Patent Publication Number: US-2003226574-A1

Title: Dental floss dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to a dental device and a method of manufacturing thereof, and more particularly, a dental floss dispenser that is easy and convenient to carry along during the day.  
       [0002] The importance of good dental hygiene, including the proper care of the teeth by daily cleaning of teeth after each meal is well-recognized. Only brushing teeth is not sufficient for proper cleaning as pieces of food tend to stick between the teeth and are hard to reach by toothbrush. Such pieces smell unpleasantly and create environment that causes further damages to the teeth. Flossing the teeth to remove such pieces after each meal is therefore necessary. Most of the people, however, do not carry dental floss along because the dental floss dispensers are bulky and not attractive.  
       [0003] The objective of the present invention is to provide a dental floss dispenser that is easy and convenient to carry along during the day and can be used discretely wherever and whenever needed.  
       [0004] Another objective is to provide a design for a dental floss dispenser that is easy to manufacture, for example, by using existing equipment suitable for manufacturing writing instruments such as pens and mechanical pencils.  
       [0005] Another objective is to provide a dental floss dispenser that can be combined with and into existing writing instruments, such as pens.  
       [0006] Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing dental floss spools based on standard refills for writing instruments such as pens. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a side view of the dental floss dispenser according to the first embodiment of the invention.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the dental floss spool according to one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an element that is used in combination with a dental floss spool depicted on FIG. 4.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a short version of a dental floss spool that is used in combination with an element depicted on FIG. 3.  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a sectioned view of another embodiment of the dental floss spool.  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the dental floss dispenser.  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is a modification of a middle part of the dental floss dispenser of FIG. 6 with an elongated opening for improved access to the dental floss.  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a sectioned view of the dental floss spool along line A-A marked in FIG. 5.  
     [0015]FIG. 9 is a sectioned view of the dental floss spool along line B-B marked in FIG. 2.  
     [0016]FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the dental floss dispenser according to present invention, having rotable top. The dental floss spool and the dental floss are schematically depicted by phantom line.  
     [0017]FIG. 11 is a sectioned view of the dental floss dispenser of FIG. 10 along line C-C whereas the dental floss spool is made of transparent material so that the dental floss can be seen through it.  
     [0018]FIG. 12 is another embodiment of the dental floss dispenser with rotable top.  
     [0019]FIG. 13. is a sectioned view of the dental floss dispenser of FIG. 12 along line D-D whereas the dental floss spool is made of transparent material so that the dental floss can be seen through it.  
     [0020]FIG. 14 is another embodiment of the dental floss dispenser according to present invention, having a orifice to facilitate access to the dental floss, and a slidable cover to cover the orifice, the slidable cover is depicted in its extended, open position.  
     [0021]FIG. 15 is the embodiment of FIG. 14 whereas the slidable cover is in closed position.  
     [0022]FIG. 16. is a partial cross sectional view of the dental floss dispenser of FIGS. 14 and 15 with the slidable cover in its extended, open position.  
     [0023]FIG. 17 is a partial cross sectional view of the dental floss dispensed of FIGS. 14 and 15 with the slidable cover in its closed position.  
     [0024]FIGS. 18 and 19 show one of the designs of a cutter and a fastener usable with different embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIGS. 20 and 21 show alternative design of the orifice that can be used in combination with embodiments depicted on FIGS. 14 and 22.  
     [0026]FIG. 22 is another embodiment of the invention with slidable cover, and a orifice for easy access of the dental floss.  
     [0027]FIGS. 23 and 24 show the embodiment of FIG. 22 in more details.  
     [0028]FIG. 25 is an end view of the device depicted on FIG. 23.  
     [0029]FIG. 26 is cross sectional view of the cover depicted on FIG. 22.  
     [0030]FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view F-F on FIG. 26.  
     [0031]FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view E-E shown of FIG. 26. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0032] The dental floss dispenser according to present invention is generally of the size of a standard writing instrument, such as pen (preferably, 5 to 15 cm in length and 0.3 to 2 cm in width (in diameter)). The first embodiment is now described with the reference to FIG. 1. The dental floss dispenser has a cylindrical elongated housing that comprises a first cylindrical part  1  and a second cylindrical part  2 . The parts are attached to each other by thread joint  4 . A washer  5  is disposed between the first and second cylindrical part to facilitate threading as well as for aesthetic reasons. A clip  6  is attached to the first cylindrical part so that the dental floss dispenser can be conveniently stored and carried in pockets, bags, notebooks, organizers, and other places in the same manner as standard writing instruments, such as pens.  
     [0033] An opening  9  is in the first cylindrical part so that the dental floss  8  can be pulled out from the dispenser. A cutter  10  is formed between clip  6  and first cylindrical part  2  for cutting the floss into proper length. The end of the floss is fastened by pinching it between the clipper and the cylindrical part.  
     [0034] Alternatively, a perforated dental floss can be used. Such floss has weaker regions so that the floss can be torn into pieces by applying more force than ordinarily needed for pulling the floss from the dispenser. In this case, there is not need for a cutter.  
     [0035] Dental floss  8  is wound on a spool  7 . A standard writing instrument refill can be used as a spool (see FIG. 2). However, spool can be wound on a separate spool (see  12  on FIG. 4). The spool can be tubular (see  11  on FIG. 5) or a rod (see  12  on FIG. 4). The spool can be used with a writing instrument (see  13  on FIG. 3, or  13 ′ on FIG. 4) or without it (see FIG. 6).  
