Patent Publication Number: US-2022211474-A1

Title: Automatic pause control reset mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed generally to automatic pause control reset mechanisms, particularly for use in oral irrigators. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some personal care appliances, such as oral irrigators, contain pause control mechanisms which allow a user to stop use of the personal care appliance temporarily while the personal care appliance is powered on. Frequently the control allows the user to stop and start the appliance using a button, slider, or some other control mechanism intended for operation by the same hand holding the personal care appliance or its handle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed to mechanisms to automatically reset the pause control valve in a pause control mechanism located on the handle of a personal care appliance, such as an oral irrigator. When the appliance is turned off or returned to its handle, the pause control is reset to the paused state, which prevents the appliance from operating until the user turns off pause control when the user is ready to use the appliance and is holding its handle. 
     Generally, in one aspect, a method of resetting a pause control mechanism of an oral irrigator is provided. The method comprises: providing the oral irrigator, the oral irrigator comprising a handle having a bi-stable pause control element; placing the oral irrigator to an on state to permit fluid flow through a fluid channel of the handle of the oral irrigator; operating a valve, via the bi-stable pause control element, to permit fluid flow through a valve of the handle of the oral irrigator; compressing a resilient device from a first position to a second position; locking, via a locking mechanism, the resilient device in the second position; releasing the locking mechanism by placing the handle of the oral irrigator in a stand or by turning the oral irrigator to an off state. 
     In an aspect, the method further comprises the step of expanding the resilient device from the second position to the first position and setting the pause control element to inhibit fluid flow after releasing the locking mechanism. 
     Generally, in one aspect, an oral irrigator system comprising an oral irrigator comprising an oral irrigator handle comprising a housing, the housing having a cavity arranged therein, is provided. The cavity comprises a pause control assembly, comprising: a valve; a slider coupled to the valve, wherein the slider is configured to move between a first position and a second position, the slider further comprising a first protrusion; a return; and a stopper. The return comprises: a first portion extending in a first direction, the first portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in contact with the first protrusion of the slider; and a second portion extending in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the second portion having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the second portion further comprises a through bore arranged to receive a valve body; wherein the second end of the first portion and the third end of the second portion are connected with each other. The stopper has an open position and a closed position, wherein the stopper is arranged to prevent motion of the return in a third direction opposite the first direction. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that the pause control assembly is configured such that the first position of the slider corresponds to a closed state of the valve and the second position of the slider corresponds to an open state of the valve, wherein when the slider is moved from the first position to the second position, the return is moved from a first position to a second position, and when the return is moved to the second position, the stopper is arranged to engage and secure the fourth end of the return. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that the pause control assembly further comprises a resilient device arranged to bias the return in a third direction opposite the first direction. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that the pause control assembly further comprises a hinge, wherein the hinge is configured to allow the stopper to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The hinge comprises a first hinge component arranged on the valve body and a second hinge component arranged on the stopper. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that the stopper further comprises a first portion extending in the first direction from the second hinge component and a second portion extending in the third direction from the second hinge component. 
     In an aspect, the system further comprises a valve body having a second biasing element arranged to bias the first portion of the stopper in the second direction. When the return is in the second position, the stopper is arranged to rotate in the first rotational direction about the hinge and engage and secure the fourth end of the return in a locked state. The first portion of the stopper further comprises a catch protruding in the first direction and a ledge protruding in the second direction, wherein the ledge is arranged to apply a force in the first direction and the catch is arranged to apply a force in the second direction when the stopper is in the second position when the return is in a locked state. 
     In an aspect, the system further comprises a stand arranged to receive the oral irrigator handle and arranged to engage with the stopper. 
     In an aspect, the stand comprises a magnet arranged to bias the second portion of the stopper or the stand comprises a mechanical protrusion arranged to engage with the second portion of the stopper. 
     Generally, in one aspect, an oral irrigator system having an oral irrigator with a handle, the handle comprising a housing, the housing having a cavity arranged therein, is provided. The cavity comprises: a fluid channel wherein a fluid flow moves in a first direction substantially parallel with a first axis when the oral irrigator is in an on state; a valve arranged to inhibit and allow the fluid flow through the fluid channel when in a closed state and an open state, respectively; a pressure plate arranged to move in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, or a third direction opposite the second direction, when pressure increases in the fluid channel due to the fluid flow; a resilient device arranged to compress in the second direction or the third direction; and a gated path component. The gated path component has a body, the body comprising: a first channel arranged within the body and extending in the second direction or the third direction, the first channel having a first end and a second end; a second channel arranged within the body extending in the first direction, and at a first angle with respect to the first axis, the second channel having a third end and a fourth end; wherein the second end of the first channel and the third end of the second channel are integrally connected with each other. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that the handle further comprises: a slider arranged to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position and the second position correspond to the closed state and open state of the valve, respectively; a guide pin arranged within the cavity of the oral irrigator handle, the guide pin arranged to move within the first channel and second channel of the gated path component; a tab fixedly secured to the slider, the tab comprising a third channel extending in the second direction or the third direction and arranged to slidingly engage the guide pin; wherein the fluid flow within the fluid channel creates a first force on the pressure plate in the second direction or the third direction transitioning the oral irrigator into an unlocked state. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that in the unlocked state the slider is arranged to move from the first position to the second position, and the slider is arranged to move the guide pin along the second channel of the gated path component, wherein the transition of the slider from the first position to the second position corresponds to a transition of the valve from the closed state to the open state. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that when the oral irrigator is in the off state, the slider is arranged to move from the second position to the first position, and the slider is arranged to move the guide pin along the second channel of the gated path component, wherein the transition of the slider from the second position to the first position corresponds to a transition of the valve from the open state to the closed state. 
     In an aspect, the system is further configured such that in the off state, the guide pin is further arranged to move within the first channel of the gated path component from the second end to the first end, transitioning into a locked state. 
     These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the various embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart showing steps for implementing an automatic pause control reset mechanism according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an oral irrigator system according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an expanded view of a pause control assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a collapsed view of a pause control assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the interior of a valve assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a return according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a stopper according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a catch and ledge of a stopper according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a pause control assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  are schematic representations of a stopper according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13  are schematic representations of oral irrigator stands according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 , and  FIG. 17  are schematic drawings which illustrate how the components of the pause control assembly work together. 
         FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 19 , and  FIG. 20  are schematic representations of fluid pressure resettable pause control mechanisms. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is directed to mechanisms to automatically reset an oral irrigator to a paused state when the oral irrigator is turned off or returned to its handle. When the oral irrigator is in the paused state, a pause control button or other user contact located on the oral irrigator handle is used to resume fluid flow through the oral irrigator nozzle. If the oral irrigator was not placed in the paused state when the oral irrigator was previously turned off, for example if the oral irrigator needed more water to be added to its reservoir, then fluid may flow unexpectedly from the nozzle when the oral irrigator is turned on or removed from the handle, possibly spraying water onto walls, mirrors, floors, etc. By automatically resetting the oral irrigator to the paused state, when the user wants to resume use of the oral irrigator, and powers the appliance on or removes the appliance from its handle, the user will have more control over the operation of the appliance. For example, the user can release pause control while holding the oral irrigator handle in proximity to the mouth. 
     This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for automatically resetting pause control on an oral irrigator. The methods use a resilient device which stores potential energy when the oral irrigator is turned on or the pause control feature is turned off. The stored potential energy is then released and switches the pause control feature on when the oral irrigator is turned off or placed on its stand. The systems for automatically resetting pause control have a pause control assembly which can include: a slider coupled to a valve, where the slider has a first protrusion; a return which makes contact with a first protrusion of the slider; and a stopper, which in the closed position prevents the return from moving. The systems for automatically resetting pause control can also include a pressure plate and a pressure chamber which respond to a change in fluid pressure to permit the opening of a pause control valve. 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method  10  of resetting a pause control mechanism of an oral irrigator  104 . At step  20  an oral irrigator  104  is provided (such as shown in  FIG. 2 ) having a bi-stable pause control element. A bi-stable pause control element is a pause control which can remain in either the on or the off state indefinitely without continuous user input. For example, a non-bi-stable pause control would require the user to hold down the pause control to maintain the system in a paused state, such that when the user releases the control normal operation is resumed. Bi-stable pause control elements can include any mechanism to prevent or permit fluid flow through a fluid channel, including using a valve and sliders or user contacts, which permit fluid flow to remain inhibited or flowing until user input is provided, changing the state of the pause control element. This includes the mechanisms to inhibit and permit fluid flow through the valve to the oral irrigator nozzle illustrated in  FIGS. 2-20 . At step  30 , the oral irrigator  104  is turned on. The oral irrigator contains a means for creating pressurized flow, for example, using a pump and a motor. The oral irrigator pump provides fluid flow through the fluid channel of the oral irrigator handle, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-20 . At step  40 , the pause control mechanism is turned off, meaning that the pause control mechanism does not inhibit fluid flow. For example, the pause control valve is opened to permit fluid flow to the nozzle, through the fluid channel of the oral irrigator handle and through the valve, as shown in  FIGS. 2-20 . 
