Toilet – Toothpick – Having thread holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-07-03
Mancene, Gene (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toothpick
Having thread holder
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253774
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to dental flossing tools and is particularly directed to dental flossing tools which are compact, easy to use and which can serve as the floss containers for other flossing tools.
1. Prior Art
As is well known, the flossing of teeth is a very important part of proper dental hygiene. Unfortunately, many people fail to follow this procedure or perform the flossing operation incorrectly or inefficiently. Numerous types of dental flossing tools have been proposed heretofore to overcome these problems. Prior art dental flossing tools are often relatively bulky and, therefore, are awkward and cumbersome to use. Also, many prior art can hold only a small supply of floss. With this tool, the dental floss is drawn from the spool in an endwise direction. Dental flossing material is usually waxed and, hence, tends to adhere to the spool, which makes it pull the spool forward, as the floss is drawn off of the spool, causing the spool to jam against the forward end of the housing. This produces friction which slows or actually stops the spool form turning. Furthermore, many prior art flossing tools cannot prevent moisture from entering the housing and, hence, are subject to contamination by accumulated moisture. Thus, none of the prior art dental flossing tools has been entirely satisfactory.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
These disadvantages of prior art dental flossing tools are overcome with the present invention and an improved dental flossing container is provided which is compact and easy to use, yet holds a full spool of dental floss, and which clamps the floss as it exits the tool to lock the floss against movement and to prevent moisture from entering the housing and means for ventilating the housing to allow moisture, if any, contained in the housing to evaporate.
The advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved dental flossing container comprising a generally tubular housing having an open end, a spool of dental floss located within said housing, a resilient lid covering the open end of said housing and formed with an opening for allowing floss from said spool to exit, yet serving to clamp said floss and to lock said floss form moving and to prevent moisture from entering said housing, rear cap means for ventilating said housing when the rear cap is open, and means located within said housing causing the floss to pass forward through said lid.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dental flossing container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing container having an internal storage area for flossing material.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing container having a tip where flossing material exits the container and having means located adjacent the tip for preventing moisture from passing through the tip to the interior of the container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing container having an internal storage area for dental flossing material, together with means for causing the floss to pass forward through the tip of the tool.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental flossing container comprising a generally cup-shaped housing, a spool of dental floss located within said housing, said housing being formed with an opening for allowing floss from said spool to exit, resilient means closing said open end of said housing, brake means serving to clamp said floss and, when not depressed, allowing said spool to move forward to engage means to lock said floss form moving, and rear cap means selectably positionable to allow or prevent moisture from entering said housing, and means located within said housing causing the floss to pass forward through said opening of said housing.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3890986 (1975-06-01), Gerlich
patent: 4821752 (1989-04-01), Widlak
patent: 4934389 (1990-06-01), Pettiford
patent: 5183065 (1993-02-01), Mason
patent: 5251651 (1993-10-01), Mason
patent: 5544831 (1996-08-01), Van Netta
patent: 5566872 (1996-10-01), Dolan et al.
patent: 5573022 (1996-11-01), Winters
patent: 5607050 (1997-03-01), Dolan et al.
Mancene Gene
Robert Eduardo C.
Sperry Robert M.
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