Abstract:
A motorized flosser comprising an elongated body and a flossing head secured to an end portion of the elongated body. The flossing head oscillates in an arcuate manner. A battery powered motor drives a drive mechanism which reciprocates an output drive shaft, which drive shaft is in turn connected through a flexible drive rod to a drive disc. The drive disc oscillates in a rotary arcuate motion to impart either pure rotary arcuate oscillatory motion or a combined rotary arcuate motion and translatory motion to flossing material carried by a yoke of the flossing head. The flossing head may incorporate a toothpaste holder mounted upon the flossing head or toothbrush bristles mounted upon tines of the yoke of the flossing head.

Description:
[0001]     This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/224,896, filed Sep. 13, 2005, which was a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/682,443, filed Oct. 9, 2003, and each of these patent properties is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to dental hygiene and more particularly to a power driven instrument for flossing teeth.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The importance of practicing proper dental hygiene has been well documented. In this regard, it is extremely advantageous to frequently and systematically remove plaque and debris from around and between an individual&#39;s teeth. Failure to religiously remove debris and plaque from between and around teeth is likely to lead to dental disease including tooth decay, gingivitis and the like.  
         [0004]     Conventional flossing often requires one to put his or her hands in his or her mouth. This may lead to illness due to the increased potential of the spread of bacteria. Another drawback with conventional flossing is that the used dental floss must be properly discarded in a trash receptacle or other appropriate location. Due to the flexible nature of used dental floss it is often difficult to discard the used piece of dental floss in the location the user wishes to discard it. The conventional manual method of flossing one&#39;s teeth is cumbersome due to the difficulty in maneuvering a piece of dental floss to the desired position in one&#39;s mouth. Individuals with small mouths have a particularly difficult time of flossing using the manual method. Another difficulty with conventional flossing is that it is difficult to fit the floss between teeth which are tightly squeezed together. It often requires a great deal of time, force and effort to properly locate the piece of dental floss for it to fit between two adjacent teeth. Another drawback with conventional flossing is that the gingival sulcus, the area on the gum line between teeth, commonly does not get cleaned or rubbed free of debris.  
         [0005]     Therefore, there is a need for a flossing apparatus which is easy to use while keeping one&#39;s hands out of one&#39;s mouth, which is able to more easily fit a piece of floss between adjacent tight teeth, and which is able to clean the gingival sulcus.  
         [0006]     Motorized toothbrushes are known. The commercial market has seen the introduction of many different types of motorized toothbrushes over the last several years. The tendency in the technology is towards more complex, expensive and non-commercially feasible methods of achieving motorized motions in the bristles and heads of toothbrushes. Related U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,000,083; 6,178,579; 6,189,693 and 6,360,395 disclose motorized toothbrushes in which batteries in the handle of the toothbrush power a motor in the handle to oscillate or rotate an elongated shaft which is so connected as to effect a circular motion of bristles in the toothbrush head. Each of these U.S. patents is fully incorporated by reference herein. The oscillation of the elongated shaft causes oscillation of a circular portion of the head to which a plurality of bristles are attached.  
         [0007]     Motorized flossing devices are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,041 discloses a motorized flosser for removing debris from between teeth and around teeth. The motorized flosser has a flossing implement detachably connected to the main body of the instrument. The flossing implement has a pair of tines between which extends a piece of floss. When activated, a motor reciprocates an output shaft which causes the flossing instrument to reciprocate. One drawback to such apparatus is that this straight reciprocal movement of the piece of dental floss does not adequately clean debris such as food particles from teeth. The piece or length of floss does not sweep across the teeth but instead only rubs against a very small area of the teeth.  
         [0008]     It is further well known to convert a power driven toothbrush into a power driven flossing device by changing the heads on the end of a battery powered hand held instrument. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,078 discloses a detachable flosser head for a motorized toothbrush. A drive shaft in the handle assembly reciprocates causing the flosser head to reciprocate. Again, this straight reciprocal movement of the piece of dental floss does not adequately clean debris such as food particles from teeth.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,711 discloses another power driven toothbrush which may be converted to a power driven flossing device.  
         [0010]     Another inherent drawback with known motorized flossers is that they do not adequately remove biofilm from the surface of teeth. Biofilm is a well organized community of cooperating microorganisms. One commonly known biofilm which forms on tooth surfaces is called plaque. Biofilms may be easily destroyed simply by wiping them with a brush or other mechanically abrasive material, disrupting attachment to their substrate.  
         [0011]     Therefore, there is a need for a powered flossing apparatus which adequately removes biofilm from the surface of teeth, promotes regular flossing and is easy to use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention comprises a motorized flosser having an elongated body having opposed first and second or top and bottom ends. In one embodiment, a replaceable flosser head is removably secured to the first end of the body with a locking mechanism and, in another embodiment, a replaceable floss carrier is removably mounted and secured to the yoke of a flosser head. A power supply is located in a hollow portion of the elongated body. The power supply energizes the flosser head when a user moves a switch located on the exterior of the body. Activation of the power supply causes a drive mechanism to oscillate the flosser head in a pure arcuate motion or, alternatively, in a combined arcuate oscillating and translatory motion. The frequency of oscillation is preferably 2,800 cycles per minute, but may be any other desired frequency. This rotary oscillation of the flosser head causes a length of flossing material to rotate in an oscillatory manner through an arc and in a preferred embodiment, simultaneously translate in a back and forth motion, as well as move arcuately in an oscillatory motion. This arc of the oscillatory motion generally is between 30 and go degrees and preferably is between 45 and 60 degrees.  
         [0013]     The elongated body has a lower motorized handle portion having a longitudinal axis extending there through and an upper stem portion including the flosser head, the upper stem portion being removable from the lower handle portion. The upper neck portion includes a neck section having a longitudinal axis and an end section to which the flosser head is secured. The power supply includes a motor and batteries within the handle portion of the elongated body. The motor is operably connected or coupled to the flosser head for oscillating or oscillating and translating a flexible length or piece of flossing material extending between two spaced tines on the yoke of the flosser head.  
