MXPA06003941A - Motorized flosser and associated method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorized flosser (10) comprising an elongated body (12) and a replaceable flossing head (18) secured to an end portion (14) of the elongated body (12) is provided. The flossing head (18) oscillates in a rotary or arcuate manner a length of flossing material (134) across the surface of a userâÇÖs teeth. A battery powered motor (48) drives a drive mechanism (50) which reciprocates in an oscillatory manner. The drive mechanism (50) is coupled to a disk (100) which oscillates in a arcuate or rotary motion. The disk (100) oscillates in an arc of approximately sixty degrees. A removable and replaceable flossing head (18) having a length of floss (134) extending between two tines (128a, 128b) is removably coupled to the disk (100). Preferably, a toothpaste holder (136) also forms a part of the flossing head (18).

Description

MOTORIZED DEVICE FOR CLEANING TEETH WITH DENTAL THREAD AND ASSOCIATED USE METHOD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to dental hygiene and in particular to a mechanically driven instrument for cleaning teeth with dental floss.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The importance of practicing proper dental hygiene has been well documented. In this regard, it is extremely advantageous to frequently and systematically remove plaque and debris around and between an individual's teeth. It is likely that not routinely removing debris and plaque from between and around the teeth leads to dental disease that includes decay, gingivitis and the like. Cleaning teeth with conventional dental floss often requires that one place their hands in their mouths. This can lead to disease due to the increased potential of bacterial dispersion. Another disadvantage of cleaning teeth with conventional dental floss is that the floss used must be properly disposed of in a trash receptacle or other suitable location.

Due to the flexible nature of the dental floss used, it is often difficult to discard the used piece of dental floss at the location where the user wishes to discard it. The conventional manual method for flossing is uncomfortable due to the difficulty in maneuvering a piece of dental floss in the desired position in the mouth. For people with small mouths, cleaning teeth with dental floss is particularly difficult with the use of the manual method. Another difficulty with cleaning teeth with conventional dental floss is that it is not easy to adjust the floss between teeth that are very crowded. This often requires a great deal of time, strength and effort to properly position the piece of dental floss so that it fits between two adjacent teeth. Another disadvantage with cleaning teeth with conventional dental floss is that the gingival sulcus, the area on the gum line between teeth, is not usually free of debris when it is cleaned or rubbed. Therefore, there is a need for a flossing device that is easy to use and keeps hands out of the mouth, with which a piece of floss can be more easily adjusted between adjacent clenched teeth, and that is able to clean the gingival sulcus. Motorized toothbrushes are known. The commercial market has seen the introduction of many different types of motorized toothbrushes for several years in the past. The trend in technology is towards more complex, costly and non-commercially feasible methods to obtain motorized movements in bristles and toothbrush heads. The related U.S. Patents Nos. 6,000,083; 6,178,579; 6,189,693 and 6,360,395 disclose motorized toothbrushes in which the batteries in the toothbrush handle drive a motor in the handle to oscillate or rotate an elongated shaft which is connected to a circular portion of bristles in the toothbrush head. teeth. Each of these patents of E.U.A. it is fully incorporated herein by reference. The oscillation of the elongated shaft causes a circular portion of the head to oscillate to which a plurality of bristles are fixed. Motorized devices for cleaning teeth with dental floss are also known. For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,411,041 discloses a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss to remove debris from between the teeth and around the teeth. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss has a tool for cleaning teeth with dental floss that is releasably connected to the main body of the instrument. The tooth cleaning implement with dental floss has a pair of tips between which a piece of floss extends. When activated, a motor alternates an output shaft which causes the instrument for cleaning teeth with dental floss to alternate. A disadvantage of said apparatus is that this reciprocal straight movement of the piece of dental floss does not adequately clean the debris such as food particles from the teeth. The piece or piece of dental floss does not brush through the teeth but instead only rubs against a very small area of the teeth. It is also well known to convert a mechanically driven toothbrush into a tooth-cleaning device with mechanically driven dental floss by changing the heads at the end of a portable battery-operated instrument. For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,762,078 discloses a removable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss for a motorized toothbrush. A drive shaft in the alternating handle assembly causing the head to floss teeth to alternate. Again, this reciprocal straight movement of the piece of dental floss does not adequately clean the debris such as food particles from the teeth. The patent of E.U.A. No. 6,047,711 describes another mechanically driven toothbrush which can be converted into a tooth cleaning device with mechanically driven dental floss. Another inherent disadvantage with motorized devices for cleaning teeth with known dental floss is that they do not adequately remove the biofilm from the surface of the teeth. The biofilm is an organized community of cooperation microorganisms. A commonly known biofilm which forms on the surfaces of the teeth is called a plaque. Biofilms can easily be destroyed simply by carving them with a brush or other mechanically abrasive material, which breaks the fixation to their substrate.

