Patent Abstract:
The orthodontia flosser includes a floss head integrally attached to an elongate handle. The handle includes a finger depression at the attachment juncture to facilitate ergonomic gripping of the orthodontia flosser for use thereof. The floss head includes a pair of arms extending perpendicular to the handle. A recess in each arm supports floss therebetween and maintains the floss in a taut condition. The arms may be dimensioned to reach under the wires of bracers.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/434,669, filed Jan. 20, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to oral hygiene devices, and more particularly to an orthodontic flosser for flossing teeth and/or teeth with braces with relative ease. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Oral hygiene is a vital component in maintaining strong and healthy teeth. Lack thereof can lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease, demineralization and fracturing of the teeth enamel. 
         [0006]    The above effects are more susceptible in orthodontic patients who have dental appliances such as braces. The metal wires and brackets of the orthodontic appliance traps food debris, plaque and biofilm, which thereby build up on teeth and under the gum line, causing tooth decay and gingivitis. Flossing is one method that helps reduce such an occurrence, but majority of the available flossing devices are not user-friendly for those with orthodontic appliances. It would be a benefit in the art of orthodontic devices to provide a flossing device that may be easily used by both orthodontic patients and others. 
         [0007]    Thus, an orthodontia flosser solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The orthodontia flosser includes a floss head integrally attached to an elongate handle. The handle includes a finger depression at the attachment juncture to facilitate ergonomic gripping of the orthodontia flosser for use thereof. The floss head includes a pair of arms extending perpendicular to the handle. A recess in each arm supports floss therebetween and maintains the floss in a taut condition. The arms are of a size to reach under the wires of braces. 
         [0009]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an orthodontia flosser according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the orthodontia flosser according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the orthodontia flosser according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the orthodontia flosser of  FIG. 3 , the head being broken away and partially in section to show details thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an orthodontia flosser according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the orthodontia flosser shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the orthodontia flosser shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The present invention relates to an orthodontia flosser, generally referred to in the drawings by reference number  10 , for flossing teeth with relative ease. Initially, it is noted that the orthodontia flosser  10  has been configured to assist orthodontia patients to floss in a manner that overcomes the encumbrance of dental appliances such as braces. However, anyone can use the orthodontia flosser  10  with similar ease. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the orthodontia flosser  10  includes an elongated handle  12  attached to a floss head  16 . The handle  12  is preferably integral with the floss head  16 . However, the orthodontia flosser  10  may be configured so that the floss head  16  is detachable. In this manner, the floss head  16  may be easily disposed and replaced with a new one and vice versa with respect to the handle  12 . 
         [0020]    The handle  12  is long and slightly curved so as to be comfortably grasped by the user. The handle  12  is substantially rectangular in cross section that gradually flattens out towards the bottom half of the handle  12 . The flattened area provides an ergonomic area where the palm of the user can rest while gripping the handle  12 . The top of the handle  12  also includes an elongate finger depression  14  at a corner thereof, which extends from the juncture between the head  16  and the handle  12  a short distance clown towards the distal end. The finger depression  14  is ideally located to permit the user to place a finger or thumb thereon. This ergonomic feature permits the user to maneuver the floss head  16  into operative position and floss between the teeth T with relative ease. 
         [0021]    The floss head  16  may be a substantially U-shaped body having a base  18  and a pair of arms  20  extending therefrom. The floss head  16  is attached to the handle  12  at the base  18 , and the arms  20  extend perpendicularly therefrom. Each arm  20  includes a recess, notch, or depression  22  at its free or distal end upon which floss  24  may be internally threaded and supported thereon in a similar manner to a bow. In fact, the floss  24  may be manufactured so that a substantial portion of the ends of the floss  24  is embedded inside the respective arms  20 . In this manner, the floss  24  is stretched between the arms  20  to keep the same taut for use. 
