Patent Publication Number: US-2023160378-A1

Title: Water flosser pump body structure and water flosser

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention belongs to the technical field of water flosser equipment, and specifically pertains to a water pump body structure for a water flosser and a water flosser. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A water flosser is an oral cleaning device, and its principle is to use flowing pulsating water to remove dental plaque and food residue in gingival crevices, thereby improving oral health. However, a pump structure for the water flosser is a core component of the water flosser. An existing diaphragm pump for the water flosser has the defects that a water flow cavity is large in volume, liquid cannot be completely discharged in pumping and jetting operations in a single process, so that air is accumulated in a cavity of a pump body in a reciprocating motion process, water inflow of the pump body is insufficient due to insufficient air pressure in the cavity of the pump body, water yield of the pump body is insufficient, and normal use of the water flosser is affected. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a water flosser pump body structure and a water flosser. 
     The water flosser pump body structure comprises a housing, a water pump assembly, a transmission assembly, and a driving assembly. The water pump assembly comprises a pump body, an inlet valve member, an outlet valve member and an elastic diaphragm; the inlet valve member is provided with an inlet thereon, the outlet valve member is provided with an outlet thereon, the inlet valve member is further provided with an inlet valve sheet thereon, and the outlet valve member is provided with an outlet valve sheet thereon, a water flow cavity is provided inside the pump body, the inlet valve sheet and the water flow cavity form an inlet channel, and the outlet valve sheet and the water flow cavity form an outlet channel; and when the transmission assembly rotates, the elastic diaphragm can be driven to repeatedly deform to cause a change in pressure in the water flow cavity, thus realizing a pumping and jetting process of the water flosser for flossing teeth. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic diaphragm is hermetically connected with the pump body, the pump body comprises an upper pump body and a lower pump body, both ends of the pump body connected with the elastic diaphragm have a pump body end face chamfer, and the upper pump body has a first drainage channel and a second drainage channel in the direction of the outlet channel. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic diaphragm comprises a deformation portion and a connection portion, the connection portion is used for connected and fixed with the pump body, and the deformation portion comprises a first deformation portion and a second deformation portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thickness of the first deformation portion of the elastic diaphragm is greater than a thickness of the second deformation portion, a length of the second deformation portion is less than a length of the first deformation portion, and a hardness of the first deformation portion is greater than a hardness of the second deformation portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic diaphragm is integrally formed, and the elastic diaphragm is made of an elastic material such as rubber and silica gel. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission assembly comprises a gear transmission mechanism and a connecting rod, and the gear transmission mechanism is connected with the connecting rod for driving the connecting rod to move. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting rod is connected with the elastic diaphragm through a connector. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gear transmission mechanism comprises a gear and an eccentric gear, the gear is in meshing rotation with the eccentric gear, the eccentric gear further comprises an eccentric gear fixing shaft, and the eccentric gear fixing shaft is connected with the connecting rod. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the gear transmission mechanism pulls the elastic diaphragm from inside to outside, the deformation portion of the elastic diaphragm can be deformed towards the outside of the water flow cavity, so that a volume inside the water flow cavity increases, and external water can enter the water flow cavity from the inlet through the one-way inlet valve sheet. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the gear transmission mechanism pushes the elastic diaphragm from outside to inside, the elastic diaphragm can be deformed towards the inside of the water flow cavity, so that the volume inside the water flow cavity decreases, and water in the water flow cavity can be sprayed out from the outlet through the outlet valve sheet. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet has a single intake volume less than or equal to a maximum intake containment volume of the water flow cavity, and the water flow cavity is used for containing a tooth wash liquid. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet valve sheet and the outlet valve sheet are one-way valve sheets, and a flow direction of the liquid through the valve sheets is one-way. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism comprises a micro-motor, and the micro-motor has a motor output shaft thereon. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper pump body is connected with the inlet valve member and the outlet valve member, and a sealing ring is provided at a connection between the inlet valve member or the outlet valve member and the upper pump body. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet valve member is provided with a limiting groove thereon, and the limiting groove limits an opening and closing angle of the inlet valve sheet. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a water flosser comprises the water flosser pump body structure described above. 
