Patent Publication Number: US-2011073133-A1

Title: Flossing tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to dental flossing tools. 
     Flossing tools and holders are well known for aiding consumers in flossing in between the teeth. These devices generally include a handle and a head portion that supports a strand of dental floss. For example, the head may include a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the handle with a strand of dental floss stretched between the arms. The dental floss is held in tension between the arms, so that a user can grip the handle to insert the floss between the user&#39;s teeth. 
     Some flossing tools include a head that is angled, or that can pivot to an angled position, with respect to the handle, in order to put the head in a use position in which the user can insert the head portion of the flossing tool into the mouth. However, once in the mouth, it can be difficult to maneuver the tool to insert the floss between the teeth. A user typically must change the grip on the tool and adjust the positioning of the tool with respect to the mouth until the strand of floss is able to access the desired area between the user&#39;s teeth. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a flossing tool having an articulated head. 
     In one embodiment, the flossing tool includes a handle and a head adapted to support a strand of floss. The head includes a pair of arms that support the floss and are positioned at a first angle with respect to the handle which orients the head and floss into a use position. The head is connected to the handle by a hinge that allows the head to pivot to a second angle with respect to the handle that is different from the first angle. In one embodiment, the handle defines a longitudinal length that extends through the first and second ends of the handle. The head, floss, handle, and the first angle all lie in a common plane that extends along the longitudinal length, and the second angle extends out of the common plane. In a more particular embodiment, the first angle orients the arms at an angle with respect to a first plane extending along the longitudinal length of the handle, and the second angle orients the head and floss at an angle with respect to a second plane extending along the longitudinal length of the handle, wherein the second plane is generally parallel to the lateral sides of the handle. 
     Optionally, the angle between the arms and the longitudinal length of the handle can be fixed, while the hinge allows the arms, and thus the head and floss, to freely pivot, such that the second angle can be varied as desired by the user. Alternatively, the first angle between the arms and the longitudinal length of the handle can vary, while the angle between the head and the lateral sides of the handle can be variable. In another embodiment, the tool may include a second hinge, such that both angles can be varied. 
     Optionally, the hinge can be a line of weakening in the material between the head and handle. For example, the line of weakening could be a living hinge, a perforation, a line of reduced thickness in the material or a fold line. 
     In another embodiment, the handle may include a second hinge that allows the head to pivot with respect to the handle in the same plane as the handle and head. The second hinge could also be a line of weakening, such as a line of reduced thickness in the material or a fold line. 
     The flossing tool described herein provides advantages in functionality. The angled tool combined with the hinged head allows the user not only easier entry of the tool into the mouth, but also easier access to the area between each of the user&#39;s teeth as the angle of the arms with respect to handle can vary freely. Thus, a user can access top and bottom, front and back teeth without having to significantly adjust the position of the tool with respect to the mouth. Further, the handle, head and hinge therebetween can be integrally formed, such that the increased functionality does not substantially increase manufacturing time. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiments and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a flossing tool according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the flossing tool; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the flossing tool, illustrating the pivotal movement of the head; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the flossing tool; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the flossing tool, shown in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     I. Overview 
     A dental flossing tool according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and is designated  10 . In general, the flossing tool  10  includes a handle  12  and a head  14  including a pair of arms  16  and  18  holding a length of dental floss  19 . In the illustrated embodiment, the head  14  and arms are positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal length of the handle and with respect to a bottom edge  34  of the handle  12 , and the head  14  is connected to the handle  14  by a hinge  20  that allows the head  14  to pivot freely with respect to the lateral side surfaces  36  and  38  of the handle  12 . 
     While this embodiment is described with respect to “top and bottom” and “side” edges and surfaces, it should be understood that these designations could be reversed, i.e., the handle could be formed at an angle with respect to the side surfaces, with the hinge being positioned to allow the head  14  to pivot with respect to the top and/or bottom edge of the handle  14 . 
     II. Structure 
     The flossing tool  10  is typically formed from an injection molded plastic. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the flossing tool is integrally formed from a single, unitary piece of molded thermoplastic. 
     The handle  12  is generally flat and includes a free first end  22  and a second end  24  adjacent the hinge  20 . The handle  12  defines a longitudinal length extending between the first  22  and second  24  ends. The handle  12  further includes a top edge  32 , a bottom edge  34  opposite the top edge  32 , and side surfaces  36  and  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, the handle  12  is elongated and includes an indented gripper portion  26  adjacent the second end  24 , which can be readily grabbed and supported between the thumb and fingers of a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle  12  tapers from the gripper portion  26  to the first end  22  and includes a cutout  28  that may be used for gripping the flosser  10  and may also reduce material cost and weight. Alternatively, the handle  12  may have a variety of different shapes, and may have a different length. 
     The head  14  can be formed in any shape suitable to support at least one strand of floss. In the illustrated embodiment, the head  14  is generally flat and includes a base portion  30  adjacent the hinge  20 , with the spaced apart arms  16  and  18  extending from the base portion  30 . As shown, the base portion  30  is asymmetrical and is curved or angled with respect to the handle  12 , such that the arms  16 ,  18  extend from the base portion  30  at an angle B with respect to the longitudinal length of the handle  14  and with respect to the bottom edge  34  of the handle  12  which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends generally parallel to the longitudinal length ( FIG. 1 ). However, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the head  14 , including the arms  16 ,  18  and the base portion  30 , otherwise remains in the same plane as the handle  12  when the hinge  20  is in an un-flexed position. The angle B at which the arms  16 ,  18  extend with respect to the handle  12  may assist a user in inserting the head  12  into the mouth. As shown, the angle B is about 120 degrees, however, this angle may vary from application. For instance, in one alternative embodiment, the angle B may be about 90 degrees. 
     The arms  16 ,  18  are generally parallel to each other and form a U-shape at the end of the head  14 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the arms  16 ,  18  can be spaced far enough apart so that the arms are positioned on opposite sides of a user&#39;s teeth when the tool  10  is inserted between a user&#39;s teeth. The arms  16 ,  18  respectively terminate in a tip  40 ,  42 , which may be rounded to prevent injury to the user&#39;s mouth. 
     The arms  16 ,  18  can be selectively sized depending on the desired application of the tool  10 . For example, the arms  16 ,  18  can be sized to accommodate a user who has braces or other dental appliances. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the thickness of the arm  18  can be sized to fit under a wire  44  that connects the braces  46  on the user&#39;s teeth. In such an embodiment, the arm  16  can be larger or wider than the arm  18 , which may increase the strength and/or durability of the arm  16 . Alternatively, the arms  16 ,  18  can be the same size, and in other applications, the arm  18  can be larger than the arm  16 . 
     The strand of floss  19  is attached to each of the arms  16 ,  18  near the tips  40  and  42 , such that the floss  19  is stretched across the span between the arms and held in tension. The floss  19  may be attached to the arms by a variety of methods. In one embodiment, the floss  19  is molded in place into the arms  16 ,  18  such that the floss extends straight through both of the arms, with the excess floss extending out the reverse side of each arm. The excess floss may be trimmed to a desired length. The floss  19  may be comprised of a variety of suitable materials, such as nylon or similar material, or UHMWPE, or PTFE, for example. 
     The hinge  20  can be formed in any suitable configuration that allows movement between the handle  12  and head  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge  20  is formed across the body of the tool  10  and allows the head  14  to move out of the plane formed by the handle  12  and the un-flexed head  14  to vary the angle C between the head  14  and the side surfaces  36 ,  38  of the handle  12  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The hinge  20  may be a line of weakening, such as a living hinge, in the material between the head  14  and handle  12  that allows the head  14  to flex freely with respect to the line defined by longitudinal length of the handle  12 . The line of weakening may be a perforation, a fold line or an area of reduced thickness in the material. 
     The hinge  20  can be selectively arranged to provide a desirable range of motion of the head  12  in the mouth of a user. In the illustrated embodiment, wherein the handle  12 , head  14  and hinge  20  are all molded from a single, unitary piece of thermoplastic, the hinge  20  is formed by a line of weakening in the flossing tool  10  positioned between the head  14  and the handle  12 . As shown, the line of weakening is formed by an elongated indentation formed in each side of the flossing tool  10  at the junction between the handle  12  and head  14 , extending substantially from the upper edge  32  to the lower edge  34  of the handle  12 . The hinge  20  may be angled with respect to the handle  12 . For instance, as shown, an upper end  48  of the hinge  20  is positioned closer to the free end  22  of the handle  12 , while the lower end  50  of the hinge  20  is closer to the head  14 . As a result, in the illustrated embodiment the hinge  20  is angled with respect to the arms  16 ,  18 . In another embodiment, the hinge  20  may be parallel to the arms  16 ,  18  Optionally, the tool  10  can include a neck portion  52  of reduced width between the handle  12  and head  14 . The hinge  20  can be positioned at the neck portion and as shown, the hinge  20  extends across substantially all of the neck portion  52 . 
     III. Manufacture 
     The manufacture of the flossing tool shown in  FIGS. 1-5  can be performed in a single step. In this embodiment, a mold (not shown) includes a cavity having the general shape of the flossing tool. A strand of floss  19  is stretched through the mold such that it extends through the cavity at the location of the ends of the arms  16 ,  18 . A thermoplastic is injected into the mold about the floss  19 , such that the floss is molded in place in the arms  16 ,  18 . 
     Depending on the type of hinge  20  used, the hinge  20  can be formed using a trim line, die cut, or other process generally know in the art. 
     The formed flossing tool  10  can then be removed from the mold, and the excess floss trimmed from the outside edges of the arms  16 ,  18 . 
     IV. Use 
     Once formed, the tool  10  is ready to be used for flossing a user&#39;s teeth. The user can grasp the handle  12  and insert the head  14  into the mouth. Because the head  14  and floss  19  are angled with respect to the handle  12 , the user can hold the tool  10  generally in front of the mouth, perpendicular to the face, as opposed to angling the tool  10  against the user&#39;s face or lips. 
     After the tool  10  is inserted into the mouth, the user can selectively position the head  14  in the area between two teeth that user would like to floss. In order to position the floss strand  19  directly between the teeth and obtain leverage on the handle  12  to press the floss between the teeth, the user can move the handle  12  with respect to the head  14 , which varies the angle C between the head  14  and the side surfaces  36 ,  38  of the tool  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the hinge  20  allows the head  14  to pivot toward and away from both sides  36  and  38  of the handle  12 , as designated by the arrows A. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the angle B between the head  14  and the bottom edge  34  of the handle  12  remains fixed. However, in other embodiments, the tool  10  may include an additional hinge that allows the head  14  to move in two directions, or rotate in a variety of directions. 
     The above description is that of the current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.