Abstract:
Build-in and portable oral hygiene systems and devices are disclosed which systems and devices effectively function without electricity, batteries, mechanical pumps and motors. Build-in oral hygiene systems may utilize a single set of hot and cold water supply hoses and may be integrated with the faucet as a permanent sink apparatus while portable hygiene devices are manpowered and thus may be used at anytime and anywhere.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention is oral hygiene methods and devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A significant public health problem: one out of every two American adults aged 30 and over has periodontal disease, according to August 2012 released findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of developing countries have more than 90% of adults have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue, bone supporting the teeth and tooth loss. Periodontal disease is associated with other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although brushing and flossing are the primary methods for oral clean, but brush and floss remove up to 70% plaque according to Sunstar Suisse S.A. 
         [0003]    Oral irrigators especially a water jet system could remove most of plaque. USC study finds dental water jet removes 99.9 percent of dental plaque biofilm. This was released at February 2009 from University of Southern California School of Dentistry. 
         [0004]    Various water irrigating oral hygiene devices have been in the market or have had patent proposals. For example, Water Pik from Water Pik, Inc. needs to use electricity or battery for power. Alexander, U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,111, proposed a sink fixture have a flexible tubing 175 for hot and cold water and temperature control 120. They are extras to the adjacent faucet, not only more costly to manufacture and maintain but also makes housing 110 heavy to hold. The present invention satisfies the shortcomings, limitations or disadvantages of all water irrigating oral hygiene devices in the market and patent proposals in the prior art. 
       Cross Reference 
       [0005]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 6,056,710 
                 May 2000 
                 Bachman 
               
               
                   
                 6,740,053 
                 May 2004 
                 Kaplowitz 
               
               
                   
                 6,783,364 
                 August 2004 
                 Juan 
               
               
                   
                 6,835,181 
                 December 2004 
                 Hippensteel 
               
               
                   
                 2007/0203439 
                 August 2007 
                 Boyd et al. 
               
               
                   
                 2007/0261163 
                 November 2007 
                 Lynam 
               
               
                   
                 2004/0045107 
                 March 2004 
                 Egeresi 
               
               
                   
                 2006/0010624 
                 January 2006 
                 Cleland 
               
               
                   
                 2006/0048791 
                 March 2006 
                 Mehes et al. 
               
               
                   
                 2008/0078021 
                 April 2008 
                 Welch 
               
               
                   
                 2009/0053672 
                 February 2009 
                 Cornelius 
               
               
                   
                 8,012,111 
                 September 2011 
                 Alexander 
               
               
                   
                 8,114,038 
                 February 2012 
                 Stelmach 
               
               
                   
