Patents Assigned to Water Pik, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9157218
    Abstract: Dispensing systems for dispensing one or more materials into a fluid flow conduit, during the conveyance of fluid through the conduit are configured to connect to a fluid conduit, such as a standard pipe of a shower arm and dispense a material into the water flow in the shower arm. The system includes a first tube member having a restrictor flow passage to provide a pressure differential, as fluid flows through the tube member. The pressure differential created within the restrictor passage by the fluid flow is communicated to a flask, to provide a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of a flexible container within the flask. The pressure differential causes material within the flexible container to be drawn out and conveyed to the fluid flowing through the tube member. The flask may be connected to the first tube member, through an extension portion that is rotatable around the first tube member for convenient positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Alan David Somerfield, Thomas Jay Sandusky
  • Patent number: 9144477
    Abstract: A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. 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 the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
  • Patent number: 9127794
    Abstract: A showerhead attachment mechanism connects a showerhead structure to a water supply pipe. The showerhead attachment mechanism includes a pivot ball defining a partially threaded central aperture and configured to directly attach to a water supply pipe. The attachment mechanism also includes a receiving structure having a fluid outlet and defining a cavity that mates with and pivots on a first portion of the pivot ball and an attachment nut that mates with a second portion of the pivot ball. Further, the attachment mechanism includes a housing connected to the attachment nut and enclosing the receiving structure and fluidly connected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventor: Leland C. Leber
  • Patent number: 9061096
    Abstract: A powered irrigator for use in rinsing nasal cavities has a main body including a handle and a fluid reservoir detachably coupled to one another, an outlet nozzle extending from a top end of the handle, a pump mechanism operably coupled to a power source, and a switch operably coupled to the power source for turning the pump mechanism on and off. When the switch turns on the pump mechanism, fluid flows from the fluid reservoir into a first fluid coupling between the reservoir and the pump mechanism and into a second fluid coupling between the pump mechanism to the outlet nozzle. The top of the handle can be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the main body. The nozzle is removable from the top end and has a self-sealing structure to provide an enhanced fit within a user's nostril.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt M. Taylor, Gary L. Sokol, Kenneth A. Hair, Harold A. Luettgen
  • Patent number: 9050157
    Abstract: A dental water jet provides a pressurized water stream for cleaning gums and teeth. The embodiment includes a base unit defining a cavity. The cavity contains a pump, which may move pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. A flow control knob may be turned to selectively adjust the water pressure supplied by the tip between a minimum and a maximum value. The reservoir may be removed from the base unit so that it may be filled with the fluid. The reservoir may support a container for storing tips or other items. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8991660
    Abstract: A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavity provides a resiliently collapsible main body, a self-sealing nozzle that increases in internal pressure when the vessel is squeezed, and a check valve in the nozzle to reduce back-wash into the vessel. A collar connects the nozzle and check valve to the main body. The check valve includes a first opening that provides fluid communication between the main body and a void formed in an interior of the nozzle and may allow pressure within the nozzle to increase upon deforming the main body. A second opening may provide fluid communication between an exterior of the main body and a fluid reservoir formed in the main body. The second opening may cooperate with a valve that allows selective fluid communication between the exterior of the main body and the reservoir formed in the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8967497
    Abstract: A handheld showerhead including a showerhead portion, a handle portion, and a movable mode selector portion. The mode selector portion includes a rotationally-fixed first end coupling and a rotationally-fixed second end coupling, which is concentrically aligned with the first end coupling, and a rotatable control knob body. The movable mode selector includes a fluid seal coupled to the rotatable knob body, the first fluid seal including at least one fluid control aperture. The second end coupling also includes a fluid inlet aperture and a fluid outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the control knob body. A second fluid seal is positioned between the second end coupling and the control knob body. A single mechanical fastener axially couples the control knob body to the first end coupling and the second end coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, Leland C. Leber, Michael J. Quinn
  • Patent number: 8943634
    Abstract: A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. 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 the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
  • Patent number: 8905332
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, Gary D. Golichowski, Gary L. Sokol
  • Patent number: 8888727
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a pressurized water stream for cleaning gums and teeth includes a base unit defining a cavity. The cavity contains a pump, which may move pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. The pump may be secured within the cavity by at least one vibration reduction mount. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue. The base may include a plurality of footings that elevate the base unit above a surface supporting the base unit. Also, the base may include a basin for receiving a reservoir. The basin may include a reservoir valve initially biased to a closed position and operationally attached to the reservoir, and a tube projection connected to the base unit and opening the valve when the reservoir is received within the basin. The basin and the reservoir are configured to guide the reservoir valve adjacent to the tube projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8888752
    Abstract: A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavities includes a main body, a spout, a self-sealing nozzle, and a flow control valve actuable by the user. The spout extends off of the main body and the elastomeric nozzle attached to the spout defines an outer skirt having a deflectable free end upon contact with the walls of the user's nasal cavity. A vacuum breaker valve is formed in a top portion of the main body for actuation by the user to control the flow of a fluid positioned in the vessel out of the nozzle. The main body may include gripping indentations along opposing sidewalls thereof. The spout may be integrally formed with the main body, and the spout and the nozzle may be detachably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cacka, Kurt M. Taylor, Kenneth A. Hair, Brian R. Williams
  • Patent number: D717427
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Kim, Taiwon Choi
  • Patent number: D718855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Kim, Taiwon Choi
  • Patent number: D725770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Kim, Taiwon Choi
  • Patent number: D731640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Kim, Taiwon Choi
  • Patent number: D740936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Hyunchul Kim, Taiwon Choi
  • Patent number: D744064
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Preston Peterson, Zuqiang Zhuang
  • Patent number: D744065
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Preston Peterson, Zuqiang Zhuang
  • Patent number: D744066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Preston Peterson, Zuqiang Zhuang
  • Patent number: D744614
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: Preston Peterson, Zuqiang Zhuang