US 5,855,216 A · Dental flossing device

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning the surface of teeth in a human mouth having a flexible, resilient central flossing filament and a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments fixedly attached to a central filament intermediate portion. The central filament intermediate and free end portions, with the side flossing filaments attached thereto, are sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth. The central filament has sufficient flexibility and resiliency to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to the central filament, and the side filaments have sufficient flexibility to effect a second flossing action between the adjacent teeth and at the forward and rearward surfaces thereof to impart a second flossing motion to the side filaments. An electric motor is coupled to the central filament base portion to provide a rotational or an oscillatory drive to the central filament base portion to impart the first and second flossing motions. The central filament has greater resiliency than the side filaments. The side filaments have greater flexibility than the central filament, and are sufficiently flexible to bend back adjacent the central filament upon insertion between the adjacent teeth. Upon a drive force being applied thereto through the central filament the side filaments whip or flail about, and in one embodiment are rotated to spin about the longitudinal driven axis of the central filament.

Claims122

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

a flexible, resilient central flossing filament including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion;
a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion fixedly attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being composed of a material having sufficient flexibility and resiliency to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth without damage to the teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion, said central filament intermediate portion extending along a longitudinal extension line when not moving, said central flossing filament having sufficient stiffness to be self-supporting and support said side flossing filament without significant bending;
said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central filament intermediate portion to be at positions between the adjacent teeth and adjacent to at least one of a forward surface and a rearward surface of the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received between the adjacent teeth;
said side filament intermediate portions being composed of a material having sufficient flexibility to effect a second flossing action between the adjacent teeth and at one of said forward surface and said rearward surface of the adjacent teeth by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filaments;
a motive source;
and
a coupling connecting said central filament base portion to said motive source and moving said central filament intermediate portion among a plurality of positions substantially out of alignment with said longitudinal line to impart said first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion and said second flossing motion to said side flossing filaments.

5 more elements

An apparat us for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

a flexible, resilient central flossing filament including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion;
at least one flexible side flossing filament having an attachment end portion attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filament attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible and resilient to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion;
said side flossing filament being attached at a location along said central filament intermediate portion to be at one of a position between and a position adjacent to the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received therebetween;
said side filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible to effect a second flossing action by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filament;
a motive source;
and
a coupling connecting said central filament base portion to said motive source, said coupling applying a moving force to said central filament intermediate portion with at least one of a rotational and a translational component to impart said first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion and said second flossing motion to said side flossing filament, said moving force being applied by said coupling with at least one of speed and rate of change of direction sufficient to whip said side flossing filament against the adjacent teeth.

5 more elements

An apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

a flexible, resilient central flossing filament including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion;
a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible and resilient to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion;
said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central filament intermediate portion to be at one of a position between and a position adjacent to the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received therebetween;
said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a second flossing action by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filament;
a motive source;
and
a coupling connecting said motive source to said central flossing filament to impart said first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion and said second flossing motion to said side flossing filaments.

5 more elements

An apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

an elongated central member including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central member base portion and said central member free-end portion;
a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion attached to said central member intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central member intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth;
said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central member intermediate portion to be at a position to contact at least one of the adjacent teeth when said central member intermediate portion is received between the adjacent teeth;
said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a flossing action against the one of the adjacent teeth contacted by imparting a flossing motion to said side flossing filament;
a motive source;
and
a coupling connecting said motive source to said central member filament to impart said flossing motion to said side flossing filaments.

5 more elements

A flossing member for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

a flexible, resilient central flossing filament including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion;
a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible and resilient to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion;
said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central filament intermediate portion to be at a position to contact at least one of the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received between the adjacent teeth;
and
said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a second flossing action by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filament.

3 more elements

A method for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

providing a motive source;
providing a flexible, resilient central flossing filament including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion;
providing a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion, said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible and resilient to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion, said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central filament intermediate portion to be at one of a position between and a position adjacent to the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received therebetween, said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a second flossing action by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filament;
positioning said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from the front of the mouth;
positioning at least said central filament intermediate portion and at least one of said side flossing filaments in the sulcus between a tooth and the adjacent inter-dental papilla portion of the gum for effecting said first and second flossing actions therein;
and
driving said central flossing filament and said side flossing filaments with said motive source to impart said first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion and said second flossing motion to said side flossing filaments.

4 more elements

An adapter usable to convert a teeth cleaning device having an electric motor positioned within a case with a rotational output drive shaft positioned toward an open end of the case for use with an improved flossing member, comprising:

a drive coupler having a shaft engagement portion attachable to the output shaft of the motor, and a flossing member attachment portion;
a coupler support having a case attachment portion configured for removable attachment to the case at the open end thereof, and a coupler support portion supporting said flossing member attachment portion of said drive coupler;
and
a flossing member including a flexible, resilient central flossing filament and a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, said central flossing filament having a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central filament base portion and said central filament free-end portion, said central filament base portion being configured for releasable connection to said flossing member attachment portion of said drive coupler to transmit the rotational output drive of the motor thereto, each of said side flossing filaments having an attachment end portion attached to said central filament intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion, said central filament intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth, said central filament intermediate portion being sufficiently flexible and resilient to effect a first flossing action between the adjacent teeth by imparting a first flossing motion to said central filament intermediate portion, said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central filament intermediate portion to be at one of a position between the adjacent teeth and a position adjacent to at least one of a forward surface and a rearward surface of the adjacent teeth when said central filament intermediate portion is received between the adjacent teeth, said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a second flossing action against the tooth contacted by imparting a second flossing motion to said side flossing filament.

1 more element

An apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth in a human mouth, comprising:

an elongated central member including a base portion, a free-end portion, and an elongated intermediate portion located between said central member base portion and said central member free-end portion;
a plurality of flexible side flossing filaments, each having an attachment end portion attached to said central member intermediate portion, a free-end portion and an elongated intermediate portion located between said side filament attachment portion and said side filament free-end portion;
said central member intermediate and free-end portions, with said side flossing filaments attached thereto, being sized to be received between adjacent teeth without traversing any contact areas between the adjacent teeth from at least the front of the mouth;
said side flossing filaments being attached at spaced apart locations along said central member intermediate portion to be at a position to contact at least one of the adjacent teeth when said central member intermediate portion is received between the adjacent teeth;
said side filament intermediate portions being sufficiently flexible to effect a flossing action against the one of the adjacent teeth contacted by imparting a flossing motion to said side flossing filament;
a handle;
and
a coupling releasably connecting said central member filament to said handle.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dental flossing device

Life of this patent

Dental flossing device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims122