Patent Publication Number: US-2003226575-A1

Title: Flossing tool

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to flossing teeth and in particular to flossing tools adapted to hold floss string to assist a person flossing teeth.  
       [0003] 2. Background Information  
       [0004] Numerous flossing tools designed to hold flossing string are known. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,550; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,536; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,250 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,466. A problem with these flossing tools, and many others, is that a high degree of skill and dexterity is required to manipulate the flossing string on the tool.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a flossing tool that is easy to use, or which at least ameliorates problems with known flossing tools. It is a further object of the present invention to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.  
       [0006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a flossing tool for use with flossing string, the flossing tool including:  
       [0007] a handle portion having a first end and a second end;  
       [0008] a head portion disposed at the first end of the handle portion, the head portion including a first arm extending outwardly to a first distal end and a second arm extending outwardly to a second distal end, the first and second distal ends adapted to support flossing string therebetween, and  
       [0009] a tensioner slidably disposed on the handle portion and movable between at least a first position and a second position, the tensioner including a clamp portion for receiving the flossing string wherein in the first position the flossing string is freely receivable in the clamp portion and in the second position the flossing string is secured in the clamp portion.  
       [0010] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a flossing tool for use with flossing string, the flossing tool including:  
       [0011] a handle portion having a first end and a second end;  
       [0012] a head portion disposed at the first end of the handle portion, the head portion including a first arm extending outwardly to a first distal end and a second arm extending outwardly to a second distal end, the first and second distal ends adapted to support flossing string therebetween,  
       [0013] a channel extending between the first and second ends of the handle portion, and  
       [0014] a tensioner slidably disposed within the channel and movable between at least a first position and a second position, the tensioner including a clamp portion for receiving the flossing string wherein in the first position the flossing string is freely receivable in the clamp portion and in the second position the flossing string is secured in the clamp portion.  
       [0015] Preferably, the first arm has a first groove for guiding the flossing string along it to the first distal end, and second arm has a second groove for guiding the flossing string along it to the second distal end.  
       [0016] Preferably, the first and second arms extend outwardly away from each other.  
       [0017] Preferably, the first and second arms are adapted to move inwardly towards each other.  
       [0018] Preferably, the handle portion has a channel extending from proximate its first end towards its second end, the channel being adapted to slidably receive the tensioner.  
       [0019] Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a first perspective view of a flossing tool according to the invention,  
     [0022]FIG. 2 illustrates a second perspective view of the flossing tool,  
     [0023]FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the flossing tool,  
     [0024]FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a handle and head portion of the flossing tool,  
     [0025]FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of the handle and head portion,  
     [0026]FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a tensioner and clamp portion of the flossing tool,  
     [0027]FIG. 7 illustrates a locking portion of the tensioner,  
     [0028]FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional side elevation view of the handle and head portion with tensioner,  
     [0029]FIG. 9 is a first detailed illustration of area D of FIG. 8, and  
     [0030]FIG. 10 is a second detail illustration of area D of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0031] Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a flossing tool  1  for use with a length of flossing string  2  includes a handle portion  3  extending to a head portion  4  at its first end. The head portion  4  has a first arm  5  extending outwardly to a first distal end  6  and a second arm  7  extending outwardly to a second distal end  8 . In use, the flossing string  2  is supported between the first and second distal ends  6 ,  8 . The outer edge of each of first and second arm portions  5 ,  7  has a groove  15 ,  16  for guiding flossing string  2  along each arm  5 ,  7  to distal ends  6 ,  8 .  
     [0032] A tensioner  9  is slidably disposed on the handle portion  3 . The tensioner  9  includes a clamp  10  with side-by-side jaws  11 ,  12  through which end portions  13 ,  14  of the flossing  5  string  2  pass. Tensioner  9  is slidable between a first position adjacent head portion  4  as shown in FIG. 1 and a second position away from the head portion  4  as shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0033] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle portion  3  and head portion  4  are integrally formed with head portion  4  orientated at an angle C from handle portion  3  to facilitate a comfortable operating position. The first and second arm members  6 ,  7  are integrally formed extensions of the head portion  4 . In the preferred embodiment the first and second arm portions  6 ,  7  are formed to extend outwardly away from each other so that operating area between distal ends  6 ,  8  is greater than the nominal width of head portion  4 .  
     [0034] The handle  3  and head  4  portions are made of well-known thermoplastic elastomeis (TPEs) to provide flexibility with good elastic recovery properties. When under tension first and second arms  6 ,  7  flex inwardly towards each other as shown by arrows A and B. To help facilitate the flex each arm  5 ,  6  has a semi-circular shaped notch  17 ,  18  at is proximal end adjacent head portion  4 . When tension is released from arms  5 ,  6  they return to their outwardly extending positions.  
