FLOSSOMATIC

• US 3,847,167 A
• Filed: 06/25/1973
• Issued: 11/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James J. Brien
• Original Assignee: James J. Brien
• Inventors: Brien, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/373,176
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 132/93,92,91,92R
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

A hand-held dental floss applicator is described. The applicator includes a generally cylindrical handle having two, spaced, elongated guide arms projecting longitudinally from an end thereof. A reciprocal drive means, preferably capable of being powered by either direct or alternating current is contained within the handle and operably coupled to a drive pulley also mounted therein. A ring of dental floss is utilized in the device. The floss makes at least one turn around the drive pulley and extends along the guide arms and between the ends thereof. A retractable idle pulley is also provided in the handle for engaging the dental floss ring to apply the necessary tension thereto. In operation the guide is positioned with its arms astraddle the user'"'"''"'"'s teeth while the floss is reciprocated between adjacent teeth by the drive means. The ring of floss is advanced to bring a clean section into the area between the arms manually after the idle pulley is retracted.

Claims

1. A dental floss applicator for cleaning the area between adjacent teeth comprising:

an elongated, hollow handle;

first and second spaced, channel-shaped guide arms mounted on said handle and projecting longitudinally therefrom, the distal portion of said arms adapted to be received in the mouth astraddle the teeth on either side of the area to be cleaned;

releasable means carried by said applicator for retaining a ring of dental floss therein with a segment thereof contained within said handle and another segment extending along the guide arm channel and across the distal end portions of said arms, said releasable means including tension means mounted in said handle for selectively engaging a portion of a dental floss ring when said ring is retained in said handle to develop a predetermined amount of tension thereon;

power drive means mounted in said handle and adapted to be coupled to a segment of a dental floss ring retained therein for imparting reciprocal motion to said dental floss so that when a ring of dental floss is retained in said applicator and said drive means is energized a segment thereof between the ends of said guide arms will be reciprocated relative thereto.

2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the distal portions of said first and second guide arms are angled inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

3. The applicator of claim 2 wherein said guide arms are substantially C-shaped in cross-section, opening laterally and outwardly to receive a segment of a ring of dental floss therein.

4. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a reciprocating power source;

a drive pulley rotatably mounted in said handle and coupled to said power source, said pulley adapted to receive a segment of a ring of dental floss wrapped therearound.

5. A dental floss applicator for cleaning the area between adjacent teeth comprising:

an elongated hollow handle;

first and second spaced guide arms mounted on said handle and projecting longitudinally therefrom, the distal portion of said arms adapted to be received in the mouth astraddle the teeth on either side of the area to be cleaned;

releasable means carried by said applicator for retaining a ring of dental floss therein with a segment thereof contained within said handle and another segment extending along the guide arm channels and across the distal end portions of said arms;

power drive means mounted in said handle and adapted to be coupled to a segment of a dental floss ring retained therein, said drive means including a reciprocating power source;

a drive pulley rotatably mounted on said handle and coupled to said power source, said pulley adapted to receive a segment of a ring of dental floss wrapped therearound for imparting reciprocal motion to said dental floss;

releasable tension means mounted in said handle adjacent Said guide pulley for engaging a portion of a dental floss ring when said ring is retained in said handle to develop a predetermined amount of tension thereon so that when a ring of dental floss is retained in said applicator and said guide means is energized the segment thereof extending between the ends of said guide arms will be reciprocated relative thereto.

6. The drive means of claim 5 wherein said tension means comprises an idle pulley slideably mounted in said handle.

7. A dental floss applicator for cleaning the area between adjacent teeth comprising:

an elongated, hollow handle;

a first and second spaced, channel-shaped guide arms mounted on said handle and projecting longitudinally therefrom, the distal portion of said arms adapted to be received in the mouth astraddle the teeth on either side of the area to be cleaned;

releasable means carried by said applicator for retaining a ring of dental floss therein with a segment thereof contained within said handle and another segment extending along the guide arms and across the distal end portions of said arms;

power drive means including motor means mounted in said handle for supplying rotational motion;

a drive pulley rotatably mounted in said handle, said pulley adapted to receive a segment of a ring of dental floss wrapped therearound;

a drive rod extending between said pulley and said motor means;

cam means coupled to said motor means and to said drive rod for translating rotational motion of said motor to reciprocal longitudinal movement of said rod;

means carried by said applicator for coupling said drive pulley to said rod and for transmitting reciprocal movement of said rod to said drive pulley so that when a ring of dental floss is retained in said applicator and said drive means is energized the segment thereof extending between the ends of said guide arms will be reciprocated relative thereto.

8. The drive means of claim 7 further comprising releasable tension means mounted in said handle adjacent said drive pulley for engaging a portion of a ring of dental floss when said ring is retained in said handle to develop a predetermined amount of tension thereon.

9. The drive means of claim 8 wherein said tension means is an idle pulley slideably mounted in said handle.

10. The applicator of claim 8 wherein said handle defines front and rear chambers, the front chamber housing said drive pulley and tension means and the rear chamber housing said motor and cam means.

11. The applicator of claim 10 wherein the front and rear chambers are separated by a dividing wall having an opening therethrough and said drive rod is disposed extending from said motor and cam means through the opening in said wall to said drive pulley.

12. The applicator of claim 11 further comprising a cylindrical drive pulley;

a plate member mounted on the lower portion of said pulley and extending radially from the vertical axis thereof;

an upwardly directed projection mounted on the end portion of said drive rod extending into the front chamber said end portion engaging said plate so that reciprocal longitudinal movement of said rod will be translated to said pulley through said plate.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said pulley is rotatably mounted on said block, said block being slidably received in a horizontal guide slot in said handle;

a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said handle;

means carried by said wheel and coupled to said block for sliding said block and pulley along said slot responsive to rotational movement of said wheel.

14. The applicator of claim 5 wherein the distal portions of said first and second guide arms are angled inwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

15. The applicator of claim 14 wherein said guide arms are substantially C-shaped in cross-section, opening laterally and outwardly to receive a segment of a ring of dental floss therein.