Abstract:
An irrigating device including a reservoir for storing fluid, a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir, and a pump operative to draw fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip. The irrigating device further includes at least one reed valve positioned to regulate fluid between at least one of an inlet port or an exhaust port of the pump.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/372,409, filed Feb. 13, 2012 and titled “Irrigating Device with Reed Valve” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/609,224, filed Dec. 11, 2006 and titled “Hand Held Oral Irrigator;” which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/749,675, filed Dec. 30, 2003 and titled “Hand Held Oral Irrigator;” which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/437,300, filed Dec. 31, 2002 and titled “Hand Held Oral Irrigator;” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates, in general, to devices for irrigating a person&#39;s teeth and gums. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional oral irrigators typically include a large base unit having a reservoir, and a separate hand-held portion having a tip or wand that is connected to the reservoir with a tube. In use, a user directs fluid streams or pulses by pointing the tip of the hand-held portion in the desired position towards the users gum line. While the benefits of regular oral irrigation of the teeth and gums are well-known, oral irrigators having large base units can be difficult to transport, use, or store, for instance when the user is traveling, due to the size of the components. 
         [0004]    As recognized by the present inventors, what is needed is a hand-held oral irrigator which is portable, easy to store and use, and provides a user with the benefits of oral irrigation of the teeth and gums. It is against this background that various embodiments of the present invention were developed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a hand held oral irrigation device having a tip for dispensing fluids. In one example, an oral irrigation device includes a body portion, and a reservoir for storing fluids, wherein the body and/or the reservoir define a first major diameter at a lower end of the oral irrigation device, and define a second major diameter at an upper end of the oral irrigation device, the first major diameter being larger than the second major diameter. In this example, by providing such a geometry for the device, a user can grasp the device with one hand about the second major diameter about the upper end during use. Other geometries are also possible. 
         [0006]    In one example, the reservoir is detachable from the body so that a user can easily refill the reservoir. The reservoir may include an opening positioned at a top end, and a lid releasably secured about the opening. In one example, the reservoir has a capacity of approximately 120-200 ml of fluid. 
         [0007]    In another example, the body may also include a motor, a pump, and a drive mechanism coupling the motor to the pump, the pump controllably delivering fluids from the reservoir to the tip. A three-way control structure may be provided having a first button for activating the motor, a second button for de-activating the motor, and a third button for releasing the tip from the body. Alternatively, an on/off control or switch may be utilized to activate and deactivate the motor. 
         [0008]    The body may include a wall structure defining a first and second section within the body, the first section containing the pump and the second section containing the motor and the drive mechanism, wherein the first and second sections are fluidly isolated. In this way, the wall prevents fluids from reaching the motor and other electrical components within the second section in the body of the oral irrigation device. 
         [0009]    In one example, the drive mechanism includes a pump gear coupled with the motor, wherein the pump gear includes an eccentric offset disc extending from the pump gear. A connecting rod may be coupled with the eccentric offset disc through a hollow cylindrical portion receiving the eccentric offset disc of the pump gear, and the connecting rod may include an arm extending from the cylindrical portion and a ball end positioned at the end of the arm. In this way, the eccentric rotation of the offset disc driven by the motor is converted into reciprocating motion of the connecting rod arm. 
         [0010]    In another example, the pump may include a pump head having an inlet fluid port, an outlet fluid port, and an interior fluid channel in fluid communications with the inlet and outlet fluid ports; a pump body defining a cylindrical chamber in fluid communications with the interior fluid channel of the pump head; and a piston having a bottom portion and a top portion. 
         [0011]    In one example, the inlet fluid port of the pump is positioned within the body at a location which is vertically lower than a location of the top or full level of fluid in the reservoir, thereby priming or self priming the pump with the fluid by force of gravity. 
         [0012]    The bottom portion of the piston can receive the ball end of the connecting rod and the piston may be positioned within the cylindrical chamber of the pump body. In this way, the connecting rod drives the piston within the pump body to create suction/intake and compressing/exhaust cycles of the pump. 
         [0013]    The body may include an inlet conduit fluidly coupling the reservoir with the inlet fluid port, and an outlet conduit fluidly coupling the outlet fluid port with the tip. The reservoir may include a fluid access valve fluidly coupling with the inlet conduit when the reservoir and the body are attached together. 
         [0014]    The pump may also include an inlet fluid valve regulating fluid flow into the inlet fluid port, and an outlet fluid valve regulating fluid flow into the outlet fluid port, wherein as the piston is moved downwardly within the cylindrical chamber of the pump body, the inlet fluid valve is open, the outlet fluid valve is closed, and fluid is drawn from the inlet port (which is coupled with reservoir) into the cylindrical chamber of the pump body. 