Therefore, there is a need for a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss that adequately removes the biofilm from the surface of the teeth, which promotes the regular cleaning of teeth with dental floss and which is easy to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss having an elongated body having first and second opposite ends. A replaceable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss is removably secured at the first end of the body with a locking mechanism. An energy supply is located in a hollow portion of the elongated body. The power supply activates the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss when a user moves a switch located on the outside of the body. The activation of the power supply causes a drive mechanism to oscillate the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss in a rotating or arcing movement at a predetermined frequency. The frequency is preferably 2800 cycles per minute but can be any other desired frequency. This rotating oscillation of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss causes a piece of material for cleaning teeth with dental floss to rotate in an oscillatory way through an arch. In a preferred embodiment, this arc is between 30 and 90 degrees, and preferably 60 degrees. The elongate body has a handle portion having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and a front portion including the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss, the anterior portion can be removed from the handle portion. The anterior portion includes a neck portion having a longitudinal axis and an end portion to which the head for tooth cleaning is removably secured with dental floss. The power supply includes an engine and batteries within the handle portion of the elongated body. The motor is operably connected or attached to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss to oscillate a flexible piece or piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss extending between two separate tips on the head for cleaning teeth with thread dental. The motor has a longitudinal axis which is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the handle portion of the elongated body. The handle portion further includes a simplified gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a pinion gear driven by the output shaft of the motor and a crown gear operatively coupled to the pinion gear. The output shaft of the motor rotates the pinion gear which rotates the crown gear. A link assembly including a pair of links is operatively coupled to the gear assembly within the handle portion of the body. The link assembly includes a pair of links coupled together which oscillate in a linear direction at a predetermined frequency due to the rotation of the crown gear. The body additionally includes a switch to allow operation of the unit. The switch includes an actuator button and a metal contact. The switch is manually depressed by pressing a molded actuator button and / or by sliding it forward, from an "off" position to an "on" position. A metal contact plate is secured to the molded actuator button and once it moves to the "on" position it makes contact with the motor housing, completing the circuit, as in a conventional momentary switch. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss then continues to operate until the button is slid back to a shut-off position towards the rear end of the body and the metal contact of the switch is decoupled from the metallic motor housing, thus interrupting the circuit . A biting pad is secured to the first end of the elongate body. The biting pad allows a user to comfortably bite the end portion of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss and more effectively force the piece of tooth cleaning material with floss between adjacent teeth.

