Abstract:
A toothbrush includes a handle having first and second ends and a head operatively connected to the second end of the handle. Bristles are on the head; an inner cavity is disposed within the first end of the handle; and dental floss is contained in the cavity. A lid is hinged to the first end of the handle and the lid is comprised of a cover member and a flap member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a toothbrush having a flossing dispenser in its handle and to a method of using it. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a toothbrush having a flossing dispenser on the handle. In the design and use of a toothbrush, there is a need for a toothbrush with a flossing dispenser. Brushing and flossing go together in dental care. And, all too often, a floss container cannot be found when it is time to brush. This is especially true if one travels with a brush. Therefore, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush with a flossing dispenser in the handle. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device which is easy to use and economical to manufacture. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that is durable and safe in use. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to promote good dental care. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to make brushing and flossing convenient by having both the brush and the floss in one apparatus. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device where the floss is unobtrusive when the brush is being used. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device where the floss can be easily replaced or refilled. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device where the floss is enclosed within the handle when the brush is being used. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that includes a cutter for cutting off segments of floss. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lid which can be closed during use of the brush but which is easy to open for exposing floss. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a lid that is bi-folding so that it can be opened to one position for cutting floss segments and opened to a second position for removal of the spool of floss. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide floss that is easily unrolled and cut into segments for use. 
   The means and method of accomplishing these and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing objectives may be achieved by a toothbrush for improving dental care. The toothbrush has a flossing dispenser on the handle. The inside of the handle is hollow to incorporate a roll of dental floss. The invention further relates to a method of dispensing floss from such a toothbrush. 
   In more detail, the toothbrush includes a toothbrush body with a handle having a first end and an opposite second end. The second end of the handle is operatively connected to a first end of a neck and a head is operatively connected to an opposite second end of the neck. A plurality of bristles is attached to the receiving head. The handle has a hand conforming shape for gripping by a user. The handle has a recessed area at the first end of the handle. An inner cavity is disposed within the handle at the first end of the handle. A lid is hinged to the first end of the handle for enclosing or providing access to the inner cavity. A guide slot is cut longitudinally into the first end of the handle within the recessed area. A protruding ridge is also within the recessed area of the handle. A floss cutter is disposed within the recessed area. A lid includes a cover member and a flap member. The flap member is hinged to the cover member. An alignment member protrudes from the cover member such that the alignment member is directed inwardly into the inner cavity when the cover member is in a closed position. A pair of protrusions on the flap member matingly attach to the protruding ridge within the recessed area of the handle. A retaining member protrudes from the cover member such that the retaining member is directed inwardly to rest against the guide slot of the handle when the lid is in a closed position. A lip member protrudes from the cover member. An alignment cylinder is disposed within the inner cavity for accepting a roll of dental floss. 
   The method of dispensing floss includes providing a toothbrush body having a hollow first end of a handle for receiving a roll of dental floss and an opposite second end of the handle. A roll of floss is inserted into the hollow first end of the handle to retain the roll of floss. The floss is threaded through the guide slot and then the cover member is closed. The floss is then pulled over the ridge to the floss cutter where the floss is secured and the extra floss is cut-off. The flap member of the toothbrush is closed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a toothbrush with the floss dispenser open. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a toothbrush showing the inner cavity where the roll of floss sits and with the lid open. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a toothbrush showing the guide slot, ridge and floss cutter with the lid open. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a toothbrush showing the inner cavity where the roll of floss sits and with the lid closed. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view,  10  generally refers to the toothbrush of the present invention. The handle  16  of the toothbrush is where the toothbrush is gripped. The handle  16  has a hand conforming shape for gripping by a user. The first end of the handle is  40  while the second end of the handle is  42 . The handle  16  connects to the neck  38 . The handle  16  and neck  38  are preferably of one piece construction. The first end of the neck is  44  and the second end of the neck is  46 . Attached to the second end of the neck  46  is the toothbrush head  12  containing bristles  14 . The bristles  14  are for cleaning teeth. The first end of the handle  40  is hollow and contains a roll of dental floss  18 . The dental floss  18  unrolls and goes through the guide slot  20  over the ridge  34  and onto the floss cutter  22  where it is cut into lengths. The guide slot  20  aligns the floss  18  after coming off a roll. The ridge  34  separates the floss  18  from the handle  16  making it easier to grab. The floss cutter  22  both cuts the floss and keeps the loose end. There is a cover member  31  for covering the dental floss  18  and a flap member  32  for covering the guide slot  20 , ridge  34  and floss cutter  22 . The flap member  32  is openable with a thumb. The cover member  31  is openable by pulling on the flap member  32 . The cover member  31  closes with the retaining member  26  attaching to the guide slot  20 . The retaining member  26  only attaches to the top of the guide slot  20  leaving room at the bottom for the floss  18 . The flap member  32  closes with the pair of protrusions  28  that straddle the ridge  34 . On the cover member  31  is the male alignment cylinder  24  that, when the cover member  31  is closed, fits into the female alignment cylinder  36 . The male alignment cylinder  24  has a smaller diameter than the female alignment cylinder  36  and snaps into place. The alignment cylinders keep the roll of dental floss  18  centered and unrolling smoothly. The dental floss  18  is available with only the flap member  32  opened. Only when the dental floss  18  needs changing does the cover member need to be opened. The lid  30  incorporates both the cover member  31  and the flap member  32 . The floss  18  fits within the inner cavity  48 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a side cross-sectional view, the hollow end  40  of the toothbrush  10  includes an inner cavity  48  where the roll of dental floss  18  goes. Inner cavity  48  includes a female alignment cylinder  36  which fits within the cylindrical core  54  of the roll of dental floss  18 . The dental floss  18  is wrapped around the cylindrical core  54 . Detail is shown in the cover member  31  and flap member  32  which together comprise a bifolding lid  30 . The retaining member  26  and male alignment cylinder  24  (short) are shown in their open positions. The inner cavity  48  can extend well into the toothbrush handle. This side view shows the recessed area  50  of the handle including the floss cutter  22 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a top view, the cover member  31  and flap member  32  are shown. Attached to the flap member  32  are the pair of protrusions  28 ; attached to the cover member  31  is the retaining member  26 . Recess  50  includes the guide slot  20  for the dental floss  18 , and the ridge  34  and the floss cutter  22 . Also shown are the lip member  52  and the recessed area of the handle  50 . 
     FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view the same as  FIG. 2  except the cover member  31  and flap member  32  are in their closed positions and the male alignment cylinder  24  is inserted into the female alignment cylinder  36 . In this position of lid  30 , the pair of protrusions  28  embrace the ridge  34  to provide a snap attachment of flap member  32  to the recessed area  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the floss  18  is inside the toothbrush inner cavity  48  looking towards the cover member  31 . The floss cutter  22  is adapted to cut floss  18 , and the pair of protrusions  28  embrace the ridge  34 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the floss  18  is inside the toothbrush inner cavity  48  and the retaining member  26  tightly fits against the lower wall  51  of recess  50  to secure the lid  30  in its closed position. Retaining member  26  includes a ridge  53  that frictionally fits within a slot  20  in lower wall  51 . 
   The method of using the toothbrush having a flossing dispenser on the brush handle  16  is as follows. Insert the floss  18  onto a female alignment cylinder  36  in the hollow first end of the handle  40 . The floss  18  is threaded through guide slot  20  and then outwardly from the first end of the handle  40 . The cover member  31  is closed, but the flap  32  is open. The floss  18  is pulled out to a length appropriate for flossing. Floss cutter  22  is then used to cut the floss  18  to length. 
   The floss  18  continues to unroll until all the floss  18  is gone, leaving only the cylindrical core  54 . The core  54  is removed by unsnapping cover member  31  and is replaced by a new roll of floss  18  on a new core  54 . Cover member  31  is then snapped back in place. 
   In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, their use is in a generic descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient. For example, the present invention contemplates that the handle can be of various shapes or materials. The handle is preferably plastic or rubber coated plastic, but can also be wood or metal. The bristles are preferably nylon, but can be made of different materials. These and other variations are well within the spirit or scope of the invention in the following claims.