Toothbrush tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022323188-A1
Application number	US-202217851406-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2022
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A toothbrush tip includes a brush head, a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the brush head, a water jet nozzle extending from the brush head, and a cover panel arranged on a rear of the toothbrush tip opposite the bristle tufts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A toothbrush tip comprising:
a brush head; a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the brush head; a water jet nozzle extending from the brush head; and a cover panel arranged on a rear of the toothbrush tip opposite the bristle tufts.

2 . The toothbrush tip of claim 1 , further comprising a tip shaft defining a tip fluid passage therethrough to the brush head.

3 . The toothbrush tip of claim 2 , further comprising a color-coded ring arranged at a base of the toothbrush tip.

4 . The toothbrush tip of claim 3 , wherein the base of the tip shaft of the toothbrush tip defines a recess with a retention groove, and an inner wall of the color-coded ring defines a number of retention detents configured to snap into the retention groove to retain the color-coded ring around the base of the toothbrush tip.

5 . The toothbrush tip of claim 2 , wherein the brush head defines a bristle base comprising a plurality of recesses for insertion of the bristle tufts.

6 . The toothbrush tip of claim 5 , wherein the brush head defines a nozzle aperture that opens in the bristle base in an area surrounded by the bristle tufts.

7 . The toothbrush tip of claim 6 , wherein a cavity is formed in the back of the brush head to provide access to the nozzle aperture and a fluid flow connection between the nozzle aperture and the tip fluid passage.

8 . The toothbrush tip of claim 7 , wherein the cavity is enclosed by the cover panel, which snaps into sidewalls defining the cavity and is attached to provide a fluid-tight seal in the brush head.

9 . The toothbrush tip of claim 5 , wherein the water jet nozzle is positioned within the nozzle aperture and extends normal to the bristle base.

10 . The toothbrush tip of claim 9 , wherein the water jet nozzle defines a fluid lumen, is generally conical, and tapers in diameter from its base, which is received in the nozzle aperture, to its tip.

11 . The toothbrush tip of claim 1 , wherein a cylindrical recessed band is formed in a sidewall of the water jet nozzle adjacent a base of the water jet nozzle, which appears as a raised band.

12 . The toothbrush tip of claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the recessed band is generally congruent with a diameter of the nozzle aperture while an outer diameter of the base is larger than the diameter of the nozzle aperture.

13 . The toothbrush tip of claim 11 , wherein the recessed band is sized to fit snugly within the nozzle aperture and the base is sized to abut a back of the bristle base, when the water jet nozzle is inserted into the nozzle aperture from the cavity in the rear of the brush head.

14 . The toothbrush tip of claim 13 , further comprising a nozzle insert configured to be inserted into the base of the water jet nozzle to prevent the water jet nozzle from bending or collapsing under high water pressure and contact with teeth.

15 . The toothbrush tip of claim 1 , further comprising a release button arranged at a base of the toothbrush tip.

Assignees

• Water Pik Inc

Inventors

• Sokol Gary L
• Luettgen Harold A

Classifications

• A61C17/3418

  Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle · CPC title

• A61C17/02

  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 title

• A61C17/221

  Control arrangements therefor · CPC title

• A61C1/0092

  Pumps specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A46B13/04

  with reservoir or other means for supplying substances · CPC title