The replaceable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss has a base that is removably connected to the first or anterior end of the elongate body. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base includes a circular disk which is generally located in a first plane. However, other base configurations may be used according to the present invention. Extending upwardly from the base of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss, there is a fork comprising a pair of separate tips between which a piece or piece of flexible material for cleaning teeth with floss extends, such as it is known in the art. After activation, the power supply of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates a drive disk in the end portion of the body of the tooth cleaning device with dental floss. The drive disk rotates in an oscillatory manner about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the end portion of the body of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss further comprises a flexible toothpaste support, generally in a truncated conical shape and located between the tips of the fork. Other toothpaste support configurations can be used and if desired, can be incorporated into the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss. The present invention can also be used without a toothpaste support if desired. The tips of the hairpin for cleaning teeth with dental floss extend upwards from the base of the head to clean teeth with dental floss and are located in the background. In a preferred embodiment, this second plane intersects the first plane defined by the base of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss at an angle different from 90 degrees and preferably at 77 degrees. The placement and configuration of the replaceable head tips for cleaning teeth with dental floss causes the piece of teeth cleaning material with dental floss to extend between the tips to move back and forth through a tooth in addition to the tooth. rotate, resulting in a better cleaning action on the surface of the teeth. In use, once the motorized flossing device of the present invention is activated through the switch, the motor, gear assembly, link assembly and drive element cause the drive disk to oscillate from a Arched or rotating way and thus swing the head to clean teeth with dental floss in the same way. A user presses the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss between two teeth while the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss continues to oscillate in an arcuate manner. The rotating oscillation of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss makes it easier to adjust the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss between teeth which are very close together or tightened. Once the piece of tooth cleaning material with floss is placed between the teeth, the oscillation of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss causes the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss to wrap around a tooth. anterior part of a first tooth and a posterior part of a second tooth and subsequently around the back of the first tooth and anterior part of the second tooth during each oscillation cycle. This rotating oscillation of the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss causes a better cleaning of the surface of the teeth than has hitherto been possible. If desired, toothpaste can be inserted into the toothpaste holder secured to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss before activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss, so that the teeth are cleaned with toothpaste. teeth and the tooth cleaning material with dental floss while simultaneously flossing the plate and biofilm with the oscillating material cleaning teeth with dental floss. An advantage of the present invention is that the oscillating and rotating movement of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss causes a piece of material for cleaning teeth with dental floss to fit more easily between clenched teeth. Another advantage of the present invention is that toothpaste can be used to help facilitate the insertion of the tooth cleaning material with dental floss between clenched teeth.

Another advantage of the present inven is that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss can be replaced quickly and easily and the head can be discarded for cleaning teeth with used dental floss. Yet another advantage of the present inven is that the plate and biofilm on the anterior and posterior side of adjacent teeth can be completely cleaned and removed by flossing due to the arched oscillatory movement of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss of the present inven; Figure 2 is a disassembled view of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view in cross section of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top elevational view in partial cross section of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top elevational view of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss of Figure 1; Figure 6A is a perspective view of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss located in a first end position; . Figure 6B is a perspective view of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss located in a second end position; Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss locked in position and placed in the second position; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss secured to the body of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 which promotes and simplifies the cleaning of teeth with dental floss. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 comprises an elongate body 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16 and a disposable head that can be removed / replaced for tooth cleaning with dental floss 18 which is secured from removable way to the first end 14 of the body 12 with a locking mechanism 20. Although a configuration of the body 12 is illustrated and described, the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 can be used with many different configurations or styles of bodies . As best illustrated in Figure 1, the body 12 comprises a handle portion 22 and a forward portion 24 that can be removed from the handle portion 22. The front portion 24 comprises an end portion 25 and an intermediate portion or portion thereof. neck 26 extending between handle portion 22 and end portion 25. Any of portions 22, 24, 25 and / or 26 may have a hollow interior. The handle portion 22 is removably connected to the neck portion 26 through engagement of a connector 28 (shown in Figure 2) secured to the handle portion 22 with at least one projection (not shown) on the surface 29 of the collar 31 secured to the anterior portion 24 of the body 12. See Figure 2. The connector 28 is adapted to coincide with and lock together with the collar 31 secured to the anterior portion 24 of the body 12. A user can remove the portion anterior 24 of the handle portion 22 by holding the anterior portion 24, turning it and at the same time pulling it, as is known in the art. However, the handle portion 22 may be integral with the anterior portion 24, if desired. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the handle portion 22 has a longitudinal axis 30 and likewise, in the neck portion 26 has a longitudinal axis 32. The longitudinal axes 30 and 32 are preferably co-linear but may be out of phase if desired. According to the present invention, any other means for coupling the handle portion 22 and the anterior portion 24 can be used. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the handle portion 22 comprises a housing 33 that comprises a part of front housing 34, a rear housing part 36, a battery cover or door 38 which together with the connector 28, define a hollow interior 40 of the handle portion 22. See Figures 3 and 4. Although it is illustrated and described In a configuration of the handle portion 22, other configurations of the handle portion can be used without departing from the present invention. For example, the handle portion may comprise additional pieces in different locations. As seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, in the hollow interior 40 of the handle portion 22 is a pair of batteries 42 which are mounted between front terminals or battery contacts 44a, 44b and a battery terminal or contact common posterior 46 in a known manner. The front battery terminals or contacts 44a, 44b are secured to one of the housing parts 34, 36 of the handle portion 22 and the rear battery terminal or contact 46 is secured to the cover 38. The batteries are preferably batteries of size AA, but they can be batteries of any size or a single battery. Likewise, any other device can be used to secure at least one battery in its place. To install new batteries, the battery door or cover 38 is tightened or pressed and slid off the end of the handle portion 22. The new battery or batteries are subsequently inserted and subsequently the cover 38 is snapped closed again in its place. The terminal ends of the batteries are then in contact with the terminals and contacts of the battery before and after. The hollow interior 40 of the handle portion 22 of the body 12 also houses a motor 48 mounted in a fixed location as shown. The motor 48 has a housing 49 and an output shaft 50 which rotates about an axis 52 when the motor 48 is activated. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the motor 48 is activated by the user manually by moving a switch 51. which includes a molded button 54 and a metal contact plate 55 secured forward from an "off" position to an "on" position. When the switch 51 is in its forward "firing" position, the contact plate 55 of the switch 51 presses or makes contact with the housing of the metal motor 49 thus completing a circuit formed by a cable 51 extending between the contact of battery 44b and the motor housing 49 and a cable 6 extending between the battery contact 44a and the metal contact plate 55. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 then operates until the switch 51 is moved backward to its "off" position towards the first end of the body 12 and the metal contact plate 55 disengages from the motor housing 49. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotation of the output shaft 50 of the The motor 48 is operatively coupled to a gear assembly 59 that includes a pinion gear 60 and a crown gear 62. The pinion gear 60 is attached to the output shaft 50 of the motor 48 and is a coupled with the crown gear 62. The rotation of the output shaft 50 of the motor 48 causes the pinion gear 60 to rotate about the shaft 52. See Figure 3. The rotation of the pinion gear 60 causes the crown gear 62 to rotate about an axis 64 which is generally perpendicular to the axis 52 about which the pinion gear 60 rotates. A link assembly 65 is operatively coupled or connected to the gear assembly. 