Flossing device

A flossing device having a floss loading orientation and a floss use orientation, the device comprising in combination:

• a supply arm having a forward end, a rearward end and an intermediate extent therebetween, the supply arm further including an outer edge, an inner edge an upper surface and a lower surface, a semicircular extension formed on the inner edge of the supply arm at the intermediate extent, a spring support formed on the inner edge of the supply arm intermediate the semicircular extension and the rearward end, a floss channel formed within the upper surface of the supply arm and extending from adjacent the semicircular extension to the forward end, a number of floss guides formed along the floss channel, a circular recess formed within the upper surface of the supply arm adjacent the semicircular extension, the circular recess defining an interior area, a number of recess formed within the outer edge of the supply arm in between the intermediate extent and the rearward end, at least one of the recesses constituting a loading orientation recess and at least one of the recesses constituting a use orientation recess;
• a floss supply assembly associated with the supply arm, the floss supply assembly comprising a shaft integrally formed within the interior area of the supply arm, a cylindrical geared shaft cover having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, a gear formed integrally with the shaft cover adjacent the lower peripheral edge, a plurality of locking notches formed within the upper peripheral edge, the shaft cover positioned over the shaft such that the lower peripheral edge fits into the circular recess of the supply arm, a supply spool having an upper circular plate, a lower circular plate and a cylindrical extent therebetween, the cylindrical extent having an interior area, a plurality of locking protrusions extending from the interior area of the cylindrical extent of the supply spool, the number and position of the protrusions corresponding to the number and position of the locking notches, the supply spool adapted to be fitted over the shaft cover such that the locking notches engage the locking protrusions, a supply of dental floss supplied upon the supply spool, a thumb slide slidable provided within the upper surface of the supply arm adjacent the shaft, the thumb slide having a forward gear engaging end, the thumb slide having a first orientation wherein the first end is engaged with the gear of the shaft cover and a second orientation wherein the first end is disengaged from the gear of the shaft cover;
• a take-up arm having a forward end, a rearward end and an intermediate extent therebetween, the take-up arm further including an outer edge, an inner edge an upper surface and a lower surface, a semicircular extension formed on the inner edge of the take-up arm at the intermediate extent, a spring support formed on the inner edge of the take-up arm intermediate the semicircular extension and the rearward end, a floss channel formed within the upper surface of the take-up arm and extending from adjacent the semicircular extension to the forward end, a number of floss guides formed along the floss channel, a circular recess formed within the upper surface of the take-up arm adjacent the semicircular extension, the circular recess defining an interior area, a number of recess formed within the outer edge of the take-up arm in between the intermediate extent and the rearward end, at least one of the recesses constituting a loading orientation recess and at least one of the recesses constituting a use orientation recess;
• a floss take-up assembly associated with the take up arm, the floss take-up assembly comprising a shaft integrally formed within the interior area of the take-up arm, a cylindrical geared shaft cover having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, a gear formed integrally with the shaft cover adjacent the lower peripheral edge, a plurality of locking notches formed within the upper peripheral edge, the shaft cover positioned over the shaft such that the lower peripheral edge fits into the circular recess of the take-up arm, a take-up spool having an upper circular plate, a lower circular plate and a cylindrical extent therebetween, the cylindrical extent having an interior area, a plurality of locking protrusions extending from the interior area of the cylindrical extent of the take-up spool, the number and position of the protrusions corresponding to the number and position of the locking notches, the take-up spool adapted to be fitted over the shaft cover such that the locking notches engage the locking protrusions;
• the supply arm and take-up arm being pivotally interconnected by way of the semicircular extension of the supply arm and the semicircular extension of the take-up arm, a spring interconnecting the spring support of the supply arm and the spring support of the take-up arm, a band adapted to be positioned within one of the recesses of the supply arm and one of the recesses of the take-up arm, the device being in a loading orientation when the band is positioned within loading orientation recesses, and the device being in a use orientation when the band is positioned within use orientation recesses.