Pump configuration for oral irrigator

Abstract

Various configurations pertaining to pumps for oral irrigators. In one embodiment, a pump is disclosed that includes a connecting rod and a piston. The piston includes a sidewall defining a piston cavity and a rod cutout defined in the sidewall, where the rod cutout enables insertion of a portion of the connecting rod into the piston cavity, where the connecting rod extends from the piston cavity beyond a bottom edge of the sidewall after insertion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 341,803, entitled “Pump Configurations for Oral Irrigators,” filed on May 13, 2022, which is incorporated herein for all purposes. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to oral health devices, such as oral irrigators. Background Art

[0003] Many people use oral irrigators to maintain and improve oral health. Many oral irrigators include an electrically driven pump that pumps fluid from a reservoir to a handle. The pump assembly and drive assembly for operating the pump typically include a motor, a pump and / or gear housing, and various connecting rods. The pump assembly components and connectors may be difficult to assemble, require multiple different parts, and / or require separate accessories to connect together. Thus, there is a need for improved pump assemblies and / or drive assemblies for oral irrigators and other oral health devices. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral irrigator is disclosed. The oral irrigator includes a connecting rod and a piston, wherein the piston includes a side wall defining a piston cavity and a rod cutout defined in the side wall. The rod cutout enables a portion of the connecting rod to be inserted into the piston cavity, and after the insertion, the connecting rod extends from the piston cavity beyond the bottom edge of the side wall.

[0005] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral irrigator is disclosed, which includes a reservoir, a handle fluidly coupled to the reservoir, and a pump configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle. The pump includes a connecting rod and a piston coupled to the connecting rod, wherein the piston includes a rod cutout defined in a side wall of the piston.

[0006] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for assembling an oral irrigator is disclosed. The method includes: inserting a connecting rod into a side wall cutout of a piston so that a driven end of the connecting rod extends beyond a bottom end of the piston and a piston end of the connecting rod is at least partially received within the piston; positioning the connecting rod and the piston into a pump chamber; and fixing the driven end of the connecting rod relative to the pump chamber.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pump for an oral irrigator is disclosed, which includes a pump housing defining a pump chamber and a pumping assembly, the pumping assembly including a piston and a connecting rod, the connecting rod being partially positioned in the piston and exposed to the outside of the piston at both the piston end and the driven end.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pump for an oral irrigator is disclosed, comprising a drive assembly, a pump housing defining a pump chamber, and a gear housing configured to secure a drive element of the drive assembly in position within the gear housing, wherein the pump housing and the gear housing are integrally formed.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, an oral irrigator is disclosed, which includes a drive assembly and a pump housing, the drive assembly including a driven gear and a gear shaft, the driven gear rotates around the gear shaft, and the pump housing includes a continuous wall, the continuous wall partially defines a pump sleeve and partially defines the gear shaft for fixing the driven gear in a position relative to the pump housing.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pump for an oral irrigator is disclosed. The pump includes a piston operably coupled to a drive element, a pump housing defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir and a handle, wherein the piston is received in the pump chamber, and a pump fitting operably coupled to the pump housing and positioned above an open end of the pump chamber. The pump fitting defines a fitting inlet coupling the reservoir fluid to the pump chamber and a fitting outlet coupling the pump chamber fluid to the handle, wherein the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet are integrally formed by a continuous wall.

[0011] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a fitting for a pump of an oral irrigator is disclosed. The fitting may include an adapter plate configured to engage with and be fixed to a pump housing, a hub positioned in a central region of the adapter plate, a fitting inlet including an inlet connector extending outwardly from a first location of the hub, and a fitting outlet including an outlet connector extending outwardly from a second location of the hub, wherein the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet are formed by a continuous wall.

[0012] Additional features are partially set forth in the description that follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the specification and drawings, or may be learned by practicing the disclosed subject matter. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present disclosure may be achieved by reference to the remainder of the specification and drawings, which form a part of this disclosure.

[0013] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of the various aspects and features of the present disclosure may advantageously be used alone in some cases, or in combination with other aspects and features of the present disclosure in other cases. Therefore, each aspect may be claimed alone, or in combination with other aspects and features. Therefore, the present disclosure is exemplary in nature, and is by no means intended to limit the claims or their application or use. It is to be understood that structural and / or logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0014] The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail, and the inclusion or exclusion of elements, components, etc. in this summary of the invention is not intended to limit the scope of the subject matter for which protection is sought. In some cases, details that are unnecessary for understanding the present disclosure or that make other details difficult to understand may have been omitted. In addition, for the purpose of clarity, when certain features will be clear and distinct to those skilled in the art, the detailed description of these features will not be discussed so as not to confuse the description of the present disclosure. The subject matter for which protection is sought is not necessarily limited to the arrangement shown herein, wherein the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The description will be more fully understood with reference to the following figures, in which components may not be drawn to scale, which present various embodiments of the oral irrigator and / or pump configurations described herein and should not be construed as a complete description of the scope of the claimed features.

[0016] Figure 1 is a front isometric view of an oral irrigator including a drive assembly and a pump assembly.

[0017] Figure 2A is a front isometric view of the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0018] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A Right side elevation view of the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2A Exploded view of the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0020] Figure 4 is along Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of the drive assembly and pump assembly taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

[0021] Figure 5A is a top plan view of the integrated gear housing and pump housing.

[0022] Figure 5B yes Figure 5A Cross-sectional view of the integrated gear housing and pump housing.

[0023] Fig. 6A is a side isometric view of the piston.

[0024] Figure 6B yes Fig. 6A Rear isometric view of the piston.

[0025] Fig. 7A is a side isometric view of the connecting rod.

[0026] Figure 7B is a right side elevation view of the connecting rod coupled to the piston.

[0027] Figure 7C is a top plan view of the connecting rod coupled to the piston.

[0028] Fig. 8A is a front isometric view of a pump accessory.

[0029] Figure 8B yes Fig. 8A Rear elevation view of the pump assembly.

[0030] Figure 8C It was taken along line 8C-8C Fig. 8A Cross-sectional view of a pump assembly.

[0031] Fig.9A The assembly operation of the piston and connecting rod of the pump assembly is shown.

[0032] Fig. 9B Another operation of assembly of the piston and connecting rod is shown.

[0033] Fig. 9C Another operation of assembly of the piston and connecting rod is shown.

[0034] Fig.9D Another operation of assembly of the piston and connecting rod is shown.

[0035] Fig. 10A The pump assembly is shown along the Figure 2A A cross-sectional view along line 10A-10A in FIG.

[0036] Fig. 10B The pump assembly is shown along the Figure 2A A cross-sectional view along line 10B-10B in FIG.

[0037] Fig.11A A bottom isometric view of the piston is shown.

[0038] Fig. 11B Show Fig.11A Side elevation view of the piston.

[0039] Fig. 12A Shown is coupled to the connecting rod Fig.11A Top isometric view of the piston.

[0040] Fig. 12B Show Fig.11A Exploded view of the piston and connecting rod.

[0041] Fig.13 A side elevation view of the piston is shown.

[0042] Fig.14An exploded view of the drive assembly and pump assembly is shown.

[0043] Fig.15 A rear isometric view showing the integrated gear housing and pump housing.

[0044] Fig.16 Show Fig.14 An isometric partial transparent view of the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0045] Fig.17 A partial cutaway view of a pump fitting including aligned pump inlet and pump outlet is shown.

[0046] Fig.18 An isometric view showing the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0047] Fig.19 Show Fig.18 Exploded view of the drive assembly and pump assembly.

[0048] Fig. 20 is along Fig.18 A cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in FIG.

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows.It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements shown in one or more of the Figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to oral irrigators that may include improved configurations of pump assemblies, pump housings, and / or drive assemblies, all of which may be used together (as shown in various figures) or may be used separately from one another, depending on the type of oral irrigator (e.g., countertop versus handheld), spacing / size, etc. Thus, discussion of any particular element, feature, component, assembly, etc. should be understood as a stand-alone element, or as being integrated into a system. Relatedly, while the discussion presented herein relates to oral irrigators, concepts and embodiments may be applicable to other types of oral health devices, such as, but not limited to, combined rinsing brushing devices, or other elements that may pump fluid from one location (such as a reservoir) to another.

[0051] In some embodiments, a pump including a connecting rod and a piston is disclosed, wherein the piston is configured to enable the connecting rod to be easily inserted into the piston cavity. For example, the piston may include a rod cutout or other feature that enables a portion of the connecting rod (e.g., the piston end of the connecting rod) to be positioned in the piston cavity or otherwise coupled to the piston. The rod cutout or insertion feature may be configured to prevent inelastic deformation of the piston during insertion, such as the piston may deflect or bend at most, but may not have lasting damage, such as stress lines, etc. For example, the rod cutout may be formed as a cutout defined in the side wall of the piston, which receives the connecting rod passing therethrough, such as through the side wall of the piston. In another example, the rod cutout may be formed to weaken the piston side wall or otherwise achieve the flexibility of the piston side wall, wherein the connecting rod is inserted through the bottom of the piston, but the side wall is elastically bent to increase the diameter of the bottom end of the piston, allowing the connecting rod to be positioned therein. Once positioned in the piston cavity, the side wall may relax and return to an initial position, capturing the connecting rod in the piston. Conventional oral irrigator pump configurations typically require inelastic deformation of the piston in order to position the connecting rod therein. For example, some connecting rods may include a ball end that will be press-fit into the piston cavity, where during insertion, the force of the ball on the piston wall will cause stress lines and damage to the piston structure, which affects the life and operation of the pump, as well as making assembly difficult and often including damage to the piston due to assembly.

[0052] In some embodiments, the connecting rod may be configured to include an integrally formed piston end that can span the width of the piston to couple or fix the piston to the connecting rod. For example, the piston end of the connecting rod may be formed as an elongated pin or shaft that is disposed in one or more coupling apertures in the piston to fix the connecting rod thereto. During use, the coupling aperture may define a load-bearing portion that engages against the outer load-bearing surface of the piston end, allowing the piston and the connecting rod to move smoothly. The piston end of the connecting rod may be integrally formed with the shaft of the connecting rod, for example, formed as a continuous wall or a single component, eliminating the need for external fasteners, pins, etc. for fixing the connecting rod to the piston. By eliminating external elements and reducing the number of parts, manufacturing may be easier, cheaper and faster to install, reducing the overall cost of the oral irrigator. In addition, in some cases, conventional piston coupling mechanisms (such as separate pins) may be lost over time and may travel to the outside of the piston, dragging on the pump chamber wall, reducing efficiency and causing leakage and / or damage to the pump.

[0053] In some embodiments, the pump may include an integrated housing (e.g., integrally formed as a single component) that includes at least a portion of the gear shaft support and defines a pump chamber. For example, a continuous wall may define a portion of the gear shaft support and the pump chamber. In this way, despite the large forces experienced between the two elements, the pump chamber may be prevented from moving relative to the gear shaft support, which helps to improve the performance of the pump, reduce wear and extend the life of the pump.

[0054] In some embodiments, the pump may include a pump fitting having a pump inlet and an outlet integrally formed together (e.g., as an integral component). For example, the pump inlet and the pump outlet may be formed together by a continuous wall defining two separate ports, and may optionally include an integrated fluid connector, such as a hose barb, to be coupled to a fluid path, such as a hose or a tube. In one example, the pump fitting is a separate component that can be attached to the pump housing. In another example, the pump fitting is integrally formed with the pump housing, formed as an extension of the pump chamber. The integration of the pump inlet and the pump outlet helps to reduce the amount of separate connections to the pump chamber, reduces leakage, and enables the oral irrigator to be easier to manufacture and assemble. The pump fitting may be used with one or more valves that may be positioned in the fitting or at different locations in the fluid path between the reservoir and the pump chamber and between the pump chamber and the handle or other outlet.

[0055] Figure 1 An oral irrigator including one or more of the pump configurations described herein is shown. The oral irrigator 100 may include a storage reservoir 102 that contains a fluid, such as water or mouthwash, to provide the fluid to the pump. In the case where the oral irrigator 100 is a countertop unit, the reservoir 102 may be coupled to the housing 110 or base, and in the case where the oral irrigator 100 is a handheld unit, the reservoir 102 may be coupled to the handle or handpiece of the oral irrigator 100. Relatedly, the size and volume capacity of the reservoir 102 may be based on the type and configuration of the oral irrigator 100. The reservoir 102 may include a reservoir outlet, such as a port or plug, a valve, etc., which is fluidly coupled to other components of the oral irrigator 100 (e.g., a pump assembly).

[0056] Continue to refer Figure 1 The oral irrigator 100 may include a housing 110 or base portion. Figure 1 100 is used to support the oral irrigator 100 on a surface (e.g., a countertop) in the embodiment shown in , and optionally can support the reservoir 102. In some cases, the housing 110 can be configured as a countertop support, but in other iterations, it can be formed as a handle portion or a portion that is held in the user's hand during use. The housing 110 supports and / or surrounds one or more components of the oral irrigator 100, such as a pump assembly 112 and / or a drive assembly 114. In addition, the housing 110 may include a fluid path (e.g., a tube, a hose) that guides fluid between different components of the oral irrigator, such as, between the reservoir 102 and the pump assembly 112 and / or the pump assembly 112 and an outlet (such as a handle).

[0057] The handle 104 may be fluidically coupled to the reservoir 102, such as via a hose 108 or other fluid connector. The handle 104 may include a tip 106 or other outlet device that can direct fluid from the reservoir 102 into the user's oral cavity. The handle 104 may be configured to be held in the user's hand, and in embodiments in which the oral irrigator 100 is configured as a handheld device, may include features of the housing 110, for example, a pump assembly 112 and / or a drive assembly 114 may be coupled to the handle 104 or positioned within the handle 104. The handle 104 may also include features that secure the tip 106 thereto, and optionally allow the tip 106 to be released therefrom. The tip 106 may be in the form of a spray tip or other tip configuration, for example, may include bristles (e.g., a nozzle integrated with a brush head), a tongue scraper, etc.

[0058] The pump assembly 112 may include various pump components that help pump and direct fluid from the reservoir 102 into the handle 104 and the tip 106. The construction and embodiments of the pump assembly 112 will be discussed in more detail below. Similarly, the drive assembly 114 can be operably coupled to the pump assembly 112 and can be configured to include one or more drive elements (e.g., a motor, a connecting rod, a gear, a gear support, etc.). The drive assembly 114 helps drive or actuate the pump assembly 112 or its components and will be discussed in detail below. Drive components

[0059] As described above, a drive assembly is disclosed that may be used to drive or actuate a pump assembly. Figure 2A and Figure 2B Various views of the pump assembly 112 and the drive assembly 114 of the oral irrigator 100 are shown. Figure 3 yes Figure 2A and Figure 2B Exploded view of the components. Figure 4 is along Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of the assembly taken along line 4-4 in FIG. Figure 2A-4 As described above, the drive assembly 114 may include one or more drive elements, including, for example, a motor 116. The motor 116 may include a drive shaft 138 and is configured to convert electrical energy into rotational movement or another mechanical movement, for example, rotating the drive shaft 138 about an axis. The motor 116 is typically connected to a power supply (not shown), such as a battery or a power cable.

[0060] refer to Figure 3, a drive gear 140, which may also form a drive element of the drive assembly 114, may be configured to be coupled to the drive shaft 138. The drive gear 140 may be formed as a pinion or other gear that correspondingly moves another drive element, such as a connecting rod or an additional gear. To this end, the drive gear 140 may include one or more teeth that may mesh with a corresponding drive element (e.g., another gear). In some embodiments, the drive gear 140 is configured to be directly received on the drive shaft 138, but in other embodiments, the drive gear 140 may be coupled to the drive shaft 138 in other ways.

[0061] Continue to refer Figure 3 , the driven gear 142 can be configured as a drive element for the drive assembly 114 and can be configured to engage with the drive gear 140 or another drive element rotated by the motor 116. The driven gear 142 can include an engagement portion 152, which can include one or more teeth that abut and engage with corresponding teeth on another drive element (e.g., the drive gear 140). The driven gear 142 can also include a cam 144, which can be coupled to the engagement portion 152, for example, they can be formed as a single component or can be a separate cam coupled to the engagement portion 152. In various embodiments, the driven gear 142 can include a shaft aperture 154, which can be defined along a central axis or other axis of the driven gear 142 and is configured to couple the driven gear 142 to another drive element, such as a gear shaft, to support the driven gear 142 and optionally define the axis of rotation of the driven gear 142 (e.g., the driven gear 142 can be rotatably coupled to the gear shaft 138).

[0062] The gear shaft 148 may define a drive element for the drive assembly 114 and may be configured to connect with one or more components of the drive assembly 114. In one embodiment, the gear shaft 148 or gear support may define a pin or shaft that supports the driven gear 142, for example, received within the shaft aperture 154 and secures the driven gear 142 in a suitable position, such as within a housing, while allowing the drive gear 142 to rotate thereabout. Pump and gear housing

[0063] A pump and / or gear housing that may be used with the oral irrigator 100 is disclosed. Figure 2A and Figure 3, may include a gear housing 117 that may be used to support and / or surround various portions of the drive assembly 114 and / or the pump assembly 112. Depending on the configuration, the gear housing 117 may optionally include one or more portions, such as a first gear housing 118 and a second gear housing 120, upper and lower housings, and / or left and right housings. The gear housing 117 may be configured to support the motor 116, and therefore in some cases may include a motor mounting portion having an axial aperture 160 that may receive the drive shaft 138 therethrough. Additionally, the gear housing 117 may include a portion of the shaft support 159 or fully define the shaft support 159. For example, the shaft support 159 may be defined as a nub, protrusion, edge, etc., which may define a shaft aperture, a shaft recess, or a portion thereof therein. In Figure 3 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the shaft support 159 may be defined as a protrusion extending from the top surface of the first gear housing 118 , but as shown in other figures, the location and configuration of the shaft support 159 may vary.

[0064] The gear housing 117 may include one or more fastening supports 158, such as protrusions or brackets that can receive one or more fasteners 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g to secure the gear housing 117 together, for example, to secure the first gear housing 118 to the second gear housing 120.

[0065] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Various views of an embodiment of the gear housing 117 are shown, and specifically the second gear housing 120 and the pump housing 122. In this embodiment, the pump housing 122 is integrally formed with a portion of the gear housing 117, which supports a drive element of the drive assembly 114, such as one or more gears, motors, connecting rods and / or gear shafts. More specifically, the second gear housing 120 may include an outer wall 218, which may be defined as a continuous wall and extends around the periphery to define a drive element or gear element compartment 200 and a pump chamber 224. The gear compartment 200 may be shaped and sized to receive various elements of the drive assembly 114 and / or the pump assembly 112. The gear compartment 200 may be connected to the pump chamber 224 so that fluid can flow between the gear compartment 200 and the pump chamber 224 without a sealing element (such as a component of the pump assembly 112).

[0066] The outer wall 218 may transition to a top end to define a top edge 202 that may be configured to interface with another gear housing 117 element (such as the first gear housing 118) and may thus include a lip or outer extension extending outwardly from the top end of the outer wall 218. The top edge 202 may include one or more fastening apertures 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d, 204e that may be spaced around the outer edge of the drive compartment 200. The bottom wall 220 or surface may form the bottom of the gear compartment 200 and may (partially or as Figure 5B 10 (as shown in FIG. 10 ) includes a drive element support 208 formed therein. In one example, the drive element support 208 is configured to support a drive element of the drive assembly 114 and may include a support structure, such as a flange or a nub, and a recess or aperture 206 defined therein.

[0067] Continue to refer Figure 5A and Figure 5B , the pump housing 122 may be coupled to and formed with the second gear housing 120. For example, as the outer wall 218 transitions to define the outer periphery of the second gear housing 120, the outer wall 218 may form a pump extension 210, which may extend from a portion of the outer wall 218. The pump extension 210 includes an outer wall, and defines a pump chamber 224 therein and a rear wall 211 formed on the inner wall of the gear compartment 200. The pump chamber 224 may be open at either end, with one end being open to the gear compartment 200, and the other end (piston end 216) may form a terminal end of the pump chamber 224 extending away from the outer wall 218.

[0068] Optionally, the pump housing 122 may include one or more coupling features, such as a pump plate 214 and / or one or more fastening sleeves 212a, 212b. The pump plate 214 may be formed at the piston end 216 of the pump chamber 224, or as Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown in FIG. 2 , the portion of the pump extension 210 that is slightly retracted from the piston end 216 extends beyond the pump plate 214. However, in different embodiments, the configuration and orientation of the pump plate 214 may be different.

[0069] The fastening sleeves 212a, 212b may be configured to extend parallel to the pump chamber 224 and the pump extension 210 so that fasteners that may be used to secure accessories to the pump extension 210 may be configured to extend in the same direction of forces generated by the pump assembly 112 during operation. In one embodiment, the fastening sleeves 212a, 212b may define a cavity or recess configured to receive the fastener, but may be of a different configuration in other configurations. Piston and connecting rod

[0070] A piston and connecting rod are disclosed that may be used as part of a pump for an oral irrigator 100 . Fig. 6A and Figure 6B An isometric view of the piston 150 is shown. The piston 150 may be included in the pump assembly 112 and configured to be positioned within the pump housing 122, and specifically within the pump chamber 224. The piston 150 may include a rod cutout 174, which may be defined in the piston sidewall 166. In one example, the rod cutout 174 extends upward from the bottom edge 168 of the piston toward the sealing end 170 and may terminate before the sealing feature 172. The rod cutout 174 is configured to enable a connecting rod to be inserted into the piston cavity 236 without causing lasting damage to the piston 150, for example, without causing the piston 150 to deform inelastically. In one example, the rod cutout 174 may be defined as actually receiving a portion of the connecting rod therein, and therefore may have a shape corresponding to a portion of the connecting rod. However, in other embodiments (e.g., see Fig. 12B ), the rod cutout 174 is configured to achieve the flexibility of the piston side wall 166, and can be configured differently. In addition, there can be a single rod cutout 174, such as Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , or there may be multiple rod cutouts 174. However, in embodiments including a single rod cutout, such as Fig. 6A and Figure 6B As shown in , the piston 150 may have increased strength.

[0071] In one example, the rod cutout 174 can have a keyhole or Y-shape including a wider base that can define a frustum shape extending into a rectangular shaped portion. The rod cutout 174 can also be partially defined by other features in the piston sidewall 166, such as one or more coupling apertures and / or bearings.

[0072] In one embodiment, the piston 150 may include at least one coupling aperture, such as a first coupling aperture 176 and a second coupling aperture 178, wherein the coupling apertures 176, 178 may be defined on opposite sides of the piston sidewall 166. In one embodiment, one or both of the coupling apertures 176, 178 may extend into the rod cutout 174, however, in other iterations, the coupling apertures 176, 178 may be configured differently, for example, positioned on different sides of the rod cutout 174, or positioned above the rod cutout 174 and not intersecting the rod cutout 174. The coupling apertures 176, 178 may be defined by one or more bearing surfaces to define bearings 180, 182. In this manner, the piston 150 may include one or more bearings 180, 182, which may be defined on opposite sides of the piston 150, but at the same location on the length of the piston 150. In some embodiments, two bearings may be desirable to ensure balanced loads and prevent moment formation. However, other types of configurations, such as a piston 150 having a single bearing portion, are possible depending on the configuration of the connecting rod 146 .

[0073] The sealing end 170 of the piston 150, together with a sealing feature 172 (e.g., a skirt and / or a sealing element such as an O-ring, a U-cup, an X-ring, etc.), seals a portion of the pump chamber 224. The sealing feature 172 is configured to seal against the inner wall of the pump chamber 224 so as to generate a vacuum force and completely discharge the fluid in the pump chamber 224, as discussed in more detail below. The sealing feature 172 can be defined as an outwardly flared and flexible skirt, the diameter of which in an undeformed configuration can be the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the pump chamber 224, so that when positioned in the pump chamber 224, the skirt can be bent to allow insertion into the pump chamber 224, and then expand outwardly back to seal against the wall. The piston sidewall 166 or body extends from the sealing feature 172 and can partially define the sealing feature 172. The piston sidewall 166 can be bent to define an internal piston cavity 236, which can be an internal compartment or area of ​​the piston 150. The piston sidewall 166 may terminate at a bottom edge 168 that forms a terminal end of the piston 150 opposite the sealing end 170 .

[0074] Fig. 7A An isometric view of a connecting rod 146 is shown, which may form a component of the pump assembly 112. A shaft 188 extends from the driven end 184 or first end of the connecting rod 146 and terminates at a piston end 186 or second end. The shaft 188 may optionally have a tapered shape that tapers from a base at the driven end 184 as it extends outward and then expands again to define the piston end 186, but other configurations are also contemplated. The piston end 186 defines an integrated pin or rod for coupling the connecting rod 146 to the piston. The piston end 186 may have a width that is configured to span the width of the piston 150, for example, the width may be equal to the width of the piston 150 between the two bearing portions 180, 182. In some embodiments, the piston end 186 may include one or more bearing surfaces 190, 192 that may be configured to engage and enable smooth movement between the connecting rod 146 and the piston 150. For example, the bearing surfaces 190, 192 may include transition edges that may be beveled and outer surfaces that may be curved in one or more directions. The beveled or rounded edges of the bearing surfaces 190, 192 may help insert the piston end 186 into the piston 150, for example, by guiding the piston end 186 into the corresponding bearing portion 180, 182, as discussed below.

[0075] In one example, the bearing surfaces 190, 192 may be curved in two directions, such as in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 146 and in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod 146. As will be discussed in more detail below, the first curved direction may enable smooth travel as the piston 150 moves within the pump chamber 224 because the curvature may help reduce drag when the bearing surfaces 190, 192 may be exposed and may engage the walls of the pump chamber 224. Additionally, the second direction of curvature may be configured to enable the bearing surfaces 190, 192 to match the curvature of the piston sidewall 166.

[0076] Although the connecting rod 146 is shown as including a piston end 186 that extends outwardly from the shaft 188 in two directions, such as to form a T-shape at the end of the shaft 188, in other embodiments, the piston end 186 may be configured differently. For example, in one embodiment, the piston end 186 may include a single branch or protrusion extending from one side of the shaft 188 to define an inverted L-shape or similar structure at the terminal end of the shaft 188. However, in embodiments having a balanced piston end 186, the shaft 188 may be better protected from bending during use, and thus a "T" shaped piston end 186 may be preferred under selected operating forces.

[0077] The driven end 184 forms a first end of the connecting rod 146 and is configured to mechanically couple the connecting rod 146 to a drive element of the drive assembly 114. For example, in one embodiment, the driven end 184 may be defined as a cam follower and configured to be positioned around and receive a cam. In these embodiments, the driven end 184 may be defined as a ring. However, in other embodiments, the connecting rod 146 may include other coupling features that engage with and transfer motion from the drive element.

[0078] Figure 7B and Figure 7C A side and plan view of the piston 150 coupled to the connecting rod 146 is shown. Figure 7B and Figure 7C As shown in FIG. 1 , when coupled together, the bearing surfaces 190 , 192 may have a curvature that matches the curvature of the piston 150 at the coupling apertures 176 , 178 , allowing for a substantially continuous outer surface about the connected components. Figure 7C, the rod cutout 174 allows the connecting rod 146 to be positioned within the piston 150 without deforming the piston 150. To insert the connecting rod 146 into the piston 150, the piston end 186 is aligned with the rod cutout 174 and moved into the rod cutout 174 until the piston end 186 is positioned in the opposite side bearing portion 182. In this manner, the piston end 186 can extend across the width of the piston 150, for example, between the two bearing portions 180, 182. The piston end 186 can be coupled to the piston 150 without requiring a separate element, such as a pin or other fastener, to be inserted into the connecting rod 146 and / or the piston 150. Pump accessories

[0079] The pump assembly 114 may include a pump fitting 126 , which may define a pump inlet and a pump outlet (or a fitting inlet and a fitting outlet) and is configured to deliver and receive fluid from the pump chamber 224 . Figures 8A-8C Various views of the pump fitting 126 are shown. The fitting 126 can be constructed as an integral or monolithic component such that the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 are integrally coupled together, such as defined by an uninterrupted wall or a continuous wall. For example, the fitting 126 can be formed as an injection molded (e.g., plastic injection molded) component that defines both the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 in a single piece. Conventionally, pump fittings for oral irrigators define two separate components for the pump inlet and the pump outlet, requiring multiple separate components, increasing the difficulty of assembly, and requiring more space within the housing of the oral irrigator 100.

[0080] refer to Figures 8A-8C , the pump fitting 126 may include a hub 300 defining a fluid passage 314 that may communicate with a pump inlet 310 and a pump outlet 312. Fig. 8A and Figure 8C In some configurations, the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 may be positioned at different locations along the length of the longitudinal axis 320 of the hub 330. For example, the pump outlet 312 may be positioned closer to the rear wall 211 of the pump housing 122 than the pump inlet 310, and both may be along the longitudinal axis 320 of the hub 300. In this configuration, the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 may be configured in a transversely stacked orientation so that they are aligned on the axis 320, but at different horizontal locations relative thereto. Optionally, the hub 300 may include a valve retainer 313, which may be defined as a separate element received within the hub 300, or as Figure 8B 300 and may be disposed in a central region of the fitting 126. The valve retainer 313 may be configured to secure the position and orientation of the valve 155 once positioned within the fitting 126.

[0081] An inlet connector 302 extends from the hub 300 and is fluidly connected to a fluid inlet 310, which can be configured to couple to a fluid passage, such as a tube or hose, which is fluidly connected to a fluid supply, such as a reservoir 102. The inlet connector 302 can be oriented at an angle relative to a central longitudinal axis 320 of the hub 300. Similarly, an outlet connector 304 can extend from the hub 300 and be fluidly connected to a pump outlet 312, and can extend at an angle relative to the central longitudinal axis 320 of the hub 300. The angular orientation of the inlet connector 302 and the outlet connector 304 can vary, and both can be oriented in the same direction and angle (see FIG. 1 ). Fig.17 ) or different angle orientations (such as Fig. 8A ). Inlet connector 302 and outlet connector 304 may be configured to couple to corresponding fluid pathways, such as hoses or tubes, and include connectors, such as hose barbs, or other coupling elements.

[0082] Continue to refer Figures 8A-8C , the fitting 126 may also include an adapter plate 306 for engaging and coupling to the pump housing 122. The adapter plate 306 may be in the form of a relatively planar extension that defines a coupling surface that engages the pump housing 122. The adapter plate 306 may include one or more fastening apertures 316a, 316b defined therethrough to receive one or more fasteners, and optionally reinforcement collars 308a, 308b may be positioned around the fastening apertures 316a, 316b, such as extending from an outer surface of the adapter plate 306 (facing away from the pump housing 122) to protect the fasteners from disengagement and to reinforce the connection area on the adapter plate 306. Assembly of the oral irrigator

[0083] The various components of the pump assembly 112 and the drive assembly 114 allow for easier assembly, as well as saving space to achieve a smaller and more compact oral irrigator compared to conventional oral irrigators. Figures 9A-9D An example of the assembly process of the pump housing 122, the piston 150 and the connecting rod 146 is shown. Fig.9A , the piston 150 may be aligned with the piston end 216 of the pump housing 122 such that the bottom edge 168 faces the piston end 216 .

[0084] refer to Fig. 9B , the piston 150 is inserted through the piston end 216 of the pump chamber 224 and pushed through the pump chamber 224 until the bottom edge 168 extends beyond the rear wall 211. Specifically, the piston 150 is configured so that the load-bearing portions 180, 182 and the rod cutout 174 are exposed within the gear compartment 200. It should be noted that although the piston 150 is discussed as being pushed through the pump chamber 224 via the piston end 216, in other embodiments, the piston 150 can be inserted into the pump chamber 224 via the rear wall 211 (i.e., through the gear compartment 200). Fig. 9B As shown in FIG. 1 , the connecting rod 146 can be positioned above and aligned with the gear compartment 200 of the second gear housing 120 . In one example, the connecting rod 146 can be positioned above the gear compartment 200 so that the top edge of the piston end 186 is spaced apart from the rear wall 211 of the pump extension 210 .

[0085] refer to Fig. 9C , with the piston 150 partially inserted into the pump chamber 224 and the rod cutout 174 exposed to the outside of the pump chamber 224, the connecting rod 146 can be inserted into the gear compartment 200 and coupled to the piston 150. Specifically, the piston end 186 is inserted through the rod cutout 174 so that the bearing surfaces 190, 192 are received within the bearing portions 180, 182. Once inserted, the piston end 186 of the connecting rod 146 can span between opposite sides of the piston 150, for example, spanning the width of the piston cavity 236 between the two bearing portions 180, 182. In addition, the shaft 188 and the driven end 184 of the connecting rod 146 can extend beyond the bottom edge 168 of the piston 150.

[0086] like Fig. 9C , to insert the connecting rod 146 into the piston 150, the connecting rod 146 can be oriented in a first position within the gear compartment 200, for example, adjacent to the outer peripheral wall of the drive compartment 200, wherein the driven end 184 of the connecting rod 146 is off-center or not aligned with the drive element support 208 and the corresponding support aperture 206. In this manner, the second gear housing 120 and the gear compartment 200 can be configured to enable the length of the connecting rod 146 to be inserted therein and allow the connecting rod 146, for example, to have a diameter or width that is the same as or greater than the length of the connecting rod 146 to allow clearance for movement of the connecting rod 146 within the gear compartment 200.

[0087] refer to Fig.9D , the coupled piston 150 and connecting rod 146 are moved to the operating position. Specifically, the connecting rod 146 and piston 150 are inserted into the pump chamber 224, wherein the piston 150 is further inserted into the pump chamber 224 and the connecting rod 146 is partially inserted into the pump chamber 224. The connecting rod 146 is moved so that the driven end 184 is aligned with the gear shaft support 208 and the orifice 206 or at least positioned above the gear shaft support 208 and the orifice 206 (see Fig.9D). In this position, the connecting rod 146 is configured to be connected to a drive element of the drive assembly 114, such as the cam 144 and / or the gear shaft 148. Once the piston 150 is fully inserted into the pump chamber 224, the inner wall of the pump extension 210 (e.g., the wall defining the pump chamber 224) is used to help retain the connecting rod 146 within the piston 150. For example, the wall prevents the piston end 186 of the connecting rod 146 from being forced out of the rod cutout 174. In this manner, when the piston end 186 extends between and is received in the coupling apertures 176, 178, the connecting rod 146 can be fully secured to the piston 150 and prevented from being removed through the rod cutout 174. Once coupled, movement of the connecting rod 146 translates into movement of the piston 150 within the pump chamber 224, as discussed in more detail below.

[0088] refer to Fig.9D Once positioned within the piston 150, the piston end 186 of the connecting rod 146 can be configured such that the bearing surfaces 190, 192 are partially exposed to the exterior of the piston cavity 236 (e.g., positioned and partially or completely fill the coupling apertures 176, 178 of the piston 150). In addition, the bearing surfaces 190, 192 engage against the bearing portions 180, 182 defined by the sidewalls of the coupling apertures 176, 178. When positioned within the coupling apertures 176, 178, the double curvature of the bearing surfaces 190, 192 allows the piston end 186 exposed to the exterior of the piston sidewall 166 to match or correspond to the shape of the outer surface of the piston sidewall 166, helping to reduce drag and improve efficiency during use.

[0089] The piston end 186 can be configured to secure the connecting rod 146 to the piston 150 by itself without secondary or external elements (such as separate pins, fasteners, etc.). Conventionally, many piston designs require the insertion of separate elements (such as retaining pins or fasteners) to couple the piston to the rod. By eliminating separate components, manufacturing and assembly may be easier, less expensive, and take less time.

[0090] Reference again Figure 3 and Figure 4Once the pump assembly 112 is partially assembled, for example, the connecting rod 146 is coupled to the piston 150 and the pump housing 122, the remaining components of the pump assembly 112 and the drive assembly 114 can be coupled together. For example, the fitting 126 can be positioned on the piston end 216 of the pump housing 122, and specifically can be arranged above the pump chamber 224, so that the pump chamber 224 is in fluid communication with the fluid passage 314 within the hub 300 of the fitting 126. In some embodiments, the hub 300 can be configured to receive or be positioned on a portion of the pump extension 210. For example, a portion of the piston end 216 that extends beyond the pump plate 214 can be received within the hub 300. In these embodiments, the adapter plate 306 can be arranged adjacent to and engage against the outer surface of the pump plate 214. It should also be noted that in embodiments in which the fitting is integrally formed with the pump housing (see, for example, 14), the fitting will not need to be separately connected to the pump housing.

[0091] Optionally, a seal 151 (eg, O-ring, U-cup, X-ring) may be positioned between the outer surface of the hub 300 and the outer surface of the pump extension 210 to seal the connection (see FIG. Figure 4 ). In addition, in some embodiments, valve 155 can be a one-way valve, such as a reed valve, a duckbill valve, etc., which can be positioned within hub 300 and oriented between pump chamber 224 and the pump outlet and / or between pump chamber 224 and one of pump inlet 310. In some examples, valve 155 can be positioned outside of fitting 126, such as between the fluid passages between fitting and reservoir 102 and / or between fitting 126 and handle 104. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown in , the valve 155 may be positioned within the hub 300 adjacent the valve retainer 313 and the top edge of the piston end of the pump chamber 224 , which is used to secure the valve 155 within the fitting 126 .

[0092] To secure the fitting 126 to the pump housing 122, one or more fasteners may be used to couple the adapter plate 306 to the pump plate 214. For example, the fasteners 132a, 132b may be inserted through the fastening apertures 316a, 316b of the adapter plate 306 and into the fastening apertures defined by the fastening sleeves 212a, 212b. In one embodiment, the fasteners 132a, 132b are configured to extend parallel to the pump chamber 224 and in the direction of the force experienced between the pump housing 122 and the fitting 126, helping to ensure that a high degree of coupling force is positioned so as to offset the force experienced. Relatedly, the fasteners 132a, 132b are configured to be as close as possible to the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312, further ensuring a tight connection. To this end, the fitting apertures 316a, 316b in the fitting 126 may be arranged to be directly adjacent to the hub 300, rather than being spaced apart from the hub 300. In other words, the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 and the corresponding connectors 302 , 304 can be radially inserted from the fitting apertures 316 a , 316 b . Such an arrangement further helps to locate the tightening force close to the pump chamber 224 .

[0093] The fitting connectors 302, 304 can then be coupled to various fluid components. For example, the inlet fitting connector 302 can be coupled to the reservoir 102 (such as via a hose), and the outlet fitting connector 304 can be coupled to the handle 104 and the tip 106 (such as via a hose).

[0094] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the drive assembly 114 can be coupled to the pump assembly 112. For example, the driven gear 142 can be coupled to the connecting rod 146 and configured to move the connecting rod 146. In one embodiment, the cam 144 of the driven gear 142 is received within the driven end 184 of the connecting rod 146, wherein the engagement portion 152 of the driven gear 142 extends above the driven end 184 of the connecting rod 146.

[0095] The driven gear 142 and the connecting rod 146 can be fixed to each other by the gear shaft 148 and fixed to a position in the second gear housing 122. In particular, the gear shaft 148 can be inserted into the shaft aperture 206 formed by the driving element support 208 formed in the second gear housing 122. The gear shaft 148 can also extend through the shaft aperture 154 of the driven gear 142 and through the cam 144 to be positioned in the shaft aperture 206 or recess.

[0096] The first gear housing 118 can be coupled to the second gear housing 122. For example, a drive element support 159 formed in the first gear housing 118 can receive the free end of the gear shaft 148, and the first gear housing 118 can be positioned above and cover the gear compartment 200 of the second gear housing 122. Abutting edges, such as the top edge 202 of the second gear housing 120 and the bottom edge 121 of the first gear housing, abut each other. One or more fasteners 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e can be inserted through one or more fastening apertures 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d, 204e of the second gear housing 120 and into corresponding fastening apertures in the first gear housing 118.

[0097] The drive gear 140 can be inserted around the drive shaft 138, and the coupled drive gear 140 and drive shaft 138 can be inserted into the shaft aperture 160 of the first gear housing 118, for example, positioned on the motor mounting portion of the first gear housing 118. The drive gear 140 can then be coupled to the driven gear 142, for example, the teeth can mesh together so that movement of the drive gear 140 causes movement of the driven gear 142. In addition, the motor 116 can be fixed to the first gear housing 118, such as by via fasteners 124f, 124g. The pump assembly 112 and the drive assembly 114 can be positioned within the housing 110 and coupled between the reservoir 102 and the tip 106. How to operate an oral irrigator

[0098] To operate the flusher 100, the user activates the drive assembly 114, such as by pressing a power button or other control button, which provides power to the motor 116. The motor 116 then begins to rotate the drive shaft 138, causing the drive gear 140 to rotate. As the drive gear 140 rotates, the driven gear 142 rotates, causing the cam 144 to rotate. The cam 144 causes the connecting rod 146 to move, and in some embodiments, the cam 144 may be eccentric, converting the rotational movement of the driven gear 142 into reciprocating motion of the connecting rod 146. As the connecting rod 146 moves, the piston 150 moves within the pump chamber 224.

