US2550565A - Dental fountain cleaner - Google Patents

Description

April 424, 1951 c, L, HYsER 2,550,565

DENTAL FOUNTAIN CLEANER V Filed sept. 17, 1948 Afro/Mns.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 DENTAL FOUNTAIN CLEANER Charles L. Hyser, Bronxville, N. Y., assigner to:

Orajet Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1948, Serial No. 49,711

7 Claims.

vThe present invention relates to dental fountainv cleaners in which are. provided a perforated.r

tion constituting` an improvement on that disclosedin my abandoned` application Serial No. 34,026., filed June., 19, 19.48.

Av general object ofthe present invention isfto providesuchk a structurein a. simplified, highly. efficient: and sanitary form which is readilyk and economically manufactured in mass production, which will accomplish effective` cleaning without brush-bristlev scrubbing that may irritate tender gums, and whichv features removable parts including jetforming structure and dentifrice material holding means to permit ready and thor ough cleaning.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide such a dental fountain cleaner characterized by a particular. type of hollow head: structure,` wherein jet outlets are formed in a removable wall-formingbody closing olf one side of said hollow head structure so as efficiently to permit' removal for cleaning both the interior of the hollow head and the outlets.

Another object of the, present invention is to provide such apparatus ina form whereby hollowy handle rstructure thereof constitutes a receiving shell. in which.` removable partition means is located to' provide a pocketfor holding dentifricey material with the. mouth of; the pocket located inthe path ofA supplied washing liquid, outlet from the pocket to a passage downstreamthereof leading to jet head structure being in the vicinity of the mouth of the: pocket tol assure swirl? of supplied liquid into the pocket to pick up and admix therewith an amount of the dentifrice in an effective manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide structurall embodiments of the device which are readilyconstructed and permit ef. iicient use and operation thereof.

Other objects of the inventionwill in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly `comprises the fea#A tures of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplilied in the construction hereinafter set forth, and

the scope of the invention will be indicated in the` claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objectsof the. invention, reference should be hadv to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 isa side elevational-view of a, complete dental jet cleaner device showing in perspective the manual cleaner apparatus unit thereof which embodies the, present invention, partsr being broken away and spigotv structure to which the device may be attached. for use being. indicatedin dotted lines; as is one position; ofi an` anchorage manipulator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view, withV parts brokenV away, of the head end of themanual ap paratus unit shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged .longitudinal section, with parts broken away, of head and handle structure shown in Fig. l, being taken substantially on line 3-3 thereof Fig. 4 is a` perspective view of'` the partitioning Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, likenumerals identify similar parts throughout and, as willbe seen from Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a head struc-V ture IQ, a handle structure l I, supply hose means I2, and a hose anchoring device I3.

As best seen in Figs. l, 2` and 3, the head structure l0 comprises hollow body I4 having a chamber l5 therein defined on one side by a wall-forming body I6, preferably in the form of a cylindrical. button-like elementr and which may be formed as the head of a screw il threadably anchored in an internally threaded socket I8 in the bottom of the chamber I5, as best shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of jet outlets or openings are provided in the head structure lil, preferably by forming a plurality of grooves IlS-IS- in the cy-H lindrical surface vof the screw head I6.

The head. structure Ill is mounted on an end of handle structure Il, which is preferably constructed in the form of a hollow shell 2t having a bore 2 IV extending therethrough communicating its inner end 24. The outer or upstream end of counterbore 23 is internally threaded, as best shown in Fig. 3, threadably to receive an extern nally threaded nipple connector 26 on one end of the water supply hose I2. Preferably the outer end of handle structure II is externally knurled at 21, as is the nipple connector 26, as best shown in Fig. l, so that cooperatively they provide a convenient hand grasp for secure engagement by the fingers of the user.

The upstream end of supply hose I2 is fitted with suitable anchorage or connecting means I3 for ready mounting to a water supply spigot. Preferably this anchorage structure comprises an externally threaded nipple 28 which is loosely received within an expansible sleeve 29, preferably of resilient material such as rubber, held thereon by a nut 30 which forms a fixed abutment on the outer side of resilient sleeve 29. The nipple 28 is mounted upon hollow sleeve 3| in which the upstream end of the hose I2 is anchored, and an apertured cap -32 is reciprocatively mounted thereon to bear against the downstream end of resilient sleeve 29. A camming lever 33 is pivoted at 34 to the sleeve 3| so that when it is flipped down'from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Fig. 1, its nose 35 cams the cap 32 upwardly to foreshorten the resilient sleeve 29 and expand it radially, as shown, for secure anchorage within the end of a spigot diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines at 36. Such anchorage structure is more fully disclosed and is defined in the claims of my copending application Ser. No. 110,730, filed August 17, 1949, for House Attachments for Faucet Outlets and the Like.

