Oral irrigator handle with hose connector fittings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12207983-B2
Application number	US-202318132671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2023
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

An oral irrigator handle including a housing and a first fitting, the first fitting including a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with a handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source and a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet. The handle includes a seal positioned around the first fitting and between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet. A second fitting includes a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet and a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet. A bottom portion of the second fitting seats on a portion of the first fitting so that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting, a flow passage is coupled to the second fitting and in fluid communication with the second fitting outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral irrigator, comprising:
a base assembly comprising a pump;
a reservoir positioned onto the base assembly and in fluid communication with the pump;
a hose in fluid communication with the reservoir; and
a handle fluidly coupled to the hose, the handle comprising:
a housing comprising a handle inlet and a handle outlet; and
a swivel assembly comprising a first fitting and a second fitting both positioned entirely within the housing, wherein:
the first fitting comprises a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with the handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source;
the first fitting comprises a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet;
a seal is positioned around an outer surface of the first fitting, the seal positioned between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet;
the second fitting comprises a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet; and
the second fitting comprises a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet and the handle outlet; and
a bottom portion of the second fitting is configured to seat on a portion of the first fitting such that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting.

2. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is rotatable.

3. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein:
the first fitting is rotatable relative to the handle; and
the second fitting is rotationally fixed relative to the handle.

4. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the second fitting is stationary.

5. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , further comprising a third fitting positioned inside the housing, the third fitting sized and shaped to receive a nozzle.

6. The oral irrigator of claim 5 , wherein the third fitting fluidly connects the nozzle to allow fluid flow.

7. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the swivel assembly is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the handle.

8. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the first fitting is a rotatable fitting and the second fitting is a stationary fitting.

9. The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the handle is attachable to the reservoir.

10. The oral irrigator of claim 9 , wherein, upon attachment to the reservoir, the handle hangs from the reservoir at an angled position.

11. The oral irrigator of claim 10 , wherein:
the reservoir comprises a sidewall; and
the handle comprises an outer shell defining a slot sized and shaped to receive the sidewall of the reservoir.

12. An oral irrigator handle, comprising:
a housing comprising a handle inlet and a handle outlet; and
a swivel assembly comprising a first fitting and a second fitting both positioned entirely within the housing, wherein:
the first fitting comprises a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with the handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source;
the first fitting comprises a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet;
a seal is positioned around an outer surface of the first fitting, the seal positioned between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet;
the second fitting comprises a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet; and
the second fitting comprises a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet and the handle outlet; and
a bottom portion of the second fitting is configured to seat on a portion of the first fitting such that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting.

13. The oral irrigator handle of claim 12 , further comprising a flow passage coupled to the second fitting and in fluid communication with the second fitting outlet and the handle outlet.

14. The oral irrigator handle of claim 13 , further comprising a nozzle coupled to the housing, wherein the nozzle is fluidly coupled to the flow passage at the handle outlet.

15. The oral irrigator handle of claim 12 , wherein the first fitting comprises:
a first disk-shaped surface configured to contact the second fitting; and
a second disk-shaped surface configured to contact the seal.

16. The oral irrigator handle of claim 15 , wherein the first disk-shaped surface and the second disk-shaped surface are concentric.

17. The oral irrigator handle of claim 15 , wherein:
the first disk-shaped surface comprises a first diameter; and
the second disk-shaped surface comprises a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

18. The oral irrigator handle of claim 12 , wherein the rotatable first fitting is positioned at least partially inside the second fitting.

19. The oral irrigator handle of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a hooked portion for hanging the handle on a reservoir.

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Williams Brian R
• Johnson Jeremy
• Leber Leland C

Classifications

• A61C17/00

  Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses (instruments acting like a sandblast machine A61C3/025; tooth polishing discs or holders therefor A61C3/06; devices for cleaning between the teeth A61C15/00); Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle · CPC title

• A61C1/0061

  Air and water supply systems; Valves specially adapted therefor (A61C1/052 takes precedence; rinsing or air-blowing devices A61C17/02) · CPC title

• A61C17/14

  Dental appliances for receiving spittle, with or without rinsing means therefor, e.g. dental basins, spittoons, cuspidors · CPC title

• F16L27/00

  Adjustable joints; Joints allowing movement (of the quick-acting type F16L37/50; for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies F16L39/04 {; specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/18; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/08}) · CPC title

• A61M39/1055

  Rotating or swivel joints (in general F16L27/00) · CPC title