Abstract: In a device that includes a vibrating mouthpiece, a source of vibratory movement is connected to a relatively large, relatively stationary mass, or anchor, so the equal and opposite vibrational momentum of the handpiece (plus large mass) results in very little vibrational amplitude of the handpiece-plus-mass, while the active mouthpiece has high vibrational amplitude. In an example, a mouthpiece which engages with a part of a dental arch, is actively cleaning, while a block on the other side of the dental arch acts to anchor the vibration source to the much larger mass of the user's jaw (and head). When the user's jaws grip the block, there will be very little vibration of the handpiece or the user's teeth-jaw-head mass and consequently, the mouthpiece will vibrate at a greater amplitude than it would without the anchor. This leads to greater efficiency of the device.

Abstract: A nozzle (14) for use with a personal care device (10), comprising: (i) a nozzle housing (50/52) defining a central channel (54) through which a stream of liquid and/or air is directed, and comprising a housing orifice (56) at the end of the central channel; (ii) a magnetorheological liquid housing (58) located over at least a portion of the nozzle housing at the housing orifice, and comprising a tip with an adjustable diameter orifice (59) through which the stream of liquid and/or air exits, wherein the adjustable orifice is adjustable between at least a first diameter and a second diameter; and (iii) one or more magnets (62) configured to control magnetorheological liquid (60) in the magnetorheological liquid housing to adjust between the at least first diameter and second diameter of the adjustable diameter orifice.

Abstract: A nozzle (14) for use with a personal care device (10), comprising: (i) a nozzle housing (50/52) defining a central channel (54) through which a stream of liquid and/or air is directed, and comprising a housing orifice (56) at the end of the central channel; (ii) a magnetorheological liquid housing (58) located over at least a portion of the nozzle housing at the housing orifice, and comprising a tip with an adjustable diameter orifice (59) through which the stream of liquid and/or air exits, wherein the adjustable orifice is adjustable between at least a first diameter and a second diameter; and (iii) one or more magnets (62) configured to control magnetorheological liquid (60) in the magnetorheological liquid housing to adjust between the at least first diameter and second diameter of the adjustable diameter orifice.

Abstract: A nozzle member (14) of a personal care device (10) comprising: a nozzle head (16) positioned at an end of the nozzle member; and an orifice (40) formed in a surface (30) of the nozzle head, wherein the orifice comprises at least one liquid jet orifice (42) configured to allow the liquid and/or air to exit the nozzle head in the form of a jet, and at least one liquid sheet orifice (40a-d) configured to allow the liquid and/or air to exit the nozzle head in the form of a sheet.

Abstract: The appliance includes a jet source of fluid, and a nozzle assembly through which the fluid is directed and then out for application to the teeth. A flow interrupter assembly is mounted within the nozzle assembly, such that the interrupter assembly is responsive to the fluid flow to produce momentary successive interruptions of the fluid flow by the action of the interrupter assembly moving from an original position to a flow interrupting position and then returning to its original position as the flow decreases and then is interrupted, due to the fluid flow itself, resulting in a cyclical perturbation in the fluid flow from the nozzle, by flow action alone.

Abstract: An elongated nozzle (30) for an oral cleaning device (10), the elongated nozzle including: a proximal end (33) with an inlet orifice (36); a distal end (32) with an outlet orifice (42), where the outlet orifice is in fluid communication with the inlet orifice; and at least one structure (50a, 50b) located between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice, the at least one structure configured to break a liquid droplet traveling through the nozzle into two or more smaller liquid droplets. The at least one structure can also be configured to recapture residual liquid (46) remaining in the nozzle and organize the recaptured residual liquid into at least one liquid droplet (46a, 46b). The structure may be a hydrophobic region that recaptures and organizes the residual liquid.

Abstract: The appliance includes a jet source of fluid, and a nozzle assembly (10) through which the fluid is directed and then out for application to the teeth. A flow interrupter assembly is mounted within the nozzle assembly, such that the interrupter assembly (20) is responsive to the fluid flow to produce momentary successive interruptions of the fluid flow by the action of the interrupter assembly moving from an original position to a flow interrupting position and then returning to its original position as the flow decreases and then is interrupted, due to the fluid flow itself, resulting in a cyclical perturbation in the fluid flow from the nozzle, by flow action alone.