Abstract:
A compact and reusable floss pick having a dispensing supply of dental floss. A floss arm and bridge is provided with two prongs for receiving a length of dental floss removably wrapped around the prongs such that a taut length of dental floss is provided therebetween. A cutting notch is provided for removing an old or used portion of dental floss from the supply. A removable cap is also provided for covering the floss arm when not in use and providing a handle when the device is being used.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,780, filed on Jul. 8, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a device for facilitating the carrying and use of dental floss. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a compact and mobile device including a supply of dental floss and an extended arm having a bridge with two prongs for removably attaching a length of dental floss. 
     Dental floss is widely accepted as an appropriate means to clean between and around one&#39;s teeth, particularly after a meal. However, dental floss on its own can be difficult and cumbersome to use as one is usually required to wrap the floss around one&#39;s fingers and place them inside their mouth. In the privacy of one&#39;s own home or bathroom, such may be acceptable. Out in public, as in a restaurant setting, it would not be as acceptable. 
     Disposable floss picks comprising an instrument having two prongs extending from a body with a single piece of floss running between the prongs are available. In such devices the dental floss is previously and permanently attached to the prongs such that the instrument is often single-use and disposed of after such use. In order to have such an instrument for every meal, one must either carry around a supply of the instruments or remember to replace each one after each meal. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device to facilitate the use of dental floss while on the go and in a manner that is convenient and reusable. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a dental floss apparatus, in particular a reuseable dental floss tool having a renewable and replaceable supply of dental floss. The apparatus consists of a floss arm having a floss bridge at a distal end and a hollow base at a proximal end. A pair of prongs is included on the floss bridge defining a gap between the pair of prongs. The floss arm and floss bridge are preferably configured in an “F”-shape or a “Y”-shape. 
     Each of the pair of prongs includes a notched portion adjacent to a free end of the prong. A supply of dental floss is contained within the hollow base, with the hollow base having a dispensing hole proximate to the floss arm. The supply of dental floss is removable and replaceable. A loose end of the supply of dental floss is passable through the dispensing hole and wrappable around the notched portion on each of the pair of prongs. When wrapped around the notched portion on each of the pair of prongs, the dental floss forms a taut length of dental floss between the first and second prongs. 
     The notched portion of at least one of the pair of prongs preferably includes a textured or adhesive surface configured to securely retain the dental floss wrapped there around. Ideally, both notched portions include the textured or adhesive surface. Furthermore, the notched portion of each of the pair of prongs is configured to have a straight-V cross-section or an angled-V cross-section. An elongated cap is configured to cover the floss arm and floss bridge when not in use and then be removed and stored on a bottom of the hollow base when the floss arm and floss bridge are being used. 
     A floss blade for cutting the dental floss is preferably disposed on the floss arm proximate to the floss bridge. A floss pick is preferably disposed on one of the pair of prongs of the floss bridge. Preferably, the floss arm and floss bridge are made from surgical grade metal or surgical grade plastic, both of which are configured to hinder bacterial and microbial growth. 
     A method for using the dental floss apparatus includes providing a dental floss apparatus having a hollow base containing a supply of dental floss, a floss arm extending from the hollow base and a floss bridge on a distal end of the floss arm. A loose end of the supply of dental floss is pulled through a dispensing hole in the hollow base. A first portion of the loose end of the supply of dental floss is wrapped around a first prong on the floss bridge, and a second portion of the loose end of the supply of dental floss is wrapped around a second prong on the floss bridge. A taut length of dental floss is thus formed spanning between first prong and the second prong. 
     The method may further include the steps of unwrapping the loose end of the supply of dental floss from the second prong and the first prong. The unwrapped loose end of the dental floss is then cut using a floss blade disposed proximate to the floss bridge. The supply of dental floss may be removed from the hollow base, and a replacement supply of dental floss may then be inserted into the hollow base. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device with the cap removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device with the cap attached to the base; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the device; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the device without the cap; 
         FIG. 5A  is a close-up view of the prongs on the bridge; 
         FIG. 5B  is a close-up view of a cutting notch; 
         FIG. 5C  is a close-up view of a dispensing hole; 
         FIG. 5D  is a close-up view of the dental floss inserted in the base; 
         FIG. 5E  is a close-up view of an alternate embodiment of the prongs on the bridge; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway of the device illustrating the dental floss dispensed and attached to the prongs of the bridge; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a reusable dental floss pick generally referred to by reference numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1-7 . The floss pick  10  includes a cap  12  and base  14 . The cap  12  is removable from the base  14 . The base  14  preferably includes an upper protrusion  16  and a lower protrusion  18 , both of which are configured to accept an opening  20  on the cap  12 . The relative diameters of the upper and lower protrusions  16 , 18  and the opening  20  are such that a snug or friction fit occurs when they are brought together. In this way, the cap  12  can be retained on the upper protrusion  16  to protect the pick  10  when not in use and on the lower protrusion  18  to provide additional support for gripping the device  10  when being used. 
