Abstract:
An oral irrigator handle has a handle housing with a swivel assembly for connection to a hose further connected to a fluid source. A tip for directing a focused stream of fluid is releasably connected to a first end of the handle. The swivel assembly is received within the housing and fluidly coupled to tip. The hose is connected to the swivel assembly and fluidly coupled to the tip via the swivel assembly. The swivel assembly prevents translation of rotational movement of the handle or the hose to the other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/286,792 filed on 25 Jan. 2016 entitled “Swivel Assembly for Oral Irrigator Handle,” U.S. provisional application 62/286,925 filed on 25 Jan. 2016 entitled “Reduced Form Factor Oral Irrigator,” and U.S. provisional application No. 62/416,926 filed on 3 Nov. 2016 entitled “Reduced Form Factor Oral Irrigator,” each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to health and personal hygiene equipment and more particularly, to oral irrigators. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Oral irrigators are typically used to clean a user&#39;s teeth and gums by discharging a pressurized fluid stream into a user&#39;s oral cavity. The fluid impacts the teeth and gums to remove debris. Often, the oral irrigator includes a fluid supply, such as a reservoir, that is fluidly connected by a pump to an oral irrigator tip, often through a handle. To direct the fluid in a desired direction, as well as to hold the handle in a comfortable position, a user often rotates either the handle or the tip relative to the handle. However, with countertop units, a hose fluidly connecting the handle to the reservoir can become tangled, or wrapped up as the user moves the handle around to different locations and orientations with respect to the base unit. This can make it difficult for the user to use the oral irrigator as the tangles can reduce the effective length of the hose, as well as make it difficult to store the handle back in the counter top unit (e.g., in a cradle). 
         [0004]    The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention as defined in the claims is to be bound. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one exemplary implementation, the disclosure includes an oral irrigator handle. The handle includes, a handle housing; a tip for directing a focused stream of fluid connected to a first end of the handle connected to the tip, a swivel assembly received within the handle housing between the first end and a second end of the housing and fluidly coupled to the tip, and a hose connected to the swivel assembly and fluidly coupled to the tip via the swivel assembly. The swivel assembly prevents translation of rotational movement of the handle or the hose relative to the other. 
         [0006]    In a further implementation, the swivel assembly further includes a stationary connector keyed to the housing, a swivel connector partially received within the stationary connector and rotatable relative thereto, and a fluid seal positioned between the stationary connector and the swivel connector. 
         [0007]    In another implementation, the stationary connector defines a cylindrical receiving cavity and an outlet port. The swivel connector defines a cylindrical disk that rotatably seats within the receiving cavity and an inlet port to which the hose is connected. 
         [0008]    In a further implementation, the cyclindrical disk may further include a first disk portion of a first diameter; and a second disk portion of a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The second disk portion seats against an interior wall of the stationary connector. The fluid seal seats around the first disk portion and interfaces with an interior wall of the stationary connector. 
         [0009]    In yet another implementation, the handle housing further includes a first ledge and a second ledge each extending normally from an interior wall of the housing and each defining an aperture therethrough. The second ledge is spaced apart from the first ledge along a longitudinal dimension of the housing. A top surface of the stationary connector abuts a bottom surface of the first ledge and the outlet port extends through the aperture in the first ledge. A top surface of the second ledge abuts a bottom surface of the swivel connector and the inlet port extends through the aperture in the second ledge. 
         [0010]    In a further implementation, the swivel connector further includes a third disk portion of a third diameter larger than the second diameter to extend as a flange and a bottom surface of the third disk portion abuts the top surface of the second ledge. 
