Tip for dental flossing device

• US 6,609,910 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Narayanan, Ravikumar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUMGARNER, MELBA N
• Application Number:
  US09/746,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20010035193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 433/118, 433/119, 433/121, 433/123, 433/141, 433/143, 433/216, 433/165, 433/166, 132/322, 132/321, 132/329, 601/139, 601/141
• US Class Current: 433/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/07 with vibratory drive, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/00 Devices for cleaning between the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/047 power-driven

Abstract

A flossing tip for a power dental flossing device. The tip is elongated and includes a base portion, a central portion having a generally rectangular cross-section, and an enlarged end portion including a disk shape. The tip is compressible. The base portion supports the tip when the tip is coupled to the dental flossing device. The central portion couples the base portion to the end portion. The end portion is inserted between a pair of adjacent teeth of a user, and helps guide and orient the tip between the adjacent teeth. When in use, the rectangular cross-section of the tip provides multiple points of contact against a tooth for cleaning, and also helps maintain the tip in proper orientation with respect to the teeth. The enlarged end portion assists in positioning the tip, provides additional cleaning edges, and helps prevent trauma to the gums.

Claims

1. A flossing tip for use with a power dental flossing device, comprising:

a central portion comprising a length, a height, a base end, and a tip end;

a base portion comprising a fillet, said base portion attached to said base end of said central portion;

a disk-shaped end portion extending from said tip end of said central portion, said end portion defining a height greater than said height of said central portion;

a connector portion attached to said base portion, said connector portion adapted to removably attach to said power dental flossing device; and

wherein a motion, when powered, of said end portion is in the direction of extension of said end portion from said central portion.

2. The flossing tip of claim 1, wherein said end portion extends in a relative vertical direction from said central portion.

3. The flossing tip of claim 2, wherein said end portion comprises a length sufficient to access a full interdental space extending from the outside of a gum to the inside of a gum.

4. The flossing tip of claim 3, further comprising a fillet having a substantially triangular cross-section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tip, and attached to the base portion.

5. The flossing tip of claim 1, further comprising a fillet having a substantially rectangular cross-section taken perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tip, and attached to the base portion.

6. The flossing tip of claim 5, wherein said fillet extends around a perimeter of said base portion.

7. The flossing tip of claim 6, wherein said fillet attaches said base portion to said connector portion.

8. The flossing tip of claim 7, wherein said fillet distributes along said flossing tip stresses incurred by said flossing tip during use.

9. The flossing tip of claim 1, wherein:

said central portion comprises a top and bottom surface defining a width and said height;

said width of said central portion decreases uniformly along said length of said central portion from said base end to said tip end; and

said height of said central portion decreases uniformly along said length of said central portion from said base end to said tip end.

10. The flossing tip of claim 9, wherein:

said height of said central portion at said base end is approximately 0.077 inches; and

said height of said central portion at said tip end is approximately 0.031 inches.

11. The flossing tip of claim 9, wherein:

said end portion comprises a top and bottom surface defining a width and a length,

said width of said end portion matches said width of said central portion at a point where said end portion extends from said central portion;

said width of said end portion decreases uniformly along said length of said end portion; and

said height of said end portion increases from said point where said end portion extends from said central portion.

12. The flossing tip of claim 1, wherein:

said central portion comprises a top and bottom surface defining a width and said height;

said width of said central portion defines a constant width for a distance beyond said base end; and

said width of said central portion decreases uniformly along said length of said central portion after said distance to said tip end.