     A floss arm  22  extends from the upper protrusion  16 . The floss arm  22  has a bridge portion  24  at a distal end. The bridge portion  24  has a first prong  26  and a second prong  28 . The floss arm  22 , bridge portion  24 , first prong  26 , and second prong  28  may be constructed using a cylindrical configuration such that each portion has a generally rounded cross-section. Alternatively, these portions may be constructed using a flattened configuration such that each portion has a generally oval or oblong cross-section. 
     As more clearly illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5E , each prong  26 ,  28  includes a notched portion  30  proximate to the end of the prong  26 ,  28 . In  FIG. 5A , the notched portion  30  generally has a straight-“V” shape or cross-section. The notched portion  30  may comprise opposite mirror “V” shaped notches when used on a flattened prong  26 ,  28  or an annular “V” shape configuration when used on a cylindrical prong  26 ,  28 . As shown in  FIG. 5E , the notched portion  30  may have a sloped or angled-“V” shape or cross-section configured as described for either a flattened or cylindrical prong  26 ,  28 . The notched portion  30  may be included on both prongs  26 ,  28  or only one of the prongs  26 ,  28 , i.e., the prong  26 ,  28  that receives the last winding of the dental floss. As clearly shown in  FIG. 5C , a dispensing hole  32  is disposed in the top of the upper protrusion  16  adjacent to where a proximate end of the floss arm  22  is attached to the upper protrusion  16 . 
     The base  14  is hollow and configured to contain therein a supply of dental floss  34  as shown in  FIG. 5D . The supply of dental floss  34  may be provided in a wound cylinder, cartridge, or similar format such that the dental floss  34  will freely unwind when a loose end  36  is pulled. The dental floss  34  may be in any form commonly used in such dental instruments and may be coated in wax, fluoride, flavored compounds, or other similar materials. A lid  38  encloses the bottom of the base  14  to seal the dental floss  34  therein. The lid  38  is preferably transparent or translucent in design so that one may easily observe the remaining quantity of dental floss  34  contained in the base  14 . 
     The floss arm  22  preferably includes a floss blade or cutting notch  40  disposed proximate to the bridge  24  as shown in  FIG. 5B . The cutting notch  40  is configured to provide a sharp edge, whether plastic or metal, on which to cut the dental floss  34 . In addition, a toothpick  42  may be included in a distal end of the bridge  24  or in a similar position that does not interfere with use of the pick  10 . 
     In use, the loose end  36  of the dental floss  34  is passed through the dispensing hole  32 . A sufficient length of dental floss  34  is pulled through the hole  32  and one winds a portion thereof around the notch portion  30  of the first prong  26 . With sufficient additional length, one then pulls the dental floss  34  taut and winds another portion around the notched portion  30  of the second prong  28 . In this way, a taut length  44  of dental floss  34  spans the distance between the prongs  26 ,  28 . This taut length  44  of dental floss  34  can then be used to floss between a person&#39;s teeth, similar to the way in which prior art disposable floss picks are used. 
     With the device  10  a person does not need to place their fingers inside their mouth to hold both ends of a length of dental floss. In addition, the inventive pick  10  is not disposable or single-use as the taut length  44  of dental floss  34  can be removed and replaced after each use. After flossing one&#39;s teeth, one may then unwind the dental floss  34  from the prongs  26 ,  28  and cut the used portion of dental floss  34  using the cutting notch  40 . 
     The notched portions  30  on the prongs  26 ,  28  preferably have a textured or adhesive surface  46 . This surface  46  provides a better grip and retention of the dental floss  34  around the notched portion  30 . The cutting notch  40 , also referred to as a floss blade, can be used to cut the dental floss  34  either before use to provide a fresh length of dental floss  34  or after use to remove a portion of the dental floss  34  that has been used. The toothpick  42  may also be used to pick between a person&#39;s teeth to remove larger bits of food. 
     All of the parts of the device  10  are preferably manufactured from surgical grade metal, plastic or similar material commonly used in such dental appliances. Preferably, the material is of such construction that the growth of bacteria and similar microbes is not promoted or even hindered. An antibacterial compound may be impregnated within the material or coat the outside. As explained above, the floss blade or cutting notch  40  may include a plastic or metal cutting edge. 
     The bridge  24  may be presented in either an “F” shape as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  or a “Y” shape as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The device  10  having the “Y”-shaped bridge  24   a  has utility and function in the same manner as described above. 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.