Oral hygiene appliance

Claim 2

An oral hygiene apparatus of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering a sequential series of pulses of liquid through a first tubular means to a jet nozzle control handle, said control handle comprising an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, an opening in said casing for removably receiving the stem of a jet nozzle, a valve means for selectively preventing the discharge of said pulses of liquid from said jet nozzle and a pulse intensity control means for selectively varying the proportions of liquid discharged from said nozzle and liquid returned through a second tubular means to the intake of said liquid pump assembly to thereby provide a variable control over the volume of each pulse of liquid delivered by said pump assembly.

Claim 3

An oral hygiene apparatus as defined in claim 1, said jet nozzle control handle further comprising a discharge chamber formed inside said outer casing having an inlet port for receiving said liquid from said first tubular means and an outlet port for passing said liquid from said discharge chamber into said jet nozzle stem, and said valve means including a shutoff valve stem with a sealing element and a spring member that biases said shutoff valve stem towards said outlet port to cause said sealing element to seal off said outlet port, said jet nozzle stem being arranged to engage the end of said valve stem, hereby when the user presses inwardly on said jet nozzle against the force of said spring member said shutoff valve stem is moved causing said sealing element to move away from said outlet port and permitting said liquid to be discharged through said jet nozzle.

Claim 4

An oral hygiene apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pulse intensity control means includes an adjustable stop means for selectively determining the distance said jet nozzle stem can be moved, a feedback valve stem mechanically coupled to said valve means and positioned in alignment with a feedback port formed in said discharge chamber, said feedback port being in communication with said second tubular means, whereby the setting of said stop means determines the distance between said feedback valve stem and said feedback port after the user presses inwardly on said jet nozzle and thereby determines the portion of each pulse liquid that is returned to said pump assembly through said second tubular means.

Claim 5

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering a sequential series of pulses of liquid through a tubular means to a jet nozzle control handle, said control handle comprising an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, an opening in said outer casing to receive the stem of a jet nozzle, the end of said jet nozzle stem being in communication with the outlet port of said control handle, a shutoff valve means for selectively preventing the discharge of said liquid pulses from said jet nozzle, said shutoff valve means having a sealing element which is held in sealing engagement with saiD outlet port by a spring biasing member, said valve means cooperating with said jet nozzle stem such that an axial force by the user on said jet nozzle in a direction opposite to the force exerted by said biasing member causes said sealing element to unseat and permits said liquid pulses to be discharged from said jet nozzles.

Claim 6

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering a sequential series of pulses of liquid through a tubular means to a jet nozzle control handle, said control handle comprising an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, an opening in said outer casing to receive the stem of a jet nozzle, the end of said jet nozzle stem being in communication with the outlet port of said control handle, a shutoff valve means for selectively preventing the discharge of said liquid pulses from said jet nozzle, said shutoff valve means having a sealing element which is held in sealing engagement with saiD outlet port by a spring biasing member, said valve means cooperating with said jet nozzle stem such that an axial force by the user on said jet nozzle in a direction opposite to the force exerted by said biasing member causes said sealing element to unseat and permits said liquid pulses to be discharged from said jet nozzles.

Claim 7

The oral hygiene appliance of claim 4 wherein said shutoff valve means is mechanically coupled to a feedback valve in said handle, said feedback valve being fully open when said shutoff valve is sealed and being progressively closed as said shutoff valve means is displaced axially against the force of said biasing member.

Claim 8

The oral hygiene appliance of claim 4 having an adjustable stop on said handle adjacent said jet nozzle, said stop engaging said nozzle to control the amount of displacement of said shutoff valve means.

Claim 9

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering pulsed liquid through a first tubular means to a jet nozzle control handle, said jet nozzle control handle comprising an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, a recess in said control handle for removably receiving the stem of a jet nozzle, a discharge chamber formed inside said control handle having an inlet port in communication with one end of said first tubular means, an outlet port in communication with said jet nozzle stem and a feedback port in communication with one end of a second tubular means, the other end of said second tubular means being in communication with the intake port of said liquid pump assembly, and a pulse intensity control for variably regulating the volume of liquid delivered by said liquid pump assembly to said jet nozzle, said pulse intensity control including a feedback valve stem positioned in said discharge chamber in direct alignment with said feedback port and a means to vary the position of said valve stem with respect to said feedback port, whereby the position of said valve stem controls the portion of the liquid delivered to said discharge chamber which is fed back to said intake port of said liquid pump assembly.

Claim 10

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering pulsed liquid through a first tubular means to a jet nozzle control handle, said jet nozzle control handle comprising an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, a recess in said control handle for removably receiving the stem of a jet nozzle, a discharge chamber formed inside said control handle having an inlet port in communication with one end of said first tubular means, an outlet port in communication with said jet nozzle stem and a feedback port in communication with one end of a second tubular means, the other end of said second tubular means being in communication with the intake port of said liquid pump assembly, and a pulse intensity control for variably regulating the volume of liquid delivered by said liquid pump assembly to said jet nozzle, said pulse intensity control including a feedback valve stem positioned in said discharge chamber in direct alignment with said feedback port and a means to vary the position of said valve stem with respect to said feedback port, whereby the position of said valve stem controls the portion of the liquid delivered to said discharge chamber which is fed back to said intake port of said liquid pump assembly.

