Flossing device

• US 4,832,063 A
• Filed: 10/09/1987
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deborah L. Steele
• Original Assignee: Deborah L. Steele
• Inventors: Smole, Frederick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Application Number:
  US07/106,350
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 132/89, 132/91, 132/93, 433/148, 223/102, 156/158
• US Class Current: 132/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/041 Dental floss chemical aspects A61Q11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/042 comprising protuberances along its length, e.g. balls or knots

Abstract

A flossing device to floss bacterial plaque off tooth structures, including teeth and osseous implanted abutments, said flossing device comprising a leader with affixed cord. The leader is provided with a hook portion, preferably formed by and integral with the leader; the leader being bent back upon itself at an acute angle which permits ready insertion of the leader between adjacent tooth structures and which permits ready access to the leader as the free end of the hook effectively hooks about the tooth structure and extends outward of the tooth structure for convenient grasping by the user, upon retraction of the leader. The terminal free end of the hook may be enlarged and blunted for secure grasping. The flossing cord is singular, being constructed of a multiplicity of braided strands for entrapment and removal of plaque from the tooth structures.

Claims

1. A flossing device comprising:

a single floss leader for insertion between tooth structures, said leader provided with a fixed resilient hook member formed from an acute angle bend in said leader for threading said leader behind a tooth structure to partially encircle the tooth structure and for retrieving said leader from a position forward of the tooth structure; and

a single elongated flossing cord connected to and integral with said leader, said cord having a multiplicity of braided strands for trapping and removing plaque from the tooth structures.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said floss leader and said flossing cord are constructed of nylon.

3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the terminal end of said hook is provided with grasping means.

4. A flossing device comprising:

a single, elongated, resilient, monofilament floss leader, one end of which is bent back upon itself at an acute angle to define a fixed hook for threading the leader behind a tooth structure to partially encircle the tooth structure and for retrieving said leader from a position forward of the tooth structure; and

a single, elongated flossing cord connected to said leader, said cord comprising a multiplicity of braided strands for trapping and removing plaque from the tooth structure.

5. The flossing device as described in claim 4 wherein the hook includes a pointed forward portion at the bend for insertion of the leader between tooth structures and a blunt grasping member at its terminal end for manual grasping of the leader.

6. The flossing device as described in claim 4 wherein said cord is tubular in construction and wherein said leader is received within and affixed to said cord.

7. The flossing device as described in claim 4 wherein said floss leader and said flossing cord are constructed of nylon.