Oral irrigator

Abstract

An oral irrigator may include a body, a reservoir connected to the body, a tip connected to the body, a motor positioned within the body and including a drive shaft, a pinion gear connected to the drive shaft, a driven gear engaged with the pinion gear, a pump body positioned within the body and defining a pump chamber for receiving fluid from the reservoir, a piston positioned within the pump body, wherein the piston slidably engages an interior surface of the pump body to form a fluid-tight seal, and a connecting rod including a first end connected to the piston, a second end eccentrically connected to the driven gear, and a shaft extending from the first end to the second end. The shaft includes a first rib and a second rib spaced apart from the first rib along a length of the shaft.

1 . An oral irrigator comprising:
 a body;   a reservoir connected to the body;   a tip connected to the body;   a motor positioned within the body and including a drive shaft;   a pinion gear connected to the drive shaft;   a driven gear engaged with the pinion gear;   a pump body positioned within the body and defining a pump chamber for receiving fluid from the reservoir;   a piston positioned within the pump body, wherein the piston slidably engages an interior surface of the pump body to form a fluid-tight seal; and   a connecting rod including a first end connected to the piston, a second end eccentrically connected to the driven gear, and a shaft extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the shaft includes a first rib and a second rib spaced apart from the first rib along a length of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the first rib and the second rib extend around an outer perimeter of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are annular shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are positioned in a middle portion of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         5 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first rib and the second rib follow an outer surface of the shaft and extend radially outward. 
     
     
         6 . The oral irrigator of  claim 5 , wherein the first rib and the second rib each include a cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the connecting rod comprises a ball. 
     
     
         8 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the connecting rod comprises a cylindrical wall defining a gear aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the piston includes an outwardly extending wall that forms a seal against the interior surface of the pump body. 
     
     
         10 . The oral irrigator of  claim 1 , wherein the piston includes a sealed top end forming a pedestal with an annular groove defined on the top end. 
     
     
         11 . An oral irrigator comprising:
 a body;   a reservoir connected to the body;   a tip connected to the body;   a motor positioned within the body and including a rotatable drive shaft;   a pinion gear connected to the drive shaft;   a driven gear engaged with the pinion gear;   a pump body positioned within the body and defining a pump chamber for receiving fluid from the reservoir;   a piston positioned within the pump body, wherein the piston forms a fluid-tight seal with, and is slidable along, an interior surface of the pump body; and   a connecting rod including a first end connected to the piston, a second end connected to the driven gear, and a shaft extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the shaft includes a first rib and a second rib spaced apart from the first rib along a length of the shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the first rib and the second rib extend around an outer perimeter of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are annular shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are positioned in a middle portion of the connecting rod. 
     
     
         15 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first rib and the second rib follow an outer surface of the shaft and extend radially outward. 
     
     
         16 . The oral irrigator of  claim 15 , wherein the first rib and the second rib each include a cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         17 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft further includes a raised portion extending radially outward from an outer surface of the shaft to a lesser extent than the first rib and the second rib, wherein the raised portion extends from the first rib to the second rib along the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the connecting rod comprises a ball. 
     
     
         19 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the connecting rod comprises a cylindrical wall defining a gear aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The oral irrigator of  claim 11 , wherein the piston includes an outwardly extending wall that forms a seal against the interior surface of the pump body.