         [0015]    In another example, when the piston is moved upwardly within the cylindrical chamber of the pump body, the inlet fluid valve is closed, the outlet fluid valve is open, and fluid is expelled from the cylindrical chamber of the pump body to the outlet fluid valve for delivery to the tip. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the pump of an oral irrigator includes at least one valve assembly having a reed valve therein. For instance, the inlet fluid valve may include a first reed valve made of flexible fabric material, and the outlet fluid valve may include a second reed valve made of flexible fabric material. 
         [0017]    In one example, the reservoir may include a shelf portion defined about a bottom portion of the reservoir, and a base at the bottom end of the reservoir. The fluid access valve may also include a channel defined within the reservoir extending from the shelf to the base of the reservoir, the channel receiving the inlet conduit; a seal positioned about the top end of the channel; a spring extending upwardly from the base within the channel of the reservoir; a ball positioned within the channel between the seal and the spring; and a reservoir inlet conduit positioned along the base within the reservoir, the reservoir inlet conduit fluidly coupled with the channel so that fluid is drawn from the bottom of the reservoir. The spring presses the ball against the seal within the channel, and thereby prevents fluid from escaping the reservoir when the reservoir is separated from the body of the oral irrigator. 
         [0018]    In another example, the oral irrigation device is provided with a mechanism for releasably securing a tip to the body of the oral irrigator. The tip may include an annular groove, and the body may include a tip holding structure having a cylindrical wall defining a cylindrical opening; a slot defined within the cylindrical wall; a clip having an interior lip, the interior lip positioned within the slot and extending into the cylindrical opening; and a spring for biasing the lip of the clip into the slot. In one example, when the spring is uncompressed and the tip fully inserted in the body, the lip is received within the annular groove of the tip and secures the tip to the body. 
         [0019]    According to a broad aspect of another embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a hand held oral irrigation device having a tip for dispensing fluids. In one example, the device includes a reservoir for storing fluids and a body including a pump for pumping fluids from the reservoir to the tip, wherein the pump includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the inlet valve including a reed valve made of flexible, non-porous fabric material. The outlet valve may also include a reed valve made of flexible, non-porous fabric material. 
         [0020]    According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the present invention, disclosed herein is a hand held oral irrigator including a reservoir and a body portion, the body portion containing a pump with a fluid inlet port. In one example, the pump inlet port is positioned within the body and the reservoir is shaped such that the top of the reservoir is vertically higher relative to the position of the fluid inlet port of the pump. In this way, when the reservoir is full or approximately full of fluid, the fluid level in the reservoir is higher than the position of the pump inlet port, and therefore the pump is self-priming or primed by the effect of gravity. 
         [0021]    Other embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the various embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a hand-held oral irrigator and a battery charger, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a hand-held oral irrigator with a tip attached thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an oral irrigator with a body portion, a detachable reservoir, and a detachable tip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along section lines  4 - 4  of the oral irrigator of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the body portion of an oral irrigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates various components of a fluid flow path of the body portion of an oral irrigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view taken along sectional lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  showing various components of the fluid flow path of the body portion of an oral irrigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a reed valve used in the pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  9 - 9  of the inlet port of the pump of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of the pump, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates a sectional view of the pump during an intake or suction stroke, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates a sectional view of the pump during an exhaust or compression stroke, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10  showing the positions of the flaps of the reed valves, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11  showing the positions of the flaps of the reed valves during an intake or suction stroke, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 12  showing the positions of the flaps of the reed valves during an exhaust or compression stroke, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  illustrates an exploded view of the reservoir, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  illustrates a cross sectional view of the reservoir taken along section lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 3  showing the reservoir lid in an open position and the fluid access valve in a closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  illustrates a portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 17  showing the reservoir lid in a closed position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along section lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 17  showing the fluid access valve in