Toilet – Toothpick
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-25
2001-10-02
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toothpick
C206S063500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295997
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispenser for dental floss. In particular, the present invention provides a dispenser which may conveniently be, but not necessarily, mounted to a mounting surface. The mounting surface is preferably, but not necessarily, vertical. Especially when mounted to a mounting surface, dental floss may be removed from the dental floss dispenser using but a single hand
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of dental floss is highly recommended by the dental profession as a necessary adjunct to oral hygiene. Indeed, the dental profession recommends that teeth should be flossed using an appropriate dental floss, at least once daily; for example and particularly, as part of the evening ablutions prior to retiring for the night.
Typically, dental floss is sold in a container which serves as the dispenser for the dental floss. Typically, when it is not actually being used to dispense dental floss, the container/dispenser is hidden away from view such as in a drawer, a medicine cabinet, or the like. This generally results in less than diligent flossing practice.
Indeed, recent studies reveal that only about 20 percent of the population of North America flosses regularly, although it is assumed that between 70 percent and up to 90 percent of all households have at least one dental floss container in their possession.
Moreover, it has been noted that there seems to be less of a tendency to want to use a dental floss dispenser which requires it to be held in one hand while dental floss is removed from the dispenser with the other hand, especially in those circumstances where the cutter for the dental floss is exposed and represents a risk to the fingers of the user. Still further it has been noted that most commercially available dental floss dispensers are awkward to use in that the spacing between the opening in the dispenser where the dental floss exits from the interior thereof to the cutter is generally quite small, so that grasping the dental floss in that region so as to remove a length of dental floss from the container is difficult.
For all of these reasons, the present invention provides a dental floss dispenser from which dental floss may be much more easily grasped so as to be removed from the dispenser. In certain embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a dental floss dispenser in which the cutter for the dental floss is hidden from view and is therefore not dangerous to the fingers of a person removing dental floss therefrom.
Still further, in certain embodiments of the dental floss dispenser of the present invention, the dental floss container or dispenser may be mounted on a mounting surface such as a bathroom mirror, inside a medicine cabinet door, on a wall in the bathroom or washroom, or other convenient and visible location. It has been noted that when a dental floss container is conveniently located in such a place and in such a manner that dental floss may be easily removed therefrom, it is more likely to be used, and therefore the practice of flossing one's teeth is much more diligent.
PRIOR ART
Blank et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,560, issued Nov. 21, 1989, provides a flat dental floss dispenser which has the approximate size and shape of a credit card. A flat coil of floss is located within the dispenser. However, the cutting blade is quite prominent, thus representing a danger to the fingers of the user. Moreover, to disengage the dental floss from the surface of the cover of the container in the region between the opening through which the dental floss is dispensed and the cutter from which it is removed from the dispenser, requires that the dental floss be effectively pried away from the surface of the container using the fingernails.
Fortman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,674, issued Oct. 8, 1991, teaches a dispenser system including a dental floss dispenser which may be retained on or attached to a surface. The dispenser comprises a cassette of dental floss, and a supporting member. The supporting member may be attached to a surface such as a bathroom wall, and may serve other purposes as well such as functioning as a toothbrush holder. However, in this case, notwithstanding that the holder or support member is mounted to a wall, the dental floss dispenser is a separate cassette installed into the holder, and removal of dental floss from the container requires the use of two hands.
Russack, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,423, issued Dec. 31, 1991, provides a relatively flat, wallet-sized dental floss dispenser. Here, once again, the cutter for the dental floss is prominently mounted over the surface of the container, representing a threat to the fingers of the user. Moreover, once again, the disengaging of dental floss so as to remove a length thereof from the dispenser is awkward, requiring reasonable dexterity with the fingers of the hand of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,311, issued Oct. 20, 1992 to Spencer Jr., et al, teaches a dispenser which has a cover and a back section, together with a front section, all of them being molded and hinged together so as to permit the dental floss which is contained therein to be replaced. A shoulder saddle is provided, across which the dental floss is disposed. However, the cutter for the dental floss is prominently located as well on the saddle. Moreover, the configuration of the dispenser, having a hinged cover, requires the use of two hands to remove dental floss from the dispenser, and precludes the possibility that the dispenser can be mounted to such as a vertical, or any, surface.
Oliver et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,563, issued Feb. 1, 1994, teaches a dental floss dispenser having a body which has a spool holder for holding a spool of dental floss at one end, and an exposed cutting member and friction element at the other end of the body. Dental floss is suspended between the spool holder and the cutter, the purpose being so that a user can grasp an exposed portion of floss without contacting any part of the floss dispenser and thereby contaminating the floss dispenser. Particularly, therefore, the floss dispenser described in this patent is one which is intended for use by dentists and dental hygienists, and is not proposed for use by private individuals in their own bathrooms. Various embodiments are illustrated, whereby the dispenser may be mounted on surfaces such as the underside of a table; but in each instance, the purpose is to provide a dental floss dispenser for use by a dentist, a dental assistant, or dental hygienist, in such a manner that the base of the dispenser is not contacted by the fingers of the professional dental caregiver.
Saunders, U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,659 issued Jul. 22, 1997 provides a dental floss dispenser which, again, has essentially the size and shape of a credit card. A spool of floss is wound in the interior of the dispenser, and is dispensed through an opening formed in the dispenser. In one embodiment a recess is formed in the major flat face of the dispenser, having the hole through which the dental floss exits from the interior of the dispenser at one end of the recess, and a cutter/holder disposed at the other end of the recess. In that manner, the cutter, the aperture, and the lead-out portion of dental floss between the opening and the cutter, are all disposed below the major face. In another embodiment, a fan-folded spool of floss is located inside the container, and exits through a hole at one end of the container. A dished top end of the container is provided, across which the lead-out portion of the dental floss extends to an exposed metal cutter assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a dispenser for dental floss which comprises a closed container having a reel of dental floss disposed therein. The container has a generally planar back face, a generally planar front face, a pair of opposed side faces, a bottom face, and a top face which is opposed to the bottom face.
There is a hub which is centrally located in the interior of the closed container and which extends between the interior surfaces of the
(Marks & Clerk)
Comstock Dave
Manahan Todd #E.
Spark Innovations Inc.
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