Single operation control mechanism for a pressurized gas oral cleaning appliance

摘要

The control mechanism (18) for a pressurized-gas oral cleaning appliance (10) includes a hollow valve member (44) for receiving gas from a pressurized source thereof (14) and for delivering gas to a gas exit assembly. A gas releasing assembly includes a user-activated actuation member (26) and a pusher member (36), wherein movement of the actuation member moves the pusher member and the valve member in a forward direction to a first position where gas enters the hollow interior of the valve. Further forward movement of the actuation member results in the valve member aligning with the pusher member in such a relationship that the valve member moves rearwardly by action of a spring (67) to a second position where the gas in the valve member exits through the openings and the groove to a gas exit line (68).

主权项

1. A mechanism for controlling release of bursts of pressurized gas from a supply thereof for use in an oral cleaning apparatus (10), comprising:
a hollow interior valve member (44) having a rear end portion (48), the valve member having a valve wall (63) with a circumferential groove (64) therein, and a plurality of openings (66) connecting the groove with the hollow interior (46) of the valve member; an entrance line (62) for gas extending from a supply thereof (14) to an exterior surface of the valve member; an exit line for gas (68), extending from the exterior surface of the valve member to an exit assembly, wherein the exit line for gas is offset longitudinally from the entrance line for gas along the length of the valve member; and a releasing assembly (18), which includes a contact member (38) operating against the rear end portion of the valve member, moving the valve member forwardly from an initial nominal position to a position where the gas entrance line is aligned with the circumferential groove, permitting gas to enter, wherein the releasing assembly includes a forward portion which is configured such that further forward movement of the releasing assembly results in the valve member moving rearwardly, aligning the valve member with the gas exit line, permitting gas to exit from the valve member to the gas exit assembly.