detail, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  illustrates a sectional view along section lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  21 - 21  of  FIG. 20 , showing the fluid access valve in an open position which permits fluid from the reservoir to enter into the pump inlet conduit of the body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 22  illustrates an exploded view of a tip which may be used with the hand-held oral irrigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 23  illustrates a sectional view of the tip taken along section lines  23 - 23  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 24  illustrates a sectional view taken along section lines  24 - 24  of  FIG. 3  of the body portion of a hand-held oral irrigator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 25  illustrates a portion of a sectional view of the body portion of a hand-held oral irrigator showing the tip release button in the normally locked position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 26  illustrates a portion of a sectional view of the body portion of a hand-held oral irrigator showing the tip release button in the depressed, unlocked position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 27  illustrates a front view of a pump gear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 28  illustrates a top view of a pump gear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 29  illustrates a bottom view of a pump gear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 30  illustrates a sectional view of a pump gear taken along section lines  30 - 30  of  FIG. 27 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 31  illustrates an example of a travel case which may be used to store a hand-held oral irrigator, a battery charger, and one or more tips or other accessories, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0053]    Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hand held, compact and portable oral irrigator with a detachable and refillable reservoir, wherein various different tips may be attached to the oral irrigator. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , in one example, a hand-held oral irrigator  50  has a body  52 , a detachable refillable reservoir  54  for storing fluid, and a detachable jet tip or nozzle  56  for delivering a pressurized stream of fluid to the user&#39;s teeth and gums. The body  52  and the reservoir  54  are shaped having a slender upper portion  58  so that a user can easily grasp the oral irrigator  50  about the upper portion  58 , and a larger lower portion  60  which aids in the storage of fluids in the reservoir  54  as well as providing a stable platform when the oral irrigator  50  is placed on a table or surface in a vertical orientation. When coupled together as shown in  FIG. 4 , the body  52  and reservoir  54  form an oral irrigator  50  that has a generally oval cross-section from the lower end  62  (See  FIGS. 4 and 20 ) to the upper end  64  ( FIG. 4 ). At the lower end  62 , the oral irrigator  50  has a larger major diameter  66  that decreases to a second, smaller major diameter  68  at a point  70  along the length of device  50 , such as at a midpoint of the oral irrigator  50 . The second major diameter  68  may be relatively consistent from point  70  to the upper end  64 , or may increase if desired. 
         [0054]    In one example, the reservoir  54  defines a larger major diameter  66  along the lower end  62  of the oral irrigator  50 , while portions of the base  52  and reservoir  54  define a second diameter  68  being smaller than diameter  66 . In one embodiment, the smaller diameter  68  defines a region about where a user may grasp or hold the oral irrigation device  50  during use. 
         [0055]    Generally and as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the body  52  includes a three-way control structure  80  that permits the user to turn the oral irrigator  50  on or off or to release the tip  56  from the body  52 , a motor  82 , a drive mechanism  84 , and a pump  86  connected to fluid conduits  88 ,  90  for drawing fluid from the reservoir  54  and delivering fluid to the tip  56 . Alternatively, the body  52  may include an on/off control or switch to activate and deactivate the motor  52 . The body  52  also includes a tip securing mechanism  92  ( FIGS. 25 ,  26 ) that permits the user to releasably secure different tips to the body. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the body  52  generally includes a motor  82  and a rechargeable battery  100  that, based on the state of the control structure  80 , activates a pump  86  through a drive mechanism  84  that draws fluid from the reservoir  54  and delivers the fluid to the tip  56  in a controlled and pressurized manner. In  FIGS. 3-4 , the control structure  80  includes a wedge shaped pad  102  with three buttons  104 ,  106 ,  108  integrated therein and adapted for depression by a user&#39;s thumb or finger. In one example, a first button  104  controls a tip release mechanism  92  ( FIGS. 25 ,  26 ) for controlling the release of a tip  56  from the body  52 ; and a second button  106  and third button  108  selectively activate and deactivate an electrical switch or contact  110  connected through wires or conductors  112  to the positive and negative terminals  114 ,  116  of a rechargeable battery  100 , thereby turning the oral irrigator on and off. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the body  52  includes a wall structure  120  which defines a first section  122  of the interior of the body which is used to contain a self-contained fluid flow path  124  and related components, and a second section  126  of the interior of the body which is used to contain the motor  82 , battery  100 , charging connector  128 , and other electrical components of the oral irrigator  50 . The wall structure  120  maintains sections  122  and  126  isolated, which prevents fluid from entering section  126  and damaging motor  82 , battery  100 , or any other electrical components within section  126 . 
