Tensioning dental flosser and method of manufacturing same
US5538023A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C15/046
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A disposable dental floss holder for removing plaque and food debris from tooth surfaces and from the interspaces between teeth has a handle part, a bow and a length of dental floss spanning the bow. A movable element is provided which can cause a portion of the floss holder to move and tighten the strand of floss and thus momentarily reduce slack in the floss. The invention further includes methods for manufacturing floss holders with slack in the floss, and for manufacturing floss holders with operable components for momentarily reducing slack which was designed into a flosser or which developed in the flosser due to stretching of the floss. The floss holder designs vary to include multiple bows on a single device, and to reduce the slack by moving selected parts of the bow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.