Adjustable flow regulator for dental water jet
First Claim
1. An apparatus for adjusting a fluid pressure supplied by a pump to a nozzle tip of a dental water jet device, comprisinga pump body defining a fluid chamber;
- a flow control rotatably connected to the pump body;
a flow regulation conduit at least partially defined by the flow control;
a bypass valve in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the flow regulation conduit;
a fluid passage between the fluid chamber and the nozzle tip;
whereinthe pump body and the flow control together define a return channel in fluid communication with the flow regulation conduit;
a depth of the flow regulation conduit proximate the bypass valve may be varied by selectively moving the flow control relative to the pump body; and
varying the depth of the flow regulation conduit varies a fluid pressure within the fluid passage.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dental water jet apparatus for adjusting a pressurized water stream from a pump to a tip moves pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. A flow control knob may be turned to selectively adjust the water pressure supplied by the tip between a minimum and a maximum value. When the flow control knob is turned in a first direction, the volume of fluid directed towards the tip decreases and the volume of fluid returned to an inlet of the pump increases. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue.
506 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for adjusting a fluid pressure supplied by a pump to a nozzle tip of a dental water jet device, comprising
a pump body defining a fluid chamber; -
a flow control rotatably connected to the pump body; a flow regulation conduit at least partially defined by the flow control; a bypass valve in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the flow regulation conduit; a fluid passage between the fluid chamber and the nozzle tip;
whereinthe pump body and the flow control together define a return channel in fluid communication with the flow regulation conduit; a depth of the flow regulation conduit proximate the bypass valve may be varied by selectively moving the flow control relative to the pump body; and varying the depth of the flow regulation conduit varies a fluid pressure within the fluid passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A dental water jet device comprising
a pump comprising a pump body defining a chamber; -
a pump inlet connected to a first end of the pump body; and a pump outlet connected to a second end of the pump body; a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump inlet; a handheld jet tip in fluid communication with the pump outlet; a flow control regulator attached to the pump body; a return channel defined by the flow control regulator and the pump body, wherein the return channel selectively connects the reservoir with the pump outlet and the flow control regulator variably adjusts a volume of fluid that flows through the return channel; and a handle passage fluidly connecting the handheld jet tip and the pump outlet. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A dental water jet device comprising
a base unit defining a cavity; -
a pump contained within the cavity; a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump; a nozzle tip in fluid communication with the pump; a flow control regulator connected to the pump and defining a channel of variable volume, wherein the flow control regulator varies a volume of the channel to selectively adjust a fluid pressure supplied to the nozzle tip; and a reed valve located within the base unit in a flow path between the pump and the nozzle tip, wherein the reed valve allows a flow of a fluid from the pump to the tip and prevents the fluid from flowing from the tip to the pump; and when the flow regulator decreases the fluid pressure, the flow of the fluid through the reed valve decreases. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification