Oral irrigator

Abstract

An oral irrigator including various components that may create an improved cleaning and use experience. In one example, the oral irrigator may include a control panel that may be easily accessible to a user and may provide a visual display for irrigator information, such as user settings and output settings. In another example, the oral irrigator may include a hose storage structure with a shape and configuration to reduce interferences between the structure and the hose during use.

Description

ORAL IRRIGATORCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 and 37 CE.R. § 1.78 to provisional application no. 63 / 538,261 filed on Sep. 13, 2023, titled “ORAL IRRIGATOR” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[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 linkages. The pump assembly components and couplings can be difficult to assemble, require multiple different parts, and / or require separate fittings to connect together. As such, there is a need for improved pump assembles and / or drive assemblies for oral irrigators and other oral health devices. Further, the control and storage of the handle can be unwieldy or difficult for people to access / use. Therefore, there is a need for improved hose storage, control features, and the like for oral irrigators.SUMMARY

[0004] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a base, a drive assembly positioned within the base, and a control assembly operably coupled to the base and in electronic communication with the drive assembly, where the control assembly includes a controller to vary operating characteristics of the drive assembly and a display to visually output operating information.

[0005] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a handle, a base, a hose coupled between the handle and the base, and a mandrel coupled to the base and configured to receive a portion of the hose, where the mandrel has a sidewall surface area that is smaller than a front wall surface area.

[0006] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a handle, a base fluidly coupled to a reservoir, a handle coupled between the handle and the base, and a mandrel for receiving a portion of the hose, where the mandrel includes a handle recess configured to selectively engage the handle, a main body configured to retain the portion of the hose on the mandrel, and a support rib extending from the main body to the handle recess to couple the main body to the handle recess.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a handle, a base in fluid communication with the handle, a reservoir in fluid communication with the base, and a pump configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle, where the pump is coupled to the base via one or more dampeners.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a handle, a base in fluid communication with the handle, a reservoir in fluid communication with the base, and a pump assembly positioned within the base and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle, where the base comprises an interior surface, the interior surface defining one or more securement features to limit movement of the components of the pump assembly.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a drive assembly, an electrical cable in electrical communication with the drive assembly, and a base including an integrally formed protrusion, where the electrical cable wraps around the protrusion to limit movement of the electrical cable within the base.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments, an oral irrigator is disclosed that includes a handle, a base, a reservoir fluidly connected to the base and the handle and coupled to the base, and a lid coupled to a top end of the reservoir. The lid includes a fixed portion, a rim coupled to the fixed portion, and a movable portion, where the movable portion pivots relative to the fixed portion and the rim, and an outer perimeter of the lid is positioned within an interior perimeter of the reservoir such that when the movable portion is in a closed position a top surface of the rim is not visible.

[0011] According to many embodiments, an oral irrigator emits less than 65 dBA of noise when operating.

[0012] According to many embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a housing; a motor including a motor body and a drive shaft protruding therefrom; a drive gear positioned adjacent to the motor body to minimize a cantilevered length of the drive shaft, wherein the oral irrigator operates at a noise level of less than 65 dBA.

[0013] Optionally, according to some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes support structures at two or more positions of the drive shaft to eliminate the cantilevered length of the drive shaft.

[0014] Optionally, according to some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a pump driven by the motor and including a reinforced pump housing.

[0015] Optionally, according to some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes one or more flexible conduits for fluid transfer from a reservoir to the pump and / or from the pump to the handle.

[0016] Optionally, according to some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a pressure relief valve operable in a pause mode of the oral irrigator.

[0017] Optionally, according to some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a plurality of elastomeric isolators coupled to the housing and the motor and configured to reduce vibration transmission from the motor and pump assembly to the housing.

[0018] In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing an oral irrigator includes: connecting a drive assembly to a pump assembly, the pump assembly including: a pump plate, a pump housing, and a pump assembly; coupling an upper housing to the pump housing; coupling the pump plate to the pump fitting; coupling a reservoir conduit to the pump assembly; assembling a damper with the pump housing; assembling a valve with the pump assembly; assembling a handle with the upper housing; assembling a controller with the housing; and assembling the reservoir with the housing.

[0019] One of skill in the art will understand that each of the various aspects and features of the disclosure may advantageously be used separately in some instances, or in combination with other aspects and features of the disclosure in other instances. Accordingly, individual aspects can be claimed separately or in combination with other aspects and features. Thus, the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the claims or theirapplications or uses. 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.

[0020] The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail and no limitation as to the scope of the claimed subject matter is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, or the like in this summary. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Moreover, for the purposes of clarity, detailed descriptions of certain features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art so as not to obscure the description of the present disclosure. The claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to the arrangements illustrated herein, with the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The description will be more fully understood with reference to the following figures in which components may not be drawn to scale, which are presented as various embodiments of the oral irrigator and / or pump configurations described herein and should not be construed as a complete depiction of the scope of the claimed features.

[0022] Fig. l is a front isometric view of an oral irrigator.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the oral irrigator.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the oral irrigator with a lid in an open position.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the oral irrigator.

[0026] Fig. 5A is a bottom plan view of the oral irrigator.

[0027] Fig. 5B is a bottom plan view of the oral irrigator with a fitting cover removed.

[0028] Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the oral irrigator.

[0029] Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the oral irrigator taken along line 7A-7A in Fig. 1 .

[0030] Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of the cross-sectional view of Fig. 7A.

[0031] Fig. 8 A is a front view of a base of the oral irrigator.

[0032] Fig. 8B is a side elevation view of the base of the oral irrigator.

[0033] Fig. 8C is a side isometric view of a hose mandrel for the oral irrigator.

[0034] Fig. 8D is a front elevation view of the hose mandrel of Fig. 8C.

[0035] Fig. 9A is a bottom isometric view of a lid assembly for the oral irrigator.

[0036] Fig. 9B is a bottom isometric view of the list assembly in an open position.

[0037] Fig. 9C is an exploded view of the lid assembly.

[0038] Fig. 10A is a top isometric view of a control assembly.

[0039] Fig. 10B is an exploded view of the control assembly of Fig. 10A.

[0040] Fig. 10C is a rear exploded view of the control assembly of Fig. 10A.

[0041] Fig. 11 A is a side elevation view of a base of the oral irrigator with select components hidden for clarity.

[0042] Fig. 1 IB is a cross-section view of Fig. 11A.

[0043] Fig. 12A is a top isometric view of a lower housing for the oral irrigator.

[0044] Fig. 12B is a top plan view of the lower housing of Fig. 12A.

[0045] Fig. 13A is a side elevation view of a valve assembly for the oral irrigator.

[0046] Fig. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly taken along line 13B-13B inFig. 13A.

[0047] Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a lower housing base for the oral irrigator.

[0048] Fig. 15 is a partial isometric view of the oral irrigator.

[0049] Fig. 16A is an exploded view of an embodiment of a control assembly.

[0050] Fig. 16B is a partial, detail bottom plan view of a portion of the control assembly of Fig. 16A.

[0051] Fig. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an oral irrigator.

[0052] Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an improved oral irrigator. The oral irrigator may include a control assembly that includes a display and one or more control inputs (e.g., buttons) to allow a user to control the oral irrigator (e.g., turn on / off, change pressure, settings, etc.). In one example, the control assembly includes an electronic display in electronic communication with the control inputs. The electronic display provides feedback to the user regarding a particular setting, timing, etc. The control assembly may allow storage of different user preferences, e.g., cleaning force or energy settings, to allow the oral irrigator to be shared between different users, but quickly return to a particular user’s preferred settings. Additionally, the control assembly may be configured to allow easy access to control inputs based on different operational points, e.g., a control input may be more accessible with the handle removed to prevent inadvertent activation of a particular control, such as a power button. Relatedly, the control assembly may be angled to allow a user to quickly visualize the output, such as the output presented on the electronic display, before and during use, as well as enable ease of control input selection, e.g., an accessible surface.

[0054] The oral irrigator may include a hose storage assembly. The hose storage assembly may include a mandrel with recesses or cutouts configured to reduce surface area that may result in intersections with the hose during use. For example, the mandrel may include recesses on the sidewalls to help reduce contact areas and provide more clearance for the hose during operation, such as while the user is navigating the handle to different locations within his or her mouth. The cutouts may be angled along one or two axes to provide sufficient support for the hose in the storage configuration, but also reduce the impact areas during use. In one example, the mandrel may include two recesses on the right and left sides that extend along the height of the mandrel (e.g., along a longitudinal axis). The recesses may also be curved along different axes to assist in seating the hose back onto the mandrel during storage. In some embodiments, a front surface of the mandrel may also include a handle recess to allow the handle to seat against the mandrel during storage. In some embodiments, the hose storage assembly may include a coupling feature, such as a magnet, that may interact with a corresponding magnet within the handle to hold the handle in position during storage.

[0055] The oral irrigator may also include a reservoir lid that may allow the reservoir to be filed without removing the lid entirely, e.g., a portion of the lid may be pivotable relative to afixed portion to enable the reservoir access. In some embodiments, the lid may also be configured to be seated within an interior sidewall of the reservoir such that an outer portion of the lid may be flush with an exterior wall of the reservoir. Such a configuration may be aesthetically pleasing and help to secure the lid in position.

[0056] Various components of the oral irrigator may also be configured to reduce vibration transmission and / or limit noise. For example, the pump assembly may include vibration dampeners that support one or more components of the pump assembly to isolate the noise and allow the pump assembly to move somewhat during operation, which can assist in reducing noise transmission to a user. As another example, various collars may be used to secure hoses in position to help prevent movement of the hoses relative to a fitting. As yet another example, bumpers and other features may be formed on the interior surfaces of the housing to anchor components in position.

[0057] It should be noted that although specific components and features are discussed as being part of an oral irrigator, the various components may be used together or in separate devices from one another.

[0058] Fig. 1 illustrates an oral irrigator 100 may include a reservoir 102 that holds a fluid, such as water or mouthwash, to provide the fluid to a pump. In instances where the oral irrigator 100 is a countertop unit, the reservoir 102 may be coupled to a housing or base 104 and where the oral irrigator 100 is a handheld unit the reservoir 102 may be coupled to a handle or hand piece for the oral irrigator 100. The base 104 may define a compartment 105 for receiving various components. 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, valve, or the like, that is fluidly coupled to other components of the oral irrigator 100 (e.g., a pump assembly).

[0059] With continued reference to Figs. 1-5B, oral irrigator 100 may include a base 104 or housing, which in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, acts to support the oral irrigator 100 on a surface (e.g., countertop) and optionally may support the reservoir 102. In some instances, the base 104 may be configured as a countertop support, but in other iterations may be formed as a handle portion or a portion that is held in the hand of a user during use. The base 104 supports and / or encloses one or more components of the oral irrigator 100, such as a pump assemblyand / or drive assembly. Additionally, the base 104 may include fluid pathways (e g., tubes, hoses) that direct fluid between different components of the oral irrigator 100, such as between the reservoir 102 and the pump assembly and / or the pump assembly and an outlet, such as a handle 108.

[0060] A handle 108 may be fluidly coupled to the reservoir 102, such as via a hose 112 or other fluid connector. The handle 108 may include a tip 110 or other outlet device that can direct fluid from the reservoir 102 into a user’s oral cavity. The handle 108 may be configured to be held in a user’s hand and in embodiments where the oral irrigator 100 is configured as a handheld device, may include features of the base 104, e.g., the pump assembly and / or drive assembly may be coupled to or position within the handle 108. The handle 108 may include one or more actuators 109, e.g., pause button, or the like that activate valves or other components to pause or vary flow out of the handle 108. As can be appreciated, the handle 108 may be generally an elongated member and configured to be held in a user’s hand as the user navigates the handle 108 to direct the fluid output to different areas of his or her oral cavity.

[0061] The handle 108 may also include features to secure the tip 110 thereto and optionally allow release of the tip 110 therefrom. The tip 110 may be in the form of a jet tip or other tip configuration, e.g., may include bristles (e.g., nozzle integrated with a brush head), tongue scraper, or the like. The handle 108 may further including a retention element, such as a magnet, that may be secured to the housing to allow a user to releasably position the handle 108 on the base 104.

[0062] Fig. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the oral irrigator. With reference to Figs. 5B and 6, the oral irrigator 100 may include a hose fitting 118 coupled to a first end of the hose 112 with the other end of the hose 112 be coupled to the handle 108 (e.g., to an inlet of the handle 108). The hose fitting 118 may include a mounting plate 136 that may be in the form of a bracket and include one or more ribs 134 that extend across at least a portion of the mounting plate 136. In one example, the ribs 134 may extend radially outwards from a center region of the mounting plate 136 similar to spokes positioned around a hub to provide structural rigidity to the mounting plate 136 around the interior fluid passages, but in other embodiments the ribs 134 may be differently configured. A top end of the hose fitting 118 may include an extension 138, e.g., a cylindrical post, that may include a recessed groove around an exterior surface to receive a seal,e.g., an O-ring. The hose fitting 118, which may be referred to as the handle valve fitting, may define a fluid path therethrough and fluidly connect the hose 112 to the pump assembly as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0063] The hose fitting 118 may include a barb 140 (see Fig. 7B) configured to receive the end of the hose 112 and / or a securing collar 142. The securing collar 142 helps to alleviate strain on the hose 112 and secure the hose 112 in position to the hose fitting 118 to help reduce vibration or movement of the hose 112 relative to the hose fitting 118.Base and Hose Storage

[0064] Figs. 8A and 8B illustrate enlarged front and side views, respectively, of the oral irrigator 100 with the handle 108 and hose 112 removed. The base 104 may form a housing for various components of the oral irrigator 100 and may define an interior compartment 105 to house the various elements. An exterior of the base 104 may define a shape of the oral irrigator and may include a control panel shelf 144 that extends outwards and downwards from a top edge 150 of the base and outwards and upwards from a front sidewall of the base 104, e.g., slopes down from the top and up from the sides to define a generally triangular shaped protrusion. The shelf 144 may include an upper edge 146 that supports a control assembly. The upper edge 146 may be angled downwards and towards the user relative to a top edge of the base 104, such an angle may be configured to allow a user to easily view and access the control assembly when coupled to the base 104. The upper edge 146 may be positioned and configured to allow a desired angled configuration of the control panel assembly as discussed in more detail below, but may range from 0 to 60 degrees relative to the top edge 150 of the base 104 and in some embodiments may range from 20 to 50 degrees, and in others may be around 40 degrees (e.g., plus or minus 5 to 10 degrees). In some embodiments, an angle larger than 60 degrees may cause the unit to inadvertently tip over as a user is exerting a force against the control panel to provide an input.

[0065] The shelf 144 may include a hose cutout 148, which in one example may be in the form of an arcuate recess that extends upwards and into the shelf 144. The hose cutout 148 creates space for the hose 112 to seat within when the handle 108 is stored on the base 104. The hose cutout 148 is generally configured to have a correspondence with the hose mandrel 116,e.g., curvature generally matches that of the mandrel 116, which creates a pleasing aesthetic appearance and may help to ensure that the mandrel 116 can easily couple to the base 104.

[0066] With reference to Figs. 6, 8A, and 8B, the hose mandrel 116 may be coupled to the base 104 and configured to receive a portion of the hose 112, e.g., the hose 112 may wrap around the mandrel 116 during storage. The mandrel 116 or boss may be configured to be secured to the base 104, e g., under the shelf 144. The mandrel 116 may generally be a cylindrical member and include a main body 152 that may be defined as a cylindrical tube and have a consistent curvature around its outer surface. Although in some embodiments, the main body 152 may be formed as a rib or structural surface that extends generally outwards from the front sidewall of the base 104, e g., may not include additional side surfaces that curve around (see, e.g., Figs. 8C and 8D). In this manner, the main body 152 may form a storage shelf or surface for receiving the hose 112.

[0067] A lead-in 154 or transition surface extends outwards from the main body 152 and may have a transition or angled curvature, e.g., may be angled downwards or have a narrowing convex curvature as it extends outwards from the main body 152. In this manner, the lead-in 154 may assist in moving the hose 112 onto and off of the main body 152 and the main body 152 may act as a “ledge” or relatively straighter surface to seat the hose 112. In one example, the lead-in 154 may be formed as tangent to the main body 152 and then slope downwards from the tangent point, allowing a smooth transition between the two differently shaped surfaces. It should be noted that although the lead-in 154 is shown to extend on the top and bottom sides of the mandrel, in some embodiments, the lead-in 154 may in be included only on the top surface to reduce potential areas for hose interference during movement of the hose 112, such as during use of the oral irrigator 100.

[0068] The mandrel 116 may also include a handle recess 158 defined on the front surface thereof. The handle recess 158 or cradle may be defined as a generally oval depression that extends deep inwards along its center line to define a recessed seat to receive the handle 108. The handle recess 158 may be configured to generally match (e.g., oppositely correspond to) a curvature of the handle 108. The top end and bottom end of the handle recess 158 may extend backwards at an angle towards the base 104, e.g., into the lead-in 154, which may allow thehandle 108 to be more easily seated in the recess 158, e.g., reduce interference as the handle 108 is slid into or out of the handle recess 158.

[0069] With reference to Figs. 8 A and 8B, the mandrel 116 may also include one or more hose recesses 156a, 156b or interference recesses 156a, 156b, these recesses may be defined on opposite sidewalls of the mandrel (which may be connected together, e.g., via a support rib or other structure and extend from the lead-in- and / or main body). The hose recesses 156a, 156b may be defined on opposite sides of the mandrel 116, e.g., on either side of the handle recess 158. The hose recesses 156a, 156b may be generally shaped as oval shaped depressions that extend towards a center of the mandrel 116. The hose recesses 156a, 156b are configured to reduce the wall surface area that may impact the hose 112 during use, e.g., to prevent or reduce the hose 112 from hitting the sidewalls of the mandrel 116 during use. The hose recesses 156a, 156b may have a concave curvature along one or two axes, e.g., along the x and y (height and length) axes.

[0070] A magnet 126 may be secured to an interior surface of the mandrel 116 and be positioned to be aligned with the handle recess 158. The magnet 126 or other retention member is configured to interact with the handle 108, such as with a corresponding magnet, to secure the handle 108 on the mandrel 116. In other embodiments another type of securement may be used, such as a mechanical clamp or fastener.

[0071] Figs. 8C and 8D illustrate another embodiment of the mandrel that may be more streamlined and include less material, e g., may further reduce areas for hose interference, but may be less aesthetically pleasing in some configurations. With reference to Figs. 8C and 8D, in this embodiment, the mandrel 416 may include a cylindrical tube as the main body 418 and the lead-in surface 422 may be angled in a similar manner as the mandrel 116. However, rather than having a surface that extends to define the hose recesses, the mandrel 416 may omit additional material (e.g., not include sidewalls arranged generally perpendicular to the base wall). Rather, a support rib 420 may extend outwards from the main body 418 and lead-in 422 to connect to the handle support surface 426. A magnet housing 424 may be defined in a center region of the support rib 420 and be aligned with and adjacent to the handle support 426. The handle support 426 may be similarly configured as the handle recess 158 and may include a recessed surface that receives the handle 108. In this embodiment, the mandrel 416 may be configured to havesufficient material to support the hose 112 when is in the stored position, as it can wrap around and be positioned on the main body 418. However, by eliminating the sidewalls on the sides of the mandrel 416, the hose 112 may have fewer possible surfaces to engage against or interfere with during use. This may help to prevent the hose 112 from getting snagged during use and from engaging against the material.Reservoir Lid

[0072] Figs. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate various views of the reservoir lid assembly 106. With reference to Figs. 3, 9A, and 9B, the lid assembly 106 is configured to be positioned on the reservoir 102 and to cover the reservoir cavity 172, e.g., to prevent debris from falling into the reservoir cavity 172. The lid assembly 106 may be removable or in some examples may be partially moveable to allow access to the reservoir cavity 172 without requiring removal of the lid assembly 106. In one example, the lid assembly 106 may include a first or fixed portion 120a and a second or hinged portion 120b. The hinged portion 120b may be pivoted relative to the fixed portion 120a to define an access opening for the reservoir cavity 172, e.g., to allow a user to refill the reservoir 102 without having to remove the entire lid assembly 106.

[0073] The fixed portion 120a may include a cover or top surface 174 and a rim 160 that extends from and is inset from the exterior edge of the top surface 174. The rim 160 may extend around the entirety of the lid assembly 106, e.g., the perimeter of both the fixed and hinged portions 120a, 120b. As mentioned, the rim 160 may be inset or positioned radially inward relative to the outer edge of both lid portions 120a, 120b, which may allow the rim 160 to seat within an interior surface of the reservoir 102 so that the side edges of the fixed and hinged portions 120a, 120b may be flush with the exterior surface of the reservoir 102. However, in other configurations, the lid assembly 106 may be differently configured, e.g., the rim 160 may seat on the top edge of the reservoir 102, rather than inside of the interior surface of the reservoir 102. In some embodiments, an outer perimeter of the rim is positioned inside an interior perimeter of the reservoir (e.g., towards a center of the reservoir) and when the lid is closed, e.g., the hinged portion 120b is closed a top surface of the rim 160 is not visible.

[0074] The rim 160 may include one or more detents 170 that extend outwards from the rim 160 and are configured to couple to one or more securing recesses formed on the interior surfaceof the reservoir 102. The detents 170 secure the lid assembly 106 in position, but also are flexible to allow a user to exert a force to remove the entire lid assembly 106 if desired.

[0075] The fixed portion 120a may include one or more hinge posts 168, e.g., two sets of two posts 168 that extend from the bottom surface and are configured to receive a hinge of the hinged portion 120b. In one example, two hinge posts 168 may include a rod 176 that extends therebetween that receives a joint for the hinge.

[0076] With reference to Figs. 7A, 7B, and 9B, the hinge portion 120b may include one or more hinge arms 162. In one example, the hinge portion 120b may include two hinge arms 162 that extend downwards from the bottom surface of the hinge portion 120b and angle frontwardly towards the fixed portion along an arcuate curve. The hinge arms 162 may include a straight extension 173 that extends upwards from a bottom point to couple to the fixed portion 120a. The arcuate shape of the hinge arms 162 may define clearance as the hinge opens and the end of the top surface 174 of the fixed portion 120a may be received within the gap defined by the curvature. The inflection point for the upwards extension 173 may act as a stop to limit the movement of the hinge portion 120b, e.g., to define the range of motion the hinge portion 120b may pivot as it opens relative to the fixed portion 120a. The hinge may also include a rod 176, which may be defined as a pivot surface, e.g., curved surface, and that may couple to the hinge posts 168, e.g., on rods 176, to allow the hinge portion 120b to rotate on the hinge posts 168.Control Assembly

[0077] The oral irrigator 100 may include a control assembly 180 that may allow a user to activate the irrigator 100 as well as modify one or more operating characteristics thereof. The control assembly 180 may be coupled to the base 104, as well as in electronic communication with the pump assembly. Figs. 10A and 10B illustrate various views of the control assembly 180. The control assembly 180 may include a housing 182 to which various components of the assembly 180 may be secured and that may couple the assembly 180 to the base 104. In one example, the housing 182 may be configured as a top portion of the base 104 and form a top surface of the base 104, e.g., the reservoir 102 may be seated on the top surface 200 of the housing 182. In these embodiments, the housing 182 may include a raised perimeter wall 210 that extends around the top surface 200 to help maintain the reservoir 102 in a seated positioned.Additionally, a reservoir port 202 may be defined through the housing 182 to allow the reservoir 102 to be fluidly connected to various components within the base 104.

[0078] With reference to Fig. 10B, a panel bracket 206 may extend from the front edge of the housing 182. The panel bracket 206 may be configured to seat on the shelf 144 of the base 104 and so may extend outwards and downwards at a corresponding angle, e.g., between 0 and 60 degrees, such as around 40 degrees (for similar reasons as discussed above with respect to the base housing). The panel bracket 206 may define a hollow area or include apertures to allow electrical connections to extend through the housing 182. In these instances, the panel bracket 206 may include one or more ribs 208a, 208b, 208c that span across the width of the panel bracket 206 to provide structural support and rigidity to the panel bracket 206, e.g., to withstand a user force pressing down on the control panel. The ribs 208a, 208b, 208c may extend at a similar angle as the panel bracket 206 relative to the top surface 200 of the housing 182.

[0079] With reference to Fig. 7A and 10B, a motor wall 204 may extend downwards from a bottom surface 212 of the housing 182. The motor wall 204 may define a substantially closed or fully closed shape, for example, as shown in Fig. 7A, the motor wall 204 is defined as a cylindrical extension with an opening, e.g., discontinuous curved wall. In this manner, the motor wall 204 may be able to more readily receive certain components, such as a motor, and secure them in position. However, in other embodiments, the motor wall 204 will be fully continuous and configured to wrap around the respective drive assembly component, e.g., motor 228. The motor wall 204 may be especially helpful in instances where the motor 228 may not be rigidly mounted to the housing, since the motor 228 may be able to move more flexibly within the base 104, the motor wall 204 helps to ensure that the motor 228 does not move too much and remains aligned, even after large force experiences (e.g., due to a drop force if the user drops the unit).

[0080] With reference again to Fig. 10B, the control assembly 180 may include a display mount 184 configured to couple to the housing 182. The display mount 184 may be configured to support a display 186 and include one or more actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d. In one example, the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d are flexible members, e.g., formed of rubber, and configured as protrusions that can be deformed to actuate a switch. In other examples, the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d may be movable or otherwise vary to allow activation of aswitch. The display mount 184 may also include a display aperture 214 that may allow the display 186 to be visible or at least substantially unobscured by the display mount 184.

[0081] The display 186 may be configured to provide an output to the user, e.g., visual output. In one example, the display 186 is a liquid crystal display and is configured to display operating and / or setting information to the user. For example, the display 186 may include an output value, e.g., kinetic energy value that may be correlated to the amount of force experienced by a user during use at a particular value. The display 186 may also include user information, e.g., indicate settings for a first user or a second user and include output regarding cleaning methods, such as providing quadrant or cleaning times for different areas of an oral cavity. In general, the display 186 may be configured to output operating information that is useful to the user. In some embodiments, the display 186 may be configured to receive user input, e.g., as a touch screen or capacitive screen, but in other embodiments, the display 186 may be configured to provide output information only. With the later, the display 186 may be less expensive and the control assembly 180 may include other actuators, such as buttons, that are more easily activated in a wet environment, such as one that may be created during use of an oral irrigator.

[0082] A display connector 188 may be included to electrically couple the display 186 to a circuit board, such as circuit board 190. The display connector 188 may also be configured to compress to enable an electrical connection, e.g., be configured as a zebra connector for the display.

[0083] The circuit board 190, which may be a printed circuit board, may include various electrical components for controlling the oral irrigator 100, including the display 186. The circuit board 190, for example, may include a controller 217, such as a processor or microcontroller, as well as storage or memory (e.g., to store user settings)(which may be incorporated with the processor as a chip), and may include one or more switches 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d. The switches 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d may be coupled to the processor and configured to provide user instructions, e.g., to turn the oral irrigator 100 on / off, change an output value, store a user setting, or the like.

[0084] With reference to Fig. 10B, the control assembly 180 may include an overlay 193 that may be configured to be positioned on top of the display mount 184 and provide an aestheticfeature, as well as include icons for the various controls. Additionally, a film or other sealing element may be included over the display 186 and aperture within the overlay 193.

[0085] To assemble the control assembly 180, the display 186 is angled to slide into the display aperture 214 and is positioned to rest on a ledge on the display mount 184 front surface. The connector 188 is positioned between the back surface of the display 186 (which includes electrical connections) and connected to corresponding electrical connections on the top surface of the circuit board 190. The switches 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d are aligned with the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d of the display mount 184 and positioned such that a user force can deform the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d to extend them towards and reach the switches 216a, 216b, 216c, 2126d and when the force is removed return back to an undeformed state that does not activate the switch (e.g., compresses back to a shorter length).

[0086] The circuit board 190 is positioned on the ribs 208a, 208b, 208c and the panel bracket 206 of the housing 182. The display mount 184 is then positioned over the top of circuit board 190 and one or more barbs 219a, 219b extending from the display mount 184 engage the panel bracket 206. This exerts a clamping force that compresses the display mount 184, which may be a flexible material, such as rubber, and clamps the connector 188 to connect with the electrical connections on the rear side of the display 186 and the front surface of the circuit board 190. The overlay 193 may then be positioned over the display mount 184 with the control button portions of the overlay 193 aligning with the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d. An overlay seal 220 may be placed between the overlay 193 and panel bracket 206. The apertures 221a, 221b, 221c, 22 Id are aligned with the display aperture 214 (and display 186) and the actuators 213a, 213b, 213c, 213d. The overlay seal 220 may have adhesive on both sides to bond the overlay 193 to panel bracket 206 and provide a seal. Optionally, a film or other overlay may be positioned over the display 186 to seal the overlay and other apertures. Similarly, one or more seals may be positioned along different interfaces of the control assembly 180 as desired, e.g., between the display mount 184 and the panel bracket 206 and / or between the circuit board 190 and the display mount 184. The number and configuration of the seals may be depending on the coupling features and component configurations of the control assembly 180.

[0087] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the control assembly 180 may be positioned in other areas of the oral irrigator 100. For example, in one embodiment, the controlassembly 180 may be mounted or coupled to the lid 106 to allow a user to have unobstructed visibility to the control assembly 180. In these instances, the control assembly 180 may further include a power source, such as a small battery (e.g., coin battery) to provide power to the controller and the display. Additionally, a wireless component, such as a Bluetooth or other radio frequency transmitter / receiver could be included to provide electronic control signals to the motor 228 or drive assembly based on the user inputs.

[0088] Figs. 16A and 16B, show an embodiment of a control assembly 1600 suitable for use with the oral irrigator 100. The control assembly 1600 is similar in many aspects to the control assembly 180 described herein. For example, the control assembly 1600 may allow a user to activate the irrigator 100 as well as modify one or more operating characteristics thereof. The control assembly 1600 may be coupled to the base 104, as well as in electronic communication with the pump assembly.

[0089] Figs. 16A and 16B illustrate various views of the control assembly 1600. The control assembly 1600 may include a housing 182 similar to the housing 182 of the control assembly 100. Various components of the assembly 1600 may be secured and that may couple the assembly 1600 to the base 104. In one example, the housing 182 may be configured as a top portion of the base 104 and form a top surface of the base 104, e.g., the reservoir 102 may be seated on the top surface 200 of the housing 182. In these embodiments, the housing 182 may include a raised perimeter wall 210 that extends around the top surface 200 to help maintain the reservoir 102 in a seated positioned. Additionally, a reservoir port 202 may be defined through the housing 182 to allow the reservoir 102 to be fluidly connected to various components within the base 104. As described herein, the housing 182 includes a panel bracket 206. The panel bracket 206 may include one or more ribs 208a, rib 208b, and / or 208c.

[0090] The control assembly 1600 may include an overlay 1602 that provides a portion of a user interface to a user of the oral irrigator 100. The overlay 1602 may include an aperture 221a or window that exposes a portion of a display 1612. The display 1612 is as described with respect to the display 186 and provides a dynamic portion of a user interface of the oral irrigator 100.

[0091] The overlay 1602 may provide one or more button suitable to receive a user input. For example, the overlay 1602 may include buttons 1640a - 1640e. For example, the button 1640amay provide a control for the user to turn the oral irrigator 100 on or off. The button 1640b may allow a user to select a user profile including one or more stored or configurable user settings or preferences. The button 1640c may provide for a mode selection for the oral irrigator 100. For example, the button 1640c may provide access to flossing, massage, or other modes of the oral irrigator 100. The button 1640d and button 1640e may provide navigation functions for the user to move through menus of the user interface or select one or more user settings.

[0092] A circuit board 1610 is disposed beneath the overlay 1602. The circuit board 1610 includes one or more switch 1618a - 1618e. The switch 1618a corresponds in position and function to the button 1640a. The switch 1618b corresponds in position and function to the button 1640b, and so on. In many examples, the switches 1618a - 1618e are momentary contact switches.

[0093] One or more actuators may be disposed between the overlay 1602 and the circuit board 1610. For example, an actuator 1650 may be disposed between the button 1640a, button 1640b, and the button 1640c, and their respective switches 1618a, b, and c. Similarly, an actuator 1652 may be disposed between the switch 1618d and the switch 1618e. Other arrangements of switches, buttons, and actuators are contemplated within this disclosure.

[0094] The actuators 1650 and actuator 1652 may have a central rib 1666 and 1668, respectively. The actuators may include an actuation surface 1678 extending laterally from the central ribs 1666, 1668. The actuation surface 1678 may have one or more protrusions rising therefrom. For example, the actuator 1650 includes a protrusion 1656a, a protrusion 1656b, and a protrusion 1656c corresponding in position and function to button 1640a, switch 1618a, button 1640b and switch 1618b, and button 1640c and switch 1618c, respectively. Similarly, the actuator 1652 may include a protrusion 1656d and a protrusion 1656e corresponding in position and function to button 1640d and switch 1618d, and button 1640e and switch 1618e. Other arrangements and correlations between switches, button, and protrusions are contemplated.

[0095] With reference especially to Fig 16B, the bracket 206 may include a bracket receptacle 1680 and a bracket protrusion 1682. The rib 1666 and rib 1668 may include respective shafts 1672, cross members 1674, and / or fork portions 1676 extending from their central ribs. The shafts 1672 are receivable in the bracket receptacles 1680. The cross members 1674 may abut adjacent portions of the bracket 206 when the shafts are received in the bracket receptacles 1680.The fork portions 1676 form receptacles 1670 into which the bracket protrusions 1682 may be received. Thus, the actuator 1650 and actuator 1652 are captive between the overlay 1602 and the bracket 206.

[0096] The actuators 1650 and 1650 provide a number of benefits. First, the protrusions thereon act as an interface between the buttons 1640a-e and the respective switches 1618a-e. The actuators can modify the user feel and actuation force of the buttons providing a positive user feel or haptic feedback for when a button has been pushed. Additionally, the actuators 1650 and actuator 1652 clamp the circuit board 1610 into the assembly of the oral irrigator 100 without the use of screws or other fasteners, thereby simplifying assembly of the oral irrigator 100 and reducing cost and weight.Drive and Pump Assemblies

[0097] With reference to Figs. 6, 7A, 7B, 11A, and 1 IB, the oral irrigators 100 may include a drive assembly 122 and a pump assembly 123 to pump fluid from the reservoir 102 to the handle 108. The drive assembly 122 may include a drive element, such as a motor 228. The motor 228 may include a drive shaft 230 and be configured to translate electrical energy into rotational movement or another mechanical movement, e.g., rotate the drive shaft 230 about an axis.

[0098] With reference to Figs. 7B and 1 IB, a drive gear 232 may be configured to be coupled to the drive shaft 230. The drive gear 232 may be formed as a pinion or other gear that correspondingly moves another drive element, such as a linkage or additional gear. To that end, the drive gear 232 may include one or more teeth that may mesh with a corresponding drive element (e.g., another gear). In some embodiments, the drive gear 232 is configured to be directly received on the drive shaft 230, but in other embodiments the drive gear 232 may be coupled to the drive shaft 230 in other manners.

[0099] With continued reference to Figs. 7B and 1 IB, a driven gear 234 may be configured to engage with the drive gear 232 or another drive element to be rotated by the motor 228. The driven gear 232 may include one or more teeth that interface with and engage corresponding teeth on the drive gear 232. The driven gear 234 may also include a cam 248 that may extend from a surface thereof. In various embodiments, the driven gear 234 may include a shaft aperture, which may be defined along a center axis or other axis of the driven gear 234 and configured to couple the driven gear 234 to another drive element, e.g., a gear shaft 250, tosupport the driven gear 234 and optionally define a rotational axis for the driven gear 234 (e.g., driven gear 234 is rotationally coupled to the gear shaft 250). In some embodiments, the motor 228 and linkages (e.g., drive gear 232 and driven gear 234) may form a drive assembly to operate a pump assembly of the oral irrigator 100.

[0100] The pump assembly 123 is configured to be activated by the drive assembly 122 to pump fluid from the reservoir 102 to the tip 110 of the handle 108. A pump housing 244 may enclose various aspects of the pump assembly 123 and / or drive assembly 122 (e.g., one or more of the gears). The pump housing 244 may include a first or upper housing 244a and a second or lower housing 244b, that may be coupled to the first housing 244a. A pump chamber 246 may be defined by the second pump housing 244, e.g., formed as an extension from a sidewall of the second pump housing 244b.

[0101] The pump housing 244, which may also be referred to as the gear housing, may be configured to support the motor 228 and so in some instances may include a motor mount having a shaft aperture 252 that may receive the drive shaft 230 therethrough. Additionally, the pump housing 244 may include a portion of or fully define a shaft support 254. For example, the shaft support 254 may be defined as a nub, protrusion, curb, or the like that may define a shaft aperture, shaft recess, or a portion of the same, therein. In the example shown in Fig. 1 IB, the shaft support 254 may be defined as a protrusion extending from a top surface of the first housing 244a, but as shown in other figures, the location and configuration of the shaft support 254 may be varied. The second pump housing 244b may also include a corresponding shaft support as well.

[0102] The pump housing 244 may include one or more fastening supports 256a, 256b, such as protrusions or brackets that may receive one or more fasteners to secure the pump housing 244 together, e.g., secure the first pump housing 244a to the second pump housing 244b.

[0103] With reference to Figs. 12A and 12B, the pump housing 244 is integrally formed to define a gear housing that supports a drive element of the drive assembly 122, such as one or more gears, a motor, a linkage, and / or gear shaft. More specifically, the second pump housing 244b may include an outer wall 258 that may be defined as a continuous wall and extend around the perimeter to define both a drive element or gear element compartment 260 and a pump chamber 246. The gear compartment 260 may be shaped and sized to receive various elementsof the drive assembly 122 and / or the pump assembly 123. The gear compartment 260 may be connected to the pump chamber 246 such that without a sealing element, such as a component of the pump assembly 122, fluid could flow between the gear compartment 260 and the pump chamber 246.

[0104] The outer wall 258 transitions to define the outer perimeter of the second gear housing 244b, the outer wall 258 may form a pump extension 262 which may extend from a portion of the outer wall 258. The pump extension 262 includes an outer wall and defines a pump chamber 246 therein. The pump chamber 246 may be open on either end, with one end open to the gear compartment 260 and the other end, a piston end 268, may form a terminal end of the pump chamber 246 that extends away from the outer wall 258.

[0105] Optionally, the pump housing 244b may include one or more coupling features, such as a pump plate 264 and / or one or more fastening brackets. The pump plate 264 may be formed at the piston end 268 of the pump chamber 246 or as shown in Figs. 12B, may be slightly set back form the piston end 268, such a portion of the pump extension 262 extends past the pump plate 264. However, in different embodiments, the configuration and orientation of the pump plate 264 may be different.

[0106] Fastening sleeves 266a, 266b may be configured to extend parallel to the pump chamber 246 and pump extension 262, such that fasteners that may be used to secure a fitting to the pump extension 262 may be configured to extend in the same direction of the force generated by the pump assembly 123 during operation. In one embodiment, the fastening sleeves 212a, 212b may define cavities or recesses configured to receive a fastener, but in other configurations may be differently configured.

[0107] With reference to Figs. 12A and 12B, the pump housing 244b may also include one or more mount supports 280 to couple the pump housing 244b and / or components of the drive assembly 122 and pump assembly 123 to the base 104. In one example, the mount supports 280 may include a first arm 282 and a second arm 284, where the two arms 282, 284 may be configured to be received around a mount, e.g., rubber mount. In one example the second arm 284 may include a recess 286 defined on a top surface facing towards the first arm 282. The recess 286 may be configured to receive a portion of the mount, as discussed in more detail below. The two arms 282, 284 may extend parallel to one another and may extend from the outerwall 258 of the pump housing 244b, e.g., extend perpendicular from the sidewall of the pump housing 244b. In one example, the first arm 282 may have a small width than the second arm 284, however, in other configurations the arms 282, 284 may be differently configured. The pump housing 244b may include three sets of mount supports 280, each include two arms, with two sets extending from the outer wall 258 and one set extending from a formed bracket 288 extending downwards from a top edge of the pump housing 244b. The number and configuration of the pump mounts 280 may be varied based on the desired configuration of the pump assembly 123, drive assembly 122, and housing support.

[0108] With reference to Fig. 7B, one or more dampeners 428 may be used to couple the pump housing 244a, 244b to the base 104. The dampeners 428 may be configured to absorb vibration to reduce forces from being transmitted to the base 104. In one example, the dampeners 428 are configured to couple to the mount supports 280 and may include a main body having a slot 430 formed in a sidewall thereof to define an engagement arm 432 and a bottom arm 434. The two arms 432, 434 may extend parallel to one another and be separated by a thickness of the slot 430. A nub 436a, 436b may be formed on an interior surface of one or both of the engagement arm 432 and the bottom arm 434. In the example shown in Fig. 7A and 7B, each of the interior surfaces of the engagement arm 432 and the bottom arm 434 may include a nub 436a, 436b adjacently arranged.

[0109] A mount head 438 may extend from the bottom arm 434 and may include a neck and a flange portion and may be configured to be deformed to fit through an aperture in the base 104 and expand back to an original configuration to secure the dampeners 428 to the base 104. As can be understood, the dampeners 428 may generally be formed of a flexible material, such as rubber.

[0110] In one example, the oral irrigator 100 may include three dampeners 428 that may couple to different distributed areas of the pump housing 244a, 244b, but in other configurations different numbers of dampeners 428 may be used. In examples, including three dampeners 428, the assembly may be configured to be supported within the base 104, but also enable movement of the pump housing 244a, 244b slightly due to including three anchor points (rather than four or more), introducing some instability, which may further help to prevent vibration transmission tothe base 104 as movement may require energy reducing the overall energy available for transmission to the base 104.Pump Assembly[0U1] A piston and connecting rod are disclosed that may be used as a portion of the pump assembly 123 for the oral irrigator 100. With reference to Figs. 7 and 1 IB, the piston 238 may be included in the pump assembly 123 and configured to be positioned within the pump housing 242 and specifically within the pump chamber 246. The piston 238 may include a rod cutout 270b, which may be defined in the piston sidewall 272. In one example, the rod cutout 270b extends from the bottom edge of the piston upwards towards a sealing end 274 and may terminate before the terminal end. The rod cutout 270b is configured to enable insertion of the connecting rod 236 into the piston cavity without causing permanent damage to the piston 1238, e.g., without inelastically deforming the piston 238.

[0112] In one example, the rod cutout 270b may have a keyhole or Y shape that includes a broader base portion, which may define a frustum shape that extends into a rectangular shaped portion. The rod cutout 270b may also be defined in part by other features in the piston sidewall, such as one or more coupling apertures and / or bearings.

[0113] In one embodiment, the piston 238 may include at least one coupling aperture 270a, where the coupling apertures 270b may be defined on opposite sides of the piston sidewall. In one embodiment, one or both of the coupling apertures 270a may extend into the rod cutout 270b, however, in other iterations the coupling apertures may be differently configured, e.g., positioned on different sides from the rod cutout 270b or positioned above and do not intersect with the rod cutout 270b. The coupling apertures 270a may be defined by one or more bearing surfaces to define a bearing. In this manner, the piston 238 may include one or more bearings which may be defined on opposite sides of the piston 238 but at a same location on a length of the piston 238. In some embodiments, two bearings may be desired, to ensure a balanced load and preventing formation of a moment. However, depending on the configuration of the connecting rod 236, other types of configurations, such as a piston 238 with a single bearing.

[0114] The seal end of the piston 238 may include a sealing feature (e.g., seal or flexible skirt) that seals against a portion of the pump chamber 246. The seal end 274 is configured to seal against the interior wall of the pump chamber 246 in order to create a vacuum force and fullyexpel fluid within the pump chamber 246, as discussed in more detail below. The seal end 274 may be defined as a flared and flexible skirt that may have a diameter in an undeformed configuration that may be the same as or slightly larger than a diameter of the pump chamber 246, such that when positioned in the pump chamber 246, the skirt may flex to allow insertion into the pump chamber 246 and then expand back out to seal against the walls.

[0115] A connecting arm 236 may be coupled to the cam 248 and configured to be driven by the driven gear 234. The connecting arm 236 may include an open end portion received around the cam 248 and an elongated portion or shaft that extends outwards from the end portion. A connecting pin or piston end 240 may be formed as a head at a terminal end of the connecting arm 236 and configured to couple the connecting arm 236 to a piston 238, e g., via the rod cutout 270b and the coupling apertures 270a. The piston 238 is configured to couple and move with the connecting arm 236.

[0116] While the connecting rod 236 is shown as including a piston end 240 extending outwards from the shaft in two directions, e.g., forming a T shape at the end of the shaft, in other embodiments the piston end 240 may be differently configured. For example, in one embodiment, the piston end 240 may include a single branch or protrusion that extends from one side of the shaft to define an inverted L or similar structure at the terminal end of the shaft.However, in embodiments with a balanced piston end, the shaft may be better protected from bending during use and so at select operating forces a “T” shaped piston end 240 may be preferred.

[0117] The driven end forms a first end of the connecting rod 236 and is configured to mechanically couple the connecting rod 236 to a drive element of the drive assembly 122. For example, in one embodiment, the driven end may be defined as a cam follower and configured to be positioned around and receive cam 248. In these embodiments the driven end may be defined as a circular ring. However, in other embodiments, the connecting rod 236 may include other coupling features that engage with and translate motion from a drive element.

[0118] To insert the connecting rod 236 into the piston 238 the piston end 240 is aligned with the rod cutout 270b and moved into the rod cutout 270b until the piston end 240 seats within the opposite coupling aperture 270a. In this manner, the piston end 240 may extend across a width of the piston 238. The piston end 240 may be coupled to the piston 238 without a separateelement, such as a pin or other fastener, being inserted into the connecting rod 236 and / or piston 238.

[0119] The pump assembly 123 may include a pump fitting 276 that may define a pump inlet and pump outlet (or fitting inlet and fitting outlet) and is configured to both deliver and receive fluid from the pump chamber 246. With reference to Figs. 11 A and 1 IB, the fitting 276 may be configured as a unitary or integrally formed part, such that both a pump inlet 310 and a pump outlet 312 are coupled together integrally, such as defined by an unbroken wall or continuous wall. For example, the fitting 276 may be formed as an injection molded component (e.g., plastic injection molded), defining both the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 in a single piece. Conventionally, pump fittings for oral irrigators defined two separate components for a pump inlet and pump outlet, requiring multiple separate parts, increasing the difficulty of assembly, and requiring more space within the housing of the oral irrigator 100.

[0120] The pump fitting 276 may include a hub 300 that defines a fluid passageway 314 that may be in communication with the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312. With reference to Figs. 7B, 11 A and 1 IB, in some configurations, the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 may be positioned at different locations along a length of the longitudinal axis of the hub 300. For example, the pump outlet 312 may be positioned closer to the pump plate 264 of the pump housing 244b than the pump inlet 310 and both may be along the longitudinal axis of the hub 300. In this configuration, the pump inlet 310 and the pump outlet 312 may be configured in a laterally stacked orientation, such that they are aligned on the same axis, but at different horizontal locations relative thereto. Optionally, the hub 300 may include a valve retainer, which may be defined as a separate element received within hub 300 or formed as a sidewall or protrusion that extends from an interior wall of the hub 300 and may be arranged in a central region of the fitting 276. The valve retainer may be configured to ensure a position and orientation of the valve 278 once positioned within the fitting 276.

[0121] The pump inlet 310 may be defined by a connector and may be oriented at an angle relative to a center longitudinal axis of the hub 300. Similarly, the pump outlet 312 may be defined by a connector extending from the hub 300 and may extend an angle relative to the center longitudinal axis of the hub 300. The angular orientation of the inlet connector 316 and outlet connector 318 may be varied and the two may be oriented in the same direction andangular orientation. The inlet connector 316 and outlet connector 318 may be configured to couple to a corresponding fluid passage, such as a hose or tube, and include a connector, such as a hose barb, or other coupling element, e.g., connect to reservoir hose 320 and pump hose 322, respectively.

[0122] With continued reference to Fig. 11 A, the fitting 276 may also include a fitting plate 281 that acts to engage with and couple to the pump housing 244b. The fitting plate 281 may be in the form of a relatively planar extension that defines a coupling surface to engage the pump plate 264. The fitting plate 281 may include one or more fastening apertures defined therethrough to receive one or more fasteners and optionally strengthening collars may be positioned around the fastening apertures, such as extending from an outer surface of the fitting plate 281 (facing away from the pump plate 264), in order to protect the fasteners from disengagement and strengthening the connection area on the fitting plate 281.

[0123] With continued reference to Fig. 11A, in one example, the reservoir hose 320 may be fluidly coupled to the reservoir 102, e.g., via reservoir valve assembly 290 and / or valve assembly 132. The reservoir hose 320 may define a fluid passageway that fluidly couples the reservoir 102 to the pump inlet 310, e.g., connects to inlet connector 316 of the pump fitting 276. In one example, the reservoir hose 320 may be flexible and be able to be deformed to fit within the base cavity and couple between the respective connections, e.g., valve assembly 132 and pump fitting 276.

[0124] The pump hose 322 may be fluidly coupled to the pump chamber 246 (and specifically the pump outlet 312) and the valve assembly 132. In one example, the pump hose 322 may be coupled to the outlet connector 318, such as via a collar 292 or other securing feature and may be connected to the valve assembly 132 also via a collar 294. The collar 292, 294 connections may help to limit movement of the pump hose 322 at the connection points, especially as the line is under pressure, which could cause noise, vibration, and / or potential leaks. In some embodiments, the pump hose 322 may be more rigid than the reservoir hose 320 since the pump hose 322 may experience more pressure forces as the fluid is pressurized as it leaves the pump chamber 246. In some embodiments, the pump hose 322 may have a length that is longer than a point-to-point distance between the two connection points, e.g., a much shorter hose length could be used to connect the valve assembly 132 and the pump outlet 312 based on a straight distance between thetwo components. However, by including extra length in the pump hose 322, which may be coiled or otherwise wrapped (e.g., including one or more loops within the length as it extends between the connections), the pump hose 322 may be more flexible and absorb more vibration, to help reduce noise of the pump assembly 123 during operation. Further the flexibility may help to retain the connections and prevent leaks. In one example, the pump hose 322 may be at least 1.25 times the direct point to point distance between the two connections, but in other examples may be 1.5 to 2.5 times the point distance length. In one example, the pump hose 322 may be polyethylene, but in other examples, different materials may be used.Valve Assembly

[0125] Figs. 13 A and 13B illustrate various views of the valve assembly 132. The valve assembly 132 fluidly couples the reservoir 102, pump assembly 123 and handle 108 together. The valve assembly 132 may also be configured to enable bypass flow of fluid back to the reservoir 102, such as when flow through an outlet (e.g., handle 108) is obstructed, such as due to activation of a handle actuator or pause button 109. To that end, it should be noted that in instances where a bypass flow may not be needed or used, the valve assembly 132 may be omitted. In these instances, the reservoir 102 may be connected to the pump fitting 276 via a direct hose connection or other fluid structure and similarly the hose fitting 118 may be connected directly to the pump fitting 276 or via a hose connection or other structure.

[0126] With reference to Figs. 13 A and 13B, to include a bypass fluid path, however, the valve assembly 132 may include a valve housing 324 that receives a relief valve 336. The valve housing 324 may be defined as a generally hollow cylindrical structure and define a first chamber or reservoir chamber 356 and a second chamber or valve chamber 358. The reservoir chamber 356 may be in fluid communication with a reservoir outlet 326 which may be defined within a connector 328 or barb. Similarly, the valve chamber 358 may be in fluid communication with the pump chamber 246 through an inlet 330, which may be defined through a connector 332, such as a barb (e.g., to couple to a fluid tube or hose). The two chambers 356, 358 may be in selective, direct, fluid communication depending on the position of the relief valve 336. In a first configuration, the two chambers 356, 358 are in fluid communication via the pump assembly 123, but in a second configuration, a neck 334 or passageway between the twochambers 356, 358 is unsealed by the relief valve 336 and fluid can flow therebetween, e.g., to allow fluid from the valve chamber 358 to return to the reservoir 102.

[0127] With brief reference to Fig. 7A, 7B, and 13 A, the valve housing 324 may terminate in a valve housing surface 360, which may define one or more fastener sleeves to receive a fastener. In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, there may be three fastening sleeves that may be used to secure to the hose fitting 118, however, the number and configuration of the fastening sleeves or other types of securement features may be varied on the particular configuration and mounting structure.

[0128] With reference again to Fig. 13B, the relief valve 336 may be defined as an elongated member and may include a sealing head 342 at a first end thereof. In some embodiments, the relief valve 336 may taper towards the top end and may expand outwards at the sealing head 342 to define an area to receive and secure a seal 340, e g., the seal 340 may be received around the relief valve 336 and positioned underneath and secured in place via the sealing head 342. One or more valve ports 344a, 344b may be defined through the body of the relief valve 336 and may be in communication with a valve lumen 366 defined within the center of the relief valve 336.Notably, the valve lumen 366 does not extend the entire length of the relief valve 336 and the top end of the relief valve 336 is sealed, but may be open on the opposite end. The relief valve 336 may optionally include one or more spring retainers that extend outwards from the body and may be configured to hold in place and position a spring, such as spring 338 and / or seals, such as seal 362.

[0129] A one-way valve 348 may be coupled to the relief valve 336 and may be positioned over an opening into the valve lumen 366. In one example, the one-way valve 348 is a reed valve with a flap that opens to enable flow in a single direction. Optionally, a seal washer 346 may be positioned between the bottom surface of the relief valve 336 and the one-way valve 348.

[0130] A valve retainer 364 may be positioned between the relief valve 336 and the hose fitting 119. The valve retainer 364 may include fluid ports 368 defined therethrough. One or more ribs 370 may extend from the bottom surface of the valve retainer 364, in one embodiment a rib formation in a Y configuration is used, however, many other rib configurations are envisioned.

[0131] A spring retainer 350 may be configured to secure a seal and / or spring to the assembly. The spring retainer 350 may include a lip 372 to receive one or more coils of a spring 352 and may be configured to retain seal 354 in position.Base Housing and Cover

[0132] With reference to Figures 7A-B, 14 the base 104 may include an upper housing 400 and a lower housing 124 or base cover that forms the bottom portion of the oral irrigator 100. The lower housing 124 may also act as a chassis to receive and secure various aspects of the oral irrigator 100, e.g., the pump assembly 123 and the drive assembly 122. In some embodiments, the drive assembly 122 and pump assembly 123 may be secured to the lower housing 124 and the upper housing 400, which may be a hollow sleeve-like structure, e.g., a continuous sidewall, may be coupled to the lower housing 124 and the control assembly cover positioned on the top side to enclose the lower housing compartment 105. A hose channel 388 may be defined as a curved recess within the sidewall 398, e.g., recessed from the top surface of the sidewall 398 or may be defined as a hose aperture through the sidewall 398 as well.

[0133] Fig. 14 illustrates a top plan view of the lower housing 124. With reference to Figs. 5A, 5B, and 14, the lower housing 124 may include an interior surface 376 and an exterior surface 378. A sidewall 398 may extend from the perimeter of the interior surface 376 upward and optionally may be convexly curved to define a sloping sidewall for the lower housing 124. One or more fastener bosses 384a, 384b, 384c, 384d may be defined as raised sleeves into the interior surface 376 and be configured to receive one or more fasteners (e.g., screws) to couple the lower housing 124 to the upper housing 400.

[0134] At least one fastener boss 384a, 384b, 384c, 384d may be configured to also retain an electrical cable, e.g., the cable may be wrapped at least partially, if not fully, around the boss, e.g., around fastener boss 384a or 384b. In this manner, the fastener boss or structure 384a, 384b may act as a cable anchor and help prevent the cable from being displaced (e.g., due to the oral irrigator 100 being dropped) and / or moving during use, which may help to eliminate additional anchoring parts, such as zip ties or the like.

[0135] For example, with reference to Fig. 15, an electrical cord 414 may be coupled to the strain relief 133 and may be wrapped around the boss 384a such that it extends around the surface of the boss 384a and under its own self to then extend to couple to the circuit boardand / or motor 190, e.g., to provide power to the circuit board 190. In other examples, the electrical cord 414 may be otherwise secured to the boss 384a, which may function as a cord anchor, e.g., by wrapping around the surface of the boss 384a and having the two ends then wrap around each other and be secured together.

[0136] With reference to Fig. 14, one or more bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c may extend upwards from the interior surface 376. The bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c may be shaped as slightly angled or curved walls, such as a U shape and may have a height to be less than, e.g., shorter than, isolators for the pump assembly 123, as discussed in more detail below. The bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c may be positioned around, e.g., curved around, an isolator aperture 386a, 386b, 386c and in some instances there may be three isolator aperture 386a, 386b, 386c. Similarly, there may be one or more foot apertures 380a, 380b, 380c, 380d configured to receive a portion of a foot, e.g., rubber foot. The foot apertures 380a, 380b, 380c, 380d may define a passage through the lower base 124.

