MANUALLY OPERATED WATER-PIC

Abstract

A manually operated water-pic including: a body being a hollow tube; a nozzle disposed at a first end of the hollow tube: a plunger inserted into a second end of the hollow tube so as to be movable relative to the hollow tube between a retracted position and an extended position, the plunger having a seal substantially disposed at an end of the plunger; wherein the seal sealingly engaging with an inner surface of the hollow tube; and the seal defines an inner cavity in the hollow tube for holding a fluid, the inner cavity being in fluid communication with the nozzle such that fluid in the inner cavity is discharged from the nozzle when the plunger is moved towards the retracted position and fluid is drawn into the inner cavity when the plunger is moved towards the extended position.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates generally to water-pics and more particularly to a manually operated water pic.

2. Prior Art

Water pics are known in the art for dislodging debris from and in between teeth. Such water pics operate with the use of electric pumps that pump water or other fluids through a small nozzle at a high pressure. The high pressure water or other fluid is directed at teeth to dislodge debris.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a manually operated water-pic is provided. The manually operated water-pic comprising: a body comprising a hollow tube; a nozzle disposed at a first end of the hollow tube: a plunger inserted into a second end of the hollow tube so as to be movable relative to the hollow tube between a retracted position and an extended position, the plunger having a seal substantially disposed at an end of the plunger; wherein the seal sealingly engaging with an inner surface of the hollow tube; and the seal defines an inner cavity in the hollow tube for holding a fluid, the inner cavity being in fluid communication with the nozzle such that fluid in the inner cavity is discharged from the nozzle when the plunger is moved towards the retracted position and fluid is drawn into the inner cavity when the plunger is moved towards the extended position.

The tube can have a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion, the first hollow portion having a larger inner diameter than the second hollow portion, the plunger being movable only within the first hollow portion, and the nozzle being disposed on an end of the second hollow portion.

The seal can be a piston.

The hollow tube can be disposed to extend along a longitudinal axis and the nozzle can be configured to direct fluid in a direction offset from the longitudinal direction.

The manually operated water-pic can further comprise a handle disposed at an other end of the plunger. The handle can be a knob.

The seal can comprise first and second seals spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plunger.

Also provided is a toothbrush comprising: a head having bristles at a first end; and a water pic at a second end, the water pic comprising: a shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a first seal substantially disposed at a free end of the shaft; a holding tube movably disposed over the shaft, the holding tube comprising an inner cavity for holding a fluid, the inner cavity having a surface upon which the first seal sealingly engages; a nozzle disposed at a first end of the holding tube for discharging the fluid; and an end cap releasably secured to the first end to conceal the nozzle when secured to the first end and to expose the nozzle when releasably removed from the first end.

The end cap can be removably secured on the first end of the holding tube by a detent mechanism.

The holding tube can have a second end, the second end having a detent mechanism for releasably securing the head to the second end of the holding tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of water-pic toothbrush with a plunger in a compressed state.

FIG. 2 illustrates the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 1 with the plunger in an extended state.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 1 with a plunger in a compressed state as taken along section 3-3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 2 with the plunger in an extended state as taken along section 4-4.

FIG. 4a illustrates an enlarged detail view of the seals of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates front views of another embodiment of water-pic toothbrush in compressed and extended states, respectively.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrates rear views of the water-pic toothbrush of FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrates sectional views of the water-pic toothbrush of FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, as taken along lines 9-9 and 10-10, respectively.

FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate enlarged detail views of the seals of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates a water-pic assembly in which a plunger is in a fully retracted position in a body of the water-pic.

FIG. 12 illustrates the water-pic assembly of FIG. 11 in which the plunger is removed from the body.

FIG. 13 illustrates the water-pic assembly of FIG. 11 in which the plunger is in a fully extended position relative to the body.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the water-pic of FIG. 11 in which the plunger is between the fully retracted and fully extended positions relative to the body.

FIG. 15 illustrates a bristle side view of another embodiment of water-pic toothbrush with a plunger in a compressed state.

FIG. 16 illustrates a back side view of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 15 with the plunger in a compressed state.

FIG. 17 illustrates an enlarged view of a detent mechanism of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 illustrates the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 15 with the plunger in an extended state.

