Automatic flossing apparatus
First Claim
1. An automatic flossing apparatus having an elongated body, and having two spools, one for disbursing new floss and one for rolling up the used floss, a two prong pivotable headpiece hinged at one end of said body, an oscillator for subjecting said pivotable headpiece and floss to short back and forth motions from side to side, wherein the floss follows a circuit beginning at said spool of new floss, then to said oscillator, then across said two prongs of said pivotal headpiece, back to said oscillator, then picked up by said spool for the used floss, and tension means for maintaining tension on said floss circuit, said tension means simultaneously taking up slack caused by feeding the floss across said circuit and by the short back and forth oscillations of said pivotable headpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This is a flossing apparatus that stores dental floss, holds it automatically under tension and agitates and renews the floss during its manipulations. The floss unwinds from one spool and rolls on another automatically. The floss makes a complete circuit passing by an oscillator imparting back and forth movements to the floss and subsequently to a two-pronged headpiece holding the floss under tension across the two prongs. The spools are connected by a clutch and crank transmission mechanism which maintains controllable floss tension.
90 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An automatic flossing apparatus having an elongated body, and having two spools, one for disbursing new floss and one for rolling up the used floss, a two prong pivotable headpiece hinged at one end of said body, an oscillator for subjecting said pivotable headpiece and floss to short back and forth motions from side to side, wherein the floss follows a circuit beginning at said spool of new floss, then to said oscillator, then across said two prongs of said pivotal headpiece, back to said oscillator, then picked up by said spool for the used floss, and tension means for maintaining tension on said floss circuit, said tension means simultaneously taking up slack caused by feeding the floss across said circuit and by the short back and forth oscillations of said pivotable headpiece.
Specification