Irrigating device with variable pressure pulse

• US 9,980,794 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snyder, Clifford J., Sokol, Gary L., Callaghan, Roberta L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, RALPH A
• Application Number:
  US14/207,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20140193774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• 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 17/032 using pressurised tap-water , e.g. rinsing devices specially adapted for being connected to the main water supply

Abstract

An irrigating device including a reservoir for storing fluid, a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir, and a pump operative to draw fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip. The irrigating device further includes at least one reed valve positioned to regulate fluid between at least one of an inlet port or an exhaust port of the pump.

Claims

1. An oral irrigating device comprising

a reservoir for storing fluid;

a housing connected to the reservoir;

a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir;

a pump positioned within the housing and operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip, the pump comprising an inlet port and an exhaust port;

a motor spaced laterally from and adjacent to the pump within the housing;

a drive mechanism positioned within the housing, operably connected to and between the motor and the pump, and configured to drive the pump, wherein a portion of the drive mechanism extends between a bottom end of the motor and a bottom end of the pump;

a wall structure positioned within the housing and defining a first section of the housing and a second section of the housing, the first section being fluidly isolated from the second section, wherein

the pump is positioned in the first section;

the motor is positioned in the second section; and

a portion of the drive mechanism extends between the first and second sections to connect the motor and the pump; and

a control structure operably connected to the motor and configured to receive a user input;

wherein

a motion of the drive mechanism varies in response to a user input to the control structure; and

an output pressure and a pulsation rate of fluid exiting the tip is variable in response to the motion of the drive mechanism.

2. The oral irrigating device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises

a linkage assembly connecting a motor shaft of the motor to the pump;

wherein

the motor is in electrical communication with the control structure.

3. The oral irrigating device of claim 2, wherein the linkage assembly further comprises

a motor gear connected to the motor shaft;

a pump gear coupled with the motor gear; and

a connecting rod connected to the pump gear and the pump;

wherein

motion of the connecting rod determines the output pressure of fluid exiting the tip.

4. The oral irrigating device of claim 3, wherein the pump gear comprises:

an outer disc having motor teeth that mesh with corresponding teeth on the motor gear;

an eccentric shaft connected to the outer disc and connected to the connecting rod;

wherein

a position of the eccentric shaft relative to the outer disc determines the movement of the connecting rod vary at least one of the pulsation rate or the output pressure.

5. The oral irrigating device of claim 4, wherein the eccentric shaft is offset from a center of the outer disc defining an offset distance.

6. The oral irrigating device of claim 5, wherein the offset distance is related in a direct relationship to the pulsation rate.

7. The oral irrigating device of claim 5, wherein an increase in the offset distance corresponds to an increase in the pulsation rate.

9. The oral irrigating device of claim 1, wherein the control structure comprise a pressure control button and in response to the user input the pressure control button selectively activates the motor.

10. The oral irrigating device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises

an upper portion having an upper major diameter;

and

a lower portion having a lower major diameter;

wherein

the lower major diameter is larger than the upper major diameter; and

the pump, the motor, and the drive mechanism are positioned within the lower portion.

11. The oral irrigating device of claim 10, further comprising a battery electrically connected to the motor, wherein the battery is positioned in the upper portion of the housing.

8. The oral irrigating device 2, wherein in response to the user input the control structure varies a voltage applied to the motor.

12. A handheld oral irrigator comprising

a body having a longitudinal axis;

a reservoir releasably coupled to the body defining a fluid cavity;

a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir;

a motor connected to the pump and configured to selectively activate the pump, wherein the motor is positioned within the body on a first side of the longitudinal axis the pump is positioned within the body on a second side of the longitudinal axis;

a battery connected to the motor;

a control structure connected to the battery, wherein the control structure selectively varies a voltage from the battery provided to the motor to vary at least one output characteristic of the motor;

a drive mechanism connected between the motor and the pump, wherein the drive mechanism determines a pulsation rate of the pump; and

a wall structure positioned within the body and defining a dry section of the housing and a wet section of the housing, wherein the dry section and the wet section are fluidly isolated from one another, wherein

the motor and the battery are positioned in the dry section;

the pump is positioned in the wet section; and

a portion of the drive mechanism extends between the dry section and the wet section to movably connect the motor and the pump together.

13. The handheld oral irrigator of claim 12, wherein the control comprises

at least one button;

and

a switch in mechanical contact with the button and in selective electrical contact with the battery;

wherein

selection of the at least one button places the switch in electrical contact with the battery.

14. The handheld oral irrigator of claim 12,

wherein the portion of the drive mechanism is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

15. The handheld oral irrigator of claim 14, wherein the drive mechanism comprises

a pump gear connected to the motor;

and

a connecting rod connected to the pump gear and the pump;

wherein

motion of the connecting rod determines an output pressure of a fluid exiting the pump.