     The water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention replace piston motion of a conventional piston with reciprocating motion of the elastic diaphragm to reduce energy loss due to friction. In addition, the volume of the water flow cavity in the pump body is small, and a distance from the inlet to the water flow cavity is short; a drainage channel is provided in the water pump assembly; in pumping and jetting operations in a single process, the liquid in the water flow cavity can be completely discharged, which decreases reaction force of the water pressure on the elastic diaphragm in the reciprocating motion of the water pump assembly, solves abnormal water inflow and outflow of the pump body due to accumulated air in the cavity of the water pump assembly which cannot be removed under natural water inflow and outflow state of a conventional diaphragm pump, and improves flossing efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a structural diagram of a water flosser pump body structure and a water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged diagram of the water flosser pump body structure and a pump body structure of the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a structural diagram of an elastic diaphragm of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser of the present invention in a pumping state; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of liquid flow of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser of the present invention in the liquid pumping state; 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser of the present invention in a jetting state; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram of liquid flow of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser of the present invention in the jetting state; 
         FIG.  10    is an enlarged diagram of an inlet valve member of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view of the water flosser pump body structure and the water flosser shown in the embodiment of  FIG.  11    in the jetting state. 
     
    
    
     
         
         
           
               1 -housing,  11 -upper housing,  12 -lower housing; 
               2 -water pump assembly,  20 -pump body,  201 -pump body end face chamfer,  21 -upper pump body,  211 -first drainage channel,  212 -second drainage channel,  22 -lower pump body,  23 -inlet valve member,  231 -inlet,  232 -inlet valve sheet,  233 -limiting groove,  24 -outlet valve member,  241 -outlet,  242 -outlet valve sheet,  25 -elastic diaphragm,  251 -deformation portion,  2511 -first deformation portion,  2512 -second deformation portion,  252 -connecting portion,  26 -water flow cavity,  261 -inlet channel,  262 -outlet channel,  27 -sealing ring,  28 -connector; 
               3 -transmission assembly,  31 -gear transmission mechanism,  311 -gear,  312 -eccentric gear,  3121 -eccentric gear fixing shaft,  32 -connecting rod,  321 -first fixing portion,  322 -second fixing portion; 
               4 -driving assembly,  41 -micro-motor,  42 -motor output shaft. 
           
         
       
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description is intended only to teach those skilled in the art how to practice the present invention, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The serial numbers themselves, such as “first”, “second” and the like, are used herein only to distinguish the objects described, and do not have any sequential or technical meaning. As used herein, the terms “connected” and “coupled” are intended to include both direct and indirect connection (coupling), unless otherwise specified. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 11   , the present invention provides a water flosser pump body for mounting to a water flosser (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 11   , the present invention provides a water flosser pump body structure, comprising a housing  1 , a water pump assembly  2 , a transmission assembly  3 , and a driving assembly  4 . The driving assembly  4  is used for driving the transmission assembly  3 , and the transmission assembly  3  provides power to the water pump assembly  2  through reciprocating motion, thereby achieving water intake and jetting effect of the water pump assembly  2 . The housing  1  comprises an upper housing  11  and a lower housing  12 , the housing has a mounting cavity therein, and the transmission assembly  3  and the driving assembly  4  are mounted in the mounting cavity. 
     The water pump assembly  2  comprises a pump body  20 , the pump body  20  comprises an upper pump body  21  and a lower pump body  22 , and the water pump assembly  2  further comprises an inlet valve member  23 , an outlet valve member  24  and an elastic diaphragm  25 . The inlet valve member  23  is provided with an inlet  231  thereon, and the outlet valve member  24  is provided with an outlet  241  thereon. The inlet valve member  23  is further provided with an inlet valve sheet  232  thereon, the outlet valve member  24  is provided with an outlet valve sheet  242  thereon, and the pump body  20  has a water flow cavity  26  therein, and the water flow cavity  26  is used for containing tooth wash liquid. The upper pump body  21  is connected with the inlet valve member  23  and the outlet valve member  24 , and the upper pump body  21  and/or the lower pump body  22  is used for being fixedly connected to the elastic diaphragm  25 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 - 9   , the inlet valve sheet  232  and the water flow cavity  26  form an inlet channel  261 , and the outlet valve sheet  242  and the water flow cavity  26  form an outlet channel  262 . When the water pump assembly  2  performs pumping operation, the outlet valve sheet  242  is closed, the elastic diaphragm  25  contracts downwards and deforms, a volume in the water flow cavity  26  increases, pressure in the water flow cavity  26  decreases, liquid flows in from the inlet  231  and impacts the inlet valve sheet  232  to open the same, and the liquid flows into the inlet channel  261  and then reaches the water flow cavity  26 . When the water pump assembly  2  performs jetting operation, the inlet valve sheet  232  is closed, the elastic diaphragm  25  is ejected upwards and deformed, the volume in the water flow cavity  26  decreases, the liquid flows into the outlet channel  262  and impacts the outlet valve sheet  242  to open the same, and the liquid is jetted out from the outlet  241 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 5   , the elastic diaphragm  25  is hermetically connected with the pump body  20 , the elastic diaphragm  25  comprises a deformation portion  251  and a connection portion  252 , the connection portion  252  is a peripheral edge extending in an axial direction of the elastic diaphragm  25 , and the peripheral edge is annular, a lower end face of the upper pump body  21  and/or an upper end face of the lower pump body  22  are provided with a recessed structure in which the peripheral edge is tightly crimped to prevent the liquid from penetrating from the water flow cavity into the driving assembly  4 , which will causes damage to the motor and affects normal use of the water flosser. 
     The deformation portion  251  comprises a first deformation portion  2511  and a second deformation portion  2512 . A thickness of the first deformation portion  2511  is greater than a thickness of the second deformation portion  2512 , thereby reducing wear caused by the reciprocating motion of the connecting rod  32  and improving service life of the elastic diaphragm  25 . A hardness of the first deformation portion  2511  is greater than a hardness of the second deformation portion  2512  so as to prevent the elastic diaphragm  25  from generating protrusion in the case of too fast motion of the water pump assembly  2 , resulting in insufficient pumping or insufficient impact force. On the other hand, the second deformation portion  2512  is a shorter and thinner elastic material than the first deformation portion  2511 , so that the transmission assembly  3  can more easily deform the elastic diaphragm and improve pumping and jetting efficiency of the water pump assembly  2 , thereby improving user experience. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the upper pump body  21  and the lower pump body  22  have a pump body end face chamfer  201 , which reduces wear at a connection between the elastic diaphragm  25  and the pump body  20  during motion, improves service life of the elastic diaphragm  25 , and prevents a connection edge of the elastic diaphragm  25  from breakage and prevents liquid from leaking out from the broken edge of the elastic diaphragm  25 , because such breakage prevents formation of a sealed space inside the pump body  20  so that the water pump assembly  2  cannot perform normal pumping and jetting activities, and such leakage results in damage to an internal motor and affects normal use of the water flosser. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 - 9   , a first drainage channel  211  and a second drainage channel  212  are provided on the upper pump body  21 , one end of the first drainage channel  211  is connected with the second deformation portion  2512  of the elastic diaphragm  25 , the other end of the first drainage channel  211  is connected with one end of the inlet channel  261 , and the first drainage channel  211  extends in the direction of the outlet channel  262 ; and one end of the second drainage channel  212  is connected with the inlet channel  261 , the other end of the second drainage channel  212  is connected with one end of the outlet channel  262 , and the second drainage channel  212  extends in the direction of the outlet channel  262 . 