         [0058]    The battery  100  is electrically coupled with the motor  82  through wires  112  or other conductors. In  FIG. 4 , the motor  82  includes a shaft  130  that drives a motor gear  132 . In one example, the motor  82  is a DC motor rotating at 8000-11200 RPM under no load conditions when 2.3 volts is applied. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 5 , the motor gear  132  is operably connected with a drive mechanism  84  for driving the pump  86 . In one example and as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 24 , the drive mechanism  84  includes a pump gear  140 , a gear pin  142 , and a connecting rod  144 . A motor/gear support member  146  securably attaches the motor  82  and the gear pin  142  within the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50 , and maintains a fixed orthogonal orientation between the motor  82  and the pump gear  140  so that the teeth  147  of the motor gear  132  are properly aligned with the teeth  148  of the pump gear  140 . The opposing end  150  of the gear pin  142  may be secured to an interior portion of the body or to an extension  152  from the wall structure  120 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 27-30 , the pump gear  140  includes an outer disc  160  having the gear teeth  148  extending therefrom, an intermediate concentric disc  162 , and an offset disc  164  which acts as an eccentric shaft  166 , wherein the outer disc  160  and the concentric disc  162  are both centered about a cylindrical axis  168  through which the gear pin  142  is positioned and about which the pump gear  140  rotates. As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 30 , the center  170  of the offset disc  164  is offset from the cylindrical axis  168  by some offset distance  172 , for example 0.081 inches or 0.091 inches. The amount of the offset distance  172  will vary depending upon the desired performance of the oral irrigator  50  as well as other design parameters such as the desired fluid pressure delivery, the mechanics of the pump  86 , or the rotational speed of the motor  82 . In one example, the eccentric offset disc  164  has a crescent shaped opening  174  therethrough in order to control the rotational inertia of the pump gear  140  as it rotates, as well as to simplify the manufacture of the pump gear  140 . In  FIG. 5 , a seal  176  is positioned between the pump gear  140  and the wall structure  120  about an opening  178  in the wall structure  120  to prevent any moisture from entering the second section  126  from the first section  122  about the pump gear  140 . 
         [0061]    The connecting rod  144  of the drive mechanism  84  includes a hollow cylindrical portion  180  coupled with an arm  182  terminating at a ball end  184  ( FIGS. 6 ,  24 ). The hollow cylindrical portion  180  encases the eccentric shaft/offset disc  164 ,  166  of the pump gear  140  so as to receive the motion of the pump gear  140 . In  FIGS. 10 and 24 , the ball end  184  of the connecting rod  144  is positioned within a curved, interior surface  190  of a recess  192  formed in a piston  194  that creates the pump  86 . As the pump gear  140  rotates, the ball end  184  moves upwardly and downwardly and pivots within the recess  192  in the piston  194  as the piston  194  also moves in an upward and downward motion within a cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump  86 . Hence, the connecting rod  144 , attached to the piston  194  within the cylinder  196 , converts the eccentric rotational movement of the offset disc  164  into linear movement and drives the piston  194  in an upward and downward motion within the cylinder  196  of the pump  86 . The amount of offset distance  172  will affect the distance that the piston  194  travels within the pump body  200 . 
         [0062]    The piston  194  is sealed with the walls of the cylinder  196  but is also allowed to slide up and down in the cylinder  196  while maintaining the sealed relationship. In one example and referring to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the piston  194  is generally cylindrical and has on its top surface  202  an annular flange  204  and an interior pedestal, an annular valley or recess  208  being defined between the annular flange  204  and pedestal  206 . Within the pedestal  206 , an interior cylindrical recess  192  is formed with a first inner diameter  210 , with a second larger and convex inner diameter  212 , increasing towards the lower end  214  of the piston  194 . A curved interior surface  190  is provided within the interior cylindrical recess  192 , between the first and second inner diameters  210 ,  212 , for receiving the ball end  184  of the connecting rod  144  in order to form a ball joint. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  10 - 15 , the pump  86  generally includes a pump head  220  and a pump body  200 . The pump head  220  includes an inlet fluid port  222  and an outlet fluid port  224  each in fluid communications with an interior fluid channel  226 . The pump body  200  defines a cylindrical chamber  196  in fluid communications with the interior fluid channel  226  of the inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224 . The pump  86  also includes a piston  194  and a pair of valves  230 ,  232  regulating the flow of fluid into and out of the inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224 . 
         [0064]    The inlet fluid port  222  includes an outer ring or collar portion  240  defining an opening  242  terminating at an inner wall  244 , the opening  242  having a diameter larger than the diameter of the interior fluid channel  226 . The inlet port  222  also includes a protrusion  246  extending outwardly from the inner wall  244  but not extending beyond the outer ring/collar  240 . In one example, the opening  242  is circular along a portion of its perimeter with a portion of its perimeter defining a straight ledge  248  ( FIG. 6 ). The outlet fluid port  224  is defined, in one example, by a flat outer surface  250  centered about the interior fluid channel  226 . A transverse fluid channel  252  ( FIGS. 10-12 ) extends from the interior fluid channel  226  to the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200 . 
         [0065]    At one end, the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200  is in fluid communications with the interior fluid channel  226  of the pump head  220  via the transverse fluid channel  252 . The opposing end  254  of the pump body is open so that the piston  194  can be inserted within the cylindrical chamber  196 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , flanges  256 ,  258  extend outwardly and downwardly from the pump body  200  and act as support or securing members for securing the pump body  200  to the wall structure  120  or to the body  52 . 