[0137] With reference to Fig. 5A and 14, one or more drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d may be defined through the lower housing 124. The drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d are configured to enable fluid to exit the base compartment 105 through the lower housing 124. In one embodiment, each of the drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d may be positioned adjacent to a foot mount 380a, 380b, 380c, 380d or other interior feature formed on the lower housing 124 and preferably may be positioned such that the drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d are against the perimeter edge of the interior surface 376 and optionally partially concealed by the foot mount. The positioning of the drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d in this manner may help to reduce noise from escaping through the lower housing 124 as the fastener bosses 384a, 384b, 384c, 384d may act as blocking members to prevent or absorb sound waves from reaching and then exiting the drain apertures 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d. It should be noted that the number and positioning of the drain aperture 382a, 382b, 382c, 382d may be varied as desired and in some examples, the oral irrigator 100 may include a single drain aperture or may include more than those illustrated. However, in many conventional oral irrigator units, a single centrally located drain hole may be used, but in such instances, the hole may cause noise to escape the housing, which may increase the overall noise experienced by a user.

[0138] A cable recess 410 may be formed in the sidewall 398 of the lower housing 124 and be configured to receive and connect to the strain relief 133 or other portion of an electrical cable, e.g., to provide power to the oral irrigator 100.

[0139] A fitting housing 390 may be defined as a raised protrusion extending upwards from the interior surface 376, conversely the fitting housing 390 may define a fitting pocket 402 on the exterior surface 378 of the lower housing 124. The fitting housing 390 may be shaped to corresponding to the hose fitting 118 and in one embodiment may have a generally triangular shape, e.g., may include rounded edges, that help to seat the hose fitting 118 in position. A valve wall 392 may extend upwards from the top surface of the fitting housing 390 and may be defined as a straight wall with a curved end wall on either side. A base outlet 394 may be defined through the interior surface 376, e.g., through the top wall of the fitting housing 390. One or more fastener apertures 396a, 396b, 396c may be defined through the fitting housing 390 as well and configured to receive fasteners to secure the hose fitting 118 to the lower housing 124.

[0140] With reference to Figs. 5A-6, in some embodiments, the oral irrigator 100 may include a fitting cover 128 configured to couple to the lower housing 124 and enclose or partially enclose the fitting pocket defined by the fitting housing 390. In one example, the fitting cover 128 may include a planar portion 404 configured to be align with the exterior surface 378 of the lower housing 124 and an edge portion 406 that curves upwards and at an angle from the planar portion 404. The edge portion 406 includes a curvature to match a curvature of the sidewall 398, such that when coupled to the lower housing 124, the fitting cover 128 may be flush with both the exterior surface 378 and the sidewall 398. The fitting cover 128 may also include a hose recess 408 formed in the edge portion 406, which is configured to cooperate with the hose channel 388 of the lower housing 124 to define a hose pathway or channel to enable the hose 112 to connect to the fitting 118. The fitting cover 128 may include snap fit or other securing elements to allow the fitting cover 128 to be releasably attached to the lower housing 124. The fitting cover 128 may be configured to conceal the fitting 118 and may also act to reduce sound from being transmitted from the interior of the lower housing 124, as well as provide an aesthetic benefit to the oral irrigator 100.Assembly of the Oral Irrigator

[0141] An illustrative example of assembling the oral irrigator 100 will now be discussed. It should be noted that the discussion of any particular order or steps is meant as explanatory only and many other order and steps may be utilized. With reference to Figs. 7A, 7B, 11 A, 1 IB, and 17 the drive shaft 230 of the motor 228 may be inserted through an aperture in the upper housing 244a and the drive gear 232 may be positioned around the drive shaft 230 of the motor 228.

[0142] FIG. 17 illustrates an example method 1700 for assembling the oral irrigator 100. Although the example method depicts a particular sequence of operations, the sequence may be altered without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, some of the operations depicted may be performed in parallel, in discontinuous parts, or in a different sequence that does not materially affect the function of the routine.

[0143] In operation 1702 of the method 1700, the drive and pump assemblies 122, 123 may be connected together. In one example, the piston 238 may be inserted into the pump chamber 246 of the pump housing 244b until the bottom edge extends into the gear element compartment 260. The coupling apertures 270a, 270b may be accessible and the connecting rod 236 may be coupled to the piston 238, e.g., the piston end 240 or connecting pin of the connecting rod 236 may be inserted into one of the coupling apertures 270a, 270b and span across the width of the piston 238. For example, one of the coupling apertures 270a, 270b may extend along a length and define a slot, such as a keyhole or extended slot, to enable the insertion of the connecting rod 236 into the slot. Once inserted, the piston end 240 of the connecting rod 236 may be seated in the coupling apertures 270a, 270b and the piston 238 may be inserted into the pump chamber 246, where the walls of the pump chamber 246 may help to restrain movement of the connecting rod 236 relative to the piston 238.

[0144] A driven end of the connecting rod 236, which may be formed to as cylindrical tube, may be received around the cam 248 of the driven gear 234. The driven gear 232 may then be arranged within the pump housing 244b and aligned with to mesh with the drive gear 232. The gear shaft 250 may be inserted through the driven gear 234 and then secured in position (e.g., in a support) on the gear housing 244b.

[0145] In operation 1704 of the method 1700 and with continued reference to Figs. 7A, 7B,11 A, 1 IB, and 17 the upper housing 244a may be positioned over the pump housing 244b and the gear shaft 250 may be coupled to the shaft support 254 and secured in position. The fasteningsupports 256a, 256b may be aligned and one or more fasteners may be used to secure the first pump housing 244a to the second pump housing 244b. In this manner, the motor 228 may be positioned on a top surface of the first pump housing 244a or gear housing.

[0146] In operation 1706 of the method 1700, the pump fitting 276 may be coupled to the pump plate 264 of the pump housing 244B. The valve 278 is positioned on the hub 300 and is aligned to be positioned between the outlet of the pump chamber 246 and the pump inlet 310 but may be downstream of the pump outlet 312. In this manner, the valve 278 may control flow into the pump chamber 246 from the reservoir 102 but may not be positioned to control flow exiting the pump chamber 246. However, in different configurations, pump fitting 276 may be differently configured.

[0147] Fastening sleeves 266a, 266b on the pump housing 244b are aligned with corresponding features on the pump fitting 276 and fasteners are used to secure the pump fitting 276 to the pump plate 268. One or more seals maybe positioned between the two components, e.g., around the piston end 268 of the pump chamber 246 to help seal the connection if desired.

[0148] In operation 1708 of the method 1700, a first end of the reservoir hose 320 may be coupled to the inlet connector 316 of the pump fitting 276 and fluidly connected to the pump inlet 310. In some embodiments, the reservoir hose 320 may be received around a portion of the inlet connector 316. Similarly, the pump hose 322 may be coupled to the outlet connector 318 of the pump fitting 276 and fluidly connected to the pump outlet 312. In one embodiment, the collar 292 may be received around the pump hose 322 to further secure it to the pump fitting 276 and help restrain movement of the hose 322 relative to the fitting 276.

[0149] In operation 1710 of the method 1700, and with reference to Figs. 7B,12A, and 17 the dampers 428 may be coupled to the pump housing 244, e.g., the lower pump housing 244b. In one embodiment, the dampeners 428 may be connected to the mount supports 280, e.g., the engagement arm 432 may be received between the first arm 282 and the second arm 284 of the mount supports 280. In one embodiment nub 436a may be positioned within recess 286 defined on the upper surface of the second arm 284. In some embodiments, the thickness of the second arm 284 of the pump mount 280 may be configured such that it does not engage the bottom arm 434 of the dampener 428. In other words, there may be a space between the bottom surface of the second arm 284 of the pump mount 280 and the top surface of the bottom arm 434 of thedampener 428. This spacing may help to absorb energy by the dampener 428, reducing transmission to the base 104. In some examples, the coupling between the pump housing 244, motor 228, and dampeners 428 may act to effectively cantilever the motor 228 and a number of components of the drive and pump assemblies 122, 123, which may help to reduce vibration transmission during use as some motion is allowed by the assemblies.

[0150] With reference to Figs. 7A, 7B, 14, and 17, operation 1710 may continue and the pump and drive assemblies 123, 122 may be secured in position to the lower housing 124 of the base 104. For example, the mount heads 438 of the dampeners 428 may be inserted into the isolator apertures 386a, 386b, 386b of the lower housing 124. The mount heads 438 may be deformed to be pushed through the apertures 386a, 386b, 386c and then once on the exterior side of the lower housing 124 may expand back out to secure the dampener 428 in positon. The bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c may be positioned around the exterior sidewalls of the dampeners 428 to help provide lateral support for the dampeners 428 within the lower housing 124. In some embodiments, the dampeners 374a, 374b, 374c extend around and follow the shape of the dampeners 428, e.g., have a slight bend to change direction with the exterior sidewalls of the dampeners 428, and have a height configured to be less than half of the height of the main body of the dampener 428 (e.g., the portion of the dampener 428 extending into the interior side of the lower housing 124 and not including the height of the mount head 438). Further, due to the angled slope of the dampener facing side of the bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c, the sidewalls of the bumpers 374a, 374b, 374c and dampener 428 are not parallel and may be spaced apart from one another. This defines a movement space where the dampener 428 includes additional room to deform before abutting against the wall of the bumper 374a, 374b, 374c (see Fig. 7B), e.g., to increase or maximize the deflection for the dampeners, which may allow the dampeners to absorb more vibration than in other configurations. Additionally, the angled face of the dampener-facing side of the bumper may help to re-seat the dampeners 428 as they deflect or move during use or transport of the unit. For example, the angled surface slopes downwards to encourage the dampeners 428 to slide back into position.

[0151] In operation 1712 of the method 1700, and with reference to Figs. 7A, 7B, 13B, and 17, the valve assembly 132 may be assembled. For example, the seal 340 may be received around the relief valve 336 adjacent the head 342. The relief valve 336 may be coupled to the spring 338, e g., the spring 338 may be received around the relief valve 336. Seal 362 may becoupled the relief valve 336, such as positioned between adjacent lips or walls that extend outwards from the body of the relief valve 336. The seal washer 346 may be positioned within the base of the relief valve 336 and configured to abut against a bottom wall of the relief valve 336 body adjacent an aperture into the valve lumen 366. The one-way valve 348 may be positioned adjacent to the seal washer 346 and the valve retainer 364 may be positioned to engage the one-way valve 348 and secure the one-way valve 348 and seal washer 346 in position.

[0152] Operation 1712 may continue and the pressure relief valve 336 assembly may be inserted into the valve housing 324 and into the valve chamber 358 and a portion of the relief valve 336, e g., the head 342, may extend through the neck 334 of the valve housing 324 and into the reservoir chamber 356. Spring 352 may be positioned to engage the valve retainer 364 and the spring retainer 350 may be inserted into the valve housing 324 below the pressure relief valve 336 to retain the spring 352 in position. The spring 352 may exert a biasing force against the one-way valve 348, valve retainer 364, and the pressure relief valve 336 to ensure a sealed connection between the one-way valve 348 and the relief valve 336. Spring 352 may be received around the lip 372 of the spring retainer 350. A seal 354 may be positioned on the bottom surface of the spring retainer 350.

[0153] With reference to Figs. 5B, 7B, 14, and 17, operation 1712 may continue and the valve assembly 132 may be positioned on the lower housing 124, e g., on the fitting housing 390, with the bottom end of the valve housing surface 360 abutting against the valve wall 392 and the spring retainer 350 aligned with the base outlet 394. A portion of the spring retainer 350 (e.g., a portion of the relief valve assembly) may be partially received within and fluidly connected to the base outlet 394.

