GB2180753A

GB2180753A - Floss dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2180753A
Application number: GB08511717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Paul Haywood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-08
Filing date: 1985-05-08
Publication date: 1987-04-08
Also published as: GB8511717D0

Abstract

An improved dental floss dispenser comprising a handle which is at least partially hollow to define a container for holding dental floss, and including a bore extending from the hollow inside to the outer surface of the handle through which dental floss may be threaded, the dispenser also including a tool for holding a pre-determined length of dental floss in a taut condition for use, comprising means for holding a portion of dental floss, the holding means being spaced from the handle and coupled thereto by a member shaped so as to define a gap between the holding means and the handle, the gap in use spanned by dental floss held in a taut condition, and the gap being sufficient for the thus held floss to be used without being removed from the dispenser. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dental tool Field of the Invention The invention relates to a dental tool, and in particular to a dispenser for dental floss including a tool for aiding the use of dental floss.

Review of the Prior Art Dental floss is a substance which has been recently introduced by dentists and is highly recommended by them for cleaning the gaps between teeth. The dental floss comprises a thread which may be waxed or unwaxed which is held in a taut condition by holding each end of the thread firmly using two hands and then manoeuvring the taut thread into the gap between teeth and then moving the thread gently in a see-sawing motion within the gap. This has proved a very effective way of cleaning this hitherto inaccessible region of the mouth.

Dental floss is often sold in dispensers which include one reel of dental floss. When a user wishes to clean his teeth, he pulls out a long length of dental floss from the dispenser and cuts off this length. Subsequently each end of the dental floss is wound onto the fingers of a respective hand and the dental floss is then pulled taut for use.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided an improved dental floss dispenser, comprising a handle which is at least partially hollow to define a container for holding dental floss, and including a bore extending from the hollow inside to the outer surface of the handle through which dental floss may be thread, the dispenser also including a tool for holding a pre-determined length of dental floss in a taut condition for use, comprising means for holding a portion of dental floss, the holding means being spaced from the handle and coupled thereto by a member shaped so as to define a gap between the holding means and the handle, the gap in use spanned by dental floss held in a taut condition, and the gap being sufficient for the thus held floss to be used without being removed from the dispenser.

First, dental floss passes from within the hollow inside of the handle through the bore, across the gap defined by the member connecting the holding means and the handle and through the holding means. The length of dental floss held lying between the holding means and the bore in the handle were held in a taut condition ready for use.

A convenient arrangement is provided if the member connecting the holding means to the handle comprises a C-shaped member coupled at one end to the handle and including at its other end a bore though which dental floss may be thread. This provides the holding means. Thus, a simple and effective device is produced for dispensing and using dental floss.

In order that the dispenser can be used in inaccessible regions of the mouth, it is preferred that the member is flexibly connected to the handle. It may be coupled to the handle via a resilient springing material or may be pivotally connected to the handle.

The pivotal connection is preferred if a pocket version of the dispenser is to be provided. In this case it is preferred that the handle also includes a recess for accommodating the end of the C-shaped member when it has been pivoted towards the handle to provide a compact unit for easy carrying.

Preferably the device includes a blade for cutting off the used dental floss. This is preferably adjacent the holding means.

Preferably the handle is elongate and can accommodate a reel of dental floss. It is preferred that the handle includes a cap which, when opened, allows access to the hollow inside of the handle. This means that the dispenser is re-fillable.

Preferably, the handle includes indentations to provide as easily gripped region for easy use.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Two dental floss dispensers in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first dental floss dispenser; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second dental floss dispenser.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments A first dental floss dispenser 1 comprises a handle 2 being at least partially hollow to define a container (not shown) for holding dental floss and including a bore 3 extending from the hollow inside to the outer surface 4 of the handle 2 through which dental floss may be thread. The dispenser 1 also includes a tool 5 for holding a pre-determined length 6 of dental floss in a taut condition for use. The tool 5 comprises means 7 for holding a portion of dental floss which is spaced from the handle 2 and coupled thereto by a member 8 shaped so as to define a gap 9 between the holding means 7 and the handle 2 which may be spanned by dental floss 6 held in a taut condition, between the bore 3 and the holding means 7.

In this case the tool 5 comprises a Cshaped member 8 including a bore 7 through which the dental floss 6 may be thread. Thus, the user can then insert the taut dental floss 6 through the gap in his teeth to clean out the gap.

The tool 5 also includes a blade 10 concealed at the end of the C-shaped member 8 which can be used to cut off used dental floss. The tool 5 is pivotally connected to the handle 2 by a pivot pin 11 which allows the tool 5 to be folded down into the handle where the end of the C-shaped tool 8 rests within recess 12 in the handle to provide a compact unit which is easily carried.

The handle 2 includes a cap 13 on its end which, when opened, allows access to the inside hollow container within the handle 2. This means that the dispenser can be refilled once the dental floss has been exhausted.

A second dental floss dispenser 14 includes a handle 15 having a hollow inside for accommodating dental floss and a cap 16 for allowing the handle to be refilled. In this case the handle also includes a thin cylindrical member 17 extending outwards from the grippable end portion to allow easy access to the back of the mouth. The elongate portion 17 is hollow to allow dental floss to be thread through it and out through a bore 18.

The tool 5 is similar to that described in the first example but is coupled to the elongate member 17 by a flexible portion 19 of resilient material. This means that the tool 5 is flexible to allow the tool to be used in inaccessible regions of the mouth.

The handle 15 also includes indentation 20 to allow for easy gripping.

The bore 7 is appropriately notched to grip the floss.

Claims

1. An improved dental floss dispenser comprising a handle which is at least partially hollow to define a container for holding dental floss, and including a bore extending from the hollow inside to the outer surface of the handle through which dental floss may be thread, the dispenser also including a tool for holding a pre-determined length of dental floss in a taut condition for use, comprising means for holding a portion of dental floss, the holding means being spaced from the handle and coupled thereto by a member shaped so as to define a gap between the holding means and the handle, the gap in use spanned by dental floss being held in a taut condition, and the gap being sufficient for the thus held floss to be used without being removed from the dispenser.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1 and in which the member connecting the holding means to the handle comprises a C-shaped member coupled at one end to the handle and including at its other end a bore through which dental floss can be threaded.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and in which the member is flexibly connected to the handle.

4. A dispenser according to Claim 3, in which the member is pivotally connected to the handle, and in which the handle includes a recess for accommodating the end of the Cshaped member when that member has been pivoted towards the handle.

5. A dispenser according to any of the preceding Claims and including a blade for cutting off the used dental floss.

6. A dispenser according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the handle is elongate and can accommodate a reel of dental floss.

7. A dispenser according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the handle includes a cap which, when opened, allows access to the inside of the handle.

8. A dispenser according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the handle includes indentations for gripping by the user.

9. A dental floss dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in either one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.