Combination floss dispenser and toothbrush

• US 20020121283A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dylan Frank Piccolo, Snow Ellen Piccolo
• Original Assignee: Dylan Frank Piccolo, Snow Ellen Piccolo
• Inventors: Piccolo, Dylan Frank, Piccolo, Snow Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 6,766,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/309
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/18 Receptacles for hair brushes or tooth brushes as travelling equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0071 Toothbrushes with flossing arrangements A61C15/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/043 Containers, dispensers, or the like, e.g. with cutting means A61C15/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof

Abstract

A dental floss dispenser includes a floss spool having two spool ends and wound with a certain length of floss; a dispenser body including an external dispenser first end wall and an external dispenser second end wall and a longitudinal external dispenser side wall extending between the dispenser first and second end walls, and containing a spool retaining floss bore sized to longitudinally receive the floss spool wound with floss, the floss bore having a bore opening in the dispenser first end wall, a bore side wall and a bore end wall with a spool end recess for receiving an end of the floss spool; a floss panel covering the floss bore opening and retaining the floss spool, the floss panel having a floss panel port through which the floss may be progressively passes when dispensed; a floss cutting element; and a floss bore door hingedly mounted to the dispenser body adjacent to the bore opening, and sized and oriented to close over and cover the floss panel.

Claims

1. A dental floss dispenser, comprising:

a floss spool having two spool ends and wound with a certain length of floss;

a dispenser body including an external dispenser first end wall and an external dispenser second end wall and a longitudinal external dispenser side wall extending between said dispenser first and second end walls, and containing a spool retaining floss bore sized to longitudinally receive said floss spool wound with floss, said floss bore having a bore opening in said dispenser first end wall, a bore side wall and a bore end wall with a spool end recess for receiving an end of said floss spool;

a floss panel covering said floss bore opening and retaining said floss spool, said floss panel having a floss panel port through which said floss may be progressively passes when dispensed;

a floss cutting element;

and a floss bore door hingedly mounted to said dispenser body adjacent to said bore opening, and sized and oriented to close over and cover said floss panel.

2. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein said floss cutting element is secured to said floss panel.

3. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein said floss panel has an outward surface and wherein said floss cutting element is secured to the floss panel outward surface.

4. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein said dispenser body is elongate to define a toothbrush handle, additionally comprising cleaning bristles protruding laterally from said toothbrush handle, the length of said certain length of floss being such that said certain length of floss becomes fully dispensed when said bristles are worn from use sufficiently to require replacement.

5. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a first hinge flange protruding longitudinally outwardly from said dispenser first end wall, wherein said floss bore door has a door hinged end and a door free end;

and a second hinge flange protruding from said door hinged end and spaced apart sufficiently to receive longitudinally between them said first hinge flange, said first hinge flange and said second hinge flange including registering segments of a hinge pin passageway extending through said first and second door hinge flanges;

and a hinge pin extending through said segments of said hinge pin passageway such that said door pivots on said hinge pin.

6. The dental floss dispenser of claim 5, additionally comprising a door latch notch in said dispenser side wall and a barbed latching tab protruding from said door free end positioned to releasibly and engagingly snap into said door latch notch to releasibly hold said floss bore door closed.

7. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, additionally comprising an electrically powered cluster of movable bristles.

8. The dental floss dispenser of claim 7, wherein said dispenser body comprises a bristle opening in said dispenser side wall, and a mechanism compartment adjacent to said floss bore and extending toward said dispenser second end wall, said mechanism compartment containing a battery, a battery electrical contact electrically contacting said battery, circuit wiring electrically connected to said battery electrical contact, an electric motor electrically connected to said circuit wiring, said motor including a drive means extending toward said dispenser second end wall and driving said cluster of movable bristles extending out of said bristle opening.

9. The dental floss dispenser of claim 8, wherein said floss bore door is sized to cover both said floss bore and said mechanism compartment when closed, and wherein said floss bore door simultaneously exposes said floss bore and said mechanism compartment when opened.

10. The dental floss dispenser of claim 8, additionally comprising an off/on switch controlling the flow of electricity from said battery to said motor.

11. The dental floss dispenser of claim 8, additionally comprising a cluster of fixed bristles extending from said dispenser side wall adjacent to said cluster of movable bristles.

12. The dental floss dispenser of claim 4, wherein said dispenser body narrows as it approaches said dispenser second end wall, additionally comprising a fixed cluster of bristles mounted to and protruding laterally outward from said dispenser side wall adjacent to said dispenser second end wall.

13. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein said floss bore is wider than said floss spool wound with floss and comprises a plurality of longitudinal guide ribs projecting radially inwardly to loosely abut and slidably retain said floss spool wound with floss, for providing a wider external gripping area and to be light in weight.

14. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein said dispenser body is configured as a toothbrush holder, and said second end wall has enough area that the dispenser can stand upright on said dispenser second end wall, additionally comprising:

a foot flange protruding laterally at said dispenser second end wall for increasing dispenser stability;

and a retaining flange protruding laterally at said dispenser first end wall above said foot flange and having a toothbrush passing port.

15. The dental floss dispenser of claim 14, wherein said foot flange comprises a foot flange recess for receiving and retaining an end of a toothbrush;

such that an end of a toothbrush may be laterally retained by said foot flange recess and the toothbrush may be laterally retained by sides of said toothbrush passing port.