         [0014]     The lower handle portion of the body includes a simplified gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a pinion gear driven by the output shaft of the motor and a crown gear operatively coupled to the pinion gear. The output shaft of the motor rotates the pinion gear which rotates the crown gear. A link assembly is operatively coupled to the gear assembly in the interior of the handle portion of the body and is operative to convert rotation of the crown gear into linear reciprocation of an output link contained in the handle portion of the body. This output link is in turn connected through an appropriate linkage contained in the stem portion of the body to affect oscillatory motion of the flossing head.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment of the invention, the reciprocable output link contained in the lower handle portion of the body is connected through a single elongated flexible drive rod contained in the stem portion of the body to an offset of a flossing head drive disc such that this flexible drive rod alone converts linear reciprocating motion of a link in the handle portion of the body into arcuate oscillating motion of the floss-containing yoke of the flossing head. This flexible driving connection to the flossing head is operable to absorb any shock if the flossing head encounters or comes into abrupt contact with a fixed surface as well as prevents potential injury to a tooth or gums resulting from such contact.  
         [0016]     The lower handle portion of the body further includes a switch to allow operation of the unit. The switch includes an actuator button and a metal contact. The switch is manually depressed by pressing a molded actuator button down and/or sliding it forwardly, from an “off” position to an “on” position. A metal contact plate is secured to the molded actuator button and once moved forward to the “on” position contacts the motor housing, completing the circuit, as in a conventional momentary switch. The motorized flosser then continuously operates until the button is slid back into an off position toward the rear end of the body and the metal contact of the switch disengages the metal motor housing, thereby interrupting the circuit.  
         [0017]     A flexible resilient bite pad in one modification of the flosser is secured to the rear side of head end of the upper stem portion of the body. The bite pad allows a user to comfortably bite down on the head end portion of the motorized flosser to more effectively force the length of flossing material between adjacent teeth.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, the flosser head is removable and replaceable on the head end of the stem portion of the flosser body. In this embodiment, the replaceable flosser head has a base removably and drivably connected to a drive disc contained in the head end of the elongated stem portion of the body. In another embodiment of the present invention, the base of the flosser head is fixedly mounted on the head end of the stem portion of the flosser body and a floss carrier is so mounted in the yoke of the flossing head so as to be removable and replaceable. The floss carrier in this latter embodiment has anchors or caps molded onto opposite ends of a short strip of flossing material, which anchors or caps may be snap-fit into or onto the tines of the yoke so as to facilitate replacement of the floss material.  
         [0019]     This invention also envisions that whenever replaceable floss carriers rather than replaceable flossing heads are used in the practice of this invention, that the floss carriers may be used in combination with a floss carrier cartridge to facilitate sanitary removal and replacement of the floss carriers from and onto the tines of the yoke of a flossing head. This floss carrier is so constructed that it holds multiple floss carriers which are so held that a new carrier may be snap-fit in the ends of the tines or onto the tops of the tines by simply pressing the tines down over the anchors or caps on the ends of a floss carrier in the cartridge. And an extractor device is provided on the end of the cartridge and as a part of the cartridge so as to facilitate removal of a used strip of flossing material from the motorized flosser. In the use of this extractor, the floss carrier carrying tines of the yoke of the flosser head are inserted into the extractor and then maneuvered so as to extract the used floss carrier from the tines and leave it in the extractor, all without a user&#39;s hand touching or contacting the used floss or floss carrier.  
         [0020]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the flosser head further comprises a flexible toothpaste holder, generally in a truncated conical shape and located between the tines of the yoke. This toothpaste holder may or may not contain baffles to enhance this cleaning action of the toothpaste contained in the cup-shaped holder. Other configurations of toothpaste holders may also be used and incorporated into the flosser head if desired. The present invention also may be used without a toothpaste holder if desired.  
         [0021]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the flosser head includes toothbrush bristles which extend inwardly from the tines of the yoke of the flossing head. Additionally, upwardly extending bristles may be mounted on the base of the flossing head between the tines. These bristles, in use of the flossing head and when coated with toothpaste, enable the flosser to simultaneously floss the teeth and brush them.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment of the flossing head, the tines of the yoke of the flossing head extend upwardly from the base of the flosser head and are located in a second plane which intersects a first plane defined by the base of the flosser head at an angle of other than go degrees and preferably at about 77 degrees. In another embodiment of the flossing head, the tines are spacially offset from the axis of oscillation of the flossing head. This offset placement and location of the ends of the tines of the flosser head causes the length of flossing material extending between the tines to be offset from the axis of oscillation of the flosser head so as to result in the length of flossing material being caused to translate back and forth in a burnishing or polishing action across a tooth in addition to arcuately oscillating, thereby resulting in a better cleaning action on the surface of the teeth. This back and forth burnishing or polishing action is very similar to the back and forth polishing action encountered when polishing shoes with a shoe shine rag.  
         [0023]     In use, once the motorized flosser of the present invention is activated via the switch, the motor, gear assembly and linkage assembly cause a drive disc to oscillate in an arcuate or rotary manner and thereby oscillate the flossing head. A user then presses the oscillatory length of flossing material between two teeth while the flossing head continues to arcuately oscillate, and in some embodiments, translate back and forth. The rotary oscillation of the flossing head makes it easier to fit the length of flossing material between teeth even if the teeth are close together or tightly fit. Once the length of flossing material is located between the teeth, the oscillation of the flossing head causes the length of flossing material to wrap around a front part of a first tooth and a rear part of a second tooth and then about the rear part of the first tooth and front part of the second tooth during each oscillation cycle. Preferably, while the length of oscillatory flossing material is being moved vertically between adjacent teeth, the flossing material is repeatedly and gently pressed toward and away from one of the adjacent teeth so as to cause better cleaning and coverage of the teeth surfaces than has heretofore been possible. And this better cleaning is still further enhanced when the rotary oscillatory motion is further complimented by simultaneous back and forth translatory motion of the flossing material.  
         [0024]     If desired, one may insert toothpaste into the toothpaste holder secured to the flosser head or onto bristles attached to the flosser head prior to activating the motorized flosser, such that the teeth are cleaned by the toothpaste and the flossing material while simultaneously being flossed of plaque and biofilm by the oscillating flossing material.  
         [0025]     One advantage of the present invention is that the rotary oscillating motion of the flossing head causes a length of flossing material to more easily fit between tight teeth.  
         [0026]     Another advantage of the present invention is that toothpaste may be used to help ease the insertion of the flossing material between tight teeth.  
         [0027]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the flosser head or alternatively, the floss material carrier, may be quickly and easily replaced and the used flossing material discarded.  
         [0028]     Still another advantage of the present invention is that both the front and back of adjacent teeth may be thoroughly cleaned and flossed of plaque and biofilm due to the arcuate oscillating motion or the combined oscillating and translation motion of the flossing head.  
         [0029]     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more readily be apparent from the following description of the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a motorized flosser of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a disassembled view of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view in cross section of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view in partial cross section of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a modified flossing head on the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged perspective view of the flossing head of  FIG. 5  located in a first end position;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6B  is an enlarged perspective view of the flossing head of  FIG. 5  located in a second end position;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6C  and  FIG. 6D  are top plan views, partially in cross section, illustrating the translatory rubbing action which occurs simultaneously with the oscillating action of the flossing material in the use of the flossing head of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the flossing head of  FIG. 5  unlocked from the motorized flosser body and located in the second position of  FIG. 6B ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating how the flossing head is secured to the body of the motorized flosser;  
         [0040]      FIG. 9A  is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of  FIG. 5  illustrating the translatory as well as the oscillatory motion of the flossing material contained in the flossing head of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 9B  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 9A ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the upper stem portion of the body of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective disassembled view of the upper stem portion of the body illustrated in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 11A  is a cross sectional view of the upper stem portion of the flosser of  FIG. 10  illustrating the flosser head in one extreme position of its arcuate oscillatory movement;  
         [0045]      FIG. 11B  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 11A , but illustrating the flosser head in its other extreme position of arcuate oscillatory movement;  
         [0046]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the flossing head;  
         [0047]      FIG. 12A  is a cross sectional view taken on line  12 A- 12 A of  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the flossing head;  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the flossing head of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a floss carrier cartridge;  
         [0051]      FIG. 15A  is a top plan view of the floss carrier cartridge of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0052]      FIGS. 16A, 16B ,  16 C,  16 D,  16 E an  16 F are side elevational views of a portion of the cartridge of  FIG. 15  illustrating in sequential views how that cartridge is used to extract a used floss carrier from the yoke of a flossing head;  
         [0053]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of a portion of the cartridge of  FIG. 15  illustrating how that cartridge is used to insert a new floss carrier into the yoke of a flossing head;  
         [0054]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0055]      FIG. 19A  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the flossing head; and  
         [0056]      FIG. 19B  is a perspective assembled view of the flossing head of  FIG. 19A .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0057]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a motorized flosser  10  which encourages and simplifies flossing. The motorized flosser  10  comprises an elongated body  12  having a first or upper end  14  and a second or lower end  16  and a removable/replaceable disposable flossing head  18  which is removably secured to the upper end  14  of the body  12  with a locking mechanism  20 . Although one configuration of body  12  is illustrated and described, the motorized flosser  10  may be used with many different configurations or styles of bodies.  
         [0058]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the body  12  comprises a lower handle portion  22  and an upper stem portion or stem  24  removable from the handle portion  22 . The upper stem portion  24  comprises a head end portion  25  and an intermediate or neck section  26  extending between the lower handle portion  22  and the upper head end portion  25 . All of the portions or sections  22 ,  24 ,  25  and/or  26  may have a hollow interior. The handle portion  22  of the body is removably connected to the neck portion  26  of the stem  24  via engagement of a connector  28  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) secured to the handle portion  22  with at least one projection (not shown) on the inner surface  29  of collar  31  secured to the front portion  24  of the body  12 . See  FIG. 2 . The connector  28  is adapted to mate with and lock together with the collar  31  secured to the stem  24  of the body  12 . The stem portion  24  of the body may be removed from the handle portion  22  by a user by grasping the stem  24  and twisting while pulling, as is known in the art. However, the handle portion  22  may be integral with the stem  24 , if desired. As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the handle portion  22  has a longitudinal axis  30  and similarly, the neck portion  26  of the stem  24  has a longitudinal axis  32 . The longitudinal axes  30  and  32  are preferably co-linear but may be offset if desired. In accordance with the present invention, any other means of coupling the handle portion  22  and stem portion  24  of the body may be used.  
         [0059]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle portion  22  of the body comprises a housing  33  having a front housing piece  34 , a rear housing piece  36 , and a cap or battery door  38  which together with the connector  28 , define a hollow interior  40  of the handle portion  22  of the body (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Although one configuration of handle portion  22  is illustrated and described, other configurations of handle portion may be utilized without departing from the present invention. For example, the handle portion may comprise additional pieces at different locations.  
         [0060]     As seen in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , inside the hollow interior  40  of the handle portion  22  of the body is a pair of batteries  42  which are mounted between front battery terminals or contacts  44   a ,  44   b  and a common rear battery terminal or contact  46  in a known manner. The front battery terminals or contacts  44   a ,  44   b  are secured to one of the housing pieces  34 ,  36  of the handle portion  22  and the rear battery terminal or contact  46  is secured to the cap  38 . The batteries are preferably size AA batteries, but may be any size batteries or single battery. Similarly, any other device may be used to secure at least one battery in place. To install new batteries, the battery door or cap  38  is squeezed or depressed and slid off the end of the handle portion  22 . The new battery or batteries is/are then inserted and then the cap  38  is snapped back into place. The terminal ends of the batteries are then in contact with the front and rear battery terminals or contacts.  