59. The link assembly 65 includes a first link 66 and a second link 70. The first link 66 is secured to the crown gear 62 with a fastener 68 and is offset from the shaft 64 so that the rotation of the crown gear 62 causes a linear oscillatory movement of the first link 66. The second link 70 is secured to the link 66 with the fastener 72. The link 70 passes through the connector 28 as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. As best illustrated in the figure 2, the second link 70 has a sear 74 at a front end 76 thereof. The latch 74 is adapted to engage with a receptacle 78 in the actuator 80 when the anterior portion 24 of the body 12 is secured to the handle portion 22 of the body 12. This coupling of the actuation element 80 located in the front portion 24 of the body 12 with the link assembly 65 of the handle portion 2 of the body 12, imparts a linear oscillatory movement from the link assembly 65 to the drive element 80, which in turn rotates the head for tooth cleaning with dental floss 18 in a rotatable or arcuate manner as described below. The anterior portion 24 of the body 12 comprises a housing 79 having an upper housing part 81 and a Lower housing part 82 which are coupled to define a hollow interior 84 in which the drive element 80 and a link 86 are located. The actuation element 80 has a first end 88 towards which the receptacle 78 and a second end 90 are located. The link 86 is secured to the actuation element 80 and extends forwardly from the actuation element 80. The link 86 does not It is linear and curved to the side. The link 86 has a leading end 94 which has a hole 96 therein through which a bolt 98 passes. The bolt 98 secures the link 86 with a driving disk 100 which oscillates in an arcuate or rotating manner around the a vertical axis 102 due to the offset position of the pin 98 with respect to the shaft 102. The oscillatory drive disk 100 has a receptacle 104 at its center that is adapted to receive a portion of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 the way described later. Although the receptacle 104 has a square shape, it may have other configurations, if desired. A guide pin 106 is secured to the lower housing part 82 and extends upward therefrom. The guide pin 106 functions to properly position the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss. As best illustrated in Figure 2, the upper housing part 81 of the neck portion has an opening 108 therein through which the guide pin 106 extends. The guide pin 106 extends upwards from the lower housing part 82 of the neck portion through the receptacle 104 in the drive disc 100 and through the opening 108 in the upper housing part 180 of the neck portion of the body. The guide pin 106 is operatively connected or coupled to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 in the manner described below. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the tooth cleaning head with floss 18 comprises a base 110 that includes a circular disc 111 and a projection 112 having a square transverse configuration. The projection 103 is adapted to fit comfortably or tightly into the receptacle 104 of the drive disc 100. This projection 112 has a guide 114 therethrough which receives the guide pin 106. This splice / coupling between the guide pin 106 and the guide 114 of the base 110 of the head for cleaning teeth with floss 18 and between the projection 112 of the base 110 of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 and the receptacle 104 on the drive disc 100 , ensures that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 is correctly positioned when the locking mechanism 20 is used to lock the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 in a locked position. As shown in Fig. 7, the circular disk 111 of the base 110 of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 has an edge that extends upwards 116 around the periphery of the disc 111. The locking mechanism 20 is used to block the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 in a locked position in which the motorized device can be used to clean teeth with dental floss 10 and to unblock the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 so that it can be separated from the body 12 of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 and replace. The locking mechanism 20 includes a sliding lock member 120 which slides in a slot 122 in the end portion 24 of the body 12 of the tooth cleaning device with dental floss 10 and in particular in the upper housing part 91 of the collar housing 79. The locking member 120 has a locking flange 124 along the leading edge of the locking element 120, as best shown in Figures 3 and 7. The blocking element 120 slides between a forward position (shown in dashed lines in Figure 7) in which the flange 124 engages the edge of the circular disc 11 of the base 110 of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 and a posterior position (shown in solid lines in figure 7) in which the locking flange 124 is behind the circular disc 11 of the base 110 of the head for cleaning of teeth with dental floss 18. When in its forward, locking position, the locking element 120 prevents the tooth cleaning head with floss 18 from being removed or detached from the elongated body 12 of the motorized device for tooth cleaning with floss 10. When in its back position, not locked, the locking element 120 allows the tooth cleaning head with floss 18 to be removed or separated from the elongated body 12 of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with floss 10. Although a configuration of locking mechanism 20 is illustrated and described, other configurations of locking mechanisms can be used to secure the head for cleaning teeth with floss 18 to body 22 of the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10 without departing from the present invention. As best illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, the tooth cleaning head with floss 18 also comprises a fork 126 having a pair of spaced apart tips 128a, 128b extending upwardly from the base and terminating in end portions. 130a, 130b, respectively. Each of the end portions 130a, 130b has a hole (not shown) therein through which passes a piece of tooth cleaning material with flexible dental floss 134. The ends of the piece of tooth cleaning material with Floss 134 are attached or otherwise secured to the tips 128a, 128b in a known manner. In a preferred embodiment, the ends of the teeth cleaning material with dental floss are molded into the outer end portions 130a, 130b of the tips. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the tips 128a, 128b are slightly curved to one side so that the piece of dental floss cleaning material 134 does not pass through the shaft 102 around which the head oscillates to teeth cleaning with dental floss 18 in an arched manner. As shown in FIG. 5, the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 and particularly, the tips, preferably oscillate back and forth in an arc between 30 and 75 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the tips preferably oscillate back and forth in an arc of 60 degrees. The offset location of the tips 128a, 128b allows the piece of flossing material 134 to be moved back and forth through the teeth and also oscillate in the manner shown in Figures 6A and 6B. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the tips of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss define a second plane P2 which intersects the first plane P1 at an angle different from 90 degrees and preferably approximately 77 degrees. Although a tip configuration is illustrated and described, the tips of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss may assume other shapes or configurations. The speed at which the head rotates to clean teeth with dental floss 18 in an oscillatory manner can be varied as desired. The tooth cleaning head with dental floss 18 preferably oscillates back and forth in an arc at a frequency of between 2000 and 3000 cycles per minute. In a preferred embodiment, the tips oscillate at a frequency of 2800 cycles per minute. A cycle is defined as the movement of the tips between a first end position shown in Figure 6A to a second end position shown in Figure 6B and back to the first end position. In a preferred embodiment, the tooth cleaning head with floss 18 includes a cup-shaped toothpaste holder 136 having a generally truncated conical shape. As shown in Figure 3, the toothpaste holder 136 has a bottom wall 138 and a side wall 140 having an upper edge 141. However, other shapes and configurations may be used as desired. The toothpaste holder 136 is preferably made of food-grade latex or polyurethane or any other soft flexible plastic material. It is also contemplated that the cup-shaped toothpaste holder may have corrugation-like projections on the outer edge of the holder in order to improve the brushing actions during the use of the tooth cleaning procedure with dental floss. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, in use, the piece of teeth cleaning material with floss 134 is pressed between two adjacent teeth, a first tooth 142 and a second tooth 144. The first tooth 142 has an anterior portion. 146 and a posterior portion 148. Similarly, the second tooth 144 has an anterior portion 150 and a posterior portion 152. The portion of the tooth cleaning material with dental floss 134 is wrapped around and makes contact with the anterior portion 146 of the first tooth 142 and rear portion 152 of second tooth 144 when the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 is in a first end position illustrated in Figure 6A. Similarly, the piece of teeth cleaning material with dental floss 134 is wrapped and makes contact with the anterior portion 150 of the second tooth 144 and the posterior portion 148 of the first tooth 142 when the head for cleaning teeth with floss 18 it is in a second end position illustrated in Figure 6B. In use, an operator holds the handle portion 22 of the motorized tooth cleaning device with floss 10 and then presses the button 54 upwardly towards the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18. The movement of the button 54 activates the motor 48, thus rotating the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 in an oscillatory manner at a predetermined frequency. The user then presses the piece of tooth cleaning material with floss 134 between adjacent teeth while the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 18 rotates in an arcuate manner. A biting pad 135 is secured to the underside of the end portion 24 and particularly to the lower housing part 92 of the neck portion. The user may bite the bite pad 135 to move the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss 134 between the teeth. The oscillating movement that moves the tips of the head to clean teeth with dental floss in an arc causes the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss to wrap and make contact with an anterior part of a first tooth and a back of a second tooth adjacent to the first tooth. Then, as part of the same cycle, the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss is wrapped and makes contact with a posterior part of the first tooth and an anterior part of the second tooth. If desired, a user can insert toothpaste (not shown) into the toothpaste holder 136 before using the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss 10. The toothpaste (not shown) allows the piece of teeth cleaning material with dental floss 134 passes more easily between adjacent teeth and also provides additional cleaning of the teeth. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (47)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - A motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprising: an elongated body having first and second opposite ends, and a hollow portion; a supply of energy located within the hollow portion of the elongated body; a replaceable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss having a base removably connected to the first end of the elongate body; a fork extending from the base of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss having a pair of separate tips between which a piece of tooth cleaning material is extended with flexible dental floss; and said power supply is connected to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss where after activation, the power supply causes the oscillation of the head to clean teeth with dental floss and tooth cleaning material with dental floss flexible.
2. 2. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss additionally comprises a support for flexible toothpaste.
3. 3. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 2, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a biting pad secured to said first end of said elongate body.
4. 4. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that the power supply includes a motor and a battery.
5. 5. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a locking mechanism for removably securing the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss with the body.
6. 6. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 5, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates at a frequency of 2800 cycles per minute.
7. 7. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 3, further characterized in that the support for toothpaste generally has a truncated conical shape.
8. 8. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 6, further characterized in that the locking mechanism includes a sliding locking element adapted to fit on said circular disc of said base of said head for cleaning teeth with dental floss 9. - The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates at a frequency of between 2000 and 3000 cycles per minute. 10. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates through an arc of between 30 and 75 degrees. 11. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 1, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates through an arc of approximately 60 degrees. 12. A motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprising: an elongated body having first and second opposite ends, and a hollow portion; a motor located within the hollow portion of the elongated body; a bolt extending upwards from the first end and operatively coupled to the motor so that the activation of said motor causes said bolt to oscillate; and a head for cleaning teeth with dental floss removably connected to the first end of the elongated body, the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprises a base having a receptacle adapted to receive said pin, a pair of separate tips that are extend up from the base and a piece of floss that extends between the tips; where the activation of the motor causes the head to clean teeth with dental floss oscillate. 13. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss additionally comprises a support for toothpaste. 14. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that the support for toothpaste is made of plastic. 15. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that the hollow portion of the elongated body further includes a battery. 16. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that the pin defines an axis around which said head oscillates for cleaning teeth with dental floss. 17. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 16, further characterized in that the piece of dental floss does not pass through said axis. 18. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 13, further characterized in that the support for toothpaste generally has a truncated conical shape. 19. - The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss can be locked in place with a locking mechanism. 20. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 12, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a biting pad secured to said end portion of said body. 21. A motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprising: an elongate body having a handle portion, an end portion and an intermediate portion therebetween; a drive mechanism located within the handle portion of the elongated body; a bolt extending upwardly from the end portion of the elongate body; a tooth cleaning head with dental floss removably coupled to the end portion of the elongated body, the tooth cleaning head with dental floss comprises a pair of separate tips extending upward from a base, a receptacle in said base is adapted to receive said pin and a piece of floss extending between the tips; wherein activation of the drive mechanism causes the pin and the head for cleaning teeth with attached dental floss to llate around a vertical axis. 22. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 21, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss additionally comprises a support for toothpaste. 23. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 21, further characterized in that the piece of dental floss of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss does not intersect with the vertical axis. 24. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 21, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss is removably secured to said elongated body with a locking mechanism. 25. The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 21, further characterized in that the intermediate portion of the body can be removed from the handle portion of the body. 5 26.- The motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 21, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a biting pad secured to said end portion of said body. 27.- A head for cleaning teeth with dental floss for 0 use with a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss and adapted to llate around an axis after being removably secured to said motorized device for cleaning teeth with floss, said head for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprises: a base that includes a circular disc located generally in a first plane; a pair of separate tips extending upwardly from the base, said tips being located in a second plane, said first plane intersecting said second plane at an angle different from ninety degrees; and a piece of tooth cleaning material with flexible dental floss extending between the tips. 28. The head for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 27, further characterized in that each of said tips has a hole through an upper portion thereof and said piece of dental floss passes through said holes 29. The head for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 27, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a support for flexible toothpaste secured to the base. 30. The head for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 27, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a support for flexible toothpaste in a generally truncated conical shape. 