Abstract:
A flossing device having internal floss feed in which floss is advanced from a storage chamber inside the handle of the device, through feed gears, to a pair of spaced apart tines. Spent floss is returned through the return gears, the return drive gear having a greater diameter than the feed drive gear, thus ensuring the floss remains taut between the tines. An integral cutter allows the spent floss to be cut off and discarded. The cover over one or both sets of gears may be open at the top and bottom to allow cleaning of the gears. A flexible tile may be included over the aperture through which the floss exits the storage chamber to prevent water incursion therein. 
     A floss advance lever advances the floss by a single action when pressed forward, which creates and maintains sufficient tensions on the floss resulting in taut and snug floss between the tines. Optionally, the flossing head has a vibratory device to aid in the flossing action.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No. 10/846,575, filed May 17, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to dental hygiene products. More particularly, the invention comprises a flossing device with internal storage of floss and an internal feed mechanism for progressing fresh floss through the flossing head. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Numerous flossing devices have been disclosed over the years, may with internal storage for the floss, and many of those with feed mechanisms for advancing the floss through the flossing tines. 
   Of particular note are U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,994 to Santoro on Mar. 4, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,207 to Bushman on Oct. 20, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,133 to Kossak, et al., on Sep. 7, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,271 to Urso on Oct. 6, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,331 to Tanriverdi on Dec. 14, 1993. 
   In each case cited above, floss is fed from a supply spool through the tines and back to a take up spool, with all motivational forces being applied to the either the supply spool, the take up spool or both. In none of the above are the motivational forces applied directly to the floss, as in the present invention. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Dentists recommend regular flossing as one of the best ways to maintain dental hygiene and health. Many people, however, find the act of flossing clumsy and difficult. Flossing by hand requires stretching floss between the fingers of both hands and then working the fingers into the mouth, flossing a given area of the mouth, advancing the floss through the fingers and then flossing another area of the mouth. The advancing of the floss is important in order to prevent the spreading of germs and debris from one area of the mouth to another. By means of the internal mechanism provided by the present invention, the floss is easily refreshed by rotating the floss advance wheel. 
   The present invention provides flossing device which has a chamber within its hollow handle in which a spool of floss is stored. The free end of the floss is threaded through an array of feed gears to a pair of tines at the head of the device and back to the take up gears for take up. The floss is maintained taut between the tines of the head for effective flossing. In an alternative embodiment, an electrically operated vibrator is housed in the flossing head to aid in stimulating the gums and removal of dental debris. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a flossing device that is easy to use. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a flossing device which stores the floss internally. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a flossing device which is self cleaning. 
   Another object of the invention to provide a flossing device which can easily provide fresh floss for each tooth to be flossed. 
   It is, again, an object of the invention to provide a flossing device which maintains the floss in a taut state between the tines of the head for effective flossing. 
   Still another object of the invention to provide a flossing device which isolates clean floss from contaminated floss. 
   Still another object of the invention to provide a floss hollow chamber which is detachable for refilling purposes and water tight. 
   A further object of the invention to provide a flossing device which can easily be washed and cleaned after use without making the floss in the storage chamber wet or contaminated. 
   An additional object of the invention to provide a flossing device with vibratory action to aid in gum stimulation and removal of dental debris. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the flosser of the present invention at line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial top, partially cut-away view of the flosser of the present invention at  5  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a partial side, cut-away view of the left side of the flosser of the present invention at line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5   
       FIG. 7  is a partial side, cut-away view of the left side of the flosser of the present invention at line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5   
       FIG. 8  is an exploded top perspective view of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the threading tool of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the flosser of the present invention with an oscillating head. 
       FIG. 11  is a side, cut-away view of the flosser of the present invention at line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded top perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of the alternative embodiment of the flosser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of the alternative embodiment of the flosser of the present invention at lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The flosser  100  of the present invention, as shown in its assembled state at  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is depicted in further detail at  FIGS. 3 through 8 . 
