Patent · US Expired

Vial floss dispenser

US5566872A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
16References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 8, 1994
Grant dateOct 22, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 8, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T225/297
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention is an improved vial-type floss dispenser. The floss dispenser has a spool of floss mounted upright in a cylindrical container with a unique cap design that allows floss to be smoothly dispensed through the cap of the dispenser, essentially parallel to the axis of the spool of floss. Tangling and snagging problems previously encountered with top-dispense floss vials of this type are avoided by the improved cap design that allows the free spinning of the spool within the container. The top-dispense mechanism of the present invention enables the use of a number of other improved features, including a protective lid that fully covers an exposed leader of floss between uses.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.