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EP-4252708-B1 - ORAL IRRIGATOR

EP4252708B1EP 4252708 B1EP4252708 B1EP 4252708B1EP-4252708-B1

Inventors

  • LUETTGEN, HAROLD A.
  • SENFF, OSCAR
  • WOODARD, BRIAN
  • HANSON, BLAINE
  • HUBER, Jonathan

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20151201

Claims (13)

  1. An oral irrigator comprising: a body (102); a reservoir (104) removably connectable to the body; and a latching system (500) connected to the reservoir and configured to selectively secure and release the reservoir from the body; wherein the latching system comprises a latch (516) and a button (518) connected to the latch. wherein the latch comprises a latch body, the latch body defining a void area (521) surrounded by a perimeter (523); and wherein the latch body comprises a first finger (526) and a second finger (528), wherein the first finger and the second finger each extend from the perimeter into the void area parallel to each other; and wherein the first finger and the second finger each comprise a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first ends thereof being connected to the latch body and the second ends thereof being free, such that the first finger and the second finger are flexible relative to the latch body.
  2. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the first finger and the second finger are secured to the latch body on opposite ends relative to each other, such that the secured first end of the first finger is adjacent to the free second end of the second finger, and such that the free second end of the first finger is adjacent to the secured first end of the second finger.
  3. The oral irrigator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first finger comprises a first securing element on its free second end, and the second finger comprises a second securing element on its free second end; wherein the first securing element comprises a nub (524) and the second securing element comprises a tang (520).
  4. The oral irrigator of any preceding claim, wherein the latch comprises a first peg and a second peg (522a, 522b) extending from a bottom surface of the latch body.
  5. The oral irrigator of claim 4, wherein the first peg and the second peg are parallel to each other and extend from the latch body so as to border the ends of the first finger and the second finger on the bottom surface.
  6. The oral irrigator of claim 4 or 5, wherein the button of the latching system is connected to the latch by the first peg and the second peg.
  7. The oral irrigator of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first and second pegs comprise apertures therein, the apertures configured to extend through the latch body to a top surface thereof and to receive corresponding pegs on the button, such that the button is removable from the latch.
  8. The oral irrigator of any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir comprises a latch cavity (504) or recess defined on a bottom surface of the reservoir.
  9. The oral irrigator of claim 8, wherein the latch cavity comprises a track (506) for the latch. the track comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end forms a first stop (508) and the second end forms a second stop (510).
  10. The oral irrigator of claim 9, wherein the latch cavity (504) further comprises a first detent (534) and a second detent (536), wherein the first and second detent are aligned adjacent to and set off from the track.
  11. The oral irrigator of claim 10 when dependent on claim 3, wherein: the latching system is connected to the reservoir and the body such that the latch is arranged in the latch cavity with the first finger being aligned with the first detent and the second detent and the second finger being aligned with the track; the tang is positioned between the first stop and the second stop within the track, and the nub is positioned within one of the detents; and the button is connected so as to face away from the bottom surface of the reservoir.
  12. The oral irrigator of any preceding claim, wherein the latch is configured to be in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration; wherein in the locked configuration the latch is positioned such that a first end of the button abuts against the body, and the latch body extends between a first shelf and a bottom surface of a front shell of the body, such that the first shelf and the bottom surface act to sandwich the latch therebetween and prevent vertical movement of the latch.
  13. The oral irrigator of claim 12 when dependent on claim 3, wherein in the unlocked configuration the tang abuts against the first stop, the nub is seated in the second detent, and the latch is adjacent to an unlock icon so as to disengage the latch from the front shell such that a user may move the reservoir vertically downwards away from the body and front shell, so as to disconnect the flange of the reservoir from a sealed position and allow the reservoir to be removed.

Description

Cross Reference to Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/086,051 filed December 1, 2014 and entitled "Waterproof Cordless Oral Irrigator," and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/132,319 filed March 12, 2015 and entitled "Waterproof Cordless Oral Irrigator". Technical Field The present disclosure relates to health and personal hygiene equipment and more particularly, to oral irrigators. Background Oral irrigators typically are used to clean a user's teeth and gums by discharging a pressurized fluid stream into a user's oral cavity. The fluid impacts the teeth and gums to remove debris. Many oral irrigators include electrical components, such as batteries, a motor, or the like. For example, typically oral irrigators include a motor driven pump that pumps fluid from a reservoir to the tip. Often oral irrigators are used in a wet environment, such as a bathroom and some users may even take the irrigators into the shower or bath, but conventional oral irrigators are not waterproof, merely water resistant. Hence, conventional oral irrigators may be protected from splashes and incidental fluid contact, but as they are not waterproof may not protect electronic components when submersed in water or exposed to large amounts of water. When water and other fluids reach the electronic components, the fluids can cause the oral irrigator to malfunction and may even prevent the oral irrigator from operating completely. As such, there is a need for an oral irrigator that is waterproof. Documents US 2008/008979 A1 and US 2011/144588 A1 disclose each an oral irrigator comprising a reservoir removably connectable and a latch connected to the reservoir and configured to selectively secure and release the reservoir from the body of the irrigator. Documents US 2008/008979 A1 can be considered as the closest prior art to the subject-matter of appended claim 1. § Summary One example of the present disclosure may take the form of an oral irrigator pump. The oral irrigator pump may include a motor, a pump body, a connecting rod, and a diaphragm seal. The connecting rod may be at least partially received within the pump body and movably connected to the motor and the motor moves the connecting rod between a first position and a second position within the pump body. As the connecting rod moves from the first position to the second position, the diaphragm seal deforms from a first orientation to a second orientation. Another example of the present disclosure may take the form of an oral irrigator. The oral irrigator may include a reservoir, a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir, a motor having a drive shaft, and a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir and the tip. The pump may include a pump body including a pump inlet fluidly connected to the reservoir and a pump outlet fluidly connected to the tip, a pinion gear placed on the drive shaft and including a plurality of pinion gear teeth that curve along their length, and a driven gear including a plurality of driven gear teeth that mesh with the pinion gear teeth. In this embodiment, the pinion gear teeth and the driven gear teeth are spiral gears with beveled edges. The pump may also include a connecting rod eccentrically connected to the driven gear and a piston connected to a first end of the connecting rod and received within the pump body. In operation, movement of the drive shaft of the motor causes the pinion gear to rotate, which causes the driven gear to rotate, translating the connecting rod and moving the piston laterally within the pump body to pull fluid from the reservoir and push the fluid to the tip. Yet another example of the present disclosure may take the form of an oral irrigator including a handle fluidly connected to a reservoir and a tip latch assembly connected to the handle. The tip latch assembly may include a latch with an integrally formed biasing structure and at least one prong selectively movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position. The tip latch assembly may also include a tip release button engaging at least one surface of the latch. To operate the latch, a user exerts a force on the tip release button, which causes the tip release button to exert a force against the at least one surface of the latch, overcoming a biasing force exerted by the biasing structure and causing the at least one prong to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position. When the user removes the force from the tip release button, the biasing structure exerts the biasing force on the tip release button as the at least one prong moves from the disengaged position back to the engaged position. Another example of the present disclosure may take the form of a waterproof oral irrigator. The waterproof oral irrigator may include a body including a front shell and a rear shell connected together to define a cavity, an interior housing received within the cavity, and a control assembly connected to an