Dental flosser assembly with disposable portion and means for adjusting floss tension and method of use
OwnerMeng Xuinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dental flosser assembly that includes a handle member having a proximal end and a distal end, a U-shaped portion removably secured to the distal end of the handle member, the U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, a floss strand attachment member associated with and movable with respect to the handle member between at least a first position and a second position, and a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end. The first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm and the second end of the floss strand is attached to the floss strand attachment member.
Claims10
A method of using a dental flosser comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a handle member that includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle member includes a U-shaped seat portion having a U-shaped trough defined therein, wherein the U-shaped seat portion includes a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing first and second side surfaces, wherein the U-shaped seat portion includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein the U-shaped trough includes a bottom surface and a top opening, wherein the top opening is open to the first side surface of the U-shaped seat portion,
- (b) obtaining a removable assembly that includes a U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, wherein a first end of a floss strand is fastened to the first arm and a second end of the floss strand is attached to a floss strand attachment member, wherein the first arm includes a first protrusion member extending therefrom and the second arm includes a channel protrusion member extending therefrom, wherein the first protrusion member includes a distal end and the channel protrusion member includes a distal end,
- (c) seating the U-shaped portion in the U-shaped trough through the top opening, and inserting the distal end of the first protrusion member into a first receiver defined in the U-shaped seat portion and inserting the distal end of the channel protrusion member into a second receiver member defined in the U-shaped seat portion, wherein a first plane extends through and bifurcates the first arm and the second arm of the U-shaped portion, wherein a second plane extends through and bifurcates the first arm portion and the second arm portion of the U-shaped seat portion, and wherein when the U-shaped portion is received in and seated in the U-shaped trough, the first plane and the second plane are generally parallel,
- (d) securing the floss strand attachment member on the handle member, wherein the removable assembly is removable from the handle member, and
- (e) moving the floss strand attachment member with respect to the handle member to increase or decrease the tension of the floss strand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.