On/off handle for oral hygiene apparatus

Claim 1

Oral hygiene apparatus comprising: means for producing a succession of water pulses at a preselected pressure; a handle shaped to be grasped by the human hand; means for delivering said water pulses from said producing means into said handle; an elongated nozzle projecting outwardly from said handle, manipulation of said handle permitting said water pulses, flowing through said nozzle from said handle, to be directed against the teeth and gums of the user; means included within said handle to define a flow path from said delivering means into said nozzle; storage means disposed to communicate with said flow path and accumulate pressure in said water pulses; a valve member disposed in said flow path within said handle and movable between a first position, in which said flow path to said nozzle is opened and communication of said flow path with said storage means is closed, and a second position in which said flow path to said nozzle is closed and communication of said flow path with said storage means is open; means included in said valve member and said handle for biasing said valve member by the pressure in said water pulses to remain in whichever one of said positions it resides; and actuating means disposed in association with said handle for overcoming the bias by said pressure and moving said valve member from either one of said positions to the other.