Abstract:
Dental floss packaging and a method of using same is provided, wherein a plurality of predetermined lengths of dental floss, each sufficient for a single flossing, are disposed within individual sealed compartments in the packaging. Manual force applied to a compartment urges the floss through a cover sheet thereby dispensing the floss for use. The empty compartment provides a visual indication that a particular day&#39;s flossing has been completed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/135,388 filed on Jul. 21, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The claimed technology relates generally to oral healthcare products and more specifically to methods and devices for dispensing dental floss and the monitoring thereof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tooth decay and periodontal disease can be caused by bacterial activity resulting from the formation of plaque on the teeth in addition to trapped food particles between teeth and/or between a tooth and the gum. Conventional brushing alone has been found to be inadequate for removing all entrapped food particles and plaque buildup. Daily flossing to remove remaining plaque and entrapped food particles as well as associated bacteria significantly reduces the incidence of dental caries, gingivitis, bad breath, and promotes overall oral health. Additionally, recent research has shown correlations between oral health and other conditions such as prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes, as well as premature and low birth weight babies. 
         [0004]    Yet with all of the benefits associated with flossing, many patients do not floss on a daily basis if at all. According to dental patient surveys, “you need to floss more” is the phrase patients least like to hear from their dentists. One possible reason for failing to floss on a regular basis may be the design of the floss packaging itself. Typically, dental floss is packaged by winding several yards of floss on a spool placed within a plastic housing having a hinged lid. The free end of the floss is allowed to extend upward from the spool so that the desired length of floss can be drawn off of the spool and cut using a cutting blade attached to the housing. 
         [0005]    The total length of floss on a spool may vary from brand to brand and typically patients have no way of determining how much floss is remaining in a container, especially if more than one person uses floss from a single container. Patients may use a different length of floss with each use unless they are careful to draw off the same amount at each flossing. The combination of not always being able to tell how much floss is remaining on a spool as well as drawing off varying lengths of floss with each use makes it difficult to tell if a patient has flossed on a particular day. With no ability to verify usage or frequency of flossing, there is little to no accountability for a patient to encourage daily flossing with existing floss dispensers. What is needed is a way for patients to visually verify that a particular day&#39;s flossing has been completed; as well as that the proper amount of floss was used; so as to encourage daily flossing and thereby improve both oral and overall health of the patient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut away side view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to still another embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partial cut away side view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to a further embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the claimed technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claimed technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the claimed technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the claimed technology relates. 
         [0016]    A top plan view of a dental floss dispenser  40  according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology is shown in  FIG. 1  while a partial cut away side view of the dispenser  40  shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line  2  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Dental floss dispenser  40  includes a plurality of cavities  53  disposed about the packaging. A coiled length of dental floss  52  having a predetermined length is sealed within each cavity  53 . Each individual length of floss has the same predetermined length as every other length of floss, and this predetermined length is selected so as to be suitable for a single use flossing a user&#39;s teeth. In one example of the disclosed technology, each premeasured piece of dental floss is of at least eighteen inches in length. In other embodiments, each piece of dental floss is of a greater or lesser length as desired. For example, packaging for adult users may contain one predetermined length of floss while packaging for child users may contain another, shorter, length of dental floss. Floss  52  can be of any desired type, style, diameter, and/or flavor of dental floss or tape. 
         [0017]    Dispenser  40  is comprised of a backing sheet  50  about which a plurality of cavities  53  are disposed. In one embodiment, each cavity  53  is formed in the otherwise planar backing sheet  50  of some type of deformable material such as thermoformable plastic sheet material. In another embodiment, backing sheet  50  is a semi-rigid transparent plastic such as cast vinyl. Cavities  53  may be formed by thermoforming a region of a planar plastic material to the desired shape such as by placing the plastic material between a pair of heated dies that are temperature controlled at a temperature sufficient to soften the plastic while pressing the dies together so as to form the desired indentations or “blisters” in the plastic. Such a technique is well known in the packaging art. The cavities or blisters may be of a generally round, hemispherical shape or other shape such as cylindrical, square, rectangular, ovoid, or other suitable shape as desired. 
         [0018]    To enclose the floss  52  within cavity  53 , a cover sheet  42  is disposed so as to cover each of the plurality of cavities  53 . Cover sheet  42  is joined to the backing sheet  50  at one or more suitable locations  54  using a suitable attachment method such as heat, adhesives, or other suitable techniques. In one embodiment, cover sheet  42  is applied in a manner so as to form a hermetic seal with backing sheet  50  to prevent contamination of the floss prior to use. Cover sheet  42  comprises a material so as to allow the floss  52  to be pushed therethrough when sufficient manual pressure is applied to cavity  53 . In one example, cover sheet  42  is comprised of a thin metal foil material. In other examples, cover sheet  42  is comprised of plastic, paper, or a composite of two or more suitable types of materials. 
         [0019]    The size, configuration, and arrangement of cavities  53  formed in backing sheet  50  are selected in this particular embodiment so that it is possible for a user to apply sufficient manual pressure to an individual cavity  53  so as to deform the cavity and thereby urge the floss  52  contained within that particular cavity through the portion of the cover sheet  44  which seals that particular cavity. Each individual cover sheet portion  44  which seals a particular cavity further includes one or more indicium  46  which indicates a particular day or date. In one example, each cover sheet portion  44  which seals a particular cavity further includes an indicium which is unique from the other cover sheet portion indicia, for example, a number from one to thirty. Such indicia may be printed, stamped, etched, molded, or otherwise generated in or on cover sheet  42  in the appropriate location(s). 
         [0020]    In this particular example, dispenser  40  further includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device  48  capable of recording and transmitting information related to the dispensing of floss from the packaging. RFID device  48  may be active (i.e., having a power source) or passive (i.e., lacking a power source) as desired and may be capable of recording and transmitting such information as how many and how frequently portions of dental floss were dispensed from the dispenser. For example, the RFID device may be able to differentiate between a patient that dispensed floss on a daily basis and one that dispenses all of the floss in a single day (presumably right before returning the dispenser to his dentist). Such a device allows a dentist to track if a patient is actually flossing and with what frequency. 
         [0021]    In another example shown in  FIG. 3 , indicia indicating a particular day of the week (i.e., “Sunday”, “S”, “Su”, or the like as appropriate) may be used. In this particular example, a dental floss package  54  includes a plurality of sealed cavities  60  disposed about a cover sheet  58  in five rows and seven columns for a total of thirty-five sealed cavities containing dental floss. Each column is associated with the indicium  56  of a particular day of the week represented by one of Su (Sunday), M (Monday, T (Tuesday), W (Wednesday), Th (Thursday), F (Friday), or Sa (Saturday). Such a package having thirty-five individual portions of floss would be used over the course of a five week period assuming the patient flossed once per day. 
         [0022]    In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , a dental floss package  62  includes a total of thirty-one sealed cavities  68  containing dental floss disposed about a cover sheet  64 . A label  66  indicating “July” is provided. Additionally, each individual sealed cavity  68  may further include a unique number indicium designating a particular day, such as is shown in  FIG. 1 . In other examples, a package may include thirty, twenty-nine, or twenty-eight individual cavities as appropriate for a particular month. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser  70  according to yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology, while  FIG. 6  is a partial cut away side view of dispenser  70  taken along line  6  in  FIG. 5 . In this particular embodiment, dental floss dispenser  70  includes a plurality of cavities  83  disposed about the packaging. A coiled length of dental floss  82  having a predetermined length is sealed within each cavity  83 . Each individual length of floss has the same predetermined length as every other length of floss, and this predetermined length is selected so as to be suitable for a single use flossing a user&#39;s teeth. Floss  82  can be of any desired type, style, diameter, and/or flavor of dental floss or tape. 
         [0024]    Dispenser  70  is comprised of a backing sheet  80  about which a plurality of cavities  83  are disposed. In one embodiment, each cavity  83  is formed in the otherwise planar backing sheet  80  of some type of deformable material such as thermoformable plastic sheet material. In another embodiment, backing sheet  80  is a semi-rigid transparent plastic such as cast vinyl. Cavities  83  may be of a generally round, hemispherical shape or other shape such as cylindrical, square, rectangular, ovoid, or other suitable shape as desired. 
         [0025]    To enclose the floss  82  within cavity  83 , a cover sheet  72  is disposed so as to cover each of the plurality of cavities  83 . Cover sheet  72  is joined to the backing sheet  80  at one or more suitable locations  84  using a suitable attachment method such as heat, adhesives, or other suitable techniques. Cover sheet  72  comprises a material so as to allow the floss  82  be pushed therethrough when sufficient manual pressure is applied to cavity  83 . In one example, cover sheet  72  is comprised of a thin metal foil material. In other examples, cover sheet  72  is comprised of plastic, paper, or a composite of two or more suitable types of materials. 
         [0026]    The size, configuration, and arrangement of cavities  83  formed in backing sheet  70  are selected in this particular embodiment so that it is possible for a user to apply sufficient manual pressure to an individual cavity  83  so as to deform the cavity and thereby urge the floss  82  contained within that particular cavity through the portion of the cover sheet  74  which seals that particular cavity. Each individual cover sheet portion  74  which seals a particular cavity further includes one or more indicium  76  which indicates a particular day or date. In one example, each cover sheet portion  74  which seals a particular cavity further includes an indicium which is unique from the other cover sheet portion indicia, for example, a letter indicating a particular day of the week (i.e., “Sunday”, “S”, “Su”, or the like as appropriate) may be used. Such indicia may be printed, stamped, etched, molded, or otherwise generated in or on cover sheet  72  in the appropriate location(s). 
