Oral irrigator

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an oral irrigator. In one embodiment, the oral irrigator includes a motor, a pump body, a connecting rod, and a diaphragm seal. The connecting rod is at least partially received within the pump body and is movably connected to the motor such that the motor moves the connecting rod between a first position and a second position within the pump body. The diaphragm seal is connected to the connecting rod and the pump body and deforms from a first orientation to a second orientation as the connecting rod moves from the first position to the second position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An oral irrigator pump comprising:
 a motor;   a pump body;   a connecting rod at least partially received within the pump body and movably connected to the motor, wherein the motor moves the connecting rod between a first position and a second position within the pump body; and   a diaphragm seal sealing connected to the connecting rod and to the pump body, wherein the diaphragm seal deforms from a first orientation to a second orientation as the connecting rod moves from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the diaphragm seal contacting the pump body and a second portion of the diaphragm seal contacting the connecting rod remains the same between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower housing connected to the pump body, wherein a periphery of the diaphragm seal is compressed between the lower housing and the pump body to connect the diaphragm seal to the pump body. 
     
     
         4 . The oral irrigator of  claim 3 , wherein the periphery of the diaphragm seal comprises a beaded flange. 
     
     
         5 . The oral irrigator of  claim 3 , wherein the diaphragm seal is overmolded to at least one of the connecting rod or the lower housing. 
     
     
         6 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm seal comprises
 a rod aperture; and   an engagement wall surrounding the rod aperture; wherein   the connecting rod is received through the rod aperture; and   the engagement wall contacts and seals against an outer surface of the connecting rod.   
     
     
         7 . The oral irrigator of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting rod further comprises a first annular rib and a second annular rib, wherein the engagement wall is positioned between the first annular rib and the second annular rib. 
     
     
         8 . An oral irrigator comprising:
 a reservoir;   a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir;   a motor having a drive shaft;   a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir and the tip, the pump comprising
 a pump body including a pump inlet fluidly connected to the reservoir and a pump outlet fluidly connected to the tip; 
 a pinion gear placed on the drive shaft and including a plurality of pinion gear teeth that curve along their length; 
 a driven gear including a plurality of driven gear teeth that mesh with the pinion gear teeth, wherein the pinion gear teeth and the driven gear teeth are spiral gears with beveled edges; 
 a connecting rod eccentrically connected to the driven gear; and 
 a piston connected to a first end of the connecting rod and received within the pump body, wherein 
   movement of the drive shaft of the motor causes the pinion gear to rotate, which causes the driven gear to rotate, translating the connecting rod and moving the piston laterally within the pump body to pull fluid from the reservoir and push the fluid to the tip.   
     
     
         9 . An oral irrigator comprising:
 a handle fluidly connected to a reservoir; and   a tip latch assembly connected to the handle comprising
 a latch with an integrally formed biasing structure and at least one prong selectively movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position; and 
 a tip release button engaging at least one surface of the latch; wherein 
   a force on the tip release button causes the tip release button to exert a force against the at least one surface of the latch, overcoming a biasing force exerted by the biasing structure and causing the at least one prong to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position; and   when the force is removed from the tip release button, the biasing structure exerts the biasing force on the tip release button as the at least one prong moves from the disengaged position back to the engaged position.   
     
     
         10 . The oral irrigator of  claim 9 , wherein the latch comprises a first engagement arm extending from a first end of the biasing structure and a second engagement arm extending from a second end of the biasing structure. 
     
     
         11 . The oral irrigator of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one prong comprises a first prong extending from the first engagement arm and a second prong extending from the second engagement arm. 
     
     
         12 . A waterproof oral irrigator comprising:
 a body comprising a front shell and a rear shell connected together to define a cavity;   an interior housing received within the cavity;   a control assembly connected to an outer surface of the interior housing and positioned between an interior surface of the rear shell and the interior housing; and   a first sealing member connected to the front shell and the interior housing and surrounds the control assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The waterproof oral irrigator of  claim 12 , wherein
 the interior housing comprises a first sealing flange extending from the outer surface, wherein the control assembly is surrounded by the first sealing flange and the first sealing member is positioned around the first sealing flange; and   the front shell comprises a first sealing feature extending from the interior surface; wherein the first sealing feature fits around the first sealing flange and the first sealing member to define a first waterproof compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The waterproof oral irrigator of  claim 12 , wherein the interior housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein the first sealing flange extends from an outer surface of the upper housing. 
     
     
         15 . The waterproof oral irrigator of  claim 14 , further comprising
 a second sealing flange extending from an outer surface of the lower housing and positioned below the second sealing flange;   a second sealing feature extending from an interior surface of the front shell; and   a second sealing member positioned around the second sealing flange; wherein the second sealing feature is fits over the second sealing flange and the second sealing member to define a second waterproof compartment.   
     
     
         16 . The waterproof oral irrigator of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a seal connected to an interior surface of the interior housing; and   a battery cap connected to a bottom end of the interior housing and positioned within the cavity defined by the body, wherein the seal, the battery cap, and the interior housing define a third waterproof compartment.   
     
     
         17 . The waterproof oral irrigator of  claim 16 , further comprising a vent coupled to the battery cap, wherein the vent allows gasses to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . An oral irrigation assembly comprising:
 an oral irrigator comprising
 a housing; 
 at least one rechargeable battery received within the housing; and 
 at least one housing magnet connected to the housing; and 
   a charging unit selectively connectable to the housing of the oral irrigator and configured to provide a charge to the at least one rechargeable battery, the charging unit comprising
 at least one charger magnet connected to the charging unit; wherein 
   the at least one housing magnet and the at least one charger magnet cooperate to removably connect the charging unit to the housing of the oral irrigator.   
     
     
         19 . The oral irrigation system of  claim 18 , wherein
 the oral irrigator comprises a secondary charging coil; and   the charging unit comprises a primary charging coil, wherein at least one of the secondary charging coil or the primary charging coil include a plurality of twisted copper wires.