Granted Patent B2

US 12,629,240 · App. 17/678,738 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventor: Robert D. Wagner (Firestone, CO)

Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.

A61C17/36A46B13/02A46B13/04A61C17/0202A61C17/032A61C17/225A61C17/3409A61C17/3418A61C17/40A46B11/063

Abstract

Claims (36)

1 . An oral cleansing device comprising:

a handle;

a brush head removably connected to the handle at a top end thereof;

a base unit that supports a reservoir to serve as a fluid source;

a fluid tube extending from the base unit;

a battery positioned within the handle;

a handle inductive charging assembly comprising a core and a charge coil positioned within the handle and configured to interact with a base inductive charger assembly to charge the battery; and

a fluid connector connected to the fluid tube and removably connected to the handle at a bottom end thereof, wherein the fluid connector connects the handle to the fluid source, the fluid connector including a connector housing comprising a fluid pathway and a bottom cap assembly fitted within a bottom end of the fluid pathway, wherein the bottom cap assembly comprises a cavity defined therein and a magnetic element enclosed within the cavity, wherein the magnetic element is configured to provide a magnetic attraction to the base unit, thereby assisting in securing the fluid connector to the base unit.

2 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing includes a fitting and the bottom cap assembly coupled to the fitting, the fitting defining the fluid pathway and the bottom cap assembly fitted within the fluid pathway to seal the bottom end of the fitting, the bottom cap assembly including a retainer at a top end thereof and a bottom cap, and the magnetic element is received within the bottom cap assembly between the retainer and the bottom cap.

3 . The oral cleansing device of claim 2 , wherein the bottom cap includes the cavity that receives the magnetic element, and the retainer is adhered to the bottom cap at a top end thereof to provide a fluid tight seal for the cavity.

4 . The oral cleansing device of claim 2 , wherein the bottom cap forms a bottom surface of the fluid connector, the bottom surface is in contact with a top surface of the base unit when the fluid connector rests on the base unit.

5 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is disposed within the fluid connector, extending in parallel with a centerline thereof.

6 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector is positioned on the base unit in an upright manner, and the magnetic element is disposed within the fluid connector at a lower end thereof.

7 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is shaped as a cylinder or a circular disc.

8 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic element is a magnet, and the base unit includes a magnetic material that is magnetically attracted by the magnet.

9 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the base unit includes a first support that vertically supports the handle using a top surface of the base unit, and a second support that laterally supports the handle using a lateral surface of the base unit, thereby allowing the handle to be positioned in an upright position relative to the base unit.

10 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector is rotatable but is not axially movable relative to the handle.

11 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to operate in a brushing mode and an irrigating mode solely or simultaneously, the oral cleansing device is used without fluid connection with the base unit in a brushing only mode, and the oral cleansing device tis used with fluid connection with the base unit at least in the irrigating mode.

12 . An oral cleansing device comprising:

a base unit that supports a reservoir to serve as a fluid source comprising a first magnet;

a hose in fluid communication with the reservoir and extending from the base unit; and

a fluid connector connected to an end of the hose and comprising a second magnet, wherein the second magnet is magnetically attracted to the first magnet in the base unit to secure and support the fluid connector on the base until, wherein the fluid connector comprises a connector housing comprising a fluid pathway and a bottom cap assembly fitted within a bottom end of the fluid pathway, wherein the bottom cap assembly defines an internal cavity and the second magnet is received in the internal cavity to magnetically attract the fluid connector to the first magnet in the base unit.

13 . The oral cleansing device of claim 1 , wherein when coupled to the handle, the fluid connector rotates 360 degrees relative to the handle.

14 . The oral cleansing device of claim 12 , wherein the bottom cap assembly includes a bottom cap coupled to the connector housing and defining a bottom surface of the fluid connector, and wherein the bottom cap supports the second magnet.

15 . The oral cleansing device of claim 12 , further comprising a handle in selective fluid communication with the reservoir and the fluid connector, wherein the fluid connector fluidly connects the handle to the reservoir, wherein the second magnet extends past a bottom edge of the handle when the fluid connector is coupled to the handle.

16 . The oral cleansing device of claim 15 , wherein the fluid connector further comprises a valve assembly, and wherein when the fluid connector is disconnected from the handle, the valve assembly seals an outlet of the fluid connector.

17 . The oral cleansing device of claim 16 , wherein the valve assembly comprises:

a poppet; and

a spring operably coupled to the poppet and configured to bias the poppet towards the outlet.

18 . The oral cleansing device of claim 17 , wherein the poppet further comprises a sleeve that at least partially encloses the spring.

19 . The oral cleansing device of claim 17 , wherein the handle further comprises:

a tip releasably coupled to a first end of the handle; and

a tube connector fluidly connected to the tip, wherein when the fluid connector is connected to the handle, the tube connector engages the poppet to compress the spring and open the outlet, fluidly connecting the tip and the reservoir.

20 . The oral cleansing device of claim 15 , wherein the handle further comprises:

a brush head in fluid communication with the fluid connector when the fluid connector is connected to the handle; and

a power train assembly connected to the brush head and configured to move the brush head.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)