     When the water pump assembly  2  is in a jetting state, the liquid in the water flow cavity  26  flows in the direction of the first drainage channel  211  and the second drainage channel  212 , converges towards the outlet channel  262 , impacts the outlet valve sheet  242 , flows into a nozzle line from the outlet  241  and then is jetted out from a nozzle. The first drainage channel  211  and the second drainage channel  212  guide the liquid in the water flow cavity  26  to converge towards the outlet channel  262  during decrease of a volume inside the water flow cavity  26 , so as to reduce a reaction force of water pressure on the elastic diaphragm  25  during rapid reciprocating motion of the water pump assembly  2 , and improve pumping and jetting capacity of the water pump assembly  2 . 
     The inlet valve sheet  23  is provided with a limiting groove  233  thereon, and the limiting groove  233  limits an opening and closing angle of the inlet valve sheet  232 , so as to prevent the inlet valve sheet  232  from being excessively deformed by the impact of high-speed and high-pressure water flow, resulting in deteriorated elastic recovery capacity thereof, so that in the process of reducing the volume of the water flow cavity  26  (the jetting process), the inlet valve sheet  232  fails to completely cover the inlet  231 , so that sealing effect thereof is poor, resulting in that in the jetting process, air can enter the pump body cavity through a gap at the inlet  231 , so that sufficient pressure cannot be formed in the pump body cavity, resulting in insufficient amount of the liquid jetted in a single jetting process. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 3   , the transmission assembly  3  comprises a gear transmission mechanism  31  and a connecting rod  32 , the connecting rod  32  comprises a first fixing portion  321  and a second fixing portion  322 , the first fixing portion  321  is connected to the gear transmission mechanism  31 , the second fixing portion  322  is connected to the elastic diaphragm  25  through a connector  28 , the gear transmission mechanism  31  is used for driving the connecting rod  32  to move, and when the gear rotation mechanism  31  rotates, the connecting rod  32  is driven to move; and the connecting rod  32  drives the elastic diaphragm  25  to repeatedly deform to cause a change in the pressure in the water flow cavity  26 , thereby realizing the pumping and jetting process of the water flosser for flossing teeth. 
     The gear transmission mechanism  31  comprises a gear  311  and an eccentric gear  312 , the eccentric gear  312  has a tooth space adapted to the gear  311 , the gear  311  is in meshing rotation with the eccentric gear  312 , the eccentric gear  312  further comprises an eccentric gear fixing shaft  3121 , the eccentric gear fixing shaft  3121  is connected with the first fixing portion  321  of the connecting rod  32 , the gear  311  is connected with a motor output shaft  42 , the gear  311  converts rotary motion of the driving assembly  4  in a horizontal direction into the rotary motion in a vertical direction, and the eccentric gear  312  converts the rotary motion on the gear  311  into reciprocating motion, powering the motion of the connecting rod  32  and the elastic diaphragm  25 . 
     During the reciprocating pumping and jetting motion of the water flosser pump body, piston motion of a conventional piston is replaced with the reciprocating motion of the elastic diaphragm  25 , reducing energy loss due to friction. The volume of the water flow cavity  26  in the water pump assembly  2  is small, a distance from the inlet  231  to the water flow cavity  26  is short, and a first drainage channel  211  and a second drainage channel  212  are provided in the pump body  20 . In the pumping and jetting operation in a single process, the drainage channel guides the liquid to converge to the outlet channel  262 , so that the liquid in the water flow cavity is completely discharged, which decreases the reaction force of the water pressure on the elastic diaphragm  25 , solves abnormal water inflow and outflow of the pump body due to accumulated air in the cavity of the water pump assembly  2  which cannot be removed under natural water inflow and outflow state of a conventional diaphragm pump, and improves flossing efficiency. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, when the water pump assembly  2  is in a single pumping jetting process, the inlet  231  has a single intake volume less than or equal to a maximum intake containment volume of the water flow cavity  26 , so as to ensure that the liquid in the water flow cavity  26  can be completely jetted out from the outlet  241 , avoiding occurrence of liquid backflow or overflow, and avoiding generation of bubbles in the water flow cavity due to liquid convergence. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a connection between the inlet valve member  23  and the outlet valve member  24  and the upper pump body  21  is provided with a sealing ring  27  to prevent liquid leakage during the inlet or outlet process. 
     In the present embodiment, the outlet valve member  24  is directly connected with a water flosser nozzle valve member (not shown) to reduce water pressure loss and improve flossing efficiency. 
     In the present embodiment, the inlet valve sheet  232  and the outlet valve sheet  242  are one-way valve sheets, and a flow direction of the liquid through the valve sheets is a one-way. In particular, the outlet valve sheet is a duckbill valve sheet, which is easy to assemble, and can play the role of isolating the liquid. 
     In the present embodiment, the driving assembly  4  is a known micro-motor  41  and the micro-motor also comprises a motor output shaft  42 , which is not limited in the present invention. 
     In the present embodiment, the number of teeth of the gear  311  and the eccentric gear  312  is set as needed, which is not limited in the present invention. 
     A connector  28  is connected to the first deformation portion  251  of the elastic diaphragm, and a portion of the connector  28  is located inside the first deformation portion  2511 , another portion thereof is located outside the first deformation portion  2511 , and the portion of the connector  28  located outside the first deformation portion  2511  is used for connecting with the connecting rod  32 . 
     For example, the connector  28  may be a screw by which the elastic diaphragm  25  is connected with the connecting rod  32 . Specifically, a screw is fixedly connected to a center of the first deformation portion  2511  of the elastic diaphragm  25 , a nut is fixedly connected to the screw of the first deformation portion  2511  on the second fixing portion  322  of the connecting rod, and the first deformation portion  2511  is bonded to the nut by means of vulcanization. 
     In the present embodiment, the elastic diaphragm  25  is integrally formed, and the elastic diaphragm  25  is made of an elastic material such as rubber or silica gel. Compared with a piston structure, the diaphragm can have a better waterproofing effect, and the diaphragm does not generate friction with an inner wall of the water flow cavity of the water pump assembly during the movement, so that frictional damage can be avoided and the energy loss can be reduced to ensure driving stability. 
     In the present embodiment, the outlet  241  is oriented parallel to the motor output shaft  42 , which allows for a more compact assembly structure and thus a more compact pump structure. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an assembly position relationship between the inlet valve member  23  and the outlet valve member  24  is vertical assembly, and correspondingly, a water flow direction of the inlet  231  and the outlet  241  is in a vertical relationship, as shown in  FIG.  11   . In another embodiment of the present invention, the assembly position relationship between the inlet valve member  23  and the outlet valve member  24  is a parallel assembly. Referring to  FIG.  9   , the water flow direction of the inlet  231  and the outlet  241  is in a parallel relationship, and the structural design can be adapted to more water flosser structures, and can be specifically arranged according to needs, and the present invention does not limit thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG.  12   , only the second drainage channel  212  is provided on the upper pump body  21 , one end of the second drainage channel  212  is connected with the inlet channel  261 , and the other end is connected with the outlet channel  262 , and the second drainage channel  212  extends in the direction of the outlet channel  262 . When the water pump assembly  2  is in the jetting state, the liquid in the water flow cavity  26  flows in the direction of the second drainage channel  212 , converges towards the outlet channel  262 , impacts the outlet valve sheet  242 , flows into the nozzle line from the outlet  241  and then is jetted out from the nozzle. The second drainage channel  212  guides the liquid in the water flow cavity  26  to converge towards the outlet channel  262  during the decrease of the volume inside the water flow cavity  26 , so as to reduce the reaction force of the water pressure on the elastic diaphragm  25  during the rapid reciprocating motion of the water pump assembly  2 , and improve the pumping and jetting capacity of the water pump assembly  2 . 
     The water flosser of the present invention is provided with the above-mentioned water flosser pump body, the amount of liquid jetted out from the water flosser pump body is uniform, and the jetting is smooth, thus better cleaning the oral cavity, and providing better user experience. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and such modifications and modifications shall be construed to fall into the scope of the present invention.