Dental flosser

• US 5,931,170 A
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Addway Engineering Limited
• Original Assignee: Addway Engineering Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Ka Shing
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/169,322
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 132/322, 132/328, 433/118, 433/143, 601/142
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

A dental flosser has a bushing with a lateral pin that engages in a spiral groove in a sleeve that surrounds the bushing. The bushing is driven backwards and forwards by a shaft and this causes a flosser element base anchor to be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, and moved backwards and forwards at the same time during use.

Claims

1. A dental flosser comprising a flosser element drivingly connected to a drive head member, said drive head member having a means for converting a reciprocating drive from a drive shaft of an electric motor into clockwise and counterclockwise rotational motion for rotating said flosser element, said converting means comprising a bushing with a laterally extending pin, a cylindrical sleeve that surrounds said bushing, a spiral groove in an inner surface of said bushing to engage said pin such that inter-engagement causes said bushing to be rotated as it is moved forwards and backwards within said sleeve.

2. A dental flosser according to claim 1, further comprising a flosser element holder having a cranked channel in which said flosser element can rotate and slide in use.

3. A dental flosser according to claim 1, further comprising a splined shaft extending from one end of said bushing to slidingly engage with a flosser element anchor.

4. A dental flosser according to claim 1, wherein said flosser element holder is readily attachable and removable from said drive head member.

5. A dental flosser according to claim 1, further comprising a handle incorporating said electric motor and said reciprocal drive wherein said drive head member is readily attachable and removable from said handle.