US 5,095,893 AGranted

Faucet connected oral cleaning device with pulsating flow

OwnerWalter J. Rawden, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a lavatory or kitchen water faucet with sink or basin whereat the disclosure attaches to the faucet preferably by a quick disconnect coupling means or other attachment means. The attachment means incorporates an aerator valve diverter fitting, the action of which is controlled by movement of a finger operated pull stem that protrudes from the side of said valve diverter fitting. When the stem is pulled, this operation causes the internal valve to divert the water flow which normally passes downwardly through the fitting and into the sink or basin, and instead directs the flow into an axially hollow sleeve or side outlet of the diverter fitting. The aerator valve diverter directs the water flow from the faucet through said side outlet sleeve and into an elongated flexible water flow line. The distal end of said flow line extends to a hand held wand with dual function control valve. The water continues through the valve and discharges into a pulsation mechanism within said hand held wand and finally exits into a water outlet tip, preferably demounted, and preferably able to direct said flow of water for dental cleaning. Moreover, the action of the dual function control valve associated with the wand allows the water flow rate to be adjusted between a maximum and a minimum rate and also allows the water flow to be switched off and on.

Claims4

Dependent claims

Water cleaning apparatus for providing dental hygiene in the gaps between teeth, the apparatus comprising a fitting adapted for connection to a faucet located at a basin or sink wherein the faucet delivers water which is adjustable by a user to a specified temperature while flowing from the faucet, and further wherein said fitting comprises an aerator valve diverter fitting to be fixedly attached to the faucet and said fitting is able to direct a flow of water from the faucet controllably through a side outlet sleeve of the said fitting, and further wherein the fitting is controllably switched by an actuator so that water flows controllably at one of two flow paths, one being water flow downwardly therefrom and the second being flow diverted through said side outlet sleeve of said fitting which sleeve is adapted for connection to an elongate hollow flexible water flow line with said flow line having a specified length to permit a user to operate the apparatus within a specified distance from said faucet, and further wherein the flow line is sized to deliver an adequate water volume to a hand held wand affixed to the distl end of said water flow line wherein water flows through said wand and is directed outwardly therefrom through a detachable tip having a tip opening for directing a narrow water stream therefrom and the tip is an elongated hollow member of sufficient length to extend into the mouth of a user, and wherein said wand permits a user to clean their teeth with water flowing through said wand from said water flow:

a hand operated pull stem actuator valve in said aerator valve diverter fitting which directs water flow into said fitting through said water line:
a dual function control valve in said wand, said control valve includes a valve element and cooperative valve seat for adjustment to provide a metered water flow ranging from a specified maximum flow rate to a specified minimum flow rate:
a quick disconnect coupling connected to said aerator valve diverter which enables connection to the water faucet by said quick disconnect coupling which is removed from or attached to said water faucet thereby allowing the entire apparatus wand to be easily removed from the faucet for storage until the next use:
water pulsation means in said wand:
wherein said water pulsation means includes a rotor within a chamber to receive water flow and said rotor includes vanes intercepting water flow to enable rotation so that said rotor partially and momentarily interrupts water flow to create water flow pulsations:
and
said wand control valve and said rotor determine water flow rate and rate of pulsations of water flowing from said tip.

4 more elements

Water cleaning for providing dental hygiene in the gaps between teeth, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a fitting adapted for connection to a faucet located at a basin or sink wherein the faucet delivers water which water flow is adjustable by a user to a specified temperature while flowing from the faucet,
(b) wherein said fitting comprises an aerator valve diverter fitting releasably attached to the faucet by a quick disconnect means and is able to direct a flow of water from the faucet controllable through a side outlet means of the said fitting,
(c) an actuator for switching water flow so that water does not flow downwardly therefrom but the water flow is diverted through said side outlet means of the fitting which means is adapted for connection to an elongate hollow flexible water flow line with said flow line having a specified length to permit a user to operate the water cleaning apparatus within a specified distance from said fitting, and further wherein the flow line is sized to deliver an adequate water volume to a hand held wand affixed to the distil end of said water flow line wherein water flows through said wand and is directed outwardly therefrom through a detachable tip having a tip opening for directing a narrow water stream therefrom and said tip is an elongated hollow member of sufficient length to extend into the mouth of a user from said wand,
(d) wherein said wand permits a user to clean their teeth with water flowing through said wand tip from said water flow line,
(e) said fitting further comprises a male aerator nipple affixed to the faucet, and also a snap coupler with locking detent means securing a diverter valve structure to said aerator nipple for connection and disconnection, via finger manipulation of an engagement/disengagement collar;
(f) a hand operated pull stem actuator valve in said aerator valve diverter fitting which directs water flow introduced into said fitting through said water line;
(g) a dual function control valve having a valve element and cooperative valve seat in said wand, and said control valve includes means for adjustment to provide a metered water flow ranging from a specified maximum flow rate to a specified minimum flow rate;
(h) water pulsation means in said wand;
and
(i) wherein said water pulsation means includes a rotor within a chamber to receive water flow and said rotor includes vanes intercepting water flow to enable rotation, and said rotating rotor partially and momentarily interrupts water flow to create pulsations.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.