         [0066]    Both the inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224  of the pump  86  have annular grooves  260 ,  262  for receiving O-rings  264 ,  266  thereabout for forming fluid tight seals with the adjacent conduits  88 ,  90 ,  268  attached to the inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224 . In order to form a fluid tight seal between the piston  194  and the cylindrical chamber  196  within the pump body, the piston  194  is provided with a semi-hollow top portion  208  ( FIGS. 10-12 ) that has an outer wall  270  which extends outwardly so that this top portion  208  of the piston  194  has an increasingly larger diameter when compared with the bottom portion  214  of the piston  194 . In this way, the top portion  208  of the piston  194  forms a tight seal with the interior walls of the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200 , while still permitting some clearance between the lower portion  214  of the piston and the interior walls of the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200 . 
         [0067]    In one embodiment, and as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  10 - 15 , the pump  86  utilizes, on both its inlet and exhaust/outlet ports  222 ,  224 , valves  230 ,  232 , such as reed valves made from a flexible Teflon coated fiberglass tear-resistant, non-porous fabric material, such as Fluorofab 100-6 from Greenbelt Industries, which makes the pump assembly  86  simpler, lighter weight, smaller, and having less parts when compared with conventional spring-loaded valve assemblies. Further, the light weight nature of the reed valves  230 ,  232  also allows the valves to control/check the flow of fluid and air, thereby providing a reliable priming of the pump  86 . The reed valves  230 ,  232  act as check valves which, when used as described herein, permit fluid to flow in only one direction. One or more reed valves  230 ,  232  may be used in hand held oral irrigator  50 , or may also be useful for non-hand-held oral irrigators. 
         [0068]    As shown in the example of  FIG. 8 , in one example a reed valve  230 ,  232  may include a flat piece of material with a rim  280  on a portion of its perimeter, a flap or tongue  282  with a rounded end  284  extending into the interior of the rim  280  forming a crescent shaped opening  286  between the flap  282  and the rim  280 . A living hinge  288  is formed between the flap  282  and the rim  280 , so that the flap  282  can move relative to the rim  280  about the hinge  288 . A pair of stress/strain relief openings or slots  290  may be provided about the hinge  288  to reduce stress/strain on the hinge  288  as the flap  282  moves. A portion  292  of the perimeter of the reed valve  230 ,  232  may be straight, so as to fit within the inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224  of the pump head  220  ( FIG. 6 ) and ensure proper orientation within the pump  86 . 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIGS. 10-12  and  13 - 15 , the diameter of the flap  282  is selected so as to be greater than the diameter of the interior fluid channel  226  of inlet and outlet ports  222 ,  224  of the pump head  220 . In this manner, the flaps  282  of the reed valves  230 ,  232  can fully seal closed the interior fluid channel  226  on either the inlet or outlet port  222 ,  224  during an exhaust or intake stroke of the pump  86 . When the flap  282  of one of the reed valves  230 ,  232  is in an open position, fluid may pass through the reed valve by the flap  282  being displaced from the sealed position and through a portion of the crescent shaped opening  286  of the reed valve. 
         [0070]    In operation, when the piston  194  is moved downwardly within the pump body  200 , this creates a suction stroke where fluid is drawn or sucked from the inlet port  222  past the opened inlet reed valve  230  into the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200  ( FIGS. 11 ,  14 ). During the suction stroke, the outlet reed valve  232  is sealed shut because the diameter of the flap  282  is greater than the diameter of the interior fluid channel  226 , and the flap  282  is drawn under suction toward the interior fluid channel  226  which creates a seal with the edges of the outer surface  250  of the outlet port  224 . When the piston  194  is moved upwardly within the pump body  200 , this creates a compression or exhaust stroke wherein the fluid within the cylindrical chamber  196  of the pump body  200  is expelled or pushed out of the pump body  200  through the outlet port  224  ( FIGS. 12 ,  15 ) and past the opened outlet reed valve  232 . During the exhaust stroke, the inlet reed valve  230  is sealed shut because the diameter of the flap  282  is greater than the diameter of the fluid channel  300  of the inlet cap  302  and the flap  282  is pushed outwardly to seal the inlet port  222 . 