         [0027]    Optionally, dispenser  70  further includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device  78  capable of recording and transmitting information related to the dispensing of floss from the packaging. RFID device  78  may be active (i.e., having a power source) or passive (i.e., lacking a power source) as desired and may be capable of recording and transmitting such information as how many and how frequently portions of dental floss were dispensed from the dispenser. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser  86  according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. In this particular embodiment, dental floss dispenser  86  includes a plurality of cavities (not shown) disposed about the packaging. The formation and disposition of such cavities are similar to those previously described with respect to the packaging and dispensers shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . A coiled length of dental floss having a predetermined length is sealed within each cavity in a similar manner to those previously described. 
         [0029]    To enclose the floss within each cavity, a cover sheet  88  is disposed so as to cover each of the plurality of cavities. Cover sheet  88  is joined to the backing sheet at one or more suitable locations as previously described. A portion  90  of cover sheet  88  which sealably covers each of the plurality of cavities comprises a perforated tab portion  94 . The perforated tab portion  94  is capable of being grasped by a patient such that the manual application of force to the tab  94  will pull or tear away the portion  90  of the cover sheet which seals a particular cavity, thereby dispensing the dental floss contained therein. In one embodiment, the removal of one tab does not remove any other tabs or unseal any other cavities. Cover sheet  88  is comprised of a material such as metal foil, plastic, paper, or a composite material of two or more suitable materials. 
         [0030]    Each individual cover sheet portion  90  which seals a particular cavity further includes one or more indicium  92  which indicates a particular day or date. In one example, each cover sheet portion  90  which seals a particular cavity further includes an indicium which is unique from the other cover sheet portion indicia, for example, a letter indicating a particular day of the week (i.e., “Sunday”, “S”, “Su”, or the like as appropriate) may be used. Such indicia may be printed, stamped, etched, molded, or otherwise generated in or on cover sheet  88  in the appropriate location(s). 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser  96  according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology. In this particular embodiment, dental floss dispenser  96  includes a plurality of cavities (not shown) disposed about the packaging. The formation and disposition of such cavities are similar to those previously described with respect to the packaging and dispensers shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . A coiled length of dental floss having a predetermined length is sealed within each cavity in a similar manner to those previously described. 
         [0032]    To enclose the floss within each cavity, a cover sheet  98  is disposed so as to cover each of the plurality of cavities. Cover sheet  98  is joined to the backing sheet at one or more suitable locations as previously described. A portion  102  of cover sheet  98  which sealably covers each of the plurality of cavities comprises a perforated tab portion  104 . The perforated tab portion  104  is capable of being grasped by a patient such that the manual application of force to the tab  104  will pull or tear away the portion  102  of the cover sheet which seals a particular cavity, thereby dispensing the dental floss contained therein. In one embodiment, the removal of one tab does not remove any other tabs or unseal any other cavities. Cover sheet  98  is comprised of a material such as metal foil, plastic, paper, or a composite material of two or more suitable materials. 
         [0033]    Each individual cover sheet portion  102  which seals a particular cavity further includes one or more indicium which indicates a particular day or date. In one example, cover sheet portions  98  which seals particular cavities are disposed in a series of columns such that each column corresponds to a particular day of the week indicated, for example, by a letter or letters  100  indicating a particular day of the week (i.e., “Sunday”, “S”, “Su”, or the like as appropriate). Such indicia may be printed, stamped, etched, molded, or otherwise generated in or on cover sheet  98  in the appropriate location(s). 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a dental floss dispenser according to another embodiment of the disclosed technology. In this particular embodiment, a generally circular shaped dispenser  106  is disclosed. The fabrication and composition of dispenser  106  is generally similar to those dispenser previously disclosed and discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1-8 . A plurality of sealed cavities  112  are disposed about dispenser  106  and are arranged according to the days of the week as indicated by indicia  108  representing the days Sunday through Saturday as printed on a cover sheet  110 . This particular embodiment may further include a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device  114  capable of recording and transmitting information related to the dispensing of floss from the packaging. 
         [0035]    One or more dispensing devices such as that shown in  FIGS. 1-9  may be provided to a patient at a semi-annual cleaning and checkup at a dentist or at some other scheduled time. Between visits to the dentist, the patient is advised to regularly dispense and use the floss from the dispenser. At a follow up visit to the dentist, the patient returns the used dispensers so that the dentist can monitor the patient&#39;s progress, or lack thereof, in regularly flossing between dental visits. Dispensers having RFID or other monitoring or tracking devices can then be scanned so as to confirm proper and timely flossing. Dispensers lacking a tracking device may be visually inspected and the level of floss use recorded. This information can then be used by the dentist to counsel the patent so as to improve overall oral health. Additionally, some insurance companies may condition “healthy lifestyle” rate discounts or similar benefits on good habits such as regular flossing. Proof of such habits may be shown using information collected by the dentist through the use of such dispensers and transmission of this information to the insurance company. 
         [0036]    While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.