Health-Household · Amazon Best-Sellers
Is the Waterpik Patented?
The original Aqua Tec / Waterpik oral irrigator patent (US 3,393,673) was filed in 1962 and expired in the 1980s. That's why Burst, Philips Sonicare AirFloss, and dozens of generic brands sell legal water flossers today.
Quick answer
Originally yes — core patent expired
The original Aqua Tec / Waterpik oral irrigator patent (US 3,393,673) was filed in 1962 and expired in the 1980s. That's why Burst, Philips Sonicare AirFloss, and dozens of generic brands sell legal water flossers today.
Key patents on the Waterpik Water Flosser
Every patent number below is a live USPTO record — click through to read the original claims on Google Patents.
- US 3,393,673 (1968) — Oral hygiene apparatus with pulsating water jet. Status: expired / public domain.
What to know
- Waterpik's modern moat is the cordless rechargeable model patents and the trademark — not the original water-jet idea, which is public domain.
- Generic countertop water flossers are functionally identical to the original Waterpik and completely legal.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Waterpik Water Flossercan get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
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