FIG. 19 illustrates the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 15 with the plunger in the extended state and an end cap removed to expose a water-pic nozzle.

FIG. 20 illustrates a sectional view of the water-pic toothbrush of FIG. 19 with the plunger in the extended state (without the end cap).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of a toothbrush 100 having a manually operated pump to provide a water pic function. Such pump having the -water pic function is manually operated without the need for electric power and without the need for an electric pump. As shown in FIG. 1, the toothbrush 100 has a conventional head 102 having an array of bristles 104. The head and bristles are formed of materials know in the art, such as plastics.

The toothbrush head 102 extends longitudinally to a neck 106. The neck can also be formed of materials known in the art, such as plastics. The shaft 108 can be formed integrally with the neck or separately therefrom and fixed to the neck 106, such as by press fitting, threading or adhering a portion of the shaft into a corresponding blind hole or mating thread in the neck 106. The neck 106 further extends longitudinally with a shaft 108 which is exposed when a holding tube 110 is moved longitudinally away from the head 104. A free end of the shaft includes a plunger or piston 112 closely fitted with an inner diameter of the holding tube 110. As shown in FIG. 4a, the plunger or piston 112 can have a seal 112a formed on a surface thereof which seals against an inner surface of the holding tube 110. The sealing surface can be integrally formed with the plunger or piston or separately formed, such as an o-ring disposed in a corresponding o-ring groove on the piston or plunger. The head 102, neck 106, shaft 108 and tube 110 forming a body and at least parts thereof configuring the pump.

As also shown in FIG. 4a, one end of the holding tube 110 includes a seal 114 to watertightly seal around the shaft 108. The seal 114 can be formed integrally with the end of the holding tube 110 or formed separately therefrom, such as in a cap or insert fixed to the one end, such as by mating threads or an adhesive. The seal 114 can alternatively be a diaphragm formed of a thin rubber sheet having a hole smaller than an outside diameter of the shaft 108 or an o-ring type seal fitted into a corresponding o-ring groove at the end of the holding tube 110 or formed in the cap. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding tube 110 is shown transparent so that the shaft 108 and seal 112 can be shown therethrough.

Another end of the holding tube 110 includes a nozzle 116 having an opening 116a with a diameter smaller than that of the inner diameter of the holding tube 110. The water tube 110 can be formed of a plastic, which can be transparent or substantially transparent. The nozzle 116 can be integrally formed with the holding tube 110 or separately formed therefrom and fixed to the holding tube 110, such as by press-fit, mating threads or adhesive.

The holding tube 110 is longitudinally movable on the shaft 108 from the compressed position shown in FIG. 1 to the extended position shown in FIG. 2.

To operate the pumping water-pic function of the toothbrush 100, the holding tube 110 is moved to the compressed state shown in FIG. 1 while the nozzle 116 is immersed in a liquid, such as water. While maintaining the nozzle 116 immersed in the liquid, the neck 106 (and head 102) is withdrawn away from the holding tube 110 so as to draw the liquid into the holding tube 110 by suction. The nozzle 116 can then be removed from the liquid and directed at the teeth while the holding tube 110 is drawn back towards the neck 106 such that the plunger 112 forces the liquid in the holding tube 110 to be expelled from the nozzle 116.

The pressure at which the liquid is expelled from the nozzle varies with the force applied to withdraw the holding tube 110 towards the neck 106 and the size of the opening of the nozzle 116. In this regard, the nozzle 116 can be replaceable, such as with a female thread on the nozzle and a mating male thread on the end of the holding tube 110. If replaceable, a seal can also be provided between the nozzle and the holding tube, such as mating tapered surfaces or an elastomer seal. The replaceable nozzles can have varying size openings to provide varying pressures.

As a further alternative, the head 102 and/or bristles 104 can be replaceable from the neck 106 to replace bristles that are worn or to provide different stiffness bristles.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-10, there is shown another embodiment of water-pic toothbrush, generally referred to by reference numeral 200. As discussed above with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the water-pic toothbrush of FIGS. 5-10 also includes a manually operated pump having a water pic function that is manually operated without the need for electric power and without the need for an electric pump. As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the toothbrush 200 has a conventional head 202 having an array of bristles 204. The head and bristles are formed of materials know in the art, such as plastics.

The toothbrush head 202 extends longitudinally to a neck 206 and handle 208. The neck 206 and handle 208 can also be formed of materials known in the art, such as plastics. Together, the head 202, neck 206 and handle 208 form a body 210, which can be integrally formed or formed from parts and attached together, such as by press-fit or adhesive, such as a clam-shell configuration as is known in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the body 210 includes a reservoir 212 formed therein for holding a liquid, such as water. The reservoir 212 can be a portion or a substantial entirety of a longitudinal length and/or lateral width of the body 210.

Referring back to FIGS. 5-8, the water-pic toothbrush 200 further includes a shaft 214 having a grip 216 at an end thereof configured to be gripped by a user for operating the water-pic function of the water-pic toothbrush as described below. The grip 216 can have a shape that substantially matches the contours of the adjacent portions of the handle 208 such that, when the grip 216 abuts the handle 208 (FIGS. 5 and 7), the same fit together and have an appearance of being integrally formed as a single piece.

As shown in FIG. 10a, one end of the reservoir 212 or a conduit extending from the reservoir 212 includes a seal 220 for watertightly sealing against an outer surface of the shaft 214. The seal 220 can be formed integrally with the handle 208 in the area of the reservoir 212 or conduit or formed separately therefrom, such as an insert 220a having a projecting seal 220b engaging with a surface of the shaft 214 or as an o-ring type seal in a corresponding groove formed in the handle 208.

As shown in FIG. 10b, a free end of the shaft 214 includes a plunger or piston 222 having a surface 222a closely fitted with an inner surface of the reservoir 212. The plunger or piston 222 can have the sealing surface 222a formed thereon which seals against an inner surface of the reservoir 212. The sealing surface can be integrally formed with the plunger or piston or separately formed, such as an o-ring disposed in a corresponding o-ring groove on the piston or plunger.

The body 210 includes a nozzle 224, such as on a surface of the head 202 opposing the surface on which the bristles 204 are formed. The nozzle 224 having an opening 224a with a diameter smaller than that of the reservoir 212 or conduit 218 proximate to the nozzle 224. The nozzle 224 can be integrally formed with the body 210 or separately formed therefrom and fixed to the body 210, such as by press-fit, mating threads or adhesive.

For purposes of this disclosure, the reservoir and conduit(s) can be collectively considered to be the reservoir.

The shaft 214 can be formed integrally with the grip 216 or separately therefrom and fixed to the grip 216, such as by press fitting, threading or adhering a portion of the shaft into a corresponding blind hole or mating thread in the grip 216. The shaft 214 is exposed when the grip 216 is moved longitudinally away from the body 210. Thus, the shaft 214 is longitudinally movable within the reservoir 212 from the compressed position shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9 to the extended position shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10.

To operate the water-pic function of the water-pic toothbrush 200, the grip 216 is moved to the compressed state shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9 while the nozzle 224 is immersed in a liquid, such as water. While maintaining the nozzle 224 immersed in the liquid, the grip 216 is withdrawn away from the body 210 so as to draw the liquid into the reservoir 212 by suction. The nozzle 224 can then be removed from the liquid and directed at the teeth while the grip 216 is drawn back towards the body 210 such that the plunger 222 forces the liquid in the reservoir 212 to be expelled from the nozzle 224.

As discussed above with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the pressure at which the liquid is expelled from the nozzle 224 varies with the force applied to draw the grip 216 towards the body 210 and the size of the opening of the nozzle 224. In this regard, the nozzle 224 can be replaceable, such as with a male thread on the nozzle and a mating female thread in the body 210. The replaceable nozzles can have varying size openings to provide varying pressures.

