Animate form dental flossing device

• US 6,085,760 A
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ranir LLC (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Original Assignee: Placontrol Incorporated (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Inventors: Chodorow, Ingram S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/001,897
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 132/323, 132/324, 132/329, 132/325, 132/326, 132/327, D28/65, D28/66, D28/67, D28/68
• US Class Current: 132/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/046 Flossing tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2203/00 Means for making patients feel at ease during dental treatment, e.g. dental instruments in the form of toys

Abstract

A dental flossing device replicating a dinosaur, includes a handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction. The handle and floss holder parts respectively are formed by shapes replicating (a) the head and open jaws and (b) the remaining body of a dinosaur, the jaws having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart. The dental flossing device further includes a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and secured to the distal end of the jaws.

Claims

1. A dental flossing device replicating a three-dimensional dinosaur having open jaws, a head, and body parts, said dental flossing device comprising an injection molded handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction, said floss holder and handle parts respectively formed by three-dimensional shapes replicating (a) said open jaws and (b) said head and body parts of a dinosaur, said jaws having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart, said dental flossing device further comprising a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and permanently secured to said distal ends of said jaws by injection molded plastic of said handle molded about said strand, said handle part has a proximal end adjacent said floss holder part and an opposite distal end and length between said proximal and distal ends said handle part having a maximum breadth substantially similar to a maximum breadth of said holder part, so as to facilitate gripping by a person.

2. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises five projections replicating four legs and a tail of said dinosaur.

3. A dental flossing device according to claim 2 wherein said handle part has a proximal portion adjacent to said dental floss part and an opposite distal portion, said distal portion of said handle part tapers to a smaller cross-section relative to said proximal portion thereof, said distal portion replicating said tail of said dinosaur.

4. A dental flossing device according to claim 3 wherein said handle part tapers to a terminal end remote from said floss-holding part.

5. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprise s at least two projections replicating legs of said dinosaur.

6. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein each of said jaws further comprises a row of teeth, the teeth in each jaw pointing toward the teeth in the other jaw.

7. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said strand of floss has length dimension L between said jaws, and wherein said handle part has a proximal portion adjacent said floss holder part and an opposite distal portion and length therebetween comprising proximal and distal halves respectively of said handle part, said proximal half replicating the head and at least part of the body of said dinosaur, said proximal half having transverse cross-sectional dimension along its length at least as great as said dimension L.

8. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said dental floss comprises multifilament ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

9. A dental flossing device according to claim 8 wherein said handle and floss holder parts are contiguous injection molded plastic, and said strand of dental floss is molded in situ into said floss holder part.

10. A dental flossing device according to claim 8 wherein said strand of floss extends through each of said jaws and extends outward thereof as an exposed end, and each of said exposed ends comprises a plurality of filaments whose ends after being heated form a bundle of coalesced beads at the ends of the fibers.

11. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle and floss holder parts are contiguous injection molded plastic, and said strand of dental floss is molded in situ into said floss holder part.

12. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said open jaws are generally parallel.

13. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said open jaws define a generally elongated V shape.

14. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second directions are generally opposite.

15. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said strand of dental floss extends generally linearly and generally perpendicular to said first direction.

16. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis and said jaws have a longitudinal axis generally 45 degrees inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

17. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis and said jaws have a longitudinal axis inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

18. A dental flossing device according to claim 1 wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis and said strand of dental floss has a longitudinal axis inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

19. A dental flossing device according to claim 1, wherein said strand of dental floss is situated a distance D from said proximal ends of said jaws, and said strand of dental floss extending between said distal ends of said jaws has length greater than said distance D.

20. A dental floss holder according to claim 1 wherein jaws have breadth D1 between them and said handle has breadth D2, where D2 is substantially as great as D1.

21. A dental flossing device replicating an three-dimensional animate object, said dental flossing device comprising an injection molded handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction, said floss holder and handle parts respectively formed by three-dimensional shapes replicating (a) two projections from said animate object and (b) a body of said animate object, said two projections having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart, said dental flossing device further comprising a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and permanently secured in said distal ends of said projections by injection molded plastic of said handle molded about said strand, said handle part has a proximal end adjacent said floss holder part and an opposite distal end, and length between said proximal and distal ends said handle part having a maximum breadth substantially similar to a maximum breadth of said holder part, so as to facilitate gripping by a person.

