Abstract: An oral care device (10) with a pump assembly (12) including: a plunger assembly (52) having a rack assembly (74); a compressible spring (64) configured to exert a forward force on the plunger assembly; and a rack and pinion assembly (72) configured to exert a force on the plunger assembly opposite the forward force, wherein the rack assembly includes a plurality of rack teeth (74 a . . . 74 g) and the pinion assembly (76) includes a plurality of teeth (78) arranged around a portion of the pinion; where the plurality of rack teeth include an angled front surface (86) and an angled rear surface (87), the front surface of at least some of the plurality of rack teeth including a different angle than the rear surface, and further where at least some of the plurality of rack teeth include a pointed or rounded tip (82).

Abstract: An induction charging system (100) includes: (i) an induction charging station (10) having: an emitting primary induction coil (14); a receiving secondary induction coil (18); and a primary dock (20) for a primary chargeable device; (ii) a primary chargeable device (24) configured to reversibly engage the primary dock and comprising a receiving induction coil (26); and (iii) a secondary device in communication with the secondary induction coil and configured to receive energy from the secondary induction coil, wherein the secondary induction coil is configured to receive excess energy from the primary induction coil without interfering with the receiving induction coil.

Abstract: A docking and charging station (100) for use in conjunction with a hand-held fluid droplet appliance (10) for dental cleaning, the docking and charging station (100) comprising a charging base (102) for recharging the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, a reservoir (110) for holding a larger amount of liquid (112) than can be held in a chamber of the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, and a docking refilling alignment mechanism for properly aligning and securing the hand-held fluid droplet appliance in the cradle (160) of the docking and charging station when the hand-held fluid droplet appliance is mounted into the docking and charging station to prevent spillage, leaking or non-refilling of the appliance from the reservoir if there is not proper alignment.

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: An automatic filling mechanism for use in conjunction with a hand-held fluid droplet appliance (10) for dental cleaning, the automatic filling mechanism having a door (42) to a chamber (40) in the hand held fluid droplet appliance (10) for holding fluid, the door having a female liquid inlet port (44) and a female liquid and air exit interface (46) having a snorkel system (80) attached thereto that is inserted into the chamber (40) that is used to fill the chamber (40) with fluid (112) from a reservoir (110) on a docking and charging station (100) when the hand held fluid droplet appliance (10) is inserted into a cradle (160) on the docking and charging station (100).

Abstract: An induction charging system (100) includes: (i) an induction charging station (10) having: an emitting primary induction coil (14); a receiving secondary induction coil (18); and a primary dock (20) for a primary chargeable device; (ii) a primary chargeable device (24) configured to reversibly engage the primary dock and comprising a receiving induction coil (26); and (iii) a secondary device in communication with the secondary induction coil and configured to receive energy from the secondary induction coil, wherein the secondary induction coil is configured to receive excess energy from the primary induction coil without interfering with the receiving induction coil.

Abstract: An oral care device (10) with a pump assembly (12) comprising: a plunger assembly (52) comprising a rack assembly (74); a compressible spring (64) configured to exert a forward force on the plunger assembly; and a rack and pinion assembly (72) configured to exert a force on the plunger assembly opposite the forward force, wherein the rack assembly comprises a plurality of rack teeth (74a . . . 74g) and the pinion assembly (76) comprises a plurality of teeth (78) arranged around a portion of the pinion; wherein the plurality of rack teeth comprise an angled front surface (86) and an angled rear surface (87), the front surface of at least some of the plurality of rack teeth comprising a different angle than the rear surface, and further wherein at least some of the plurality of rack teeth comprise a pointed or rounded tip (82).

Abstract: A docking and charging station (100) for use in conjunction with a hand-held fluid droplet appliance (10) for dental cleaning, the docking and charging station (100) comprising a charging base (102) for recharging the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, a reservoir (110) for holding a larger amount of liquid (112) than can be held in a chamber of the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, and a docking refilling alignment mechanism for properly aligning and securing the hand-held fluid droplet appliance in the cradle (160) of the docking and charging station when the hand-held fluid droplet appliance is mounted into the docking and charging station to prevent spillage, leaking or non-refilling of the appliance from the reservoir if there is not proper alignment.

Abstract: An oral cleaning system for communicating a status of a handheld oral cleaning device (10) to a docking station (100). The handheld oral cleaning device includes a controller (70) configured to generate a unique charging cycle for each of a plurality of different charging states. The docking station (100) is configured to receive the handheld oral cleaning device, and includes a secondary charging induction coil configured to detect the unique charging cycle for each of the plurality of different charging periods. The docking station further includes a visual indicator (120) configured to indicate, based on the detected charging cycle, one of the plurality of different charging states of the handheld oral cleaning device.

Abstract: An automatic filling mechanism for use in conjunction with a hand-held fluid droplet appliance (10) for dental cleaning, the automatic filling mechanism having a door (42) to a chamber (40) in the hand held fluid droplet appliance (10) for holding fluid, the door having a female liquid inlet port (44) and a female liquid and air exit interface (46) having a snorkel system (80) attached thereto that is inserted into the chamber (40) that is used to fill the chamber (40) with fluid (112) from a reservoir (110) on a docking and charging station (100) when the hand held fluid droplet appliance (10) is inserted into a cradle (160) on the docking and charging station (100).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a washing machine in a rinse cycle is provided for a washing machine including a rotatable basket and a fresh water spraying device. The method comprises rotating the basket at a first rate of rotation, spraying water into the basket while the basket is rotating at the first rate, and rotating the basket at a second rate of rotation, the second rate of rotation greater than the first rate of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a washing machine in a rinse cycle is provided for a washing machine including a rotatable basket and a fresh water spraying device. The method comprises rotating the basket at a first rate of rotation, spraying water into the basket while the basket is rotating at the first rate, and rotating the basket at a second rate of rotation, the second rate of rotation greater than the first rate of rotation.