Oral irrigator with integrated lid and base

• US 9,597,161 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luettgen, Harold A., Taylor, Kurt M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAI, MICHAEL JASPER
• Application Number:
  US14/208,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 206/63.5, 206/368, 206/369
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0092 Pumps specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0205 Container filling apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/028 with intermittent liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 13/005 Hydraulic gum massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1223 Frequency controlled AC motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/255 used as a control parameter for the apparatus

Abstract

An irrigating device including a massage mode module in communication with a motor driving a pump. During a normal mode the pump has a first pulse rate and during massage mode the massage mode module provides a massage control signal to the motor to cause the pump to have a second pulse rate. In other embodiments, the disclosure includes an oral irrigator including a base and a reservoir removably connected to the base. The oral irrigator further includes a prow operably connected to the base and extending vertically upwards from the base. The prow may extend in a similar direction as sidewalls of the reservoir. The oral irrigator further includes a lid rotatably connected to the prow. The lid rotates between a first position where a fluid cavity of the reservoir is exposed to a second position where the lid covers at least a portion of the fluid cavity.

Claims

1. An oral irrigator comprising

a base;

a prow connected to the base and extending upwards therefrom wherein the prow comprises at least one rib oriented vertically relative to the prow, the rib comprising a pivot extending from the side wall of the rib, a seat defined on a top surface of the rib, and a cam surface;

a reservoir defining a fluid cavity, wherein the reservoir is removably connected to the base; and

a lid rotatably connected to the prow;

wherein

the lid rotates relative to the prow between a first position exposing the fluid cavity to a second position covering at least a portion of the fluid cavity.

2. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the lid remains connected to the prow when the reservoir is removed from the base.

3. The oral irrigator of claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment defined by an inner wall of the prow and a sidewall of the reservoir.

4. The oral irrigator of claim 3, wherein the prow further comprises a shelf extending from the inner wall, wherein the shelf comprises at least one tip aperture configured to receive an accessory of the oral irrigator.

5. The oral irrigator of claim 4, wherein the base further comprises

a top surface;

at least one drain path recessed below the top surface and in fluid communication with therewith; and

an outlet defined in a sidewall of the base in fluid communication with the at least one drain path;

wherein

the reservoir seats on the top surface of the base.

6. The oral irrigator of claim 4, wherein the at least one drain path comprises a drip catch positioned below the shelf of the prow.

7. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises

a hinge operably connected to the pivot;

a tang extending from an interior surface of the lid;

wherein

in the first position of the lid the tang is received in the seat defined on the top surface of the rib; and

to transition from the first position to the second position, the tang travels over the cam surface.

8. The oral irrigator of claim 7, wherein the lid further comprises a plurality of venting apertures.

9. An irrigating device comprising

a handle operably connected to an irrigating tip;

a reservoir in fluid communication with the handle;

a base operably connected to the reservoir and the handle;

a lid operably connected to the base;

wherein

removal of the reservoir from the base is independent of removal of the lid from the base; and

a backbone operably connected to a first end of the base and the lid is rotatably connected to the backbone, wherein the backbone comprises at least one rib oriented vertically relative to the backbone, the backbone comprising a pivot extending from a sidewall of the rib, a seat defined on a top surface of the rib, and a cam surface.

10. The irrigating device of claim 9, wherein the backbone extends vertically upward from the base.

11. The irrigating device of claim 10, wherein a sidewall of the reservoir and an inner surface of the backbone define a storage compartment.

12. The irrigating device of claim 11, wherein the base further comprises a drip catch defined in a top surface of the base and positioned below the storage compartment.

13. The irrigating device of claim 12, wherein the drip catch is angled to encourage fluid flow to flow from the drip catch to a drain outlet defined in a sidewall of the base.

14. The irrigating device of claim 11, wherein the reservoir further comprises a depression in the sidewall, wherein the depression is concavely shaped to increase the volume of the storage compartment.

15. The irrigating device of claim 10, wherein the lid comprises a stop configured to limit rotation of the lid in a first direction.

16. A countertop oral irrigator comprising

a pump assembly;

a housing enclosing the pump assembly;

a reservoir removably positioned on a top surface of the housing;

a prow extending upward from the housing and being substantially parallel to a first side of the reservoir, wherein the prow comprises at least one rib oriented vertically relative to the prow, the rib comprising a pivot extending from the side wall of the rib, a seat defined on a top surface of the rib, and a cam surface; and

a lid rotatably connected to the prow;

wherein

in an open position the lid uncovers the reservoir; and

in a closed position the lid covers the reservoir.

17. The countertop oral irrigator of claim 16, wherein the prow has a top edge that is in the same plane as a top edge of the reservoir.