Power driven tooth flosser

• US 5,400,811 A
• Filed: 09/24/1993
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Meibauer
• Inventors: Meibauer, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/126,386
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 132/309, 132/321, 132/322, 132/323, 132/327, 132/329, 132/324
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

A power driven tooth flosser utilizes lengths of conventional dental floss, provides a length of that floss held in place to facilitate its insertion between teeth of the user, and then causes that length of floss to be driven in axial reciprocation, thereby to provide optimum and safe removal of plaque and debris from between the teeth.

Claims

1. A power-driven tooth flosser comprising a housing, a pair of stationary tines extending therefrom adapted to receive and support a length of dental floss extending therebetween, said length of floss having a pair of free ends extending therefrom beyond said tines, an exposed oscillatable part mounted on said housing, means on said part for receiving said pair of free floss ends, and drive means in said housing operatively connected to said part for driving it in oscillation, whereby, when said part is driven in oscillation, said floss translates back and forth between said tines.

2. The tooth flosser of claim 1, in which said drive means drives said part in rotary oscillation.

3. The tooth flosser of claim 2, in which said oscillatable part comprises a jam cleat for fixedly receiving both of said floss length free ends.

4. The tooth flosser of any of claims 1-3, in which said housing comprises first and second separable housing parts, said first housing part containing said drive means and said second housing part containing said tines.

5. The tooth flosser of any of claims 1-3, in which said housing comprises first and second separable housing parts, said first housing part containing said drive means and said oscillatable part and said second housing part containing said tines.

6. The tooth flosser of any of claims 1-3, in which said housing comprises first and second separable housing parts, said first housing part having an end to which said second housing part is adapted to be secured and containing said drive means, said drive means comprising a shaft exposed at the end of said first housing part, and means for operatively drivingly connecting said oscillatable part to said shaft when said housing parts are assembled.

7. The tooth flosser of claim 6, in which said oscillatable part is mounted on said first housing part.

8. The tooth flosser of any of claims 1-3, in which said housing has an end and sides, said tines extending from said housing end, said oscillatable part being exposed at a side of said housing.

9. The tooth flosser of claim 8, in which said housing comprises first and second separable housing parts, said first housing part containing said drive means and said oscillatable part and said second housing part containing said tines.