Claim 11

An oral hygiene appliance as set forth in claim 7 having a liquid reservoir connected to deliver liquid to said intake port of said liquid pump assembly, said pump drawing liquid from said reservoir and circulating it through said first tubular means to said handle except when said outlet port is closed whereupon said pump recirculates liquid delivered to said intake port from said handle by said second tubular means.

Claim 12

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering a sequential series of pulses of liquid through a liquid conduit means to a jet nozzle handle, said jet nozzle handle comprising an outer casing having a recess extending into its interior for receiving a jet nozzle, valve means for preventing the discharge of said liquid pulses from said jet nozzle, means for selectively actuating said valve means and means for relieving the back pressure built up on said liquid pump assembly when said liquid pulses are prevented from being discharged.

Claim 13

An oral hygiene appliance of the intermittent pulse type having a liquid pump assembly for delivering a sequential series of pulses of liquid through a liquid conduit means to a jet nozzle handle, said jet nozzle handle comprising an outer casing having a recess extending into its interior for receiving a jet nozzle, valve means for preventing the discharge of said liquid pulses from said jet nozzle, means for selectively actuating said valve means and means for relieving the back pressure built up on said liquid pump assembly when said liquid pulses are prevented from being discharged.

Claim 14

The oral hygiene appliance of claim 9 wherein said valve means is contained in said jet nozzle handle, an outlet opening in said handle connected to said jet nozzle to provide a liquid flow path from said conduit through said handle to said nozzle, said valve means controlling the flow through said outlet opening.

Claim 15

The oral hygiene appliance of claim 10 including a liquid reservoir positioned to deliver liquid to the intake of said pump assembly, said means for relieving back pressure comprising conduit means for recirculating liquid from said handle to said pump intake.

Claim 16

The oral hygiene appliance of claim 9 wherein said means for relieving back pressure comprises a valve in said handle for controlling return flow from said handle to the intake of said pump, said valve means for preventing the discharge being positioned in said Handle and being mechanically coupled to said means for relieving back pressure.

Claim 17

An oral hygiene appliance comprising a housing having a base member, a removable liquid reservoir container and a display and storage compartment supported on said base member, said display and storage compartment having receptacle means for temporarily storing a jet nozzle handle and a number of jet nozzles, a liquid pump assembly mounted inside said base member and having the intake opening to the liquid pump arranged to be positioned in registration with an opening in the bottom of said reservoir container to supply a liquid to said liquid pump, a resilient coiled tube connecting the outlet port of said liquid pump to said control handle, and a slot formed in the bottom surface of said display and storage compartment for receiving said coiled tube when said jet nozzle is placed in said receptacle means.

Claim 18

An oral hygiene appliance comprising a housing having a base member, a removable liquid reservoir container and a display and storage compartment supported on said base member, said display and storage compartment having receptacle means for temporarily storing a jet nozzle handle and a number of jet nozzles, a liquid pump assembly mounted inside said base member and having the intake opening to the liquid pump arranged to be positioned in registration with an opening in the bottom of said reservoir container to supply a liquid to said liquid pump, a resilient coiled tube connecting the outlet port of said liquid pump to said control handle, and a slot formed in the bottom surface of said display and storage compartment for receiving said coiled tube when said jet nozzle is placed in said receptacle means.

Claim 19

An oral hygiene appliance comprising a housing having a base member, a removable liquid reservoir container and a display and storage compartment supported on said base member, said display and storage compartment having receptacle means for temporarily storing a jet nozzle handle and a number of jet nozzles, a liquid pump assembly mounted inside said base member and having the intake opening to the liquid pump arranged to be positioned in registration with an opening in the bottom of said reservoir container to supply a liquid to said liquid pump, and resilient coiled tube connecting the outlet port of said liquid pump to said control handle, a slot formed in the bottom surface of said display and storage compartment for receiving said coiled tube when said jet nozzle is placed in said receptacle means, a normally closed electrical switch connected in the electrical power cord to an electrical motor driving said pump, said switch having an actuating member that is positioned in the bottom of said receptacle means for said jet nozzle handle whereby when said jet nozzle handle is returned to said receptacle means for storing said actuating member is tripped causing said switch to open and thereby deenergize said liquid pump.

Claim 20

An oral hygiene appliance comprising a housing having a base member, a removable liquid reservoir container and a display and storage compartment supported on said base member, said display and storage compartment having receptacle means for temporarily storing a jet nozzle handle and a number of jet nozzles, a liquid pump assembly mounted inside said base member and having the intake opening to the liquid pump arranged to be positioned in registration with an opening in the bottom of said reservoir container to supply a liquid to said liquid pump, and resilient coiled tube connecting the outlet port of said liquid pump to said control handle, a slot formed in the bottom surface of said display and storage compartment for receiving said coiled tube when said jet nozzle is placed in said receptacle means, a normally closed electrical switch connected in the electrical power cord to an electrical motor driving said pump, said switch having an actuating member that is positioned in the bottom of said receptacle means for said jet nozzle handle whereby when said jet nozzle handle is returned to said receptacle means for storing said actuating member is tripped causing said switch to open and thereby deenergize said liquid pump.

Claim 21

An oral hygiene appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said jet nozzle handle comprises an outer casing of sufficient size to be hand grasped, a recess in said outer casing for removably receiving one of said jet nozzles, a passageway in said handle connecting the stem of said jet nozzle to said coiled tube, a valve means for preventing the discharge of any liquid delivered to said handle by said pump, a means for selectively actuating said valve means to commence the discharge of said liquid from said jet nozzle.