Patents by Inventor Brian R. Williams
Brian R. Williams 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: 20240099820Abstract: A handle of an oral irrigator is provided. The handle may include a handle housing with a first segment and a second segment configured to couple together and define a cavity there between, a first set of interior walls extending from the first segment, and a second set of interior walls extending from the second segment. A wall of the first set of interior walls and a wall of the second set of interior walls may limit movement of an oral irrigator component at least partially disposed in the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Brian BOYD, Brian R. WILLIAMS, Kurt M. TAYLOR
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Patent number: 11872097Abstract: A dental water jet is provided. The dental water jet may include a base unit, a reservoir supported by the base unit, a handle supported by the base unit, and a container covering an opening of the reservoir. The container may include a base supported by the reservoir and a lid movable relative to the base. The container may be configured to store one or more tips for use with the handle.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
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Publication number: 20230240821Abstract: An oral irrigator handle including a housing and a first fitting, the first fitting including a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with a handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source and a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet. The handle includes a seal positioned around the first fitting and between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet. A second fitting includes a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet and a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet. A bottom portion of the second fitting seats on a portion of the first fitting so that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting, a flow passage is coupled to the second fitting and in fluid communication with the second fitting outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Applicant: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Jeremy Johnson, Leland C. Leber
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Patent number: 11642203Abstract: An oral irrigator handle including a housing and a first fitting, the first fitting including a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with a handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source and a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet. The handle includes a seal positioned around the first fitting and between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet. A second fitting includes a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet and a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet. A bottom portion of the second fitting seats on a portion of the first fitting so that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting, a flow passage is coupled to the second fitting and in fluid communication with the second fitting outlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Jeremy Johnson, Leland C. Leber
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Patent number: 11607359Abstract: An oral irrigator including a reservoir, a handle, a housing, a bezel positioned at least partially within and secured to the housing, and an actuator operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto is disclosed. The actuator includes a control shaft extending from the interior surface of the face and positioned inwards from an outer perimeter of front wall. The control shaft extends through an aperture in the housing and movement of a gripping body causes the control shaft to directly actuate a switch or a pressure assembly positioned within the housing. The actuator also includes an augmentation fluid positioned between the bezel and a portion of the actuator. The augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the bezel and the actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the actuator and the bezel as the actuator is rotated relative to the bezel.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Robert D. Wagner
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Publication number: 20220361993Abstract: A dental water jet is provided. The dental water jet may include a base unit, a reservoir supported by the base unit, a handle supported by the base unit, and a container covering an opening of the reservoir. The container may include a base supported by the reservoir and a lid movable relative to the base. The container may be configured to store one or more tips for use with the handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Brian BOYD, Brian R. WILLIAMS, Kurt M. TAYLOR
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Patent number: 11432916Abstract: An oral irrigator is provided. The oral irrigator may include a base unit defining a recess, a reservoir supported by the base unit, a handle support attached to the base unit above the recess, an oral irrigator handle supported by the handle support, and a tube attached to the handle and in fluid communication with the reservoir and the handle such that fluid from the reservoir flows through the tube into the handle. The tube may include a coiled portion that is received in the recess defined by the base unit when the handle is supported by the handle support.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
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Publication number: 20220061970Abstract: An oral irrigator is provided. The oral irrigator may include a base unit defining a recess, a reservoir supported by the base unit, a handle support attached to the base unit above the recess, an oral irrigator handle supported by the handle support, and a tube attached to the handle and in fluid communication with the reservoir and the handle such that fluid from the reservoir flows through the tube into the handle. The tube may include a coiled portion that is received in the recess defined by the base unit when the handle is supported by the handle support.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Brian BOYD, Brian R. WILLIAMS, Kurt M. TAYLOR
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Patent number: 11197745Abstract: A removable fluid connection fitting for an oral irrigator is provided. The oral irrigator may include a base unit including an opening formed therein, an oral irrigator handle including a handle inlet, a fitting removably coupled to the base unit and seated within the opening formed in the base unit, and a tube in fluid communication with the fitting and the handle inlet. The fitting may include a fitting inlet and a fitting outlet, the fitting inlet being in fluid communication with the base unit. The tube may be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Fluid from the base unit may flow through the fitting inlet, to the fitting outlet, into the tube, and into the handle inlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
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Publication number: 20210244596Abstract: An oral irrigator including a reservoir, a handle, a housing, a bezel positioned at least partially within and secured to the housing, and an actuator operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto is disclosed. The actuator includes a control shaft extending from the interior surface of the face and positioned inwards from an outer perimeter of front wall. The control shaft extends through an aperture in the housing and movement of a gripping body causes the control shaft to directly actuate a switch or a pressure assembly positioned within the housing. The actuator also includes an augmentation fluid positioned between the bezel and a portion of the actuator. The augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the bezel and the actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the actuator and the bezel as the actuator is rotated relative to the bezel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Robert D. Wagner