[0099] refer to Fig. 10A When the cam 144 pulls the connecting rod 146 away from the pump chamber 224, the piston 150 pulls toward the rear wall 211 of the pump chamber 224, creating a vacuum force, such as a vacuum stroke. The vacuum force pulls fluid from the reservoir 102, which enters the pump inlet 310 and the fluid passage 314. The force of the fluid opens the valve 155, allowing the fluid to flow into the pump chamber 224. The sealing feature 172 of the piston 150 prevents the fluid from flowing out of the pump chamber 224 around the piston 150.

[0100] refer to Fig. 10BAs the cam 144 continues to rotate, the connecting rod 146 is pushed further into the pump chamber 224, generating a compressive force on the fluid (e.g., completing a compression stroke). This force closes the valve 155, preventing the fluid from entering the pump inlet 310, and allowing the fluid to exit the pump chamber 224 and enter the pump outlet 312. From the pump outlet 312, the fluid is directed to the handle 104 and out of the tip 106. Piston Embodiment

[0101] As described above, in some embodiments, the rod cutout 174 may be configured to enable insertion of the connecting rod 146 by providing increased flexibility to the sidewalls of the piston. Figures 11A-12B Various views of another embodiment of a piston 350 are shown, including multiple rod cutouts to facilitate insertion of the connecting rod 146 into the piston 350. In this embodiment, the piston 350 may be substantially similar to the piston 150, but may include two rod cutouts, and any elements not specifically mentioned may be considered to be the same as the piston 150 and / or the drive assembly 114 or the pump assembly 112.

[0102] refer to Figures 11A-12B In one embodiment, the piston 350 may include a first rod cutout 352a and a second rod cutout 352b that are used in combination or individually to increase the flexibility of the sidewall 358 of the piston 350. For example, the rod cutouts 352a, 352b may be defined on opposite sides of the piston 350, defining two wings 360a, 360b or protrusions. These wings may then be elastically deformed, such as being forced apart from each other, to expand the bottom diameter of the piston 350, allowing the piston end 186 of the connecting rod 146 to be inserted into the piston cavity. In one example, the rod cutouts 352a, 352b may be defined as a partial oval shape, such as a half oval, wherein the larger width of the rod cutouts 352a, 352b is defined at the bottom edge of the piston 350. In stronger materials, two rod cutouts 352a, 352b may be used to achieve easier insertion, but in other configurations, such as thinner sidewall thicknesses or different materials, a single rod cutout 352a, 352b may be used. In some embodiments, the rod cutouts 352a, 352b are positioned on different sides of the piston 350 from the coupling apertures 362a, 362b, eg, the rod cutouts 352a, 352b do not intersect the coupling apertures 362a, 362b.

[0103] exist Figures 11A-12BIn an embodiment of the present invention, the piston 350 may also include one or more coupling apertures 362a, 362b, which may be configured as a load-bearing portion and define one or more load-bearing surfaces therein. In this way, once the connecting rod 146 is inserted into the cavity of the piston 350, the piston end 186 may span the width of the piston 350 between the two coupling apertures 362a, 362b and be positioned or at least partially received in the coupling apertures 362a, 362b, as described above with respect to the piston 150. Similarly, the piston 350 may also include a sealing feature 356 at its upper end, such as a flexible skirt, an O-ring, a U-cup, an X-ring, etc., so as to seal against the inner wall of the pump chamber.

[0104] To insert the connecting rod 146 into the piston 350, the user can apply force on the wings 360a, 360b, pulling them outward and away from each other, expanding the opening at the bottom of the piston 350, for example, causing the opening to be the same as or slightly larger than the width of the piston end 186 defined between the two bearing surfaces 190, 192. The connecting rod 146 can then be positioned so that the bearing surfaces 190, 192 are received in the coupling apertures 362a, 362b. Once positioned, the wings 360a, 360b are released, and the piston sidewall 368 rebounds to its initial configuration, confining the piston end 186 in the piston cavity, and the bottom opening has a width smaller than the width of the piston end 186, preventing accidental removal of the connecting rod 146. It should be noted that the rod cutouts 352a, 352b are configured to allow flexibility and elastic deformation of the piston 350, so that the piston 350 is not permanently changed (e.g., no stress lines or elastic deformation) due to the insertion of the connecting rod 146. Furthermore, the connecting rod 146 is coupled to the piston 350 without the need for a separate connecting element (such as a separate pin or fastener), reducing the number of parts and making the assembly process easier and faster.

[0105] refer to Fig.13 In some embodiments, the sealing feature of the piston may be configured as a separate element, such as a seal. Fig.13 In the embodiment of the present invention, piston 370 includes a separate sealing feature 372 in the form of an O-ring, which is received around the outer wall of piston 370 toward the upper end of piston 370. In this example, piston 370 can be substantially similar to piston 350, but can include an O-ring as sealing feature 372 instead of the sealing feature 372 as shown in FIG. Fig.11A Furthermore, although a single O-ring is shown, it will be appreciated that the sealing feature may be defined by a plurality of different sealing elements (eg, two or more O-rings, X-rings, or U-cups). Pump housing, gear housing and accessories embodiments

[0106] Fig.14 and Fig.15An example of an integrated gear and pump housing that fully defines the drive element support is shown. As with the various piston examples, Fig.14 and Fig.15 No features specifically discussed or mentioned may be Figure 3 The same as those shown in . Fig.14 and Fig.15 , in this example, the gear housing 408 is integrally formed as the pump housing 416, such as via a continuous outer wall, as discussed above with respect to the second gear housing 120 and the pump housing 122. However, in this example, the drive element supports 412a, 412b may be completely defined by the gear housing 408. For example, the drive element supports 412a, 412b may be defined on both the upper and bottom walls of the gear housing 408 by brackets extending from either side of the wall, rather than being only partially defined by the first gear housing 120. In this manner, a drive element such as the gear shaft 148 may extend and be secured within a feature of the gear housing 408 (rather than being coupled between first and second or upper and lower gear housing portions). It should be noted that while the drive element supports 412a, 412b are shown as including brackets having apertures to receive the gear shaft therein, in other examples, the brackets may include recesses rather than apertures.

[0107] refer to Fig.14 In this example, the gear housing 408 can be configured to engage with another gear housing portion, namely the first gear housing 406, wherein the combination of the two gear housings 406, 408 can be used to define a drive element or gear compartment therebetween. In addition, the gear housings 406, 408 can include engagement features, such as brackets or protrusions extending from their sidewalls, for example, brackets 410a, 410b that engage brackets 432a, 432b on the gear housing 406. In this manner, one or more fasteners can be used to extend between the brackets 410a, 410b, 432a, 432b to couple the gear housings 406, 408 together. Similarly, since the gear housing 408 includes the drive element supports 412a, 412b, the gear housing 406 can include cutouts 430a, 430b to receive the drive element supports 412a, 412b when the gear housings 406, 408 are coupled together. In these embodiments, because the pump housing 416 (which defines the pump chamber) is formed with the gear housing 408 including the drive element supports 412a, 412b, the components will not move relative to each other, helping to improve the efficiency of the pump assembly, as well as reducing the number of parts required and simplifying the manufacture of the oral irrigator 100.

[0108] In addition, if Fig.14 and Fig.15As shown in , the gear housing 408 may also define a motor mount 414 therein. In this way, the motor mount 414, the pump housing 416 and the drive element supports 412a, 412b may be defined in a single integrally formed component, such as by a continuous wall, rather than separate elements independently coupled together, such as via fasteners or adhesives. Such an arrangement further helps to ensure or improve the efficiency of the pump and drive assembly. In this embodiment, the motor mount 414 includes a drive aperture 411 to receive the drive shaft 138 and / or the drive gear 140 therethrough, and may optionally include one or more motor fastening apertures 413a, 413b to receive one or more fasteners to secure the motor 116 to the gear housing 408. In these embodiments, when the motor 116 is secured to the gear housing 408, an optional motor cover 404 may be used to cover the fastening apertures 415a, 415b.

