion and the first rim; and a first hinge portion between the first flap portion and the first rim, the first hinge portion configured to allow the first flap portion to move relative to the first rim; a second valve regulating fluid flow from the interior channel to the tip, the second valve comprising a second rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the second valve; a second flap portion extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the second rim so as to define a crescent-shaped opening between the second flap portion and the second rim; a second hinge portion between the second flap portion and the second rim, the second hinge portion being configured to allow the first flap portion to move relative to the first rim; a pump body defining a chamber in fluid communication with the interior fluid channel; a piston positioned within the chamber of the pump body, wherein when the piston moves downwards within the chamber the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and when the piston moves upwards within the chamber the second valve is open and the first valve is closed; a pump gear comprising a first disc portion; and a second disc portion extending from the first disc portion, wherein the second disc portion is offset relative to a center axis of the first disc portion; a gear pin coaxial with an axis of the first disc portion and about which the pump gear rotates; and a connecting rod comprising a ball end, wherein the ball end is operatively connected to the piston; and a cylindrical end, wherein the cylindrical end is operatively connected to the second disc portion; wherein when the pump gear rotates, the ball end moves in an upward and downward motion within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hand-held oral irrigation device comprising
a body defining a body chamber having a body bottom surface and a body top surface; -
a tip detachably connected to the body top surface; a reservoir for storing a fluid removably coupled with the body a pump contained within the body chamber and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir through the body bottom surface and propel the fluid to the tip, the pump including an interior fluid channel disposed between the tip and the reservoir; a first valve regulating fluid flow into the interior channel from the reservoir; a second valve regulating fluid flow from the interior channel to the tip; a pump body defining a chamber in fluid communication with the interior fluid channel; and a piston positioned within the chamber of the pump body, wherein when the piston moves downwards within the chamber the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, and when the piston moves upwards within the chamber the second valve is open and the first valve is closed; a pump gear comprising a first disc portion; and a second disc portion extending from the first disc portion, wherein the second disc portion is offset relative to a center axis of the first disc portion; a gear pin coaxial with an axis of the first disc portion and about which the pump gear rotates; and a connecting rod comprising a ball end, wherein the ball end is operatively connected to the piston; and a cylindrical end, wherein the cylindrical end is operatively connected to the second disc portion; wherein when the pump gear rotates, the ball end moves in an upward and downward motion within the chamber.
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16. A portable oral irrigator comprising
a body defining a body chamber having a body bottom surface and a body top surface; -
a tip detachably connected to the body top surface; a reservoir for storing a fluid removably coupled with the body; a pump contained within the body chamber and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir through the body bottom surface and propel the fluid to the tip and including a pump body defining a chamber; a piston positioned within the chamber of the pump body; a pump gear comprising a first disc portion; and a second disc portion extending from the first disc portion, wherein the second disc portion is offset relative to a center axis of the first disc portion; a gear pin coaxial with an axis of the first disc portion and about which the pump gear rotates; and a connecting rod comprising a ball end, wherein the ball end is operatively connected to the piston; and a cylindrical end, wherein the cylindrical end is operatively connected to the second disc portion; wherein when the pump gear rotates, the ball end moves in an upward and downward motion within the chamber; a reservoir inlet channel formed in the reservoir and operative to convey fluid from the reservoir to the pump chamber; a reservoir valve adjacent the reservoir inlet channel, the reservoir valve selectively preventing fluid from flowing through the inlet channel; a pump inlet conduit operably connected to the pump and when the body is coupled with the reservoir, the pump inlet conduit opens the reservoir valve and permits fluid to flow through the reservoir inlet channel; and an interior channel contained within the body and operative to convey fluid from the reservoir inlet channel to the tip; a pump inlet valve disposed within the interior channel comprising an inlet rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the pump inlet valve; an inlet flap extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the inlet rim and defining a u-shaped opening between the inlet flap and the inlet rim; an inlet hinge operably connecting the inlet flap to the inlet rim and being configured to allow the inlet flap to move relative to the inlet rim; and at least one inlet stress aperture operatively connected to the inlet hinge; wherein the pump inlet valve prevents fluid from the reservoir from entering into the interior channel when the pump is in a first state and allows fluid from the reservoir to enter the interior channel when the pump is a second state; a pump outlet valve disposed within the interior channel comprising an outlet rim defined on a portion of a perimeter of the pump outlet valve; an outlet flap extending into a space defined by an interior edge of the outlet rim and defining a u-shaped opening between the outlet flap and the outlet rim; an outlet hinge operably connecting the outlet flap to the outlet rim and being configured to allow the outlet flap to move relative to the outlet rim; and at least one outlet stress aperture operatively connected to the outlet hinge; wherein the pump outlet valve allows fluid from the interior channel to flow to the tip when the pump is in the first state and prevents fluid to flow from the interior channel to the tip when the pump is the second state;
whereinwhen the piston moves downwards within the chamber the pump inlet valve is open and the pump outlet valve is closed, and when the piston moves upwards within the chamber the pump outlet valve is open and the pump inlet valve is closed.
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Specification