Patent Description:
In general, the method for cleaning teeth is using a toothbrush to clean the oral cavity and teeth after a meal, before going to bed, or after getting up. When at a fixed location, such as home or office, it is convenient to prepare a toothbrush. However, when going out, it is less convenient to carry a toothbrush. In addition, toothpicks and dental floss sticks are usually provided for guests to floss or clean interdental space after meals. However, the toothpicks and the dental floss sticks are disposable consumables. Especially in the case of the dental floss sticks, the main structure thereof is composed of a plastic stick body and a dental floss, the cost thereof is high and may cause environmental pollution due to disposable use.

Alternatively, the user may use a bare-wire dental floss to clean the teeth. When doing so, the user needs to wind the bare-wire dental floss around fingers thereof. Accordingly, the fingers may directly touch food residue or saliva, which is very inconvenient for the user. Accordingly, how to design a tooth cleaning device which combines the advantages of the bare-wire dental floss and the dental floss stick is a problem to be solved.

Therefore, some inventors have proposed various dental floss sticks which are recycling and environmentally friendly. For example, "Dental Floss Device" of <CIT>, "Dental Floss Tooth Cleaning Device" of <CIT>, and "Hybrid dental flosser and toothbrush" of <CIT> are provided. However, the aforementioned products have drawbacks of complicated structures, which enhance the manufacturing difficulty. Moreover, the complicated structures are particularly prone to bacteria adhesion and growth after use in oral cavity. If the user reuses the products without effective disinfection, it results in the risk of disease entering by the mouth.

Taking into account the above problems, the inventor of the present disclosure has conducted research and analysis on the use and the structure of dental floss sticks based on years of experience in the design of oral hygiene products, and hope to design a product which can meet the practical need. Accordingly, the main object of the present disclosure is to provide a floss-type tooth cleaning device which is easy to carry and implement, environmentally friendly, and easy to disinfect to meet the oral hygiene needs. <CIT>, <CIT>,and <CIT> disclose various floss-type tooth cleaning devices. <CIT> discloses a floss-type tooth cleaning device, characterized by being configured to clean an interdental space in an oral cavity after being wound with a bare-wire dental floss, the floss-type tooth cleaning device comprising:a grip portion;a bracket portion connected with the grip portion, the bracket portion being formed with a first floss groove, a second floss groove, and a tooth cleaning portion being hollow and formed between the first floss groove and the second floss groove ; and a floss positioning portion disposed on a plane of the bracket portion, the floss positioning portion being configured to allow an initial end and a final end of the bare-wire dental floss to be wound and fixed thereon, the floss positioning portion comprises a cylinder and a position limiting cap.

According to the present disclosure, a floss-type tooth cleaning device is provided to a user to clean an interdental space in an oral cavity thereof. The floss-type tooth cleaning device is easy to carry and implement. Moreover, with the use of a bare-wire dental floss, the floss-type tooth cleaning device can further meet the environmental protection demands. The floss-type tooth cleaning device can be made of a skin-friendly silicone, a rubber, or a nanomaterial that bacteria are not easy to adhere or grow thereon. The main structure of the floss-type tooth cleaning device includes a grip portion and a bracket portion extended from the grip portion. The bracket portion is formed with a tooth cleaning portion being hollow and configured to tighten the bare-wire dental floss, a floss groove configured to allow the bare-wire dental floss to pass through, and a floss positioning portion configured to fix and position the bare-wire dental floss. When implementing, an initial end of the bare-wire dental floss is simply wound around the floss positioning portion by the user to complete the initial positioning, and then the bare-wire dental floss is pulled along and passed through the floss groove, the bracket portion and rewound to the floss positioning portion to complete the final positioning, such that the bare-wire dental floss can be tightened and fixed on the bracket portion. The portion of the bare-wire dental floss exposed in the tooth cleaning portion can be applied to clean the interdental space. After use, the user can simply remove the bare-wire dental floss. The present disclosure is easy to implement and can meet the environmental protection requirements of recycling. Moreover, it is easy to clean due to the simple structure.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a floss-type tooth cleaning device is provided. The floss-type tooth cleaning device is configured to clean an interdental space in an oral cavity after being wound with a bare-wire dental floss, and includes:.

Wherein, the floss positioning portion includes a cylinder and a position limiting cap, the cylinder protrudes from the plane of the bracket portion when the cylinder is assembled on the bracket portion, the position limiting cap is configured to be assembled on the cylinder, and a pressing surface of the position limiting cap presses against the plane of the bracket portion when the position limiting cap is assembled on the cylinder.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a floss-type tooth cleaning device is provided. The floss-type tooth cleaning device is configured to clean an interdental space in an oral cavity after being wound with a bare-wire dental floss, and includes:.

Wherein, the cylinder is formed independently from the first sheet, when assembling, the cylinder is inserted in the first sheet, the third sheet and the second sheet.

Wherein, a segment limiting groove is formed on the plane of the bracket portion, such that a segment of the bare-wire dental floss is pulled to pass through the segment limiting groove then to the first floss groove smoothly by the direction limitation provided by the segment limiting groove.

Wherein, a lower end of the grip portion is capable of being assembled in a placement hole of a holder so as to be fixed on a plane.

Wherein, an assembly portion formed on an exterior of the holder is configured to be assembled with an opposite assembly portion of a cover.

Wherein, the assembly portion and the opposite assembly portion are a pair of mutually engaged threads, buckles, snap points, or a combination thereof.

Wherein, the position limiting cap has elasticity and is made of a rubber or a silicone, the position limiting cap presses against the plane of the bracket portion when the position limiting cap is assembled on the bracket portion.

Wherein, the position limiting cap and the cylinder are integrally formed.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a three-dimensional diagram according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> mainly includes a grip portion <NUM>, a bracket portion <NUM> and a floss positioning portion <NUM>. The grip portion <NUM> is configured to be gripped by a user. The bracket portion <NUM> is extended from the grip portion <NUM> and located above the grip portion <NUM>. The bracket portion <NUM> is formed with a first floss groove <NUM>, a second floss groove <NUM>, and a tooth cleaning portion <NUM> formed between the first floss groove <NUM> and the second floss groove <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the tooth cleaning portion <NUM> (location A) is hollow relative to the body of the bracket portion <NUM> for allowing a bare-wire dental floss L to pass through and providing a tooth cleaning space. The floss positioning portion <NUM> is formed on a plane of the bracket portion <NUM>, and is configured to allow the bare-wire dental floss L to be tightened and fixed when used.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a structure schematic diagram <NUM> according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the floss positioning portion <NUM> mainly includes a cylinder <NUM> and a position limiting cap <NUM>. The cylinder <NUM> can be assembled on the bracket portion <NUM> and protrudes from a plane B of the bracket portion <NUM>. The position limiting cap <NUM> may have elasticity (or slight elasticity). The preferable material can exemplary be a rubber or a silicone. That is, the position limiting cap <NUM> can be made of the rubber or the silicone. The position limiting cap <NUM> is configured to be assembled on the cylinder <NUM>, and a pressing surface <NUM> of the position limiting cap <NUM> presses against the plane B of the bracket portion <NUM> when the position limiting cap <NUM> is assembled on the cylinder <NUM>. Please refer to <FIG>, which is a structure schematic diagram <NUM> according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, when the position limiting cap <NUM> is assembled on the cylinder <NUM>, the pressing surface <NUM> of the position limiting cap <NUM> presses against the plane B of the bracket portion <NUM> so as to formed the floss positioning portion <NUM> therebetween.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a structure schematic diagram <NUM> according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a front perspective view of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, in the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM>, the bracket portion <NUM> is formed with the first floss groove <NUM>, the tooth cleaning portion <NUM> (location A) being hollow and the second floss groove <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a use schematic diagram <NUM> according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, when the user desires to use the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM>, the steps are as follows:.

The aforementioned Third Step can be replaced by the following step:
The segment L2 is abutted toward the floss positioning portion <NUM> and pulled tightly so as to allow the bare-wire dental floss L to be tightened in the tooth cleaning portion <NUM>. Then the segment L2 is wound around the floss positioning portion <NUM> one turn or more turns, such that the fixation of the bare-wire dental floss L is completed.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a use schematic diagram <NUM> according to the present disclosure. When the bare-wire dental floss L is wound and fixed, the entire bare-wire dental floss L is effectively tightened, and a usable tooth cleaning device is obtained.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram showing another preferred embodiment <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The floss-type tooth cleaning device can be composed of a plurality of units. As shown in <FIG>, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> mainly includes a first sheet <NUM>, a second sheet <NUM> and a third sheet <NUM>. The first sheet <NUM> is formed with a grip portion <NUM> and a bracket portion <NUM> extended from the grip portion <NUM>. A cylinder <NUM> protrudes from a plane of the first sheet <NUM>. The second sheet <NUM> has a shape and a size identical to that of the bracket portion <NUM> of first sheet <NUM> and is formed with a first through hole <NUM>. The third sheet <NUM> has a shape identical to that of the bracket portion <NUM> of first sheet <NUM> and a size slightly smaller than that of the bracket portion <NUM> of first sheet <NUM>. The third sheet <NUM> is formed with a second through hole <NUM>. When assembling, the cylinder <NUM> of the first sheet <NUM> is inserted through the second through hole <NUM> of the third sheet <NUM> and the first through hole <NUM> of the second sheet <NUM>, such that the first sheet <NUM>, the third sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM> are fixed and assembled with each other, and the assembly of the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> is completed. With the third sheet <NUM> has a smaller size, a floss groove is formed around the third sheet <NUM> and is concaved between the first sheet <NUM> and the second sheet <NUM> to allow a bare-wire dental floss to pass through. At last, the position limiting cap <NUM> is assembled on the cylinder <NUM> protruding from the first through hole <NUM> of the second sheet <NUM>, such that the floss-type tooth cleaning device can be used in cooperated with the bare-wire dental floss. The cylinder <NUM> protruding from the plane of the first sheet <NUM> can be formed independently from the first sheet <NUM>. When assembling, the cylinder <NUM> can be directly inserted in the first sheet <NUM>, the second sheet <NUM> and the third sheet <NUM>, such that the three sheets can be fixed and assembled with each other.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram showing another preferred embodiment <NUM> according to the present disclosure. According to <FIG>, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> which can be formed integrally or composed of a plurality of sheets. The floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> has a bracket portion <NUM> formed with an assembling hole <NUM> on a plane thereof. The assembling hole <NUM> can be incorporated with a floss positioning portion <NUM>. The floss positioning portion <NUM> includes a cylinder <NUM> and a position limiting cap <NUM>. In use, the cylinder <NUM> of the floss positioning portion <NUM> is assembled in the assembling hole <NUM> first, and then a force is applied to press the position limiting cap <NUM> to abut against the plane of the bracket portion <NUM> so as to complete the assembly. How to use the floss positioning portion <NUM> with the corporation of the bare-wire dental floss has been mentioned above and is omitted herein.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram showing another preferred embodiment <NUM> according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> (or the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM>, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM>) can have a segment limiting groove <NUM> formed on the plane of the bracket portion <NUM> adjacent to the floss groove (the first floss groove <NUM> or the second floss groove <NUM>). As such, when the segment L2 of the bare-wire dental floss L is pulled from the floss positioning portion <NUM>, the segment L2 of the bare-wire dental floss L can be pulled to pass through the segment limiting groove <NUM> then to the first floss groove <NUM> smoothly by the direction limitation provided by the segment limiting groove <NUM>.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram showing another preferred embodiment <NUM> according to the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a holder <NUM> formed with a placement hole <NUM> in an upper portion thereof is provided. The user can insert the grip portion <NUM> of the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> into the placement hole <NUM> of holder <NUM>. As such, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> can be placed upright when the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> is unused, which can prevent the bracket portion <NUM> from lying on a plane to contact with dirties.

Please refer to <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram showing another preferred embodiment <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The aforementioned holder <NUM> can be further formed with an assembly portion <NUM> on an exterior thereof. The assembly portion <NUM> is configured to be assembled with an opposite assembly portion <NUM> of a cover <NUM>. Therefore, when the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> is covered, the floss-type tooth cleaning device <NUM> can be completely accommodated and carried easily. The assembly portion <NUM> of the holder <NUM> and the opposite assembly portion <NUM> of the cover <NUM> can be, but are not limited to, a pair of mutually engaged threads, buckles or snap points, etc..

Based on the foregoing, the present disclosure has advantages of simple structure, easy cleaning, easy use, easy operation, and meeting the environmental protection demands. Accordingly, when the present disclosure is implemented, the object of providing a floss-type tooth cleaning device which is easy to carry and use, environmentally friendly, easy to disinfect to meet the oral hygiene needs can be achieved.

Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible.

Claim 1:
A floss-type tooth cleaning device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), configured to clean an interdental space in an oral cavity after being wound with a bare-wire dental floss (L), the floss-type tooth cleaning device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a grip portion (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a bracket portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>)connected with the grip portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), the bracket portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) being formed with a first floss groove (<NUM>), a second floss groove (<NUM>), and a tooth cleaning portion (<NUM>) being hollow and formed between the first floss groove (<NUM>) and the second floss groove (<NUM>) ; and
a floss positioning portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on a plane (B) of the bracket portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the floss positioning portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) being configured to allow an initial end (L1) and a final end (L3) of the bare-wire dental floss (L) to be wound and fixed thereon, the floss positioning portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a cylinder (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a position limiting cap (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); characterised in that the floss-type tooth cleaning device further comprises
a first sheet (<NUM>), a lower portion of the first sheet (<NUM>) being the grip portion (<NUM>);
a second sheet (<NUM>) formed with a first through hole (<NUM>);
a third sheet (<NUM>) formed with a second through hole (<NUM>);
wherein an upper portion opposite to the lower portion of the first sheet (<NUM>), the second sheet (<NUM>) and the third sheet (<NUM>) together form the bracket portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), when assembling, the cylinder (<NUM>, <NUM>) is inserted through the second through hole (<NUM>) of the third sheet (<NUM>) and the first through hole (<NUM>) of the second sheet (<NUM>), such that the first sheet (<NUM>), the third sheet (<NUM>) and the second sheet (<NUM>) are fixed and assembled with each other;
wherein a size of the third sheet (<NUM>) is smaller than that of the first sheet (<NUM>) and the second sheet (<NUM>), such that a floss groove is formed around the third sheet (<NUM>) and concaved between the first sheet (<NUM>) and the second sheet (<NUM>), the floss groove comprises the first floss groove (<NUM>) and the second floss groove (<NUM>) and is for allowing the bare-wire dental floss (L) to pass through.