Patents by Inventor Gary L. Sokol
Gary L. Sokol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230363872Abstract: The present disclosure includes embodiments directed to an oral cleansing device. The device may include a handle housing and a hose connector. The handle housing may include an end defining an aperture and the hose connector may be releasably coupled to the end. The hose connector may include a hose fluidly coupled to a reservoir and a body defining an inlet and an outlet. The hose may be coupled to the body and be in fluid communication with the inlet. The hose connector may include a collar coupled to the body and positioned around the hose at the inlet. In a first configuration, the outlet of the body may be positioned within the aperture of the handle housing and in a second configuration the outlet of the body may be separated from the handle housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 11744690Abstract: A toothbrush tip includes a brush head, a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the brush head, a water jet nozzle extending from the brush head, and a cover panel arranged on a rear of the toothbrush tip opposite the bristle tufts.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Publication number: 20220323188Abstract: A toothbrush tip includes a brush head, a plurality of bristle tufts extending from the brush head, a water jet nozzle extending from the brush head, and a cover panel arranged on a rear of the toothbrush tip opposite the bristle tufts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 11399925Abstract: An oral irrigator including a base and a handle. The base includes a fluid reservoir, a pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a base wireless communication component in electrical communication with the pump. The handle is in fluid communication with the pump. The handle includes a handle wireless communication component and one or more control buttons in communication with the handle wireless communication component. The handle wireless communication component transmits control signals from the one or more control buttons to the base wireless communication component to adjust an operating parameter of the pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 11351018Abstract: A toothbrush or oral cleaning implement including a handle defining a first fluid conduit and a handle inlet port, a brush tip extending from a first end of the handle and defining a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, a brush head supported on an end of the brush tip including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit, a handle valve positioned between the handle inlet port and the first fluid conduit, and a base removably connected to the second end of the handle. The base including a base fluid inlet port that connects with an external fluid source, a base fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the base fluid inlet port, and a base valve that selectively opens and closes the base fluid outlet port.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 10918469Abstract: A toothbrush with fluid directing drive assembly is provided. The toothbrush may include a handle including an end surface, a brush shaft extending from the end surface of the handle, a drive assembly positioned within the handle and causing the brush shaft to oscillate upon actuation of a motor, a brush tip removably coupled to the brush shaft and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the handle, and a fluid passage defined within the drive assembly within the handle. The brush tip may include a fluid conduit therein. Oscillation of the brush shaft may cause the entire brush tip to oscillate correspondingly. Fluid may be transported through the drive assembly and to the fluid conduit of the brush tip by the fluid passage.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 10828137Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a toothbrush including a handle, a brush shaft, and a brush tip releasably connected to the brush shaft. The brush shaft includes a fluid outlet in fluid communication with a fluid source. The brush tip includes a tip outlet, one or more bristles, and one or more engagement structures to secure the brush tip to the brush shaft. The engagement structure acts to transfer motion from the brush shaft to the brush tip and defines, in part, a tip fluid passageway through the brush tip and in fluid communication with the shaft lumen of the brush shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Publication number: 20200205952Abstract: An oral irrigator including a base and a handle. The base includes a fluid reservoir, a pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a base wireless communication component in electrical communication with the pump. The handle is in fluid communication with the pump. The handle includes a handle wireless communication component and one or more control buttons in communication with the handle wireless communication component. The handle wireless communication component transmits control signals from the one or more control buttons to the base wireless communication component to adjust an operating parameter of the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Publication number: 20200197143Abstract: An oral irrigator including a handle, a tip removably attached to the handle, and a pump at least partially received within the handle and in fluid communication with the tip. The tip including a first end, a second end, and a bore, through which fluid flows, extending from the first end to the second end. The tip further including an annular flange disposed between the first end and the second end, and a ring abutted against the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Clifford J. Snyder, Gary L. Sokol, Roberta L. Callaghan
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Patent number: 10617500Abstract: An oral irrigator including a handle, a tip, and a pump at least partially received within the handle and fluidly coupled to the tip. The pump includes a pump body defining a pump chamber, an inlet valve regulating fluid flow into the pump chamber, an outlet valve regulating fluid flow out of the pump chamber, a piston, and a linkage operably coupled to the piston and a drive shaft of a motor. The linkage translates rotational movement of the drive shaft into movement of the piston in first and second directions within pump chamber. When the piston moves in the first direction, the inlet valve opens, allowing fluid to flow into the pump chamber, and the outlet valve closes. When the piston moves in the second direction, the inlet valve closes and the outlet valve opens, allowing fluid to flow out of the pump chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.Inventors: Clifford J. Snyder, Gary L. Sokol, Roberta L. Callaghan
