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US5779654A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Clean breath wand

Assignee: Water Pik Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-26
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2017-03-26
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Abstract

Abstract The clean breath wand comprises an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, a coupling member for coupling the proximal end to a source of liquid, a head end fixed to the distal end of the hollow body, and the head end having an outer end face with at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon and at least one irrigating opening extending through the front end and opening onto the outer end face.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rita S. Foley
  • 👤 Patrick F. Foley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/24; A61B17/244

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
A clean breath wand comprising an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, coupling means for coupling said proximal handle portion to a source of liquid which is pressurized, a head end fixed to said distal end of said hollow body, and said head end having an upper distal end, a lower proximal end and an outer end face, at least one irrigating opening fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of said handle portion, extending through said front end adjacent said proximal end and opening onto said outer end face, at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon on said outer end face, extending transversely of said outer end face with at least the ends of said at least one rib being curved or inclined toward said elongate hollow body (FIG. 8) and being located above said at least one opening and adjacent said distal end so that said rib prevents pressurized liquid from being directed posteriorly toward a users throat and liquid flow valve means for controlling the delivery of pressurized liquid to said at least one opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
A clean breath wand comprising an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, coupling means for coupling said proximal handle portion to a source of liquid which is pressurized, a head end fixed to said distal end of said hollow body, and said head end having an upper distal end, a lower proximal end and an outer end face, at least one irrigating opening fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of said handle portion, extending through said front end adjacent said proximal end and opening onto said outer end face, at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon on said outer end face, extending transversely of said outer end face with at least the ends of said at least one rib being curved or inclined toward said elongate hollow body (FIG. 8) and being located above said at least one opening and adjacent said distal end so that said rib prevents pressurized liquid from being directed posteriorly toward a users throat and liquid flow valve means for controlling the delivery of pressurized liquid to said at least one opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said outer end face has at least two spaced apart scraping ribs therein and at least three irrigating openings extending through said front end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said end face has at least five irrigating openings extending therethrough and at least two spaced apart scraping blades on said outer end face.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said end face has six scraping ribs thereon with six spaced irrigating openings extending through said head end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said at least one blade has a rounded cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said at least one blade has an outer scraping edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 96 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said valve means include a movable button member mounted on an underside of said hollow body and engageable by a finger of the user, said hollow body having a tubing therein communicating between the liquid source and an inside back side of said head end, said tubing being engageable by said button when it is squeezed by a user to throttle or stop the flow of liquid from the liquid source through the tubing to said outer end face of said head end of said clean breath wand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said handle portion of said body has elongate ribs thereon to facilitate gripping of the wand.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said coupling means include a hose extending to the source of liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
The clean breath wand of claim 9 wherein said coupling means include an elastomeric collar adapted to engage said proximal end of said wand and a distal end of said hose leading to the source of liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The clean breath wand of claim 9 wherein said hose is connectable to a liquid pumping device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The clean breath wand of claim 9 wherein said hose is connected to a coupling member adapted to be connected to a faucet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said outer end face has at least one arcuate shaped blade or rib, being arcuate in the long direction of the blade or rib (130 in FIG. 8).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The clean breath wand of claim 13 wherein said outer end face has one irrigating opening in the center of the arc so as to form an upside down "funny face".
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
The clean breath wand of claim 14 wherein said outer end face has a row of two irrigating openings below the center opening so as to form better an upside down "funny face".
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 44 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 wherein said outer end face has at least one blade or rib that extends downwardly from the end face in an arcuate manner, such as in a partial circle or in a rounded corner shape (FIG. 9).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The clean breath wand of claim 1 combined with a pump having a reservoir and the output from said pump being directly coupled to the hollow interior of said handle portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 193 words
A clean breath wand comprising an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, coupling means for coupling said proximal handle portion to a source of liquid which is capable of being placed under pressure, a head end fixed to said distal end of said hollow body, and said head end having an upper distal end, a lower proximal end and an outer end face, at least one irrigating opening fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of said handle portion, extending through said front end adjacent said proximal end and opening onto said outer end face, at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon on said outer end face, extending transversely of said outer end face with at least the ends of said at least one rib being curved or inclined toward said elongate hollow body (FIG. 8) and being located above said at least one opening and adjacent said distal end so that said rib prevents pressurized liquid from being directed posteriorly toward a users throat and liquid flow valve means for controlling the delivery of pressurized liquid to said at least one opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 193 words
A clean breath wand comprising an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, coupling means for coupling said proximal handle portion to a source of liquid which is capable of being placed under pressure, a head end fixed to said distal end of said hollow body, and said head end having an upper distal end, a lower proximal end and an outer end face, at least one irrigating opening fluidly coupled to the hollow interior of said handle portion, extending through said front end adjacent said proximal end and opening onto said outer end face, at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon on said outer end face, extending transversely of said outer end face with at least the ends of said at least one rib being curved or inclined toward said elongate hollow body (FIG. 8) and being located above said at least one opening and adjacent said distal end so that said rib prevents pressurized liquid from being directed posteriorly toward a users throat and liquid flow valve means for controlling the delivery of pressurized liquid to said at least one opening.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-07-13 2002-01-12 2002-07-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-07-13 2006-01-12 2006-07-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-07-13 2010-01-12 2010-07-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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