As an alternative configuration, the water-pic tooth brush 200 can be configured similarly to a “Super-Soaker,” as the same is known in the art. In this regard, the reservoir 212 can comprise an expandable bladder having an interior in fluid communication with the nozzle 224. A valve is closed allowing the fluid to be drawn into the bladder with several in and out strokes of the piston 222 to build up additional pressure in the bladder. At such time, the valve, such as a push-bottom switch held by the body 210 and positioned in the conduit 218, can be moved to an open position allowing the pressurized fluid in the bladder to flow through the conduit 218 and from the nozzle 224 at an increased pressure. In this regard, the stroke of the piston 222 can be made to be smaller such that several strokes are necessary to fully pressurize the bladder.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-14, there is illustrated a manually operated water-pic, generally referred to with reference number 300. The manually operated water-pic comprising a body in the form of a hollow tube 302. A nozzle 304 is disposed at a first end 306a of the hollow tube 302. A plunger 308 is inserted into a second end 306b of the hollow tube 302 so as to be movable relative to the hollow tube 302 between a retracted position (shown in FIG. 11) and an extended position (shown in FIG. 13). Referring to FIG. 14, the plunger 308 having a seal 310 substantially disposed at an end 312a of the plunger. The plunger 308 has a handle 314 disposed at an other end 312b of the plunger 308. The handle 314 can be configured as a knob.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 11-14, the hollow tube extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and the nozzle 304 is configured to direct fluid in a direction (D) offset from the longitudinal axis. However, the nozzle 304 can also be configured to direct the fluid in the same direction as the longitudinal axis.

The hollow tube 302 has a first hollow portion 302a and a second hollow portion 302b. The first hollow portion 302a having a larger inner diameter than the second hollow portion 302a so that the first hollow portion 302a can store a larger amount of fluid. The plunger 308 movable only within the first hollow portion 302a to force the fluid in the first hollow portion 302a into the second hollow portion 302b and through the nozzle 304. The nozzle 304 being disposed on the end 306a of the second hollow portion 302b.

The seal 310 sealingly engages with an inner surface of the hollow tube 302, particularly in the first hollow portion 302a, such as with one or more projections 310a integrally formed on an elastomer tip 310b. The seal 310 can be configured as a piston. Alternatively, the end of the plunger 308 can be configured to have one or more O-ring grooves having an O-ring in each of such one or more grooves to act as the seal.

The seal 310 defines an inner cavity 316 in the hollow tube 302 for holding a fluid, from the seal 310 to the nozzle 304 outlet. The inner cavity 316 being in fluid communication with the nozzle 304 such that fluid in the inner cavity 316 is discharged from the nozzle 304 when the plunger 308 is moved towards the retracted position and fluid is drawn into the inner cavity 316 when the plunger 308 is moved towards the extended position.

FIGS. 15-20 illustrate another embodiment of a toothbrush 400 having a manually operated pump to provide a water pic function. Such pump having the water-pic function is manually operated without the need for electric power and without the need for an electric pump. As shown in FIG. 15, the toothbrush 400 has a conventional head 402 having an array of bristles 404. The head and bristles are formed of materials know in the art, such as plastics.

The toothbrush head 402 extends longitudinally to a neck 406. The neck can also be formed of materials known in the art, such as plastics. The shaft 408 can be formed integrally with the neck or separately therefrom and fixed to the neck 406, such as by press fitting, threading or adhering a portion of the shaft into a corresponding blind hole or mating thread in the neck 406. The neck 406 further extends longitudinally with a shaft 408 which is exposed when a holding tube 410 is moved longitudinally away from the head 404. A free end of the shaft includes a plunger or piston 412 closely fitted with an inner diameter of the holding tube 410. Similarly to that shown in FIG. 4a or 14, the plunger or piston 412 can have one or more seals formed on a surface thereof which seals against an inner surface of the holding tube 410. The sealing surface can be integrally formed with the plunger or piston or separately formed, such as an o-ring disposed in a corresponding o-ring groove on the piston or plunger. The head 402, neck 406, shaft 408 and tube 410 forming a body and at least parts thereof configuring the pump. An additional seal can also be provided similarly to that disclosed at reference number 114 in FIG. 4a.

As shown in FIGS. 19-21, another end of the holding tube 410 includes a nozzle 416 having an opening 416a with a diameter smaller than that of the inner diameter of the holding tube 410. The nozzle 416 being concealed by an end cap 450 that is removable from the holding tube 410, such as by any structure known in the art for releasably securing two items together, such as the illustrated detect mechanism 402 shown in FIGS. 16-20, particularly in FIG. 17. Detent mechanisms are well known in the art as having a member 454 biased into a hole 456. Urging the member 454 against the biasing releases the member 454 from the hole 456. Also, forcing the end cap 450 onto the holding tube 410 pushes the member 454 against the biasing until the member 454 aligns with the hole 456 and secures the cap 450 on the holding tube 410. The detent can also be provided to secure and release the head 102 to another end of the holding tube 410. Although the detent 452 is shown in detail with regard to the other end of the holding tube 410 releasable securing the head 102 and the holding tube 410, the same configuration can be used with regard to releasably securing the end cap 450 to the holding tube 410. Other configurations for such releasably securing known in the art can also be used, such as mating threads and snap interference fits.

