TIP FOR ORAL IRRIGATOR
A oral irrigator tip for an oral irrigator. The oral irrigator tip may include a shaft portion with a base, an apex, and a transitional portion linking the base to the apex. The shaft portion may be straight or angled. The shaft portion may be hollow from the base to the apex to define a fluid passage, thus permitting fluid to flow along the shaft portion. A retaining feature may be formed on the shaft portion to facilitate retention of the oral irrigator tip by an oral irrigator. A connector may join a nozzle to the shaft portion. Attached to the connector may be a bristle element, which may include multiple individual bristles glued or otherwise affixed to the connector. The bristles may be arranged in a circular pattern; water may flow around the individual bristles or through the center of the bristles.
1 . An oral irrigator tip, comprising:
a nozzle including an outlet opening and an inlet opening in fluid communication with the outlet opening; and
a bristle element proximate the outlet opening of the nozzle.
2 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the bristle element at least partially comprises a truncated cone.
3 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the bristle element comprises a plurality of bristles.
4 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , further comprising:
a shaft portion including a fluid passage;
the shaft portion configured to provide fluid communication between the oral irrigator and the nozzle.
5 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 4 , wherein the nozzle is fixedly joined to the shaft portion.
6 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 4 , wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably coupled to the oral irrigator.
7 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 4 , wherein the shaft portion comprises a base, an apex, and a transitional portion linking the base to the apex.
8 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 7 , further comprising a connector configured to be removably coupled to the apex.
9 . The oral irrigator of claim 8 , wherein the connector is removably coupled to the apex.
10 . The oral irrigator of claim 9 , wherein the connector is configured to be removably coupled to the nozzle.
11 . The oral irrigator of claim 10 , wherein the connector is removably coupled to the nozzle.
12 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 8 , wherein the bristle element at least partially extends through the connector.
13 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 12 , wherein the bristle element is attached to the connector.
14 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is placed within the bristle element.
15 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises rubber.
16 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises plastic.
17 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 1 , wherein the bristle element is movable relative to the nozzle.
18 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 4 , wherein the shaft portion comprises a retaining feature.
19 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 18 , wherein the retaining feature comprises a groove.
20 . The oral irrigator tip of claim 4 , wherein the shaft portion comprises an anti-rotation feature.