Toilet – Toothpick – And motor driven mechanism or fluid applicator
Patent
1991-09-17
1993-06-08
O'Connor, Cary E.
Toilet
Toothpick
And motor driven mechanism or fluid applicator
A61C 1500
Patent
active
052170314
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a motor-driven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss comprising a dental floss for cleaning the spaces between teeth, motor means, a feeding reel of the fresh dental floss, a take-up reel of the worn-out dental floss, a set of pulleys about which the dental floss is running between feeding reel and take-up reel, and reciprocating motor means to reciprocate the operating length of the dental floss as well as to keep it stretched and to replace the dental floss as it is worn out.
As known, in order to prevent tooth decays and swollen gums it is very important to keep the spaces between teeth strictly clean.
At present there are commercially available dental flosses satisfactorily performing their cleaning function by the introduction into each space between adjacent teeth and the reciprocation caused by pulling and releasing the dental floss stretched between the left hand and the right hand of the user.
There are also available fork frames to be used by hand and having prongs between which a floss is stretched and moved like a reciprocating saw.
Such fixtures besides being efficient only when used by care and patience are not suitable for a rational use of the dental floss, some lengths of which are not conveniently exploited.
On the other hand, in the field of tooth and gum cleaning the problems of an irrational use of the tooth-brush have been almost solved by the commercially available motor-driven tooth-brushes. Therefore the applicant has sought to provide a motor-driven apparatus for the rational use of the dental floss for cleaning the spaces between teeth.
To this end the applicant has devised an apparatus comprising a small-size casing to be introduced into the mouth and in which a length of dental floss is exposed to the outside through an opening, and means able both to reciprocate such a length of dental floss and to feed it step by step so that it can be replaced by fresh floss as it is worn-out.
In this field document U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,658 discloses an automatic flossing apparatus which stores the dental floss, holds it automatically under tension and agitates and renews the floss during its manipulations. The floss unwinds from one spool and rolls on another automatically. The floss makes a complete circuit passing by an oscillator imparting back and forth movements to the floss and subsequently to a two-pronged headpiece holding the floss under tension across the two prongs. The spools are connected by a clutch and crank transmission mechanism which maintains controllable floss tension.
The construction of the apparatus is extremely complicated and requires a very large number of component parts cooperating together to perform its function.
The oscillating action is caused by the motor, the shaft of which is oscillating due to the utilization of a cam. The circuit followed by the dental floss is very long and involves a great deal of bends around an equal number of guide members with the danger of tangling. Furthermore the spools are connected by a complicated transmission mechanism comprising a crank, a belt, biassing and subtension springs and pressure wheels.
As it will be self evident this construction, besides being very complicated and consequently expensive, seems to be likely to raise operation problems.
The present invention will be now described into detail with reference to the annexed drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view of an embodiment of the apparatus in longitudinal section to show the internal mechanism in one position of the reciprocated connecting rod;
FIG. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus with the connecting rod in a different position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section in enlarged scale showing another embodiment with handle and casing separated from each other and a feasible cluth device; and
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the pulleys stretching the dental floss and the reciprocated double pulley.
With reference firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2 the apparatus according to the invention comprises a casing 10; a m
REFERENCES:
patent: 3667483 (1972-06-01), McCabe
patent: 3756274 (1973-09-01), Warner
patent: 3847167 (1974-11-01), Brien
patent: 4245658 (1981-01-01), Lecouturier
patent: 4586521 (1986-05-01), Urso
patent: 4706695 (1987-11-01), Urso
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