The embodiment of the dental jet cleaner shown in the drawing is provided with means for housing a quantity of dentifrice material. This is accomplished by sub-dividing the chamber 23 into two longitudinally-extending compartments 36 and 31. Preferably this is accomplished by an elongated partitioning strip -38 ofrelatively rigid material, such as metal, having its inner or downstream end turned laterally to provide a flange 39, preferably shaped substantially semi-circular so that its edgerclosely conforms to the curvature of the inner wall of the counterbore chamber 23 and seats against annular shoulder 24. The other end of the partitioning strip 38 is turned laterally in the opposite direction to provide a similar flange lill which is also so shaped as to conform substantially to the curvature of the inner Wall of counterbore chamber 23. As a result, the partitioning strip 38 not 'only divides counterbore chamber 23 into the two longitudinally-extending compartments 36 and 31, but closes oif the former at its downstream end while leaving its upstream end at 4I open. Conversely, the other compartment 31 is left open to communication with the outlet bore 2l at the shoulder` 24 and is closed off at its upstream end .by ange Communication between compartments 36 and 31 is brought about ypreferably by means of a hole 42 in the outer end of the flat major portion 43 of the partitioning strip 38 in the vicinity of the outer end Wall ange 40. Of course, it will be understood that other means may be' employed for bringing about communication between cornpartments 36 and 31, such as notches in the side edges of the major portion 43 of the strip 38, or by an annular groove in the inner Wall of the counterbore chamber 23 in the vicinity of end wall ange 40, but it is preferred to use thehole 71 moval of the, partitioning strip 38.

42 for that purpose since it may also serve for ready engagement by a withdrawing tool, as ismore fully explained hereinafter.

In operation of the embodiment of the invenf tion shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the handle structure II may be threadably disengaged from the nipple connector 26 and a quantity of denti-- frice material, for example thatV commonly marketed in the form of a paste, maybe depos ited in compartment 36 which serves as a retain-t ing pocket therefor. When an amount of such paste is squeezed from its containing tube into the hollow handle Ii, it will pack down into the' pocket provided by compartment 36 and may substantially ll the same. The handle structure'- I I is then threadably re-engaged upon nipple con-r nector 26 and the hose I2 anchored to a water' spigot in the manner indicated above. When the valve of the spigot is opened, water under pres-u surewill flow through the hose I2 into the pocket provided by compartment 36 to strike with considerable force the outer or upstream end of the body of dentifrice material therein, which, after some use, may be reduced to a quantity similar to that indicated at 44 in Fig. 3. As the water impinges against the body of dentifrice material, it gradually picks up and dissolves an amount thereof to carry it away toward the jet head structure I0. As indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 3, the flow of Water is first downstream into the pocket 36; then, after striking the body of dentifrice material, in the reverse direction back toward the mouth 4I ofthe pocket up to the communicating hole 42, there to pass through with dentifrice material mixed therewith into the outlet compartment 31, and, finally, from the inner end of the latter at the shoulder 26 to the supply or outlet bore 2I which feeds the liquid mixture to head chamber I5. The liquid mixture is then discharged under pressure from head chamber I5 through the jet openings provided by the notches Ill-i9 to produce high pressure jetsof a cleansing liquid consisting of Water in Whichis admixed a quantity of dentifrice material.

Manual manipulation of the cleaner apparatus unit comprising head structure I6 and handle structure II, in a persons mouth accomplishes the desired cleaning in a manner which has proven to be unusually efficient. Manipulation is simple, and the results obtained are far superior to those had with the use of ordinary tooth brushes, While avoiding any tendency to injure tender gums, as frequently occurs in vigorous scrubbing ofY bristles against the gums. Further, particles which lodge under the free margins of the gums, between closely juxtaposed teeth and around and behind bridge and brace structure frequently cannot be dislodged by brushing but, as has been found, can be easily washed out by the high jet action of the apparatus of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention disclosed above is particularly adapted to ready cleansing of parts thereof. For example, the Wall-forming button I6 in head structure I6, when in the form of the head of a screw I1, as indicated, may be readily removed by unscrewing with a simple tool, such as a screw driver. This permits access to the chamber I5 for purposes of cleansing and also permits removal of lodged material, such as dentifrice paste, that may collect in the jet grooves I9-I9, by means of a brush or the like. Cleansing of the interior of the hollow handle or shell 20 is permitted by re- This canI assai-afs endif of commitment se and its laterally turned end 41 engaged in the hole 42I in partitioning Strip 38. Th latter may then be' readily Withdrawn by pull" oni-4 the tool se that the interior of the chamber 23 may be cleansed by' brushing. and th-e partitioning strip 38y also may be freed of anyvsolids, such as dentifrice paste, that may cake or lodge thereon. A' M l in' Figs. 8Y and 9; the'head sticture f thepdental jet cleaner of thepre'sent invention may, if desired, be in the ferm, of a cylindrical liad HQ, fixed on handle structure I l, and having acircular hole H5 extending transversely therethrough with which suppiy bore 2l cemiii'IiiCateS. The wall-forming" body may be pro'- vided as a grooved end I I6 of a spool or core body 49 which may be press-tted into the transverse hole H5 for ready removal when pressure is applied thereto by the finger or any rod-like instrument. As will be seen from Figs. 8 and 9, the grooved end H6 closes off one end of the transverse hole H5 except for the jet outlets provided by the grooves lil-I9, and the other end 50 of said spool closes oif the other end of said transverse hole so as to form therebetween an annular chamber 5| about spool shank 52 with said chamber in communication with the supply bore or passage 2|. In operation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9, cleansing action obtainable with the use of the head structure of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will be similarly attained.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above amo-ng those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, but any change to be eifected must fall within the purview of the claims in this application.