     At step  50 , a resilient device, which is part of the oral irrigator system, that can store potential energy is compressed. For example, the resilient device can be compressed due to fluid pressure in the fluid channel of the oral irrigator as shown in  FIGS. 18-20 . The resilient device can also be compressed due to the movement of other parts of a pause control assembly, for example due to a mechanical force of a moving part, such a return, as shown in  FIGS. 3-9 . At step  60 , the resilient device is locked into its compressed position. For example, this locking may involve applying a force using a mechanical device in the direction of the compression of the resilient device. This force may be applied by a stopper as shown in  FIGS. 3-11  or fluid pressure build up during the operation of the oral irrigator as shown in  FIGS. 18-20 . At step  70 , the oral irrigator is turned off, for example by stopping power to the motor of the oral irrigator, or the oral irrigator is placed on its stand, and the locking mechanism is released. At optional step  80 , after the locking mechanism, which was keeping the resilient device in a compressed state, is released, the stored potential energy of the resilient device is used to switch the pause control element, such as a slider and/or valve, to the on state (meaning that the pause control element inhibits fluid flow) to prevent future fluid flow through the valve to the oral irrigator nozzle. 
     Referring to the figures,  FIG. 2  is an illustration of oral irrigator system  100 . The system includes an oral irrigator  104 . The oral irrigator  104  can include a water reservoir  101 , a motor  103 , pump  105 , a pressure relief valve  107 , mechanical intensity control valve  111 , valve  140 , and a nozzle  109 . The water reservoir  101  contains fluid which the oral irrigator releases through nozzle  109 . The motor  103  and pump  105  create pressurized flow from the water reservoir  101  to the oral irrigator handle  108  and nozzle  109 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the oral irrigator has a handle  108 ,  300  which has a housing  112 ,  304  encasing a cavity  116 ,  306  in which a pause control assembly  120  is contained.  FIG. 3  is an illustration of pause control assembly  120 , in an exploded view.  FIG. 4  is a compressed view of the components of the pause control assembly  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the pause control assembly  120  contains a valve assembly  124  which has a valve body  128  where the valve body  128  has a first end  132  and a second end  136 . The valve body  128  also has a valve  140  positioned between the first end  132  of the valve body  128  and the second end  136  of the valve body  128 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the interior of the valve body  128 . The interior of the valve body  128  contains a fluid channel  144  through which fluid flow  148  can move, in a first direction dr 1 , from the first end  132  of the valve body to the second end  136  of the valve body, when the oral irrigator  104  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is in an on state S 1 . The valve  140  blocks the fluid channel  144  and blocks fluid flow  148  through the fluid channel  144  to the nozzle  109  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when the valve  140  is closed. The valve  140  can be arranged to completely block fluid flow  148  when the valve is completely closed and partially block fluid flow  148  when the valve  140  is partially closed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pause control assembly  120  also has a slider  152 , positioned outside the valve body  128 , having a first end  154  and a second end  158 , and a first protrusion  164  on the first end  154 . The first protrusion  164  extends in the second direction dr 2 . The slider  152  also has a user contact  162  which is a protrusion on a surface  163  of the slider facing away from the valve body  128 . The user contact  162  is designed to be accessible to the user of the oral irrigator  104  from the exterior of the housing  112 . The user contact  162  can be a button, a slider, a protrusion, or any contact which can be shifted from one position to another position to shift the slider from a first position  156  to a second position  160  and/or from a second position  160  to a first position  156  (shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 ). 
