Irrigating device with reed valve

Abstract

An irrigating device including a reservoir for storing fluid, a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir, and a pump operative to draw fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip. The irrigating device further includes at least one reed valve positioned to regulate fluid between at least one of an inlet port or an exhaust port of the pump.

1 . An irrigating device comprising
 a reservoir for storing fluid;   a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir;   a pump operative to draw the fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip, the pump comprising an inlet port and an exhaust port;   at least one reed valve positioned to regulate the fluid between at least one of the inlet port or exhaust port, the at least one reed valve comprising
 a main body defining a crescent aperture and having a body diameter; 
 a rim defined at least in part by the crescent aperture and extending around a portion of a perimeter of the main body; 
 a tongue extending from the main body into the crescent aperture and operative to move in a first direction relative to the rim; wherein 
   the body diameter is larger than a diameter of at least one of the inlet port or the exhaust port by at least one third; and   a tongue diameter of the tongue is larger than at least one of the inlet port or the exhaust port and selectively covers or uncovers at least one of the inlet port or the exhaust port.   
     
     
         2 . The irrigating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reed valve comprises a first reed valve positioned between the reservoir and the inlet port and a second reed valve positioned between the exhaust port and the tip. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigating device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises a substantially flat portion on at least one side of a perimeter of the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The irrigating device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one reed valve further comprises a pair of relief apertures defined in the main body adjacent opposing lateral edges of the tongue. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigating device of  claim 4 , wherein the substantially flat portion of the main body extends at least a distance between each of the pair of relief apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigating device of  claim 1 , wherein a living hinge is formed between the tongue and the rim and the tongue moves along the living hinge to move in the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The irrigating device of  claim 1 , wherein the body diameter is twice as large as at least one of the diameter of the inlet port or the exhaust port. 
     
     
         8 . An irrigating device comprising
 a reservoir for storing water;   a tip in fluid communication with the reservoir;   a pump configured to pump water from the reservoir to the tip, comprising
 a pump body defining
 an interior chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and the tip; 
 a body chamber in fluid communication with the interior chamber; 
 
 a piston positioned within the body chamber; 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir and the interior chamber; and 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the interior chamber; 
   a first valve positioned between the interior chamber and the reservoir, the first valve comprising
 a first main body defining a first crescent aperture and having a first body diameter; 
 a first rim defined at least in part by the first crescent aperture and extending around a portion of a perimeter of the first main body; 
 a first tongue extending from the first main body into the first crescent aperture, the first tongue operative to move relative to the first rim towards the interior chamber; wherein 
   the first body diameter is at least one third larger a diameter of the inlet port; and   a first tongue diameter of the first tongue is larger than the diameter of the inlet port and selectively regulates flow into the interior chamber from the reservoir.   
     
     
         9 . The irrigating device of  claim 8 , wherein the pump further comprises a first protrusion positioned between the inlet port and the interior chamber, the first protrusion configured to limit movement of the first tongue towards the interior chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The irrigating device of  claim 9 , further comprising
 a second valve positioned between the interior chamber and the tip, the second valve comprising
 a second main body defining a second crescent aperture and having a second body diameter; 
 a second rim defined at least in part by the second crescent aperture and extending around a portion of a perimeter of the second main body; 
 a second tongue extending from the second main body into the second crescent aperture, the second tongue operative to move relative to the second rim away from the interior chamber, wherein 
   the second body diameter is at least one third larger a diameter of the outlet port; and   a second tongue diameter of the second tongue is larger than the diameter of the outlet port and selectively regulates flow from the interior chamber to the tip.   
     
     
         11 . The irrigating device of  claim 10 , further wherein the pump further comprises
 an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the interior chamber and the tip; and   a second protrusion positioned between the outlet conduit and the second valve and configured to limit movement of the second tongue away from the interior chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The irrigating device of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first main body of the first valve comprises a first substantially flat portion on at least one side of a perimeter of the first main body; and   the second main body of the second valve comprises a second substantially flat portion on at least one side of a perimeter of the second main body.   
     
     
         13 . The irrigating device of  claim 12 , wherein
 the first valve further comprises a first pair of relief apertures defined in the first main body adjacent first lateral edges of the first tongue; and   the second valve further comprises a second pair of relief apertures defined in the second main body adjacent second lateral edges of the second tongue.   
     
     
         14 . The irrigating device of  claim 13 , wherein
 the first substantially flat portion of the first main body is at least partially coextensive with a first end of the first tongue; and   the second substantially flat portion of the second main body is at least partially coextensive with a second end of the second tongue.   
     
     
         15 . The irrigating device of  claim 14 , wherein
 a first living hinge is formed between the first tongue and the first rim and the first tongue moves along the living hinge to move towards the interior chamber; and   a second living hinge is formed between the second tongue and the second rim, the second tongue moves along the living hinge to move away from the interior chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The irrigating device of  claim 15 , wherein when the piston moves downwards within the body chamber the first tongue moves inwards towards the interior chamber to fluidly connect the reservoir and the interior chamber and the second tongue moves towards the interior chamber to substantially align with the second rim, and when the piston moves upwards within the body chamber the first tongue moves away from the interior chamber to substantially align with the first rim and the second tongue moves away from the interior chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The irrigating device of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first body diameter is twice as large as the diameter of the inlet port; and   the second body diameter is twice as large as the diameter of the outlet port.