         [0061]     The hollow interior  40  of the handle portion  22  of the body  12  also houses a motor  48  mounted in a fixed location as shown. The motor  48  has a housing  49  and an output shaft  50  which rotates about an axis  52  when the motor  48  is activated.  
         [0062]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the motor  48  is activated by the user manually moving a switch  51  including a molded button  54  and a metallic contact plate  55  secured together forwardly from an “off” position to an “on” position. When the switch  51  is in its forward “on” position, the contact plate  55  of the switch  51  presses against or contacts the metal motor housing  49  thereby completing a circuit formed by wire  5  extending between battery contact  44   b  and the motor housing  49  and wire  6  extending between battery contact  44   a  and the metallic contact plate  55 . The motorized flosser  10  then operates until the switch  51  is moved rearwardly into its “off” position towards the first end of the body  12  and the metallic contact plate  55  disengages from the motor housing  49 .  
         [0063]     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , rotation of the output shaft  50  of the motor  48  is operatively coupled to a gear assembly  59  including a pinion gear  60  and a crown gear  62 . The pinion gear  60  is attached to the output shaft  50  of the motor  48  and is engaged with the crown gear  62 . Rotation of the output shaft  50  of the motor  48  causes the pinion gear  60  to rotate about axis  52 . See  FIG. 3 . Rotation of the pinion gear  60  causes the crown gear  62  to rotate about an axis  64  which is generally perpendicular to the axis  52  about which the pinion gear  60  rotates.  
         [0064]     A link assembly  65  is operatively coupled or connected to the gear assembly  59 . The link assembly  65  includes a first link  66  and a second link  70 . The first link  66  is secured to the crown gear  62  with a fastener  68  and is offset from the axis  64  such that rotation of the crown gear  62  causes a linear oscillatory motion of the first link  66 . The second link  70  is secured to link  66  with fastener  72 . Link  70  passes through the connector  28  as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , second link  70  has a catch  74  at a forward end  76  thereof. The catch  74  is adapted to engage a receptacle  78  in drive member  80  when the front portion  24  of the body  12  is secured to the handle portion  22  of the body  12 . This engagement of the drive member  80  located in the front portion  24  of the body  12  with the link assembly  65  of the handle portion  22  of the body  12  imparts a linear reciprocating movement from the link assembly  65  to the drive member  80 , which in turns oscillates the flosser head  18  in a rotary or arcuate manner as described below.  
         [0065]     The stem portion or stem  24  of the body  12  comprises a housing  79  having a front housing piece  81  and a rear housing piece  82  which are coupled together to define a hollow interior  84  in which is located the drive member  80  and a link  86 . The drive member  80  has a first end  88  towards which the receptacle  78  is located and a second end go. The link  86  is secured to the drive member  80  and extends upwardly from the drive member  80 . The link  86  is non-linear and curved to one side. The link  86  has an upper end  94  which has a hole  96  therein through which passes a pin  98 . The pin  98  secures the link  86  to a drive disc  100  which oscillates in an arcuate or rotary manner about a vertical axis  102  due to the offset position of the pin  98  relative to the axis  102  upon reciprocation of the drive member  80 .  
         [0066]     The oscillating drive disc  100  has a receptacle  104  in the center thereof which is adapted to receive a portion of the flossing head  18  in a manner described below. Although the receptacle  104  is square in shape, it may be other configurations, if desired. A guide pin  106  is secured to the lower housing piece  82  and extends upwardly therefrom. The guide pin  106  functions to properly locate the flossing head. As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the front housing piece  81  of the neck section of the stem  24  has an opening  108  therein through which the guide pin  106  extends. The guide pin  106  extends upwardly from the lower housing piece  82  of the neck through the receptacle  104  in the drive disc  100  and through the opening  108  in the upper housing piece  80  of the neck section of the stem  24 . The guide pin  106  is operatively connected or coupled to the flossing head  18  in a manner described below.  
         [0067]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the flossing head  18  comprises a base  110  including a circular disc  111  and a projection  112  having a square cross sectional configuration. The projection  112  is adapted to fit snugly or tightly in the receptacle  104  of the drive disc  100 . This projection  112  has a guide  114  there through which receives the guide pin  106 . This mating/coupling between the guide pin  106  and guide  114  of the base  110  of the flossing head  18  and between the projection  112  of the base  110  of the flossing head  18  and the receptacle  104  in the drive disc  100  ensures that the flossing head  18  is correctly seated when the locking mechanism  20  is used to lock the flossing head  18  in a locked position. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the circular disc  111  of the base  110  of the flossing head  18  has an upwardly extending rim  116  around the periphery of the disc  111 .  
         [0068]     The locking mechanism  20  is used to lock the flossing head  18  in a locked position in which the motorized flosser  10  may be used and to unlock the flossing head  18  so that it may be separated from the body  12  of the motorized flosser  10  and replaced. The locking mechanism  20  includes a slidable locking member  120  which slides in a slot  122  in the end portion  24  of the body  12  of the flosser  10  and more particularly in the upper housing piece  81  of the neck housing  79 . The locking member  120  has a locking lip  124  along the forward edge of the locking member  120 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . The locking member  120  slides between a forward position (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 7 ) in which the locking lip  124  engages the rim  116  of the circular disc  111  of the base  110  of the flossing head  18  and a rear position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 7 ) in which the locking lip  124  is behind the circular disc  111  of the base  110  of the flossing head  18 . When in its forward, locking position, the locking member  120  prevents the flossing head  18  from being removed or separated from the elongated body  12  of the motorized flosser  10 . When in its rear, unlocking position, the locking member  120  allows the flossing head  18  to be removed or separated from the elongated body  12  of the motorized flosser  10 . Although one configuration of locking mechanism  20  is illustrated and described, other configurations of locking mechanisms may be utilized to secure the flossing head  18  to the body  22  of the motorized flosser  10  without departing from the present invention.  