         [0011]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A more extensive presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention as defined in the claims is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a rear elevation view of a handle for an oral irrigator connected to a hose for a base unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the handle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the handle of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a front elevation view of a first shell of a handle housing for the handle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a front elevation view of a second shell of the handle housing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 3  illustrating a tip connector of the handle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a tip fitting for the handle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 3  illustrating a swivel assembly of the handle. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of a stationary connector of the swivel assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of a swivel connector of the swivel assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of another example of a handle with the swivel assembly with a first shell of the handle hidden to illustrate the internal components. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-section view of the handle of  FIG. 10  taken along a line similar to line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an oral irrigator including the handle of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present disclosure is generally related to a swivel assembly for a handle for an oral irrigator. The swivel assembly allows the hose to rotate  360  degrees relative to the handle such that, as a user moves the handle in various directions and/or rotates the handle, the hose can spin within the handle, reducing the chance that the hose will become tangled, bent, or the like. In other words, the swivel assembly prevents rotational movement of either the handle or the hose from being transmitted to the other, such that rotation of the handle does not affect the position of the hose. The swivel assembly can be positioned within the handle housing or outside the housing (e.g., beneath the handle) to allow the relative motion of the hose to the handle. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the handle  100  includes a main body or housing  102  and a tip  104  connected to the housing  102 . A hose  106  connects the handle  100  to a fluid source, and optionally may include a connector  108  for connecting the hose  106  to the fluid source (e.g., connecting the hose  106  to a base unit). A swivel assembly  118  is connected to the housing  102  and the hose  106  and allows the hose  106  and the housing  102  to rotate relative to one another. 
         [0027]    The housing  102  forms a main body for the handle  100  and can be configured to be easily grasped by the hand of a user. In these embodiments, the housing  102  may form a generally elongated tube. Additionally, the housing  102  may be configured to connect to a storage component of an oral irrigator base, such as a C-clamp, cutout, or the like. In one embodiment, the housing  102  includes an integrated hanging feature  110 . In this embodiment, the hanging feature  110  is defined as an angled groove or slot extending at an angle into the housing  102 .  FIG. 3  is a cross section of the handle  100 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hanging feature  110  is an upwardly angled groove that begins at approximately a mid-section of the housing  102  and is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle toward the tip  104 . The angle of the hanging feature  110  can be varied depending on a desired storage angle of the tip relative to the base. (See  FIG. 12  illustrating the angle of the handle  100  in the storage position.) 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the housing  102  may be formed as two shells  112 ,  114  that connect together.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate elevation views of the handle shells. With reference to  FIGS. 4A , a first shell  112  defines a housing cavity  142  that extends laterally along a length of the shell  112 . The top end of the first shell  112  includes a cutout defining a tip aperture  140  that extends into the cavity  142 . An interior wall  150  of the first shell  112  may include one or more support features  148  defined integrally therewith. The support features  148  are configured to support various components of the swivel assembly  118  and may be modified as desired to support the components. In one embodiment, the support features  148  include upper and lower support ledges  152   a,    152   b  formed as circular steps that extend outward from the interior surface  150  and a groove  154  defined as a slot extending into the interior surface  150  and recessed therefrom. In one embodiment, the groove  154  defines the upper support ledge  152   a.  In other embodiments, the upper support ledge  152   a  may be defined in other manners. One or more angled features  156  may be formed between the ledges  152   a,    152   b  as frustum-shaped or tapered slots that extend into the interior surface  150 . The angled features  156  may be configured to receive components of the swivel assembly  118 , as well as reduce the weight of the housing  102 . 
         [0029]    A bottom end of the first shell  112  tapers toward the terminal end. The interior surface  150  angles inward to form a tapered wall  146  having an initial taper that flares out at an inflection point  158  to form the hose aperture  144 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 4B , the second shell  114  may be substantially a mirror image of the first shell  112  and configured to mate therewith. In one embodiment, however, the second shell  114  includes the hanging feature  110  and thus an upper portion of the interior surface  160  forms an angled wall. The ledges  162   a,    162   b,  the groove  162 , the angled features  166 , the tapered wall  136 , and the hose aperture  134  are substantially the same as those in the first shell  112 . 
         [0031]    The handle  100  may also include a tip fitting  120  for securing the tip  104  to the housing  102 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the cross-section view of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the tip fitting  120 . With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the tip fitting  120  includes a main body  172  with a barb  170  extending downward therefrom. The main body  172  may be a hollow member, such as a cylindrical tube that defines an interior cavity  174  sized to receive the bottom end of the tip  104 . The barb  170  is also hollow defining a fluid path that extends from the interior cavity  174  through the barb  170 . In use, the barb  170  acts as an inlet into the interior cavity  174  such that when the tip  104  is positioned within the cavity  174 , the barb  170  is in fluid communication therewith. 
