Dental floss holder and improved dental floss

Details Dental floss holder and improved dental floss Dental floss holder and improved dental floss

1999-02-19

2001-04-24

Mancene, Gene (Department: 3732)

Toilet

Toothpick

Having thread holder

C132S325000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06220256

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to dental floss and to dental floss holders. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel single use dental floss holder which is capable of, among other things, adjusting the tension of dental floss held by the holder, and to an improved dental floss that may be used alone or with the holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dental floss holders are well known in the art. Such a prior art holder typically comprises a body having a linear portion for grasping the holder and a generally U-shaped or V-shaped end portion defined by a pair of fingers or tines which hold a string of dental floss material therebetween. The dental floss is securely fixed to the tines at opposite ends thereof by any well known manner. This construction of the dental floss holder enables the user to hold the linear portion while manipulating the dental floss between the user's teeth.
While the dental floss holder described above is suitable for its intended use, it does suffer from several disadvantages. For instance, prior to using the dental floss holder, the dental floss is fixed so that it can be manipulated between teeth. However, after forcing the dental floss many times between adjacent teeth, the dental floss stretches and becomes slack, thereby losing some of its initial tension. This makes it more difficult to manipulate the dental floss between teeth.
Additionally, during flossing of teeth, it is preferred to maintain the dental floss taut when initially inserting the floss between teeth, and, upon entering the space between the teeth, lessening the tension so that the dental floss wraps around the tooth being flossed. With the prior art dental floss holder described above, this preferred method of flossing one's teeth is impossible since the dental floss maintains only one tension, albeit this tension lessens as the dental floss holder is manipulated between one's teeth.
Another limitation of previous dental floss holders is that the floss is relatively easily pulled out of the holder, rendering the holder useless. A floss that can be held more securely by the holder, or by a user's hands, is desirable.
The foregoing illustrates some limitations known to exist in present dental floss holders. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved dental floss holder and dental floss directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, suitable alternatives are provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention advances the art of dental floss, dental floss holders, and the techniques for creating same, beyond those previously known.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a dental floss holder comprises a pair of arms or tines, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The curvature permits the user to easily manipulate the dental floss device deep in the oral cavity without requiring the user to open his or her mouth extremely wide. Additionally, the area encompassing the yoke section, which is defined as the tines and the dental floss, is sufficiently large to permit the user to easily pass the dental floss around the molars. The second end portions are movable between a spaced apart position in which the second end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a proximate position in which the second end portions are moved toward one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the second end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the second end portions are in their proximate position, the second tension being greater than the first tension.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the dental floss holder comprises a pair of arms, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The second end portions are movable between a spaced apart position in which the second end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a proximate position in which the second end portions are moved toward one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the second end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the second end portions are in their proximate position, the second tension being greater than the first tension. Connecting means releasably connects terminal ends of the second end portions of the arms to one another. Hence, the tension within the floss material is maintained. The connecting means located at the terminal ends may have a tooth configurations such to provide a connecting condition where the user may engage one tooth or several teeth of the locking means, hence resulting in varying tensioning of the dental floss as desired.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, the dental floss holder comprises a pair of arms, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The second end portions are movable between a spaced apart position in which the second end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a proximate position in which the second end portions are moved toward one another. A living hinge is provided for connecting the middle portions of the arms to one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the second end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the second end portions are in their proximate position, the second tension being greater than the first tension. A finger gripping surface is further provided on the second end portion of each arm to receive fingers of the user. Each finger gripping surface is located adjacent its respective middle portion of the arm.
In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the dental floss holder comprises a pair of arms, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The second end portions are movable between a spaced apart position in which the second end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a proximate position in which the second end portions are moved toward one another. The second end portions of the arms are integrally formed with one another at respective terminal ends thereof. The terminal ends of the second end portions of the arms define a pointed member for stimulating a gingival area of an oral cavity. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the second end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the second end portions are in their proximate position, the second tension being greater than the first tension.
In a fifth embodiment of the pr

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