Flossing device and method of use

A dental cleaning tool has a handle, a base, a floss stem, and a supply of dental floss. The dental floss is contained within the base and a supply of fluid is contained within the handle. The base and the handle removably engage each other, frictionally clamping one end of the dental floss therebetween. Both the fluid and the other end of the dental floss exit through a fluid ejection conduit of the base. The floss is removably engaged to a floss locking tip near the terminal end of the floss stem, allowing the user to utilize the dental floss to clean his teeth. While flossing his teeth, the user can squeeze the handle and spray fluid, such as mouth wash, down the length of the dental floss and into his mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to flossing devices and their methods of 
use, and more particularly to a flossing device that contains both floss 
and mouthwash, clamps the floss for use, and sprays the mouthwash down the 
length of clamped floss and between the user's teeth when desired. 
2. Description of Related Art 
The prior art teaches various flossing devices that combine a supply of 
floss with various locking arms to hold the floss for use. These include 
Guadiana, U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,956, Barth, U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,256, and 
Lang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,080. Similar devices were developed as early as 
1879. Some of the earliest patents of this nature include Stafford, U.S. 
Pat. No. 1,700,690, Roberts, U.S. Pat. No. 1,464,013, and Merrill, U.S. 
Pat. No. 213,997. The advantage of these devices is that the dispenser 
serves the second purpose of holding the floss for easy use, without 
requiring the user to use his fingers to hold the floss. 
The prior art also teaches various devices that contain both dental floss 
and mouthwash or other antiseptic fluids. Roth, U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,510, 
teaches a jar of mouthwash having a separate container of dental floss, 
the dental floss being pulled across an applicator that is soaking in the 
mouthwash. Nagel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,195, teaches a jar of mouthwash that 
contains a supply of dental floss, the dental floss being actually soaking 
within the mouthwash. None of these devices, however, teach a structure 
that can actually be used to facilitate flossing. 
Finally, the prior art also teaches various devices that combine flossing 
devices with mouthwash dispensing devices. Kirby, U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,553, 
teaches a tooth cleaning and massage device that can be adapted, in two 
different embodiments, to either clamp a length of dental floss for use in 
flossing, or dispense a supply of mouthwash. Borsum, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,472,247, teaches a hydraulic-filament dental device that both clamps a 
length of dental floss and shoots a stream of fluid in the vicinity of the 
floss, the stream of fluid thereby cleaning the user's teeth while he 
flosses. Ting, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,908, teaches a dental appliance having 
means for flossing and a means for discharging a jet of water closely 
adjacent to the floss to rinse the teeth being flossed. These devices are 
designed to be hooked up to an external source of water such as a pump or 
a water faucet. Furthermore, the dental floss is maintained separately 
from the water. Finally, the water is dispensed from a conduit separate 
from the floss. 
The prior art teaches flossing devices that include both a supply of dental 
floss and a supply of fluid. However, the prior art does not teach that a 
device that stores the dental floss and mouthwash in the same container as 
well as dispense the two products from the same conduit. The present 
invention achieves this structure in a very simple, easy to manufacture 
device that fulfills the needs of the user, and provides further related 
advantages as described in the following summary. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use 
which give rise to the objectives described below. 
The present invention provides a dental cleaning tool and method of use. 
The dental cleaning tool has a handle, a base, a floss stem, and a supply 
of dental floss. The dental floss is contained within the base and a 
supply of fluid is contained within the handle. The base and the handle 
removably engage each other, frictionally clamping one end of the dental 
floss therebetween. Both the fluid and the other end of the dental floss 
exit through a fluid ejection conduit of the base. The floss is removably 
engaged to a floss locking tip near the terminal end of the floss stem, 
allowing the user to utilize the dental floss to clean his teeth. While 
flossing his teeth, the user can squeeze the handle and spray fluid, such 
as mouth wash, down the length of the dental floss and into his mouth. 
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a dental 
cleaning tool and method of use having advantages not taught by the prior 
art. 
Another objective is to provide a dental cleaning tool that clamps the 
dental floss for easy use and also sprays mouthwash down the length of the 
dental floss and into the user's mouth, cleaning and moistening the both 
the dental floss and the user's mouth. 
Another objective is to provide a dental cleaning tool having a floss stem 
that pulls back the user's lips to further facilitate flossing. 
Another objective is to provide a supply of dental floss that is stored in 
mouthwash so that it is maintained in a moist and disinfected state. 
Another objective is to provide a dental cleaning tool that can easily 
convert to a toothbrush, the toothbrush being positioned to be sprayed 
with mouthwash and thus receiving the same benefits as the flossing 
attachment. 
Another objective is to provide a dental cleaning tool that is small and 
easy to carry for travel, while still providing the above described 
benefits. 
A further objective is to provide a dental cleaning tool having few parts, 
making the tool cheap and easy to manufacture. 
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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a dental 
cleaning tool 6 having a handle 10, a base 60, a floss stem 26, and a 
supply of dental floss 5. The dental floss 5 is contained within the base 
60 and a supply of fluid 7 is contained within the handle 10. The base 60 
and the handle 10 removably engage each other, frictionally clamping one 
end of the dental floss 5 therebetween. Both the fluid 7 and the other end 
of the dental floss 5 exit through a fluid ejection conduit 69 of the base 
60. The floss is removably engaged to a floss 5 locking tip 28 near the 
terminal end of the floss stem 26, allowing the user to utilize the dental 
floss 5 to clean his teeth. While cleaning his teeth, the user can squeeze 
the handle 10 and spray the fluid 7, such as mouth wash, down the length 
of the dental floss 5 and into his mouth. 
The floss stem 26 is attached to the base 60, preferably extending outward 
in a roughly C-shape. The floss stem 26 is preferably made of fairly rigid 
molded plastic and should be approximately 1.5 inches long. While a longer 
floss stem 26 may be necessary, as in FIGS. 1 and 3, to accommodate the 
toothbrush 70 attachment, a shorter floss stem 26 is preferred. The 
shorter floss stem 26 not only fits more easily into the user's mouth, it 
also provides a greater tension in the dental floss 5. The floss stem 26 
has a floss locking tip 28 at its terminal end opposite the base 60. The 
floss locking tip 28 is preferably a first and second locking slots 29A 
and 29B located on either side of the floss stem 26. The first and second 
slots 29A and 29B are preferably positioned parallel to the floss stem 26, 
and the second locking slot 29B further including a floss cutting element 
(not shown). 
In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the floss stem 26 is 
integrally attached to the base 60. This embodiment is cheaper to 
manufacture, but it is limited in its ability to allow further 
attachments, such as the toothbrush 70 described below. In the preferred 
embodiment, the floss stem 26 removably engages the base 60. In this 
embodiment, the floss stem 26 further includes a base receiving means 27 
that removably engages a stem attachment means of the base 60, the base 
receiving means 27 providing a fluid opening coaxial to and in fluid 
transmission with the fluid ejection conduit 69. There are many removable 
connections known in the art that serve this purpose. In the preferred 
embodiment, the stem attachment means is a cylindrical element that slides 
into the base receiving means 27. The base receiving means 27 preferably 
includes a first locking pin 28 that removably engages a base locking slot 
29 in the stem attachment means 64 of the base 60. In an alternative 
embodiment, the first locking pin 28 and the base locking slot 29 are not 
used, and the connection relies on a tight frictional fit. In another 
alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the base receiving means 27 
threadedly engages the stem attachment means 64. 
The primary benefit of the removable floss stem 26 is that it can be 
replaced with a variety of alternative attachments. A toothbrush 70 having 
a elongate body 74 and a plurality of bristles 78 can be attached to the 
stem receiving means as long as it includes a toothbrush base receiving 
means 72 similar to the floss stem 26. Such a toothbrush 70 preferably 
further includes a toothbrush conduit 75 which communicates from the fluid 
ejection conduit 69 to the bristles 78. If the floss stem 26 is integrally 
attached to the base 60, as shown in FIG. 1, the elongate body 74 of the 
toothbrush 70 is removably engagable to the floss stem 26 with a 
frictional fit between the floss stem 26 and the base 60. As long as the 
elongate body 74 does not cover the fluid ejection conduit 69, the user 
can spray the fluid 7 onto the bristles 78 directly in this configuration. 
The handle 10 has an internal chamber 14 and a fluid escape aperture 16. 
The internal chamber 14 is capable of containing the fluid. The fluid 
escape aperture 16 communicates with the internal chamber 14. The fluid 7 
escape aperture 16 has an aperture rim 42. The handle 10 includes a means 
for forcing the fluid out of the fluid escape aperture 16, thereby 
squirting the fluid through the fluid ejection conduit 69 and down the 
dental floss 5. The means for forcing the fluid out is preferably achieved 
by making at least part of the handle 10 flexible. When the user squeezes 
the handle 10, the fluid 7 is forced out the fluid escape aperture 16. The 
handle 10 is preferably a cylindrical device about 3-4 inches long and 
0.5-1 inches in diameter. In its preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, 
the handle 10 is made of a flexible plastic. In an alternative embodiment, 
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the handle 10 is made of a rigid plastic frame 
containing a flexible rubber bladder 12. The rigid plastic frame 10 is 
shaped to allow the user access to the rubber bladder 12. By squeezing the 
rubber bladder 12, the user forces the fluid 7 out the fluid escape 
aperture 16. 
