Abstract:
A dental floss threader adapted to minimize discomfort of the user comprising: a shank extending between a first end and second and being elastically deformable; an eyelet integrally joined at said first end of said shank; and a covering enclosing said second end of said shank.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to dental flossing instruments and more particularly dental floss threaders enabled with a discomfort minimizing feature. 
         [0003]    2.Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,144 discloses a device for inserting dental floss through interproximal areas and method of using same. A device for inserting dental floss in difficult-to-reach areas under dental bridges or splints, comprising a length of flexible material formed into a loop, the ends of which are bonded together over a substantial portion to provide a stiffened elongated guide portion. The floss is threaded through the loop and the device, with the guide portion leading, is passed under two connected teeth of a bridge through interproximal areas whereby the floss is inserted through such areas. 
         [0005]    The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed is a dental floss threader adapted to minimize discomfort of the user comprising: a shank extending between a first end and second and being elastically deformable; an eyelet integrally joined at said first end of said shank; and a covering enclosing said second end of said shank. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The detailed description set forth below references the following drawings: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    are dental floss threaders incorporating exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2 a , 2 b , 2 c , and 2 d    together is an injection molding process for making adapted floss threaders. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c    together is a dip-forming process for making adapted floss threaders. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    together is a method of use of an adapted floss threader while  FIG. 4 c    provides illustration of an alternative method of use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Oftentimes those that require the use of a floss threader to complete the dental flossing process suffer from sensitive gums and teeth. The floss threaders in the prior art contain sharp ends which can cause discomfort to the user during use when the sharp end comes in contact with the sensitive region in the mouth. Due to the fact that the floss threader must be used several times during each flossing session, once in between each set of teeth, the flossing experience can be painful owing to the sharp threader tip and can even lead to the user avoiding the use of floss altogether. The present disclosure, as demonstrated by the exemplary embodiment(s) described below, can minimize discomfort due to the floss threader tip in the mouth of the user during prescribed use. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 a   , floss threader  10  has eyelet  12 , shank  14 , and covering  16  wherein covering  16  is applied in order to soften the tip of shank  14  such that when placed in the mouth, the otherwise sharp end of shank  14  does not cause discomfort to the user. In this embodiment the covering  16  is of relatively consistent diameter and is of a size that approximately doubles the diameter of shaft  14  although the diameter can be larger but preferably less than six times the diameter of shaft  14 . The shank  14  can be less than 0.5 millimeter in diameter. Shank  14  and eyelet  12  can be constructed of an elastically deformable material with similar rigidity or shank  14  can have a different level of rigidity than eyelet  12 . Furthermore, the covering  16  can act to cover a part of shaft  14  or can cover the entire length of shaft  14 . Shaft  14 , covering  16 , and eyelet  12  can also be coated with one or more of a flavoring agent, a colorant, and an antibacterial agent. 
         [0014]    Similarly, in  FIG. 1 b   , floss threader  20  has eyelet  22 , shank  24 , and covering  26  wherein covering  26  takes on a slightly conical shape, having a changing diameter along its length. As one skilled in the art would recognize, the cross sectional shape of the covering can vary widely while still providing the discomfort minimizing function. 
         [0015]    Now in reference to  FIG. 2 a   , a floss threader  30  is presented to a mold  32  having both a floss entrance hole  34  and a gate  36  wherein the gate is enabled to receive molten material injected into the mold by a nozzle. In  FIG. 2 b   , the floss threader  30  has been positioned inside mold  32 . In  FIG. 2 c   , the floss threader  30  remains inside mold  32  while nozzle  40  is positioned to inject material  38  into the mold  32  thereby overmolding a portion of floss threader  30 . In  FIG. 2 d   , the injection molding process is completed when the nozzle  40  disengages and adapted floss threader  42  is removed from mold  32 . The injected material  38  in  FIG. 2 c    can be silicone wherein the material is injected at a relatively low temperature into a relatively hot mold  32  wherein the material is vulcanized. Injected material  38  could also be latex. 
         [0016]    Moving now to a dip coating process as described in  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , and 3 c   . In  FIG. 3 a   , floss threader  50  is presented to a fluid bath  52 . One skilled in the art would recognize that floss threader  50  is required to be clean and in some cases primed and heated to ensure adherence of the coating in the process prior to the dipping as pictured in  FIG. 3 b   . Here, threader  50  is dipped into fluid bath  52  for some finite time. In  FIG. 3 c   , the adapted floss threader  52  is removed from the fluid bath  52  and coating  54  is permitted to cure. The curing could include heating induced vulcanizing, cooling induced hardening, or a solvent evaporation process. One skilled in the art would recognize that fluid bath  52  could contain wax or one of several dip coating plastics including latex, neoprene, and plastisol. Fluid bath  52  could contain the same or similar wax regularly used to coat dental floss. In this case the dip coating process may need to be repeated to build up sufficient thickness of a coating necessary to provide the minimizing discomfort feature. Furthermore, one would recognize that any coating, whether dip coated or injection molded, could contain one or more of a flavoring agent, a colorant, and an antibacterial agent. 
         [0017]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    demonstrating a method of use of the adapted floss threader. Shown is a small portion of the human mouth including two teeth  62  each containing a component of dental braces, bracket  68   a  and  68   b  with arch wire  66  extending therebetween. To begin using the adapted floss threader  60 , the user inserts the covered end  70  through the space between the arch wire  66  and tooth  62  and threads dental floss  64  through the eyelet  72 . The user then pulls the adapted floss threader  60  completely through the space between the arch wire  66  and tooth  62  but not so far that the dental floss  64  is pulled complete through. While one end of the dental floss  64  remains in the space between the arch wire  66  and the tooth  62  the user removes dental floss  64  from eyelet  72  and commences the flossing process. 
         [0018]    Alternatively,  FIG. 4 c    demonstrates a slightly different method of use of the adapted floss threader. Shown is a small portion of the human mouth including two teeth  62  each containing a component of dental braces, bracket  68   a  and  68   b  with arch wire  66  extending therebetween. To begin using the adapted floss threader  60 , the user inserts the covered end  70  through the space between the teeth  62  and below arch wire  66  and threads dental floss  64  through the eyelet  72 . The user then pulls the adapted floss threader  60  completely through the space between the teeth  62  but not so far that the dental floss  64  is pulled complete through. While one end of the dental floss  64  remains in the space between the teeth  62  the user removes dental floss  64  from eyelet  72  and commences the flossing process. 
         [0019]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the “present disclosure” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other present disclosures in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.