         [0032]    The tip fitting  120  may also include alignment flanges  176   a,    176   b  that extend from the outer surface of the main body  172 . In one embodiment, the alignment flanges  176   a,    176   b  are defined as substantially rectangular protrusions with curved corners. The alignment flanges  176   a,    176   b  engage with of the housing  102  and fit between ribs in the interior surfaces  150 ,  160  to secure the fitting  120  in position within the housing  102 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 3  illustrating the swivel assembly  118 . With reference to  FIGS. 2, 3, and 7 , the swivel assembly  118  includes a stationary connector  124 , a swivel connector  126 , and a sealing element  128 . Each of the components is discussed in turn, below. 
         [0034]    The stationary connector  124  fluidly connects the swivel assembly  118  to the tube  116  and tip  104 . The stationary connector  124  is configured to engage the interior surfaces  150 ,  160  of the housing  102  to remain stationary relative thereto.  FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the stationary connector  124 . With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the stationary connector  124  includes a reception cavity  188  defined by an outer wall  186 . A securing feature  180  extends from the top end of the outer wall  186 . In one embodiment, the outer wall  186  is substantially cylindrical and the securing feature  180  is substantially rectangular or square shaped and the securing feature  180  extends past the outer perimeter of the outer wall  186  to define a lip for the stationary connector  124 . 
         [0035]    A connection barb  182  extends from the top surface of the securing feature  180 . The connection barb  182  may include one or more gripping elements  192  to enhance the connection of the tube  116  to the barb  182 . The barb  182  defines a fluid channel  190  therethrough in fluid communication with the reception cavity  188  and acts as an outlet port for fluid flowing through the reception cavity  188 . The fluid channel  190  is in fluid communication with the reception cavity  188  defined by the outer wall  186 . 
         [0036]    The stationary connector  124  may also include one or more component ledges  184  or steps defined on an interior surface of the outer wall  186 . The component ledges  184  are used to seat components such as the sealing member  128  or the like. 
         [0037]    With reference again to  FIG. 7 , the swivel connector  126  is configured to be received within and rotate relative to the stationary connector  124 . In this manner, the swivel connector  126  does not translate rotational movement to the handle, since it can rotate relative to the handle.  FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the swivel connector  126 . With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the swivel connector  126  defines a flow passage  206  that extends along the entire longitudinal length of the swivel connector  126 . A bottom end of the swivel connector  126  includes a barb  202  that defines a portion of the flow passage  206  and has one or more gripping components  204  that enhance the connection between the swivel connector  126  and the hose  106 . The barb  202  acts as an inlet port for fluid flow through the handle  100  from the hose  106 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the main body  200  of the swivel connector  126  may be formed as a series of stacked concentric disks. For example, the top disk  210  has the smallest radius of the stack and the middle disk  209  has a diameter between those of the top disk  210  and the bottom disk  208 . The axial length or thickness of each of the disks  208 ,  209 ,  210  increases between each disk, with the bottom disk  208  having the shortest thickness, the middle disk  209  having a thickness between the top and bottom disks  208 ,  210 , and the top disk  210  having the largest thickness. As should be appreciated, the configuration of the main body  200 , and specifically the disks  208 ,  209 ,  210 , is variable based on the configuration of the stationary connector  124 . 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the handle  100  may include a tube  116  for fluidly connecting the swivel assembly  118  to the tip fitting  120 . The tube  116  in some embodiments is flexible and configured to bend around the interior surface  160  of the shell  114  forming the hanging feature  110 . 