     [0035] The longitudinal edges  19 ,  20  of handle portion  3  are rolled upwardly and inwardly to form a channel  21 , with grooves  22 ,  23  along its internal edges, longitudinally in the handle portion. Proximate the head portion  4  the channel  21  opens to a mouth with edges  19 ,  20  forming rounded entrance shoulders  24 ,  25 . Within the floor of channel  21  are formed ‘saw-tooth’ shaped locking teeth  36 .  
     [0036]FIG. 6 illustrates detail of the tensioner  9 . Tensioner  9  includes a locking member  26 , which is illustrated in FIG. 7. Tensioner  9  comprises a body portion  27  extending to clamp  10  at one end. The tensioner  9  is also made from thermoplastic elastomeis (TPEs) to provide flexibility with good elastic recovery properties. Body portion  27  is formed with a substantially ‘hat’ shaped cross-section having outwardly extending guide rails  28 ,  29  along either edge. The end  30  of tensioner  9  is hollow thereunder and has an opening  31  for receiving locking member  26 . Centrally on tensioner  9  is a grip portion  32  with which a user can slidably move tensioner  9  on handle portion  3 . Extending from the grip portion  32  in to hollow end  30  is a locking tab  37 .  
     [0037] The clamp  10  of tensioner  9  comprises a central body member  33  having wavelike mating surfaces formed in either side. Extending in an outwardly direction, away from each other, on either side of central body member  33  at two clamping arms  34 ,  35 . The two clamping arms  34 ,  35  have corresponding wavelike mating surfaces and are deformably movable in an inwards direction so that their corresponding wavelike mating surface engages with the respective mating surface of central body member  33  to provide jaws  11 ,  12 .  
     [0038] Tensioner  9  is slidably receivable within the channel  21  of handle portion  3 . Guide rails  28 ,  29  of tensioner  9  slidably engage within grooves  22 ,  23  of channel  21 . Tensioner  9  is slidably movable to a first position wherein clamp  10  extends beyond the mouth of channel  21  proximate head portion  4 . In this position clamp arms  34 ,  35  are in their natural outwardly extending position opening jaws  11 ,  12  of clamp  10 . In use, a length  2  of flossing string is drawn loosely between distal ends  6  and  8  of head arms  5  and  7 . One end  13  of flossing string  2  is laid in the groove  15  of arm  5  and through open jaw  11  of clamp  10 . The other end of  14  of flossing string  2  is laid in groove  16  of arm  7  and through open jaw  12  of clamp  10 . This arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 1.  
     [0039] Referring again to FIG. 2, tensioner  9  can be slidably moved back along channel  21  of handle portion  3 . As tensioner  9  is slidably moved clamp  10  is drawn into the mouth of channel  21 . The shoulders  24 ,  25  of the mouth engage against clamp arms  34 ,  35  respectively closing jaws  11  and  12  to clamp ends  13 ,  14  of flossing string  2  therein. As tensioner  9  is slidably moved further along channel  21  tension is applied to flossing string  2  drawing it taught between distal ends  6 ,  8  of arms  5 ,  7 . Arms  5 ,  7  flexibly deform inwardly under tension.  
     [0040] FIGS.  8  to  10  illustrate how lock  26  is slidably moved within hollow end  30  of tensioner  9  to cause locking tab  37  to engage with locking teeth  36 . Locking member  26  is slidably moved to a position adjacent grip portion  32 . In this position locking tab  37  is free to move over locking teeth  36  as tensioner  9  is slidably moved within channel  21 . When the tensioner  9  has been moved to apply the desired attention to flossing string  2 , locking member  26  is slidably moved away from the grip portion  32  causing locking tab  37  to engage with locking toothed  36  to lock tensioner  9  in position. Such locking arrangements are common in the art and a variety of methods are known. Typical examples are found in the wide variety of retractable blade utility knives common in the market.  
     [0041] The flossing tool of the invention is easy to operate and manipulate. When the flossing string between the distal ends  6 ,  8  of arms  5 ,  7  becomes dirtied the user may slidably move tensioner  9  forward, to release the jaws  11 ,  12  of clamp  10 , and draw the flossing string  2  through the jaws  11 ,  12  to position a clean portion of flossing string  2  between distal ends  6 ,  8 . Tensioner  9  is then slidably moved back again to retention the flossing string  2 .  
     [0042] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements having known equivalents then such are included as if individually set forth herein.  
     [0043] Embodiments of the invention have been described, however it is understood that variations, improvement or modifications can take place without departure from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.