Flossing device with spring-type head

Abstract

A “Flossing Device with Spring-Type Head” is a device used to floss the teeth. A handle with a storage chamber in which the coiled floss thread is stored, is fixedly attached to a Spring-Type Head that includes a substantially U-shape flexible arm and two substantially cylindrical shape fixtures. Each piece of the floss thread is placed and secured between the said fixtures. Due to the flexibility of the said arm, a constant suitable tension of the floss thread is maintained at all times. Using the device, while flossing becomes possible with one hand, it gives the user a much more effective and easier flossing experience.

Claims

1. A flossing device comprising: a handle extending along a longitudinal axis from a closed distal end of the handle to an open proximal end of the handle, the open proximal end of the handle forming an opening to a hollow interior of the handle with the hollow interior forming a storage chamber; a coiled supply of floss stored within the storage chamber; a lid attached to, and closing, the opening at the proximal end of the handle thereby securing the coiled supply of floss in the storage chamber; a monolithic V-shaped floss head non-removably attached to the distal end of the handle, the V-shaped floss head including: a pair of cylindrical plastic coated metal arms forming the V-shape; a U-shaped metal leaf spring directly attaching said pair of cylindrical arms together, wherein the U-shaped metal leaf spring is embedded in the distal end of the handle; the pair of cylindrical arms projecting from the distal end of the handle, and wherein each of said arms includes a floss threading slot with a hemispherical hollow space at one end of the slot.

2. The flossing device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent window on the handle forming a floss indicator and allowing a user to see into the storage chamber to view the coiled supply of floss when the lid is closed over the opening.

3. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a passage allowing an end of the coiled supply of floss to exit the storage chamber.

4. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein each of said arms includes an enlarged cylindrical fixture at a distal-most end of the respective arm and wherein the enlarged cylindrical fixture carries the floss threading slot and hemispherical space.

5. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the coiled supply of floss comprises a plurality of knots or plastic balls along a length of the floss and the knots or plastic balls are received in the hemispherical hollow spaces.

6. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the handle is made of a waterproof material.

7. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the handle is ergonomic and has at least one flat side for easier grip.

8. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a blade for cutting a length of the coiled floss supply.

9. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein the handle is made of plastic.

10. The flossing device of claim 1, wherein each arm of the pair of arms is positioned at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

11. The flossing device of claim 4, wherein the coiled supply of floss comprises a plurality of knots or plastic balls along a length of the floss and the knots or plastic balls are received in the hemispherical hollow spaces.

12. The flossing device of claim 4, wherein the handle is made of plastic.

13. The flossing device of claim 4, wherein the handle is erogonomic and has at least one flat side for easier grip.

14. The flossing device of claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a blade for cutting a length of the coiled floss supply.

15. The flossing device of claim 4, further comprising a transparent window on the handle forming a floss indicator and allowing a user to see into the storage chamber to view the coiled supply of floss when the lid is closed over the opening.

16. The flossing device of claim 4, wherein the lid includes a passage allowing an end of the coiled supply of floss to exit the storage chamber.

17. The flossing device of claim 5, wherein the knots or plastic balls are sized larger than a width of the floss threading slots, such that the knots or plastic balls cannot pass through the floss threading slots.

18. The flossing device of claim 11, wherein the knots or plastic balls are sized larger than a width of the floss threading slots, such that the knots or plastic balls cannot pass through the floss threading slots.

19. The following device of claim 15, wherein the coiled supply of floss comprises a plurality of knots or plastic balls along a length of the floss and the knots or plastic balls are received in the hemispherical hollow spaces.

20. The flossing device of claim 16, whererin the lid comprises a blade for cutting a length of the coiled floss supply.

21. The flossing device of claim 19, wherein the knots or plastic balls are sized larger than a width of the floss threading slots, such that the knots or plastic balls cannot pass through the floss threading slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Various other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the same or its parts throughout the several views are shown. It is noteworthy that the accompanying drawings of the present invention are not scaled. The brief description of the drawings are as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the flossing device.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the flossing device as shown at line 2-2 of FIG. 1 while the storage chamber and the substantially U-shape flexible arm can be seen in the view.

(4) FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the area 3 in FIG. 2. The flexible arm, its coating and the corresponding fixture can be seen in the view.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the flossing device as shown at line 4-4 of FIG. 1 while the storage chamber and the substantially U-shape flexible arm can be seen in the view.

(6) FIG. 5 is the exploded view of the flossing device.

(7) FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the coiled floss thread. The coiled floss thread is being uncoiled and the knots on the floss thread can be seen in the view.

(8) FIG. 7 is the magnified view of the area 7 in FIG. 6. The knots on each piece of the floss thread can be seen in the magnified view.

(9) FIG. 8 is the perspective view of the flossing device while as an alternative, the flexible head and the handle are made as a whole integrated embodiment.

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the flossing device as shown at line 9-9 of FIG. 8 while as an alternative, the flexible head and the handle are made as a whole integrated embodiment. The storage chamber and the flexible arms can be seen in the view.

(11) FIG. 10 is a magnified view of the area 10 in FIG. 9. The flexible arm can be seen in the view.

(12) FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the flossing device as shown at line 11-11 of FIG. 8 while as an alternative, the flexible head and the handle are made as a whole integrated embodiment. The storage chamber and the flexible arms can be seen in the view.

(13) FIG. 12 is the exploded view of the flossing device while as an alternative, the flexible head and the handle are made as a whole integrated embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(14) The flossing device 1 generally presented in FIG. 1, includes a handle 100 and a flexible head 200.

(15) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 3, the handle 100 is hollow and made of suitable and durable water-proof materials. The handle 100 has an ergonomic design.

(16) The handle 100 has a flat side 103 for easier grip and better control of the flossing device 1. The flat side 103 helps the user to determine the direction and positioning of the flexible head 200 of the flossing device 1 inside the mouth space when flossing, enabling the user to move the flexible head 200 inside the mouth space with more precision and comfort.

(17) The handle 100 is further composed of a storage chamber 102, coiled floss thread 122 (that has no core in its center) and a lid 104 at the bottom of the handle 100. There is a narrow passage 110, created from a cut at the rim of the lowest part of the handle 100 that when the lid 104 is closed, serves as a passage for the floss thread 126. Using the lid 104, the refill of the coiled floss thread 122 in the storage chamber 102 becomes possible.

(18) The handle 100 is also composed of a floss thread indicator 108 that is a transparent portion of the body of the handle 100 which allows the user to see the inside of the storage chamber 102 as well as the stored coiled floss thread 122.

(19) The coiled floss thread 122 is uncoiled from inner side of the center of the coiled floss thread 122 to prevent any accidental disturbance of the uncoiling process and to ensure the smooth uncoiling of the coiled floss thread 122. There is a cutter blade 106 on the outer layer of the lid 104 for cutting the floss thread 126.

(20) Along the floss thread 126, there are numerous knots 124 on the floss thread 126 in specific and designated intervals. Two consequent knots 124, a short length of the floss thread 126 before the first and after the second said consequent knots 124 and the floss thread 126 between them form a piece of the floss thread 126.

(21) Using the cutter 106, the user can cut a piece of the floss thread 126 including two knots 124 on each piece of the floss thread 126 and use it for flossing. The knots 124 are necessary to secure each piece of the floss thread 126 in its right position.

(22) The flexible head 200 may be fixedly attached to the handle 100 longitudinally vertical and along with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

(23) The flexible head 200 may also be fixedly attached to the handle 100 longitudinally and slightly bended comparing to the vertical longitudinal axis of the handle to increase the comfort of the user and the ease of access to the spaces and gaps between the teeth, and hence, to increase the effectiveness of the flossing.

(24) The flexible head 200 is made of suitable water-proof materials such as a suitable water- resistant spring-type metal and a spring-type metal that is coated with a suitable protective coating like plastic or chromium.

(25) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the flexible head 200 is further composed of a substantially U-shape flexible arm 202 and two substantially cylindrical shape fixtures 206L and 206R on top of its two ends.

(26) There is a threading slot 208L or 208R, cut vertically from the top side of the body of the substantially cylindrical shape fixtures up to nearly the middle of the body of the substantially cylindrical shape fixtures 206L and 206R, wide enough just to let the floss thread 126 to pass through the threading slots 208L and 208R. The axes of the two threading slots 208L and 208R are aligned with each other in one line.

(27) At the exterior sides of the lowest point of the two threading slots 208L and 208R, there are two substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 210L and 210R to accommodate the two knots 124 on each piece of the floss thread 126 and to secure the positioning of each piece of the floss thread 126 between the two substantially cylindrical shape fixtures 206L and 206R firmly and tightly.

(28) It is noteworthy that the width of the threading slots 208L and 208R is such that it easily let the floss thread 126 to get in and get out of the threading slots 208L and 208R. However, the threading slots 208L and 208R are not wide enough to let the knots 124 on each piece of the floss thread 126 to pass through. This feature enables the threading slots 208L and 208R and the substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 210L and 210R to selectively let the passage of the floss thread 126 and to prevent the passage of the knots 124.

(29) In other words, the design and the sizes of the threading slots 208L and 208R as well as the substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 210L and 210R are such that each piece of the floss thread 126 together with its knots 124 can easily go inside the threading slots 208L and 208R and the substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 210L and 210R, but cannot come out of the substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 210L and 210R and the threading slots 208L and 208R, unintentionally.

(30) In operation, in the first step, a desired length of the floss thread 126 with two knots or balls is pulled out of the storage chamber 102 through the passage 110 and using the cutter blade 106, it is cut by the user.

(31) Then, pushing the two ends of the substantially U-shape flexible arm 202 towards each other and holding them, the user is required to thread one of the two ends of the floss thread 126 through one of the two threading slots 208L or 208R and secure the corresponding knot 124 in the corresponding substantially hemisphere hollow space 210L or 210R.

(32) After doing so, and still holding the two ends of the substantially U-shape flexible arm 202, the user is required to thread the other end of the floss thread 126 through the other threading slots 208L or 208R and secure the corresponding knot 124 in the corresponding substantially hemisphere hollow space 210L or 210R.

(33) Then the user is now required to release the two ends of the substantially U-shape flexible arm 202. As a result, the floss thread 126 becomes snug and taut between the two substantially cylindrical shape fixtures 206L and 206R with a suitable tension.

(34) The flossing device is now ready to floss the teeth. When one piece of the floss thread 126, secured between the two substantially cylindrical shape fixtures 206L and 206R, is used and needs replacement with a fresh piece of the floss thread 126, the used piece of the floss thread 126 can be removed by pushing and holding the two ends of the substantially U-shape flexible arm 202 again and removal of the used piece of the floss thread 126. Then, a new piece of the floss thread 126 can be placed in the right position in the same manner described above, for flossing.

(35) Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, as an alternative embodiment, the handle 100 and the flexible head 200 in the above described embodiments may be designed and manufactured as a whole integrated embodiment. In such case, suitable and durable water-proof materials such as suitable types of plastic should be used to comply with the manufacturing method requirements.

(36) In addition, due to the method of manufacturing and the materials used, there is no need to the substantially cylindrical shape fixtures. Instead, the threading slots 308L and 308R as well as the substantially hemisphere hollow spaces 310L and 310R can be designed and made directly on the flexible arms 314L and 314R.

(37) Moreover, a flexibility gap 312 is also added to the device to enhance the flexibility of the flexible arms 314L and 314R.