         [0071]    Within the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50 , a self-contained fluid flow path is defined, in one embodiment, by various conduits  88 ,  90  connected between the reservoir  54 , pump  86  and tip  56 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cylindrical pump inlet conduit  88  receives fluid from the reservoir  54  and is in fluid communications with the inlet port  222  of the pump  86  and the outlet port  224  of the pump  86 , which is in fluid communications with an outlet conduit  90  which delivers fluid to an outlet joint  304  which is in fluid communications with the tip  56 . The pump inlet conduit  88  provides a channel  306  through which fluid enters the inlet port  222  of the pump body  200  through the inlet reed valve  230  during a suction stroke. In one embodiment, the pump inlet conduit  88  has an inlet cap  302  that is coupled with and around the inlet port  222  and also houses the inlet reed valve  230  and an O-ring  264  to form a fluid-tight inlet port ( FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  10 ,  11 ). The inlet reed valve  230  is positioned between the interior walls  307  of the inlet cap  302  and the outer ring  204  of the inlet port  222 . During a suction stroke, the flap  282  of the reed valve  230  moves inwardly until it contacts a protrusion  246  ( FIGS. 7 ,  9 ,  10 ) which limits the inward movement of the flap  282  (thereby opening the fluid flow path and drawing fluid into the pump body  200 ), but during a compression or exhaust stroke, the flap  282  of the reed valve  230  cannot move outwardly from the pump body  200  and remains closed since the interior walls  307  of the inlet cap  302  limit the outward movement of the flap  282  ( FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  14 ,  15 ). 
         [0072]    The outlet reed valve  232  is positioned between the outer surface  250  of the outlet port  224  of the pump body  200  and the inner ledge surface  308  ( FIG. 10 ) of the outlet cap  268 . A protrusion  310  from the outlet cap  268  limits the maximum movement of the flap  282  of the outlet reed  232  valve during a compression or exhaust stroke such that the flap  282  of the reed valve  232  can move outwardly (thereby opening the fluid flow path into the outlet cap  268  and outlet conduit  90 ) but during a suction stroke, the flap  282  of the outlet reed valve  232  is sucked inwardly and its inward movement is limited by the outer surface  250  of the outlet port  224 , hence the outlet port  224  remains closed, which prevents fluid from the outlet port  224  and outlet conduit  90  from being drawn into the pump body  200  ( FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  14 ,  15 ). 
         [0073]    The outlet cap  268  defines an L-shaped fluid channel  312  therein and is coupled with a cylindrically shaped outlet conduit  90  ( FIGS. 5 ,  7 ). Both the inlet cap  302  and the outlet cap  268  can be secured to the pump body  200  through a screw  314  as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  10 . The outlet conduit  90  is fluidly coupled with an outlet joint  304  which is in fluid communications with the tip  56 . In  FIG. 24 , a tip holding structure  320 , with a U-322 positioned along its lower edge to form a seal between structure  320  and the interior of outlet joint  304 , receives various tips  56  which can be inserted therein for delivering fluid to the user&#39;s teeth or gums. 
         [0074]    Referring now to  FIGS. 16-21 , a detachable, refillable reservoir  54  is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the reservoir  54  is generally elongated with a top portion  330  having a cross-section generally smaller than a cross-section of the bottom portion  332  of the reservoir  54 . Due to this geometry, when the body  52  and reservoir  54  are connected together for operation, a user can easily hold the oral irrigator  50  in the user&#39;s hand about the top portion  330  of the reservoir  54 . 
         [0075]    In one example, the reservoir  54  may be removed from the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50  as the user desires, for instance, when the user wishes to refill the reservoir  54 . Alternatively, the user may refill the reservoir  54  without disconnecting the reservoir  54  from the body  52 . 
         [0076]    On the interface portion  334  of the reservoir  54  ( FIGS. 3 ,  16 ) adapted to contact or connect with the body  52 , a pair of slots or grooves  336  are defined axially for slidably receiving the corresponding pair of parallel tongues or rails  338  ( FIG. 5 ) extending from the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50 . In one example, the top end  340  of the reservoir  54  is provided with an opening  342  for refilling the reservoir  54  with fluid such as water or other fluids. An end cap  344  with an opening  346  may be affixed to the top end  340  of the reservoir  54  and defines two pivot points or protrusions  348  about which a lid  350  with indentations  352  corresponding to the protrusions  348  can rotate upwardly or downwardly about the protrusions  348  as desired. A seal  354  with o-ring  355  can be affixed to the bottom portion  356  of the lid  350 , or alternatively on the top portion of the opening  346 , in order to sealably engage in the opening  346  of the end cap  344  so that when the lid  350  and seal  354  are in the closed position, a fluid tight seal is formed about the top end  340  of the reservoir  54  ( FIG. 18 ). As shown in  FIG. 16 , one or more vent holes  358  are provided in the top of the reservoir end cap  344  in order to admit air into the reservoir  54  so that a vacuum is not created as fluid is pumped from the reservoir  54  through the tip  56 . 
