Ultrasonic cleaning device for oral appliances

1 . An ultrasonic cleaning device for oral appliances, the device comprising:

a container and a base on which the container is detachably mounted;

wherein the container comprises a tank;

wherein the device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer to convey ultrasonic waves to a liquid in the tank;

wherein the base of the device is a power supply base comprising a first connector pin and a first contact surface;

wherein the container is provided with a second connector pin and a second contact surface configured for cooperation with the first connector pin and the first contact surface respectively of the power supply base when the container is mounted on the base;

wherein the first connector pin is adapted to contact the first contact surface in use to make an electrical connection and the second connector pin is adapted to contact the second contact surface in use to make an electrical connection;

wherein at least one barrier ridge surrounds the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces when the container is mounted on the base, the at least one barrier ridge being configured to hinder ingress of liquid towards the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces in use of the device, wherein the at least one barrier ridge includes at least one barrier ridge provided on a mounting surface of the container and/or the base.

2 . An ultrasonic cleaning device for oral appliances, the device comprising:

a container and a base on which the container is detachably mounted;

wherein the container comprises a tank;

wherein the device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer to convey ultrasonic waves to a liquid in the tank;

wherein the base of the device is a power supply base comprising a first contact surface and a second contact surface;

wherein the container is provided with a first connector pin and a second connector pin configured for cooperation with the first contact surface and the second contact surface respectively of the power supply base when the container is mounted on the base;

wherein the first connector pin is adapted to contact the first contact surface in use to make an electrical connection and the second connector pin is adapted to contact the second contact surface in use to make an electrical connection;

wherein at least one barrier ridge surrounds the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces when the container is mounted on the base, the at least one barrier ridge being configured to hinder ingress of liquid towards the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces in use of the device, wherein the at least one barrier ridge includes at least one barrier ridge provided on a mounting surface of the container and/or the base.

3 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one barrier ridge, the first connector pin and the second connector pin extend from a mounting surface of the container, the at least one barrier ridge being configured to protect the first and second connector pins from damage when the container is mounted and detached from the base.

4 . An ultrasonic cleaning device for oral appliances, the device comprising:

a container and a base on which the container is detachably mounted;

wherein the container comprises a tank;

wherein the device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer to convey ultrasonic waves to a liquid in the tank;

wherein the base of the device is a power supply base comprising a first connector pin and a second connector pin;

wherein the container is provided with a first contact surface and a second contact surface configured for cooperation with the first connector pin and the second connector pin respectively of the power supply base when the container is mounted on the base;

wherein the first connector pin is adapted to contact the first contact surface in use to make an electrical connection and the second connector pin is adapted to contact the second contact surface in use to make an electrical connection;

wherein at least one barrier ridge surrounds the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces when the container is mounted on the base, the at least one barrier ridge being configured to hinder ingress of liquid towards the first and second connector pins and the first and second contact surfaces in use of the device, wherein the at least one barrier ridge is provided on a mounting surface of the container and/or the base.

5 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one barrier ridge, the first connector pin, and the second connector pin extend from a mounting surface of the base, the at least one barrier ridge being configured to protect the first and second connector pins from damage when the container is mounted and detached from the base.

6 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the container is detachably mounted on the base via at least a central connection.

7 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the container and base are connected via a magnetic material.

8 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , where in the base is provided with feet for stability.

9 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the base is provided with a groove configured to accommodate a barrier ridge of the container and/or the container is provided with the groove configured to accommodate the barrier ridge of the base, and wherein the groove accommodating the barrier ridge aligns the base and the container.

10 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the base and the container are each provided with a means for alignment, wherein a first means for alignment comprises at least one protrusion and a second means for alignment comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one protrusion.

11 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a mounting surface opposing the mounting surface provided with the at least one barrier ridge is provided with at least one groove, the at least one groove being configured to accommodate the at least one barrier ridge such that opposing mounting surfaces of the container and the base are shaped to substantially inter-fit.

12 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one groove and the at least one barrier ridge are circular and wherein the at least one groove accommodating the at least one barrier ridge aligns the container on the base at any angle of orientation relative to the base.

13 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the at least one barrier ridge protrudes from the base, wherein the container comprises at least one groove configured to accommodate the at least one barrier.

14 . The ultrasonic cleaning device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the container is aligned on the base when the at least one groove accommodates the at least one barrier ridge.

15 . A cleaning method for oral appliances using the device of claim 4 , the method comprising: filling the tank of the device with liquid; introducing one or more oral appliances into the tank; mounting the container on the power supply base; driving the ultrasonic transducer via the power supply base; and vibrating the liquid with ultrasonic waves to clean the or each oral appliance.