Patent ID: 8753117

Claim:
A fluid droplet appliance for dental cleaning, comprising: a dental cleaning appliance ( 10 ) having a body portion ( 27 ) and a nozzle portion ( 30 ) for exit of a spray of liquid droplets from a distal end thereof; a liquid reservoir ( 38 ) wherein in operation liquid is moved from the reservoir into an area of the nozzle near an open proximal end thereof; a system ( 12 , 13 , 14 , 24 ) for driving a plunger or piston element ( 16 ) toward the proximal end of the nozzle with sufficient force that air acted on by the plunger or piston element is forced or released into the nozzle at a high rate of speed, sufficient to create a spray of liquid droplets when the moving air comes into contact with the liquid; an orifice ( 36 ) at a proximal end of the nozzle portion, through which air is forced by action of the plunger or piston element; and a motor ( 12 ), a battery ( 14 ) for the motor and a gear train ( 12 ), including a drive gear ( 13 ) which mates with a gear rack ( 18 ) on the plunger or piston element ( 16 ), wherein movement of the drive gear moves the plunger rearwardly of the appliance against a compression spring ( 24 ), wherein the plunger is released upon reaching a certain position relative to the compression spring, moving air through the orifice.