Granted Patent B2

US 12,727,983 · App. 18/226,709 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: Gary L. Sokol (Longmont, CO); Harold A. Luettgen (Windsor, CO)

Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.

A61C17/36A46B13/04A61C17/0202A61C17/227A61C17/3418A61C17/0205A61C17/222

Abstract

Claims (55)

1 . A toothbrush comprising:

a handle housing including an end defining an aperture; and

a hose connector releasably coupled to the end of the handle housing, the hose connector comprising:

a hose fluidly coupled to a reservoir;

a body defining an inlet and an outlet, wherein the hose is coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the inlet;

an annular groove; and

a collar coupled to the body and positioned around the hose at the inlet, wherein:

in a first configuration, the outlet of the body is positioned within the aperture of the handle housing and in a second configuration the outlet of the body is separated from the handle housing and in the first configuration the annular groove facilitates engagement between the body of the hose connector and the handle housing.

2 . The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising a rigid outlet positioned within the handle housing, wherein in the first configuration:

the rigid outlet is connected with an internal transport hose; and

the internal transport hose is in fluid communication with the hose via a fluid flow channel defined by the hose connector.

3 . The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the body of the hose connector includes a base portion comprising a hose barb and in the first configuration, the hose is attached to the hose barb.

4 . The toothbrush of claim 3 , wherein in the first configuration, the hose receives the hose barb and the collar surrounds the hose.

5 . The toothbrush of claim 1 , further comprising a connector seal positioned within the handle housing and in the first configuration, the connector seal engages the hose connector.

6 . The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration, the collar is positioned along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle housing.

7 . The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein:

the body of the hose connector includes a base portion comprising a hose barb;

the hose barb defines the inlet and a fluid flow channel extending through the hose connector between the inlet and the outlet; and

in the first configuration, the hose is positioned between the hose barb and the collar and the fluid flow channel is in fluid communication with the hose.

8 . A toothbrush comprising:

a handle housing comprising an end defining an aperture and a mechanical actuator; and

a hose connector releasably coupled to the end of the handle housing, the hose connector comprising:

a hose fluidly coupled to a reservoir;

a body defining an inlet and an outlet, wherein the hose is coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the inlet; and

a collar coupled to the body and positioned around the hose at the inlet wherein:

in a first configuration, the outlet of the body is positioned within the aperture of the handle housing and the mechanical actuator frictionally engages a portion of the body and is configured to resist movement of the hose connector from the first configuration; and

in a second configuration the outlet of the body is separated from the handle housing.

9 . A toothbrush, comprising:

a handle housing including an end defining an aperture;

a hose connector releasably coupled to the end of the handle housing, the hose connector comprising:

a hose fluidly coupled to a reservoir;

a body defining an inlet and an outlet, wherein the hose is coupled to the body and in fluid communication with the inlet; and

a collar coupled to the body and positioned around the hose at the inlet, a base unit including a pump; wherein:

in a first configuration, the pump pumps fluid from the reservoir through the hose, and the outlet of the body is positioned within the aperture of the handle housing; and

in a second configuration the outlet of the body is separated from the handle housing.

10 . An oral cleansing device comprising:

a hose connector assembly defining a fluid flow channel configured to fluidly communicate with a hose in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir; and

a toothbrush handle removably coupled to the hose connector assembly, the toothbrush handle defining an aperture configured to at least partially receive a portion of the hose connector assembly,

a valve assembly positioned between the hose and the fluid flow channel and configured to selectively seal an inlet of the fluid flow channel; wherein:

in a first position the hose connector assembly is received at least partially within the handle and secured thereto and fluid can travel from the hose into the handle and in a second position, the hose connector assembly is disconnected from the handle.

11 . The oral cleansing device of claim 10 , wherein in the first position, the portion of the hose connector assembly includes a first end received in the aperture of the toothbrush handle and the first end defines an annular groove that facilitates engagement between the hose connector assembly and the toothbrush handle.

12 . The oral cleansing device of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the hose connector assembly includes a second end opposite the first end and the second end is positioned external the toothbrush handle in the first position and in the second position.

13 . The oral cleansing device of claim 10 , wherein the hose connector assembly comprises a hose barb partially defining the fluid flow channel and in the first position, the hose barb is coupled with a first end of the hose and in fluid communication with the hose via the fluid flow channel.

14 . The oral cleansing device of claim 13 , wherein the hose connector assembly comprises a collar and in the first position, the first end of the hose is positioned between the collar and the hose barb.

15 . The oral cleansing device of claim 10 , wherein:

the hose connector assembly comprises a hose barb and a collar;

the collar surrounds the hose barb; and

in the first position, the collar is positioned along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush handle.

16 . The oral cleansing device of claim 10 , further comprising a rigid outlet positioned within the toothbrush handle, wherein:

the rigid outlet is connected with an internal transport hose; and

in the first position, the internal transport hose is in fluid communication with the hose via the fluid flow channel defined by the hose connector assembly.

17 . The oral cleansing device of claim 16 , further comprising a base unit including a pump, wherein in the first position:

the pump is configured to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir through the hose; and

the fluid is configured to travel through the fluid flow channel defined by the hose connector assembly, through the internal transport hose, and through a nozzle tip of the toothbrush handle.

18 . The oral cleansing device of claim 10 , further comprising a connector seal positioned within the toothbrush handle, wherein in the first position, the connector seal engages the hose connector assembly.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)