         [0069]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the flossing head  18  further comprises a yoke  126  having a pair of spaced tines  128   a ,  128   b  extending upwardly from the base and terminating in end portions  130   a ,  130   b , respectively. Each of the end portions  130   a ,  130   b  has a hole (not shown) therein through which passes a length of flexible flossing material  134 . The ends of the length of flossing material  134  are tied or otherwise secured to the tines  128   a ,  128   b  in any known manner. In one embodiment, the ends of the flossing material are molded into the outer end portions  130   a ,  130   b  of the tines. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 8 , the tines  128   a ,  128   b  are slightly curved to one side so that the length of flossing material  134  does not pass through the axis  102  about which the flosser head  18  oscillates in an arcuate manner. As shown in  FIG. 5 , and more clearly emphasized in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the flosser head  18  and, more particularly, the tines  128   a  and  128   b  generally oscillate back and forth in an arc of between 30 and 75 degrees. In one preferred embodiment, the tines preferably oscillate back and forth in an arc of 45 degrees. The offset location of the tines  128   a ,  128   b  enables the length of flossing material  134  to translate back and forth across the teeth as well as oscillate in the manner shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . As best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the tines of the flosser head define a second plane P 2  which intersects with the first plane P 1  at an angle □ other than go degrees and preferably at about 77 degrees. Although one configuration of tine is illustrated and described, the tines of the flosser head may assume other shapes or configurations or even location so long as the ends of the tines and the length of flossing material extending there between is offset from an axis of rotation of the flossing head as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 9 A and  9 B. Preferably the tines of the flossing head have a coating (most clearly seen in  FIG. 12A ) of food grade latex or polyurethane or other flexible plastic material to soften any impact of the tines with teeth of a user of the flosser in the event of any such inadvertent contact with the teeth.  
         [0070]     With reference now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , there is illustrated in  FIG. 9A  an enlarged portion of  FIG. 5  better illustrating and emphasizing the distance D of the offset of the tines from the axis of rotation  102  of the flossing head  18 . When the flossing head  18  and yoke  126  are in their centered position as illustrated in solid lines in  FIGS. 5 and 9 A, this offset distance D is the same distance as that from the center  160  of the flossing material  134  to the axis of rotation  102  of the flossing head  18 . When the flossing head  18  is oscillated about the axis  102  and through an angle □ of approximately 45 degrees (22 degrees in each direction from a centered position), the center point  160  of the flossing material translates back and forth between two points  160   a  and  160   b , which translatory distance may be calculated as a function of the offset D. To calculate this translatory back and forth translatory distance or “to and fro” motion, the formula is: total distance of motion equals offset D times the angle of rotation times 2×Pi divided by 360 or 78.4 percent of offset at 45 degrees. For example, if this offset D is 1/10 of an inch, and the flossing head oscillates through an angular arc of 45 degrees, then this translatory movement of a point on the flossing material as, for example, point  160  on the flossing material  134  will be moved or translated back and forth a total distance of approximately 0.00784 inches. Consequently, as the flossing material moves between the teeth vertically while being oscillated about the axis  102  during flossing action of the flossing material, that same flossing material  134  is simultaneously moved back and forth or translated in a burnishing or polishing type motion (similar to a shoe shine motion) because of the offset distance D between the flossing material and its axis of rotation about which it is oscillated.  
         [0071]     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in use, the length of flossing material  134  is pressed between two adjacent teeth, the first tooth  142  and the second tooth  144 . The length of flossing material  134  wraps around and contacts the front portion  146  of the first tooth  142  and the rear portion  152  of the second tooth  144  when the flossing head  18  is in a first end position illustrated in  FIG. 6A . Similarly, The length of flossing material  134  wraps around and contacts the front portion  150  of the second tooth  144  and the rear portion  148  of the first tooth  142  when the flossing head  18  is in a second end position illustrated in  FIG. 6B . This wrapping of the flossing material about the teeth is enhanced and accommodated by the flexing of the tines of the yoke between which the flossing material extends. This flossing action may be further enhanced by the user of the flosser slightly pressing or pulling the floss against a tooth surface while the flossing head continues to oscillate so as to better cover and floss a greater area of a tooth or adjacent teeth.  
         [0072]     With reference to  FIGS. 6C and 6D , there is illustrated in greater detail, the translatory rubbing action which occurs simultaneously with the oscillatory arcuate rotational movement of the flossing material as a result of the offset of the center  160  of the strip of flossing material  134  from the axis of rotation  102  about which the flossing head oscillates. This rubbing action, or so-called “shoe shine effect”, results in the flossing material wrapping about and rubbing against the facing surfaces  142   a ,  144   a  of adjacent teeth, as well as the front side  146  of a first tooth  142  and the rear side  152  of an adjacent tooth  144  followed by the flossing material rubbing in the opposite direction against the facing surfaces  142   a ,  144   a  and the front surface  150  of the adjacent tooth  144  and the rear surface  148  of the first tooth  142  as the flossing material  134  oscillates and translates from the positions illustrated in solid and phantom lines in  FIGS. 6C and 6D .  
         [0073]     It has been found that an offset D of approximately 1/10 of an inch results in a very satisfactory translatory rubbing action of the floss material during the oscillation of the flossing head through an arcuate motion of approximately 45 angular degrees. This offset distance D, though, may vary, but it has been found that too much variance results in too little translatory or rubbing motion if the offset is much less than approximately 0.08 inches or too much translatory or rubbing motion if the offset distance D is greater than approximately 0.125 inches.  
         [0074]     In a preferred embodiment, the flossing head  18  and its integral yoke  126  are made from a flexible polyester plastic such that the tines of the yoke may flex slightly to absorb shock and enable the flossing material retained between the tines to better wrap about teeth during the flossing process as explained hereinabove.  
