MOTOR-DRIVEN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SPACES BETWEEN TEETH BY DENTAL FLOSS

Abstract: Motor-driven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss comprising a dental floss for cleaning the spaces between teeth, motor means (11), a feeding reel (24) of the fresh dental floss, a take-up reel (25) of the worn-out dental floss, a set of pulleys (18, 20, 21A, 21B) about which the dental floss is running between feeding reel and take-up reel, and reciprocating motor means (13, 15, 16, 18) 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.

Description: - 1 - MOTOR-DRIVEN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SPACES BETWEEN TEETK BY DENTAL FLOSS This invention relates to a motor-driven appa¬ ratus 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 re¬ place 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 ap¬ plicant 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 appa¬ ratus 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. 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 re¬ ciprocated connecting roc; 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 detailled view of the pulleys stretching the cental floss and the reciprocated double pul]ey. With reference firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 the apparatus according to the invention comprises a casing 10; a motor 11 provided with reduction gear and helical driving gear 12; a first gear wheel 13 of small diameter meshed with gear 12 and idle-mounted on casing 10; a second gear wheel 14 of greater diameter also idle-mounted in casing 10 and meshed with the first gear wheel 13; a connecting rod 15 driven by the first gear wheel 13 by means of a crank 16 integral with the latter; a first pulley 18 mounted at the end 19 of the connecting rod 15; a second pulley 20 idle-mounted in casing 10 and facing pulley 18, and a pair of free pulleys 21A, 21B idle-mounted in the head 22 of casing 10 at both sides of opening 23. The apparatus further includes a feeding reel 24 of the fresh dental floss and a take-up reel 25 of the worn-out dental floss. It should be noted that the take-up reel is integral with the second gear wheel 14, while the feeding reel in this embodiment is coaxially mounted w th the assembly formed of the second gear wheel and the take-up reel with the interpos tion of a clutch device, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 3. For a fully understanding of the description, floss FL, cleaning the spaces between teeth and extending from feeding reel 24 to take-up reel 25 around several pulleys as described herebelow in greater detail, is divided in several lengths, each of them extending from a pulley to the next one. Therefore the first length between feeding reel 24 and pulley 20 is designated by 30; the second length between pulley 20 and double pulley 18 is designated by 31; the third length between pulley 18 and pulley 21A is indicated at 32; the length between pulley 21A and pulley 21B is indicated at 33, the latter being the operating length; the length between pulley 21B and pulley 18 is indicated at 34; and finally the length between pulley 18 and take-up reel 25 is designated by 35 (fig. 4) . As known the active length of the dental floss for cleaning spaces between teeth should be reciprocated in the apparatus of this invention due to the rotation of pulley 18 mounted at the end 19 of the connecting rod 15. To this end the clutch device mounted between feeding reel 24 and its support member is mandatory. In operation, motor 11 rotates gear wheel 13 which reciprocates through crank 16 the double pulley 16 approaching and moving away from pulley 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Since length 30 of dental floss FL is held by clutch device 38 (Fig. 3) this relative movement of double pulley 18 causes length 33 stretched between the freely rotating pulleys 21A and 21B, to run with respect to window 23. It should be appreciated that the pulleys are arranged such that length 33 is shifted in both direction by a double as high extent than that of the reciprocated pulley 18 due to the εocallec chain pulley effect (Fig. 4). As for the details of this movement it should be noted that the reciprocation of cental floss length 33 is caused by the alternate variation of the length of the floss loops formed of lengths 30, 31 and lengths 34, 35, respectively. It should also be appreciated that the rotation of gear wheel 13 causes also gear wheel 14 to be rotated even if much more slowly due to the tooth ratio of the gear wheels. The rotation of gear wheel 14 likewise causes take-up reel 25 to be rotated (Fig. 3), thus pulling the dental floss in one direction by a greater force than that of the clutch device 38 in the opposite direction, so that dental floss FL is unwound a little at time from feeding reel 24. Thus the dental floss of the operating length 33 is continuoεly replaced by fresh floss, the worn-out floss being wound on take-up reel 25. The movement of the floss from feeding reel 24 to take-up reel 25 is designated by arrows along the path of the cental floss indicating also the reciprocation of the operating length 33 and the adjacent lengths. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the motor and the housing of the cells (not shown) are located in the handle 40 of the casing 10. In Fig. 3 a second embodiment is shown ir. fragmentary exploded section, in which casing 110 and handle 140 are separated and adapted to be fitted by snap means cf known type (not shown). In Fig. 3 a clutch device 3c, adapted to be included also in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, is also shown in detail. Clutch device 38 is provided with friction felt 42 placed between the one-piece assembly of gear wheel 114/ta e-up reel 125 and feeding reel 124 coaxially mounted en pin 143. Handle 1^1 and casing 110, the latter being of disposable type and being replaced when all of the cental floss is passed from feeding reel 124 t take-up reel 125, are connected by snap means of known type which are not further described. However, the coaxial arran¬ gement of the ' two reels 24 (or 124) and 25 (or 125) with the gear wheel of larger diameter 14 (or 114) should be appreciated. Of course, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 some parts have a different construction from the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, even if they have the same function of transmitting the movement of motor 111 to gear wheel 113 carrying crank 16; among them there is in particular the coupling of key pin 145 of the latter into the cavity of gear 112 αriven by motor shaft 146.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Motor-αriven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss comprising an outer casing provided with handle, a dental floss for cleaning the spaces between teeth, motor means, a feecing reel of the fresh dental floss, a take-up reel of the worn-out αer.tal floss, a set of pulleys about which the dental floss is running between feeding reel and take-up reel, and reci¬ procating 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. 2. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 1, wherein said motor means are formed of an electrical motor, a first gear wheel of small diameter carrying a crank driven by said motor, a second gear wheel of much larger diameter meshed with said first gear wheel, and said reciprocating motor means are formed of a rod connected to said crank and a double pulley carried at the end of said rod. 3. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 2, wherein said set of pulleys is formed of a first idle pulley facing said double pulley and a pair of pulleys which are mounted at the sides of an opening of said casing and between which the operating length of the floss is stretched. 4. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 3, wherein said second gear wheel and said take-up reel are integral with each other, thus forming an unitary assembly, and said feeding reel is mounted on the axis of said assembly with the inter¬ position of said clutch device. 5. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 4, wherein said casing and said handle are separable, said casing being of the disposable type and said handle includes said electrical motor and relative cells, clutch means being provided for transmitting the movement from said motor to said first gear wheel.

Inventors: SANTORO GIOVANNI, SANTORO, GIOVANNI
Applicants: SANTORO GIOVANNI, SANTORO, GIOVANNI
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61C15
IPC codes: A61C15