   The flosser  100  has a body  102  having a hollow handle portion  104  at a first end, handle portion  104  having a threaded cap  106  at a first end of handle portion  104  and a threading aperture  108  at a second end of handle  104 . Handle  104  is dimensioned and configured to comfortably fit into a human hand. 
   At a second end of body  102  is a head  110 , head  110  extending longitudinally from the second end of handle  104 . Head  110  is solid and substantially flat on its upper and lower surfaces, and is dimensioned and configured for the free end of head  110  to comfortably fit within a human mouth. At the free end of head  110  is a pair of tines  112   f  and  112   r  which are angled downwardly from the free end of head  110  at an angle which allows easy access to the teeth. (In the preceding and hereinafter, the designation “f” behind a number will refer to the feed side of the flosser  100  and the designation “r” the return side.) Each of tines  112   f  and  112   r  has a groove  114   f  and  114   r , respectively, formed at the end thereof, the groups  114   f  and  114   r  being substantially in a plane with one another. Tines  112   f  and  112   r  each have a guide groove  124   f ′ and  124   r ′, respectively, formed proximate the edge thereof to aid in guiding floss  202   f  and  202   r  along the length thereof. 
   Proximate the juncture with handle  104 , head  110  floss feed assembly  150  mounted within and on the two opposing sides of head  110  proximate its juncture with handle  104 . Interior of head  110  is a floss feed lever well  151  formed along the longitudinal axis of head  110  proximate its juncture with handle  104 . (While floss feed lever  151  could be closed at the bottom, as illustrated, it could likewise be formed passing filly through head  110 ). The floss feed assembly  150  consists of a floss feed gear  152  rotatably mounted at a first end of an axle pin  158 , which is mounted through head  10  and floss feed lever well  151  and substantially normal thereto. A return gear  160  is, likewise, rotatably mounted at the second end of axle pin  158 , feed gear  152 , and return gear  160  being on opposite sides of head  110 . 
   A feed drive gear  156  is rigidly mounted at a first end of a drive axle pin  62 , which is mounted through head  110  and floss feed lever well  151 , substantially normal thereto. A return drive gear  164  is, likewise, rigidly mounted at the second end of drive axle pin  162 . 
   Axle pin  158  and drive axle pin  162  are positioned and feed gear  152  and return gear  160  and feed drive gear  156  and return drive gear  164  are dimensioned such that feed gear  152  engages feed drive gear  156  snugly, and the return drive gear  164  engages return gear  160  snugly. 
   A floss advance lever  166  has a first, free end and a second attachment end. An aperture  165  is formed through the floss advance lever  166  proximate the attachment end. Drive axle pin  162  passes through aperture  165  of floss advance lever  166 , within floss advance lever well  151 , thereby allowing floss advance lever  166  to rotatably engage drive axle pin  162 . A ratchet gear  168  is fixedly attached to drive axle pin  162  at a point within floss advance lever well  151  at a point adjacent to floss advance lever  166 , and a ratchet engagement member  167  is attached to the side of floss advance lever  166  such that an end of ratchet engagement member  167  engages ratchet gear  168 . The engagement of ratchet gear  168  and ratchet engagement member  167  allows the floss advance lever  166  to rotate the drive axle pin  162  on a forward stroke of floss advance lever  166  and move freely on the back stroke of floss advance lever  166 , thereby rotating feed drive gear  156  and return drive gear  164  in only one direction. A compression spring  170  returns the floss advance lever to the rearward position automatically. 
   A feed capstan  172  and a return capstan  176  are situated between feed drive gear  156  and return drive gear  164  and tines  112   f  and  112   r , respectively, thereby aiding in guiding the floss  202  as it passes between the feed drive gear  156  and return gear  164  and the grooves  124   f ′ and  124   r ′ of tines  112   f  and  112   r , respectively. Grooves  172   a  and  176   a  around the perimeters of capstans  172  and  176 , respectively, retain the floss  202   f  and  202   r  on the capstans  172  and  176 . Feed assembly housings  116   f  and  116   r  enclose the feed and return sides of feed assembly  150 , respectively. It is preferable that feed assembly housing caps  116   f  and  116   r  leave the top and bottom of the feed assembly open to aid in the rinsing of the feed assembly  150  with running water. 
