Dental prophylaxis device and process

• US 4,338,957 A
• Filed: 11/05/1980
• Issued: 07/13/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert H. Meibauer
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Meibauer
• Inventors: Meibauer, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US06/204,222
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 132/91, 132/92 R, 132/92 A, 132/90, 132/93, 132/89, 46/61, 273/58 C
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/046 Flossing tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/048 with heads removable from handle, e.g. interchangeable heads

Abstract

There is disclosed a dental prophylaxis device which may be electrically or battery powered and which comprises in combination a pair of spaced tynes disposed on a housing provided with an axial cavity, stationary support means on the housing in the vicinity of the base of the tynes and oscillating support means located on the housing between the bases of the tynes. The oscillating support means is supported on a cylindrical sleeve disposed in the housing cavity and cooperates with an oscillating drive shaft powered by driving means located in a second housing to which the first mentioned housing is removably connectable. A dental tape or floss having a non-elastic loop at one end which is supported on the oscillating support means and an elastic loop at the opposite end which is supported on the stationary support means spans the space between the ends of tynes and reciprocates between the tynes when the oscillating support means is in motion.

The process disclosed comprises contacting dentition surfaces with a dental tape or floss having a thread segment with a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end, reciprocating the thread segment over the dentition surfaces while expanding and contracting the elastic loop in response to the application of tensile force to the floss and absorbing the tensile force imparted thereto when it encounters resistance and the elastic loop expands.

Claims

1. In a device for dental prophylaxis, the combination comprising:

housing means provided with an axial cavity and having a pair of spaced, stationary tynes provided with slotted openings disposed thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, stationary support means on said housing in the vicinity of the base of said tynes, and oscillating support means located on said housing between the bases of said tynes and supported on a cylindrical sleeve disposed axially within said cavity, said housing means being adapted to be connected to driving means to drive said oscillating support means through said cylindrical sleeve.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including a collar fixed to the housing means and adapted to be removably connected to second housing means having driving means located therein.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the driving means includes an external, axially projecting oscillating drive shaft projecting axially into the first mentioned housing means, and engaging the cylindrical sleeve.

4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the driving means is electrically powered.

5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the driving means is battery powered.

6. In a device for dental prophylaxis, the combination comprising:

first and second housing means removably connected to each other;

said first housing means having a pair of spaced, stationary tynes provided with slotted openings, stationary support means on said first housing means in the vicinity of the base of each of said tynes and oscillating support means located on said first housing means between the bases of said tynes and supported on a cylindrical sleeve disposed axially within said first housing means;

said second housing means provided with internal driving means, including an external, axially projecting, oscillating drive shaft projecting axially into said first housing means and engaging said cylindrical sleeve.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the driving means is electrically powered.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein the driving means is battery powered.

9. In a device for dental prophylaxis, the combination comprising:

first and second housing means removably connected to each other;

said first housing means having a pair of spaced tynes provided with slotted openings, stationary support means on said first housing means in the vicinity of the base of each of said tynes and oscillating support means located on said first housing means between the bases of said tynes and supported on a cylindrical sleeve disposed axially within said first housing means;

said second housing means provided with internal driving means, including an external, axially projecting, oscillating drive shaft projecting axially into said first housing means and engaging said cylindrical sleeve; and

dental flossing thread provided with a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end supported in said slotted openings of said tynes and across the space therebetween with said elastic loop being supported on said stationary support means and said non-elastic loop being supported on said oscillating support means.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein each of the pair of spaced tynes is provided with a guide groove on the shoulder thereof.

11. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein the driving means is electrically powered.

12. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein the driving means is battery powered.

13. In a device for dental prophylaxis, the combination comprising:

first and second housing means removably connected to each other;

said first housing means having a pair of spaced, stationary tynes provided with slotted openings and a guide groove on the external shoulder of each of said pair of tynes, stationary support means on said first housing means in the vicinity of the base of each of said tynes and oscillating support means located on said first housing means between the bases of said tynes and supported on a cylindrical sleeve disposed axially within said first housing means;

said second housing means provided with internal driving means, including an external, axially projecting, oscillating drive shaft projecting axially into said first housing means and engaging said cylindrical sleeve; and

dental flossing thread provided with a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end supported in said slotted openings and by said guides of said tynes and across the space therebetween and in an axial line at substantially a right angle to the axis of said cylindrical sleeve, said elastic loop being supported on said stationary support means and said non-elastic loop being supported on said oscillating support means, whereby said dental flossing thread reciprocates between said tynes when said oscillating support means is oscillated by said driving means through the engagement of said drive shaft with said cylindrical sleeve.

14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein the driving means is electrically powered.

15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein the driving means is battery powered.

16. A dental floss comprising a thread segment having a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end, said elastic loop being under positive tension at all times and providing tension control of said floss and substantially eliminating point to point contact of dentition and said floss when in use to floss a dentition.

17. A dental prophylaxis process comprising:

contacting dentition surfaces to be treated with a dental floss having a thread segment provided with a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end, reciprocating said thread segment over the surfaces of said dentition while expanding and contracting said elastic loop in response to the application of tensile force to said dental floss as it reciprocates over said dentition surfaces and absorbing the tensile force imparted to said dental floss when it encounters resistance as it reciprocates over said dentition surfaces and said elastic loop expands.

18. A process as defined in claim 17 including applying medication to the dental floss and transferring said medication to the dentition surfaces to be treated as said dental floss reciprocates over said dentition surfaces.

19. A process as defined in claim 17 wherein the dental floss reciprocates between a pair of spaced, stationary tynes.

20. A dental prophylaxis process comprising:

contacting dentition surfaces to be treated with a dental floss having a thread segment provided with a non-elastic loop at one end and an elastic loop at the opposite end, reciprocating said thread segment over said dentition surfaces and across the space between a pair of spaced, stationary tynes bracketing said dentition surfaces while imparting oscillating movement to said dental floss through said non-elastic loop along an axial line which is substantially at a right angle to the axis of reciprocation of said thread segment and while expanding and contracting said elastic loop in response to the application of tensile force to said dental floss as it reciprocates over said dentition surfaces, and absorbing the tensile force imparted to said dental floss when it encounters resistance as it reciprocates over said dentition surfaces and said elastic loop expands.

21. A process as defined in claim 20 including applying medication to the dental floss and transferring said medication to the dentition surfaces to be treated as said dental floss reciprocates over said dentition surfaces.