Oral cleansing device with removable base

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11351018-B2
Application number	US-201916686462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A toothbrush or oral cleaning implement including a handle defining a first fluid conduit and a handle inlet port, a brush tip extending from a first end of the handle and defining a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, a brush head supported on an end of the brush tip including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit, a handle valve positioned between the handle inlet port and the first fluid conduit, and a base removably connected to the second end of the handle. The base including a base fluid inlet port that connects with an external fluid source, a base fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the base fluid inlet port, and a base valve that selectively opens and closes the base fluid outlet port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush with water flossing features comprising:
a handle defining a first fluid conduit therein and a handle inlet port;
a brush tip extending from a first end of the handle and defining a second fluid conduit therein, the second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit;
a brush head supported on a distal end of the brush tip, wherein the brush head comprises a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit;
a base removably connected to a second end of the handle, the base comprising:
a base fluid inlet port configured for connection with an external fluid source;
a base fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the base fluid inlet port;
a base valve configured to selectively open and close the base fluid outlet port; and

a handle valve positioned between the handle inlet port and the first fluid conduit;
wherein when the base is connected to the toothbrush, the base valve and the handle valve are open such that fluid can flow through the base fluid outlet port, into the first fluid conduit, into the second fluid conduit, and out the fluid outlet.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein when the base is removed from the toothbrush, the handle valve closes a fluid pathway from the handle inlet port to the first fluid conduit.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein when the base is removed from the toothbrush, the base valve closes the base fluid outlet port.

4. The toothbrush of claim 3 , wherein when the base is attached to the handle:
the base valve is positioned to interface with the handle valve; and
the handle valve and the base valve reciprocally open each other by their mutual interface.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the base fluid inlet port is positioned on a sidewall of the base extending outward from a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush.

6. The toothbrush of claim 5 , wherein the base defines a flat surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a latching mechanism configured to releasably engage with an opposing latch structure positioned on the second end of the handle.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive system for moving the brush head;
a battery electrically connected to and powering the drive system; and
a charging structure electrically connected to the battery, housed within the handle, and defining a charging port cavity that is exposed upon removal of the base for receipt of an inductive charging post.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8 , wherein when the base is attached to the handle:
the base valve is positioned within the charging port cavity; and
the charging port cavity is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit.

10. The toothbrush of claim 9 , wherein:
the base further comprises a valve post extending from a top surface of the base and configured to fit within the charging port cavity when the base is attached to the handle;
the valve post defines the base fluid outlet port; and
the base valve is positioned within a cavity formed within the valve post.

11. The toothbrush of claim 10 , further comprising a seal structure positioned within the charging port cavity and configured to create a fluid tight seal between the valve post and a sidewall defining the charging port cavity.

12. The toothbrush of claim 10 , wherein:
the base fluid outlet port comprises an aperture defined within a surface of the valve post; and
when the base is removed from the handle, the base valve seals the aperture in the surface of the valve post.

13. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein when the base is disconnected from the toothbrush, fluid is prevented from flowing out of the first fluid conduit through the handle valve and is prevented from flowing out of the base fluid outlet port through the base valve.

14. A toothbrush comprising:
a handle housing;
a drive assembly positioned within the handle housing;
a brush tip releasably coupled to the handle housing and connected to the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly moves the brush tip relative to the handle housing;
a nozzle connected to the brush tip;
a fluid pathway positioned within the handle housing and fluidly connected to the nozzle, the fluid pathway having a pathway inlet;
a handle valve assembly positioned within the handle housing, wherein the handle valve assembly selectively seals the pathway inlet; and
a base member releasably connected to a bottom of the handle housing, the base member comprising:
a base fluid outlet port in fluid communication with a fluid source;
a base valve assembly that selectively seals the base fluid outlet port;

wherein when the base member is connected to the handle housing, the base valve assembly and the handle valve assembly are in an open configuration to fluidly connect the fluid source with the fluid pathway.

15. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein when the base member is disconnected from the handle housing, the base valve assembly seals the base fluid outlet port and the handle valve assembly seals the pathway inlet.

16. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein when the base member is connected to the handle housing, the handle valve assembly and the base valve assembly act reciprocally on one another to open the pathway inlet and the base fluid outlet port.

17. The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein the base member further comprises a latch configured to engage with one or more latching elements coupled to the handle housing to secure the base assembly to the handle housing.

18. An oral cleansing device comprising:
a housing having a top end and a bottom end;
a tip releasably coupled to the top end of the housing;
a fluid passage within the housing to transport fluid from a reservoir to the tip, the fluid passage having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the tip;
a base assembly in fluid communication with the reservoir, the base assembly removably coupled to the bottom end of the housing and in selective fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid passage; and
a housing valve positioned within the fluid passage;
wherein when the base assembly is removed from the housing, the housing valve closes the inlet to the fluid passage; and
wherein when the base assembly is secured to the housing, the housing valve opens the inlet to the fluid passage.

19. The oral cleansing device of claim 18 , wherein the base assembly further comprises a base valve in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein when the base assembly is removed from the housing, the base valve closes a base outlet, and when the base is secured to the housing, the base valve opens the base outlet.

20. The oral cleansing device of claim 18 , wherein the base assembly further comprises a latch configured to engage with one or more latching elements coupled to the housing to secure the base assembly to the housing.

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Sokol Gary L
• Luettgen Harold A

Classifications

• A61C17/36 Primary

  with rinsing means · CPC title

• A61C17/227

  with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste · CPC title

• A61C17/221

  Control arrangements therefor · CPC title

• A61C17/032

  using pressurised tap-water {, e.g. rinsing devices specially adapted for being connected to the main water supply} · CPC title

• A46B13/04

  with reservoir or other means for supplying substances · CPC title