Patent ID: 12207983

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is generally related to a swivel assembly for a handle for an oral irrigator. The swivel assembly allows the hose to rotate 360 degrees relative to the handle such that, as a user moves the handle in various directions and/or rotates the handle, the hose can spin within the handle, reducing the chance that the hose will become tangled, bent, or the like. In other words, the swivel assembly prevents rotational movement of either the handle or the hose from being transmitted to the other, such that rotation of the handle does not affect the position of the hose. The swivel assembly can be positioned within the handle housing or outside the housing (e.g., beneath the handle) to allow the relative motion of the hose to the handle.

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the handle100includes a main body or housing102and a tip104connected to the housing102. A hose106connects the handle100to a fluid source, and optionally may include a connector108for connecting the hose106to the fluid source (e.g., connecting the hose106to a base unit). A swivel assembly118is connected to the housing102and the hose106and allows the hose106and the housing102to rotate relative to one another.

The housing102forms a main body for the handle100and can be configured to be easily grasped by the hand of a user. In these embodiments, the housing102may form a generally elongated tube. Additionally, the housing102may be configured to connect to a storage component of an oral irrigator base, such as a C-clamp, cutout, or the like. In one embodiment, the housing102includes an integrated hanging feature110. In this embodiment, the hanging feature110is defined as an angled groove or slot extending at an angle into the housing102.FIG.3is a cross section of the handle100. As shown inFIG.3, the hanging feature110is an upwardly angled groove that begins at approximately a mid-section of the housing102and is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle toward the tip104. The angle of the hanging feature110can be varied depending on a desired storage angle of the tip relative to the base. (SeeFIG.12illustrating the angle of the handle100in the storage position.)

In some embodiments, the housing102may be formed as two shells112,114that connect together.FIGS.4A and4Billustrate elevation views of the handle shells. With reference toFIGS.4A, a first shell112defines a housing cavity142that extends laterally along a length of the shell112. The top end of the first shell112includes a cutout defining a tip aperture140that extends into the cavity142. An interior wall150of the first shell112may include one or more support features148defined integrally therewith. The support features148are configured to support various components of the swivel assembly118and may be modified as desired to support the components. In one embodiment, the support features148include upper and lower support ledges152a,152bformed as circular steps that extend outward from the interior surface150and a groove154defined as a slot extending into the interior surface150and recessed therefrom. In one embodiment, the groove154defines the upper support ledge152a. In other embodiments, the upper support ledge152amay be defined in other manners. One or more angled features156may be formed between the ledges152a,152bas frustum-shaped or tapered slots that extend into the interior surface150. The angled features156may be configured to receive components of the swivel assembly118, as well as reduce the weight of the housing102.

A bottom end of the first shell112tapers toward the terminal end. The interior surface150angles inward to form a tapered wall146having an initial taper that flares out at an inflection point158to form the hose aperture144.

With reference toFIG.4B, the second shell114may be substantially a mirror image of the first shell112and configured to mate therewith. In one embodiment, however, the second shell114includes the hanging feature110and thus an upper portion of the interior surface160forms an angled wall. The ledges162a,162b, the groove162, the angled features166, the tapered wall136, and the hose aperture134are substantially the same as those in the first shell112.

The handle100may also include a tip fitting120for securing the tip104to the housing102.FIG.5is an enlarged view of the cross-section view ofFIG.3.FIG.6is a front elevation view of the tip fitting120. With reference toFIGS.5and6, the tip fitting120includes a main body172with a barb170extending downward therefrom. The main body172may be a hollow member, such as a cylindrical tube that defines an interior cavity174sized to receive the bottom end of the tip104. The barb170is also hollow defining a fluid path that extends from the interior cavity174through the barb170. In use, the barb170acts as an inlet into the interior cavity174such that when the tip104is positioned within the cavity174, the barb170is in fluid communication therewith.

The tip fitting120may also include alignment flanges176a,176bthat extend from the outer surface of the main body172. In one embodiment, the alignment flanges176a,176bare defined as substantially rectangular protrusions with curved corners. The alignment flanges176a,176bengage with of the housing102and fit between ribs in the interior surfaces150,160to secure the fitting120in position within the housing102.

FIG.7is an enlarged view ofFIG.3illustrating the swivel assembly118. With reference toFIGS.2,3, and7, the swivel assembly118includes a stationary connector124, a swivel connector126, and a sealing element128. Each of the components is discussed in turn, below.

The stationary connector124fluidly connects the swivel assembly118to the tube116and tip104. The stationary connector124is configured to engage the interior surfaces150,160of the housing102to remain stationary relative thereto.FIG.8is a front elevation view of the stationary connector124. With reference toFIGS.7and8, the stationary connector124includes a reception cavity188defined by an outer wall186. A securing feature180extends from the top end of the outer wall186. In one embodiment, the outer wall186is substantially cylindrical and the securing feature180is substantially rectangular or square shaped and the securing feature180extends past the outer perimeter of the outer wall186to define a lip for the stationary connector124.

A connection barb182extends from the top surface of the securing feature180. The connection barb182may include one or more gripping elements192to enhance the connection of the tube116to the barb182. The barb182defines a fluid channel190therethrough in fluid communication with the reception cavity188and acts as an outlet port for fluid flowing through the reception cavity188. The fluid channel190is in fluid communication with the reception cavity188defined by the outer wall186.

The stationary connector124may also include one or more component ledges184or steps defined on an interior surface of the outer wall186. The component ledges184are used to seat components such as the sealing member128or the like.