22. A dental flossing device according to claim 21 wherein said two projections replicate a pair of arms or legs or horns of said animate objects.

23. A dental flossing device according to claim 21 wherein said two projections comprise a pair of open jaws of said animate object.

24. A dental flossing device according to claim 21 wherein said handle and floss holder parts are contiguous injection molded plastic, and said strand of dental floss is molded in situ into said floss holder part.

25. A dental flossing device according to claim 21 wherein said dental floss comprises multifilament ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

26. A dental flossing device according to claim 25 wherein said strand of floss comprises a plurality of filaments, and said strand of floss extends through each of said projections and extends outward thereof as an exposed end, and said plurality of filaments comprising each of said ends has been heated to form a bundle of coalesced beads at the ends of said filaments.

27. A plurality of the dental flossing devices each of which replicates a three-dimensional dinosaur having open jaws, a head, and body parts and comprises an injection molded handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction, said floss holder and handle parts respectively formed by three-dimensional shapes replicating (a) said open jaws and (b) said head and body parts of a dinosaur, said jaws having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart, said dental flossing device further comprising a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and permanently secured to said distal ends of said jaws by injection molded plastic of said handle molded about said strand, said handle part has a proximal end adjacent said floss holder part and an opposite distal end and length between said proximal and distal ends, said plurality of dental flossing devices being aligned, spaced apart and oriented similarly and wherein said strands of floss of said devices comprises a single strand extending co-linearly through all said devices, said handle part having a maximum breadth substantially similar to a maximum breadth of said holder part, so as to facilitate gripping by a person.

28. A plurality of dental flossing devices according to claim 27, where each of said devices has a terminal end of its body and has curvature along its length from its jaws to said terminal end, and said devices are oriented so that the curvature of each matches the curvature of the adjacent device.

29. A plurality of dental flossing devices as defined in claim 27, where for each of said devices the replicated dinosaur comprises a top and a bottom, where the top includes one of said open jaws and the top of the head and body, and the bottom includes the other of said open jaws and the bottom of the head and body,

said devices being oriented with the top of one adjacent the bottom of the adjacent one.

30. A plurality of dental flossing devices according to claim 29, where each of said devices is closely adjacent the next.

31. A plurality of dental flossing devices, each of which replicates a three-dimensional dinosaur having opening jaws, a head, and body parts and comprises an injection molded handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction, said floss holder and handle parts respectively formed by three-dimensional shapes replicating (a) said open jaws and (b) said head and body parts of a dinosaur, said jaws having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart, said dental flossing device further comprising a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and permanently secured to said distal ends of said jaws by injection molded plastic of said handle molded about said strand, said handle part has a proximal end adjacent said floss holder part and an opposite distal end and length between said proximal and distal ends, and wherein each of said devices is identical in shape and each has opposite top and bottom edges which are different from each other, and where for each two adjacent devices the top edge of one is spaced apart from the bottom edge of the other, and said top and bottom edges have overall curvatures that generally correspond resulting in an elongate gap of generally constant width between them, said strand of dental floss being continuous and extending generally axially from said jaws of each of said devices to the jaws of the adjacent device, and said handle part having a maximum breadth substantially similar to a maximum breadth of said handle part, so as to facilitate gripping by a person.

32. A method of making a plurality of dental floss holder devices each of which devices replicates a three-dimensional dinosaur having a handle part extending in a first direction and a floss holder part extending from the handle part in a second direction different from the first direction, said floss holder and handle parts respectively formed by three-dimensional shapes replicating (a) open jaws and (b) a head and body of a dinosaur, said jaws having proximal ends that are joined and distal ends that are spaced apart, said dental flossing device further comprising a strand of dental floss extending generally linearly between and permanently secured to said distal ends of said jaws and said handle part having a maximum breadth substantially similar to a maximum breadth of said holder part, so as to facilitate gripping by a person, comprising the steps of:

a forming a multicavity mold with each cavity having a shape corresponding to one of said devices, said mold having plurality of said cavities oriented similarly with the heads of said dinosaurs being mutually parallel and with a single strand of floss extending through all their jaws, and with the head and body of each dinosaur being spaced apart from the corresponding head and body of the next adjacent dinosaur,

b positioning a single strand of said floss to extend coaxially through all said pairs of jaws, and

c injection molding fluid plastic into said cavities, with said dental floss molded in situ within said plastic which forms said jaws.