         [0077]    In one embodiment, the reservoir  54  is formed with a base  360  having a biased-closed fluid access valve  362  positioned on an interior shelf  364  of the reservoir  54  ( FIGS. 16 ,  17 ,  19 ,  21 ). The fluid access valve  362  is normally closed and may be opened via contact with the pump inlet conduit  88  of the body  52  ( FIG. 21 ). In one example, the fluid access valve  362  includes a vertically oriented cylindrical channel  366  defined within the reservoir  54  having an opening  367  at one end  368  for receiving a portion of a reservoir inlet conduit  370 , and an opening  372  at the other end terminating on the interior shelf  364  of the reservoir  54  where a seal  374  with a cylindrical opening is positioned. Within the cylindrical channel  366 , a ball  376  is pressed upwardly against the bottom of the seal  374  by a spring  378  which is maintained in position by an upwardly extending portion  380  of the reservoir inlet conduit  370  when positioned within the opening  367  of the cylindrical channel  366 . An o-ring  382  is positioned about an annular recess  384  about the upwardly extending portion  380  of the reservoir inlet conduit  370 . 
         [0078]    When the reservoir  54  is separated from the body  52  of oral irrigator  50 , the spring  378  presses the ball  376  against the seal  374  within channel  366 , thereby preventing fluid from escaping reservoir  54 . 
         [0079]    Due to the positioning of the components of the fluid flow path within the reservoir  54  and the body  52 , the pump  86  is self-priming which provides fast and rapid delivery of fluid stored in the reservoir  54  to the tip  56  during operation of the hand-held oral irrigator  50 . The reservoir inlet conduit  370  is positioned on the base  360  of the reservoir  54  and defines an L-shaped fluid channel ( FIG. 17 ) which receives fluid at its input  386  and guides, when the pump  86  is in suction mode, fluid to its upwardly extending portion  380  which is contained within the cylindrical channel  366 . Accordingly, as the user fills the reservoir  54  with fluid, fluid immediately enters the input  386  of the reservoir inlet conduit  370 , and as the fluid level within the reservoir  54  rises to above the level of the shelf  364 , the fluid level within the cylindrical channel  366  also rises. 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 21 , when the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50  is slidably connected with the reservoir  54 , the tip  388  of the pump inlet conduit  88  enters the opening  372  of the seal  374  and engages the ball  376  which compresses the spring  378  and allows fluid to enter the interior of the pump inlet conduit  88  through the slot  390  in the pump inlet conduit  88 . 
         [0081]    As the fluid level within the reservoir  54  is, for instance, at or near a full level, the fluid pressure formed by gravitational force or potential energy has a tendency to force the fluid upwards and out of the fluid access valve  362  whenever fluid access valve  362  is in an open position through contact with tip  388  of pump inlet conduit  88 . Accordingly, when the reservoir  54  is at or near a full fluid level and the tip  388  of the pump inlet conduit  88  contacts and depresses the ball/spring  376 ,  378  of the fluid access valve  362 , fluid flows upwardly into the inlet port  222  of the pump body  200  and primes the pump body  200  with fluid because the level of the fluid in the reservoir  54  is higher than the level of the inlet port  222  of the pump  86 . This self priming effect occurs without reliance on the operation of the pump  86 . When the user activates the oral irrigator  50  and the motor  82  activates the pump  86  to cycle between its suction and exhaust strokes, fluid is delivered to the tip  56  quickly and rapidly due to the fact that the pump  86  has been primed with fluid. 
         [0082]    Various tips  56  can be detachably secured with the oral irrigator through the use of a tip release mechanism  92  illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  24 - 26 . One example of a tip  56  is illustrated in  FIGS. 22-23 , wherein the tip  56  is generally elongated with a cylindrical bore  400  through which fluid flows from the bottom  402  to the top  404  of the tip  56 , and has an annular flange  406  upon which an identification or color-coded ring  408  rests which users may utilize to personalize or identify their tips  56 . Further, a tip  56  may include an annular groove  410  defined in the lower portion  412  of the tip  56  which is used in combination with the tip release mechanism  92  for securely attaching the tip  56  to the body  52  of the oral irrigator  50 . A restrictor  412  may be included within the bottom end  402  of the tip  56  for controlling the volume and rate of fluid flow through the tip  56 . For instance, tips  56  having different sizes or differing restrictor  412  sizes may be provided with the oral irrigator  50  in order to permit the user to control the pressure at which the stream of fluid is delivered to the user&#39;s teeth or gums. For instance, in one example, a tip  56  characterized by an orifice size of 0.035 inches with a 0.030 inch diameter restrictor  412  has been found to provide pressure of approximately  64  psi, while in another example a tip  56  characterized by an orifice size of 0.026 inches with a 0.025 inch diameter restrictor  412  has been found to provide pressure of approximately 48-52 psi. 
