Patent Publication Number: US-2016220339-A1

Title: Oral care device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/110,573 filed Feb. 1, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to an oral care device in the field of home health care and preventive oral health care apparatus. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a full arch ultrasonic cleaner apparatus including an applicator defining a cavity for receiving a cleaning agent and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted to the applicator 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     Gingivitis and periodontitis are the most common diseases of mankind. This is a group of diseases commonly referred as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque and calculus. Thus, removal of plaque and calculus is not only a preventive measure, but also the essential part of the treatment in periodontal disease. Carefully performed home care through brushing and flossing of one&#39;s teeth can well control the formation of plaque and calculus, and also remove soft plaque. 
     Traditionally, home oral care includes brushing teeth and flossing regularly. Much effort has been made to improve toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss. Electric toothbrushes, ultrasonic electric toothbrushes and mouth irrigators have been introduced and/or improved over the last decade. 
     Brushing teeth is a healthy habit that is relatively easy to make and therefore an established common practice in many households. However, brushing teeth alone is not sufficient to combat plaque and calculus formation. Rather flossing is necessary to clean the areas between the teeth (interproximal area). Unfortunately, regular flossing has been proven to be much more difficult to establish as commonplace oral care for a majority of the population. 
     It is an object of the present teachings to provide an oral care device that improves upon and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior art tools and methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This section includes a general summary of the disclosure and does not provide a comprehensive description or include full scope or all the features of the subject matter disclosed. 
     According to one aspect, the present teachings provide an oral care device including an elongated handle having a hollow interior extending through the length of the handle, and an intraoral tip having first and second opposing ends and defining a channel through a length thereof for carrying a fluid, the first end coupled to the handle, the intraoral tip including a head defining a plurality a outlet ports, the outlet ports fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of the handle via the channel. The handle defining at least one air inlet including a fluid path extending through a sidewall of the handle and in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the handle, the air inlet configured to allow ambient air to mix with fluid passing through the handle for aerating the fluid. A water line is connected to the handle at one end and configured for attachment to a water source at an opposing end. A valve is coupled to the handle for controlling the flow of fluid through the hollow interior of the handle. The oral care device for cleaning and massaging a user&#39;s teeth and oral mucosa by placing the intraoral tip inside the oral cavity and adjacent the user&#39;s teeth and allowing a fluid flow, such as tap water, passing through the intraoral tip to clean and massage the teeth and oral mucosa. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description, the appended claims and the following drawings. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an oral care device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an intraoral tip of the oral care device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an intraoral tip connectable to the oral care device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is partial cross-sectional side view of the oral care device of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a water line and coupler for a shower pipe in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed illustrative descriptions of example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The example embodiments may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” “mated,” “attached,” or “fixed” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between”versus “directly between”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent”, etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the language explicitly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate an example embodiment oral care device  10  according to the present invention. The oral care device  10  includes a handle  12  and an intraoral tip  14  removably coupled to the handle via a collar  16 . A water line  18  is connected to a water source  56  at one end and to an inlet end  20  of the handle  12  at the other end. The handle  12  includes a valve  24  manually operable to control a flow of water through the handle  12  and intraoral tip  14 . In one embodiment, the valve  24  is operable for variably controlling a volume of water passing through the handle in one of a fully open position, a closed position, and a partially open position wherein the valve is positioned between the open position and the closed position. The partially open position includes a range of positions wherein the flow of water can be regulated depending on user need or preference. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the handle  12  defines a hollow interior  19  through a length thereof for carrying water from a water source through the handle to the intraoral tip  14 . The hollow interior  19  is defined in part by a first bore  22  extending from the inlet end  20  of the handle to a midpoint of the handle wherein the first bore converges and connects to a second bore  24  which extends from the first bore through to the outlet end  31  of handle  12 . The second bore  24  having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first bore  22 . At least one air inlet  17  defines an opening through a sidewall  13  of the handle  12  near the midpoint of the handle  12 . A pathway  26  connects the air inlet  17  to the first and second bores  22 ,  24  respectively, near the juncture thereof. The air inlet  17  allows ambient air to enter a stream of water  29  passing through the handle  12  for aerating the water prior to delivery of the water through the intraoral tip  14  and to the oral cavity of a user. In one embodiment the air inlet  17  is positioned at the juncture of the first bore  22  and the second bore  24  so that a Venturi effect caused by the water passing through the constricted section at the juncture of the first and second bores  22 ,  24  facilitates inflow of air through the air inlet  17  for aerating the water passing through the handle  12 . In one embodiment the pathway  26  is disposed at an angle ct relative to a longitudinal axis A-A extending through the handle  12  and intraoral tip  14 . Preferably, the angle α is in a range of about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees. In one embodiment of the handle  12 , the angle α is about 45 degrees. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment the handle  12  includes a cover for closing the air inlet, such as a sleeve  29  that is slideably coupled to the handle  12  for movement between a first position wherein the air inlet  17  is open and a second position wherein the air inlet  17  is closed. In the first position the sleeve is moved lengthwise along the handle  12  to a position wherein the air inlet  17  is fully exposed so that ambient air is free to enter the air inlet  17 . In the second position the sleeve  29  is moved to block and/or seal the air inlet  17  thereby preventing air from entering the air inlet  17 . The sleeve  29  is also positionable between the first and second positions wherein the air inlet  17  is partially open so that a user can regulate a volume of air entering the air inlet and control the aeration of the water passing through the handle  12 . 
