Dental floss holder

• US 4,434,806 A
• Filed: 06/07/1982
• Issued: 03/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James M. Givens
• Original Assignee: James M. Givens
• Inventors: Givens, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeill, Gregory E.
• Application Number:
  US06/385,988
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 132/91-93, 264/251, 264/271.1, 264/249
• US Class Current: 132/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/046 Flossing tools

Abstract

A dental floss holder is provided which comprises a flattened, somewhat diamond-shaped resilient plastic body with a pair of laterally opposed spring arms and a central tip terminating in a grooved boss, opposite from a pointed spindle which doubles as a tie-down point for the ends of a length of floss and a toothpick. By inserting floss through an aperture in the spindle and stretching it around the lateral arms and the stem terminus, two taut floss segments are defined which can be used simultaneously if desired on the upper and lower teeth.

Claims

1. A dental floss holder comprising:

(a) a crossbar defining a pair of oppositely directed lateral arms;

(b) a central stem extending generally orthogonally from generally centrally of said crossbar to a terminus;

(c) a corridor defined in the end of each of said arms and another corridor defined in said terminus for entraining a length of dental floss therethrough such that two lengths span between respective lateral arms and said terminus;

(d) a tie-down integral with and proximate to said crossbar to tie the ends of length of floss the intermediate portions of which are passed tautly through said corridors;

(e) said lateral arms extending out well beyond the lateral extent of said terminus such that said two lengths of floss converge together in one direction such that when said strands are engaged between teeth and the respective upper and lower jaws and said holder is reciprocated in a direction axial of said stem, said two strands saw up and down between the teeth;

(f) said lateral arms, stem, terminus, and tiedown being unitary such that said holder is a one-piece unit;

(g) said tie-down comprising an apertured spindle extended from the crossbar opposite the direction of said stem to permit tying down floss through the aperture in said spindle, such that said apertured spindle defines said tie-down;

(h) said spindle being tapered to a point to define a toothpick-projection, and

(i) said entire holder being symmetrically extended about the axis of said spindle whereby said holder is easily spinnable to encourage the nervous twiddling thereof by the owner; and

,

(j) said lateral arms being resilient and bowed toward said terminal to impart a positive elasticity into said holder and positively tension said two lengths.