TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to dental flossing instruments and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

It is well-known and accepted that the flossing of teeth is a desirable technique for dental health and or avoiding cavities and other problems with the teeth and gums. However, most people do not regularly floss their teeth, in part as a result of the difficulty and waste inherent in using conventional dental floss or dental tape dispensers and holding the floss or tape entirely with one's hands. However, unless the user washes their hand thoroughly, prior to the flossing operation, this handling of the floss often results in contamination of the floss and facilitates introduction of germs and other contaminants into the user's mouth which may result in infection and is certainly contrary to dental hygiene.

A number of two-pronged appliances have been proposed for holding dental floss and reference is made to the devices snown in U.S. patents numbers 1,217,774; 2,233,936; 3,861,406 and 4,495,957. These tools stretch the floss across between the two prongs and are intended for use with one hand. However, the junction between adjacent teeth is rarely a complete straight line and it is, therefore, difficult to get the floss started between the teeth. Also, when such two-pronged tools are use with only one hand, the tension in the floss is pre-set and it is difficult to vary the tension or angle, as needed, for effective flossing. Furthermore, many of the two-pronged flossing tools have served merely as holders for the floss and have required that the user break off a length of floss with their hands and install it between the prongs of the tool for use. However, this still requires handling and possible contamination of the dental floss. some prior art dental flossing tools have been proposed which contain a reel or other supply of dental floss mounted on or inside of the tool and have included means for delivering a strand of floss to a single prong or tip with the intention that the user can grip the free end of the floss strand and hold the tool with the other hand to perform the flossing operation. However, many of these single tip flossing tools have provided no means for regulating the rate of removal of the floss strand from the tool. Thus, it is difficult or impossible to provide or regulate the tension c the floss strand, as needed, during the flossing operation. other single tip flossing tools have provided means for regulating removal of floss from the tool which permit removal cf floss only ir predetermined lengths corresponding to complete revolutions cf the floss spool. However, in practice, the user may wish to use different lengths of floss

between respective pairs of teeth. This has not been possible with the dental flossing tools of the prior art, where the spool is used to stop the floss.

A further disadvantage of prior art dental flossing tools has been the fact that those tools which carry a supply of dental floss permit exposure of the floss to the atmosphere prior to use. However, dental flossing tools are generally used in bathrooms and the like where there is a high probability of the presence of germs and other contaminants, many of which are air-borne, and these germs, moisture and other contaminants can invade the interior of the tool through the hole where the floss exits. Thus, these tools allow such germs or other contaminants to enter into the floss supply and, especially if the floss supply is contained within the interior of the flossing tool, an ideal environment is provided for the growth of these germs and the like.

A search in the united states Patent Office has revealed the following:

PATENT NO. INVENTOR 3,831,611 Hendricks 4,005,722 Bragg 2,872,929 Rice 4,434,807 Husky 4,232,688 Day 1,287, 926 Ecaubert 2, 180, 522 Henne 4,050,470 Miller 4,379, 177 Bragg 4, 657, 034 Koski 3, 870,059 Benmngton 1,210,205 Richardson 4,495,957 Beggs, et al 4, 337.767 Yahata 4, 030,493 waiters

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2,857,911 Bennet 4,809,692 Nowacki, st al

3,695,264 aerel

4,543,950 Keys, Jr. 4,819,628 Ber an

4,881,540 Pantaleon

2,917,045 schildvnecht

4,597,398 ChU

1,608,212 Hockstadler 4,821,752 widlak

3,847,168 schlεgel

3,915,178 zellers

3,881,502 Bennington

3,901,251 Johnston 4,495,957 Beggs

4,807,651 Naydich

3,885,579 Navrat

1,524,273 (French) Femes

2,652,128 (German) Dragearwork 193,720 (Sweden) Motala

2,336,879 (German) Panta

2,193,957 (British) Brayshaw

However, each of these references is subject to the limitations discussed above. Thus, none of the prior art dental flossing tools have been entirely satisfactory.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

in accordance with the present invention, a single flossing rod or tool is provided, containing a supply of dental floss therein and from which a strand of floss extends, and two hands are used, one to grip the flossing rod or tool, and the other to hold the free end of the floss strand at the proper angle and with the proper tension, with the second hand holding the free end of the floss strand. The floss tool of the present invention is preferably hollow, with a supply of dental floss mounted therein, and has a hallow, narrow tip through which the floss strand is routed internally to project from the end of the tip for use. Locking means are provided for selectively blocking the feeding of the floss strand in lengths which may be varied as desired and means are provided for preventing moisture and other contaminants from entering the interior of the tool.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dental flossing tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing tool which can be held in one hand, while the user holds the free end of the floss strand in their other hand to facilitate manipulating the floss strand between adjacent teeth and to vary the tension on the floss strand as desired during the flossing operation, and also being able to deliver more floss, as needed, with the floss strand between adjacent teeth, while the process of flossing the teeth.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing tool containing a supply of dental floss and having means to regulate

