Toilet – Toothpick – Having thread holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-04-24
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toothpick
Having thread holder
C132S325000, C132S326000, C132S327000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220257
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for positioning and moving a flexible element, e.g., a cord, wire or band, in space to use the element for performing various tasks. The tasks might be as diverse as dental flossing, laparoscopic surgery or mechanical sanding or abrading.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been known in the field of dental hygiene, for example, that it is important to remove food particles, tartar, and plaque from the teeth at least once a day. The removal of such dental contaminants may be accomplished by various means such as by brushing, water spray or the use of dental floss.
Dental floss is conventionally held in the hands and manipulated by the fingers. The floss is inserted between two adjacent teeth, or looped partially around a single tooth and pulled or pushed back and forth against the tooth to remove the food particles, tartar and plaque. This procedure requires a certain amount of manual dexterity and also requires the flosser to insert his or her fingers into the mouth.
A variety of mechanical devices have been developed to aid in the use of dental floss. Among these are devices consisting of a forked or U-shaped handle. In these devices a length of dental floss is tautly stretched between the two tines of a device. The device is manipulated from outside the mouth so as to draw the dental floss up and down against the surface of the tooth to be cleaned. Examples of such devices are found in Schiff U.S. Pat. No. Des 251,074 and the Yafai U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,246. In the latter, the floss is in the form of a loop which is stretched around the device.
In another flossing device, illustrated and described in the Wyss U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,432, parallel handles have a floss loop extending through them and interconnected across opposite ends. The handles are spaced at their mid-points by a spacer member which forms a fulcrum. The handles are manipulated by squeezing them at one end so that they pivot in a plane about the fulcrum and draw the floss tight at one end (the flossing end). In lieu of the spacer member illustrated, the handles may be manipulated in the same manner about a fulcrum formed by the flosser's finger.
In yet another flossing device, illustrated and described in the Braqg U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,177, the use of two separate handles is shown. A length of floss is stretched between the corresponding working ends of the handles and flossing accomplished by manipulating the other ends separately.
The above devices have shortcomings, however. First, the devices do not allow a continuous, movable loop of floss or other flexible element to be positioned or manipulated from any point in space. Furthermore, these devices do not allow the controlled manipulation of the floss element within the confines of very small volumes, such as in the rear of the mouth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for positioning and moving a flexible element in space to use the element for performing various tasks.
Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for dental flossing.
Still another object is to provide an improved flossing apparatus comprising a pair of independently controlled flossing handles which are interconnected only by a loop of floss.
Yet another object is to provide an improved dental flossing apparatus wherein segments of the floss loop which interconnect the handles are lengthened and shortened at will and in an endless variety of ways by manipulating the handles independently of each other.
Another object is to provide a flossing apparatus which can be effectively used while inserting only a minimal amount of the apparatus into the mouth.
Still another object is to provide a flossing apparatus which can readily be adapted to incorporate a store of floss.
Another object is to provide an improved dental flossing apparatus wherein a continuous loop of floss may be easily manipulated and advanced through a pair of independently controlled flossing handles.
Another object is to provide a low-cost, improved dental flossing apparatus that advances an integral loop of floss through a pair of independently controlled flossing handles.
Still another object is to provide an improved flossing apparatus which assists in positioning a working segment of floss easily within a deep oral cavity.
A further object provides a flossing apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for performing laparoscopic surgery.
Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for performing mechanical sawing or abrading.
Various of the foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with one aspect of the present invention by providing an apparatus comprising a pair of separate and distinct handles which are interconnected by a loop of flexible elements such as a length of dental floss. The loop is formed from a length of element and includes a working segment which interconnects corresponding free ends of the handles, a control segment which interconnects the handles at points displaced from the free ends, and a pair of side segments which run along corresponding handles between respective ends of the working and control segments. The handles are free to move on all axes relative to each other, restrained only by the dimensions of the loop. They are also free to move relative to the loop.
In one embodiment of the apparatus, the handles are preferably of identical length. The loop passes through connecting apertures at opposite ends of each handle. Free ends of the element which form the loop are tied together or otherwise interconnected in the control segment (or side segments) of the loop.
In another embodiment of the apparatus, the handles are preferably of identical length but are considerably longer than those in the previously described embodiment. The handles each extend beyond the point where the control segment of the loop interconnects with the handles, thus providing handle extensions.
In a modification of the other embodiment, the single, continuous loop is replaced by a floss store mounted on one of the handle extensions. A loop is then effectively formed between the handles by passing it through the connecting apertures twice to form a control segment—in a manner hereinafter explained. The floss is then anchored adjacent the floss store, and the free end of the floss is anchored to the other handle extension.
In this modification, a variety of floss storing, cutting and anchoring mechanisms may be employed. For example, the floss store may be simply formed around a cleat. In the alternative, a container or spool of floss may be mounted on one handle extension.
As a further modification to this exemplary embodiment, a cleat may be formed or positioned on one or both of the handles to provide a retaining area for the “slack” of a single, continuous loop of floss as used in the first embodiment.
In another modification of this other, i.e., second embodiment of the flossing apparatus, a floss store is provided on one handle extension, anchored thereto. A loop is formed between the handles in a manner which will be hereinafter explained. The free end of the floss is then held and anchored on the aforementioned one extension while flossing is accomplished.
In a variation of this modification, the handle assembly accommodates an additional improvement. The other handle, which is now bare of cleats or the like, is provided with a bristle assembly at one end and, as a result, serves the dual function of a toothbrush and a flossing handle.
In yet another embodiment of the flossing apparatus, longer handles, i.e., handles which include extensions beyond the control segment of the floss loop are employed. The floss loop is continued to the free ends of the extensions where it passes through apertures thereon to form another loop. The result is a double floss loop or figure eight loop. This embodiment may be used advantageously with one hand; for example, by a handicapped flosser.
Other
Meyer David M.
Meyer Eric S.
Meyer Jonathan I.
Meyer Stuart L.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Lione Richard G.
Philogene Pedro
Televideo Consultants, Inc.
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