Device and method for dental flossing
First Claim
1. A device for flossing teeth, comprising:
- a length of floss having first and second ends;
an elongated stick member having a handle portion and a finger portion;
said handle portion having a first end and a second end;
said finger portion having a near end and a free end, said near end of said finger portion being connected to said second end of said handle portion, said stick member having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said sides being intermediate said first end of said handle portion and said free end of said finger portions;
said stick member having a first aperture dimensioned to receive said floss, essentially positioned near the connection of said near end of said finger portion and said second end of said handle portion, said first aperture extending from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member and essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the portion of said stick member through which it passes;
said finger portion having a second aperture positioned adjacent said free end of said finger portion dimensioned to receive said floss, said second aperture extending essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said finger portion from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member, said length of floss being freely displaceable through said first and second apertures except when said floss is engaged against said stick member by the hand of the user holding the handle member, said length of floss extending from its first end through said second aperture from said first to said second side of said stick member, along said second side of said finger portion of said stick member and through said first aperture from said second to said first side of said stick member to its second end, the portion of said length of floss between said second aperture and said first end of said length of floss being free of connection to said stick member to permit said length of floss to be pulled from said first side of said stick member from said second aperture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved device and method for flossing teeth. The device has a handle portion and a finger portion. The finger portion is inserted into an individual'"'"'s mouth, and the handle portion is used for holding the dental flossing device. In a first embodiment, the dental flossing device has two apertures spaced along the finger portion. The flossing material is threaded through the first aperture and then the second aperture. A user presses one end of the flossing material against the device to keep the flossing material taut. The other end of the flossing material, extending from an aperture at the distal end of the device, is held by the user'"'"'s fingers or is wrapped around a finger, depending on the individual'"'"'s personal technique. Thereafter, the finger portion of the device is inserted into the mouth and flossing is performed. In a second embodiment, the device has only a single aperture through which the floss is threaded, a section of the floss being held against a side of the device by the hand of the user during use.
57 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A device for flossing teeth, comprising:
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a length of floss having first and second ends; an elongated stick member having a handle portion and a finger portion; said handle portion having a first end and a second end; said finger portion having a near end and a free end, said near end of said finger portion being connected to said second end of said handle portion, said stick member having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said sides being intermediate said first end of said handle portion and said free end of said finger portions; said stick member having a first aperture dimensioned to receive said floss, essentially positioned near the connection of said near end of said finger portion and said second end of said handle portion, said first aperture extending from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member and essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the portion of said stick member through which it passes; said finger portion having a second aperture positioned adjacent said free end of said finger portion dimensioned to receive said floss, said second aperture extending essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said finger portion from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member, said length of floss being freely displaceable through said first and second apertures except when said floss is engaged against said stick member by the hand of the user holding the handle member, said length of floss extending from its first end through said second aperture from said first to said second side of said stick member, along said second side of said finger portion of said stick member and through said first aperture from said second to said first side of said stick member to its second end, the portion of said length of floss between said second aperture and said first end of said length of floss being free of connection to said stick member to permit said length of floss to be pulled from said first side of said stick member from said second aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A device for flossing teeth, comprising:
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a length of floss having first and second ends; an elongated stick member having a handle portion and a finger portion; said handle portion having a first end and a second end; said finger portion having a near end and a free end, said near end of said finger portion being connected to said second end of said handle portion, said stick member having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said sides being intermediate said first end of said handle portion and said free end of said finger portions; said finger portion having a single aperture positioned essentially adjacent said free end of said finger portion dimensioned to receive said length of floss, said aperture extending from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member and essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said finger portion, said length of floss being freely displaceable through said aperture, said length of floss extending from its first end through said aperture from a first to a second side of said stick member and along at least a portion of said second side of said stick member to its second end to permit said floss to be pulled from said first side of said stick member, said stick member including a region on a side thereof against which said floss can be pressed by the hand of a user holding said handle portion, said stick member being otherwise free of apertures therethrough designed to receive floss and free of means to which said floss can be secured to prevent movement relative to said stick member without being held by the hand of the user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for flossing teeth comprising:
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providing an elongated stick member having a handle portion and a finger portion, said handle portion having a first end and a second end, said finger portion having a near end and a free end, said near end of said finger portion being connected to said second end of said handle portion, said finger portion having a first aperture dimensioned to receive floss, essentially positioned near the connection of said near end of said finger portion and said second end of said handle portion, said first aperture extending essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said stick member, said finger portion having a second aperture positioned essentially at said free end of said finger portion dimensioned to receive floss, said second aperture extending essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said finger portion; threading a length of floss through one of said first and second apertures from a first to a second side of said stick member, along said second side of said finger portion of said stick member and through said other of said first and second apertures from said second to said first side of said stick member; providing a sufficient length of floss extending from said second aperture to permit grasping by a first hand of a user at a position spaced from said second aperture and grasping same while holding said handle portion in a second hand of the user; clamping by the second hand of the user at least one of the portion of said floss between said first aperture and said second aperture and the portion of said floss extending from said first aperture, against a side of said stick member; and performing flossing by inserting the free end of said finger portion into the mouth of the user and moving the portion of said floss between said first hand and said second aperture by manipulation of said first and second hands. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for flossing teeth comprising:
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providing an elongated stick member having a handle portion and a finger portion, said handle portion having a first end and a second end, said finger portion having a near end and a free end, said near end of said finger portion being connected to said second end of said handle portion, said stick member having a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said sides being intermediate said first end of said handle portion and said free end of said finger portions; said finger portion having an aperture positioned essentially at said free end of said finger portion dimensioned to receive floss, said aperture extending essentially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said finger portion from said first side of said stick member to said second side of said stick member; threading a length of floss through said aperture between said first and said second sides of said stick member; providing a sufficient length of floss extending from said aperture at said first side of said stick member to permit grasping by a first hand of a user at a position spaced from said aperture and grasping same while holding said handle portion in a second hand of the user; providing a sufficient further length of floss extending from said aperture at said second side of said stick member to permit manual clamping of said length of floss against said stick member; clamping by the second hand of the user a portion of said further length of floss extending from said aperture against said stick member, leaving said floss otherwise free of connection to said stick member; and performing flossing by inserting the free end of said stick member into the mouth of the user and moving the portion of said floss between said first hand and said aperture by manipulation of said first and second hands. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification