Abstract:
An oral irrigator including a main body and a brush assembly. The main body has an elongated shaft, a connector connected to the elongated shaft, and a receiving cavity connected to the neck for receiving and retaining a brush assembly. The oral irrigator is adapted to work in conjunction with a mechanism for providing pressurized liquid (e.g. a pump).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an oral irrigator. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oral irrigator having an irrigating brush assembly for brushing and irrigating between teeth and in the gum line. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The cleaning of teeth and gums is a good way to promote health and personal hygiene. However, it can be difficult at times, to effectively reach and remove the plaque and debris caught between teeth and in the gum line. Thus, devices, such as the toothbrush and dental floss, have been developed for the purpose of more effectively cleaning these hard to reach areas. The effectiveness of the toothbrush and dental floss, notwithstanding their popularity, is often not enough to satisfactorily clean the plaque and debris that is fixed between the teeth and in the gum line. Thus, there is a need for an oral irrigation device or oral irrigator capable of dislodging and flushing out this hard to reach plaque and debris caught between the teeth and in the gum line. 
     Examples of different oral irrigators demonstrating the state of the art can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,367, U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,756 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,645. A common disadvantage, associated with existing oral irrigators, is that the dispensed stream of liquid often lacks sufficient fluid pressure to properly remove debris and especially plaque from between the teeth and in the gum line. Moreover, the fluid pressure necessary to remove effectively the plaque and debris may cause injury to the gums. Thus, devices have been developed that combine the process of brushing with that of irrigation in an effort to overcome the shortcomings of the oral irrigator. This combined brushing and irrigating action allows for the proper and safe removal of unwanted plaque and debris fixed between the teeth and in the gum line. 
     An example of an oral irrigator that combines irrigation with brushing is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,911. This patent describes an irrigator adapted with a scrubbing structure that includes a scrubbing cup with a concave or depressed area having resilient scrubbing ribs and a channel through which irrigating fluid can be provided. In addition, the patent provides for a scrubbing cup, similar to that just described, but having a plurality of protuberances, which function to aid in the removal of plaque and debris. The drawback of this device is that the scrubbing cup is not well adapted to reach effectively the plaque and debris between the teeth and in the gum line. 
     Another example of an oral irrigator that combines brushing and irrigation is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,215. This patent describes an irrigator having a first attachment comprising a toothbrush head that has rows (i.e. at least three) of longitudinally spaced bristles as well as a multitude of exit ports (i.e. at least four) connected to a conduit for passing fluid from a fluid source to the toothbrush head. The drawback of this configuration is that the dispensed streams of fluid exiting the multitude of ports may be sufficiently dissipated so as to do little to actually aid in the removal of plaque and debris. 
     Also, the described arrangement of the toothbrush head may not necessarily be the most effective arrangement for cleaning between teeth and in the gum line. In fact, the patent describes a second attachment specifically adapted for removal of plaque from between teeth. This second attachment has a brush portion with bristles that vary in length to form a cone-like structure, which enables the brush to be inserted between teeth. Thus, a second drawback associated with this device is that it is necessarily inefficient to have to remove a first attachment and replace it with a second attachment in order to perform different cleaning functions. 
     Moreover, none of the above-identified devices provide for an oral irrigator specifically adapted to conveniently and effectively brush and irrigate between teeth and in the gum line using a brush assembly having a plurality of brushing members radially disposed in a plurality of circular rows extending from a surface of one side thereof and a single fluid exit port centrally located therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an oral irrigator that enhances the irrigating action on the teeth and gums. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such an oral irrigator adapted to massage and stimulate the gums. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such an oral irrigator having a brush assembly configured to improve the scrubbing action on and between the teeth and in the gum line. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an oral irrigator adapted to simultaneously, conveniently and effectively brush and irrigate between teeth and in the gum line. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an oral irrigator having a brush assembly that has a plurality of brushing members disposed in a pattern that facilitates the cleaning process. 
     It is further object of the present invention to provide such an oral irrigator having a brush assembly adapted to be detachable and replaceable for the purpose of extending the useful life of the device. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by an oral irrigator adapted to work in conjunction with a mechanism for providing pressurized liquid (e.g. a pump) and having a main body with an elongated shaft, a connector, and a receiving cavity for receiving a brush assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oral irrigator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the oral irrigator of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side, section view of the oral irrigator of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the oral irrigator of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular, FIG. 1, there is shown an oral irrigator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  1 . The oral irrigator  1  has a main body  5 . Preferably, main body  5  has an shaft  10  having a neck  45  positioned at one end thereof and a connector  60  positioned at the other end thereof. Main body  5  also preferably includes a receiving cavity  15  connected to neck  45 . Connector  60  is adapted to connect oral irrigator  1  to a mechanism for providing pressurized fluid. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, shaft  10  has a distal end  12  and a proximal end  11 . Preferably, shaft  10  is tapered, with distal end  12  having a greater cross-sectional area than proximal end  11 . Shaft  10  may be adjustable having different lengths to provide greater flexibility in reaching different parts of a user&#39;s mouth or oral cavity. 
     Neck  45  preferably is also tapered. It also has a distal end  46  and a proximal end  47 . Distal end  46  preferably has a greater cross-sectional area than proximal end  47 . The cross-sectional area of distal end  46  corresponds to the cross-sectional area of proximal end  11  of shaft  10 . Proximal end  47  of neck  45  is preferably connected to receiving cavity  15 . Neck  45  also preferably has a bend  48  therein. Bend  48  is preferably sufficient to improve comfort in use and optimize the cleaning effectiveness of oral irrigator  1 . 
     Receiving cavity  15  preferably has a side wall  20  and a bottom surface  35  to form a cup-like structure. Receiving cavity  15  preferably has a rounded shape and is preferably adapted to receive brush assembly  80  with base structure  85 . Within the scope of this invention, receiving cavity  15  and brush assembly  80  can also take many different forms and be arranged in different configurations. For example, brush assembly  80  can, by methods known in the art, be made rotatably driven. 
     In another embodiment, receiving cavity  15  preferably has a distended rim  30  on the inner surface of side wall  20 . Distended rim  30  is preferably adapted to engage a groove  90  on base structure  85  of brush assembly  80 . Side wall  20  preferably also has a small aperture  25  therein. Aperture  25  is preferably adapted to receive a device (not shown) that functions to allow a user to dislodge distended rim  30  from groove  90 . This allows a user to remove and replace brush assembly  80 . 
     In still another embodiment, base structure  85  has a second side surface  87  preferably permanently sealed within receiving cavity  15  by ultrasonic welding, such that first side  86  of base structure  85  is essentially flush with side wall  20 . Other modifications are also foreseeable and in the scope of the present invention. 
     In any embodiment, structure  85  preferably has a circular disk shape and a plurality of bristle tufts  95  extending from a first side  86  thereof. Connector  60  preferably has a transition section  50  that provides a smooth or gradual transition from distal end  12  of shaft  10  to an outwardly flared flange  55 . Flange  55  preferably has a side wall with a plurality of crests  56  and troughs  57  that function to improve gripping and handling of oral irrigator  1 . Preferably, flange  55  separates transition section  50  from an engaging section  65  of connector  60 . Engaging section  65  preferably has an undercut  70  therein with a tapered inserter  75  adjacent thereto in order to facilitate connection to take pressurized fluid. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably at least one outlet orifice  40 , shown clearly in FIG. 2, is centrally disposed in bottom surface  35  of receiving cavity  15 . Outlet orifice  40  is preferably in fluid communication with a base fluid channel  105 . Base fluid channel  105  is centrally located in base structure  85 . Base fluid channel  105  preferably has a fluid outlet  100  adapted to discharge a pressurized fluid stream. Base fluid channel  105  preferably has a uniform cross-sectional area throughout. 
     Outlet orifice  40  and base fluid channel  105  are in fluid communication with a main body fluid channel  107 . Main body fluid channel  107  preferably passes through shaft  10  and connector  60 . Main body fluid channel  107  also can preferably be divided into at least a neck fluid channel  110 , a shaft fluid channel  115  and a connector fluid channel  120 . 
     Neck fluid channel  110  is preferably tapered such that it has a cross-sectional area at distal end  46  that is larger than the cross-sectional area at proximal end  47 . Neck channel  110  is also preferably in fluid communication with shaft fluid channel  115 . 
     Shaft fluid channel  115  is preferably centrally located in shaft  10  and tapered such that it has a cross-sectional area at distal end  12  that is larger than the cross-sectional area at proximal end  11 . The cross-sectional area of shaft fluid channel  115  at proximal end  11  is preferably the same as the cross-sectional area of neck channel  110  at distal end  46 . Shaft fluid channel  115  preferably is in fluid communication with connector fluid channel  120 . 
     Connector fluid channel  120  has a distal end  52  and a proximal end  51 . Connector fluid channel  120  is preferably centrally located in connector  60  and tapered such that cross-sectional area at distal end  52  that is larger than the cross-sectional area at proximal end  51 . The cross-sectional area of connector fluid channel  120  at proximal end  51  is preferably the same as the cross-sectional area of shaft fluid channel  115  at distal end  12 . 
     Main body fluid channel  107  can also take many different forms and be arranged in different configurations. For example, each fluid channel  110 ,  115  and  120  can be adapted with various internal hydraulic steps to alter the pressure and flow of the fluid stream exiting fluid outlet  100 . Another example of a possible configuration would be to alter the size and shape of each channel thereby altering the fluid flow. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, receiving cavity  15  receives structure  85 . Structure  85  preferably has two or more bristle tufts  95  preferably fixed thereto using any suitable method known in the art. The bristle tufts  95  are preferably arranged in two or more circular rows. The bristle tufts  95  preferably have different rigidities. The bristle tufts  95  are of at least one length, but may have two or more different lengths for different cleaning effects. Also, bristle tufts  95  may be configured in a multitude of different patterns. Each pattern providing a different cleaning effect. 
     Main body fluid channel  107  provides virtually or in fact maximized fluid pressure preferably in at least one fluid stream (not shown). Preferably the at least one fluid stream has a massaging and stimulating effect on the gums. Moreover, brush assembly  80  provides virtually or in fact maximized brush cleaning effect preferably with bristle tufts  95  arranged in a plurality of circular rows to improve the actual surface contact on and between the teeth. Still further, the configuration of bristle tufts  95  and main body  60  with main body fluid channel  107  is such so as to preferably provide for the virtual or in fact maximized cleaning effect that can result from the combination of both irrigation and brushing. Thus, the present invention is preferably configured to massage and stimulate the gums and more particularly, to simultaneously, conveniently and effectively brush and irrigate between teeth and in the gum line. 
     The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined herein.