With reference again toFIG.7, the swivel connector126is configured to be received within and rotate relative to the stationary connector124. In this manner, the swivel connector126does not translate rotational movement to the handle, since it can rotate relative to the handle.FIG.9is a front elevation view of the swivel connector126. With reference toFIGS.7and9, the swivel connector126defines a flow passage206that extends along the entire longitudinal length of the swivel connector126. A bottom end of the swivel connector126includes a barb202that defines a portion of the flow passage206and has one or more gripping components204that enhance the connection between the swivel connector126and the hose106. The barb202acts as an inlet port for fluid flow through the handle100from the hose106.

In one embodiment, the main body200of the swivel connector126may be formed as a series of stacked concentric disks. For example, the top disk210has the smallest radius of the stack and the middle disk209has a diameter between those of the top disk210and the bottom disk208. The axial length or thickness of each of the disks208,209,210increases between each disk, with the bottom disk208having the shortest thickness, the middle disk209having a thickness between the top and bottom disks208,210, and the top disk210having the largest thickness. As should be appreciated, the configuration of the main body200, and specifically the disks208,209,210, is variable based on the configuration of the stationary connector124.

With reference toFIGS.2and3, the handle100may include a tube116for fluidly connecting the swivel assembly118to the tip fitting120. The tube116in some embodiments is flexible and configured to bend around the interior surface160of the shell114forming the hanging feature110.

The assembly of the handle100will now be discussed with reference toFIGS.2,3,5, and7. The tip fitting120is inserted into a top end of one of the shells112,114and the jet tip104is inserted into the interior cavity174of the main body172. The flow path of the jet tip104is aligned with and fluidly connected to the flow path defined through the barb107. A first end of the tube116is connected to barb170and the second end of the tube116I received around the barb182of the stationary connector124.

With reference toFIGS.4A,4B, and7, the stationary connector124is inserted into one of the shells112,114. For example, the stationary connector124may be first inserted into the first shell112with the securing feature180received in the groove154beneath the first ledge152a. The sealing member128, which may be a seal cup, O-ring, or other sealing element, may be positioned around the top disk210of the swivel connector126and then the top disk210of the swivel connector126is inserted into the reception cavity188of the stationary fitting124. In this embodiment, the middle disk208engages with one of the steps within the outer wall186of the stationary connector124and the bottom disk208extends beneath and engages the bottom edge187of the stationary connector124. The bottom disk208of the swivel connector126seats on the top surface of the bottom ledge152bof the shell112. The top end of the hose106is then received around the barb202of the swivel connector126, fluidly connecting the hose106, the swivel connector126, the stationary fitting124, and the tube116together.

With the internal components connected together, the opposite shell112,114, e.g., the second shell114is connected to the first shell112. The ledges162a,162bare aligned with the swivel assembly118such that they bookend the securing feature180of the stationary connector124and the bottom disk208of the swivel connector126. In other words, once the shells are connected together the ledges152a,152b,162a,162bof the two shells112,114clamp around the swivel assembly118to prevent longitudinal movement of the assembly, the stationary connector, or the swivel connector relative to the housing102. The shells112,114are then secured together, e.g., by ultrasonic welding, with adhesive, press fit, fasteners, or the like. The tip collar111may be connected around the outer surface of the tip104and seat on the top end of the housing102of the handle104.

In some embodiments, once the tip104is connected to the housing102, the tip104may not rotate relative thereto or be ejectable relative thereto. For example, the alignment features176a,176bof the tip fitting120may key to ribs on the interior surfaces150,160of the housing102to prevent rotation and the tip104, which is press fit into the fitting120may be secured correspondingly. However, in other embodiments, conventional tip fitting components and/or eject mechanisms may be used to allow the tip104to rotate relative to the housing102and allow the tip104to be removed from the housing102.

With reference toFIG.12, fluids, such as water, that are pumped by a pump402from a countertop oral irrigator unit400flow through the hose106, into the fluid passage206within the swivel connector126, into the reception cavity188of the stationary connector124, into the fluid passage190within the barb182and into the tube116. From the tube116, fluid flows into the fluid passage in the barb170of the tip fitting120and into the tip104which is received therein.

During use, as the user moves the handle100into different angles and positions to access different areas of his or her mouth, the hose106can rotate freely relative to the handle to maintain a desired orientation and be free from tangles and undesired bends or creases. In particular, during use, as the user moves the handle100to different orientations, the hose106, which typically is anchored to a base unit, can rotate at its connection to the handle as the swivel connector126rotates within and relative to the stationary connector124. In these embodiments, the materials of the stationary connector124and the swivel connector126are selected to be low-friction so as to introduce minimal to no drag.

Alternative Embodiment

In some embodiments, the tube116and the stationary connector124may be integrally formed.FIGS.10and11illustrate views of another embodiment of the handle100. With reference toFIGS.10and11, in this embodiment, the swivel assembly300includes a stationary connector324, a swivel connector326, and a sealing member328, each of which may be substantially the same as the corresponding components in the swivel assembly118. However, in this embodiment, the stationary connector324includes an extended tube330rather than a barb at its top end. The tube330is formed integrally with the main body of the connector324and is fluidly connected the reception cavity338formed by the outer wall340.

In these embodiments, the tube330may connect directly to a tip fitting to fluidly connect to the tip104. Additionally, as mentioned above, in this embodiment, the handle may include a pause switch assembly and tip ejection assembly. Examples of these assemblies are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,339 filed on 26 Nov. 2014 entitled “Oral Irrigator with Slide Pause Switch,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined in the claims. Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.