Background of the invention

This invention relates to an oral hygienic device, more particularly to an oral hygienic device capable of washing teeth as well as the whole interior of the mouth including the tongue, the soft palate and the gum with pressured water. Prior art

There is a conventional oral hygienic device, so called "water pick" which washes teeth with pressured water forcedly pumped through an electric motor. However, since such device needs a power supply for driving the motor and a separate water reservoir, it has several defects of being bothersome, large and highly priced. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5A to be discussed later, the water brush tip used in the conventional oral hygienic device has a bent nozzle end. However, it has a defect that it is not adequate for the shape of teeth and the cleaning is not so effective since the water is ejected in a single water stream from the bent nozzle end. Furthermore, it has a defect that it cannot entirely wash the interior of the mouth because of the high pressured water stream (more than 6 kg/cm ² ) which is likely to damage the tender mucous membranes in the mouth if its use is not confined to the teeth and gum. This defeats the original purpose of washing the entire mouth. Furthermore, the conventional oral hygienic device is generally provided with a dial typed water stream adjusting valve to adjust the content of water stream to be ejected through the water brush tip. However, when a user turns off the device with the valve remaining open, due to his/her carelessness, and turns on the device for the next use, a strong water stream is ejected to the user who is unprepared to clean the mouth. Frequently, such use of the valve wets the body of the user. Therefore, there has been a need for a new water stream adjusting valve which can be closed automatically or only by a simple operation after use.

Objects of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide an oral hygienic device with a simpler construction that does not need a separate power supply, motor, and tap water reservoir and utilizes the tap water pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new water brush tips for use for an oral hygienic device, the shape of which is apt for thoroughly washing the interior of the mouth.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a water stream adjusting valve for use in the oral hygienic device, the construction of which enables automatic closing by a simple operation after use.

Summary of the invention

The above and other objects can be accomplished by a shower typed oral hygienic device according to the present invention, which comprises a water brush tip having a numerous water stream ejecting holes; a water stream adjusting valve, a detachable water brush tip connected to the adjusting valve; connected an adjusting dial operating the water stream adjusting valve; a hose, one end of the hose being connected fixedly to the water stream adjusting valve; and a tap connecting member provided at the other end of the hose, thereby the device being capable of washing all the interior of the mouth.

One of the advantageous aspects of the invention is that the valve is constructed such that each end of a torsion spring is fixed to the valve stem cap and to the adjusting dial. Thus, the valve is closed automatically when the adjusting dial is released.

Another aspect of the invention is that projections are formed on the valve stem, and a spring engaging with the projections is installed so that rotation of the adjusting dial reciprocates the valve stem to open and close the valve. Also, sharp tapered ends are formed on the valve stem and one end corresponding with the tapered ends is formed on the adjusting dial, so that when pushing the dial, it returns the valve stem to its initial position to close the valve.

Yet another aspect of the invention is that the invention provides water brush tips having a U-shaped or H-shaped end, or brushes for brushing teeth.

Further, the invention provides water brush tips having a water pressure reducing means in the interior thereof, for example, barriers, toothed wheels, and float balls.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of examples only, with references to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower type oral hygienic device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a tap connecting member used in the shower type oral hygienic device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the tip connecting member;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the body and the water brush tip of the oral hygienic device of Figure 1 ;

Figures 5A to 5B are perspective views showing additional embodiments of the water brush tip;

Figures 6A and 6B show a first embodiment of a water stream adjusting valve, Figure 6A being a sectional view of the valve and Figure 6B being a dissected perspective view of the main parts of the valve;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the water stream adjusting valve;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the water stream adjusting

valve; and

Figures 9A to 9D are partial cut-out perspective views showing the interior of further embodiments of the water brush tip.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now to Figure 1 , a perspective view of a shower typed oral hygienic device 1 in accordance with the invention is represented. The shower typed oral hygienic device 1 comprises a tap connecting member 2, a hose 3, a water stream adjusting valve 4, a handle 5 connected to said valve 4, and a water brush tip 6 fitted with a snap to the front end of the valve 4 and can be detached. According to the invention one end of the hose 3 is connected to the tap connecting member 2 and the water stream adjusting valve 4 is connected to the other end of the hose 3.

