Toilet – Toothpick
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-10-16
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toothpick
C225S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302121
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to dental floss dispensers.
The advantages of flossing on a regular basis have been well documented and dental floss has been widely sold and widely used. Dental floss is available in the form of a spool of dental floss housed in a dispenser. The dispensers permit a user to dispense a desired length of floss while storing the remainder of the unused floss.
Dental floss is dispensed from some dispensers by pulling a free end of the floss. As the user pulls on the floss, the spool rotates and the floss unwinds from the spool. During this process, the strand of floss can slip out of the exit hole of the dispenser and become stuck in the housing of the dispenser (e.g., between the walls of the dispenser), and fray or snag. The force with which the floss is pulled from the dispenser can also cause the spool of floss within the housing to unwind so rapidly that the floss becomes snagged and entangled inside of the dispenser housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention features a floss dispenser that includes a) a housing that includes an exit for floss, b) a floss carrier disposed in the housing, the floss carrier including an arm extending across the exit, and c) a strand of dental floss on the floss carrier, the strand extending through the exit. In one embodiment, the arm is positioned to maintain a strand of floss in the exit. In another embodiment, the arm defines a portion of the exit. In other embodiments, the arm includes an elbow.
In some embodiments, the housing further includes a finger extending from the housing toward the arm. In other embodiments, the dispenser further includes a nonreturn loading mechanism. In one embodiment, the nonreturn loading mechanism includes the arm and a finger extending from the housing toward the arm.
In other embodiments, the arm includes an elbow and the finger extends toward the elbow. In another embodiment, the arm and the finger are positioned to facilitate the loading of a strand of floss in the exit and to inhibit the strand of floss from leaving the exit. In some embodiments, the finger includes a tapered surface. The finger can be triangular in shape.
In one embodiment, the housing includes a unitary housing. In other embodiments, the housing includes a spindle and the floss carrier is disposed on the spindle. In another embodiment, the housing further includes a cutter and an opening disposed between the exit and the cutter, and a portion of the floss carrier is positioned in the opening. In some embodiments, the portion of the carrier positioned in the opening is transparent.
In other embodiments, the carrier includes a back wall and an arcuate side wall extending from the back wall. In one embodiment, the arcuate side wall includes an opening. In another embodiment, the back wall is substantially smooth. In another embodiment, the housing includes an undulating surface.
In some embodiments, the dispenser further includes a spool, the dental floss being on the spool.
In another aspect, the invention features a floss dispenser that includes a) a housing that includes an exit for floss, b) a floss carrier disposed in the housing, the floss carrier including a member extending from the floss carrier to inhibit the movement of a strand of floss to a point outside of the exit, and c) a strand of dental floss on the floss carrier, the strand of floss extending through the exit. In one embodiment, the housing includes a first wall joined to a second wall, and the member inhibits the floss from moving between the first wall and the second wall. In some embodiments, the member inhibits movement of the floss from between the housing and the carrier.
In other aspects, the invention features a method of loading an above-described floss dispenser. The method includes passing the strand of floss around the arm to the exit. In one embodiment, the floss includes a powder coating.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of dispensing dental floss from a floss dispenser that includes a) a housing that includes an exit for floss, b) a floss carrier disposed in the housing, the floss carrier including an arm extending across the exit, and c) a strand of dental floss on the floss carrier, the strand of dental floss extending through the exit. The method includes pulling a strand of dental floss through the exit. In one embodiment, the floss exhibits smooth unwind. In other embodiments, the floss includes a powder coating. In another embodiment, the housing is substantially free of entangled floss after dispensing a portion of the floss.
The retaining arm of the floss dispenser provides a mechanism by which a strand of dental floss is maintained in the exit hole of the dispenser. The retaining arm thus prevents the strand of dental floss from slipping between the various parts of the dispenser (e.g., between the floss carrier and one or more walls of the dispenser). The retaining arm also prevents the strand of floss from becoming snagged on the housing. The nonreturn loading mechanism facilitates the process of loading (i.e., positioning) the floss in the exit, yet inhibits the floss from leaving the exit. The dispenser also features a breaking mechanism that prevents the strand of floss from unwinding so rapidly that unwound floss accumulates or becomes entangled in the housing of the dispenser.
The dispenser also enables smooth unwind of the floss in dispensers in which the housing has a non-smooth interior surface. The dispenser is particularly well suited to the smooth, tangle free unwind of powder-coated dental floss.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from the claims.
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patent: 6056179 (2000-05-01), Muzquiz
patent: 6189545 (2001-02-01), Tamez
Gillette Canada Company
Howley David A.
Manahan Todd #E.
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