Oral hygiene apparatus

Claim 2

In an oral hygiene apparatus of the variable pressure liquid jet type, the improvement comprising: a. a liquid pump assembly having a pumping piston; b. a motor having a lower starting than run torque; c. motor switch means for energizing said motor; d. drive means connecting said motor and piston; and e. a single control means that variably adjusts the liquid pressure output of the pump from low to high and actuates the motor switch only when said control means is adjusted for lowpressure liquid discharge.

Claim 3

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motor is of the shaded pole type and has a starting torque capacity slightly In excess of the torque load requirements of the apparatus when the control means is adjusted for low-pressure liquid discharge.

Claim 4

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motor switch means is of the plunger type that is actuated to energize the motor when the plunger is extended, and deactuated when the plunger is depressed.

Claim 5

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the control means includes a manually operated control with a cam element that depresses the plunger in the off position and releases the plunger when adjusted for low-pressure liquid discharge.

Claim 6

In an oral hygiene apparatus of the variable pressure pulsed liquid jet type, the improvement comprising: a. a liquid pump assembly having a chamber, an intake port and an outlet port for said chamber, a piston for applying pressure to liquid in said chamber, and an adjustable valve for regulating the amount of liquid pressure; b. a shaded pole motor; c. motor switch means for energizing said motor; d. drive means connecting said motor and piston; and e. control means including: aa. a manually operated control that deactuates the motor switch in the off position and actuates the motor switch at a low liquid pressure position; bb. means for adjusting said valve; and cc. means connecting said manually operated control and said valve adjusting means, whereby said valve is adjusted in response to operation of said control.

Claim 7

In an oral hygiene apparatus of the variable pressure pulsed liquid jet type, the improvement comprising: a. a liquid pump assembly having a chamber, an intake port and an outlet port for said chamber, a piston for applying pressure to liquid in said chamber, and an adjustable valve for regulating the amount of liquid pressure; b. a shaded pole motor; c. motor switch means for energizing said motor; d. drive means connecting said motor and piston; and e. control means including: aa. a manually operated control that deactuates the motor switch in the off position and actuates the motor switch at a low liquid pressure position; bb. means for adjusting said valve; and cc. means connecting said manually operated control and said valve adjusting means, whereby said valve is adjusted in response to operation of said control.

Claim 8

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the motor switch is of the plunger type that is actuated to energize the motor when the plunger is extended and deactuated when the plunger is depressed, and the manually operated control has a cam element that depresses the plunger in the off position and releases the plunger at a low liquid pressure position.

Claim 9

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the motor has a starting torque capacity slightly in excess of the torque load requirements of the apparatus when the control means is adjusted for liquid pressure.

Claim 10

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the valve is between the inlet port and outlet port and the liquid pressure is adjusted by the valve controlling the amount of liquid flowing past the valve into the inlet port when the pressure is applied to the liquid in the chamber.

Claim 11

The improvement in oral hygiene apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the means for adjusting the valve is a screw that is movable inwardly and outwardly of said chamber in response to rotation.