Dental flossing tool

• US 4,014,354 A
• Filed: 10/03/1975
• Issued: 03/29/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terry N. Garrett
• Original Assignee: Terry N. Garrett
• Inventors: Garrett, Terry N.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeill, G.E.
• Application Number:
  US05/619,443
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 132/90, 132/91, 132/92
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

Dental floss is tensioned between a pair of spaced-apart, L-shaped arms attached to a handle. The configuration of the arms permits effective flossing of target areas within the mouth with minimal visual obstruction and facial distortion. The handle may be attached to the arms for right- or left-handed use. An electrical actuator attached to the handle reciprocates the dental floss in the target area.

Claims

1. A dental flossing tool comprising:

a handle having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends; and

a pair of spaced-apart arms disposed on said handle at said first end thereof,

said arms each having a first portion extending laterally from said handle in a first direction and a second portion extending from said first portion in a second direction, said first and second portions forming substantially an L-shaped geometry;

the second portions of said arms being disposed for holding a length of dental floss between said arms in parallel alignment to the axis of said handle.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the second portions of said arms extend at right angles from the respective first portions of said arms.

3. The tool of claim 2, further including means disposed on the second portions of said arms for securing dental floss to said arms.

4. The tool of claim 3, further including dental floss tensioned between said securing means.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first portions of said arms extend at right angles from said handle and the second portions of said arms extend at right angles from the respective first portions of said arms.

6. The tool of claim 1 further including means secured to the second end of said handle for reciprocally actuating the second portions of said arms that hold a length of dental floss.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said actuating means includes a hand-held housing containing an electric motor.

8. The tool of claim 6 wherein the second end of said handle and said actuating means are configured with mating friction-fit securing means, thereby to permit attachment and detachment of said handle from said actuating means.

9. A dental flossing tool comprising:

a handle;

a support member having first and second ends;

first and second L-shaped arms disposed on said support member at said first and second ends, respectively, said arms having end portions configured to hold a length of dental floss therebetween;

said support member being configured at each of the first and second ends thereof for detachably securing said handle thereto;

said tool having first and second different mirror-image configurations when said handle is secured to said first and second ends, respectively, of said support member.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said support member includes a receptacle at each of the first and second ends thereof, and said handle includes a mating pin for frictional engagement in either receptacle.

11. The tool of claim 9 further including a length of dental floss tensioned between said arms.