Object Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Object/Catalog Number

FIC10.4.78

Object Name

Water Pix Oral Hygiene Appliance

Collection

Miscellaneous Toothbrushes and Toothpicks

Object Category

15: Dental Materials, Tools & Equipment

Object Sub-category

Periodontics

Date

ca. 1964

Description

Water Pik Oral Hygiene Appliance (Model No. HJ 29, 120v, 60 CY., 1.40 AMPS) with electric power unit with power cord, water container, hoses, and water pik attachement. Manufactured by Aquatec Corporation.

Material

Metal, Plastic, rubber

Length (in)

4.25

Width (in)

2.625

Height (in)

5.0

Condition

Good

Notes

DISPLAY

Early "Water Pix" oral hygiene appliance. Designed and patented (No. 3,227,158, Jan. 4, 1966) by John W. Mattingly, Fort Collins, Colo., assignor to Aquatec Corporation, Fort Collins, CO. Appliance manufactured by Aquatec Corporation. This invention relates to the use of high velocity liquid jets the practice of oral hygiene and particularly to an improved method and apparatus for affording greater effectiveness of liquid jets for stimulating the gum tissues and in the cleaning of teeth and adjacent tissues.

Early history of Water Pix:

Water Pik's success story started in 1955 when a Fort Collins, CO, dentist, Dr. Gerald Moyer, began experimenting with oral irrigators, known today as dental water jets. By 1958, Dr. Moyer was collaborating with John (“Matt”) Mattingly, a hydraulic engineer at Colorado State University. Over the course of the next few years, the two worked nightly on this device making 145 attempts before finding success. Through their teamwork, on their 146th try, the two inventors hollowed out a piston, and developed a device that did not leak. What they also achieved was pulsation; neither wanted it initially, but it helped them to get a patent. Their patent was received in 1962, the year they also began attending dental conventions and in Dallas, had a crowd so large, the Fire Marshall was called.

Early on, Matt built the units at home and Dr. Moyer sold them to his patients. One patient used the device for six months and was so pleased, he raised $50,000 to market the units. Later, he became the first president of Water Pik, Inc., then called Aqua Tec. In 1964, the company decided to make its product available to the public, and by 1967, consumers could purchase an oral irrigator in department, drug, appliance and hardware stores.

Web Source:
http://www.waterpik.com/about-us/oral-care-history.html

Related Publications

U.S. Patent No.: 3227158 (Jan. 4, 1966)
U.S. Patent Document - Google Patents Link:
http://www.google.com/patents?printsec=abstract&zoom=4&pg=PA1&id=9a5QAAAAEBAJ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Number of images

1.0

Catalog date

2011-04-27

Dimensions

H-5 W-2.625 L-4.25 inches

Caption