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withdrawal of the strand of dental floss from the tool to permit withdrawal of substantially any desired length of floss.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing tool containing a supply of dental floss therein and having means for preventing exposure of the strand of dental floss prior to dispensing the strand from the top of the tool.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing tool containing a supply of dental floss therein and having means for preventing moisture, germs and other contaminants from entering into the floss contained within the tool.

A further object of the present invention is tc provide an improved dental flossing tool having means for preventing moisture and other contaminants from entering the interior of the tool.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing tool comprising a single flossing rod or tool containing a supply of dental floss therein and from which a strand of floss extends, and two hands are used, one to grip the flossing rod or tool, and the other to hold the free end of the floss strand at the proper angle and with the proper tension, with the second hand holding the free end of the floss strand. The floss tool of the present invention is preferably hollow, with a supply of dental floss mounted therein, and has a hollow, narrow tip through which the floss strand is routed internally to project form the end of the tip for use. Locking means are provided for selectively blocking the feeding of the floss strand in lengths which may be varied as de ired and for preventing moisture and germs from being drawn into the interior of the tool by £ length of floss extending out of the tip of the tool.

These and other objects and features of the

present invention will be apparent from the present invention, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a dental flossing tool embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section through the dental flossing tool of FIGURE 1, taken on the line 2-2 Of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3A is a view, similar to that of FIGURE 2, showing an alternative form of the locking means of the dental flossing tool of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3B is a view, similar to that of FIGURE 3A, showing the locking means of FIGURE 3A in its unlocked position.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the tip of an alternative form of the dental flossing tool of

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view, with portion broken away for clarity, showing the auxiliary cap.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration in FIGURE 1, a dental flossing tool, indicated generally at 10, is shown having a main housing 12, a rear housing 14 and a cap 16 that frictionally fits over the housing 12. The main housing 12 has a generally cylindrical portion 18 with a tapered portion 20 projecting from the forward end of the cylindrical portion 18 and has a slender, elongated tip 22 projecting forwardly from the tapered portion 20. The tip 22 has an opening 24 formed at the extreme forward end thereof and an apertured resilient plug 2£ is mounted inside the tip 22 immediately adjacent the opening 24 and is formed to permit passage of a strand 28 of dental flossing material through or about the apertured resilient plug 26 to be dispensed through opening 24 of tip 22. within the tapered portion 20, the strand 28 of dental floss passes through a Plurality of interfitting stationary teeth 30, which provide frictional resistance to movement of the strand 28. Also, suitable locking means, indicated generally at 32, are mounted within the cylindrical portion 18 of the main housing 12 to prevent undesired movement of the floss strand 28, as more fully described below. The rear housing 14 is releasably secured to the main housing 12 by suitable means, such as threads 34 and contains a spool 36 of dental flossing material having a shaft 3S which projects beyond the forward end of the rear housing and into an opening 40 formed in the forward end 42 of the rear housing 14. From the spool 36, the strand 2S cf the dental flossing material. passes forward from the main housing " 2 and, thence, P3.Ξ Ξ _Ξ through 5 lot 43 in the top cf piston 44, as best seen in FIGURE 2. and passes between the innermeshing stationary teeth 3C τ z- pass through the

apertured resilient plug 26 and out through opening 24 of tip 22 for use. ithin the cylindrical portion 18 of the main housing 12, the locking means 32 comprises a generally U-shaped piston 4 which is slidable on suitable guide members 46 and which is normally urged to its locking position by resilient means, such as rubber ball 48. An opening 50 is formed in the cylindrical portion ιε of the main housing 12 and s resilient seal 52 serves to seal the opening 50 to prevent atmospheric moisture from entering the housing 12 and, if desired, may be sufficiently flexible to cause movement of the piston 44 against the action of the resilient means 48. The strand 28 of dental floss passes through slot 43 formed in the piston 44, but is out of contact with the seal 52. However, the rear leg 54 of the piston 44 is formed with an opening 56 which receives the shaft ^' 38 of the pool 36 of dental floss. Resilient means 48 normally urges the edge of the opening 56 to bear against shaft 38 which causes frictional engagement of the piston 44 with the shaft 38 and, hence, serves as a brake to prevent undesired rotation of the shaft 38 and spool 36 to prevent undesired movement of the strand 28 of dental floss. Moreover, if desired, shaft 38 and opening 56 may be provide with mating serrations, as seen at 58 and 60 in FIGURE 2, to cause the edge 60 of opening 56 tc positively lock the shaft 38 against rotation. Alternatively, either of the edges 58 or 60 may be provided with a fr : io -enhancing coating, such as rubber. Furthermore, as seen in FIGURES 3A and 3E. the shaft E riiβ" be formed with = zruciform shape and a stud ? * i : carried by the Piston and, whεr, the piston . is urged b" resilient means ? int-: its norma1 1 c lnc pos1 1o . stud 3 ^c ill engage the cruciform shaft 39, as QSΓ m FIGURE 3A. and will serve t: prevent rotsticr :f the shaft ~ and,

consequently, will prevent movement of the strand 28 of dental floss. However, when the piston 44 is pushed inward, against the action of the resilient means 48, stud 39 will disengage from the shaft 38, as seen in FIGURE 3E, to permit free rotation of the shaft 38 and, hence, will allow any desired length of the strand 28 of dental floss to be withdrawn from the spool 36. Obviously, if desired, other suitable braking means could be provided between the edge 60 of opening 56 and the shaft 3S. if desired, the cap 16 may be provided with a plurality of openings, as seen at 25 in FIGURE 1, to permit air to enter the interior of the cap 16 to ventilate the tip 22 of the dental flossing tool 10. Also, if desired, a pad 27 containing antiseptic material may be mounted within the cap 16 to engage the tip 22 of the tool 10 to aid in preventing germs and the like from contaminating the tip 22 and exposed portion 62 of the strand 28 of dental floss. in use, the rear housing 14, containing a spool 36 of dental flossing material is secured to the main housing 12 of the dental flossing tool 10 so that shaft 38 of the spool 36 projects through opening 40 in the forward wall 42 of the rear housing 14 and projects into opening 56 of the U-shaped piston 44. The strand 28 of dental floss, from the spool 36, is passed through slot 43 in the top of piston 44 and seal 52 and is threaded between the interfitting stationary teeth 30 and passes through or about the apertured resilient Plug 26 to project out of opening 24 in tip 22 of the dental flossing tool 1C. To perform the flossing operation, the user holds the dental flossing tool 1C in one hand, and. with the other hand, grasps the free end 62 cf the strand 28 cf dental floss. The user then, presses one finger against the resilient seal 52 t: press the U-shaped piston A→ inward against the urging of resilient means 48, causing the opening 56 of pistor

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44 to release the shaft 38 of the spool 36 of ^' dental floss and releasing the locking action of piston 44. The user may then pull the free end 62 of the strand 28 of dental floss to withdraw any desired length from opening 24 of tip 22 of the tool 10. when the strand 28 of dental floss is at the desired length, the user removes their finger from the resilient seal 52, which allows resilient means 48 to urge piston 4 to its locking position, wherein the edge 60 of opening 56 engages the shaft 38 of spool 36 to prevent additional movement of the spool 36. Thus, the resilient means 48 causes piston 44 to lock both shaft 38 of the dental floss supply spool 36 to prevent undesired movement of the spool 36 of dental floss. Holding the free end 62 of the dental floss strand 28 in one hand and holding the dental flossing tool 10 in the other hand, the user may then freely manipulate the strand 28 of dental floss into the recesses between adjacent teeth and can vary the tension on the exposed portion of the strand 28 substantially as desired to properly perform the flossing operation. upon completion of the flossing operation, the free end 62 of the dental floss strand 28 is severed by suitable cutting means, such as that seen at 63 in FIGURE 1. When this is done, the locking means 32 will prevent undesired movement of the strand 28 of dental floss and the interfitting stationary teeth 30 will frictionally assist in retarding movement of the floss strand 28. At the same time, the resilient plug 26 will press against the strand 28 of floss to prevent moisture, germs and other contaminants from entering through opening z. intc the interior cf the tool 10. This prevents possible contamination of the strand 28 cf dental floss contained within the tool 10 and assures the sterilit" :f the strand 28 of dental floss f r future fl:ssιng operations. T: prevent