         [0022]    The following describes how to use the orthodontia flosser  10 . The handle  12  is placed comfortably in the hand of the user. The floss head  16  is guided to enter between the teeth T from the lingual or tongue side. One of the arms  20  should be placed over and on the bracket side or the outer side of the tooth at the interproximal junction. The floss head  16  is pushed downward and upward to gently slide the floss  24  between the teeth T and under the gum. Backward and forward and an upward and downward motion is used against the edge of the teeth T to remove food debris and plaque from the teeth T and gums. When finished, the used floss or contaminated orthodontia flosser  10  can be properly disposed of. If desired, the orthodontia flosser  10  can be reused by disposing of contaminated floss, then washing the used flosser with water and mild soap and allowed to dry prior to reuse. The ease of handling and use permitted by the orientation of the head  16  and the finger depression  14  helps to reduce and prevent dental caries, enamel fractures and gingivitis. 
         [0023]    An alternative embodiment of the orthodontia flosser  100  is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . In this embodiment, the orthodontia flosser  100  includes additional ergonomic features for ease of preparation and use. Moreover, the orthodontia flosser  100  is configured to be reusable, if desired. 
         [0024]    As shown, the orthodontia flosser  100  includes an elongated handle  112  attached to a floss head  116 . The handle  112  is preferably integral with the floss head  116 . However, the orthodontia flosser  100  may be configured so that the floss head  16  is detachable. In this manner, the floss head  116  may be easily disposed and replaced with a new one and vice versa with respect to the handle  112 . 
         [0025]    The handle  112  is long and slightly curved with an enlarged area near the floss head  116  so that the handle  112  may be comfortably grasped by the user. The handle  112  is substantially rectangular in cross section and gradually flattens out towards the bottom half of the handle  112 . The flattened area provides an ergonomic area where the palm of the user can rest while gripping the handle  112 . The top of the handle  112  also includes an elongate depression where a plurality of finger ridges or protrusions  114  are formed thereon. These finger ridges  114  form a gripping means that enhance grip for the user&#39;s finger or thumb during the course of using the orthodontia flosser  100 . The depression is formed at the juncture between the head  116  and the handle  112  and extends a short distance down towards the distal end. The finger ridges  114  are ideally located to permit the user to place a finger or thumb thereon. 
         [0026]    The floss head  116  may be a substantially U-shaped body having a yoke or bifurcated base  118  and a pair of arms  120  extending therefrom. The floss head  116  extends from the handle  112  at the base  118 , and the arms  120  extend perpendicularly therefrom. Each arm  120  includes an L-shaped groove or channel  122  upon which floss  124  may be threaded and supported thereon in a similar manner to a string on a bow. The portion of the groove  122  extending to the tip end of each arm  120  forms prongs, ensuring that the floss  124  threaded thereon will not slip. 
         [0027]    To facilitate winding of the floss  124 , each arm  120  includes a recess or depression  128 , and a binding post  126  extends outwardly from the recess  128 . One end of the floss  124  is wound on one of the binding posts  126  and threaded through the groove  122  on the respective arm  120 . The rest of the floss  124  is threaded through the groove  122  on the other arm  120 , and the other end of the floss  124  is secured to the other binding post  126 . The floss  124  is stretched and held taut between the arms  120  in this manner, and the tautness thereof is determined by how tightly the user winds the ends of the floss  124  around the binding posts  126  and the grooves  122 . The orthodontia flosser  100  is now ready for use in a manner similar to the orthodontia flosser  10  described above. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the recesses  128  each provide space for the user&#39;s fingers to ease securing of each end of the floss  124 . In addition, each binding post  126  includes an enlarged head or cap  127  at the distal end to prevent the floss end from sliding out of secure engagement with the binding post  126 . 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that the orthodontia flossers  10 ,  100  encompass a variety of alternatives. For example, the orthodontia flossers  10 ,  100  are preferably made from lightweight plastic. However, other materials such as lightweight, nonporous, food grade composites, steel, wood, or a combination thereof may also be used. Moreover, the orthodontia flosser  10 ,  100  may include a variety of colors and indicia. 
         [0030]    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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0