Floss dispensers

A floss dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second ends, the first base end having a recessed mount for holding a dental floss container along a substantially vertical axis, the dental floss container housing a spool of dental floss and dispensing an exposed portion of floss through an opening in the container which is at a first elevation above the base;
• a cutting member having two legs arranged in an inverted V shape which extend upward from the second base end to an apex and at least one friction element provided on one of the legs adjacent to the apex at a second elevation above the base, the friction element holding a distal end of the exposed portion of floss a spaced distance from the dental floss container held in the recessed mount so that the exposed portion of floss extends elevationally at a height above the base and across a gap region of a selected width between the dental floss container and the cutting member, the height of the exposed portion of floss relative to the base and the width of the gap region being sufficient to permit a user to grasp the exposed portion of floss extending between the dental floss container and the friction element without contacting the floss dispenser;
• and
• the cutting member further including a blade mounted on the upper end thereof for cutting an exposed portion of floss.

A floss dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second ends;
• a spool housing provided at the first base end for holding a spool of dental floss and for dispensing an exposed portion of floss, the spool housing having an output port which is at a first elevation above the base and through which the exposed portion of floss is dispensed;
• a cutting member extending upward from a lower end adjacent the second base end to an upper end, the cutting member having an inner surface facing the spool housing, an outer surface facing away from the spool housing, an upper surface transverse to the inner and outer surfaces and facing away from the base, and opposing side surfaces transverse to the inner, outer and upper surfaces;
• the cutting member including a friction element positioned on at least one of the opposing side surfaces at the upper end at a second elevation above the base, the friction element holding a distal end of the exposed portion of floss a spaced distance from the output port so that the exposed portion of floss extends elevationally at a height above the base and through a gap region of a selected width between the spool housing and the cutting member, the height of the exposed portion of floss relative to the base and the width of the gap region being sufficient to permit a user to grasp the exposed portion of floss extending between the output port and the friction element without contacting the floss dispenser;
• and
• the friction element having a groove adjacent a projecting wall within which the distal end of the exposed portion of floss is held, the projecting wall having a peripheral edge which defines a blade for severing the exposed portion of floss, the friction element being arranged on the at least one of the opposing side surfaces of the cutting member such that the groove is aligned approximately in parallel with the exposed portion of floss when the floss extends between the spool housing and the cutting member and such that the distal end of the exposed portion of floss that is held within the groove is substantially aligned with the exposed portion of floss extending between the spool housing and the cutting member.

A floss dispenser comprising:

• a base having first and second ends;
• a spool housing provided at the first base end, the spool housing including a central rod aligned along a substantially vertical axis for holding a spool of dental floss, the housing having an internal surface about, and radially spaced from, the central rod to define a chamber;
• a removable lid mountable to the spool housing for enclosing the chamber, the lid and the spool housing defining an output port which is at a first elevation above the base and through which an exposed portion of floss is dispensed;
• a cutting member extending upward from its lower end adjacent the second base end to an upper end, the upper end being narrower than the lower end, the cutting member having an inner surface facing the spool housing, an outer surface facing away from the spool housing, an upper surface transverse to the inner and outer surfaces and facing away from the base, and opposing side surfaces transverse to the inner, outer and upper surfaces;
• a friction element positioned on at least one of the opposing side surfaces at the upper end of the cutting member at a second elevation above the base, the friction element holding a distal end of the exposed portion of floss a spaced distance from the output port so that the exposed portion of floss extends elevationally at a height above the base and through a gap region of a selected width between the spool housing and the cutting member, the height of the exposed portion of floss relative to the base and the width of the gap region being sufficient to permit a user to grasp the exposed portion of floss extending between the output port and the friction element without contacting the floss dispenser;
• and
• the friction element having a groove adjacent a projecting wall within which the distal end of the exposed portion of floss is held, the projecting wall having a peripheral edge which defines a blade for severing the exposed portion of floss, the friction element being arranged on the at least one of the opposing side surfaces of the cutting member such that the groove is aligned approximately in parallel with the exposed portion of floss when it extends between the spool housing and the cutting member and such that the distal end of the exposed portion of floss that is held within the groove is substantially aligned with the exposed portion of floss extending between the spool housing and the cutting member.