Oral irrigator with multiple control actuators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021290338-A1
Application number	US-202117340582-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 7, 2021
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Sep 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An oral irrigator including a base, a reservoir supported by the base, a tip coupled to the base and the reservoir, and multiple control actuators. A first control actuator is configured to selectively power the oral irrigator. Second, third, and fourth control actuators are configured to vary the fluid pressure of the oral irrigator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An oral irrigator comprising:
a base; a reservoir supported by the base; a tip coupled to the base and the reservoir, wherein fluid flows through the tip to exit the oral irrigator; a first control actuator configured to selectively power the oral irrigator; and second, third, and fourth control actuators configured to vary fluid pressure of the fluid.

2 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , further comprising a motor and a pump in the base, wherein the first control actuator is configured to provide power to the motor to activate the pump.

3 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the first control actuator comprises a power button or knob that turns the oral irrigator on and off.

4 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the first control actuator is disposed on the base.

5 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the second control actuator is rotatable to vary a fluid pressure of the oral irrigator.

6 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the second control actuator is operably connected to a valve assembly that selectively changes a fluid pathway between the reservoir and the tip.

7 . The oral irrigator of claim 6 , wherein the valve assembly is positioned within a pump in the base.

8 . The oral irrigator of claim 6 , wherein the valve assembly selectively changes at least one of a diameter or length of the fluid pathway.

9 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the second control actuator is disposed on the base.

10 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the third control actuator is configured to selectively activate one or more fluid pressure settings of the oral irrigator.

11 . The oral irrigator of claim 10 , wherein the one or more fluid pressure settings comprise three fluid pressure modes.

12 . The oral irrigator of claim 10 , wherein the one or more fluid pressure settings comprise a low pressure mode, a high pressure mode, and a massage mode.

13 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the third control actuator is disposed on the base.

14 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein the fourth control actuator is configured to pause or stop fluid flow to the tip.

15 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , further comprising a handle fluidly connected to the reservoir, wherein the fourth control actuator is disposed on the handle.

16 . The oral irrigator of claim 1 , wherein:
the first control actuator is disposed on the base; the second control actuator is disposed on the base; the third control actuator is disposed on the base; and the fourth control actuator is disposed on a handle that is fluidly connected to the reservoir.

17 . An oral irrigator comprising:
a base; a reservoir supported by the base; a handle fluidly connected to the reservoir; a tip releasably connected to the handle, wherein fluid flows through the tip to exit the oral irrigator; a first control actuator located on the base and configured to selectively power the oral irrigator; a second control actuator located on the base and configured to vary fluid pressure of the fluid; a third control actuator located on the base and configured to selectively activate one or more fluid pressure modes; and a fourth control actuator located on the handle and configured to selectively pause fluid flow through the tip.

18 . The oral irrigator of claim 17 , wherein the one or more fluid pressure modes comprise three fluid pressure modes.

19 . The oral irrigator of claim 17 , wherein the one or more fluid pressure modes comprise a low pressure mode, a high pressure mode, and a massage mode.

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Taylor Kurt M
• Luettgen Harold A
• Johnson Jeremy James

Classifications

• A61C1/0092 Primary

  Pumps specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61C17/0202 Primary

  Hand-pieces · CPC title

• A61C17/0205

  Container filling apparatus · CPC title

• A61C17/02 Primary

  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 title

• A61C2204/00

  Features not otherwise provided for · CPC title