The holding tube 410 can be formed of a plastic, which can be transparent or substantially transparent. The nozzle 416 can be integrally formed with the holding tube 410 or separately formed therefrom and fixed to the holding tube 410, such as by press-fit, mating threads or adhesive.

The holding tube 410 is longitudinally movable on the shaft 408 from the compressed position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 to the extended position shown in FIGS. 18-21.

To operate the pumping water-pic function of the toothbrush 400, the holding tube 410 is moved to the compressed state shown in FIG. 15 with the end cap 450 removed and while the nozzle 416 immersed in a liquid, such as water. While maintaining the nozzle 416 immersed in the liquid, the neck 406 (and head 402) is withdrawn away from the holding tube 410 so as to draw the liquid into the holding tube 410 by suction. The nozzle 416 can then be removed from the liquid and directed at the teeth while the holding tube 410 is drawn back towards the neck 406 such that the plunger 412 forces the liquid in the holding tube 410 to be expelled from the nozzle 416.

The pressure at which the liquid is expelled from the nozzle varies with the force applied to withdraw the holding tube 410 towards the neck 406 and the size of the opening of the nozzle 416. In this regard, the nozzle 416 can be replaceable, such as with a female thread on the nozzle and a mating male thread on the end of the holding tube 410. If replaceable, a seal can also be provided between the nozzle and the holding tube, such as mating tapered surfaces or an elastomer seal. The replaceable nozzles can have varying size openings to provide varying pressures.

As a further alternative, the head 402 and/or bristles 404 can be replaceable from the neck 406 to replace bristles that are worn or to provide different stiffness bristles.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A manually operated water-pic comprising: a body comprising a hollow tube;a nozzle disposed at a first end of the hollow tube:a plunger inserted into a second end of the hollow tube so as to be movable relative to the hollow tube between a retracted position and an extended position, the plunger having a seal substantially disposed at an end of the plunger;wherein the seal sealingly engaging with an inner surface of the hollow tube; andthe seal defines an inner cavity in the hollow tube for holding a fluid, the inner cavity being in fluid communication with the nozzle such that fluid in the inner cavity is discharged from the nozzle when the plunger is moved towards the retracted position and fluid is drawn into the inner cavity when the plunger is moved towards the extended position.

2. The manually operated water-pic of claim 1, wherein the tube has a first hollow portion and a second hollow portion, the first hollow portion having a larger inner diameter than the second hollow portion, the plunger being movable only within the first hollow portion, and the nozzle being disposed on an end of the second hollow portion.

3. The manually operated water-pic of claim 1, wherein the seal is a piston.

4. The manually operated water-pic of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is disposed to extend along a longitudinal axis and the nozzle is configured to direct fluid in a direction offset from the longitudinal axis.

5. The manually operated water-pic of claim 1, further comprising a handle disposed at an other end of the plunger.

6. The manually operated water-pic of claim 5, wherein the handle is a knob.

7. The manually operated water-pic of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises first and second seals spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plunger.

8. A toothbrush comprising: a head having bristles at a first end; anda water pic at a second end, the water pic comprising:a shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a first seal substantially disposed at a free end of the shaft;a holding tube movably disposed over the shaft, the holding tube comprising an inner cavity for holding a fluid, the inner cavity having a surface upon which the first seal sealingly engages;a nozzle disposed at a first end of the holding tube for discharging the fluid; andan end cap releasably secured to the first end to conceal the nozzle when secured to the first end and to expose the nozzle when releasably removed from the first end.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the end cap is removably secured on the first end of the holding tube by a detent mechanism.

10. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the holding tube having a second end, the second end having a detent mechanism for releasably securing the head to the second end of the holding tube.