Suction handle, suction handle assembly, and oral care systems comprising same

• US 8,747,111 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Dombrowski, Alan R., Bow, Clark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil K
• Application Number:
  US13/695,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20130052610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 433 91- 96
• US Class Current: 433/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/08 Aspiration nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7411 by changing the size of a vent in combination with changing the cross-section of the line A61M1/7413

Abstract

A suction handle, a suction handle assembly, and an oral care system. The suction handle can include a first axis oriented along a longitudinal direction, a first conduit having a first bore oriented along the first axis, and a second conduit adapted to be coupled to the first conduit, which can have a second bore oriented along the first axis. The first conduit and the second conduit can be movable with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction between a first position in which there is no fluid communication between the first and second bores, and a second position in which there is fluid communication. An actuator can be coupled to at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit that which can pivot about a second axis oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the first axis between a first and second actuator position.

Claims

1. A suction handle for oral care systems, the suction handle comprising:

a housing comprising an interior;

a first axis oriented along a longitudinal direction;

a first conduit positioned in the interior of the housing, the first conduit having a first bore oriented along the longitudinal direction;

a second conduit positioned in the interior of the housing, the second conduit adapted to be coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit having a second bore oriented along the longitudinal direction, the first conduit and the second conduit being movable with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction between a first position in which the first bore and the second bore are not in fluid communication and a second position in which the first bore and the second bore are in fluid communication, the first bore and the second bore at least partially defining a fluid path; and

an actuator coupled to the housing and at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit, the actuator being pivotally movable about a second axis oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the first axis between a first actuator position that corresponds with the first position and a second actuator position that corresponds with the second position;

wherein the interior of the housing is fluidly isolated from the fluid path when the first conduit and the second conduit are in the first position and the second position; and

wherein the second conduit includes at least one projection dimensioned to be received in a channel of the actuator, wherein the channel of the actuator includes a plurality of detent positions, and wherein the at least one projection of the second conduit is configured to move between the plurality of detent positions as the actuator pivots about the second axis.

2. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first bore and the second bore are centered with respect to the first axis.

3. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first conduit is adapted to be coupled to an oral care device.

4. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit together define a valve.

5. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first conduit includes at least one transverse opening in fluid communication with the first bore.

6. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a third actuator position between the first actuator position and the second actuator position in which the first bore is at least partially in fluid communication with the second bore.

7. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the second conduit includes a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area, also wherein the first conduit includes a first section dimensioned to be received in the first section of the second conduit and a second section of the first conduit dimensioned to be received in the second section of the second conduit and wherein the second section of the first conduit includes a plug.

8. The suction handle of claim 7, wherein:

the second section of the first conduit is fully seated in the second section of the second conduit when the first conduit and the second conduit are in the first position with respect to one another, such that the first bore is not in fluid communication with the second bore, and

the second section of the first conduit is not fully seated in the second section of the second conduit when the first conduit and the second conduit are in the second position with respect to one another, such that the first bore is in fluid communication with the second bore.

9. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the actuator is fluidly isolated from the fluid path when the first conduit and the second conduit are in the first position and the second position.

10. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first conduit is coupled to the housing and the second conduit is movable with respect to the first conduit and the housing.

11. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled to the housing and pivots with respect to the housing.

12. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the second conduit includes at least one transverse projection dimensioned to be received in a channel of the housing, and wherein the at least one transverse projection is positioned adjacent a junction between a first section and a second section of the second conduit.

13. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes at least one projection dimensioned to be slidably received in a channel of the housing.

14. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first axis lies in a plane, and wherein the actuator pivots in the plane toward or away from the first axis.

15. An oral care system comprising:

the suction handle of claim 1;

an oral care device coupled to a distal end of the suction handle; and

a coupling device coupled between the suction handle and the oral device, a first portion of the coupling device adapted to be coupled to the suction handle and a second portion of the coupling device adapted to be coupled to the oral care device.

16. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis do not intersect.

17. The suction handle of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a rocker switch.

18. A suction handle for oral care systems, the suction handle comprising:

a housing comprising an interior;

a first axis oriented along a longitudinal direction;

a first conduit positioned in the interior of the housing, the first conduit having a first bore oriented along the longitudinal direction;

a second conduit positioned in the interior of the housing, the second conduit adapted to be coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit having a second bore oriented along the longitudinal direction, the first conduit and the second conduit being movable with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction between a first position in which the first bore and the second bore are not in fluid communication and a second position in which the first bore and the second bore are in fluid communication, the first bore and the second bore at least partially defining a fluid path; and

an actuator coupled to the housing and at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit, the actuator being pivotally movable about a second axis oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to the first axis between a first actuator position that corresponds with the first position and a second actuator position that corresponds with the second position, wherein the actuator includes at least one projection dimensioned to be slidably received in a channel of the housing, and wherein the at least one projection at least partially defines the second axis, such that the actuator is pivotally movable about the at least one projection, relative to the housing.