It is also to be understood thatV the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

l. A dental jet cleaner comprising, in combination, a hollow head having a supply passage communicating at one end with a chamber provided in the head, a removable body forming a closing side wall of the chamber and a part of one side of the head with a -plurality of jet outlets for that side of the head formed substantially transversely in said wall-forming body to provide for jets that will project from that side, a hollow elongated manual handle structure supporting said head and extending away from the latter at a substantial angle to the general direction of said jet outlets, the interior of said hollow handle communicating at one end with the supply passage and having upstream thereof a chamber for reception of dentifrice material 6e tcbei gradually'Yy dissolvedi in passing washing liquid; and hose means connectedY te the. otherA er'idl of said bellow; handle structure-fer sup'plytor` the dentifrice chamber ofi washing liquid underA pressure.

2'". ak dental" jet' cleanert noilowfvhandleconstruction comprising, in. combination, an` elongated nandg'rasp having: an axiar bore extendi'iig therethrough td providev a through water passage havrlgA an outlet end and? ani'nlet end;- the latter being provided with a counterbore to ferm a chamber' andi anannular' shourder at the inner 'end thereof, andY an elongated' partitioning strip removably positioned in the chamber with its inner end turned laterallyv asa sub'- staiitiall'y semicircular flange seating 'agian-'istv Said shoulder to' provide a pair of' elongated adjacent compartments with one substantially closed at its lower end' by said flange to fornil a dentifrice material pocket, the other endof s'aild'I strip bei-'ng tu-rr'iedA laterally at its opposite end as an outer substantially similarly shaped flange to close off substantially the upper end of the other compartment with the latter in communication with the bore at said shoulder, said strip and chamber structure providing communication between the two compartments in the vicinity of said outer flange and a passage from the dentifrice material pocket to the Outlet end of the bore.

3. The dental jet cleaner structure as defined in claim 2 characterized in that provision of the communication between the compartments is by means of a hole in the strip near the outer ange which hole also serves for engagement by a withdrawing tool.

4. A liquid jet device comprising, in combination; a hollow head having a chamber therein, a circular hole in a wall thereof and a supply passage communicating at one end with said chamber; a removable button received within the hole for substantially closing it with the circumferential edge of said button being provid-ed with a plurality of axially-extending notches to form jet outlets; a hollow elongated manual handle having one end supporting said head with its interior at that end communicating with said supply passage, said handle having upstream of said supply passage a storage chamber for reception of a supply of solids to be gradually dissolved in and admixed with liquid passing therethrough; and hose means connected to the other end of said hollow handle for supply of liquid under pressure to said storage chamber.

5. In a dental jet cleaner structure the provision of a hollow handle having a dentifrice chamber therein in the form of one of a pair of adjacent elongated compartments fo-rmed by dividing the space in the handle longitudinally by removable partitioning means, the compartment serving as a dentifriceV chamber being substantially closed at its downstream end when conditioned for delivery of dentifrice-treated liquid and open only at its upstream end for reception of a body of dentifrice material, the other compartment communicating at its downstream end with a supply passage and with the upstream end of said dentifrice compartment in the vicinity of the upstream end of said partitioning means to provide an outlet passage means for said dentifrice compartment leading from the latter in the vicinity of its inlet.

6. The dental jet cleaner structure defined in claim 5 characterized by the provision of the space in said handle with a downstream end wall through which the supply passage extends and .said partitioning means therein as a removable elongated partitioning strip having its downstream end turned laterally to seat against said end wall and its upstream end turned laterally in the opposite direction to form an upstream end wall with said strip dividing the space in said handle into said pair of adjacent longitudinally-extendmg compartments and with the latter communicating in the vicinity of said upstream end wall.

7. The dental jet cleaner structure as defined in claim 6 characterized by the supply passage and the space which includes said dentifrice chamber being respectively in the forms of a bore and counterbore with the annular shoulder formed at their juncture serving as the downstream end Wall of said space in said handle against which the laterally-turned downstream strip end seats, the latter being shaped substantially semicircular, the laterally-turned upstream REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 964,730 Ackerman July 19, 1910 1,602,215 Smith Oct. 5, 1926 1,646,942 Tuorto Oct. 25, 1927 1,654,745 Miller Jan. 3, 1928 1,719,152 Watson July 2, 1929 2,094,888 Hooper Oct. 5, 1937 2,208,032 Hooper July 16, 1940

Images