     The pause control assembly  120  further includes a return  168  which is positioned between the valve body  128  and the slider  152 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first portion  172  of the return  168  extends in a first direction dr 1 , and the second portion  184  of the return  168  extends in a second direction, dr 2 , orthogonal to the first direction dr 1 . The first portion  172  has a first end  176  and a second end  180 , on opposite ends of the first portion  172 . The second portion  184  has a third end  188  and a fourth end  192 , on opposite ends of the second portion  184 . The second end  180  of the return  168  and the third end  188  of the return  168  are connected with each other and can be integrally connected to create one unit. As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6 , the first protrusion  164  of the slider  152  makes contact with the first end  176  of the return  168 . The second portion  184  of the return  168  has through bore  196 , through which the valve body  128  is positioned, between the third end  188  and the fourth end  192  of the return  168 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , the pause control assembly  120  further includes a stopper  208  which is positioned outside the valve body  128  and opposite to the return  168  and slider  152 . The valve body  128  also includes a resilient device  220 , which is positioned on the exterior of the valve body  128  between the first end  132  and the second end  136  of the valve body  128 . The resilient device  220  is positioned such that it makes contact with the return  168  on one end and makes contact with the valve body  128  on the opposite end. The resilient device  220  can be a spring, or the resilient device  220  can be any device capable of storing and releasing potential energy, or compressing and expanding, in response to the motion of the return  168 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the pause control assembly  120  further includes a hinge  224  having a first hinge component  228  and a second hinge component  232 . The first hinge component  228  is positioned on the valve body  128  between the first end  132  and the second end  136  of the valve body  128 . The first hinge component  228  is fastened to the valve body  128  and oriented such that it can work in connection with the second hinge component  232  which is located on the stopper  208 . The valve body  128  also includes a second biasing element  244  secured to the valve body  128  between the first end  132  and the second end  136 . The second biasing element  244  is positioned such that it can make contact with the stopper  208 . The second biasing element  244  can be a spring or any flexible material capable of storing and releasing potential energy. The second biasing element  244  is positioned such that it can apply a force  246  substantially in the second direction dr 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the stopper  208  further comprises a first portion  236  which extends in the first direction dr 1  from the second hinge component  232 , and a second portion  240  which extends in the third direction dr 3 , opposite the first direction, from the second hinge component  232 . The first portion  236  of the stopper has a catch  248  and a ledge  252  on the end of the first portion  236  opposite the end of the first portion  236  which has hinge component  232 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the catch  248  extends in the first direction dr 1  and has a first surface  250  which extends along the first direction dr 1  and faces the second direction dr 2 . The ledge  252  extends in the second direction dr 2  and has a first surface  254  which extends along the second direction dr 2  and has a surface which faces the first direction dr 1 . The first surface  254  of the ledge  252  does not extend in the second direction dr 2  beyond the first portion  236  of the stopper  208 . The first surface  250  of the catch  248  and the first surface  254  of the ledge  252  are positioned such that they are adjacent and perpendicular to each other and create a cavity in the space opposite and between the first surface  250  and first surface  254 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of the components of the pause control assembly  120 . The slider  152  is in the second position  160  (which corresponds to an open valve  140 ). Adjacent to the slider  152  in the second direction dr 2  is the return  168 . The return  168  is also in its second position  204 . The first protrusion  164  of the slider  152  makes contact with the first end  176  of the return  168 . The valve body  128  is received in the through bore  196  (not shown) of the return  168  between the third end  188  and the fourth end  192  of the return  168 . The stopper  208  is in its second and closed position  216 . The stopper  208  is arranged such that catch  248  and the ledge  252  positioned on the first portion  236  of the stopper  208  receive the fourth end  192  of the return  168 . The catch  248  applies a force on the return  168  in the second direction dr 2 . The ledge  252  of the stopper  208  applies a force on the return  168  in the first direction dr 1  and prevents the return  168  from moving in the third direction dr 3 . The return  168  is in the locked state. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , as the return  168  (not shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ) moves from its first position  200  to its second position  204 , and moves in the first direction dr 1 , along the stopper  208 , the stopper rotates in the first rotational direction RD 1  about the hinge  224 . This compresses the second biasing element  244 ,  232  which applies a force against the stopper  208  in the second direction dr 2 . As the fourth end of the return  192  moves in the first direction dr 1 , it falls into the cavity created by the catch  248  and ledge  252  of the stopper. The force against the stopper  208  in the second direction dr 2  from the second biasing element  244  and the force applied by the catch  248  in the second direction dr 2  prevent the stopper from rotating further in the first rotational direction rdl and the through bore  196  of the return  168  from extending past the ledge  252  of the stopper  208 . The return is prevented from moving in the third direction dr 3  opposite the first direction dr 1 . When the second portion  240  of the stopper  208  is pulled in the