GB2314831A

GB2314831A - Thread dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2314831A
Application number: GB9614044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Solon Duschnitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-04
Filing date: 1996-07-04
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Also published as: GB9614044D0

Abstract

A thread dispensing device comprises a container 10 with a clear window or cut-out 20 in the wall of the container, to allow visual inspection of the length of thread remaining on the reel. The container 10 also comprises a reel 22 rotatably mounted within the container, a thread 16 to be dispensed wound about said reel, and an aperture 14 through which the thread to be dispensed extends from the reel 22 to the exterior of the container 10. The aforementioned window preferably comprises a disc made from a clear plastic material, and is either adhered to the inner surface of the container, or is in the form of a loose disc mounted concentrically with the reel. Alternatively, the lid 12 on the container 10 may have an extension to overlie or fit into the cut-out when the lid is closed.

Description

Thread dispensing device The present invention relates to a thread dispensing device and is intended in particular for a device for dispensing dental floss.

A dental floss dispensing device that is currently available commercially is shown in Figure 1. The dispensing device consists of a container 10 with a hinged lid 12. A reel of floss is rotatably supported within the container 10 and floss 16 is drawn off the reel through an aperture 14. A metal cutter 18 is also provided to allow a length of floss to be severed from the reel.

A problem with the known dispensing devices for dental floss is that the user has no advance warning that the floss is about to run out until the end of the thread is pulled out of the container. Even then, the user cannot be certain if the floss has run out or only snapped within the container.

With a view to mitigating the foregoing disadvantage found in the prior art, the present invention provides a thread dispensing device comprising a container, a reel rotatably mounted within the container, a thread to be dispensed wound about the reel, an aperture in the container through which the thread to be dispensed extends from the reel to the exterior of the container, and a clear window or a cut-out in the wall of the container to allow visual inspection of the length of thread remaining on the reel.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is, as earlier described, a perspective view of a commercially available dental floss dispenser, and Figure 2 is a similar view of a dispenser of the present invention.

The opaque container 10 of Figure 2 differs from the container of Figure 1 in that a cut-out 20 is formed in the container 10 through the reel 22 of floss can be seen. The floss of the reel 22 is wound about tubular bobbin 24 that is held on a peg (not shown) projecting from the inner surface of the container to act as an axle for the bobbin 24. As can be seen from the drawing, the container 10 is of clam shell construction, its two halves being hinged at the bottom of the container as viewed. During manufacture, while the clam shell is open, the bobbin 24 is slipped over the peg and the clam shell halves are then closed. The two halves having mating formations that lock together to retain the container in a closed state with the reel 22 captive within the container 10.

The construction described above allows the dispensing device to be manufactured as a single injection moulded plastics item.

The cut-out of the invention may be incorporated by only minor modification to existing injection moulding tools, the modification consisting of adding a small insert in the shape of the aperture in the mould cavity.

A cut-out has the disadvantage that dirt may enter the container and for reasons of hygiene it is preferred that the cut-out be covered. This can be achieved by placing a loose transparent plastics disk within the container about the peg or by adhering a transparent plastics sheet to the interior of the container to cover the cut-out. With such a construction, dirt will not be able to enter container through the cut-out at any time. As an alternative, it is possible to close the cut-out 20 only at such times as the container is in storage with the lid 12 in its closed position. In this case, the lid 12 may have an extension to overlie or fit into the cut-out when the lid 12 is closed.

The shape of the cut-out and its position within the container are not important, provided that the reel 22 may be seen. Thus a cut-out or a transparent window may be formed in a side of the container 10 rather than on its front face.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser of the invention need not exclusively be used for dental floss but may be used for string or any other thread-like material, for example solder.

Claims

1. A thread dispensing device comprising a container, a reel rotatably mounted within the container, a thread to be dispensed wound about the reel, an aperture in the container through which the thread to be dispensed extends from the reel to the exterior of the container, and a clear window or a cut-out in the wall of the container to allow visual inspection of the length of thread remaining on the reel.

2. A thread dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cut-out is formed in a front or rear face of the container.

3. A thread dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cut-out is formed in a side of the container.

4. A thread dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a clear plastics material is disposed within the container and arranged to cover the cut-out to prevent ingress of dirt into the container.

5. A thread dispensing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clear plastics material is adhered to the inner surface of the container.

6. A thread dispensing device as claimed in claim 4 when appended to claim 2, wherein the clear plastics material is in the form of a loose disk mounted concentrically with the reel.

7. A thread dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container has a hinged lid to cover the thread dispensing aperture and wherein the lid is formed with an extension to overlie or fit into the cut-out when the lid is closed.

8. A thread dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is formed of an opaque injection moulded plastics material, the container being of clam shell construction with integrally formed hinges.

9. A thread dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim and further comprising a cutting device to enable a length of the dispensed thread to be severed.

10. A thread dispensing device constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.