Patent ID: 8839816

Claim:
A mechanism for controlling release of bursts of pressurized gas from a supply thereof for use in an oral cleaning apparatus ( 10 ), comprising: a hollow interior valve member ( 44 ) having a rear end portion ( 48 ), the valve member having a valve wall ( 63 ) with a circumferential groove ( 64 ) therein, and a plurality of openings ( 66 ) connecting the groove with the hollow interior ( 46 ) of the valve member; an entrance line ( 62 ) for gas extending from a supply thereof ( 14 ) to an exterior surface of the valve member; an exit line for gas ( 68 ), extending from the exterior surface of the valve member to an exit assembly, wherein the exit line for gas is offset longitudinally from the entrance line for gas along the length of the valve member; and a releasing assembly ( 18 ), which includes a contact member ( 38 ) operating against the rear end portion of the valve member, moving the valve member forwardly from an initial nominal position to a position where the gas entrance line is aligned with the circumferential groove, permitting gas to enter, wherein the releasing assembly includes a forward portion which is configured such that further forward movement of the releasing assembly results in the valve member moving rearwardly, aligning the valve member with the gas exit line, permitting gas to exit from the valve member to the gas exit assembly.