     As shown in the  FIG. 1  embodiment, a sidewall  39  of the handle  12  defines a plurality of longitudinal grooves  40  extending along a length of the handle  12 . The grooves  40  provide a grip area of the handle for a user to grasp for securely holding the handle  12 . 
     The intraoral tip  14  includes an inlet end  25  coupled to an outlet end  31  of the handle  12  via a collar  16 . In one embodiment the intraoral tip  14  defines a flange  28  near the inlet end  25  of the intraoral tip  14 , the flange  28  extending outwardly from a sidewall  30  of the intraoral tip for engaging the collar  16 . In one embodiment the collar  16  is threadably coupled to the outlet end  31  of the handle  12  for connecting the intraoral tip  14  to the handle. The threaded collar  16  provides for easy removing and replacing one intraoral tip  14  with another intraoral tip for use by different users of for use of an intraoral tip with a different head configuration. In one embodiment the intraoral tip  14  is color coded so that each user of a household or user of a shower can use his/her own intraoral tip. 
     The intraoral tip  14  defines an axial bore  43  extending through a length of the intraoral tip. The bore  43  is in fluid communication with the second bore  24  of the handle  12  and is configured to receive water exiting the handle and carry the water through the intraoral tip  14  towards the outlet end  27  thereof. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bore  43  opens to a wider divergent area  44  near a head  45 . The intraoral tip  14  includes the head  45  formed at an outlet end  27  thereof. The head  45  defines a generally smooth flat face  46  for engaging the teeth, gums and oral mucous of a user of the oral care device  10 . The face  46  defines a plurality of openings  48  extending through the face  46  which are in fluid communication with the divergent area  44  of the bore  43  and configured as exit ports for the water passing through the intraoral tip  14 . The head  45  and openings  48  therethrough are configured to be used inside the oral cavity of a user of the oral care device  10  such that the water exiting the openings  48  will project outwardly from the head  45  for contact the teeth and oral mucous of the user for cleaning and/or massaging the teeth and tissue of the user. 
     As shown in the  FIG. 2A , in one embodiment the intraoral tip  14  has three openings  48  on the head  45 , however, more or less openings  48  can be provided. Further, in various embodiments of the head  45 , the openings  48  are of different shapes including circular, semi-circular, rectangular, oval, etc. Further, the shape of the head  45  is round in the illustrated embodiment, however in other embodiments the head may be rectangular, oval, etc. Thus, the circular openings  48  and round head  45  shown in the  FIG. 1  embodiment should not be considered limiting as to the features of the disclosed invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , another embodiment of an intraoral tip  14 A is connectable to the handle  12  via a flange  28  as discussed above. The intraoral tip  14 A has a head  45 A defining a flat face  46  as set forth above with respect to the intraoral tip  14 . The head  45 A defines a plurality of openings collectively  48 A which include a circular pattern of three outer openings  47  surrounding a central opening  49 . The openings  48 A extend through the face  46  and are in fluid communication with the divergent area  44  of the bore  43  and configured as exit ports for the water passing through the intraoral tip  14 A. The head  45 A and openings  48 A therethrough are configured to be used inside the oral cavity of a user of the oral care device  10  such that the water exiting the openings  48  will project outwardly from the head  45 A for contact the teeth and oral mucous of the user for cleaning and/or massaging the teeth and tissue of the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the central opening  49  is smaller in diameter than the surrounding outer openings  47  and configured to provide a smaller yet more forceful water jet flowing outwardly therefrom compared to an outflow of water from the surrounding larger diameter outer openings  47 . The water exiting the central opening  49  is configured to be used to clean the inter-proximal surfaces (between the teeth) similar to flossing. Whereas, the larger outer openings  47  surrounding the central opening  49  are configured to provide a water jet to clean and massage the surfaces of the teeth, the oral mucous and gingival tissue of the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment the oral care device  10  includes a tee  50  coupled to a water pipe  52  for a shower head  54 . In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, the water line  18  is coupled to the outlet  51  of the tee so that the water line  18  and the oral care device  10  can be used while the shower head  54  is also in use. The valve  24  can be used to control the water flow through the oral care device  10  in this configuration. Alternatively, the tee can include a diverter valve (not shown) wherein operation of the diverter valve allows one or the other of the shower head  54  or the oral care device  10  to be used. Thus, in a preferred embodiment the oral care device  10  is configured to connect to a water pipe  52  supplying water to a shower head  54  within a shower stall or a tub having a shower (not shown) while the shower is operating. In another embodiment a diverter valve may be used so that the oral care device  10  can be used alternatively with a shower head  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the oral care device  10  of the present invention is configured to operate coupled using tap water and the pressure supplied thereby. Thus, a water reservoir or pump are not required for operation of the disclosed oral care device. 
     Example embodiments and methods thus being described, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that example embodiments and example methods may be varied through routine experimentation and without further inventive activity. Variations are not to be regarded as departure from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.