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Publication number: 20200078153Abstract: A toothbrush or oral cleaning implement including a handle defining a first fluid conduit and a handle inlet port, a brush tip extending from a first end of the handle and defining a second fluid conduit, the second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, a brush head supported on an end of the brush tip including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit, a handle valve positioned between the handle inlet port and the first fluid conduit, and a base removably connected to the second end of the handle. The base including a base fluid inlet port that connects with an external fluid source, a base fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the base fluid inlet port, and a base valve that selectively opens and closes the base fluid outlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Publication number: 20180250109Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a toothbrush including a handle, a brush shaft, and a brush tip releasably connected to the brush shaft. The brush shaft includes a fluid outlet in fluid communication with a fluid source. The brush tip includes a tip outlet, one or more bristles, and one or more engagement structures to secure the brush tip to the brush shaft. The engagement structure acts to transfer motion from the brush shaft to the brush tip and defines, in part, a tip fluid passageway through the brush tip and in fluid communication with the shaft lumen of the brush shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Gary L. SOKOL, Harold A. LUETTGEN
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Publication number: 20180228584Abstract: A toothbrush with fluid directing drive assembly is provided. The toothbrush may include a handle including an end surface, a brush shaft extending from the end surface of the handle, a drive assembly positioned within the handle and causing the brush shaft to oscillate upon actuation of a motor, a brush tip removably coupled to the brush shaft and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the handle, and a fluid passage defined within the drive assembly within the handle. The brush tip may include a fluid conduit therein. Oscillation of the brush shaft may cause the entire brush tip to oscillate correspondingly. Fluid may be transported through the drive assembly and to the fluid conduit of the brush tip by the fluid passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Gary L. SOKOL, Harold A. Luettgen
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Publication number: 20180153666Abstract: An oral irrigator including a handle, a tip, and a pump at least partially received within the handle and fluidly coupled to the tip. The pump includes a pump body defining a pump chamber, an inlet valve regulating fluid flow into the pump chamber, an outlet valve regulating fluid flow out of the pump chamber, a piston, and a linkage operably coupled to the piston and a drive shaft of a motor. The linkage translates rotational movement of the drive shaft into movement of the piston in first and second directions within pump chamber. When the piston moves in the first direction, the inlet valve opens, allowing fluid to flow into the pump chamber, and the outlet valve closes. When the piston moves in the second direction, the inlet valve closes and the outlet valve opens, allowing fluid to flow out of the pump chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Clifford J. Snyder, Gary L. Sokol, Roberta L. Callaghan
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Patent number: 9987109Abstract: A sonic toothbrush system including an electric motor, a brush shaft, a drive assembly, a fluid conduit connected to a pressurized, pulsed water source, and a water jet nozzle positioned on the brush head and connected to the fluid conduit. The electric motor includes a drive shaft. When the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop. The drive assembly is coupled between the drive shaft and brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush supported on an end of the brush shaft. The drive assembly further forms part of the fluid conduit to deliver a pulsed water stream to the jet nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: 9980794Abstract: An irrigating device including a reservoir for storing fluid, a tip fluidly connected to the reservoir, and a pump operative to draw fluid from the reservoir and propel the fluid to the tip. The irrigating device further includes at least one reed valve positioned to regulate fluid between at least one of an inlet port or an exhaust port of the pump.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.Inventors: Clifford J. Snyder, Gary L. Sokol, Roberta L. Callaghan
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Patent number: 9795975Abstract: A dual turbine showerhead provides multiple spray modes emanating from the head. The showerhead includes an inlet orifice, a backplate, a first turbine located side-by-side with a second turbine, a faceplate forming a first orifice group and a second orifice group, a first fluid channel in fluid communication with the first and second turbines and the first orifice group, and a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the second orifice group. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes first and a second turbines located side-by-side and a valve body that channels a fluid to the first turbine and the second turbine. In another embodiment, the showerhead includes a first and a second turbine located side-by-side along a centerline of the showerhead, a corresponding outlet region is arranged along the centerline and additional outlet regions are laterally spaced therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, Gary D. Golichowski, Gary L. Sokol
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Patent number: D866188Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Robert D. Wagner, Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: D878765Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Robert D. Wagner, Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
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Patent number: D959840Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Robert D. Wagner, Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen