Dental floss holder

Abstract

A dental floss holder includes a connecting section and at least four floss supporting arms extending from said connecting section. Each of the floss supporting arms has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the connecting section, and the second end includes a floss fastening portion for fastening a string of dental floss. The floss fastening portions of the at least four floss supporting arms are configured such that a string of dental floss attached to the floss fastening portions of the at least four floss supporting arms may be arranged to constitute the edges of a polyhedron.

Claims

1. A dental floss holder comprising: a connecting section; and at least tour floss supporting arms extending from said connecting section, wherein each of the floss supporting arms has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the connecting section, and wherein the second end comprises a floss fastening portion for fastening a string of dental floss, wherein the floss fastening portions of the at least four floss supporting arms are configured such that a string of dental floss attached to the floss fastening portions of the at least four floss supporting arms are arranged to form outer edges of a polyhedron shape, a string of dental floss forming discrete pairs of strings that are aligned and arranged on opposite sides of the connecting section, and wherein the connecting section is completely disposed within a volume delimited by the outer edges of the polyhedron shape.

2. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the floss supporting arms are connected to a neighboring floss supporting arm by a discrete string of dental floss among the plurality of discrete strings attached to the floss fastening portions of the floss supporting arms.

3. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the floss supporting arms are connected to each of at least two neighboring floss supporting arms by discrete strings of dental floss among the plurality of discrete strings attached to the floss fastening portions of the floss supporting arms.

4. A dental floss holder according to claim 2, wherein the discrete string of dental floss is spaced apart from the connecting section.

5. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the floss supporting arms comprises a rounded surface.

6. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the polyhedron is selected from the group consisting of: a tetrahedron, a cube, a hexagonal prism, and an octahedron.

7. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the floss supporting arms are of a substantially equal length.

8. A dental floss holder according to claim 2, wherein the discrete string of dental floss is fastened to the fastening portion by a method selected from the group consisting of: molding, melting, embedding, gluing, winding, tying, and clamping.

9. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder is manufactured as one integrated unit by molding.

10. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the floss supporting arms are joined together by a strengthening section.

11. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the floss supporting arms extend from the connecting section to form a polygonal base of a polyhedron where the plurality of discrete strings of dental floss form the faces of the prism.

12. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein a compressible material is placed in a space between the plurality of discrete strings of dental floss, the floss supporting arms and the connecting section, such that the compressible material helps to push a discrete string of dental floss among the plurality of discrete strings back out once inserted between adjacent teeth.

13. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the first end is a part of the connecting section.

14. A dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the floss supporting arms are connected to each of at least three, neighboring floss supporting arms by discrete strings of dental floss among the plurality of discrete strings attached to the floss fastening portions of the floss supporting arms.

15. The dental floss holder according to claim 1, wherein the first end of each floss supporting arm is directly connected to the same connecting section.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the following figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(7) FIGS. 6a-f show side views of alternative embodiments of floss supporting arms for a dental floss holder according to the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment with a compressible material shown in the space between the floss supporting arms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(9) A first embodiment of a dental floss holder according to the invention is disclosed in FIG. 1. This specific embodiment has four floss supporting arms 1, wherein each arm has a first end 2 and a second end 3. The first end 2 of each supporting arm 1 is joined to the connecting section 4 (or hub). In this embodiment, the connecting section is formed by the four first ends 2 joined, or connected together. At the second end 3, the supporting arms 1 feature a rounded surface 5 in the form of a knob 5 or ball. The rounded surface ensures that the dental floss holder is comfortable to have in the mouth by avoiding any sharp edges which may hurt or scratch the gums or palate. Each of the supporting arms 1 is connected to a neighboring supporting arm by a string of dental floss 6. In this particular embodiment, each of the supporting arms 1 is connected to three neighboring supporting arms, each connection by a string of dental floss 6. Each string of dental floss is connected to a floss fastening portion 7 at the second end of a supporting arm. The fastening portion 7 is preferably arranged between the rounded surface 5 and the connecting section 4. As can be seen, the multiple strings of dental floss are arranged to constitute the edges of a polyhedron, or more specific in this case, a tetrahedron.

(10) In use, a person may put the present dental floss holder into the mouth and the shape/form of the holder makes it easy to guide the dental floss between the teeth by a combination of chewing on the holder and moving it around by using the tongue. The size of the dental floss holder is such that it can be put into the mouth and used in a comfortable manner.

(11) Further embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 2-4. The main difference between the embodiments is the number of supporting arms and consequently the number of strings of dental floss and thus the geometric shape of the holder.

(12) A dental floss holder comprising eight floss supporting arms 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The multiple strings of dental floss are arranged to constitute the edges of a cube. In this specific embodiment, two strings of dental floss 6, 6 are aligned and arranged on opposite sides of the connecting section 4.

(13) A dental floss holder comprising twelve floss supporting arms 1 is shown in FIG. 3 (the side view hides the four supporting arms which are mirror images of the four supporting arms extending towards the viewer). The multiple strings of dental floss are then arranged to constitute the edges of a polyhedron having 16 faces.

(14) A dental floss holder comprising six floss supporting arms 1 is shown in FIG. 4. The multiple strings of dental floss are arranged to constitute the edges of an octahedron.

(15) A dental floss holder comprising twelve floss supporting arms 1 is shown in FIG. 5. A strengthening section 8 is shown arranged between two of the neighboring supporting arms. Such strengthening sections may be arranged between any number of supporting arms provided they do not interfere with the insertion of the strings of dental floss between adjacent teeth.

(16) Various alternatives regarding the shape or form of the floss supporting arms are shown in FIGS. 6a-f. The shape/form of the supporting arms may be varied in a multitude of ways, but they should be substantially longitudinal and comprise a fastening portion 7 to which a string of dental floss may be fastened. In the alternatives of FIGS. 6a and 6d, the fastening portion 7 is shown as a slight narrowing of the supporting arm close to the rounded surface 5, while in FIGS. 6b and 6c, the fastening portion 7 is shown as holes. In FIGS. 6e and 6f, the fastening portion 7 is shown as slots. The illustrated fastening portions 7 are especially useful in embodiments where the strings of dental floss may be replaced. In embodiments where the strings of dental floss are permanent (e.g. for single use) they may be attached to the fastening portion 7 by molding, melting, embedding or gluing. When the latter methods for attaching are used the fastening portion is not restricted to any shape or form, and may only denote a position on the supporting arm, at which position a string of dental floss is, or may be, attached.

(17) An alternative feature of a dental floss holder according to one or more embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. In this case, a compressible material 9 is placed in the space between the strings of dental floss 6, the floss supporting arms and the connecting section, such that the compressible material 9 will help to push the strings of dental floss back out once inserted between adjacent teeth.

(18) The dental floss holder according to one or more embodiments of the invention, excluding the strings of dental floss per se, may be manufactured in any suitable material such as metals and synthetic polymers having the required mechanical properties with regards to strength and flexibility/rigidity. A requirement of such materials is their suitability for oral use by humans. In view of the present disclosure, and known examples of materials used in prior art dental floss holders, the skilled person would easily find a number of materials fulfilling the required properties.

(19) Preferably, the dental floss holder is manufactured in one piece by molding. In such manufacture, the attachment of the strings of dental floss may advantageously be performed during the molding process, or in a subsequent manufacturing step wherein the strings of dental floss are fastened by melting or gluing.