Figure 2 shows a section of the tap connecting member 2. The tap connecting member 2 comprises a tap connecting member body 11 , a joint 12 connecting the upper part of the tap connecting member body to a tap 7, a valve body 13 which can reciprocate in the body 11 and make flow paths to be communicated selectively from the tap 7 to the hose 3 or to a washstand, a water stream switching handle 14 connected to the left side of the valve body 13 and reciprocating the valve body 13, a connecting nozzle 15 connected to the body 11 and concurrently engaging with the front end of the valve body 13 shown on the right side in the drawing, and a nozzle cap 16 installed on the connecting nozzle 15 and fixing the hose 3 onto the front end of the connecting nozzle. Such a construction of the tap connecting member 2 is known and thus the detailed construction and operation is not explained further. However, it should be noted that when the front end of the valve body 13 abuts the connecting nozzle 15 by an operation of the water stream switching handle 14, water from the tap 7 passes through the valve body 13 and is discharged to the washstand, but when the valve body 13 moves to the left away from the connecting nozzle 15. the water from the tap 7 flows into the hose 3.

Figure 3 shows a tap connecting member 2a the shape of which is adapted to be simply fitted to the tap 7, which is different from the case of the tap connecting member 2 of Figure 2. The tap connecting member 2a is provided with a step so that

it can be installed with different diameters of taps.

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the water stream adjusting valve 4 with the water brush tip 6 and the hose 3 installed. A flow path 6a is formed longitudinally on the water brush tip 6. The front end of the tip is thinly formed as a rounded rectangular hexahedron and is provided with a numerous water stream ejecting holes 6b in communication with the flow path 6a. (Five water stream ejecting holes are shown in Figure 1). A connecting sleeve 6c is provided at the rear end of the water brush tip 6 fitted freely detachably into a connecting sleeve 21 , which will be discussed later, of the water stream adjusting valve 4. Such a connecting construction is known and is not explained further.

Figures 5A to 5B show various shapes of water brush tips. Figure 5A shows a known water brush tip having a single water stream ejecting hole. Such a known water brush tip ejects only a single water stream making it difficult to position the water course accurately when removing food residue or tartar lodged between the teeth. Therefore, it is not easy to remove such residue or tartar with the known water brush tip. Also, there is a defect that it cannot be used for washing the tongue surface and the weak mucous membrane of the mouth interior because of the high water stream pressure. Therefore, the invention provides a water brush tip 6 ejecting several courses of water stream Figure 4 which can easily remove foreign objects on the tongue surface and all interior of the mouth as well as food residue or tartar lodged between the teeth. Also, as shown in Figure 5B, the invention provides on the water brush tip, water stream ejecting holes 6b for ejecting several water courses and brushes 6d for brushing the entire interior of the mouth, teeth, the tongue surface, etc. as a common toothbrush does. Figure 5C shows a water brush tip which has a U-shaped end to surround teeth, and Figure 5D shows a water brush tip which has a H-shaped end to surround the upper and lower teeth, simultaneously. Since the water brush tips described above have a numerous of water stream ejecting holes 6b or brushes 6d, removing food residue and tartar lodged between the teeth becomes far easier compared with the known water brush tip having a single water stream ejecting hole. Thus, they can wash all interior of the mouth and the time required to brush teeth and wash the mouth can be minimized. Specifically, the several water courses interfere with one another to transform the water courses into relatively wide water spray, which is different from the case where a single water course is ejected, and thus, damage to the

tongue surface and the weak mucous membrane of the mouth interior is prevented since large direct external force, i.e. the high water pressure, is not applied on them.

Referring Figure 4 again, the hose 3 is fitted to the inlet end of the water 5 stream adjusting valve 4, and the handle 5 is fitted over the hose. Therefore, the hose is fixed tightly to the inlet end of the water stream adjusting valve 4. The handle 5 has a hole 5a on its side for the hose 3 to be fitted into the handle at its side so that damage to the hose 3 during the use is prevented. This construction of the handle 5 and its connection with the water stream adjusting valve 4 are known and are not 10 included in the invention and are not explained further.

The water stream adjusting valve 4 comprises a connecting sleeve 21 provided at its outlet end, a valve stem 22 controlling the flow rate of water, an adjusting dial 23 operating the valve stem 22, and a valve body 24. In the valve body 24, a flow 15 path is formed longitudinally and the valve stem 22 is installed vertically to the flow path. Further, a sealing ring 31 and two ring-shaped sleeves 32, 33 are fitted in the valve body 24 surrounding the flow path, in order to watertightly connect the water brush tip 6 to the water stream adjusting valve 4 by means of the connecting sleeve 21. The construction is known too and is not explained further.

20

A wedge-shaped groove 22a is formed on the end of the valve stem 22 of the water stream adjusting valve 4 so that rotation of the adjusting dial 23 rotates the valve stem 22 to open or close the flow path and to adjust the flow rate depending upon the cross-sectional area of the wedge-shaped groove 22a exposed in the flow

25 path. The valve stem 22 is fixed on the valve seat in the valve body 24 by means of a valve stem cap 34. The valve stem cap 34 is fixed in the valve body 24 by means of a thread fastening, adhesive, etc. The end of the valve stem 22 on the side of the adjusting dial 23 has the shape of a rectangular bar so that the end is fitted into the adjusting dial 23, and the valve stem 22 is operated by the manipulation of the

30 adjusting dial 23. Also, a recess corresponding with the end of the valve stem 22 is formed in the center of the adjusting dial 23. The adjusting dial 23 is constructed in such a manner that it cannot be pulled out of the valve body 24. Since this construction is well known, no detailed explanation is given herein. A torsion spring 25 is installed in the adjusting dial 23 and around the valve stem 22. One end of the torsion spring

35 25 is fixed to the valve stem cap 34 and the other end is fixed to the adjusting dial.

Also, it is possible to fix the end of the torsion spring 25 to the valve body 24. Therefore, when the adjusting dial 23 is released after it is rotated, the dial 23 returns to its original position by the help of the resilent force of the torsion spring 25. Conventional adjusting dials generally open the flow path by its rotation but do not close it when released. Thus, as described before, there has been an inconvenience when the user stops the use with the tap remaining closed and the adjusting dial remaining rotated, i.e., the water stream adjusting valve opened, and opens the tap at the next use without care, water is abruptly ejected and wets the body of the user because the water stream adjusting valve remains open. The invention provides a new water stream adjusting valve which is closed automatically upon being released.

Figures 6 to 8 show different embodiments of the water stream adjusting valve.

The water stream adjusting valves 10, 20, 30 shown in Figures 6 to 8 are constructed in such a manner that the valve stem reciprocates (upward and downward in the drawing) in the valve seat, which is different from the water stream adjusting valve

4 shown in Figure 4.

In the water stream adjusting valve 10 shown in Figure 6, a recess 24a, having enough depth for the valve stem 42 to reciprocate, is provided at the upper portion of the valve seat of the valve body 24 and a spring support 24b is provided at the recess 24a. (Said spring support may be omitted.) In addition, a recess 42a for receiving a spring 44 is provided at the upper end of the valve stem 42 in such a manner that the spring 44 is installed between the spring support 24b and the recess 42a. The spring 44 needs to be secured simply so as not to get out. Opposite projections 42b are formed around the outer circumference of the valve stem 42 at the lower tip of the valve stem 42 toward the adjusting dial 43 and engage with and between the coils of a spring 45. The lower tip of the valve stem 42 toward the adjusting dial is cut in the shape of a cross. Thus, the valve stem 42 has four tapered ends 42d being tapered and formed sharply by the cut-out portion 42c having the shape of a cross. A spring support 43a is formed on the center of the adjusting dial, and this spring support 43a has a tapered end 43b formed concave so as to correspond with the tapered ends 42d of the valve stem 42. The spring 45 is installed between the valve stem 42 and the adjusting dial 43. One end of the spring 45 is free to move while the other end is fixed on a point 43c on the spring support 43a formed on the center of the adjusting dial 43. By this construction, with rotating the adjusting dial 43, the spring 45 also rotates. As the

spring rotates, the projections 42b engaged with the spring 45, slide between turns of the spring to move the valve stem 42 upward. Thus, the valve is opened. It can easily be understood that the flow rate can be adjusted by the upward displacement of the valve stem 42 which, in turn, is adjusted by the rotation angle of the adjusting dial 43. To close the water stream adjusting valve after using the oral hygienic device during which the adjusting dial is rotated, all the user have to do is push the adjusting dial. That is, when the adjusting dial 43 is pushed, the tapered end 43b biases the tapered ends 42d of the valve stem 42 toward the cut portion 42c so that the spring 45 which is compressed under the projections 42b slides over the projections 42b and the projections 42b return to their initial positions. Then, by eliminating the force exerting on the adjusting dial, the spring 44 having been compressed between the valve stem 42 and the valve body 24 returns the valve to its initial stage. In other words, the valve is closed. Therefore, abrupt water ejecting on the body of the user at the instant of opening the valve for next use is prevented because the valve returns to its initial state, i.e. its closed position, by simply pushing the adjusting dial 43 one time after use.

The construction of the water stream adjusting valve 20 shown in Figure 7 is similar to that of the water stream adjusting valve 10 shown in Figure 6. However, the water stream adjusting valve 20 is provided with two valve stems consisting of a first valve stem 50 a the second valve stem 51 instead of the valve stem 42 of the water stream adjusting valve 10 of Figure 6. This construction facilitates the assembling of the valve. The other feature of the construction are identical to those of the water stream adjusting valve of Figure 6 and will not be explained further.