   A floss cutter  180 , as is typically found on floss dispensers, is mounted on the lower surface of head  110 . 
   A light weight, flexible tile  182 , configured to conform to the face of the juncture wall between hollow handle  104  and head  110 , aids in preventing water from infiltrating the interior of handle  104  through the threading aperture  108  during washing. Tile  182  has sufficient flexibility to allow the floss to easily pass through the threading aperture  108 , while still conforming to the surface of the wall around threading aperture  108 . 
   In a second embodiment of the flosser  100 A ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ), a vibrator  400  may be added to the head  110  of flosser  100 A. Vibrator  400  consists of a motor  402  with an eccentric head  404 . Motor  400  is powered by an electrical cord (not shown) or battery (not shown) housed in the hollow handle  104 . The vibration of vibrator  400  provides improved stimulation of the gums and cleaning of the teeth over the flosser  100 , without the vibrator  400 . 
   A threading needle  300  ( FIG. 9 ) is provided to aid in the threading of floss through the threading aperture  108  of handle  104 . Threading needle  300  has a shaft  302  which may be inserted through threading aperture  108  of head  110 , and extended out the end of handle  104 . A finger ring  304  is at a first end of the shaft  302  and an eye  306  at the second end. The end of a floss  202  form a spool  200  may be threaded through the eye  306  of needle  300  before withdrawing needle  300  from threading aperture  108 . The floss  202  is then threaded through the flosser  100 , as further defined hereinbelow. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6 , floss  202  from a spool  200  is fed through threaded aperture  108  to the floss feed assembly  150 , using needle  300 . The end of the floss  202  is then fed through feed gear  152  and feed drive gear  156 , then into the groove  172   a  around feed capstan  172 . The floss  202  is then fed along the guide groove  124   f  becoming floss  202   f  of a first tine  112   f , through the tine groove  114   f  of the same tine  112   f , and then through the tine groove  114   r  of the second tine  112   r  becoming  202   r  (In use, the floss  202   f  between the tines  112  becomes soiled with food debris, therefore, hereinafter, the soiled floss will be referred to as floss  202   r , soiled floss being returned to the floss feed assembly  150 .) The floss  202   r  is then fed through guide groove  124   r  and back to the floss feed assembly  150 , where it passes between the return drive gear  164  and return gear  160  before passing to the floss cutter  180 , where spent floss  202   r  may be cut off. 
   Return drive gear  164  has a larger diameter than does feed drive gear  156 , thereby ensuring that the floss  202  is constantly under tension, preventing slack in the floss  202  between the tines  112 . It should be noted that clean floss  202   f  and soiled floss  202   r  travel through different channels throughout the system. Floss is fed through the floss feed assembly  150  by ratcheting the floss advance lever  166  forward. 
   In use, the tines  112  of the flosser  100  should be placed within the mouth, with the floss  202  passing into the gap between two adjacent teeth. After flossing between the two teeth, the flosser  100  should be removed from the mouth and the floss  202  advanced between the tines  112  by ratcheting floss advance lever  166 . This action should be repeated after flossing each pair of adjacent teeth. The used floss  202  may be periodically cut by cutter  180 . After flossing, the floss feed assembly  150  should be cleaned by rinsing with running water, and the flosser  100  left to dry. 
   Following is a description of an alternative embodiment of the flosser of the invention. In  FIGS. 12-15 , which show this alternative embodiment, all elements having the same reference numerals used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-11  should be understood to have the same function as they served in that embodiment. Numerals followed by (′) indicate cosmetic, minor modification or change in function. New numbers indicate a new part. 
