Motor driven dental floss applicator

• US 5,186,191 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Loubier
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Loubier
• Inventors: Loubier, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/784,983
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 132/322, 132/323, 132/324, 132/325, 132/326
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising a rigid elongated frame having a handle on one end and two laterally spaced, upstanding furcations on the other end, the furcations having floss-guiding portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween. A supply of strand is supported on the frame. A supply and takeup device is provided for supplying and taking up the strand after it is threaded across the tips of the furcations. An electric motor is provided on the frame for actuating the second means unidirectionally, and a switch is provided for controlling the energization of the motor whereby the strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations.

Claims

1. A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising:

a rigid elongated supporting frame having on one end two laterally spaced furcations, said furcations having floss-guiding portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween, said frame having a handle portion on its other end,

first means for storing floss strand on said frame,

second means for supplying and taking-up said strand after it is threaded across the tips of said furcations, and

electric motor means for actuating said second means unidirectionally, and means for controlling energization of said motor means whereby said strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations,

wherein said motor means is rigidly and stationarily mounted to said frame, and wherein said motor means, said handle and said furcations are relatively rigidly and stationarily disposed such that, when the motor means is energized, the strand moves in a single, axially directed motion relative to the motor means, the handle and the furcations.

2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a cylindrically shaped capstan device mounted for rotation on said frame with supply and takeup portions axially spaced thereon, the axis of said capstan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame, said supply and takeup portions being on opposite sides, respectively, of said frame, said first means includes a supply of floss strand and means for resisting movement of said strand, said strand being threaded about said supply capstan portion, across said furcations, and about said takeup capstan portion, said threading being in a direction that as said capstan is rotated in one direction said strand is tensed from said supply portion, across said furcations and about said takeup portion, said motor means being mounted to impart rotation to said capstan in only said one direction.

3. A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising:

a rigid elongated supporting frame having on one end two laterally spaced furcations, said furcations having floss-guiding portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween, a handle portion on the other end of said frame;

first means for storing floss strand on said frame;

second means for supplying and taking-up said strand after it is threaded across the tips of said furcations; and

electric motor means mounted on said frame for actuating said second means unidirectionally, and means for controlling energization of said motor means whereby said strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations;

wherein said second means includes a cylindrically shaped capstan device mounted for rotation on said frame with supply and takeup portions axially spaced thereon, the axis of said capstan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame, said supply and takeup portions being on opposite sides, respectively, of said frame; and

wherein said first means includes a supply of floss strand and means for resisting movement of said strand, said strand being threaded about said supply capstan portion, across said furcations, and about said takeup capstan portion, said threading being in a direction that as said capstan is rotated in one direction said strand is tensed from said supply portion, across said furcations and about said takeup portion, said motor means being mounted to impart rotation to said capstan in only said one direction; and

wherein said motor means includes a bracket secured to said frame, a slow-speed motor unit mounted on said bracket and having a shaft coaxially secured to said capstan to impart rotation thereto, said means for controlling energization including an electrical switch which may be closed for energizing continuously said motor unit and for moving said strand unidirectionally continuously between said furcations.

4. A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising:

a rigid elongated supporting frame having on one end two laterally spaced furcations, said furcations having floss-guided portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween, a handle portion on the other end of said frame;

first means for storing floss strand on said frame;

second means for supplying and taking-up said strand after it is threaded across the tips of said furcations; and

electric motor means mounted on said frame for actuating said second means unidirectionally, and means for controlling energization of said motor means whereby said strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations;

wherein said second means includes a cylindrically shaped capstan device mounted for rotation on said frame with supply and takeup portions axially spaced thereon, the axis of said capstan extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame, said supply and takeup portions being on opposite sides, respectively, of said frame; and

wherein said first means includes a supply of floss strand and means for resisting movement of said strand, said strand being threaded about said supply capstan portion, across said furcations, and about said takeup capstan portion, said threading being in a direction that as said capstan is rotated in one direction said strand is tensed from said supply portion, across said furcations and about said takeup portion, said motor means being mounted to impart rotation to said capstan in only said one direction; and

wherein said motor means includes a slow speed motor unit secured internally of said frame, said capstan having a ring gear coaxially secured thereto and disposed internally of said frame, said motor unit having a shaft provided with a spur gear meshed with said ring gear for imparting rotation to said capstan, said means for controlling energization including an electrical switch which may be closed for energizing continuously said motor unit and for moving said strand unidirectionally continuously between said furcations.

5. A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising:

a rigid elongated supporting frame having on one end two laterally spaced furcations, said furcations having floss-guiding portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween, and said frame having a handle portion on its other end of said frame;

first means for storing floss strand on said frame;

second means for supplying and taking-up said strand after it is threaded across the tips of said furcations; and

electric motor means mounted on said frame for actuating said second means unidirectionally, and means for controlling energization of said motor means whereby said strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations;

wherein said second means includes a cylindrically-shaped capstan device mounted for rotation on said frame, the axis of said capstan device extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame; and

wherein said motor means includes a bracket secured to said frame, and a motor mounted on said bracket and having a shaft coaxially secured to the capstan device to impart rotation thereto.

6. The applicator of claim 5 wherein said capstan device includes axially spaced supply and takeup means, said supply and takeup means being on opposite sides, respectively, of said frame.

7. The applicator of claim 5 wherein said first means includes a supply of floss strand and means for resisting movement of said strand, said strand being threaded about said supply means, across said furcations, and about said takeup means, said threading being in a direction that as the capstan device is rotated in one direction the strand is pulled from said supply means, across said furcations, and about said takeup means.

8. The applicator of claim 5 wherein said motor, when energized, moves the strand continuously and unidirectionally between the furcations.

9. A motor driven dental floss applicator for use in dispensing and supporting a strand of dental floss for cleaning teeth comprising:

a rigid elongated supporting frame having on one end two laterally spaced furcations, said furcations having floss-guiding portions on the tips thereof by means of which a floss strand may be tensioned and moved therebetween, and said frame having a handle portion on its other end of said frame;

first means for storing floss strand on said frame;

second means for supplying and taking-up said strand after it is threaded across the tips of said furcations; and

electric motor means mounted on said frame for actuating said second means unidirectionally, and means for controlling energization of said motor means whereby said strand may be controllably drawn across and between said furcations;

wherein said second means includes a cylindrically-shaped capstan device mounted for rotation on said frame, the axis of said capstan device extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame; and

wherein said motor means includes a motor secured internally of said frame, said capstan device having a ring gear coaxially secured thereto and disposed internally of said frame, said motor having a shaft provided with a spur gear meshed with said ring gear for imparting rotation to the capstan device.

10. The applicator of claim 9 wherein said capstan device includes axially spaced supply and takeup means, said supply and takeup means being on opposite sides, respectively, of said frame.

11. The applicator of claim 9 wherein said first means includes a supply of floss strand and means for resisting movement of said strand, said strand being threaded about said supply means, across said furcations, and about said takeup means, said threading being in a direction that as the capstan device is rotated in one direction the strand is pulled from said supply means, across said furcations, and about said takeup means.

12. The applicator of claim 9 wherein said motor, when energized, moves the strand continuously and unidirectionally between the furcations.