[0109] Relatedly, in this example, the pump fitting 418 may be integrally formed with the pump housing 416, such as formed by a continuous wall and / or formed as a single component. For example, the pump inlet and outlet ports may be formed as orifices in the wall of the outer pump housing 416 and communicate with the pump chamber, and the inlet connector 420 and the outlet connector 422 may extend directly from the pump housing 416. As a specific embodiment, the pump housing 416 may be injection molded so that the fitting 418 and the connectors 420, 422 are formed together with the pump housing 416. In this way, leakage between the pump fitting and the pump chamber can be reduced, and the manufacture and assembly of the pump assembly can be easier due to the reduction of components and connectors. In these embodiments, the position between the pump inlet and the pump outlet can be reduced compared to a separate fitting, allowing a more compact pump assembly configuration than in conventional devices.

[0110] In some embodiments, the inlet connector 420 and the outlet connector 422 may be oriented at different angles from each other, such as offset by up to 90 degrees from each other. Fig.15 and Fig.16 , the inlet connector 420 may extend from the rear wall of the pump fitting 418 and be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pump chamber 434. The outlet connector 422 may extend from the side wall of the fitting 418 and be oriented perpendicular to the pump chamber 434. However, in other embodiments, the connectors may be configured differently. For example, referring to Fig.17 In this example, the pump inlet and pump outlet can be formed through the same wall of the pump fitting 418, and the inlet connector 420 and the outlet connector 422 can extend away from the pump housing 416 at the same angle and in the same direction (e.g., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pump chamber 434). This can help connect hoses, tubes, etc. to the pump fitting 418, as well as save space. In this configuration, the terminal end of the fitting 418 can be defined by a closed end wall 438, rather than as Fig.15 and Fig.16 Shown as including the connector.

[0111] refer to Fig.16 In some embodiments, such as when the pump fitting 418 is integrated with the pump housing 416, the valve retainer 402 can be positioned within the pump chamber 434 to help retain the valve 155 within the pump chamber 434 and in a desired configuration, such as between the pump outlet and the pump inlet. In one example, the valve retainer 402 can be formed as a separate clamp that is flexible to allow insertion through the open end of the pump chamber 434 toward the fitting 418. For example, the valve retainer 402 can be a C-shaped clamp that can be deformed to be inserted into the pump chamber 434 and once in the desired position, it expands outward to retain the valve 155 in the desired position. In other embodiments, the valve retainer 402 can be integrated into the pump chamber 434, such as by forming in a wall, etc. In various embodiments, the valve retainer 402 may include cutouts, through holes, etc. that allow fluid to flow, for example, allowing fluid to flow through the valve retainer 402 to flow between the pump inlet, the pump chamber, and the pump outlet. Additionally, the pump housing 416 and / or the valve retainer 402 may include anti-sync mechanisms, such as recesses, protrusions, etc., that help ensure that the valve retainer 402 and valve 155 remain secured in a desired orientation within the pump housing 416 .

[0112] Fig.18 and Fig.19 Another example of a gear housing is shown. Fig.18 and Fig.19 , the gear housing may include a first gear housing 506 and a second gear housing 508 (e.g., two gear housing parts), wherein similar to other embodiments, the pump housing 515 is integrally formed with the second gear housing 508. However, in this example, the first drive element support 514a and the second drive element support 514b may be partially formed by the second gear housing 508, such as on the top wall and the bottom wall of the second gear housing 508. In particular, the drive element supports 514a, 514b may be formed as partial recesses, for example, a semicircular cutout formed in the side wall of the terminal edge of the second gear housing 508 may be configured to engage with the first gear housing 506 to define a complete drive element support. For example, the first gear housing 506 may include corresponding drive element supports 516a, 516b, which may also be in the form of recesses or cutouts. In this example, when the two gear housings 506, 508 are compressed and fixed together, the gear shaft 148 can be positioned between the two gear housings 506, 508 and retained within the drive element supports 514a, 516a and 514b, 516b, for example, the fixed brackets 510a, 512b are connected together via one or more fasteners. Fig. 20 Show Fig.18 and Fig.19 Cross-sectional view of the gear housing, see Fig. 20, showing compression of the gear shaft 148 between the two gear housings 506, 508. In this example, the drive element supports 514a, 514b, 516a, 516b are used together to capture or hold the gear shaft 148 in a position relative to the end walls of the gear housings 506, 508, and the fasteners securing the gear housings together help ensure that the gear shaft 148 does not move and is fixed in place. in conclusion

[0113] It should be noted that any of the embodiments, examples or components of the drive assembly and / or pump assembly in any of the figures may be used with different embodiments, examples or components. For example, with respect to any of the gear housing configurations, an integrated pump assembly may be used instead of Figure 3 As another example, Fig.14 The individual valve holders can be used with any of the pump chamber and fitting iterations, such as Figure 3 This one shown, even if the accessories are different from Fig.14 As yet another example, the integration of the gear housing, motor mount, and pump housing may be used with any of the other configurations, including separate or integrally formed pump accessories, or vertically or horizontally separated gear housing iterations. In yet another example, various piston configurations (including both the number and configuration of rod orifices and / or sealing features) may be used with any embodiment as desired. Thus, it should be understood that the various components may be modular and interchangeable, depending on the space and fluid connections within the housing of the oral irrigator, among other things. To this end, any description of a specific component as part of a particular embodiment is meant to be illustrative only and should not be interpreted as requiring use with a particular embodiment or requiring other elements as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

[0114] All relative and directional references (including top, bottom, side, front, back, etc.) are given by way of example to aid the reader's understanding of the examples described herein. They should not be interpreted as requirements or limitations, particularly with respect to position, orientation, or use, unless specifically set forth in the claims. Connection references (e.g., attach, connect, connect, engage, etc.) are to be interpreted broadly and may include intermediate components between element connections and relative movement between elements. Thus, connection references do not necessarily mean that two elements are directly connected and in a fixed relationship to each other, unless specifically set forth in the claims.

[0115] The present disclosure is taught by way of example and not by limitation. Therefore, the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not restrictive. The following claims are intended to cover all general and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present methods and systems, which, as a matter of language, may be said to fall between them.

Claims

1. An oral irrigator, comprising: Connecting rod; as well as A piston, the piston comprising: a side wall defining a piston cavity; and A rod cutout is defined in the side wall, wherein the rod cutout enables a portion of the connecting rod to be inserted into the piston cavity, wherein after insertion, the connecting rod extends from the piston cavity beyond a bottom edge of the side wall.

2. The oral irrigator according to claim 1, wherein: The piston further comprises: a closed top end coupled to the side wall; a bottom open end defined by a bottom edge of the side wall, wherein the stem cutout extends upwardly from a portion of the bottom edge toward the closed top end; and A coupling aperture is configured to receive a portion of the piston end of the connecting rod.

3. The oral irrigator according to claim 2, wherein: The coupling apertures include a first coupling aperture positioned on a first side of the side wall and a second coupling aperture positioned on a second side of the side wall, wherein the second coupling aperture forms a portion of an insertion aperture.

4. The oral irrigator of claim 3, wherein: The connecting rod defines a piston end extending between the first coupling aperture and the second coupling aperture; and The piston also includes a bearing portion for engaging with the piston end of the connecting rod.

5. The oral irrigator of claim 4, wherein: The load bearing portion is formed as a coupling aperture defined in a side wall of the piston; and The first end of the connecting rod includes a curved bearing surface, wherein the curved bearing surface is positioned within and engages the bearing portion.

6. The oral irrigator according to claim 5, wherein: The curved load-bearing surface curves in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod and curves in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.

7. An oral irrigator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The connecting rod also includes a driven end configured to be coupled to a drive element.

8. An oral irrigator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The piston end is partially exposed to the outside of the piston after being inserted into the piston cavity.

9. An oral irrigator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The piston end spans the width of the piston, and the connecting rod is inserted into the piston cavity through the side wall of the piston.

10. An oral irrigator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The piston is secured to the connecting rod without fasteners.

11. An oral irrigator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The connecting rod includes a piston end that spans a width of the piston cavity to engage a first bearing portion defined on a first side of the piston sidewall and to engage a second bearing portion defined on a second side of the piston sidewall.

12. An oral irrigator, comprising: Storage; a handle fluidly connected to the reservoir; as well as a pump configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle, the pump comprising: connecting rod; and A piston is coupled to the connecting rod, wherein the piston includes a rod cutout defined in a side wall of the piston.

13. The oral irrigator of claim 12, wherein: The connecting rod includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the piston such that after the connecting rod is inserted, the piston moves correspondingly to the connecting rod.