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Patent number: 10993867Abstract: An actuation assembly for an oral irrigator includes a bezel secured to or formed as part of a housing of the oral irrigator, an actuator operably connected to the bezel and moveable relative thereto, and an augmentation fluid positioned between the bezel and the actuator. The augmentation fluid modifies a frictional relationship between the bezel and the actuator to provide a predefined resistance force between the actuator and the bezel as the actuator is rotated relative to the bezel.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Robert D. Wagner
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Publication number: 20200405463Abstract: An oral irrigator handle including a housing and a first fitting, the first fitting including a first fitting inlet in fluid communication with a handle inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source and a first fitting outlet in fluid communication with the first fitting inlet. The handle includes a seal positioned around the first fitting and between the first fitting inlet and the first fitting outlet. A second fitting includes a second fitting inlet in fluid communication with the first fitting outlet and a second fitting outlet in fluid communication with the second fitting inlet. A bottom portion of the second fitting seats on a portion of the first fitting so that the seal engages an interior surface of the second fitting, a flow passage is coupled to the second fitting and in fluid communication with the second fitting outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Jeremy Johnson, Leland C. Leber
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Patent number: 10835356Abstract: An oral irrigator handle has a handle housing with a swivel assembly for connection to a hose further connected to a fluid source. A tip for directing a focused stream of fluid is releasably connected to a first end of the handle. The swivel assembly is received within the housing and fluidly coupled to tip. The hose is connected to the swivel assembly and fluidly coupled to the tip via the swivel assembly. The swivel assembly prevents translation of rotational movement of the handle or the hose to the other.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian R. Williams, Jeremy Johnson, Leland C. Leber
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Publication number: 20200155286Abstract: A toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a handle, a brush tip coupled to the handle, the brush tip including a plurality of bristles, a motor housed within the handle for operating the brush tip, a power source coupled to the motor, one or more lights coupled to the handle and viewable by a user when holding the handle, and a control module housed within the handle and in communication with the one or more lights, wherein the control module is configured to monitor a pressure exerted by the brush tip on a surface, determine when the exerted pressure exceeds a pressure threshold, and, in response to the exerted pressure exceeding the pressure threshold, activate the one or more lights to alert the user that the exerted pressure exceeds the pressure threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, John Fiers, Brian R. Williams
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Patent number: 10561480Abstract: A toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a handle, a brush tip connected to the handle, wherein the brush tip includes a plurality of bristles operably connected thereto, a power source, a direct current motor in selective electrical communication with the power source, wherein the motor includes a drive shaft, a drive assembly connected between the brush tip and the drive shaft, wherein the drive assembly converts rotation of the drive shaft into movement of the plurality of bristles, and a control assembly in electrical communication with the motor and the power source; wherein during operation of the motor, the control assembly monitors a current draw by the motor and adjusts a current applied to the direct current motor based on the current draw.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, John Fiers, Brian R. Williams
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Patent number: 10134087Abstract: Architectures and techniques are configured to distribute and activate payment cards. The techniques include providing payment cards to distributors, who then sell or distribute these cards to other users. Each of these payment cards may include activation information for activating the card as well as redemption information for redeeming a value associated with the card. The distributor may activate a card by, for instance, taking a picture of or scanning an identifier on the card and sending this image to a provider of the card. In response, the provider may activate the card.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michal J. Geller, Gregory M. Hart, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Michael Carr, Brian R. Williams
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Publication number: 20180296307Abstract: A removable fluid connection fitting for an oral irrigator is provided. The oral irrigator may include a base unit including an opening formed therein, an oral irrigator handle including a handle inlet, a fitting removably coupled to the base unit and seated within the opening formed in the base unit, and a tube in fluid communication with the fitting and the handle inlet. The fitting may include a fitting inlet and a fitting outlet, the fitting inlet being in fluid communication with the base unit. The tube may be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Fluid from the base unit may flow through the fitting inlet, to the fitting outlet, into the tube, and into the handle inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Brian BOYD, Brian R. WILLIAMS, Kurt M. TAYLOR
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Patent number: 10010389Abstract: An apparatus for providing 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. 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor
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Publication number: 20170319311Abstract: A toothbrush is disclosed. The toothbrush includes a handle, a brush tip connected to the handle, wherein the brush tip includes a plurality of bristles operably connected thereto, a power source, a direct current motor in selective electrical communication with the power source, wherein the motor includes a drive shaft, a drive assembly connected between the brush tip and the drive shaft, wherein the drive assembly converts rotation of the drive shaft into movement of the plurality of bristles, and a control assembly in electrical communication with the motor and the power source; wherein during operation of the motor, the control assembly monitors a current draw by the motor and adjusts a current applied to the direct current motor based on the current draw.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, John Fiers, Brian R. Williams
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Patent number: D867580Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.Inventors: Brian Boyd, Brian R. Williams, Kurt M. Taylor