     FIG. 12  shows a top perspective view of the alternative embodiment  100 B of the flosser. As can be seen in  FIG. 13 ,  198  and  199  are male and female threads, respectively, which allow floss housing  195  and flosser body  148  to be releasably secured together by screw motion to enable refilling the floss  200  within housing  195 . Tensioner  184  is a plastic or metal part which functions as a spring, pushing forward the axle pin  158 ′ within the oval axle pin apertures  178   r ′ and  178   f ′ resulting in tight engagement of feed drive gear  152  and feed gear  156  as well as return drive gear  164  and return gear  160 , respectively. Axle pin drive apertures  174   r  and  174   f  and drive axle pin  162 ′ are circular in shape, with apertures  174   r  and  174   f rotatably accommodating ends of the drive axle pin  162 ′ therein. Axle pin apertures  178   r ′ and  178   f ′ are oval shaped, leaving slack which allows tensioner  184  to press axle pin  158 ′ towards the axle drive pin  162 ′, thereby engaging said gears tightly. This snug arrangement thereby compensates for manufacturing deformities, eccentricness, and wear of the gears and also doesn&#39;t allow slipping of floss  200  routed along said gear engagements. A groove  186  is provided on the underside of tensioner  184 , allowing the tensioner to compress when placed in position and expand consequently affecting spring action. The axle groove  190  function is retaining the tensioner  184  in the right position relative to the axle pin  158 ′. A feed capstan  172  and the feed groove  172   a  are used to guide the floss  202   f  from the feed drive gear  156  and feed gear  152  towards the groove  124   f ′. A return capstan  176  and return groove  176   a  are used to guide the floss  202   r  from the return groove  124   r ′ towards the return drive gear  164  and return gear  160 . A threading aperture  108  allows floss  202   f  to pass between hollow handle  195  and flosser body  148 . 
   A plastic flexible tile  182 ′, configured to cover and seal tightly the aperture  108 , aids in preventing water from infiltrating the interior of handle  195  through the threading aperture  108  during washing. Flexible tile  182 ′ has sufficient flexibility to allow the floss  202   f  to easily pass through the threading aperture  108 , while sealing tightly the end of aperture  108 . Guiding capstan  154  grips floss as the floss is passing through its narrow and flexible slot and prevents the floss from becoming loose and disengaging from position between gears. 
   Advance lever  166 ′ fixedly and rigidly houses the outer surface of the outer casing of ratchet engagement member  168 ′ in aperture  165  of advance lever  166 ′. The ratchet engagement member  168 ′ is a clutch bearing, as known in the art, functioning in a manner that allows only a ratcheting rotation in one direction. The ratchet engagement member  168 ′ grips the drive axle  162 ′ ratchetably. By gripping the hollow handle  195  between the thumb and fingers of a human hand and pushing forward the advance lever  166 ′, the drive axle  162 ′ will rotate in a forward direction resulting in advancing the floss and creating tension in the floss between the feed drive gear  156  and return drive gear  164  simultaneously. The advance lever  166 ′ will return to its first position by force of the helical spring  170 , as shown in  FIG. 15 , when released. The feed assembly housing cap  116   f ′, and return assembly housing cap  116   r ′ have been designed in order to protect the hands of the user and the feed and return assembly housing caps are easily removable for purposes of cleaning the gears and/or refilling the spool of floss  200 . Feed assembly housing cap  116   f ′ is open at the bottom and the top allowing the user to rinse the soiled area of return drive gear  160  and  164  which contacts used portion of floss on return cycle. Return assembly housing cap  116   r ′ can also be opened at the top and bottom, if so desired. The push advance lever  166 ′ has been designed with an ergonomic shape. Flosser  100 B further includes a cutter  180  to cut spent portions of the floss. The cutter is of similar nature and similar position to that shown in  FIG. 8 . The floss  202   f  and  202   r  are routed through the flosser  100 B in a manner corresponding to that described above in reference to the first flosser embodiment  100 . The flosser  100 B alternatively can be equipped with vibrating mechanism corresponding to that described above in reference to the first flosser embodiment  100 A. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.