         [0083]    Referring now to  FIGS. 24-26 , the tip release mechanism  92  will now be described. The upper portion of the body  52  includes an opening  420  into which a tip control knob  422  is inserted which provides an interior surface  424  to engage and initially guide the tip  56  within the opening  420 . The tip holding structure  320 , which is generally cylindrical in shape, receives the bottom portion of the tip  56  as it is inserted into the body  52 . In one example, the tip holding structure  320  includes an opening or slot  426  through a portion of its perimeter through which an interior lip  428  of a tip securing clip  430  may pass. 
         [0084]    The tip securing clip  430  and spring  432  ( FIGS. 5 ,  25 ,  26 ) are provided such that as a tip  56  is inserted into the opening  420  of the tip holding structure  320 , the outer walls of the bottom portion of the tip  56  push outwardly on the lip  428  of the clip and compress the spring  432 , and when the lower portion of the tip  56  is fully inserted into the opening  420  of the tip holding structure  320 , the interior lip  428  of the clip  430  is received in the annular groove  410  of the tip  56  to provide the user with tactile and/or audible feedback that the tip has been completely and properly inserted in the body  52  ( FIG. 25 ). The clip  430  is biased in this position under the force of the spring  432 . Further, if the groove  410  is continuous around the tip  56 , once the tip  56  has been fully inserted into the body  52 , the tip  56  may be oriented or rotated as desired by the user. 
         [0085]    When a user wishes to remove the tip  56  from the body  52 , the user depresses a tip release button  104  (which is preferably part of the 3-way control structure  80 ) on the body  52  which pushes on a protrusion  434  of the tip securing clip  430 , the protrusion  434  preferably located 180 degrees opposite the lip  428  of the clip  430 . By moving the clip  430  towards the spring  432 , the spring  432  is compressed which disengages the lip  428  of the clip  430  from the annular slot  410  of the tip  56  so that the tip  56  may be removed from the body  52  ( FIG. 26 ). 
         [0086]    In order to control the pressure of the fluid stream delivered to a user&#39;s teeth and gums, various tips  56  with differing orifice diameters may be used, with or without restrictors  412 . For example, a jet tip  56  having orifice sizes of 0.026 inches for low-pressure (which may be used with a restrictor of 0.030 or 0.025 inch diameters, for example), 0.035 inches for low-pressure, or 0.026 inches for high-pressure, for example. A battery  100  ( FIG. 4 ) such as a NiCad battery, such as a pair of 4/5SC NiCad rechargeable batteries, may be used, in one example. A charger  436  can be used to recharge the battery  100  in the oral irrigation device  50  through a door  438  which provides access to charger connection  128 . 
         [0087]    Reducing the motor speed may also reduce the pressure of the delivered fluid, and in one embodiment, the control  80  of  FIG. 2  permits the user to select a low or high motor speed by correspondingly altering the voltage level applied to the motor. Furthermore, the offset  172  of the eccentric shaft  164 ,  166  used to drive the piston  194  ( FIGS. 27-30 ) may also be selected to achieve a desired pressure or pulsation frequency. In one example, a 0.081 inch offset achieves a pulse rate of 1670 pulses/minute in a high frequency application and 1860 pulses/minute in a low frequency application, while a 0.091 inch offset achieves a pulse rate of 1750 pulses/minute in a high frequency application and 1920 pulses/minute in a low frequency application. 
         [0088]    Pressure control may also be provided through the use of an adjustable valve located in the tip  56 . In one example, a valve with a dial, such as a barrel valve, is provided in the tip  56  which permits a user to selectively adjust the pressure as the fluid stream passes through the valve in the tip  56 , thereby regulating the overall pressure of the fluid as delivered by the oral irrigator  50 . 
         [0089]    By way of example only, an oral irrigator  50  may include a reservoir  54  having a capacity of approximately 120-200 ml (i.e., 150 ml), and delivering a flow rate of approximately 300 to 321 ml/minute when used with a high-pressure tip, resulting in approximately 30 seconds of irrigation when used with a full reservoir  54 . Using a low pressure tip, the pressures may include 48-66 psi, in one example, resulting in approximately 27-35 seconds of irrigation when used with a full reservoir  54 . 
         [0090]    Accordingly, as described above, it can be seen that various embodiments of the present invention may be used to form a hand held, portable oral irrigator with a detachable and refillable reservoir wherein various different tips may be attached to the oral irrigator. The compact and portable nature of embodiments of the present invention permit use of a travel case  440  ( FIG. 31 ) to store and carry a hand held oral irrigator  50 , a battery charger  442 , and one or more tips  56  or other accessories in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0091]    All directional references used herein (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 present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. 
         [0092]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.