AU2019101480A4

AU2019101480A4 - Dental floss

Info

Publication number: AU2019101480A4
Application number: AU2019101480A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bradley Jones; Christopher Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-11-28
Filing date: 2019-11-28
Publication date: 2020-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-28
Also published as: WO2021102520A1

Abstract

A dental floss member having a stretchable loop body, wherein in use, the loop body can be stretched to position a section of the loop body within a gap 5 between teeth and slide between the teeth. Figure 1 Figure 2

Description

DENTAL FLOSS

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental floss. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for dental floss for removing food and plaque from between teeth. The patent specification describes this use but it is by way of example only and the invention is not limited to this use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dental floss is used to remove entrapped food particles and dental plaque from between teeth in areas that toothbrushes are unable to reach.

Traditional floss is supplied in plastic dispensers that contain a roll of floss. After pulling out approximately 40 cm of floss, it is pulled against a blade to cut it off. The piece of floss is stringed on a fork-like instrument or held between fingers on 5 both hands with about 1-2 cm of floss exposed. The floss can then be guided between pairs of teeth.

One problem within using traditional floss is that preparation time is required prior to use. Another problem within using traditional floss is that a significant portion of the dental floss is wound onto fingers and therefore wasted. A further problem 0 with using traditional floss is that the thickness of the floss is fixed and therefore users with different teeth gaps need to choose floss with different thicknesses. Another problem within using traditional floss is that traditional floss has a tendency to strip and delineate, leaving sections of the floss wedged between teeth, particularly where gaps between teeth are narrow. A further problem within using 25 traditional floss is that repeated, vigorous or overuse of floss can cause significant damage to gums, resulting in bleeding and a potential source of infection.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or 30 more of the above mentioned problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

-22019101480 06 Dec 2019

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a dental floss member having a stretchable loop body, wherein in use, the loop body can be stretched to position a section of the loop body within a gap between teeth and slide between the teeth.

Preferably the dental floss member is elastic. Preferably the dental floss member has an elasticity above 200%. Preferably the dental floss member has an 0 elasticity above 300%.

In one embodiment, the loop body is circular in shape. Preferably a diameter of the loop body increases when stretched. Preferably an initial diameter of the loop body is no more than 30mm. In another embodiment, an initial diameter of the loop body is approximately 30mm. Preferably the loop body has a length from 100mm to 5 200mm when stretched. Preferably the loop has a length approximately 160 mm when stretched.

In another embodiment, the loop body is oval in shape. Preferably a diameter of the oval increases when stretched. Preferably an initial long axis diameter of the oval is no more than 30mm and an initial short axis diameter of the oval is no more 0 than 10mm. Preferably a long axis diameter of the oval is from 30mm to 200 mm and a short axis diameter of the oval is from 5mm to 20 when stretched. Preferably a long axis diameter of the oval is approximately 160 mm and a short axis diameter of the oval is approximately 10 mm when stretched. Alternatively prior to being stretched, the loop body can have other shapes, such as triangle, rectangle or the 25 like.

Preferably the loop body has a width in a direction of an opening of the loop body. Preferably the width of the loop body decreases when stretched. Preferably the initial width of the loop body is from 2mm to 5mm. Preferably the width of the loop body is less than 3mm when stretched. Preferably the width of the loop body is 30 approximately 1mm when stretched.

Preferably the loop body has a thickness perpendicular to the width. Preferably the thickness of the loop body decreases when stretched. Preferably the initial thickness of the loop body is from 0.2 mm to 1mm. Preferably the thickness of

2019101480 06 Dec 2019

- 3 the loop body is less than 0.2mm when stretched. Preferably the thickness of the loop body is approximately 0.1mm when stretched.

In one embodiment, the dental floss member is substantially made of natural rubber material. In another embodiment the dental floss member is substantially 5 made of synthetic rubber material, such as isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, butadiene/styrene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, EPDM rubber, ethylenacrylatkautschuk, butyl rubber, chlorohydrin, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, acylate rubber, fluorine rubber, silicone rubber or the like. In a further embodiment, the dental floss member is substantially made of a plastic material.

Preferably the dental floss member further includes a flavouring component.

Preferably the flavouring component includes a peppermint flavour, a spearmint flavour, a Wintergreen flavour, a cassia flavour, a cinnamon flavour, a cherry flavour, a strawberry flavour, a lime flavour or the like. Preferably the flavouring component is added during the manufacture of the dental floss member. Alternatively the flavouring component is in a form of a coating applied to the dental floss member.

Preferably the dental floss member further includes an antibacterial coating or component.

Preferably the dental floss member further includes a dental probiotic treatment. Preferably the probiotic treatment is a probiotic coating.

Preferably the dental floss member is substantially white in colour.

Alternatively, the dental floss member is substantially transparent, black, grey, red, green, yellow, blue, orange, pink or the like.

In another aspect, the present invention broadly resides in dental floss system having a plurality of dental floss members, each dental floss member having a stretchable loop body;

a case to contain the plurality of dental floss members; and a cover to cover an opening of the case, wherein in use the dental floss member can be removed from the case; said dental floss member can be stretched to position a section of the dental floss member within a gap between teeth and slide between the teeth.

Preferably the dental floss member is a dental floss member as describe in this specification.

-42019101480 06 Dec 2019

Preferably the case is cylinder in shape. Preferably a diameter of the cylinder is approximately 43mm. Preferably a height of the cylinder is approximately 38mm. Alternatively the case can have other shapes, such as cube, cone or the like.

Preferably the system further includes a fastening portion. Preferably the fastening portion releasably retains the cover in a closed position, where it covers the opening of the case.

In a further aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a method of using a dental floss member for removing food and plaque from between teeth, including the steps of removing a looped dental floss member from packaging;

stretching the dental floss member to position a section of the dental floss member within a gap between teeth; and sliding the dental floss member between the teeth.

Preferably the dental floss member is a dental floss member as described in 5 this specification.

The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of a unstretched dental floss member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a unstretched dental floss member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of a stretched dental floss member according to a 30 preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of a stretched dental floss member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view of dental floss packaging according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2019101480 06 Dec 2019

- 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a dental floss member 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dental floss 5 member 10 is a stretchable loop of elastic material. The loop is an oval 12 in a unstretched state.

The oval 12 is defined by a long axis diameter A and a short axis diameter B. In a unstretched state, the long axis diameter A of the oval 12 is approximately 30mm, and the short axis diameter B of the oval 12 is approximately 10mm.

With reference to Figure 2, there is shown a width C of the dental floss member 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The width C of the dental floss member 10 is approximately 3mm in a unstretched state.

With reference to Figure 3, there is shown a stretched dental floss member 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is stretched at 5 a full expansion state. The dental floss member 10 in Figure 1 is stretched to an oval loop 14 in Figure 3.

The stretched oval 14 is defined by a long axis diameter A’ and a short axis diameter B’. The long axis diameter A’ of the stretched oval 14 is approximately 160mm, and the short axis diameter B’ of the stretched oval 14 is approximately 0 10mm.

With reference to Figure 4, there is shown a width C’ of the stretched dental floss member 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is stretched at a full expansion state. The width C’ of the stretched dental floss member 10 is approximately 1mm in a full expansion state.

The dental floss member 10 also has a thickness perpendicular to the width (not shown). The thickness of the dental floss member 10 is approximately 0.2mm at a unstretched state. The thickness of the stretched dental floss member 10 is approximately 0.1mm in a full expansion state.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown dental floss packaging 20 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The packaging 20 includes a case 22 and a cover 24. The case 22 and the cover 24 define an internal space to contain a plurality of the dental floss members 10.

The packaging 20 is cylindrical in shape. The diameter of the cylinder is approximately 43mm. The height of the cylinder is approximately 38mm.

-62019101480 06 Dec 2019

The packaging 20 also includes a fastening portion 26. The fastening portion 26 releasably retains the cover 24 in a closed position, where it covers the opening of the case 22.

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dental floss member includes that the dental floss member can be removed for use without preparation. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dental floss member includes that it is more gentle on the gums and less likely to cause damage and bleeding than 0 traditional floss. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dental floss member includes that it does not strip and delineate when used in small gaps, and does not therefore result in floss remaining wedged between the teeth. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dental floss member includes that it can be stretched to a desired thickness, allowing it to cater better for various gap 5 sizes between teeth. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the dental floss member includes that the elastic action of the floss has an additional benefit of flicking unwanted food matter from between the teeth and therefore assisting in the removal of the material.

VARIATIONS

While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims

1. A dental floss member having a stretchable loop body,

5 wherein in use, the loop body can be stretched to position a section of the loop body within a gap between teeth and slide between the teeth.

2. A dental floss member as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the dental floss member decreases when the loop body is stretched.

3. A dental floss member as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a thickness of the dental floss member decreases when the loop body is stretched.

4. A dental floss system having

5 a plurality of dental floss members, each dental floss member having a stretchable loop body;

a case to contain the plurality of dental floss members; and a cover to cover an opening of the case, wherein in use a dental floss member can be removed from the case; said

0 dental floss member can be stretched to position a section of the dental floss member within a gap between teeth and slide between the teeth.

5. A method of using a dental floss member for removing food and plaque from 25 between teeth, including the steps of removing a looped dental floss member from packaging;