second direction dr 2  further, and the stopper  208  rotates along the hinge  224 ,  232  further in the first rotational direction DR 1 , the through bore  196  of the return  168  moves past the ledge  252  of the stopper  208 , and the return can move along the third direction dr 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the oral irrigator system  100  further includes a stand  264  which is arranged to receive the oral irrigator handle  108 . The stand  264  is shaped to have an exterior where the oral irrigator handle  108  can be placed in a fixed and regular position. In an example, (shown in  FIG. 12 ) the stand  264  includes a magnet  268  arranged in or on the stand  264  such that it is proximate to the pause control assembly  120  located inside the housing  112  of the oral irrigator handle  108 . The magnet  268  is arranged to apply a force Fina, towards the magnet  268 , on the second portion  240  of the stopper  208  of the pause control assembly  120  and in the second direction dr 2  away from the valve body  128  of the pause control assembly  120  located in the housing  112 . In another example, (shown in  FIG. 13 ) the stand  264  includes a mechanical protrusion  272  positioned on the exterior of the stand  264  and arranged such that it can make contact with the oral irrigator handle  108 . The mechanical protrusion  272  makes contact with the stopper  208  of the pause control assembly  120  through a through bore  114  of the housing  112  and through a through bore  242  of the second portion  240  of the stopper  208  such that the mechanical protrusion applies a force Fme on the stopper  208  in the second direction dr 2  away from the valve body  128  of the pause control assembly  120  and towards the stand  264 . 
       FIG. 14  provides a schematic representation of parts of the pause control assembly  120 . The slider  152  is in contact with the valve  140  using a toothed contact  276  (see also  FIG. 3 ) on the slider  152  and the valve  140 , so that the valve  140  can move and be opened and closed when the slider  152  moves. The slider  152  and return  168  are also connected with each other, so that when the slider  152  moves along the first direction dr 1 , the return  168  can move along with the slider  152 . As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 9 , the first protrusion  164  of the slider  152  makes contact with the first end  176  of the return  168 , so that when the slider  152  moves in the first direction dr 1  from its first position  172  to its second position  176  (as shown in  FIG. 15 ), the slider  152  moves the return  168  in the first direction dr 1 . When the slider  152  moves in the third direction dr 3 , the slider  152  does not move the return  168  along in the third direction dr 3 . The contact between the first protrusion  164  of the slider  152  and the first end  176  of the return  168  does not create a force in the third direction dr 3  on the return  168 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , when the slider  152  is moved from the first position  156  to the second position  160  (shown in  FIG. 15 ), the valve  140  is also changed from the closed state to the open state (shown in  FIG. 15 ). The return  168 , which is in contact with the slider  152  such that it moves along with the slider  152  in the first direction dr 1 , also moves from its first position  200  to its second position  204  (shown in  FIG. 15 ). When the valve  140  is open fluid flow  148  through the fluid channel  144  moves through to the nozzle  109 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , fluid flow  148  through the fluid channel  144  can be paused by moving the slider  152  from the second position  160  to the first position  156 , which shifts the valve from the open to the closed state. When the return  168  moves from the first position  200  to the second position  204 , the return  168  compresses the resilient device  220  (shown in  FIG. 15 ), which now stores potential energy which can be released. Additionally, when the return  168  moves to the second position  204 , the stopper shifts from the first and open position  212  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) to the closed and second position  216 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , fluid flow  148  through the fluid channel  144  to the nozzle  109  can be resumed by moving the slider  152  from the first position  156  to the second position  160 , which shifts the valve  140  from the closed to the open state. As shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , after the slider  152  moves to the second position  160 , and the stopper is in the second and closed position  216 , which locks the return  168 , the return  168  does not move and the resilient device  220  remains in the compressed state storing potential energy.  FIG. 17  shows how the stopper is unlocked, or moved from the closed and second position  216  to the open and first position  212 . When the oral irrigator handle  108  is placed in the stand  264  (as shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 ), a force F is applied in the second direction dr 2 , towards the stand  264 . This force moves the stopper  208  towards the stand  264  and from the closed position  216  to the open position  212 . The return  168  is no longer prevented from moving. The potential energy stored in the compressed resilient device  220  is released and the resilient device  220  expands. The resilient device  220 , which is in contact with the return  168  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), moves the return  168  from the second position  204  to the first position  200 . As the return  168  and the slider  152  make contact where the first protrusion  164  of the slider  152  and the first end  176  of the return  168  meet, the force from the resilient device  220  on the return  168  in the third direction dr 3  also moves the slider  152  from the second position  160  to the first position  156 , which moves the valve  140  from the open state to the closed state. If the valve  140  is already in the closed state, and the slider is in the first position  156 , when the handle  108  is placed on the stand  264 , the resilient device  220  applies a force on the return  168  moving it from the second position  204  to the first position  200 , such that the return  168  and slider  152  are now in contact with each other where the first protrusion  164  meets the first end  176  of the slider  152 . 
       FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  show an exemplary oral irrigator handle  300  with a pause control reset mechanism. The oral irrigator handle  300  contains a housing  304  with a cavity  306  which contains a fluid channel  308 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , when the oral irrigator  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is in an on state S 1 , fluid flow  312  moves in a first direction dr 1  which is substantially parallel with a first axis  316 . The oral irrigator handle  300  contains a valve  320  which is arranged to inhibit fluid flow  312  through the fluid channel  308  to the nozzle  109  when the valve  320  is closed  396  (shown in  FIG. 18 ) and permit fluid flow  312  to the nozzle  109  when the valve  320  is open  392  (shown in  FIG. 19 ). The cavity  306  contains a pressure plate  324  and a pressure chamber  328  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) adjacent to the fluid channel  308  which are arranged to respond to a change in pressure in the fluid channel  308  due to fluid flow  312 . The pressure plate  324  extends in the first direction dr 1 , and has a surface which faces the second direction dr 2  or the third direction dr 3 , which are both orthogonal to the first direction dr 1 . Adjacent to pressure plate  324 , and on the opposite side of the pressure plate  324  as the fluid channel  308 , there is a resilient device  332  which is arranged to compress in the second direction dr 2  or the third direction dr 3  in response to fluid pressure in the fluid channel  308  which causes a first force Fp in the second direction dr 2  or the third direction dr 3  against the surface of the pressure plate  324 . As the first force Fp is applied against the pressure plate  324  and the pressure plate  324  moves, the resilient device  332  is compressed. The resilient device  332  can be a spring, or any device capable of storing and releasing potential energy. 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , a gated path component  336  is positioned in the cavity  306 , adjacent to the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332  along a fourth direction dr 4  which is orthogonal to the first direction dr 1  and the second dr 2  and third dr 3  directions. As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the gated path component  336  has a body  340  with a first channel  344  and a second channel  356 . The first channel  344  extends in the second direction dr 2  or the third direction dr 3 , and has a first end  348  and a second end  352 . The second channel  356  extends in first direction dr 1 , at a first angle  382  with respect to the first axis  316 , and has a third end  360  and a fourth end  364 . The second end  352  of the first channel  344  and the third end  360  of the second channel  356  are integrally connected with each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , a guide pin  372 , which extends in the fourth direction dr 4 , is positioned between the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332  and in the body  340  of the gated path component  336 . The guide pin  372  is positioned in the body  340  of the gated path component  336 , and can move along first channel  344  and the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336 . The movement of the guide pin  372  is restricted by the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332  as the guide pin  372  is positioned between the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332 . On the exterior of the oral irrigator housing  304 , there is a slider  368  which can move from a first position  400  (shown in  FIG. 18 ) to a second position  404  (shown in  FIG. 19 ). The first position  400  of the slider  368  corresponds to the closed state  396  of the valve  320  (shown in  FIG. 18 ). The second position  404  of the slider  368  corresponds to the open state  392  of the valve  320  which permits fluid flow  312  through the valve  320  (shown in  FIG. 19 ). A tab  376  is located within the cavity  306  of the oral irrigator handle  300  and is fixedly secured to the slider  368 . The tab  376  has a third channel  380 , which extends in the second direction dr 2  or third direction dr 3 , and the guide pin  372  is arranged so that it can slide along the third channel  380 . 
     When the oral irrigator is turned off and is in the off state S 2 , there is no fluid flow  312  through the fluid channel  308  of the oral irrigator handle ( FIG. 18 ). As shown in  FIG. 19 , when the oral irrigator is turned on and in the on state S 1 , fluid flow  312  begins through the fluid channel  308  creating a first force Fp in the fluid channel  308 . The first force Fp pushes against the surface of the pressure plate  324  and moves the pressure plate  324  in the second or third directions dr 2  or dr 3 , which are orthogonal to the first direction dr 1  along which the fluid flow  312  moves. This first force Fp moves the pressure plate  324  and compresses the resilient device  332 . The guide pin  372  is positioned between the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332  and also experiences Fp. The guide pin  372  is arranged to move along the third channel  380  of the tab and the first channel  344  and second channel  356  of the gated path component  336 . When the oral irrigator is in the off state S 2 , and the slider  368  is in the first position  400  (corresponding to a closed valve  396 ), the third channel  380  of the tab  376  and the first channel  344  of the gated path component  336  are aligned so that the guide pin  372  can move along the third channel  380  in the second or third directions dr 2  or dr 3 , and can move along the first channel  344  of the gated path component  336 , from the first end  348  to the second end  352  (see  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 20 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , when the oral irrigator is in the on state S 1  and a first force Fp increases in the fluid channel  308 , the pressure plate  324  moves away from the fluid channel  308 , and the guide pin  372  can move along the third channel  380  in the second or third directions dr 2  or dr 3 , and can move along the first channel  344  of the gated path component  336 , from the first end  348  to the second end  352 . Once the guide pin  372  reaches the second end  352  of the first channel  344  of the gated path component  336 , the guide pin  372  can move along the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336 . This (guide pin  372  being able to move along the second channel  356 ) corresponds to an unlocked state S 3 . Because the slider  368  is connected to the guide pin  372  by the tab  376 , only once the guide pin  372  reaches the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336  can the slider  368  be moved from the first position  400  ( FIG. 18 ) to the second position  404  ( FIG. 19 ), along the first direction dr 1 . Therefore, the slider can only be moved to the second position  404  corresponding to the open state of the valve  392 , when the power of the oral irrigator is on S 1 , and after the first force Fp moves the guide pin  372  to the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336 . As the slider is moved from the first position  400  to the second position  404 , opening the valve  320  and permitting fluid flow  312  through the fluid channel  308  and into a nozzle  109  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the guide pin  372  moves along the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336  from the third end  360  to the fourth end  364 . When there is fluid in the fluid channel  308  creating a first force Fp against the pressure plate  324 , and the guide pin  372  can move along the second channel  356  of the gated path component, the slider  368  can be moved by the user between the first position  400  and the second position  404  and back to the first position  400 , pausing and unpausing the flow of fluid to the nozzle  109  (see  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 ). 
     When the oral irrigator is turned off and the slider  368  is in the second position  404  (corresponding to an open valve  392 ), fluid flow  312  through the fluid channel  308  decreases and the force Fs (shown in  FIG. 18 ) from the compressed resilient device  332 , moves the pressure plate  324  towards the fluid channel  308 . The force Fs from the expanding resilient device  332  moves the guide pin  372  along the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336  along the path from the fourth end  364  to the third end  360  (shown in  FIG. 20 ). The second channel  356  is positioned at a first angle  382  with respect to a first axis  316 , and as the guide pin  372  moves along the second or third directions dr 2  or dr 3  towards the fluid channel  308 , the guide pin  372  also moves in the direction opposite to the first direction because of the angled orientation of the second channel  356 . The force Fs of the expanding resilient device  332  moves the guide pin  372  along the second channel  356  of the gated path component  336  to the first channel  344 . The guide pin  372  is connected to the tab  376  which is connected to the slider  368 , and the slider  368  moves from the second position  404  to the first position  400  (corresponding to a closed valve  396 ). Once the guide pin  372  is in the first channel  344 , it can move along the second or third direction dr 2  or dr 3  towards the fluid channel  308  along the third channel  380  of the tab  376  and along the first channel  344  of the gated path component  336 , from the second end  352  to the first end  348 . The guide pin  372  is positioned between the pressure plate  324  and the resilient device  332  so that as the resilient device  332  expands and moves the guide pin  372 , the pressure plate  324  also moves towards the fluid channel  308 . When the resilient device  332  has expanded and the guide pin  372  is located at the first end  348  of the gated path component, this corresponds to the locked state S 4  (shown in  FIG. 18 ). The slider  368  cannot be moved to the second position  404  corresponding to an open valve  392  until a first force Fp builds up in the fluid channel  308  due to fluid flow  312  when the oral irrigator is powered on. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
     The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. 
     It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. 
     In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively. 
     While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.