The construction of the water stream adjusting valve shown in figure 8 is a combination of those of the valves shown in Figures 4 and 6. That is, the cut portion 42c and the tapered ends 42d are not formed on the valve stem 53 of the water stream adjusting valve 30 of Figure 8, which is different from the valve stem 42 of the water stream adjusting valve 10 of Figure 6. The other feature of the construction of the valve stem 53 of Figure 8 are identical to those of the valve stem 42 of Figure 6 and will not be explained further. In addition, an adjusting dial 54 is not also provided with the tapered end 43b, which is different from the adjusting dial 43 shown in Figure 6. Instead, a torsion spring 55 is provided, in addition to the spring 45, between the adjusting dial 54 and the valve body 24, and acts as the same as the torsion spring 25

of Figure 4 does. One end of the spring 45 is fixed on a point 54b of the adjusting dial 54, while the other end is free to move like the spring 45 of Figure 6. Thus, as the adjusting dial 54 is rotated, the projections 53b slides between turns of the spring 45 to move the valve stem 53 upward. In this manner, the valve is opened. However, one end of the torsion spring 55 is fixed to another point 54c of the adjusting dial and the other end is fixed to a point 24e of the valve body 24. Accordingly, like the torsion spring 25 of Figure 4, when the adjusting dial 54 is released, the torsion spring 55 returns the adjusting dial 54, and thus the valve stem 53 to their initial positions by a resilent force of the spring, thereby closing the valve automatically.

Figures 9A to 9D show the interior of water brush tips. The water brush tip 6 shown in Figure 9 A is provided with two barriers 61 extended transversely by a half to two thirds of the width of the tip. The barriers 61 are fixed to the bottom and one of the side walls of the water brush tip 6, and extend from the bottom to the vicinity of the upper surface. The barriers 61 alter the flow direction of water introduced directly from the water stream inlet 60 to make the water flow inside the tip turbulent and to enhance the spraying effect. Thus, damage to the tender mucous membranes of the gum and the mouth due to high water stream ejecting pressure, can be prevented more effectively.

The water brush tip 6 shown in Figure 9B is provided with two toothed wheels

63 rotatably mounted on each axis 62 which is united with the inside bottom of the tip.

As each the wheel 63 rotates about the axis 62, the flow direction of water is altered; and thus the water stream ejecting pressure is reduced. A barrier 64 is provided between the wheels 63 and divides the water stream. Alternatively, the water brush tip 6 shown in Figure 9C is provided with each of relatively small toothed wheels 63a rotatable about the axis 62a. Each toothed wheel 63a is smaller than the toothed wheel 63 shown in Figure 9B and positioned just below the water stream ejecting holes 6b, Figure 1 to reduce the water stream ejecting pressure directly. It is possible, however, to provide only the axis 62a without the wheels 63a, or to provide stationary wheels instead of the rotatable wheels 63a, depending on the design as desired.

Figure 9D shows a water brush tip 6 containing a plurality of water stream altering float balls 65. The number of the balls 65 is greater than that of the water stream ejecting holes 6b, Figure 1 by 1 or 2. The balls are made of a rigid plastic.

When water is ejected, the balls 65 block the water stream ejecting holes temporarily but the remaining balls, which do not block the water stream ejecting holes, float and move inside the tip and strike those balls blocking the holes to block and unblock the water stream ejecting holes 6b randomly and repetitiously. Thus, the balls\' movement performs massaging the gum by varying the water stream ejecting pressure and by spraying a random and repetitious water stream through the water stream ejecting holes. A barrier 66 is provided adjacent the inlet 60 for preventing the balls from being introduced into the water stream inlet 60. The barrier 66 extends from the wall.

By virtue of the constructions described above, the oral hygienic device of the invention does not need a separate power supply, motor, and water reservoir, and can be connected directly to a tap; thus, the construction and the operation thereof are simplified. Furthermore, since the water brush tip of the invention comprises a numerous water stream ejecting holes and brushes, the tip has several advantages in that it can remove food residues and tartar more effectively in between tooth and wash more simply all the interior of the mouth than the known water brush tip having a single water stream ejecting hole. The brush tip of the invention may be in U-shaped or H- shaped form. Furthermore, since a water stream adjusting valve which can be opened or closed automatically or by a simple operation after use is provided, the problem of abrupt ejecting of water onto the body of the user due to the user\'s carelessness is essentially prevented.

Although the invention is described with the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention.