ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE FOR THE FLOSSING OF TEETH

Abstract

A dental flossing apparatus having a single continuous loop of dental floss passing freely through and held by apertures, which may be located either within the body of each of two rings, or in an eyelet on each of the rings, the rings being suitable for placing on the long fingers of both hands. One or both eyelets may have one end fixed to and continuous with the ring, and one sharply pointed end contiguous with, but not continuous with, the ring, with the pointed end pointing inwards such that its external side lies at an acute angle to the outer circumference of the ring, so that the floss can enter the aperture by being pulled through the contact point between the pointed end of the eyelet and the ring, but can't easily exit the aperture once inside.

Claims

1. A dental flossing apparatus comprising a single continuous loop of dental floss passing freely through and held by apertures, located either within the body of each of two rings, or in an eyelet on each of the rings, said rings suitable for placing on the long fingers of both hands.

2. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the eyelets has one end fixed to and continuous with the ring, and one sharply pointed end contiguous with, but not continuous with, the ring wherein the pointed end points inwards such that its external side lies at an acute angle to the outer circumference of the ring, so that the floss can enter the aperture by being pulled through the contact point between the pointed end of the eyelet and the ring, but can't easily exit the aperture once inside.

3. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of at least one of the eyelets lies in the same plane as the ring

4. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of at least one of the eyelets lies in a plane inclined to the plane of the ring

5. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eyelet is integrally formed with the ring from the same material.

6. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the loop of dental floss comprises a sponge material

7. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sponge material is made of polyester foam, cellulose, polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam.

8. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sponge material is attached to the floss by means of stitching, knotting, chemically-cured bond, light-cured bond or heat bond.

9. A dental flossing apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sponge wherein one or more of said sections of sponge may be impregnated with a substance of artificial, natural or herbal origin.

10. A method of using a dental flossing apparatus, said apparatus comprising a single continuous loop of dental floss held by apertures located either within the body of each of two rings, or in an eyelet on each of the rings comprising the steps of placing the rings on one long finger of each hand, and placing the loop of dental floss round a second long finger from each hand so that the second long fingers can hold the floss under tension.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, where in the loop of dental floss is pulled through the apertures in order to advance the loop of material and replace a region of used floss with a fresh length of floss.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the dental apparatus;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view showing another embodiment of the apparatus; and

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a possible method of using the dental apparatus;

[0018] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a perspective view of an embodiment of part of the dental apparatus;

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of part of the dental apparatus; and

[0020] FIG. 6 show a plan view of an embodiment of the dental apparatus prior to use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, the two rings 10 have an internal diameter E long enough to slide freely onto the long fingers of each hand i.e. approximately 2 cm. Said rings are ideally made of from rigidly-formed pieces of plastic, but can be made of any material. Said rings are ideally circular but can be any shape. Located at any point on the each ring is an eyelet 12. Said eyelet can be any shape and any size, but will be positioned on or proximal to the external circumference of the ring 10. At the centre of each eyelet is an aperture 13. Said aperture can be any shape and diameter, ideally varying from between 2 mm to 5 mm. Each eyelet 12 has one ending fixed to the ring 10 and one sharply pointed end 14 abutting and contiguous with, but not continuous with, the outer circumference of each of the rings 10, whereby the external side of the pointed end is at an acute angle to the outer surface of the ring. Said pointed end 14 allows the insertion of the loop of floss past the contact point where the pointed end 14 abuts the surface of the ring 10 and into the aperture 13, but doesn't easily allow the floss to come out. This process may be aided by a slight flexibility of the material of the eyelet, so that as the floss enters the smoothly narrowing gap between the pointed end 14 and the surface of the ring 10 the gap is widened sufficiently to allow the floss to pass. The inner surface of the aperture 13 where the pointed end 14 of the eyelet 12 touches the surface of the ring 10 presents an oblique surface which resists the accidental entry of the floss. The loop of floss 16 may be inserted during the manufacturing process or by the end-user.

[0022] A single continuous loop of dental floss 16, of approximate total length 14 cm (but may be any length) is held by the eyelets 12 by passing though the apertures 13 in both eyelets. The floss can move freely through the apertures.

[0023] Each eyelet 13 may lie in the same plane as the ring 10, however one or both eyelets could alternatively lie in a plane inclined to that of the ring, indeed the eyelet's plane could be perpendicular to that of the ring. The eyelet could be fixed to the ring either by being an integrally formed part of the same body of material as the ring, such as when manufactured by injection moulding, or when the ring and eyelet are cut or milled form the same piece of material, or the ring and eyelets could be separate components joined together by any means, in which case the eyelet could be formed from a different material.

[0024] Conveniently, the two rings 10 are identical, though this is not essential. Further the rings 10 need not be continuous closed circles, but could include a break, provided that they remain on the user's fingers during use.

[0025] A variation of the invention has a section 18 of the floss loop bearing or consisting of sponge material, which may be provided in a solid cylindrical or sausage-shaped tube of material. Further variations of the invention provide a section of sponge of varying length and diameter. Said section of sponge may be manufactured from cellulose, polyether foam, polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam, or any other material necessitated by the manufacturing process. Said section of sponge may be the means of closing the loop of floss, or may be attached to a pre-existing loop of floss by a number of means, such as stitching or knotting, bonding with chemically cured bonding agent, bonding with a light cured bonding agent, heat bonded, or any other method of attaching the sponge to the floss, as necessitated by the manufacturing process. In further variations of the invention, said section of sponge 18 may be impregnated with a substance, either singly or in combination, such as fluoride, chlorhexidine, triclosan, or herbal extract, but not solely confined to these substances. In different variations of the invention, the medicament can be in dry (such as a crystalline or powdered material soluble in saliva), or wet form (such as a liquid or gel). A further variation on the invention consists of two or more sections of sponge material, and they may be regularly distributed along the length of floss.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, in a further variation of the invention the eyelets 22 are continuous with rings 20, so that there no gap provided between a pointed end 14 of the eyelet and the surface of the rings 20. Said eyelets may be very small or practically non-existent whereby the apertures 13 are located within the bodies of the rings.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, bent long fingers of each hand hold the two rings 20, most conveniently the middle fingers 25. The user then uses the tips of the index fingers 24 to stretch taut a section 27 of the floss 16 of length approximately 2 cm. This taut section 27 of floss is then used to clean between the teeth in an up and down motion. This means that only the tips of the index fingers 24 and a short section of floss, and not the entire device or the thumbs, is required to be placed in the mouth. The anchorage of the rings and the dexterity of the index fingers, results in a strong and effective flossing tool. The floss may be advanced through the eyelets 12 to in order to move to a fresh section of floss 16 into the taut section 27, or bring the section of sponge material 18 (or one of the sections, if several pieces of sponge material are provided) between the index fingers.

[0028] Where the eyelets include a free pointed end that touches the outer surface of the rings, floss 16 may be provided in a ready-made loop, or the user may form a loop from a length of floss by knotting one end to another, and the floss inserted through the pointed end and the surface of the ring. Where the eyelet is formed with both ends continuous with the ring, or the eyelet formed within the body of the ring itself, the floss 16 must be threaded through the aperture of the eyelet before the loop is formed.

[0029] The above description refers to dimensions. These are typical only and the invention is not limited to them.

[0030] The above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Many variations on the apparatus for delivering the invention, as would be clear to those knowledgeable in the field, are within the scope of the invention, whether or not expressly described.