Dental floss holder

Abstract: A dental floss holder includes a pair of arms, each arm having a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The second end portions are movable between a first position in which the first end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a second position in which the first end portions are moved toward one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the first end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the first end portions are moved toward one another, said first tension being greater than the second tension. Further embodiments of the dental floss holder are also contemplated.

Description: This invention generally relates to dental floss holders. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel single use dental floss holder which is capable of, among other things, adjusting the tension of dental floss held by the holder. Dental floss holders are well known in the art. Such a prior art holder typically comprises a body having a linear portion for grasping the holder and a generally U-shaped or V-shaped end portion defined by a pair of fingers or tines which hold a string of dental floss material therebetween. The dental floss is securely fixed to the tines at opposite ends thereof by any well known manner. This construction of the dental floss holder enables the user to hold the linear portion while manipulating the dental floss between the user's teeth. While the dental floss holder described above is suitable for its intended use, it does suffer from several disadvantages. For instance, prior to using the dental floss holder, the dental floss is fixed so that it can be manipulated between teeth. However, after forcing the dental floss many times between adjacent teeth, the dental floss stretches and becomes slack, thereby losing some of its initial tension. This makes it more difficult to manipulate the dental floss between teeth. Additionally, during flossing of teeth, it is preferred to maintain the dental floss taut when initially inserting the floss between teeth, and, upon entering the space between the teeth, lessening the tension so that the dental floss wraps around the tooth being flossed. With the prior art dental floss holder described above, this preferred method of flossing one's teeth is impossible since the dental floss maintains only one tension, albeit this tension lessens as the dental floss holder is manipulated between one's teeth. The foregoing illustrates some limitations known to exist in present dental floss holders. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved dental floss holder directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter. DE 295 03 229, WO 95/06445 and DE 44 24898 A1 each disclose a dental gloss holder comprising means for allowing the user to vary the tension of the gloss. However, none provides all of the features and advantages of the present invention. According to the present invention there is provided a dental floss holder comprising a pair of arms; and dental floss material having one end secured to one arm and an opposite end secured to the other arm, and means for adjusting the tension of the dental floss material. Each arm or line has a middle portion and first and second opposite end portions. The first end portion of each arm curves outwardly away from its respective middle portion wherein the middle portions of the arms are positioned proximate one another so as to define a pivot. The curvature permits the user to easily manipulate the dental floss device deep in the oral cavity without requiring the user to open his or her mouth extremely wide. Additionally, the area encompassing the yoke section, which is defined as the tines and the dental floss, is sufficiently large to permit the user to easily pass the dental floss around the molars. The second end portions are movable between a spaced apart position in which the second end portions of the arms diverge away from one another, and a proximate position in which the second end portions are moved toward one another. A living hinge is provided for connecting the middle portions of the arms to one another. Dental floss material has one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm. The dental floss material has a first tension when the second end portions are in their spaced apart position and a second tension when the second end portions are in their proximate position, the second tension being greater than the first tension. A finger gripping surface is preferably provided on the second end portion of each arm to receive fingers of the user. Each finger gripping surface is located adjacent its respective middle portion of the arm. The second end portions of the arms are integrally formed with one another at respective terminal ends thereof. The terminal ends of the second end portions of the arms define a pointed member for stimulating a gingival area of an oral cavity. It is, therefore, a purpose of the present invention to provide a dental floss holder in which the tension of dental floss held by the holder can be manipulated to achieve a desired tension for increasing the effectiveness of flossing. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a dental floss holder in which the tension of the dental floss can be adjusted and locked at a certain tension. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a dental floss holder which is easy to use and manipulate by hand. Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a dental floss holder which can be used to stimulate a gingival area of an oral cavity. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a dental floss holder which is simple in design and cost-effective to manufacture. Figures 1-6 and 25-37 do not fall under the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a dental floss holder of a first preferred embodiment; Figure 8 is a right side elevational view of the dental floss holder illustrated in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a left side elevational view thereof; Figure 10 is a rear elevational view thereof; Figure 11 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 12 is a bottom plan view thereof; Figure 13 is a front elevational view of a dental floss holder of a second preferred embodiment; Figure 14 is a right side elevational view of the dental floss holder illustrated in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a left side elevational view thereof; Figure 16 is a rear elevational view thereof; Figure 17 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 18 is a bottom plan view thereof; Figure 19 is a front elevational view of a dental floss holder of a third preferred embodiment; Figure 20 is a right side elevational view of the dental floss holder illustrated in Figure 19; Figure 21 is a left side elevational view thereof; Figure 22 is a rear elevational view thereof; Figure 23 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 24 is a bottom plan view thereof; First Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in Figures 7-12, there is generally indicated at 50 a dental floss holder of a first preferred embodiment. This dental floss holder 50 includes a pair of symmetrically-shaped arms generally indicated at 52, 54. The left-hand arm has a middle portion 56, a first (upper) end portion 58, and a second (lower) end portion 60. Similarly, the right-hand arm also has a middle portion 62, a first (upper) end portion 64, and a second (lower) end portion 66. A living hinge 68 is provided for connecting the middle portions 56, 62 of the arms 52, 54 to one another. The first end portions 58, 64 of the dental floss holder 50 of this embodiment curve outwardly and rearwardly (see Figure 11) away from their respective middle portions 56, 62. As with the other embodiments of the present invention described herein, the dental floss holder 50 is preferably fabricated from medical grade polypropylene and preferably by a thermal injection molding process. The dental floss 70 is attached to the first end portions 58, 64 of the arms 52, 54 by laying the dental floss within a mold (not shown) used to make the dental floss holder 50. The dental floss 70 preferably has a rectangular cross section and the first end portions 58, 64 of the arms 52, 54 are molded around the dental floss to create a mechanical attachment of the dental floss to the first end portions of the arms. Ends of the dental floss 70 are then cut off in any well known manner so that they cannot back through the openings (not shown) which receive the dental floss. The dental floss can be fabricated from any suitable material, such as nylon or PTFE. The living hinge 68 prevents the over rotation of the first end portions 58, 64 upon moving the second end portions 60, 66 together. Thus, the living hinge 68 substantially precludes the snapping off of the dental floss 70 or one of the arms 52, 54 caused by applying too much pressure on the arm when moving them close together. The second end portions 60, 66 of the arms 52, 54 of holder 50 are integrally formed with one another at respective terminal ends thereof. As shown, the terminal ends of the second end portions 60, 66 define a pointed member 72 which can be utilized by the user of the dental floss holder 50 to stimulate a gingival area of the user's oral cavity. In this embodiment, the arms 52, 54 are flexible; thus, the second end portions 60, 66 can be moved toward one another for increasing the tension of the dental floss 70. This results in the first end portions 58, 64 pivoting about the middle portions 56, 62 away from one another for increasing the tension of the dental floss 70. This construction results in the dental floss 70 having a first tension (e.g., relatively slack) when the second end portions 60, 66 of the arms 52, 54 are in their relaxed condition and a second tension (e.g., relatively taut) when the second end portions are moved toward one another. Thus, when using the dental floss holder 50 of the present embodiment, the user can manipulate the second end portions 60, 66 to their proximate position so that the dental floss 70 is taut for moving the dental floss between the user's teeth. In its relaxed position, the dental floss 70 is less taut for manipulating the dental floss around the user's teeth. Still referring to Figures 7-12, the dental floss holder further includes finger gripping surfaces 74 provided on the second end portions 60, 66 of the arms 52, 54 adjacent the middle portions 56, 62 of the arms. As with the finger gripping surfaces 40 of holder 10, the finger gripping surfaces 74 are slightly wider than the rest of the arms 52, 54 and include relatively small protuberances which assist the user in gripping the arms of the dental floss holder 50. Second Preferred Embodiment Turning now to Figures 13-18, a dental floss holder 80 of a second preferred embodiment is shown. This dental floss holder 80 is similar to holder 50 of Figures 7-12, and in this regard, corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the views. The primary difference between holders 50 and 80 is that dental floss holder 80 has a finger gripping surface 82 which is longer in length than finger gripping surface 74 of holder 50. The increased surface area of finger surface 82 enables the user to better grasp the dental floss holder 80 when flossing. Third Preferred Embodiment Figures 19-24 illustrate dental floss holders, generally designated at 90, of a third preferred embodiment, respectively. Dental floss holder 90 is substantially similar to dental floss holders 50, 80, except that if lacks the finger gripping surfaces 74, 72 described above.

Claims: A dental floss holder (50, 80, 90) comprising: a) a pair of arms (52, 54), each comprising a first end portion (58, 64), and dental floss material (70) having one end secured to the first end portion of one arm and an opposite end secured to the first end portion of the other arm, and b) each arm having a middle portion (56, 62), and a second end portion (60, 66) opposite the first end portion (58, 64), the first end portion of each arm curving outwardly away from its respective middle portion, c) the middle portions of the arms being positioned proximate one another and connected by a living hinge (68), so as to define a pivot, d) whereby moving the second end portions (60, 66) of the arms towards one another increases the tension in the floss (70), and e) wherein the second end portions of the arms are integrally formed with one another at respective terminal ends thereof and define a pointed member (72) for stimulating a gingival area of an oral cavity. The dental floss holder of Claim 1 wherein the living hinge (68) is approximately 0.5 mm (0.020 inch) long. The dental floss holder of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the living hinge has a thickness between 0.13 mm (0.005 inch) and 0.76 mm (0.030 inch). The dental floss holder of any preceding claim further comprising, on the second end portion of each arm, a finger gripping surface (74, 82) for receiving fingers of a user. The dental floss holder of Claim 4 whose finger gripping surface is located adjacent the middle portion (56, 62) of each arm. The dental floss holder of any preceding claim wherein the first end portions of the arms project outwardly from the middle and second end portions. The dental floss holder of any preceding claim whose finger gripping surface projects outwardly with respect to the first and second end portions.

Inventors: ABRAMS BRAD F, DOLAN JOHN W, MCCLANAHAN DAVID D, PICKARD HAROLD J SR, RUSSELL ROBERT M, ABRAMS, BRAD F., DOLAN, JOHN W., MCCLANAHAN, DAVID D., PICKARD, HAROLD J. SR., RUSSELL, ROBERT M.
Applicants: PROCTER & GAMBLE, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61C15
IPC codes: A61C15