Abstract:
A new and improved dental floss dispenser for providing dental floss pre-treated with fluoride. The dental floss dispenser comprises a container, a rotatably supported spool of dental floss mounted in the container, and a chamber containing fluoride, wherein the chamber has at least one opening for guiding the dental floss through the fluoride.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Priority is claimed from provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/912,841 filed on Apr. 19, 2007, and incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates, in general, to dental floss, and, in particular, to a dispenser for treating dental floss with fluoride. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Known Prior Art 
         [0005]    Dental floss is manufactured and widely sold in thread form, and is used to clean particles of food lodged between the teeth. When food particles lodge between the teeth, they immediately begin to break down, and when they are dislodged, such as by brushing or flossing, they leave a residue of material which tends to promote tooth decay. One of the most successful methods for preventing tooth decay is the application of fluoride to tooth surfaces. Readily available commercial fluoride, such as sodium fluoride (NaF), acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF), and stannous fluoride (SnF 2 ), are believed to strengthen the enamel surface of the teeth by promoting the remineralization of tooth surfaces. According to the American Dental Hygienists&#39; Association, “[f]luoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and solid by preventing the loss of (and enhancing the re-attachment of) important minerals from the tooth enamel.” 
         [0006]    While only 4 percent of Americans believe that they have gum disease, the reality is that 75 percent actually do. This number is nearly directly proportional to that percentage of Americans who do not floss on a regular basis, if at all. And in a country where it is widely recognized that prevention is the best medicine, there is obviously plenty of room for improvement. So with the number of people with gum disease being what it is, and flossing being the best means of prevention, it is not surprising that, although both are useful, flossing is recognized as being more important to oral hygiene and health than brushing teeth. 
         [0007]    What the prior art is lacking, however, is a means to adequately provide users with a device and method for flossing while simultaneously applying fluoride to the tooth surface. Therefore, an extensive opportunity for advancements and innovation remains where the prior art fails or is deficient. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of apparatus, systems and methods now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved dental floss dispenser, which may be used in all applications, and specifically provides for pretreating dental floss with fluoride. As such, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a more convenient and user-friendly device that has the advantages of the prior art while overcoming the known disadvantages. 
         [0009]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, titles, headings, chapter names, classifications and overall segmentation of the application in general should not be construed as limiting. Such are provided for overall readability and not necessarily as literally defining text or material associated therewith. 
         [0011]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved dental floss that is treated with fluoride, and a method and device for dispensing such improved dental floss. Flossing with the improved fluoride treated dental floss will, in effect, deliver the fluoride directly to the interproximal tooth surfaces and the subgingival areas where many of the decay causing bacteria reside. 
         [0013]    Another further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flossing device which is of a relatively simple design and thus may be easily and efficiently manufactured. 
         [0014]    An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flossing device which is of a more durable and reliable construction than that of the existing known art. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flossing device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such economically available to those utilizing flossing devices. 
         [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flossing device that provides some of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
         [0017]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference would be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0018]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations, graphs, drawings, and appendices. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a dental floss dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dental floss dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dental floss dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dental floss dispenser of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dental floss dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dental floss dispenser of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Referring now to the drawings in greater detail,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a dental floss dispenser  10  comprising a container  12 . The container  12  is shown as having a chamber  14  disposed therein, preferably between an upper end  16  and a lower end  18  of the container  12 . The container  12  is further shown to have a first side  20  and a second side  22  spaced a distance apart to be either as wide or wider than a conventional floss dispenser, or narrow enough to allow the dental floss dispenser  10  to fit into a conventional toothbrush holder (not shown). The dental floss dispenser  10  of the present invention is also shown to include a spool  24  of floss  26  rotatably supported in a housing  28  near the chamber  14 . 
         [0026]    The chamber  14  of the dental floss dispenser  10  may be filled with a fluid  30 , preferably fluoride, and may be constructed to be in communication with the housing  28  such that floss  26  can be dispensed through the chamber  14  and impregnated with the fluid  30  contained therein. The fluoride, preferred for use in the present invention, may be in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, a gel, liquid or powder. 
         [0027]    The chamber  14  is formed to have an upper end  32  and a lower end  34  directly opposed to one another, and a first side  36  and second side  38  preferably congruent with the first side  20  and second side  22  of the container  12 . The chamber  14  may be constructed of any material capable of holding the fluid  30  so long as there remains a minimal risk of fluid  30  leaking from the chamber  14 . 
         [0028]    The floss  26  is preferably threaded from the spool  24  through a first opening  40  in the lower end  34  of the chamber  14  where it may be impregnated with fluid  30 , and then threaded through a second opening  42  in the upper end  32  of the chamber  14 . Such vertical threading of the floss  26  allows for quick dispensing, and minimum tangles of the thread, as well as a lower cost of manufacturing. Furthermore, a metal guide for the floss  26  is not utilized within the chamber  14 , as such guide is contemplated to be detrimental to the health of the user due to unintended chemical reactions which may occur from long term exposure to a fluid, like fluoride. 
         [0029]    While it is shown that the first opening  40  and the second opening  42  are located on the lower end  34  and upper end  32 , respectively, it is important to point out that the first opening  40  and the second opening  42  may be located on any surface of the chamber  14  such that the floss  26  is threaded through the fluid  30  contained therein. The first opening  40  and the second opening  42  are constructed to form a tight seal around the floss  26  in order to prevent fluid  30  from leaking out of the chamber  14 . For example, the first opening  40  and the second opening  42  may be constructed from a rubber material in a manner similar to an air intake and release valve used for a basketball (not shown). The first opening  40  is shown to be in communication between the housing  28  and the chamber  14  such that any leakage of fluid  30  that may occur is contained in the housing  28  near the chamber  14 . 
         [0030]    The housing  28  containing the spool  24  of floss  26  is shown as having an upper end  44  congruent with the lower end  34  of the chamber  14 , a lower end  46  directly opposed to the upper end  44  of the housing  28 , and a first side  48  and second side  50  spaced a distance apart to allow the spool  24  of floss  26  to freely rotate within the housing  28 . While it is shown that the upper end  44  of the housing  28  is congruent with the lower end  34  of the chamber  14 , it is important to specify that any surface of the housing  28  may be in communication with the chamber  14  such that the floss  26  may be threaded from the housing  28  and through the chamber  14 . 
         [0031]    Further describing the dental floss dispenser  10  of  FIG. 1 , the upper end  16  of the container  12  is formed to include an opening  52  where the floss  26  may be removed from the container  12 . A cutter  54  is placed on the upper end  16  of the container  12  and is useful for removing a segment of the impregnated floss  26 . The container  12  may also include a lid (not shown) hinged at the upper end  16  of the container  12 . 
         [0032]    The container  12 , chamber  14  and housing  28  are preferably fabricated out of durable plastic materials and the cutter  54  is preferably constructed of a metal or a hard plastic. However, other types of material can be used such as cardboard, wood, etc. The floss  26  is preferably fabricated of a highly absorbent, un-waxed thread. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an alternative embodiment of a dental floss dispenser  10   a  is shown as being frusto-conical in shape having a spool  24   a  of dental floss  26   a  disposed within a chamber  14   a.  The chamber  14   a  has an upper end  32   a,  a lower end  34   a,  and a sidewall  36   a  extending therebetween. The dental floss dispenser  10   a  further includes a dispenser cap  56  to allow convenient access to the floss  26   a.    
         [0034]    The chamber  14   a  is formed to contain both the fluid  30  and the spool  24   a  of floss  26   a.  The spool  24   a  of floss  26   a  is shown to extend the length of the frusto-conical shape to allow quick and easy dispensing of the floss  26   a.  Furthermore, it is contemplated that the submersion of the spool  24   a  of floss  26   a  within the fluid  30  allows for an improved absorption of fluid  30  on the floss  26   a.  In addition, the frusto-conical shape of the dental floss dispenser  10   a,  wherein the lower end  34   a  of the chamber is larger in diameter than the upper end  32   a  of the chamber  14   a,  provides a number of advantages. For example, the frusto-conical shape allows for a better weight distribution of the dental floss dispenser  10   a,  and allows the spool  24   a  of floss  26   a  to be wound and unwound in a vertical position rather than horizontally. However, it should be understood that a variety of shapes and arrangements are conceivable to those skilled in the art, all of which are preferred so long as the shape and arrangement is capable of carrying out the objects of the invention. 
         [0035]    The dispenser cap  56  according to certain embodiments of the present invention comprises a lid  58 . The lid  58  is preferably attached to the chamber  14   a  of the dental floss dispenser  10   a  along a plastic hinge  60 . The lid  58  may be constructed to have a ridge  62  located along the periphery of the inside portion of the lid  58 . The ridge  62  causes the lid  58  to snap shut when closed. When the lid  58  is closed along the hinge  60 , pressure applied to the top of the dispenser cap  56  causes the ridge  62  to engage the upper end  32   a  of the chamber  14   a,  creating a friction fit. The dispenser cap  56  may include a concave surface (not shown) located on a segment of the periphery of the outside portion of the lid  58 , allowing users to easily open the flip top lid  58  and gain access to the floss  26 . The lid  58  is preferably opened by placing the users thumb on the concave surface and applying upward pressure to the lid  58 , releasing the friction fit. However, it should be understood that the dispenser cap  56  may be constructed to include threads (not shown) as a substitute for attaching the dispenser cap  56  to the chamber  14   a.    
         [0036]    The dental floss dispenser  10   a  may also include plunger means (not shown) for dispensing the fluid  30  contained in the chamber  14   a.  Such plunger means, may include, but is not limited to, a threaded plunger attached to a stem (not shown), or an injection type plunger (also not shown) for pushing the fluid  30  towards the upper end  32   a  of the chamber  14   a.    
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an alternate embodiment of a dental floss dispenser  10   b  is shown in which a spool  24   b  of floss  26   b  is rotatably supported in a chamber  14   b  containing the fluid  30 . The spool  24   b  of floss  26   b  rotates freely in the fluid  30 , thereby allowing the floss  26   b  to constantly be impregnated with fluid  30 . The chamber  14   b  containing the spool  24   b  of floss  26   b  and fluid  30  is shown to comprise an upper end  32   b  spaced a distance apart from an upper end  16   b  of the container  12   b.  The floss  26   b  is preferably threaded through a first opening  40   b  in the upper end  32   b  of the chamber  14   b  and a second opening  42   b  in the upper end  16   b  of the container  12   b.  While it is shown that the upper end  32   b  of the chamber  14   b  is separate and distinct from the upper end  16   b  of the container  12   b,  it is important to stipulate that the upper end  32   b  of the chamber  14   b  may be constructed to be congruent with the upper end  16   b  of the container  12   b.  In both instances, the user may remove the impregnated floss  26   b  from the container  12   b,  and cut a segment of the floss  26   b  using the cutter  54   b  placed on the upper end  16   b  of the container  12   b.    
         [0038]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.