         [0040]    The assembly of the handle  100  will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3, 5 , and  7 . The tip fitting  120  is inserted into a top end of one of the shells  112 ,  114  and the jet tip  104  is inserted into the interior cavity  174  of the main body  172 . The flow path of the jet tip  104  is aligned with and fluidly connected to the flow path defined through the barb  107 . A first end of the tube  116  is connected to barb  170  and the second end of the tube  116  I received around the barb  182  of the stationary connector  124 . 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 7 , the stationary connector  124  is inserted into one of the shells  112 ,  114 . For example, the stationary connector  124  may be first inserted into the first shell  112  with the securing feature  180  received in the groove  154  beneath the first ledge  152   a.  The sealing member  128 , which may be a seal cup,  0 -ring, or other sealing element, may be positioned around the top disk  210  of the swivel connector  126  and then the top disk  210  of the swivel connector  126  is inserted into the reception cavity  188  of the stationary fitting  124 . In this embodiment, the middle disk  208  engages with one of the steps within the outer wall  186  of the stationary connector  124  and the bottom disk  208  extends beneath and engages the bottom edge  187  of the stationary connector  124 . The bottom disk  208  of the swivel connector  126  seats on the top surface of the bottom ledge  152   b  of the shell  112 . The top end of the hose  106  is then received around the barb  202  of the swivel connector  126 , fluidly connecting the hose  106 , the swivel connector  126 , the stationary fitting  124 , and the tube  116  together. 
         [0042]    With the internal components connected together, the opposite shell  112 ,  114 , e.g., the second shell  114  is connected to the first shell  112 . The ledges  162   a,    162   b  are aligned with the swivel assembly  118  such that they bookend the securing feature  180  of the stationary connector  124  and the bottom disk  208  of the swivel connector  126 . In other words, once the shells are connected together the ledges  152   a,    152   b,    162   a,    162   b  of the two shells  112 ,  114  clamp around the swivel assembly  118  to prevent longitudinal movement of the assembly, the stationary connector, or the swivel connector relative to the housing  102 . The shells  112 ,  114  are then secured together, e.g., by ultrasonic welding, with adhesive, press fit, fasteners, or the like. The tip collar  111  may be connected around the outer surface of the tip  104  and seat on the top end of the housing  102  of the handle  104 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, once the tip  104  is connected to the housing  102 , the tip  104  may not rotate relative thereto or be ejectable relative thereto. For example, the alignment features  176   a,    176   b  of the tip fitting  120  may key to ribs on the interior surfaces  150 ,  160  of the housing  102  to prevent rotation and the tip  104 , which is press fit into the fitting  120  may be secured correspondingly. However, in other embodiments, conventional tip fitting components and/or eject mechanisms may be used to allow the tip  104  to rotate relative to the housing  102  and allow the tip  104  to be removed from the housing  102 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 12 , fluids, such as water, that are pumped by a pump  402  from a countertop oral irrigator unit  400  flow through the hose  106 , into the fluid passage  206  within the swivel connector  126 , into the reception cavity  188  of the stationary connector  124 , into the fluid passage  190  within the barb  182  and into the tube  116 . From the tube  116 , fluid flows into the fluid passage in the barb  170  of the tip fitting  120  and into the tip  104  which is received therein. 
         [0045]    During use, as the user moves the handle  100  into different angles and positions to access different areas of his or her mouth, the hose  106  can rotate freely relative to the handle to maintain a desired orientation and be free from tangles and undesired bends or creases. In particular, during use, as the user moves the handle  100  to different orientations, the hose  106 , which typically is anchored to a base unit, can rotate at its connection to the handle as the swivel connector  126  rotates within and relative to the stationary connector  124 . In these embodiments, the materials of the stationary connector  124  and the swivel connector  126  are selected to be low-friction so as to introduce minimal to no drag. 
       ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 
       [0046]    In some embodiments, the tube  116  and the stationary connector  124  may be integrally formed.  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate views of another embodiment of the handle  100 . With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in this embodiment, the swivel assembly  300  includes a stationary connector  324 , a swivel connector  326 , and a sealing member  328 , each of which may be substantially the same as the corresponding components in the swivel assembly  118 . However, in this embodiment, the stationary connector  324  includes an extended tube  330  rather than a barb at its top end. The tube  330  is formed integrally with the main body of the connector  324  and is fluidly connected the reception cavity  338  formed by the outer wall  340 . 
         [0047]    In these embodiments, the tube  330  may connect directly to a tip fitting to fluidly connect to the tip  104 . Additionally, as mentioned above, in this embodiment, the handle may include a pause switch assembly and tip ejection assembly. Examples of these assemblies are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,339 filed on 26 Nov. 2014 entitled “Oral Irrigator with Slide Pause Switch,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0048]    All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary. 
         [0049]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined in the claims. Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.