Motor-driven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss

• US 5,217,031 A
• Filed: 09/17/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giovanni Santoro
• Original Assignee: Giovanni Santoro
• Inventors: Santoro, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/761,929
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 132/321, 132/322, 132/323, 132/324, 132/325, 132/326, 132/329
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/046 Flossing tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

Motor-driven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss comprising a dental floss for cleaning the spaces between teeth, motor means (11), a feeding reel (24) of the fresh dental floss, a take-up reel (25) of the worn-out dental floss, a set of pulleys (18, 20, 21A, 21B) about which the dental floss is running between feeding reel and take-up reel, and reciprocating motor means (13, 15, 16, 18) to reciprocate the operating length of the dental floss as well as to keep it stretched and to replace the dental floss as it is worn-out.

Claims

1. Motor-driven apparatus for cleaning spaces between teeth by dental floss (FL) comprising an outer casing (10) provided with handle (40), a dental floss (FL) for cleaning the spaces between teeth, an electrical motor (11), a feeding reel (24) of the fresh dental floss, a take-up reel (25) of the worn-out dental floss, a set of stationary pulleys (20, 21A, 21B) around which the dental floss is running between the feeding reel (24) and the take-up reel (25), and reciprocating drive means (13, 15, 16) to reciprocate the operating length (33) of the dental floss (FL) as well as to keep it stretched and to replace the dental floss as it is worn-out characterized in that said electrical motor continuously rotating, drives reciprocating driving means (13, 15, 16, 18) for reciprocating said operating length (33) of the dental floss, comprising a first gear wheel of small diameter (13) mounted on said casing (10) and meshing with a gear (12) mounted on a shaft of said electrical motor (11);

a crank (16) operated by said small gear wheel (13), a second gear wheel (14) of larger diameter, mounted on said casing (10) and meshed with said first gear (13), a rod (15) linked at one end to said crank (16), and a double pulley (18) mounted on the free end (19) of said rod and reciprocating therewith.

2. The motor driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 1, wherein said set of stationary pulleys comprises a first pulley (20) mounted on said outer casing (10) facing said reciprocating double pulley (18) and a pair of identical pulleys (21A, 21B) mounted on the sides of an opening (23) formed on the head (22) of said outer casing (10) between which pulleys (21A, 21B) said operating length (33) of the dental floss (FL) is stretched.

3. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 2, wherein said second gear wheel (14) and said take-up reel (25) are integral with each other, thus forming an unitary assembly (14, 25) and said feeding reel (24) is mounted on the axis of said unitary assembly and concentrically therewith with the interposition of a clutch device (38).

4. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 3, wherein the reciprocating movement of said operating length (33) of dental floss is due to the alternate variation of the length of a first loop of dental floss comprising the length (30, 31) of floss comprised between the feeding reel (24) and the double pulley (18) and passing around said first stationary pulley (20), and a second loop of dental floss comprising the length (34, 35) of floss comprised between one (21B) of said pair of stationary pulleys and said take-up reel (25) and passing around said double pulley (18).

5. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 4, wherein rotation of said small gear wheel (13) causes said larger gear wheel (14) also to rotate together with said take-up reel (25) that, accordingly, pulls dental floss (FL) in one direction with a greater force than the force opposed by said feeding reel (24) owing to the differential rotating movement thereof allowed by said clutch device interposed between said feeding reel (24) and said take-up reel (25) concentrically mounted.

6. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 5, wherein said clutch device (38) comprises a disc of a friction felt (42) having the same diameter of said feeding reel (24).

7. The motor-driven apparatus for cleaning the spaces between teeth of claim 5, wherein said casing (110) and said handle (140) are separable, said casing (110) being of the disposable type and said handle (140) includes said electrical motor (111) and relative cells.