[0154] Operation 1712 may continue and the hose fitting 118 may be fluidly coupled to the valve assembly 132 and coupled to the lower housing 124. For example, the hose fitting 118 may be aligned with the exterior surface 378 of the lower housing 124 and positioned within the fitting pocket 402 defined by the fitting housing 390. The fitting inlet 440 is aligned with the base outlet 394 and fluidly connected with the valve assembly 132 and the valve chamber 358 via the spring retainer 350. Fasteners may then be received into sleeves of the valve housing surface 360 and through the hose fitting 118. The fasteners are secured in place, securing thehose fitting 1 18 to the lower housing 124 and to the valve assembly 132. In one example, there may be three fasteners (see Fig. 5B) that may be equally spaced from one another and positioned between ribs 134 of the mounting plate 136. The securing operation for the fasteners may also act to compress the spring 352 and / or spring 338 of the valve assembly 132, reducing an operational step and because the housing 124 may be positioned to help compress the spring, the coupling step may be easier.

[0155] The method 1700 may continue with operation 1714 and the hose 112 for the handle 108 may be inserted around the hose barb 140 of the hose fitting 118 and fluid connected to the fitting inlet 440 and fluidly connected to the valve assembly 132. Optionally, a collar 142 may be received around the hose 112 to clamp the hose onto the hose barb 140, adding additional force to help restrain the hose 112 and prevent the end from moving or dislodging from the hose fitting 118. The hose 112 may extend through the hose channel 388 of the lower housing 124. Optionally, and with reference to Fig. 5 A, the fitting cover 128 may be positioned on the lower housing 124, concealing the hose fitting 118 and fasteners. The fitting cover 128 may extend upwards to capture the hose 112 so as to define a hose pathway through the base 104, such as by forming a hose channel corresponding to the hose channel 388 in the lower base 124. As mentioned, the fitting cover 128 may be easily removed to allow access to the fitting 118, e g., to allow replacement of the fitting 118 and / or hose 112 and handle 108 without having to disassemble the entire oral irrigator 100.

[0156] With reference to Figs. 5A, 5B, 6, 14, and 17 the method 1700 may continue with operation 1716 and one or more support feet 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d may be received within foot mount apertures 380a, 380b, 380c 380d. For example, necks of the support feet 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d may be inserted through the apertures and an edge of the lower housing 124 defining the foot mount apertures 380a, 380b, 380c 380d may be captured around a portion of the feet 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d. The feet may extend down past the exterior surface 378 of the lower housing 124 and define a support structure for the oral irrigator 100, e.g., may engage a support surface such as a countertop to support the oral irrigator 100.

[0157] With reference to Figs. 11 A,13B, and 17 the method 1700 may continue with operation 1718 and reservoir is assembled with the oral irrigator. For example, the reservoir hose 320 may be connected to the barb 328 of the valve housing 324, fluidly connecting the valve outlet 326with the pump inlet 310. Similarly, the pump hose 322 may be connected to the barb 332 of the valve housing 324 fluidly connecting the valve inlet 330 with the pump outlet 312. In some embodiments, a collar 294 may be received around the end of the pump hose 322 to clamp it in position on the barb 332 to secure the hose 322 and prevent movement of the hose 322 relative to the valve housing 324. In some embodiments, the pump hose 322 may include securing clamps (collars, 292, 294) on both ends as the pump hose 322 includes pressurized fluid exiting the pump outlet 312 and may be more prone to dislodgement or vibrational forces because of the pressurization as compared to the reservoir hose 320 which may be pressurized by the force of gravity and may be less likely to move or disconnect from the barbs. However, in other embodiments, different types of hose coupling or anchoring features may be used.

[0158] With reference to Fig. 7A,7B, and 17 the operation 1718 may continue and the reservoir valve assembly 290 may be connected to the top end of the valve assembly 132 and mounted on the valve housing 324. The reservoir valve 290 may include a prong configured to interface with a reservoir valve 442 to open the reservoir valve 442 and enable fluid flow from the reservoir 102 into the valve assembly 132 when the reservoir 102 is positioned on the base 104.

[0159] With reference to Figs. 7, 10A, 16A, and 16B the method 1700 may continue with operation 1720 and the control assembly 180 or 1600 may be coupled to the base 104. For example, the motor wall 204 of the bottom surface 212 of the housing 182 may be positioned around at least a portion of an outer wall of the motor 228. The reservoir valve assembly 290 may be positioned within a corresponding reservoir valve wall, and the housing 182 may span across the compartment 105 of the base 104 to cover and seal the base. The shelf 144 of the base 104 receives and supports the control assembly 180, including the user interface.

[0160] With reference to Fig. 7, the method 1700 may continue with operation 1722 and the mandrel 116 may be coupled to the outer sidewall of the base 104, e.g., secured to the wall via one or more fasteners. Alternately, the mandrel 116 may be secured without fasteners by sonic welding or adhesive. The magnet 126 may be positioned or captured within a pocket defined on an interior surface of the mandrel 116. The hose 112 can then be wrapped around the outer surface of the mandrel 116 and stored on the main body 152 with the handle 108 positioned within the handle recess 158 and secured in place via the magnet 126.

[0161] As part of operation 1718, the reservoir 102 may be positioned on the top surface of the housing 182 and the reservoir valve 442 may be forced into an open configuration by the reservoir valve assembly 290 within the base 104. With reference to Figs. 9A, 9B, and 9C, the lid 106 may be positioned over and coupled to the reservoir 102. The rim 160 may be positioned within an interior sidewall of the reservoir 102 and detents 170 may seat within corresponding recesses in the interior surfaces of the reservoir 102. This configuration allows the lid 106 to be mechanically coupled to the reservoir 102 and a top portion of the lid 106 to be flush with an exterior sidewall of the reservoir 102, creating an aesthetically desirable appearance, while also providing structural support to enable a portion of the lid to pivot relative to the other portion. The hinged portion 120b may be pivoted when the tab 166 is lifted by a user, causing the hinge 162 to pivot about rod 176, allowing hinge portion 120b to move and provide access to the reservoir 102, e.g., to allow a user to refill the reservoir 102 without removing the entire lid 106. Note, the rim 160 may remain in position as the hinge portion 120b moves relative to the reservoir 102 and the rim 160.Operation of the Oral Irrigator

[0162] With reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 10A, to operate the irrigator 100, a user lifts the handle 108 off from the mandrel 116. To do this, the user force needs to exceed the retention force exerted by magnet 126 in the mandrel 116 on the corresponding magnetic element in the handle 108. Once lifted, the user can more easily access the control button 194, e.g., the power button, for the oral irrigator 100. The display 186 presents visual information to the user regarding the operating characteristics or other settings of the oral irrigator 100. For example, the display 186 can present icons or other information (e.g., numbers) corresponding to the energy setting (e.g., pressurized values), as well as whether the current settings correspond to a particular user (e.g., user one or user two). Optionally, a cleaning plan, such as a quadrant graph may be displayed.

[0163] The user then selects the button 194, such as by pressing downwards on the button 194. This force causes the overlay 193 to flex and transmits the force to the actuator 213a. The actuator 213a, deforms, and impacts switch 216a. This switch 216a transitions states and activates the controller 217 on the circuit board 190, which in turn activates the motor 228. The activation of the motor 228 may also activate a cleaning cycle for the display 186, e.g., begins afirst quadrant timer. In one example, the cleaning program may be selected to have equal time periods for four quadrants of a user’s mouth, e.g., 30 seconds per quadrant and may activate the first quadrant timer once cleaning begins and then change a display icon to indicate to the user to move to the second quadrant after the initial 30 seconds is up.

[0164] It should be noted that before cleaning begins, the user may select the user button 196, which may allow a user to cycle through user profiles and select a stored user profile for use, where cleaning energy levels associated with the profile may be provided to the motor 228 when activated by the user.

[0165] The controller provides power to the motor 228. The motor 228 then begins to rotate the drive shaft 230, causing the drive gear 232 to rotate. As the drive gear 232 rotates, the driven gear 234 rotates, causing the cam 248 to rotate. The cam 248 causes the connecting rod 236 to move and in some embodiments the cam 248 may be eccentric, converting the rotational movement of the driven gear 234 into a reciprocal motion of the connecting rod 236. As the connecting rod 236 moves, the piston 238 moves within the pump chamber 246.

[0166] With reference to Figs. 11 A and 1 IB, as the cam 248 pulls the connecting rod 236 away from the pump chamber 246, the piston 238 is pulled creating a vacuum force, e.g., a vacuum stroke. The vacuum force pulls fluid from the reservoir 102, which flows into the reservoir chamber 356 of the valve housing 324. The head 342 of the relief valve 336 and seal 340 prevent fluid from flowing into the valve chamber 358 from the reservoir chamber 356.

[0167] The fluid then exits the reservoir chamber 356 and flows into valve outlet 326, through the reservoir hose 320, into pump fitting 276. The force of the fluid, opens the one-way valve 278, allowing fluid to flow into the fluid passage 314 and into the pump chamber 246. As the cam 248 continues to rotate, the connecting rod 236 is forced further into the pump chamber 246, generating a compression force on the fluid (e.g., completes a vacuum stroke). This force closes the valve 278, preventing fluid ingress into the pump inlet 310, and allowing the fluid to exit from the pump chamber 246 into the pump outlet 312. From the pump outlet 312, the fluid enters into the pump hose 322 and travels to the valve assembly 132.

[0168] With reference to Fig. 13B, the fluid enters the valve assembly 132 through inlet 330 and flows into valve portions 344a, 344b of the relief valve 336 (the seal 362 prevents fluid from flowing around the relief valve 336 to exit the valve housing 324). From the valve lumen 366,the fluid opens the one-way valve 348 and flows through fluid ports 368 to exit through spring retainer 350. With reference to Fig. 7B, the fluid then exits into the fitting inlet 440 and can exit out the fitting outlet of the hose barb 140 and into the hose 112. From the hose 112, the fluid travels through the handle 108 and out the tip 110, e.g., to be dispelled into a user’s oral cavity. As the user continues to irrigate his or her oral cavity, the controller of the circuit board 190 will continue to cycle through the cleaning program and may, as the user continues to clean, activate different portions of the display 186, e.g., to present different information, such as when particular quadrant segments are complete to indicate to a user to move to a different area of his or her mouth. Once all segments are complete, the display 186 icons may transition to indicate that the entire cleaning program has been completed.

[0169] If during use, the user wishes to increase or decrease the cleaning force, the user can select control buttons 198a, 198b, which may (similar to the power button 194), cause the overlay 193 to flex, transmitting the force to the actuators 213c, 213d, which in turn activate the switches 216c, 216d. The controller may then change a voltage level applied to the motor 228, such as through pulse width modulation, to change the cleaning force experienced by the user, such as to increase or decrease the force. The electronic control of the voltage to the motor 228 enables the oral irrigator to omit including a mechanical pressure control assembly and instead allow electronic control of the output pressure settings. Of course, in other embodiments, a mechanical pressure control assembly could be readily included, such as fluidly connected to the valve assembly 132.

[0170] Once cleaning is complete, the user can select the control button 194, which may be readily accessible as the user holds the handle 108 in his or her hand, which in turn deactivates the motor 228, turning the unit off. The user may also optionally select control button 196, which operates in a similar manner as the other buttons on the control assembly 180, to save particular settings, such as cleaning force, to a particular user profile, e.g., a first or second user. When this is activated, the controller may store the setting information (e.g., voltage values) in memory to be retrieved at a later time. As one example, the control panel may utilize different input characteristics to change the input to the controller, e.g., a long press may indicate to the controller that a new setting is desired to be changed, in which case, the user icon may flash or change and the current setting will be saved into the identified user profile. In some instances, the processing may be relatively straightforward and rely on less expensive controllers, e.g.,include a cycling input that cycles through profiles or settings and receives a user input at a desired setting or may be more complicated and include additional user inputs or the like to change or update the settings in a different manner.