         [0075]     The speed with which the flosser head  18  rotates in an oscillatory manner may vary as desired. The flosser head  18  preferably oscillates back and forth in an arc at a frequency of between 2,000 and 3,000 cycles per minute. In one preferred embodiment, the tines oscillate at a frequency of 2,800 cycles per minute. A cycle is defined as the movement of the tines between a first end position shown in  FIG. 6A  to a second end position illustrated in  FIG. 6B  and back to the first end position. When viewed in front elevation as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 9 A, this rapid or high frequency oscillation of the flossing material  134  and flossing tines  128   a  and  128   b  has the appearance of an X-shaped blur, sometimes colloquially referred to as the “X factor” movement of the flossing material.  
         [0076]     In one preferred embodiment, the flosser head  18  includes a cup-shaped toothpaste holder  136  having a generally truncated conical shape. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the toothpaste holder  136  has a bottom wall  138  and a sidewall  140  having an upper edge  141 . However, other shapes and configurations may be utilized as desired. The toothpaste holder  136  is preferably made of food grade latex or polyurethane or any other soft flexible plastic material. It is also envisioned that the cup-shaped toothpaste holder could have ripple-shaped projections on the outer edge of the holder so as to enhance brushing actions during use of the flossing procedure.  
         [0077]     In use, an operator grabs the handle portion  22  of the motorized flosser  10  and then pushes the button  54  upwardly towards the flosser head  18 . Movement of the button  54  activates the motor  48 , thereby rotating the flossing head  18  in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined frequency. The user then presses the length of flossing material  134  between adjacent teeth while the flossing head  18  is oscillating arcuately and preferably simultaneously, translating back and forth across the face of the teeth as a result of the offset D of the flossing material from the axis of rotation about which it is oscillated. A bite pad  135  is secured to the rear of the stem  24  and, more particularly, to the rear housing piece  92  of the neck section of the stem  24 . The user may bite down on the bite pad  135  to leverage the length of flossing material  134  between the teeth. The oscillating motion moving the tines of the flosser head in an arc causes the length of flossing material to easily enter between adjacent teeth and to wrap around and contact a front part of a first tooth and a rear part of a second tooth adjacent the first tooth. Then, as part of the same cycle, the length of flossing material is wrapped around and contacts a rear part of the first tooth and a front part of the second tooth. And, to floss a greater surface of the teeth, the floss may be slightly pressed or pulled against a tooth surface while the flossing head continues to oscillate or translates and oscillates.  
         [0078]     If desired a user may insert toothpaste (not shown) into the toothpaste holder  136  prior to using the motorized flosser  10 . The toothpaste (not shown) enables the length of flossing material  134  to more easily pass between adjacent teeth and further provides additional cleaning of the teeth.  
         [0079]     With reference now to  FIGS. 10, 10A ,  10 B and  11 , there is illustrated a second embodiment of the stem portion and flossing head of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 . This second embodiment incorporates a different stem portion  200  of the body or so-called stem, as well as a different flosser head  202  and drive assembly  204  for interconnecting the reciprocable drive link  70  of the lower handle portion of the flosser to the flosser head  202 . This stem or upper end portion  200  of the body is intended to be substituted for the upper stem portion  24  of the motorized flosser of  FIG. 1 . The remainder of that flosser  10 , including particularly the lower handle portion  12 , remains the same with the result that this new stem  200  of the flosser may be used in combination with that motorized handle portion  12  or with any other conventional motorized handle body which has a reciprocating output linkage element similar to linkage element  70 .  
         [0080]     The stem portion or stem  200  of the body has a hollow, generally inwardly tapered lower neck section  206  and an outwardly tapered upper end section  208  terminating in a generally cylindrical upper head section  210 . As may be seen most clearly in  FIG. 11 , the stem is a unitary molded plastic part made in one embodiment from a blend of polyester and polycarbonate plastic. The front side of the cylindrical head  21  of the stem  200  is generally open and the back side closed. Located in the upper tapered end section of the stem  200 , there is a generally triangular-shaped opening  212  (shown in hidden lines in  FIG. 11 ) within which there is located a cap  214 . As explained more fully hereinafter, the purpose of this opening  212  and cap  214  is to permit of convenient molding and assembly of the stem section of the flosser. After assembly of the stem drive assembly  204  and flossing head  202 , the cap  214  is fixedly secured in the opening  212  to form a unitary stem assembly  220  adapted to be removably and drivingly attached to the motorized lower handle portion of the motorized flosser.  
         [0081]     As may be seen most clearly in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , there is a tapered guide sleeve  222  fixedly received within the tapered interior cavity of the lower section  206  of the stem  200 . This guide sleeve  222  functions as a guide for the lower end of a reciprocably movable flexible drive rod  224 . There is also an upstanding rib  226  molded onto the interior surface of the neck section of the stem, which rib  226  has a slot  228  formed therein. This slot  228  functions as a guide for the upper end  230  of the flexible drive rod  224 . Molded into and upstanding from the rear wall  232  of the cylindrical head section  210  of the stem  200 , there is an arcuate rib or flange  234  which extends through a circular arc of about 315 degrees leaving a gap  236  of approximately 45 degrees between the opposed ends of the rib. A bulbous end  238  on the upper end of the drive rod  224  is located within this gap and is received within a recess  240  of a drive disc portion  242  of the flossing head  202 . This drive disc portion  242  is molded into and forms a portion of the base  244  of the flossing head  202 .  
         [0082]     The unitary molded flossing head, including its driving disc portion and cylindrical base section are maintained in an assembled relationship by a rivet  246  (see  FIG. 10 ) which extends from the back or rear side of the rear wall  232  of the cylindrical head section  210  of the stem  200 , through a cylindrical rib  248  of the head section, through a center hole  249  of the flossing head  202  to the front side of the flossing head  218 . The rivet  246  is headed at both ends to maintain the assembled relationship between the head section of the stem and the unitary drive disc and flossing head.  
         [0083]     In order to assemble the flossing head stem and drive mechanism contained within the stem, the flexible drive rod  224  is first pushed upwardly through the hollow interior of the stem  200  and through the guide sleeve  222 . Because the cap  214  is, at this point of time, absent from the opening  212 , the thin flexible upper section  225  of the drive rod  224  is positioned into the slot or recess  228  of the rib  226 . Thereafter, the cap  214  is positioned in the opening  212  and permanently secured therein. The drive disc portion  242  of the flossing head is then inserted into the open front cavity of the head portion of the stem, thereby locating the upper bulbous end  238  of the drive rod  224  in driving engagement with the drive disc portion of the flossing head. The rivet  246  is then inserted and the head of the end of the rivet squeezed so as to permanently attach the flossing head  218  to the head end of the stem  200 . As thus assembled, the stem assembly  220  may be attached to the motorized body  12  of the flosser to complete a driving relationship between the motor of the body and the flossing head.  
         [0084]     It is important to note that the flexible drive rod  224  is a unitary molded plastic element preferably molded from a flexible plastic material, such as a polyester or acetal plastic. One suitable acetal plastic is marketed as “Delrin”. When made from such flexible, non-moisture or toothpaste chemical absorbent plastics, the upper end of the drive rod  224  is sufficiently flexible as to enable the upper end of the rod and particularly, the bulbous upper end to move through an arc as illustrated in the two end positions illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  within the recessed cavity  240  of the driving disc portion of the flossing head. If for any reason the flossing head  202  should be abruptly stopped while the motor continues to operate and reciprocate the drive link  70  to which the drive rod  224  is attached, the upper end section  225  of the drive rod  224  will absorb any shock without breakage and flex within the cavity  240  without causing any breakage of any of the drive elements or uncomfortable contact of the flossing head or flossing material with the user&#39;s teeth. This flexible drive rod feature, with its flexible drive to the flossing head, functions not only as a shock absorber to prevent breakage of the drive system, but also acts as a safety feature to prevent impact damage to a tooth, as well as damage to gums of a person using the flosser.  
         [0085]     With particular attention now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , there is illustrated another substantial difference between flossing head  202  and that illustrated and described in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9 . In this embodiment, as in the embodiment of other flossing heads illustrated and described in  FIGS. 5, 9A  and  9 B, the yoke  250 , as well as a section or strip of flossing tape or ribbon  252  mounted on the yoke is offset a distance D from the axis  253  about which the flossing head  202  is oscillating. This embodiment of the flossing head  202  differs principally from the flossing head  18  described earlier in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-9  in that instead of the flossing head being removably attached to the front portion of the motorized flosser, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9 , the flossing tape or ribbon  252  with attached snap-in anchors  254  at opposite ends of the section of ribbon is removable and replaceable in the yoke  250  of the flossing head  202 .  
         [0086]     As may be seen most clearly in  FIGS. 10, 12  and  12 A, end anchors  254  are made from polypropylene plastic overmolded onto each end of the section of flossing tape  252 . These end anchors  254  each have a central section  256  and generally oval or circular end flanges  258  at opposite ends of the central section  254 . The central section  256 , when viewed in cross section, is generally oval with two flat sides  259  (see  FIG. 12A ) and rounded ends. As explained more fully hereinafter, the flat sides  259  serve to orient the flossing material tape or ribbon  252  within the tines of the yoke.  
         [0087]     The top of each tine  260   a  and  260   b  of the yoke  250  has a generally keyhole-shaped slot  262  formed therein into which the anchors  254  are adapted to be snap-fit. Each of these keyhole-shaped slots  262  has opposed flat sections  263  and rounded end sections  264  adapted to receive the similarly shaped cross section of the center portion  256  of an anchor  254  so as to secure and properly orient the flossing tape in the yoke with the tape vertically oriented. The flats  259  on the center section  254  of the anchor are engageable with the flats  241  of the slot such that once snapped into the slot, the anchors, and consequently, the tape, are properly oriented and cannot rotate relative to the yoke.  
         [0088]     In practice and use of the motorized flosser, whether the flosser utilizes replaceable flosser heads  18  as in the modification of the flosser illustrated in  FIG. 1  or replaceable floss carriers  270  (strips of floss  252  with attached anchors  254 ) as illustrated in the modification of  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the section or strip of floss material will generally be thrown out and replaced with each use of the flosser. To facilitate storage of multiple new or unused floss carriers  270  and replacement of used floss carriers  270 , there is illustrated in  FIGS. 15-17  a cartridge  300  particularly suited to this use. The flosser cartridge  300  is a unitary molded plastic cartridge in the form of an open top box having a bottom wall  302  ( FIG. 16A ) surrounded by two side walls  304 ,  306  and two end walls  308 ,  310 . Spaced from each of the side walls, there are a number of inwardly facing channels  312  adapted to receive one end  258  of an anchor  254  of one floss carrier  270 . Spaced inwardly from the line of channels  312  by a distance slightly greater than the length L ( FIG. 10 ) of an anchor  254 , there are a pair of walls  314  extending parallel to the side walls  304  and  306  for the length of the cartridge  300 . And extending transversely between the side walls  314 , there are spacer walls  316 . In the illustrated embodiment, the flosser cartridge  300  is intended to hold seven floss carriers  270 , one for each day of the week. When residing within the cartridge, each floss carrier  300  has one anchor  254  located between an inner wall  314  and an upstanding channel  312 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 16A , the upper end  313  of each of the side walls  313  of each channel  312  is preferably tapered outwardly to facilitate the insertion of the end flange  258  of an anchor  270  into the upper end of the channel  312  to a depth at which the ribbon of floss  252  of each floss carrier  270  is located atop a recess  315  in the top surface of an inner wall  314 .  
