Method and apparatus for converting a power-driven toothbrush into a power-driven flossing device

• US 6,047,711 A
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel A. Wagner
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/253,256
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 132/322, 132/323, 132/324, 132/325, 132/309, 132/311, 132/321, 433/118, 433/119, 433/122, 433/123, 128/62 A, 15/22.1
• US Class Current: 132/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/046 Flossing tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/048 with heads removable from handle, e.g. interchangeable heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

A converter is described for converting a power-driven toothbrush into a power-driven flossing device. Such converter includes a yoke for holding floss string and an arrangement for receiving energy from a toothbrush originally provided to move toothbrush bristles and convert such energy into movement of a floss string.

Claims

1. A tooth flossing device for dental hygiene, which device is designed to use an existing electric power-driven toothbrush to itself become a power-driven flossing device in which floss string is moved, comprising:

A. means for receiving energy from said toothbrush originally provided to move toothbrush bristles; and

B. means for converting received energy into movement of a floss string for dental hygiene instead of movement of toothbrush bristles, which converting means includes a yoke having a pair of arms which project away from one another to define separated free arm ends between which a floss string can be provided, each of said free arm ends being configured to interact with an associated anomaly provided in a floss string for the purpose of preventing floss string at the location of such anomaly from moving toward the other of said arms, said means for receiving energy including means for moving said floss string relative to said free arm ends.

2. A tooth flossing device for dental hygiene, which device is designed to use an existing electric power-driven toothbrush to itself become a power-driven flossing device in which floss string is moved, comprising:

A. means for receiving energy from said toothbrush originally provided to move toothbrush bristles; and

B. means for converting received energy into movement of a floss string for dental hygiene instead of movement of toothbrush bristles, which converting means includes a yoke having a pair of arms which project from one another to define separated free arm ends for holding floss string therebetween, each of said arms having an interior side facing the other side arm, and at least one of said interior sides having a cavity configured to hold a flowable floss compound on the interior side of at least one of said free arm ends to enable a flowable floss compound to be used for dental hygiene along with said floss string.

3. The tooth flossing device of claim 2 wherein said cavity includes both a compound holding portion and a metering portion to regulate the flow of the compound from said holding portion towards a floss string at said free arm end.

4. The tooth flossing device of claim 2 wherein there is a cavity for a flowable flossing compound in the interior side of both of said arms adjacent the free end of the associated arm.

5. A tooth flossing device comprising:

A. a yoke having a pair of arms which project away from one another to define separated free arm ends between which a floss string can be provided; and

B. a cavity configured to hold a flowable floss compound defined by at least one of said free arm ends to enable a flowable floss compound to be provided along with said floss string for dental hygiene.

6. A tooth flossing device of claim 5 wherein said cavity includes both a compound holding portion and a metering portion to regulate the flow of the compound from said holding portion towards a floss string at said free arm end.