[0171] With reference to Fig. 13B, if during operation, a blockage occurs within the handle 108 or hose 112, e.g., due to a user activating an actuator 109 in the handle 108, the fluid pressure will build up, flowing and overcome the biasing force of spring 338, this allows the relief valve 336 to move longitudinally within the valve chamber 358 and towards the reservoir chamber 356. The seal 340 unseats from the interior walls of the neck 334, allowing fluid to flow between the valve chamber 358 and the reservoir chamber 356. When the relief valve 336 reaches the open position, the one-way valve 348 closes and traps the fluid in the hose 112. The trapped fluid holds the valve in the open position by exerting a force on the seal until the flow path to the tip 110 is unobstructed. New fluid introduced into the valve chamber 358, such as due to continued operation of the pump assembly 123, is directed back into the reservoir chamber 356 and out to the reservoir 102 via the reservoir valve assembly 290. The pump assembly 123 can continue to run while the actuator 109 is activated or there is another obstruction in the hose 112 because the fluid can be circulated back to the reservoir 102, preventing over pressurization of the valve assembly 132. This enables the flow path to be unobstructed because the relief valve 336 is held in the open position which minimizes the load on the motor, and therefore minimizes the pump and motor sound heard by the user when the actuator 109 is activated.

[0172] In many embodiments, the oral irrigators 100 disclosed herein include features that reduce the sound output from the unit compared to conventional oral irrigators. For example, as shown in Table 1, tests of embodiments disclosed herein have resulted in noise levels below 65 dBA (e.g., between 56.2 and 64.6 dBA), which are significantly quieter than conventional oral irrigators. For comparison, conventional oral irrigators have sound levels typically averaging 67.4 dBA with some as high as 70 dBA. As the decibel is measured on a logarithmic scale, the difference in noise emission between the disclosed irrigators and conventional irrigators is significant. For example, the reduction in mean noise emission of tested samples of the disclosed oral irrigators compared to conventional oral irrigators is 7 dBa (67.4 dBA - 60.4 dBA). For reference, if first sound has a sound pressure 10 dBA less than a second sound, the first sound is perceived as half as loud as the second sound.Table 1 - Noise Emission Test Results

[0173] For example, in some embodiments noise may be reduced relative to a conventional oral irrigator by reducing deflection of the drive shaft 230 of the motor 228. For example, the drive gear 232 may be moved close to the motor 228 body to minimize cantilevered shaft 230 length. In another example, both ends of the motor 230 shaft may be supported, rather than placing the shaft in a cantilevered arrangement.

[0174] In another example, portions of the oral irrigator 100 may be stiffened to reduce deflection by adding ribs such as the rib 208a-c, or adding more fasteners than would be used in a traditional oral irrigator. Additionally or alternately, the movement or vibration of the pump housing 244 or gear housing maybe reduced by stiffening the parts, reducing the number ofconnections / parts, and / or creating more robust connections robust compared to a traditional oral irrigator. For example, increased number of screws, direction of fasteners, and the stiffness of the connection may all be enhanced relative to a traditional oral irrigator.

[0175] In another example, a quiet pressure relief valve 336 may be used that operates when the oral irrigator 100 is in a pause mode (e.g., pause button 109 is pushed), rather than operating on every pump cycle.

[0176] In another example, noise may be reduced through the use of elastomeric (e.g., rubber) isolators to prevent vibration transmission from the motor / pump assembly to the housing 182.

[0177] In another example, noise may be reduced by the use of flexible conduits (e.g., hoses and / or tubes) to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the motor / pump assembly, and / or from the motor / pump assembly to the handle 108, while reducing the transmission of vibrations between and among these components and assemblies.Conclusion

[0178] 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. As such, it should be understood that the various components may be modular and interchangeable depending on space and fluid connections within the housing of the oral irrigator, etc. To this end, any description of a particular component being part of a particular embodiment, is meant as illustrative only and should not be interpreted as being required to be used with a particular embodiment or requiring other elements as shown in the depicted embodiment.

[0179] All relative and directional references (including top, bottom, side, front, rear, and so forth) are given by way of example to aid the reader’s understanding of the examples described herein. They should not be read to be requirements or limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use unless specifically set forth in the claims. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other, unless specifically set forth in the claims.

[0180] The present disclosure teaches 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 in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An oral irrigator comprising: a base; a drive assembly positioned within the base; and a control assembly operably coupled to the base and in electronic communication with the drive assembly, wherein the control assembly includes a controller to vary operating characteristics of the drive assembly and a display to visually output operating information.

2. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the oral irrigator further comprises a reservoir coupled to the base and the control assembly is coupled to the base via the reservoir.

3. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a ledge extending at an angle from a sidewall of the base, wherein the control assembly is coupled to the ledge.

4. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is positioned at an angle relative to a top edge of the base, wherein the angle is between 20 to 50 degrees.

5. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is configured to: receive a user input to retrieve a user profile; updating the operating characteristics of the drive assembly based on the retrieved user profile; and activate the drive assembly.

6. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the display includes the operating level.

7. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the display includes a cleaning cycle.

8. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the display includes the operating level and a cleaning cycle.

9. The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the display includes a user profile icon.

10. The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the display includes a user profile icon for the operating level.11 . The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the display includes the operating level and a user profile icon.

12. The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the display includes the operating level, a user profile icon, and a cleaning cycle.

13. The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the display includes a user profile icon and a cleaning cycle.

14. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive user input.

15. The oral irrigator of claim 14, wherein the oral irrigator further comprises a handle, and one or more mechanisms for receiving a user input to the control assembly is positioned behind the handle when the handle is mounted on the base.

16. The oral irrigator of claim 5, wherein the oral irrigator further comprises a handle, and one or more mechanisms for receiving a user input are positioned on the base and behind the handle when the handle is mounted on the base.

17. The oral irrigator of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

18. An oral irrigator comprising: a handle; a base; a hose coupled between the handle and the base; and a mandrel coupled to the base and configured to receive a portion of the hose, wherein the mandrel has a sidewall surface area that is smaller than a front wall surface area.

19. The oral irrigator of claim 18, wherein the mandrel comprises a main body configured to receive the portion of the hose and a handle recess defined on the front wall surface configured to receive the handle.

20. An oral irrigator comprising: a handle; a base fluidly coupled to a reservoir; a handle coupled between the handle and the base; anda mandrel for receiving a portion of the hose, wherein the mandrel comprises: a handle recess configured to selectively engage the handle; a main body configured to retain the portion of the hose on the mandrel; and a support rib extending from the main body to the handle recess to couple the main body to the handle recess.

21. The oral irrigator of claim 20, wherein the mandrel further comprises a lead-in surface coupled and extending form the main body, wherein the lead-in surface is convexly curved.

22. The oral irrigator of claim 20, wherein the mandrel further comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls are connected to the support rib and the handle recess.

23. The oral irrigator of claim 22, wherein the first sidewall comprises a first hose recess and the second sidewall comprises a second hose recess.

24. The oral irrigator of claim 23, wherein the first hose recess and the second hose recess are curved along two axes.

25. An oral irrigator comprising: a handle; a base in fluid communication with the handle; a reservoir in fluid communication with the base; and a pump configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle, wherein the pump is coupled to the base via one or more dampeners.

26. The oral irrigator of claim 25, wherein the base comprises an interior surface, wherein one or more bumpers are defined on the interior surface, wherein the bumpers are positioned around and partially surrounding the one or more bumpers.

27. The oral irrigator of claim 26, wherein the one or more bumpers comprise an angled surface that extends away from the one or more dampeners.

28. The oral irrigator of claim 26, wherein the interior surface further comprises one or more dampener apertures, wherein the one or more dampeners extend through the one or more dampener apertures to couple to the interior surface.

29. The oral irrigator of claim 25, further comprising: a motor coupled to the pump and configured to drive the pump; and a base cover extending over a portion of the base, wherein a motor wall extends downwards from the base cover and extends around a portion of a circumference of the motor.

30. An oral irrigator comprising: a handle; a base in fluid communication with the handle; and a reservoir in fluid communication with the base; a pump assembly positioned within the base and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the handle, wherein the base comprises an interior surface, the interior surface defining one or more securement features to limit movement of components of the pump assembly.

31. The oral irrigator of claim 30, wherein the base further comprises one or more fastener bosses and one more drain apertures positioned adjacent to the one or more fastener bosses.

32. The oral irrigator of claim 31, wherein the one or more fastener bosses block noise from escaping the base via the one or more drain apertures.

33. The oral irrigator of claim 30, wherein the one or more securement features comprises a curved wall configured to enclose a portion of a valve assembly in fluid communication with the pump assembly.

34. The oral irrigator of claim 30, further comprising: a hose extending from the handle; a hose fitting coupled to an end of the hose and configured to fluidly and mechanically couple the hose to the base; anda fitting pocket defined on an exterior surface of the base, wherein the hose fitting is positioned within the fitting pocket.

35. The oral irrigator of claim 34, further comprising a base cap, wherein the base cap is configured to couple to the exterior surface of the base to conceal the hose fitting.

36. An oral irrigator comprising: a drive assembly; an electrical cable in electrical communication with the drive assembly; and a base including an integrally formed protrusion, wherein the electrical cable wraps around the protrusion to limit movement of the electrical cable within the base.

37. An oral irrigator comprising: a handle; a base; a reservoir fluidly connected to the base and the handle and coupled to the base; and a lid coupled to a top end of the reservoir, wherein the lid comprises: a fixed portion; a rim coupled to the fixed portion; and a movable portion, wherein the movable portion pivots relative to the fixed portion and the rim and an outer perimeter of the lid is positioned within an interior perimeter of the reservoir such that when the movable portion is in a closed position a top surface of the rim is not visible.

38. The oral irrigator of claim 37, wherein the lid further comprises one or more detents extending from the rim, wherein the one or more detents are configured to secure the lid to the reservoir.

39. An oral irrigator of any of the preceding claims that emits less than 65 dBA of noise when operating.

40. An oral irrigator comprising: a housing; a motor including a motor body and a drive shaft protruding therefrom; a drive gear positioned adjacent to the motor body to minimize a cantilevered length of the drive shaft, wherein the oral irrigator operates at a noise level of less than 65 dBA.

41. The oral irrigator of claim 40, further comprising support structures at two or more positions of the drive shaft to eliminate the cantilevered length of the drive shaft.

42. The oral irrigator of claim 40, further comprising a pump driven by the motor and including a reinforced pump housing.

43. The oral irrigator of claim 42, further comprising one or more flexible conduits for fluid transfer from a reservoir to the pump and / or from the pump to the handle.

44. The oral irrigator of claim 40, further comprising a pressure relief valve operable in a pause mode of the oral irrigator.

45. The oral irrigator of any of claims 40 or 42, further comprising a plurality of elastomeric isolators coupled to the housing and the motor and configured to reduce vibration transmission from the motor and pump assembly to the housing.

6. A method of manufacturing an oral irrigator comprising: connecting a drive assembly to a pump assembly, the pump assembly including: a pump plate, a pump housing, and a pump assembly; coupling an upper housing to the pump housing; coupling the pump plate to the pump fitting; coupling a reservoir conduit to the pump assembly; assembling a damper with the pump housing; assembling a valve with the pump assembly; assembling a handle with the upper housing; assembling a controller with the housing; and assembling the reservoir with the housing.

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