         [0089]     To facilitate removal of a used floss carrier  270  from the yoke  250  of a flossing head  202 , there is a floss carrier removal device  320  attached to one end wall  310  of the cartridge  300 . This carrier removal device  320  comprises a pair of spaced vertical arcuate end walls  322  which extend outwardly from the end wall  310  and which are spaced apart on their inner surfaces  323  by a distance slightly greater than the length L′ ( FIG. 10 ) of the floss carrier  270 . These arcuate walls  322  terminate in flat end walls  324  which extend parallel to the end wall  310 . Rectangular recesses  326  extend downwardly from the top edge of the vertical walls  324  to facilitate insertion of the tines  260   a  and  260   b  of the yoke  250  of a flossing head into the removal device  320 . A bottom wall  328  extends between the end wall  310  and the spaced vertical walls  324 .  
         [0090]     With reference now to  FIGS. 16A and 16B , it will be seen that in order to remove a used floss carrier  270  from the yoke  250  of a flossing head  202 , the tines  260   a  and  260   b  of a flossing head  202  may be inserted into the recesses  326  of the carrier removal device  320  on the cartridge  310 . This is done by moving the yoke downwardly into these spaced recesses  326 . The width W of the recesses  326  is approximately the same as the length of the center portion  256  of the anchors  254 , such that the end flanges  258  of the anchors  254  rest against the inside surface  325  of the vertical wall  324  when the ends of the tines  260   a  and  260   b  are located within the recesses  330  behind the vertical walls  324 . If the yoke, after placement of the tines and the used floss carrier  300  into the cavity  330  behind the end wall  324  is then pulled outwardly away from the cartridge as indicated by the arrows  332  of  FIG. 16B , the floss carrier  270  will, as illustrated in  FIG. 16C , be left within the cavity  330  behind the end walls  324  as a result of the opening of the snap-fit engagement between the anchors  254  of the floss carrier and the slots  262  in the tines of the yoke  250 . Or, alternatively to a straight pull of the yoke away from the cartridge to disengage the floss carrier  270  from the yoke  250 , the complete handle of the motorized flosser may be rotated as illustrated in  FIGS. 16C-16F  about the longitudinal axis  30  of the complete motorized flosser to disengage the floss carrier  270  from the yoke and leave it deposited in the cavity  330  of the flosser cartridge removal device  320 .  
         [0091]     In order to insert a new or replacement floss carrier  270  from the cartridge  300  into the yoke  250  of a flossing head  202 , all that is required as illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18  is for the flosser head  250  to be moved downwardly into the carrier with the ends of the tines  260   a  and  260   b  placed between the vertical channels  312  on opposite sides of the cartridge  300 . When the yoke is moved downwardly in this position, the ends of the tines act as cams to engage the walls  313 ,  314  and move hooks  340  formed on the walls  313  and  314  outwardly (see  FIG. 18 ) while the slots  262  of the tines of the yoke snap-fit into engagement with the anchors  254  on opposite sides of the ribbon of tape  234  of the new floss carrier  300 . Having made this snap-fit engagement, and with the hooks  340  displaced outwardly away from engagement with the flanges  258  of the anchors  254 , the yoke and the flosser head is moved upwardly, thereby withdrawing the new floss carrier  270  from the cartridge  300  with the new floss carrier ready for use in the flosser.  
         [0092]     With reference now to  FIG. 12 , there is illustrated another embodiment of the flossing head  202 . In this embodiment, the flossing head  202  has mounted between the tines  260   a  and  260   b  a flexible toothpaste receiving cup  350 . This cup has a bottom (not shown) from which there extends upwardly a cylindrical wall  352 . The top of this cup is open such that toothpaste may be placed within this cup which is fixedly secured to the top surface of the base  244  of the flossing head  202 . Preferably, there is a center post  354  extending upwardly from the bottom of the flexible cup  350  and radial baffles  356  which extend between the center post  354  and the side wall  352 . These baffles  356  are provided to enhance the effectiveness of toothpaste contained within the cup when the motorized flosser incorporating this flossing head is utilized to floss and brush the teeth of a person using the flosser.  
         [0093]     With reference now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , there is illustrated yet another embodiment of a flossing head  202  utilizable in the practice of this invention. This flossing head is substantially identical to the flossing head  202  of  FIGS. 10 and 11  except that it adds to that flossing head toothbrush bristles  360  to enable the flosser to simultaneously floss teeth and brush them. To that end, bristles  362  are mounted on the base  244  of the flossing head  202  and extend upwardly therefrom. Additionally, bristles  364  are mounted on the tines  260   a  and  260   b . These bristles  364 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , extend inwardly between the tines from one tine toward the other and upwardly at an angle □ of approximately 30 degrees to a plane  366  through the base  244  of the flossing head  202 . This angulation of the bristles affects a more effective brushing action, as well as a simultaneous flossing action, upon oscillation of the flossing head  202  as explained hereinabove when that flossing head is oscillated rapidly through approximately a 45 degree angular oscillation.  
         [0094]     With reference now to  FIGS. 19A and 19B , there is illustrated another embodiment of a flossing head utilizable with the stem  200  of  FIG. 10 . This embodiment of flossing head  400  is similar to the flossing head  202  of  FIG. 10  in that it incorporates removable and replaceable carrier  402  rather than removable and replaceable flosser heads as in the embodiment of flosser illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 . In this embodiment, the carrier  402  has end caps  404   a  and  404   b  molded onto opposite ends of a strip or ribbon of flossing material  406 . These end caps have a downwardly facing hollow interior cavity which fits over and snaps onto end portions  408  of the tines  410  of the yoke  412  of the flossing head  400 . The end caps  402  preferably have downwardly open slots  414  in the side walls of the caps to enable the side walls of the caps to spread apart when the caps are forced downwardly over the ends  408  of the tines and a protrusion (shown in phantom in  FIG. 19A ) on the inside of the cap is snap-fit onto a recess  418  formed in the side of the upper portion  408  of the tines  410 . Thereby, the replaceable carrier  402  may be removably and replaceably snap-fit onto the tines of the yoke of the flossing head  400 .  
         [0095]     While we have described several different embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and discussed hereinabove without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.