Abstract:
A dental floss assembly including a dental floss with terminal ends; a hermetically sealed compartment for containing the dental floss; a first loop and a second loop, each loop attached to a different terminal end of the dental floss, and each loop outlining an open region; wherein at least one loop is separably attached to the compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a dental floss assembly. More particularly, it relates to such an assembly with a floss compartment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Dental floss has been recommended by dental professionals as a necessity for maintaining optimal dental hygiene. If properly used, it can prevent the onset of gum disease such as gingivitis or cavity in those flossed areas.  
         [0003]     Typically, a dental floss has a floss, which when in use is stretched at least in a partial section in a taut state so as to allow a scraping motion of the tautly stretched portion across a surface of a tooth. The scraping motion loosens debris on the dental surface, usually removing the debris from the flossed section and leaving the surface in a cleaner state. The removal of the debris results in better hygiene.  
         [0004]     However, its acceptance by the general public has been limited, even after decades of warnings from dental associations. People find proper flossing tedious, uncomfortable and difficult. To reach and adequately floss all the necessary places with the floss requires time, manual dexterity and discipline. Electromechanical devices, developed thus far to make flossing an easier and more conducive task, have been shown by research to be inferior than conventional manual flossing, further to the relative disadvantage of significantly high cost.  
         [0005]     As shown by the art in this field, many attempts have been made to make flossing more acceptable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In a first aspect the invention provides a dental floss assembly comprising a dental floss having terminal ends; a hermetically sealed compartment for containing the dental floss; a first loop and a second loop, each loop attached to a different terminal end of the dental floss, and each loop outlining an open region; wherein at least one loop is separably attached to the compartment.  
         [0007]     In one variation, the loops are approximately the same size and shape. Each open region is of approximately 1.5 centimetre diameter.  
         [0008]     The loops are positioned in the same plane when attached to the compartment.  
         [0009]     The loops may be positioned in parallel planes when attached to the compartment. With sides of the compartment being flush with edges of the loops.  
         [0010]     In a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the first loop is C-shaped defining a first cavity; and the second loop is removably received in the first cavity.  
         [0011]     In a variation of the above, the cross-section of the second loop is C-shaped defining a second cavity; the dental floss is wound around the second loop in the second cavity; and the compartment is formed as a combination of the second loop received in the first cavity.  
         [0012]     In a further variation, the second cavity opens in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the open region of the second loop. Alternatively, the second cavity may open in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the open region of the second loop.  
         [0013]     The invention also includes the assembly with a window defined by the first loop; a flange formed on the second loop for extending through and past the window when the second loop is received in the first cavity.  
         [0014]     A tab may be attached to each of the first and second loops for separating the first loop from the second loop.  
         [0015]     In the preferred embodiment, the compartment may be attached only to the first loop, or attached to the first loop and the second loop.  
         [0016]     The loops may be made of plastic in construction.  
         [0017]     The shape of the loops may be circular, triangular, square, rectangular, or hook-like. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of the present invention and in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a dental floss assembly in the unpackaged state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  in the packaged state.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a dental floss assembly in the unpackaged state according to further embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded side cross-sectional view along the line A—A′ of  FIG. 3  for one embodiment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded side cross-sectional view along the line A—A′ of  FIG. 3  for a second embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4C  is an exploded side cross-sectional view along the line A—A′ of  FIG. 3  for one embodiment showing flange and window.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a dental floss assembly in the unpackaged state according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 2  showing a preferred embodiment of the dental floss assembly  100  in unpackaged state (usable for flossing). The assembly  100  has a floss  110  with the ends of the floss attached to separate finger grips  120 . In this document, these finger grips  120  will be denoted as loops  120  even if the shape of the grips  120  are not necessarily (but are preferably) circular in shape. The finger grips  120  may also be hook-like in shape, that is to say, an unclosed circular loop. The loops  120  may also be roughly triangular or even rectangular. The purpose of the loops  120  is to accommodate fingers (preferably index) of a user while flossing teeth for stretching the floss  110  taut; as such the open regions defined by the loops  120  should be not much larger in diameter than a typical index finger (about 1.5 cm). Variations may be to accommodate smaller digits of a child.  
         [0027]     The dental floss assembly  100  may also be in a stored state, as shown in  FIG. 1  as the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The two loops  120  are joined side-by-side by a compartment  130  which houses the floss  110  (not shown). The compartment  130  is of sufficient size to house the floss  110  and may be constructed of any material and configuration which allows the loops  120  to be manually pulled apart from each other (or from the compartment  130 ), releasing the floss  110  and putting the assembly  100  into its unpackaged state. A preferred material is plastic; however any other light weight material resistant to breaking may be used.  
         [0028]     A characteristic of the compartment  130  is that a hermetically sealed environment is provided thereby for ensuring that the floss  110  housed therein remains in a hygienic state when the floss assembly  100  is in the stored state until the compartment  130  is breached in order to use the assembly  100  for flossing. For example, a sealant may be applied to a plastic casing (not shown) for the floss  110 . The plastic casing may be partially perforated to facilitate breaking apart.  
         [0029]     Embodiment of the invention include a compartment  130  which joins the loops  120  of an assembly  100  in the stored state as in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0030]     In a variation of the above (not shown), the loops  120  are placed in parallel planes with the compartment  130  interconnecting the loops  120 . The sides of the compartment  130  may be flush with the edges of the loops  120  such that a top view of the assembly  100  shows a single circular ring. Alternatively, the compartment  130  may sit, similar to a jewel, on astride both loops  120 .  
         [0031]     Additional embodiments of the assembly  100  have loops  120  of different dimensions ( FIG. 3 ): a major loop  150  of a larger diameter and a minor loop of a smaller dimension  140 . In one variation, the major loop  150  has a C-shaped cross-sectional area defining a major cavity  170  (as shown in  FIG. 4A ). The major cavity  170  opens in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the opening region of the major loop  150 . The minor loop  140  is dimensioned to fit inside the cavity  170  defined by the cross-section of the major loop  150  and can be inserted or removed from within the cavity manually, when the assembly  100  is in the stored or packaged state. In such a configuration, either or both the loops  140   150  may be made of a resilient material to permit extrication of one loop  120  from the other loop  120 .  
         [0032]     The minor loop  140  may also be C-shaped in cross-section (the minor cavity  160 ), with its cavity  160  housing the floss  110  (shown as wound once around the minor loop  140  in  FIG. 4A , configurations of more are within invention, esp. if the major cavity  170  is used to keep used portions of the floss  110  during flossing), which may be wound a number of times around the minor loop  140  in the minor cavity  160 . In the stored state, the minor cavity  160  may open to any side of the enclosing major loop  150 . In  FIG. 4B , the minor cavity  160  opens in a direction transverse to the plane defined by the minor loops  120 . The combination of the sides of the loops  120  defines the compartment  130  and provides a good seal for keeping the floss  110  hygienic for later flossing when the assembly  100  is in the stored state.  
         [0033]     One possible way for changing the assembly  100  in this latter configuration from the packaged to the unpackaged state is to provide for a flange  180  on the minor loop  140  extending in the same plane as that defined by the minor loop  140  (see  FIG. 4C ); the major loop  150  defines a window  190  through which the flange  180  may extend when the assembly  100  is in the unpackaged state. To unpackage the assembly  100 , a user would apply pressure to the flange  180  while keeping the major loop  150  relatively immobile. One method by which this can be achieved is to put the assembly  100  against a hard surface with the flange  180  abutting the surface. Pressing the assembly  100  against the surface, such as by way of using one&#39;s palm, would push the flange  180  back out the window  190  at least partially, and remove the minor loop  140  from the major cavity  170  and allow the assembly  100  to be used for flossing.  
         [0034]     The two loops  140   150  may also be separated by various other ways. For example, a tab (not shown) in the form of a rigid extension may be attached to, or form part of, each of the loops  140   150  (a string may also be sufficient). By pulling on the tab, the loops  140   150  may be parted from each other.  
         [0035]     In a variation of the above ( FIG. 5 ), the compartment  130  is not defined by the sides of the loops  120 ; rather, the compartment  130  is separate and positioned on the major loop  150  extending away from the major loop  150 . This assembly  100  resembles a ring (jewellery), and may be conducive to use by children.  
         [0036]     In variations, the separate compartment  130  resides between the major loop  150  and minor loop  140  (not shown), or the compartment  130  may partially overlap the minor loop  140  (not shown). In these configurations, the dimensions of the loops  120  are not so different as to cause a problem for flossing using the assembly  100 .  
         [0037]     The above description contains reference to dimensions. These are typical only and the invention is not limited to them. For example, a particular assembly may refer to dimension, however alternate embodiments could be configured with consequent modification to the dimensions, other quantities and materials to match the need of the person using the dental floss assembly.  
         [0038]     It will be appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Many variations on the apparatus for delivering the invention will be clear to those knowledgeable in the field, and such variations are within the scope of the invention as described and claimed, whether or not expressly described.