The base 60 has a fluid transmission conduit 65 communicating between the 
fluid escape aperture 16 of the handle 10 and a fluid ejection conduit 69 
of the base 60. The fluid transmission conduit 65 of the base 60 further 
includes a floss storage chamber 67 for containing the spool 40 containing 
the dental floss 5. The fluid ejection conduit 69 has a diameter only 
slightly larger than the dental floss 5, so when the user sprays the fluid 
7 through the fluid ejection conduit 69, it comes out with some force, 
rather than simply dribbling out of a larger hole. This spray of fluid is 
useful for further cleaning and freshening the user's mouth. The base 60 
is preferably cylindrical in shape and made of fairly rigid molded 
plastic. The base 60 is preferably as small as possible, being just large 
enough to contain the spool 40 of dental floss 5 and attach to the handle 
10 and the floss stem 26. The base 60 removably engages the handle 10 to 
cover the fluid escape aperture 16. In its preferred mode, the base 60 
removably engages the handle 10 through the cooperation of a handle 
receiving means 63 of the base 60 and a base attachment means 51 of the 
handle 10. It is preferred that the base 60 be removable from the handle 
10 so that the user can add more fluid to the handle 10 and more dental 
floss 5 to the base 60. This configuration also provides a simple 
mechanism to anchor the dental floss 5 for use. A disposable version could 
be designed with an integral connection, however, without changing the 
novelty of this invention. As described above, the two elements could be 
removably attached with threaded or frictional connections. In the 
preferred embodiment, the handle receiving means 63 of the base 60 is a 
second locking pin 62 and the base attachment means 51 of the handle 10 is 
a handle locking slot 50. A rubber sealing ring 55 is preferably added to 
prevent leakage. 
The supply of dental floss 5, preferably stored on a spool 40, is 
positioned within the fluid transmission conduit 65 of the base 60, 
preferably in a floss storage chamber 67 that is shaped to snugly contain 
the spool 40. The spool 40 preferably includes a spool conduit 41 that 
allows passage of the fluid through the spool 40. When the handle 10 is 
attached to the base 60, an inner portion of the dental floss 5, the 
portion on the spool 40, is frictionally clamped between the handle 10 and 
the base 60. An outer end of the dental floss 5 which has been unwound 
from the spool 40, is threaded through the fluid ejection conduit 69 of 
the base 60 and clamped in the floss locking tip 28 of the floss stem 26. 
In its preferred embodiment, the invention further includes a flexible pick 
27 attached to the terminal end of the floss stem 26 opposite the base 60. 
This pick 27 allows the user to clean and massage his gums after flossing. 
The invention preferably further includes a flexible plug 24. The plug 24 
is preferably attached in proximity to the fluid ejection conduit 69, most 
preferably to the base 60. The flexible plug 24 is shaped to fit within 
and seal the fluid ejection conduit 69, to prevent leakage of fluid from 
the handle 10. 
This invention further includes a method of cleaning teeth with the above 
described device. The method includes the steps of first providing a 
handle 10 having an internal chamber 14 and a fluid escape aperture 16, 
the fluid escape aperture 16 communicating with the internal chamber 14, 
the internal chamber 14 being capable of containing the fluid 7. Next, the 
user provides a base 60 having an fluid transmission conduit 65, the fluid 
transmission conduit 65 having a floss storage chamber 67. The user then 
provides a floss stem 26 attached to the base 60, the floss stem 26 having 
a floss locking tip 28 at a terminal end. Finally, the user provides a 
supply of dental floss 5, preferably on a spool 40, and fills the internal 
chamber 14 of the handle 10 with the fluid 7, preferably mouthwash. The 
dental floss 5 is positioned within the floss storage compartment of the 
fluid transmission conduit 65 of the base 60. The dental floss 5 is then 
threaded through the fluid ejection conduit 69 of the base 60. The base 60 
is then removably engaged to the handle 10 to cover the fluid escape 
aperture 16, frictionally clamping the dental floss 5 between the handle 
10 and the base 60. Once the device is assembled, the dental floss 5 that 
is protruding from the fluid ejection conduit 69 is pulled tight and 
clamping the dental floss 5 in the floss locking tip 28 of the floss stem 
26, positioning the dental floss 5 for use. If not enough of the dental 
floss 5 is available, the handle 10 can be partially removed from the base 
60, releasing the spool 40 of floss, allowing the user to pull a greater 
amount of the floss out for use. The user can then floss with the dental 
floss 5. Furthermore, by squeezing the handle 10, the user can spray the 
fluid 7 through the fluid ejection conduit 69, down the length of the 
dental floss 5 and into the user's mouth. 
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one 
preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in 
the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of 
the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended 
claims.