Pump for dental water jet

• US 8,641,649 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyd, Brian, Williams, Brian R., Taylor, Kurt M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US12/824,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 601154-165, 433 80-101, 743/90, 743/92, 74395-397, 744/06, 744/12.R, 744/13, 415/124.2
• US Class Current: 601/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0084 Supply units, e.g. reservoir arrangements, specially adapted pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0092 Pumps specially adapted therefor
• 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 17/0205 Container filling apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/028 with intermittent liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/02 Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags A61C5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 13/005 Hydraulic gum massage
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/24 Bypassing

Abstract

A pump for an oral irrigator includes a pump chassis, an eccentric end plate movably connected to the pump chassis, a first alignment shaft connected to the pump chassis, a second alignment shaft connected to the eccentric end plate, a first gear rotating around a longitudinal axis of the first alignment shaft, and a second gear engaging the first gear and rotating around a longitudinal axis of the second alignment shaft. By selectively moving the eccentric end plate relative to the pump chassis selectively moves the second gear relative to the first gear.

Claims

1. A dental water jet device pump comprising:

a pump chassis;

an end plate adjustably connected to the pump chassis;

a first alignment shaft;

a first gear configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the first alignment shaft;

a second alignment shaft rotatably mounted to the end plate; and

a second gear engaging the first gear and configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the second alignment shaft;

wherein

selectively adjusting the end plate relative to the pump chassis selectively adjusts the location of the longitudinal axis of the second alignment shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the first alignment shaft from a first position to a second position.

2. The dental water jet device pump of claim 1, wherein the end plate is rotatably adjustable relative to the pump chassis.

3. The dental water jet device pump of claim 1, wherein

the end plate defines an alignment aperture;

and

the second alignment shaft is disposed within the alignment aperture.

4. The dental water jet device pump of claim 3, wherein the second alignment shaft is positioned eccentrically with respect to a center of the alignment aperture.

5. The dental water jet device pump of claim 1, wherein the first alignment shaft remains substantially fixed when the second gear is moved relative to the first gear.

6. The dental water jet device pump of claim 1, wherein the end plate is secured to the pump chassis via at least one fastener.

7. The dental water jet device pump of claim 1 further comprising a rotor operatively connected to the first gear via the first alignment shaft, wherein the first gear rotates when the rotor rotates.

8. The dental water jet device pump of claim 7 further comprising

a bobbin assembly operatively connected to the rotor;

and

a power cord electrically connected to the bobbin assembly, wherein the power cord supplies power to the bobbin assembly and when power is supplied to the bobbin assembly the rotor rotates.

9. The dental water jet device pump of claim 8, wherein when the first gear rotates the second gear rotates.

10. The dental water jet device pump of claim 9, further comprising a piston operatively connected to the second gear, wherein when the second gear rotates the piston translates between a first position and a second position.

11. A pump for an oral irrigator comprising:

a pump chassis;

a stator supported by the pump chassis;

a rotor magnetically connected to the stator, wherein when power is supplied to the stator, the stator causes the rotor to rotate;

a first alignment shaft connected to the rotor;

a first gear operatively connected to the first alignment shaft, wherein when the rotor rotates the first gear rotates;

a second gear operatively connected to the first gear, wherein when the first gear rotates, the second gear rotates;

a second alignment shaft operatively connected to the second gear;

an alignment plate operatively connected to the pump chassis and operatively connected to the second alignment shaft;

wherein selectively moving the alignment plate adjusts the location of a longitudinal axis of the second alignment shaft relative to a longitudinal axis of the first alignment shaft from a first position to a second position.

12. The pump of claim 11, wherein selectively moving the alignment plate relative to the pump chassis selectively moves the second gear relative to the first gear.

13. The pump of claim 11, wherein the second alignment shaft is disposed within an alignment aperture on the alignment plate.

14. The pump of claim 13, wherein the second alignment shaft is positioned eccentrically with respect to a center of the alignment aperture.

15. The pump of claim 14, wherein when the alignment plate is rotated relative to a centerline of the second alignment shaft, the second gear moves relative to the first gear.

16. The pump of claim 11, wherein the alignment plate is rotatably adjustable relative to the pump chassis.

17. The pump of claim 11 further comprising a piston operatively connected to the second gear, wherein when the second gear rotates, the piston translates between a first position and a second position.

18. The pump of claim 11, wherein the alignment end plate is secured to the pump chassis by removable fasteners.