     [0036] Another embodiment is described with a reference to FIG. 6. The dental floss dispenser has a cylindrical body, comprising a first portion  22 , a second portion  21  and a third portion  23 . A dental floss spool  24  is rotatably mounted on rod  25  within the cylindrical body. The second portion has a generally round opening  9  so that the dental floss  8  can be pulled out of the dispenser. The opening can also be elongated (see opening  27  on FIG. 7). The dispenser can have a clip for hanging the dispenser, a cutter for cutting the floss to the appropriate length, and a fastener for retaining the end of the floss as described relating to the first embodiment (these elements are not shown on FIGS.  6  to  9 ).  
     [0037]FIGS. 10 and 11 describe another embodiment of the invention. The dental floss dispenser has an elongated housing  30  comprising a cylindrical part  34  and dome-shaped part  32 . In the central portion of the dome shaped part  32  is a cover  36  that can be turned between a first, closed position, and a second, open position, where the open area of the cylindrical part is exposed. The content of the dental floss dispenser is exposed when the cover in the open position, namely, two dental floss spools  40  and  40 ′, and supplies of dental floss  42  and  42 ′ on these spools. Dental floss spools are attached to the cylindrical part  34  by elements  44  that are well known in the prior art.  
     [0038] The cover  36  is attached to the cylindrical part  34  by pivot  38  that is attached to walls of the cylindrical part  34  so that the pivot is substantially perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical part  34 . The cover has a rib  38  and edge  46 . Cutter  50  is attached to rib  48 . Alternatively, cutter  50  can be formed in the rib itself by sharpening its edge. Also, the cover has fastening means for fastening the end of the dental floss in the form of slit  52 . Alternatively, the slit can be formed integrally with the edge  46 .  
     [0039] A modification of this embodiment is depicted on FIGS. 12 and 13. The dental floss dispenser according to modification has an elongated housing  30  comprising a cylindrical part  34  and a dome-shaped cover  54 . The cover is attached to the cylindrical part by pivot  38 . The cover can be turned between first, closed position, and second, open position. The cover has a handle  56  to make it easier to open and close the cover. Alternatively, the cover may be roughened to make it easier to turn with a finger.  
     [0040] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted on FIGS.  14  to  17 . The dental floss dispenser  60  has cylindrical body  64  and a slidable cover  68  thereon. A dental floss spool according to present invention is mounted in the dispenser  86  (the spool is not shown on FIGS.  14  to  17 ; any of the spools described above can be used in combination with this and with any other embodiments of the invention). The end of the dental floss exits the dental floss dispenser through the opening  78  (see FIGS. 16 and 17) in an orifice  76 . A fastener  88  (see FIGS. 18 and 19) is attached to one end of orifice  76 . On one end of the orifice is a fastener  88  for fastening the end of the dental floss between uses (see FIGS. 18 and 19). The fastener has one sharpened edge so it also acts as a cutter for cutting the dental floss into appropriate length. The orifice is long enough so that the end of the floss can be conveniently grabbed between thumb and one of the fingers.  
     [0041] The cover  68  can be moved between the first and second position. In the first position (see FIGS. 15 and 17, the cover closes the access to the end of the floss, covering the orifice. The cylindrical part has a stopper  72  and the cover has edges. Force needs to be applied to push the edges over the stopper  72  to keep the cover in a closed position.  
     [0042] Similarly, force is required to slide the cover to open an access to the orifice  78 . The extent the cover can move is limited by limiter  84  and edges of the cover. The cover has a tooth  82  and the cylindrical part  64  has a groove to guide the cover while sliding from the open position to the closed position. The tooth and the groove have preferably trapezoidal cross section, but it can also have different cross section.  
     [0043] A modified embodiment of the invention is depicted on FIGS.  22 - 28 . The distal floss dispenser has a cylindrical part  90  and slidable cover  92 . Clip  94  is attached to the cover to hang the dispenser. The distal floss is pulled from the dispenser through opening  98 . An orifice  96  is to facilitate easy access to the floss. Stopper  76  with edges  108  fix the cover in its closes position and limiter  104  with edges  108  stops the cover from sliding over the end of the dispenser. The cylindrical part has a tooth  102  and the cover  92  has a groove  106  to guide the cover while sliding cover  92  from the closed position to the open position.  
     [0044] A method for manufacturing a dental floss spool for using with the dental floss dispenser according to present invention is disclosed. The method comprises:  
     [0045] covering a standard writing instrument refill with a glue;  
     [0046] winding a dental floss on the standard writing instrument.  
     [0047] While the present invention has been illustrated by a limited number of embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and substitutions may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims. For example, the cylindrical housing can be made of different materials, including plastic, metal, wood, and glass. The cylindrical housing or any other parts of the dental floss dispenser can be made of transparent material to allow the user to see the amount of dental floss left on the spool, as well as to add attractiveness to the dispenser. The cylindrical housing can have a double layer construction where at least the outer layer is transparent so that information on paper or other suitable materials can be inserted between the layers. The shape of the cross section of the cylindrical housing is generally round, but can also be triangular or rectangular or of any other conceivable shape.