FR2596964A1 - Toothbrush device with integral dental-floss holder with variable lateral spacing - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention relates to a toothbrush device with integral dental-floss holder with variable lateral spacing. It is characterised by the combination of the storage space of the unwindable floss 3, of its anchoring elements and of the elasticity of the branches 5, 6 of the carrier fork ensuring its continuous tension during use. It is intended to permit both cleaning of dental plaque and cleaning of the tongue.

Description

 The object of the invention relates to a toothbrush device with incorporated dental floss holder with variable lateral spacing.

 It is intended to allow the cleaning of dental plaque as well as the cleaning of the tongue.

 In known devices, there was a multiplicity of separate accessories requiring series of operations that the user had to perform for the use of the device, in addition the difficulty of positioning and stabilized tension of the wire rendering this accessory inoperative, the handling was hampered by the obligation to change the sector of wire used for cleaning.

 The device according to the invention eliminates these drawbacks and allows not only the feeding of the wire as it is used, but also its stabilized tension whatever the effort undergone, ease of use, better hygiene and finally by its change in size, its application for possible cleaning of the tongue.

 I1 is characterized by the combination of the space for storing the unrollable wire, its anchoring elements and the elasticity of the branches of the carrying fork ensuring its continuous tension during use.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example, of one of the embodiments of the subject of the invention
Figure 1 shows the brush viewed in elevation
Figure 2 shows the same object seen in plan.

 Figure 3 is a view showing the stop of the wire and its stabilized tension in its position of use.

 Figure 4 schematically shows the application of the device for cleaning dental plaque.

 Figures 5, 6, 7 show the constructive detail of an alternative embodiment to obtain the thread tension.

 The brush comprises a compartmentalized body 1 with accessory housing 2 and wire 3 preferably wound on a fixed or rotary support.

 Its anterior end is extended by a neck carrying the conventional brush 4, preferably interchangeable.

 Its rear end is extended by a fork with branches 5, 6 elastic which can take the position 7, 8 shown in dotted lines.

 These branches are very slightly curved and are provided with grooves 9 guiding the wire 10 extracted from the unwinder 11.

 This wire 10 is connected to the lug 12 and then wound on the boss 13 preferably notched and returned to the end 14 of the fork provided with a stop notch 15.

 It is stretched over the other notch 16 with pressure on each branch, arrows A, B.

 Its stabilized stop is obtained by a loop of one to several turns on the post 17.

 A second looping is carried out on the notched boss 18 in order to be finally stopped on the tenon 12 by a knot or the like. The strand 19 is then sectioned.

 By not stretching the elastic branches 5, 6 together, the maximum spacing 7, 8 is then obtained in order to produce a tongue scraper.

 After each use the wire is discarded and it suffices to extract another length by unwinding to re-arm the device.

 The very slight curvature of the branches will limit the insertion of the wire into the inter-dental space by contact with the spacer branch on the occlusal faces of the teeth 20 and 21.

 On the other hand, in FIG. 4, the inter-dental space 20 will be accessible and the faces 21, 22 will be cleaned and the removal of the bacterial plaques entirely produced.

 The outer faces 23, 24 are treated by the brush 4.

 Removable cases 25, 26 protecting the brushes and wire holder. In addition, the case 24 brings the forks back to position 5, 6.

 Finally, the housing 2 may contain the interdental sticks and brushes, accessories usable for cleaning under the prosthetic bridges, without the need to introduce the fingers into the oral cavity.

 According to the alternative embodiment, FIGS. 5, 6, 7, a slightly conical dowel 25 is used, pierced with an orifice 26 for the passage of the wire 27 coming from the reel 11.

 This pin is introduced into the receiving orifice of the same profile 28.

 By pushing, arrow C, the pin and the wire are made to penetrate the orifice 28 in order to immobilize by pinching the sector of the usable wire in position 29, fig 6,7.

 This wire is stretched between the elastic branches and immobilized by the pin 30.

 A stop 31 limits the functional spacing of the branches.

 However, the shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may vary within the limit of the equivalents, as indeed the materials used for their manufacture without changing the general design of the invention which has just been described.

Claims (2)

FOR SALE ICAT IONS 1 Toothbrush device with incorporated dental floss holder with variable lateral spacing intended to allow the cleaning of dental plates as well as the cleaning of the tongue comprising a box containing the reserve of unwound floss and various accessories, characterized by the combination of a body (1) with housing (2) and reserve of wire (3) wound on a support, one end of which is extended by a neck carrying the conventional brush (4) and the other opposite by a fork with branches ( 5, 6) laterally flexible (7, 8) with variable spacing, these branches are provided with guide grooves (9) directing the wire (10) extracted from the unwinder (11). This extracted sector is immobilized by looping on the tenon (12), its winding on the notched boss (13), its anchoring on the notch (15) made at the end (of a fork on the notch (16) of the second branch which is stretched to proceed then a loop on the post (17) immobilized by the winding on the boss (18) in order to finally obtain the terminal winding on the tenon (12) after which the sectioning of the strand (19) takes place.  20 Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the brush (4) and the forks (5, 6) are protected by removable cases (25, 26) and that the forks are brought back by the introduction into the case in their close position (5, 6) while by their total lateral spacing they constitute a tongue scraper.  30 Device according to claim 1 and 2 characterized in an alternative embodiment by the addition on each branch (5, 6) elastic, a dowel (25) with orifice (26) in which passes the wire ( 22) the assembly forcing into the receiving orifice (28) drilled in each branch, a stop (31) limiting the opening of the branches.