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US 10,993,867 B2Granted
Actuation assembly for an oral irrigator
AssigneeWater Pik, Inc.
InventorsBrian R. Williams, Robert D. Wagner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuation assembly for an oral irrigator includes a bezel secured to or formed as part of a housing of the oral irrigator, an actuator operably connected to the bezel and moveable relative thereto, and an augmentation fluid positioned between the bezel and the actuator. The augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the bezel and the actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the actuator and the bezel as the actuator is rotated relative to the bezel.
Claims21
An actuation assembly for an oral irrigator comprising:
- a bezel positioned at least partially within and secured to a housing of the oral irrigator and comprising a bezel interfacing surface;
- and
- an actuator operably connected to the bezel and moveable relative thereto and comprising an actuator interfacing surface, the actuator comprising:
- a cylindrical body;
- a face extending across an end of the cylindrical body to define a front wall, the face having an interior surface oriented towards the housing and an exterior surface oriented away from the housing;
- and
- a control shaft integrally formed with and directly extending from the interior surface of the face along a central axis of the face, wherein movement of the cylindrical body causes the control shaft to directly actuate a switch within the housing;
- and
- an augmentation fluid positioned between the bezel and the actuator;
- wherein
- the augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the bezel and the actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the actuator and the bezel as the actuator is rotated relative to the bezel.
8 more elements
An oral irrigator comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
- a housing configured to support the fluid reservoir;
- a pump positioned within the housing having an inlet fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir and an outlet;
- a motor positioned within the housing that drives the pump;
- a power source positioned within the housing that provides electricity to the motor;
- an irrigator handle with a fluid outlet fluidly connected via a hose to the outlet of the pump;
- a first bezel positioned at least partially within and secured to the housing, received within a first opening in the housing, and defining a central aperture within the first bezel, the first bezel comprising a first bezel interfacing surface;
- a first actuator operably connected to the first bezel and moveable relative thereto, wherein the first actuator further comprises:
- a cylindrical body;
- a face extending across an end of the cylindrical body to define a front wall, the face having an interior surface oriented towards the housing and an exterior surface oriented away from the housing;
- and
- a first control shaft integrally formed with and directly extending from the interior surface of the face along a central axis of the face, wherein movement of the cylindrical body causes the first control shaft to directly actuate a switch within the housing;
- and
- a first actuator interfacing surface;
- and
- a first augmentation fluid is positioned between the first bezel and the first actuator;
- wherein
- the first augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the first bezel and the first actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the first actuator and the first bezel as the first actuator is rotated relative to the first bezel.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.