                 8,449,295 
                 May 2013 
                 Hegemann 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention comprises an oral hygiene system which is fed from a single set of hot and cold water supply hoses that are coupled to a lever mixer valve that controls water temperature of water flowing to a hygiene-ware. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a switcher unit that functions to control the flow of liquid between a faucet and the hygiene-ware. 
         [0007]    The oral hygiene system according the present invention may generate water jet without electricity, batteries which make it “green” and environment friendly. 
         [0008]    The oral hygiene system according the present invention may generate a pulsating water jet beam or a twister water jet. The swirling pressurized water can do deep dental cleaning even in the periodontal pocket. 
         [0009]    The oral hygiene system in one embodiment is preferably integrated with a faucet as permanent apparatus in a house . In another embodiment, the oral hygiene system is portable is powered manually by a user of the system. 
         [0010]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is schematic of a built-in oral hygiene system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is an exploded view showing detail of a manual switcher unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   b  is a schematic showing a hygiene-ware. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is schematic of a built-in oral hygiene system with an automatic switcher unit. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   a  depicts an automatic switcher unit. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts some functional headers for a hygiene-ware. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   a  is an exploded view showing details of one of the functional headers. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic showing an embodiment of a portable oral hygiene system ready to use. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   a  depicts a cross section of portion of the portable oral hygiene system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   b  a schematic showing is an embodiment of the portable oral hygiene system which is achieved. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic showing an embodiment of a portable oral hygiene system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5   a  depicts a cross section of a portion of the portable oral hygiene system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a preferred build-in oral hygiene system  100  generally comprises a hygiene-ware  110 , a faucet  120 , lever mixer valve or temperature control  130  and a switcher unit  140 . Below-counter components may be a set of hot and cold water supply hoses  161  and  162 , a mixed water hose  165 , and a hygiene-ware hose  164 .  11  and  12  are the hot and cold water sources. 
         [0024]    Faucet  120  may be any type of household faucet outlet that receives a mixed water hose  165  and is capable of directing the mixed water to a hygiene-ware hose  164 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the faucet  120  is configured to operate with switcher unit  140 . 
         [0025]    The switcher unit can be automatically or manually operated.  FIG. 1   a  depicts a portion of an oral hygiene system  100  showing detail of a manually operated switcher unit  140 - 142 . It is contemplated that a user of an oral hygiene system may manually raise and lower the handle  142  to alternate the flow of water through the faucet  120  or to the hygiene-ware  110 . 
         [0026]    Additional detail of hygiene-ware of an oral hygiene system  100  is depicted in  FIG. 1   b . The hygiene-ware  110  includes a functional header  150  which is one of the functional headers depicted in  FIG. 3 , on/off switch  112  with value control options on handle  111 ; a hygiene-ware seat  113 . 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a preferred build-in oral hygiene system  200  could have an automatic switcher unit. The oral hygiene system  200  generally comprised a hygiene-ware  210 , a faucet  220 , lever mixer valve or temperature control  230  and a switcher unit  240 . Below-counter components may be a set of hot and cold water supply hoses  261  and  262 , a mixed water hose  263 , a hygiene-ware hose  264  and a hose to faucet  265 .  11  and  12  are the hot and cold water sources. The hygiene-ware maybe configured to work in unison with an automatic switcher unit in which case the hygiene-ware can be lifted from the hygiene-ware seat which may initiate the redirection of water from faucet to the hygiene-ware. On the other hand when hygiene-ware is replaced into the seat, the flow of water may redirect from the hygiene-ware to the faucet. In either case, hygiene-ware hose  264  which is received into the hygiene-ware should be long enough to allow a user of the hygiene-ware to have freedom of activities and movement. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 2   a , an embodiment of an automatic switcher unit  240  is shown. The automatic switcher generally comprised an L-shape ball valve  241 , a lever  242 , a spring  243 , an outlet  246   a  to hygiene-ware, an outlet  246   b  to faucet and an inlet  245 . It will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the switcher unit  240  works though pressure pushing down on lever  242 . The spring  243  will cause an upward bias on lever  242 ; however, when a hygiene-ware is in place, the hygiene-ware will create downward pressure on the lever  242 . It is contemplated that removal of the hygiene-ware from its seat will allow lever  242  to move upward and the flow of water will be automatically directed away from the faucet and to the hygiene-ware. Other types of automatic switcher units may be utilize so long as they function to re-direct water flow between the faucet and the hygiene-ware. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  depicts series of functional headers  300  including twister  310 , rotatable brush  320 , gum-line brush  330 , an interdental brush  340 , and brush  350  etc. The functional headers can be used in build-in and portable oral hygiene system at different size and materials. The rotatable brush may not be used in the portable oral hygiene system. One of skill in the art of the functional header will appreciate that a variety of other types of functional headers maybe used so long as the functional header is capable of dispersing water. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3   a  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of functional header twister  310  include the components thereof  310 - 315   a.  The functional header  310  may forms water jet beam and twister water jet and the pressurized water swirling can do deep dental cleaning even periodontal pocket. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of a portable oral hygiene system  400 . The portable oral hygiene system  400  is sized and dimensioned to be a unitary portable device and therefore it has a relatively small receptacle  401  for holding water or other liquid. In preferred embodiments the receptacle will contain no more than 6 oz. of liquid. Receptacle  401  has a cap  402  which interacts with a depressible pump  403 .  FIG. 4  is the oral hygiene system  400  with the functional header  450  in a raised configuration. In the raised configuration, a channel exists between receptacle  401  and functional header  450  allowing liquid to flow from the receptacle  401  up through the pivot joint  404  and through functional header  450 . Pressure may be built up by depressing pump  403  which pressure will force water jet out of the functional header. The function header  450  could be one of the functional headers  300  depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4   a , is across sectional view of the portable hygiene system  400 . In addition, detail is shown of inlet valve  405 A spring  406 B, piston  407 C, and outlet valve  408 D. One of skill in the art will appreciate that depressing the top  403  will cause liquid to be drawn up from receptacle  401  through inlet valve  405 A and up past outlet valve  408 D. It is contemplated that in further embodiments means for generating pressure and sucking liquid up may also include an automated pump which may be powered by a battery. 
         [0033]    The oral hygiene system in  FIG. 4   b  is shown with the functional header  450  in a lowered configuration which is achieved through use of a rotatable pivot joint  404 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a portable oral hygiene system  500  includes a receptacle for liquid  501 , cap  502 , a trigger  503 , a functional header connector  504 , and a functional header  550 . With reference to  FIG. 5   a , a cross section of a portable oral hygiene system  500  shows additional detail such as inlet valve  505 A, spring  506 B, piston  507 C, and outlet valve  508 D. Also, depicted in  FIG. 5   a  are trigger  503 , functional header connector  504 , and cap  502 . Pressure is produced by pumping trigger  503  which draws liquid up through the inlet valve  505 A and out the outlet valve  508 D into the functional header  550 . The type of functional header will determine the type characteristics of the spray from functional headers  300  depicted in  FIG. 3 . It should be appreciated that one can pump the trigger in order to build up pressure and release the pressure through use of a release valve. 
         [0035]    It is contemplated that the receptacle of the portable oral hygiene device is lightweight and may be made of a plastic, aluminum alloy or stainless steel. A receptacle will preferably be filled with an antiseptic mixture such as a mouthwash but it may be just water or may contain other ingredients which are helpful to the gums of the user. 
         [0036]    In preferred embodiments, the oral hygiene-ware will not have a battery or other source of electrical energy and will thus be safer to use and more environmentally conscious. Moreover, the portable oral hygiene-ware may be used by people who don&#39;t otherwise have access to running water. 
         [0037]    Thus, specific embodiments and applications of oral hygiene systems have bean disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications beside those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest manner possible consistent with the context, In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present or utilized, or combined with other elements, components or steps that are not expressly referenced.