A bypass flow assembly of an oral irrigator is provided. The oral irrigator may include a handle positionable between a first mode and a second mode and a valve assembly including a bypass valve movable between first and second positions and an inlet valve movable between open and closed positions. The first position of the bypass valve may be associated with the first mode of the handle and the second position of the bypass valve may be associated with the second mode of the handle, such that the bypass valve moves from the first position to the second position when the handle is positioned in the second mode and remains in the second position until the handle is positioned in the first mode. The inlet valve may move between the open and closed positions when the bypass valve is positioned in the first position and the second position.

An oral irrigation device including a reservoir, a tip, and a pump. The pump is operative to draw fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip. The pump includes a pump body fluidly connected to the reservoir and the tip, the pump body having an interior wall defining a pump chamber, the pump chamber terminating in an open end and a force exerting assembly that is receive within the pump chamber. The force exerting assembly is movable between a first position and a second position and includes a force exerting member and a compressible sealing member received around the force exerting member. The sealing member engages the interior wall of the pump body during movement from the first position to the second position and movement from the second position to the first position to prevent fluids from escaping the open end of the pump body.

An oral irrigator including a reservoir, a handle in fluid communication with the reservoir, a base in fluid communication with the handle and the reservoir, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to couple the handle to the base. In a first configuration, the handle valve and base valve are closed to prevent fluid flow out of the handle and the base, respectively, and in a second configuration, the handle valve and the base valve are open to allow fluid to flow between the base and the handle.

Various pump configurations for oral irrigators. In one example, an oral irrigator including a reservoir, a handle, a pump body is disclosed. The pump body includes a pump inlet, a wall defining a planar area, a pump outlet disposed adjacent to an edge of the planar area and extending through the wall into the pump body. The pump inlet and the pump outlet are in fluid communication with the reservoir and a first valve is disposed at least partially within the pump body and a second valve disposed at least partially within the pump body.

An apparatus may include one or more manifolds, each including a shell having an inner portion and an outer portion. Each shell may have a first set of outlets in a first wall and a second set of outlets in a second wall that approximately faces the first wall. Each manifold is shaped to accommodate a tooth. A rotating inlet joint, having an inlet channel and a rotating joint, may enable fluid flow into each manifold from the inlet channel at any angle relative to an axis of rotation defined by the rotating joint. In each manifold, the first set of outlets and the second set of outlets are oriented towards a tooth and/or gums associated with the tooth. The inner portion and the outer portion of each shell cooperate to direct fluid flow substantially horizontal to, and then substantially perpendicular to, the fluid flow exiting the inlet channel.

A compact liquid-outlet system comprising a liquid pump device, a liquid-inlet flow channel, and a liquid-outlet flow channel and an oral cleaning method. The liquid pump device comprises a liquid pump cavity, a piston slidably disposed in the liquid pump cavity, and a piston rod. The piston rod extends through the liquid pump cavity in a liquid-tight manner and is connected to the piston. The piston divides a pump chamber of the liquid pump cavity into a rod chamber and a rodless chamber. The piston comprises a liquid-outlet one-way valve allowing only liquid to flow from the rod chamber to the rodless chamber. The liquid-inlet flow channel communicates with the rod chamber through a liquid-inlet one-way valve. The liquid-outlet flow channel communicates with the rodless chamber. This system eliminates the need of extra space for installing the liquid-outlet one-way valve, resulting in a more compact structure.

An oral irrigator including a reservoir, a handle, a tip, a pump, a motor connected to the pump and configured to selectively actuate the pump, a processing element, and a signal generator, wherein during operation in a normal mode, the signal generator provides a first control signal to the motor causing the pump to cycle at a first pulse rate having a first flow rate over a first time duration and has a normal magnitude and a normal frequency, and wherein during operation in a massage mode, the signal generator provides a second control signal to the motor, the second control signal having a massage magnitude below the normal magnitude and a massage frequency longer than the normal frequency causing the pump to cycle at a second pulse rate and having a second flow rate over a second time duration.

This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for automatically resetting pause control on an oral irrigator. The methods use a resilient device which stores potential energy when the oral irrigator is turned on or the pause control feature is turned off. The stored potential energy is then released and switches the pause control feature on when the oral irrigator is turned off or placed on its stand. The pause control assembly includes a slider coupled to the valve, where the slider has a first protrusion; a return which makes contact with a first protrusion of the slider; and a stopper, which in the closed position prevents the return from moving. The automatic pause control reset can also include a pressure plate and a pressure chamber which respond to a change in fluid pressure to permit the opening of a pause control valve.

An apparatus may include one or more manifolds, each including a shell having an inner portion and an outer portion. Each shell may have a first set of outlets in a first wall and a second set of outlets in a second wall that approximately faces the first wall. Each manifold is shaped to accommodate a tooth. A rotating inlet joint, having an inlet channel and a rotating joint, may enable fluid flow into each manifold from the inlet channel at any angle relative to an axis of rotation defined by the rotating joint. In each manifold, the first set of outlets and the second set of outlets are oriented towards a tooth and/or gums associated with the tooth. The inner portion and the outer portion of each shell cooperate to direct fluid flow substantially horizontal to, and then substantially perpendicular to, the fluid flow exiting the inlet channel.