Electric dental flosser

• US 4,235,253 A
• Filed: 05/07/1979
• Issued: 11/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dawne A. Moore
• Original Assignee: Dawne A. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Dawne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US06/036,337
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 128/62 A, 433/118, 433/142, 433/114, 132/92 R, 132/92 A
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

An electrically driven dental floss device having a tip with a forked end adapted to hold a short piece of dental floss tauntly across the forked end. A body handle having finger grips is adapted to move the forked end in a straight line motion vertically within a range of 1 to 2 millimeters such that the dental floss will move along side the tooth to clean such. A thumb button is provided to allow momentary energization by the elderly when using the device.

Claims

1. An electrically driven dental floss device comprising:

a tip having a forked end;

means to tauntly secure a short piece of dental floss across said forked end of said tip;

a body handle;

power means;

switch means to momentarily energize said motor, an output shaft being adapted to detachably receive said tip; and

connector means being adapted to connect said motor to said output shaft for moving said tip in a reciprocating straight line manner vertically relative to a tooth from a chewing surface of the tooth to under the gingival margin, the length of said reciprocating motion not to exceed two millimeters.

2. The combination called for in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises:

a thumb actuator on the open switch.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said body handle comprises:

an elongated, substantially cylindrical shaped housing having molded finger grips for the hand to grasp; and

said switch means being positioned to allow the thumb of the user to energize said motor.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein said forked end on said tip comprises:

a substantially V-shaped head being positioned such that the dental floss is positioned in a plane substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the dental floss; and

a shaft securing said head to said connector means.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 including a tip comprising:

a detachably elongated member being adapted to fit said output shaft, a small passage being formed in the end of the member; and

a pointed member adapted to be positioned in said passage for cleaning between the teeth and at the gingival margin.

6. An electrically driven dental floss device comprising:

a tip having a forked end;

means to tauntly secure a short piece of dental floss across said forked end of said tip;

a body handle;

power means;

switch means to momentarily energize said motor;

an output shaft being adapted to detachably receive said tip;

connector means being adapted to connect said motor to said output shaft for moving said tip in a reciprocating straight line manner vertically relative to a tooth, the length of said reciprocating motion not to exceed two millimeters, said forked end on said tip being a substantially V-shaped head being positioned such that the dental floss is positioned in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the dental floss; and

a shaft securing said head to said connector means.

7. An electrically driven dental flosser device comprising:

a tip having a substantially V-shaped head supported on the end of an elongated shaft;

a groove formed along the peripheral edges of said V-shaped head;

a knob positioned adjacent the forked end of the head adapted to receive an end of short piece of dental floss which is directed along the grooves on the peripheral edges of the tip across the tipped ends and back to the knob for securing the dental floss tauntly across the forked end of the tip;

a body handle;

power means to dispose of the said body handle;

switch means to energize said motor;

an output shaft being adapted to detachably receive said tip; and

connector means being adapted to connect said motor of said output shaft for moving said tip in a reciprocating straight line manner vertically from a chewing surface on the upper portion of the tooth to under the gingival margin, the length of said reciprocating motion not to exceed two millimeters.