31. The head for cleaning teeth with dental floss according to claim 27, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a support for flexible toothpaste located between the tips. 32. - A method of cleaning teeth with dental floss with a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss having a head for cleaning teeth with dental floss that includes a pair of tips between which a piece of cleaning material extends. teeth with dental floss, said method comprises: activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss so that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates in an arcuate manner; and pressing the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss between two teeth while the tooth cleaning head with floss continues to oscillate in an arcuate manner so that the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss is wrapped around the tooth. an anterior part of a first tooth and a posterior part of a second adjacent tooth and subsequently around the back of the first tooth and an anterior part of the second tooth during each arcuate oscillation cycle. 33. The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that it further comprises inserting toothpaste into a toothpaste holder secured to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss before activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with Floss so that the teeth are cleaned with toothpaste and flossing material while simultaneously flossing through the teeth cleaning material with oscillating floss. 34. - The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that the tips of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss and the tooth cleaning material with dental floss move arcuately through an arc of about 60 degrees during each cycle. 35. The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that the tips of the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss and the tooth cleaning material with dental floss move arcuately through an arc of between 30 and 30. and 75 degrees during each cycle. 36. The method according to claim 32, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates at a frequency of between 2000 and 3000 cycles per minute. 37.- A method to remove plaque and biofilm from the surface of the teeth that includes: activating a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss that has a removable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss so that the head for cleaning teeth flossing the motorized device to clean teeth with dental floss oscillate; and pressing a piece of floss that extends between and which is secured to two ends of the head to floss teeth between adjacent teeth while the head for flossing continues to oscillate. 38. - The method according to claim 37, further characterized by additionally comprising inserting toothpaste into a toothpaste holder secured to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss before activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss . 39.- A method to remove plaque and biofilm from the surface of the teeth that includes: activating a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss that has a removable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss so that the head for cleaning teeth floss teeth of the motorized device for teeth cleaning with dental floss oscillate; and pressing a piece of floss that extends between and which is secured to two ends of the head to floss teeth between adjacent teeth while the head for flossing continues to oscillate. 40.- The method according to claim 39, further characterized by additionally comprising inserting toothpaste into a toothpaste holder secured to the head of the device for cleaning teeth with dental floss before activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss. 41.- A method for removing plaque and biofilm from the surface of teeth comprising: providing a motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss having a removable head for cleaning teeth with dental floss comprising a pair of separate tips and a piece of floss that extends between them, activate the motorized device for cleaning teeth with dental floss so that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss of the motorized device for tooth cleaning with dental floss oscillates; and pressing the piece of floss between adjacent teeth while the head for flossing continues to oscillate. 42. The method according to claim 41, further characterized by additionally comprising inserting toothpaste into a toothpaste holder secured to the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss before activating the motorized device for cleaning teeth with floss. 43.- A method to sanitize and clean the teeth with dental floss in order to remove plaque and biofilm from the surface of the teeth, which method includes: insert between the teeth tooth cleaning material with dental floss applied to the tooth same toothpaste; and simultaneously oscillating the tooth cleaning material with dental floss and moving the tooth cleaning material with dental floss vertically between the teeth. 44. The method according to claim 43, further characterized in that the piece of teeth cleaning material with dental floss is wrapped around an anterior part of a first tooth and back of a second tooth adjacent to the first tooth and subsequently around the back of the first tooth and an anterior part of the second tooth during each arcuate oscillation cycle. 45. The method according to claim 43, further characterized in that the tooth cleaning material with dental floss oscillates at a frequency of between 2000 and 3000 cycles per minute. 46. The method according to claim 43, further characterized in that the head for cleaning teeth with dental floss oscillates at a frequency of approximately 2800 cycles per minute. 47.- A method to remove biofilm from teeth which includes: oscillating a piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss; apply toothpaste to the piece of material; and moving the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss vertically between the teeth and continuing at the same time the oscillation of the piece of tooth cleaning material with dental floss that has been applied in the same toothpaste.