contamination of the exposed portion 62 of the strand 28 of dental floss, the cap 16 can be formed to frictionally engage and seal against the outer surface cf the cylindrical portion 8 of the main housing 12 to prevent exposure of the tip 22 of the dental flossing tool 10 and the free end 62 of the dental floss strand 28 from exposure to the atmosphere.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternative form of the dental flossing tool 10 in which the tip 22 is provided with one or more openings 64 and the apertured resilient plug 26 is mounted between the openings 64 and the rear end of the elongated tip 22, for example, at the junction of the tip 22 with the tapered portion 20 of the housing 12. when it is likely that the exposed dental floss 62 may become wet, as when the dental flossing tool 10 is used in a shower, this form of the dental flossing tool 10 serves to facilitate drying of exposed portion 62 of the strand 28 of dental floss by allowing air to enter the tip 22 through the openings 64, while the resilient plug 26 still serves to prevent moisture and other contaminants from passing into the interior of the housing 12 to dampen and possibly contaminate the strand 28 of dental floss and the supply of dental floss carried by spool 36. Alternatively, if the dental floss carried by the spool 36 is dry, the openings 64 will permit water to enter the tip 22 to dampen the exposed portion 62 of the strand 28 of dental floss, while resilient plug 26 will prevent the moisture from entering the housing 12 to dampen and possibly contaminate the supply of dental floss carried by the spool 36 within the housing 12. Since the openings ε - permit air and water to enter and flush through the tip 22. the cap -lό may or may not be used for protection of the tip 22 during storage, as a matter cf choice. ir. lieu cf the cap - an auxiliary cap 72 may be

used. The cap 72 as shown in FIGURE 5 is comprised of an elongated, generally cylindrical member 72 having an open end 74 and a closed end 76. The length of the cylindrical member 72 is preferably such that it can conveniently be held in the user's hand, while the diameter of the cylindrical member 72 is such that it can surround the elongated tip 22 of the dental flossing tool 10 and will provide a releasable, friction fit with the dental flossing tool. If desired, suitable means, such as 0-ring 78 may be provided adjacent the open end 74 of the cylindrical member 72 to provide a moisture-proof seal with the tip of the dental flossing tool to protect that portion of the flossing material which normally projects from the tip of the dental flossing tool. Furthermore, if desired, a pad 80 of suitable material may be mounted within the cylindrical member 72 adjacent the closed end 76 which may serve as a moisture absorbent or may contain a suitable disinfectant or antiseptic substance to provide further protection for the flossing material. On the outside of the closed end 76 of the cylindrical member 72 is mounted a disc 82 that forms a floss retaining v-shaped recess between and at the base of the disc. The disc has at least one non-expandable slot 84 part way through the disc. The slot frictionally locks the end of a strand of dental floss to prevent the floss from unwinding. in use, the cap 70 may be placed over the tip of the dental flossing tool 10 for storage and will frictionally engage the tip of the dental flossing tool to retain itself on the tool. At the same time, the friction grip of the cap 70, or o-rmg 78, if provided, will form a moisture-proof seal with the tool tc prevent moisture from reaching and contaminating the tip of the tool and that portion of the flossing material which normally projects from the tip of the

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dental flossing tool. Moreover, if provided, the pad 80 will provide additional moisture absorption and may dispense a suitable disinfectant or antiseptic substance to provide further protection for the flossing material. when the user desires to perform the flossing operation, the cap 70 is removed from the tip of the dental flossing tool and a portion of the strand of flossing material is placed in the slot 84 of the disc 82. As noted above, the slot 84 is sized to frictionally retain the strand of flossing material. Moreover, if desired, the flossing material may be wound about the closed end 76 of the cap 70 to assure more positive retention of the strand of flossing material. The user may then hold the dental flossing tool in one hand and hold the cap 70 in the other hand, as an auxiliary flossing tool, and may proceed to perform the flossing operation. The tip of the dental flossing tool may be inserted into the user's mouth to guide one end of the strand of flossing material in movement between the user's teeth, while the cap 70 retains the end of the strand flossing material which is outside the user's mouth. when the flossing operation has been completed, the used portion of the strand of flossing material may be severed and discarded, in the usual manner, and the cap 70 may again be placed on the tip of the dental flossing tool for storage and to serve as a protective cap.

Alternatively, if desired, the cap 70 may be used manually by engaging one end of a strand of dental flossing material in the slit 84 to frictionally retain that end of the strand of flossing materi may then sever a desired length of material and may grip the free end of material in their fingers to perform operation. when this is done, the cap 70 may be held -> ^* gripping the handle 72 between the palm of the hand

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and the last three fingers of that hand, which enables the user to have the option of using either their thumb, forefinger or index finger for guiding the flossing material between adjacent teeth. obviously, numerous other variations and modi ications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the , present invention.