Teledyne Industries, Inc.

Clarence J Hickman

Christopher W Elkins

Michael A Cammack

Keith M Mullins

Donald W Ruehmann

An oral hygiene device includes a supply of liquid, a pump for propelling the to a point of use. A housing defines a cavity within which the pump is seated and which also includes an inlet and an outlet. The pump is of a kind having a hollow body with a chamber defined in a first portion, a piston disposed for reciprocation in that chamber and a motor to drive the piston and thereby the pump. A second portion of the body is coupled to an outlet. A third portion of the body is coupled to an inlet. A first check valve is at least effectively disposed in a third portion of the body and poled to pass liquid only from the inlet to the chamber. A second check valve is at least effectively disposed in the second portion of the body and is poled to pass liquid only from the chamber to the outlet.

Oral hygiene appliances

An oral hygiene appliance is of the kind which includes a supply of liquid, a pump and a hand-held tip for directing the liquid where desired. A housing defines a cavity which has a surrounding wall closed by opposing end walls, the pump being seated within the cavity. A reservoir is closed at one end and has a shape in conformity with the housing to telescope thereover in covering relationship. Defined in one end of the reservoir is a valve seat which cooperates with a valve that closes during removal of the reservoir from the housing. On that end of the reservoir also is a coupling element which cooperates with a coupling member disposed in the surrounding wall of the housing. When that coupling relationship is established, the reservoir is seated on top of a side surface of the housing which, in turn, is lying on a table or the like. An outlet in the housing communicates with the hand-held tip and the pump is connected between that outlet and the coupling member. Particular pump structure, electrical switching mechanism and other mounting and assembly features are described and illustrated.

Push-button switch as used in oral hygiene appliance

A hygienic device has a pump for propelling liquid in a flow of pulses, a motor for driving the pump, a switch for supplying power to the motor and means for delivering the propelled liquid to a point of use. A control enables adjustment of the pressure of the delivered liquid. The switch is formed as part of the motor winding assembly and therewith is effectively encapsulated. The pump includes a piston in one end of which is a recess defining a resilient spherical seat and which cooperates with a spherical bearing formed on one end of a piston rod. The control has a valved bypass arrangement wherein various stops and abutments cooperate to permit accurate determination of high and low pressure adjustment during assembly. A rotor within the motor has a cylindrical bore with longitudinal lugs that interfit with ribs on a bearing member that is pressed into the bore. Other features, such as a tilt-out nozzle storage shelf, are included.

Growing community of inventors

Ft. Collins, CO, United States of America

Clarence J Hickman