GB2272161A

GB2272161A - Dental floss applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2272161A
Application number: GB9322175A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Danny Thomas Homewood; Lesley Ann Homewood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-04
Filing date: 1993-10-28
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Also published as: GB9322175D0

Abstract

A dental floss applicator comprises a hand held device used for holding dental floss. The height of the dental floss (15) can be adjusted relative to the head to prevent it from cutting into the gums by use of variable depth slots (11). The device also provides for a floss tensioning mechanism (17, 18, and 19) to enable the floss to be re-tensioned during use if necessary. <IMAGE>

Description

THIS INVENTION l RELATES TO A DENTAL FLOSS APPLICATOR Background Dental floss is used by holding it between the fingers and inserting into the mouth, where it is pulled between the teeth to penetrate the gaps to facilitate food debris and plaque removal. This is difficult to carry out as the floss has to be kept taught. There is also a danger of cutting into the gum between the teeth by pulling the floss too far down. As it is difficult to maintain tension of the floss, there is a danger of releasing one end of the strand, this can then result in the floss becoming jammed between the teeth, which can then be very difficult to remove. Insertion of the fingers into the mouth is also very un-hygienic.

Description of Invention A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1. Illustrates the applicator with the dental floss in position.

Fig 2. Illustrates a method of retaining the floss.

Fig 3. Illustrates the method of preventing the floss from cutting into the gums.

Fig 4. Illustrates the applicator with a floss tension adjusting mechanism Fig 5. Illustrates the method of locking the tension mechanism.

Fig 6. Illustrates the method of releasing the locking mechanism.

According to the invention there is provided an economy applicator illustrated in Fig t and an adjustable version Fig 4.

Economy Version Referring to the drawing Fig t, the applicator comprises a holder to be held in the hand. The head (10) retains the dental floss (15) stretched taught between slots ( and secured around and through the fixing posts (1 2). The posts provide for the floss to be severed , by a concealed sharp edge (not shown).

Referring to the drawing Fig 2 in order to retain the dental floss in the holder it must be stretched between the fixing posts (12) or retaining devices (not shown) after being guided through the selected slots (11) in the head. Each end of the dental floss as shown in the example must be wound round the post several times then secured in a fine slot (16) in the post.

Referring to Drawing Fig 3, to prevent the dental floss (15) penetrating the gap between the teeth to the point at which it would cut the gums (14), the distance between the dental floss and the applicator head (10) must be set. This is achieved by use of variable depth slots ensuring that the head (10) comes into contact with the top of the tooth (13) first {See Fig 37. The applicator also allows for the removal of the dental floss when necessary.

Adjustable Version In the version Fig 4 the applicator is provided with a device to enable the floss to be tensioned on initial fitting to the holder and subsequently should it become slack due to slippage during use. This alleviates the necessity of partial removal of the floss from the holder, as in the case with the economy version, to enable it to be re-tensioned. In the adjustable version a suitable length of dental floss is removed from the dispenser, the length of which is selected to suit the applicator with minimal wastage.The carriage (17) on the applicator is first lifted to disengage it from the rack of teeth as shown in Fig 6 and moved to its most forward position towards the head end coo). The dental floss (15) is secured to the carriage by winding one end around the carriage post (18) and pulling it back through the fine slot (19) on the top of the post. The opposite end of the floss is then pulled between the guide buttons (20) around the guide post (21) down the scalloped leg of the head (22) into the selected depth slot (fit) and over to the corresponding slot on the other leg, where the procedure is reversed back to the carriage (17) where it is again secured to the retaining post (18) on the carriage.The applicator carriage shown in detail in Fig 5 is then pressed down and pulled back to tension the floss. When the carriage (17) is pressed down and pulled back, the teeth of the rack (23) and the tooth on the carriage (24) slide over each other due to the slope of the teeth in that direction.

When the desired tension is reached or the pressure applied will not stretch the floss further, the tension is retained by the carriage tooth locking onto the rack teeth as shown in Fig 5. This is maintained by light downward pressure on the carriage. By this method the tension can be maintained during use should the floss become slack, without the necessity of partial removal and re - securing.

To guide the carriage, slots (25) are provided in both sides of the applicator handle (26) in which the carriage (17) engages as shown. Also see Figs 5 & 6 cross section views.

During manufacture the carriage section is moulded separately in nylon or a similar flexible material to enable the carriage to be sprung into position on the handle and engaged into the slots as shown.

Claims

1 A dental floss applicator comprising a hand held device where the position of the floss, relative to the head can be varied to minimise the likelihood of cutting the gums. This could be a variable or fixed movement.

2 As in c7aim l, the setting of the distance between the head and the floss can be achieved by various methods, one of which illustrated in Figs 1, & BR< 2, is to provide variable depth slots (11), to set the distance between the head and the dental floss, so that the teeth contact the head before the floss can cut the gums, as shown in Fig 3.

3 As in claim 1, the applicator could also be colour coded according to the depth setting. This would necessitate the user knowing which depth would be suitable for his or her teeth.

4 As in c7aim 1, & 2, but with a tensioning device as shown in Fig 4, to enable tensioning of the floss during operation without the necessity of partially removing the floss, tensioning & re-fixing.

5 As in claims t, 2, & 4, a tooth rack and carriage, where the tooth on the carriage will in one direction ride over the teeth in the rack, but which will, when downward pressure is applied, engage the teeth in the opposite direction and due to their design, lock the carriage in position to maintain the floss tension.

6 As in claim 5, slots (25) are provided in the handle of the applicator to retain in position and guide the carriage. This will maintain the alignment of the tooth rack (23) in relation to the carriage tooth (24). The width of the slots also allow the carriage (t7) to be lifted to disengage the rack teeth (23),