GB2386559A

GB2386559A - Dental flossing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2386559A
Application number: GB0210433A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Ogilvie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-22
Filing date: 2002-05-08
Publication date: 2003-09-24
Also published as: GB0210433D0

Abstract

A dental flossing aid 10 comprising a head 16 on a handle 12, the head being generally U-shaped to provide a pair of spaced-apart limb 28, 30, and a flossing medium 38 spanning upper ends of the spaced-apart limbs. The orientation of the head is variable relative to the handle. The head is preferably spring loaded such that it returns to a desired rest position after use by the head being formed from an elastically deformable material. The aid may also be provided with a floss storage area, a floss cutter and/or an elastomeric grip. In an alternative embodiment, the head is pivotally attached to the handle by a hinge member (54, Fig. 3). The head portion may also be detachable from the handle for replacement thereof.

Description

-- 1 2386559

Title: Dental flossing apparatus Description:

The present invention relates to dental flossing apparatus.

In order to maintain good oral hygiene, it is necessary that the teeth and gums be regularly cleaned. Recent technological advances have led to improvements in dental products both in terms of apparatus such as toothbrushes, and in associated chemical products, such as toothpaste and mouth washes.

Good oral hygiene depends on a number of factors, one the most important being simply the removal of food residues on the surfaces of the teeth and gums. Food residues left in the mouth can lead to imbalances in the acidity of the oral cavity, which may lead to premature degradation of the teeth and surrounding soft tissues. Furthermore, food residues can decompose in the mouth, causing bad breath and other undesirable bacteriological and physiological effects. Thus, the effective and regular removal of food residues in the mouth has been identified as a key factor in promoting good oral hygiene. Toothbrushes, although effective in removing food debris from the tooth surfaces and gum line, are sometimes not capable of removing debris tightly lodged between teeth or below the gum line. Hence, a variety of specialist interproximal brushes have been developed to facilitate cleaning in

- difficult-to-reach areas of the mouth. The most popular and simplest solution to cleaning between the teeth and below the gum line has been to use dental floss. Dental floss is a fine cord that is carefully passed between the teeth and the ends manipulated to dislodge food products. Correct flossing is achieved by a technique that can be awkward and or uncomfortable and that requires a degree of practice. If flossing is not carried out correctly, it may lead to bleeding gums, damage to the gingival margins and may not achieve its primary objective i.e. removal of the lodged food debris.

Because of the implications of having food debris lodged between the teeth and gums, dentists recommend flossing on a daily basis. However most people do not undertake flossing as a regular part of their oral hygiene regime because they consider it to be too time-consuming, difficult or painful, or for a variety of other reasons.

Consequently, flossing aids have been developed that aim to facilitate flossing by making it a less difficult and uncomfortable task and thereby encourage people to floss more regularly.

The primary objective of most flossing aids is to hold a length of floss conveniently within the mouth so that it can be easily manipulated between the teeth without having to crowd the oral cavity with fingers.

Jost et al. describe a prior art flossing aid in the German patent

DE19840773. Jost's invention comprises a handle, a compartment for storing a reel of floss, a cutter and a bifurcated head. A length of floss is pulled off

the reel and is retained by formations at the ends of the bifurcations. The flossing aid provides means for holding and manipulating a convenient length of floss between the teeth whilst keeping the hands outside the mouth. Similar aids are also described in the English patent GB2299760 where the bifurcated head lies in the plane of the handle, in a vertical orientation, and in WO9902103 which depicts a version of Jost et al's patent which has motorised floss dispensing means and a take-up reel.

Unfortunately, the public perception and general uptake of the aforementioned flossing aids has not been encouraging for a number of reasons namely; they do not resemble a toothbrush and some people are reluctant to use a "dental instrument", they can be expensive and or are sometimes difficult to use.

Furthermore, some flossing aids are difficult to use because they rigidly hold the floss at a fixed angle in relation to the handle. This can make it difficult to floss interproximally of the posterior teeth or at the palatal or lingual gingival margins because it may require the cheek to be retracted to give proper access.

The present invention aims to provide a solution.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a dental flossing apparatus comprising a head on a handle; the head being generally U-shaped to provide a pair of spaced-apart limbs, and a flossing medium spanning upper ends of the spaced-apart limbs; wherein

l r - the orientation of the head is variable relative to the handle.

Preferably, the handle is elongate such that it holds the head at a convenient distance and so that it can be easily gripped with one hand. The handle may be manufactured of any suitable material although a plastics material would be preferable for reasons of weight, water resistance and ease of cleaning. The handle may also be formed such that it is ergonomic and may also have a grip to aid manipulation of the apparatus and to make it easier to grip whilst wet. The grip may be formed of a different material to the rest of the apparatus, such as a rubber material, and or it may comprise of a series of undulations or ridges.

There may also be provided in the handle, a floss storage area for storing a convenient length of floss. The floss storage area may be a pin protruding from the handle on which, a reel of floss may be stored.

Additionally or alternatively, there may also be provided a surround and or cover for the floss storage area. In a most preferred embodiment, the floss is sealed within a compartment of the handle to prevent it from becoming dirty or contaminated. The floss storage area may also enable the floss to be changed or restocked.

There may be a shaft region that connects the handle to the head. The shaft is preferably hollow to allow the floss to pass between the floss storage area of the handle and the head inside the shaft, without coming into contact with the exterior of the apparatus.

In an alternative embodiment, the floss may pass inside a tube mounted on the outside surface of the shaft where provided, or may just be passed between a number of guides.

A cutter may be provided on either the handle of shaft for removing the used portion of floss from the end of the reel. The cutter may be a blade or a groove that can be used for snapping the floss. Preferably still, the cutter is provided at a position on the shaft or handle that means that the correct quantity of floss is cut off to minimise wastage. In a most preferred embodiment therefore, the cutter is located at a substantially equal distance from the inner upstanding limb of the head as the two upstanding limbs are spaced apart.

The head of the flossing aid of the present invention is movable relative to the handle. The movable connection is preferably resilient such that the head returns to a rest position after use, the rest position being preferably in line with the axis of the handle. Such an arrangement may be provided by an elastomeric portion of either of the upstanding limbs or cross-

member, or by manufacturing the head of an elastomeric material.

Additionally or alternatively, one of the upstanding limbs and or the cross-member may be provided with a hinge to enable the head to rotate about a desired axis relative to the handle. Where a hinge is provided, the head may be made to return to a desired rest position by way of the floss tension acting on the upstanding limbs, which may be arranged in a non-parallel fashion.

The desired axis of movement in a preferred embodiment of the invention may be any suitable axis although it is preferred that the axis be perpendicular to the floss.

The floss is preferably retained substantially at the ends of the upstanding limbs of the head. The floss may be tied, clamped or cleated although wedge shaped grooves are preferably provided to grip and or trap the floss in-sitrc.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a fixed length of floss that is permanently retained on the head.

It is envisaged that such an embodiment of the invention would be disposable and would be intended-for a single use.

The handle of this alternate embodiment may additionally comprise a narrowed end in the form of a spike or blade that may be used as a toothpick.

It is envisaged that a flossing aid according to the invention as described herein will allow floss to be manipulated within the mouth over a range of angles in spite of a having a limited range of shaft or handle movements. Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with a resiliently movable head; Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of the floss storage area and shaft;

i: Figure 3 shows the head of a preferred embodiment of the invention where the head is hinged; and Figure 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention where the handle is in the form of a toothpick.

Referring to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the flossing aid 10 is shown with handle 12, shaft 14 and head 16 portions. The handle 12 has grip regions 18 to make the flossing aid 10 easier to use when wet. Incorporated within the handle 12 is a floss storage area 20, accessible via door 22, which is secured using the clip 24. A reel of floss (not shown) is retained within the -..

floss storage area 20, the end of which passes inside of the shaft 14 and protrudes through aperture 26 near to-the head 16.

The head 16 comprises a first and second upstanding limb 28 & 30 and a cross-member 32. A part of the head 16 is manufactured of an elastomeric material 34 such that the second upstanding limb 30 and cross-member 32 can oscillate relative to the shaft] 4 as indicated by the arrow A substantially about- e,,? axis B. At extreme ends of first and second upstanding limbs 28 & 30, there are provided slits 36 for retaining a length of floss 38.

Furthermore, on the shaft 14 there is provided a cutter 40, which is located at a distance C away from the first upstanding limb 28. The length C is slightly longer than the distance between the aperture 26 and the second upstanding limb 30, denoted by arrow D. Thus in use, the floss may be pulled from aperture 26 and cut using the cutter 40 such sufficient floss 38 has been dispensed to span the gap between the upstanding limbs 28 and 30, leaving a

minimum amount of excess 42, the excess 42 being sufficient for gripping the end of the floss 38 by hand.

Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of the floss storage area 20 with the door 22 in an open position. A reel of floss 44 is stored on a spigot 46, then end of the floss 38 passing through an aperture 48 in the separation wall 50 to guide the floss 38 inside the shaft. The optional separation wall is provided for purposes of preventing dirt or contamination from entering the inside of the shaft 14.

The head 16 is separable from the shaft 14 in a preferred embodiment of the invention to aid threading the floss through the aperture 26. The removability of the head 16 is also advantageous because it allows heads 16 of different sizes or geometries to be interchanged and allows the head 16, once contaminated or worn, to be easily replaced. The heads 16 are connected to the shaft 14 by any suitable means, although it is envisaged that a friction-fit would be the most convenient method.

Turning now to Figure 3, the elastomeric portion 34 of the head 16 is replaced by a hinged joint 52. The hinge is formed by a spigot and a recess arrangement 54 that snap-fit together.

Finally, figure 4 shows a disposable embodiment of the invention 60, which has a handle 62 with grip mouldings 64 and a head 66. The head is pivotable about axis E by way of the resiliently deformable portion 68 in the head 66. The extreme end of the handle 62 is also provided with a blade or spike 70, which is intended to be used as a toothpick.

Claims

Claims:

1. A dental flossing apparatus comprising a head on a handle; the head being generally U-shaped to provide a pair of spaced-apart limbs, and a flossing medium spanning upper ends of the spaced-apart limbs; wherein the orientation of the head is variable relative to the handle.

2. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the orientation of the head relative to the handle is variable by means of a!,>; resiliently deformable component incorporated in the head of the apparatus.

3. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the orientation of the head relative to the handle is variable by means of an articulated joint in the head of the apparatus.

i:Y.t'C,

4. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the orientation of the head relative to the handle returns to a rest position after use by way of the floss tension acting between the upstanding limbs.

5. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the orientation of the head relative to the handle is variable because the head is manufactured of an elastomeric material.

6. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein formations are provided at the ends of the upstanding limbs of the head for removably retaining the floss.

7. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 6 further comprising a floss storage area for storing floss.

8. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the floss storage area is located in the handle of the apparatus.

9. - A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claims 7 or 8 wherein the floss storage area has a spigot for retaining a reel of floss.

10. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the floss storage area has door for sealing the stored floss from the environment.

11. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the handle has a grip which is at least partially manufactured of an elastomeric material

12. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 further comprising cutting means for cutting the floss to a desired length.

13. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cutter is arranged such that a desired quantity of floss is cut, the desired quantity of floss being chosen to minimise wastage.

14. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the cutter is located at a substantially equal distance from the inner upstanding limb of the head as the two upstanding limbs are spaced apart.

15. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is disposable and is provided with a fixed length of floss that is permanently retained on the head.

16. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the end of the handle comprises a spike that may be used as a toothpick.

2 -,.,

17. A dental flossing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the end of the handle comprises a blade that may be used as a toothpick.

18. A dental flossing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.