Dental water jet irrigator handle

• US 8,808,209 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): SKORUPA, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/823,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 601154-169, 433 80- 90, 433/27, 433/28
• 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

An irrigator handle to be used with a water jet apparatus for cleaning gums and teeth includes a visual indicator to let a user know when a tip has been properly attached to the handle. The handle in some embodiments also includes an audible indicator to let the user know when the tip has been properly attached. The handle has a pause button attached to plunger to restrict water flow when the pause button is depressed.

Claims

1. A dental water jet handle comprising

a housing defining a fluid conduit;

a nozzle tip operationally attached to the housing;

a visual indicator operationally attached to the housing, the visual indicator providing a first indication when the nozzle tip is attached to the housing and providing a second indication when the nozzle tip is removed from the housing;

a pause button;

a stop plunger attached to the pause button and at least partially received within the fluid conduit;

wherein

depressing the pause button halts a fluid flow through the fluid conduit and to the nozzle tip; and

the visual indicator includes a handle knob and the first indication comprises a movement of the handle knob from a first position to a second position.

2. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, wherein the stop plunger extends transversely to a direction of the fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the pause button is depressed.

3. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, wherein the second indication comprises a movement of the handle knob from the second position to the first position.

4. The dental water jet handle of claim 1, wherein the handle knob is movable about a longitudinal axis of the housing.

5. The dental water jet handle of claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for audibly indicating when the nozzle tip is attached to the housing.

6. The dental water jet handle of claim 5, wherein the mechanism is an electronic element.

7. The dental water jet handle of claim 5, wherein the mechanism is a portion of the nozzle tip mechanically deforming when attached to the head.

8. A dental water jet handle comprising

a housing defining a fluid conduit;

an indicator head operatively connected to a first end of the housing that receives an irrigator tip;

a spring disposed between the first end of the housing and the indicator head; and

a pause button connected to the housing that stops a flow of fluid through the fluid conduit upon actuation;

wherein

the indicator head is in a first position with respect to the housing when the irrigator tip is attached; and

the indicator head is in a second position with respect to the housing when the irrigator tip is removed from the housing.

9. The dental water jet handle of claim 8, wherein

when the irrigator tip is attached, the spring is in a first position;

and

when the irrigator tip is detached, the spring is in a second position.

10. The dental water jet handle of claim 8 further comprising a mechanism that creates an audible sound when the irrigator tip is attached to the indicator head.

11. The dental water jet handle of claim 10, wherein the mechanism is an electronic loudspeaker.

12. The dental water jet handle of claim 10 further comprising a latch having a projection and disposed partially inside the fluid conduit, wherein the projection extends into a groove within the irrigator tip and retains the irrigator tip in a secure position.

13. The dental water jet handle of claim 12, wherein the mechanism that creates an audible sound is a mechanical deformation of the groove of the irrigator tip when the latch projection is inserted into the groove.

14. The dental water jet handle of claim 12, wherein depressing the latch releases the projection from the groove, allowing the irrigator tip to be removed from the indicator head.

15. The dental water jet handle of claim 8, wherein the indicator head is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the housing.

16. The dental water jet handle of claim 15, further comprising an irrigator tip attached to the indicator head, wherein rotation of the indicator head along the longitudinal axis of the housing rotates the irrigator tip along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

17. The dental water jet handle of claim 8 further comprising

an irrigator tip attached to the indicator head;

and

a plunger attached to the pause button;

wherein

the plunger is at least partially received within the fluid conduit, and

depressing the pause button substantially prevents fluid flow through the fluid conduit to the irrigator tip.