14. The oral irrigator of claim 12, wherein: A portion of the first end of the connecting rod is received in the side wall of the piston.

15. The oral irrigator of claim 14, wherein: The portion is curved in at least one direction.

16. The oral irrigator of claim 13, wherein: The piston comprises: a coupling aperture formed in the sidewall, wherein the coupling aperture receives a portion of the first end; and A sealing feature is configured to seal against the pump chamber.

17. The oral irrigator according to claim 12, further comprising a driving element to move the connecting rod, wherein: The drive element includes at least one of a motor or one or more gears.

18. A method of assembling a pump for an oral irrigator, the method comprising: inserting a connecting rod into the sidewall cutout of the piston such that the driven end of the connecting rod extends beyond the bottom end of the piston and the piston end of the connecting rod is at least partially received within the piston; positioning the connecting rod and piston into the pump chamber; as well as The driven end of the connecting rod is fixed relative to the pump chamber.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: The piston is only elastically deformed during the insertion of the connecting rod into the side wall cutout, and is coupled to the connecting rod without damage or deformation of the piston.

20. A pump for an oral irrigator, the pump comprising: a pump housing defining a pump chamber; as well as A pumping assembly, the pumping assembly comprising: a piston, the piston comprising a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion; and A connecting rod is partially positioned within the piston and is exposed to the exterior of the piston at both a piston end and a driven end, and wherein the piston end extends between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion.

21. An oral irrigator, comprising: Drive components; a pump housing defining a pump chamber; as well as A gear housing is configured to secure a drive element of the drive assembly in position within the gear housing, wherein the pump housing and the gear housing are formed from a single wall.

22. The oral irrigator of claim 21, wherein: The drive element includes a gear shaft, wherein the drive assembly further includes a gear rotatably coupled to the gear shaft.

23. The oral irrigator of claim 21, wherein: The gear housing further comprises a bearing formed in part by a wall of the gear housing, wherein the bearing is configured to secure the drive element.

24. The oral irrigator of claim 23, wherein: The bearing is completely formed by the wall of the gear housing.

25. The oral irrigator of claim 21, wherein: The single wall prevents the pump chamber and the drive element from moving independently relative to each other.

26. The oral irrigator of claim 21, further comprising a gear cover operably coupled to the gear housing to enclose a portion of the gear housing.

27. The oral irrigator of claim 26, wherein: The gear housing includes a first support for supporting a first end of the drive element, and the gear cover includes a second support for supporting a second end of the drive element, wherein the drive element is a gear shaft.

28. The oral irrigator of claim 21, wherein: The gear housing and the pump housing are a single molded component.

29. The oral irrigator of claim 21, further comprising: piston; as well as A connecting rod is operably coupled to the piston and the drive assembly, wherein the piston is received within the pump chamber and is configured to move therein via the connecting rod.

30. The oral irrigator of claim 29, wherein: The connecting rod is coupled to a driven gear, wherein the driven gear is supported on the drive element and rotatably coupled to the drive element.

31. The oral irrigator of claim 21, wherein: The pump housing includes an extension extending from a portion of a wall of the gear housing, wherein the extension defines the pump chamber therein.

32. The oral irrigator of claim 31 further comprising a fitting coupled to the pump housing and fluidly coupled to the pump chamber, wherein: The fitting is configured to deliver and receive fluid from the pump chamber.

33. The oral irrigator of claim 32, wherein: The fitting is secured to the pump housing by one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners are arranged to extend parallel to the pump chamber.

34. The oral irrigator of claim 33, wherein: The pump housing also includes a pump plate extending from and surrounding the pump chamber, wherein the one or more fasteners are received in the pump plate to secure the pump housing to the fitting.

35. An oral irrigator, comprising: A drive assembly, the drive assembly comprising: driven gear; and a gear shaft about which the driven gear rotates; and A pump housing, the pump housing comprising: A continuous wall partially defines a pump sleeve and partially defines a gear shaft support for fixing the driven gear in a position relative to the pump housing.

36. The oral irrigator of claim 35, wherein: The continuous wall is formed integrally.

37. The oral irrigator of claim 35, wherein: The gear shaft support is formed as a recess or nub configured to receive the first end of the gear shaft therein.

38. The oral irrigator of claim 35, wherein: The pump housing is a plastic injection-molded component.

39. The oral irrigator of claim 35, further comprising a piston configured to be received within the pump sleeve and a connecting rod operably coupled to the driven gear and configured to move the piston within the pump sleeve.

40. The oral irrigator of claim 35, wherein: The drive assembly further includes a motor that drives the driven gear, and the pump housing further includes a motor mounting portion formed by the continuous wall, wherein the motor is positioned on the motor mounting portion.

41. The oral irrigator of claim 35, wherein: The gear shaft support is defined as a recess, aperture or bracket within the pump housing.

42. An oral irrigator, comprising: a piston operably coupled to the drive element; a pump housing defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and the handle, wherein the piston is received within the pump chamber; and A pump fitting operably coupled to the pump housing and positioned above the open end of the pump chamber, wherein the pump fitting defines a fitting inlet coupling the reservoir fluid to the pump chamber and a fitting outlet coupling the pump chamber fluid to the handle, wherein the fitting inlet and fitting outlet are formed by a continuous wall.

43. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The pump fitting is formed by the continuous wall together with the pump housing.

44. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The pump fitting includes an adapter plate that engages against a pump plate formed around the pump chamber.

45. The oral irrigator of claim 44, wherein: The adapter plate is secured to the pump plate via one or more fasteners extending parallel to the pump chamber, and the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet are radially inserted from the one or more fasteners.

46. ​​The oral irrigator of claim 45, wherein: The one or more fasteners are positioned adjacent to both the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet.

47. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The fitting outlet is defined at a first position relative to a longitudinal axis of the pump chamber, and the fitting inlet is defined at a second position relative to the longitudinal axis of the pump chamber.

48. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The fitting outlet and the fitting inlet are laterally stacked relative to each other.

49. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The fitting outlet includes an outlet connector extending at a first angle relative to the pump fitting, and the fitting inlet includes an inlet connector extending at a second angle relative to the pump fitting.

50. The oral irrigator of claim 49, wherein: The first angle and the second angle are different from each other.

51. The oral irrigator of claim 42 further comprising an inlet valve positioned within the pump fitting between the fitting inlet and the pump chamber, wherein The inlet valve closes the fitting inlet during a compression stroke of the piston.

52. The oral irrigator of claim 42, further comprising an outlet valve configured to close a path between the handle and the pump chamber during a vacuum stroke of the piston.

53. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The pump fitting includes a hub, and the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet extend outwardly from the hub, wherein the hub defines a fitting fluid passageway aligned with the pump chamber.

54. The oral irrigator of claim 42, wherein: The fitting outlet and the fitting inlet are arranged to enable a fastener to be positioned adjacent thereto to connect the pump fitting to the pump housing.

55. An oral irrigator, comprising: an adapter plate configured to engage with and be secured to a pump housing; a hub positioned in a central region of the adapter plate; an accessory inlet including an inlet connector extending outwardly from a first location of the hub; as well as An accessory outlet includes an outlet connector extending outwardly from a second location of the hub, wherein the accessory inlet and the accessory outlet are formed by a continuous wall.

56. The oral irrigator of claim 55, wherein: The fitting outlet and the fitting inlet are stacked relative to each other.

57. The oral irrigator of claim 55, wherein: The fitting inlet and the fitting outlet are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the hub.

58. The oral irrigator of claim 55, wherein: The inlet connector extends from the hub at a first angle, and the outlet connector extends from the hub at a second angle.

59. The oral irrigator of claim 58, wherein: The first angle and the second angle are different.

60. The oral irrigator of claim 55, further comprising an inlet valve positioned between the fitment inlet and the pump chamber.

61. The oral irrigator of claim 55, further comprising: a first mounting aperture defined in the adapter plate and configured to receive a first fastener; as well as A second mounting aperture is defined in the adapter plate and is configured to receive a second fastener.

62. The oral irrigator of claim 61, wherein: The first mounting aperture is positioned on a first side of the hub and the second mounting aperture is positioned on a second side of the hub.

63. The oral irrigator of claim 61, wherein: The hub is defined between the first mounting aperture and the second mounting aperture, wherein the hub defines a fitting fluid passageway in fluid communication with the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet.

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