Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090194132 | DENTAL FLOSSER HAVING MULTI-TEXTURE FLOSS - A dental flosser having a handle and a pair of spaced apart arms. A length of dental floss having distinct segments of varying textures extends between the spaced apart arms. A first segment is relatively smooth and is used for insertion and withdrawal of the floss into/from the spaces between adjacent teeth. A second segment is textured and is used for removing plaque and other debris from the spaces between adjacent teeth. | 08-06-2009 |
20090194134 | MULTI-TEXTURE FLOSS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING MULTI-TEXTURE FLOSS - A multi-texture dental floss includes distinct and alternating segments having varying textures, including smooth segments and textured segments. The smooth segments are more easily inserted into the spaces between teeth, while the textured segments more effectively remove plaque and other debris therefrom. Methods of making the multi-texture floss are also disclosed, including methods that allow the floss to be made as a continuous thread having a plurality of alternating segments, such that the floss can be wound onto a spool for storage and dispensing. | 08-06-2009 |
20100024839 | INTERDENTAL CLEANERS AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME - A method of making interdental cleaners includes forming a slug by extruding material in a direction of extrusion to form a first slug portion having a generally rectangular first cross-section and a second slug portion having a tapering second cross-section that extends away from the rectangular first cross-section. The method also includes stamping the slug substantially perpendicular to the direction of extrusion to form a plurality of cleaner blanks. The stamping forms the first slug portions into handle portions of the cleaner blanks, and the second slug portions into shaft portions of the cleaner blanks. The shaft portions include two pairs of converging surfaces that taper toward each other to define a point. The method also includes attaching cleaning members to the ends of the shaft portions. | 02-04-2010 |
20110088717 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-TEXTURE FLOSS - A dental floss dispensing unit comprising a housing and a supply spool coupled to the housing and having a length of floss wound thereabout. The supply spool being adjustable between a locked position, where the supply spool is fixed with respect to the housing, and an unlocked position, where the supply spool is free to rotate with respect to the housing. | 04-21-2011 |
20110186074 | DENTAL FLOSSER - An oral care device having a handle, a neck, and a pair of curved arms. The handle includes an enlarged distal end and a reduced proximal end, and a pair of downwardly-extending handle walls. The handle walls are spaced at their upper ends and converge with and join one another at their lower ends to define a substantially V-shaped cross-section and an upwardly-opening blind cavity. A neck extends distally from the handle and defines a tongue portion that is recessed relative to a top surface. A pair of curved arms extend distally and downwardly from the neck. When substantially identical oral care devices are stacked one upon the other, the upwardly-opening blind cavity of one oral care device nestingly receives the downwardly-extending handle walls of another oral care device. | 08-04-2011 |
20120160951 | DISPENSER FOR MULTI-TEXTURE FLOSS - A dental floss dispensing unit includes a housing, a supply spool, and a metering element. The supply spool is coupled to the housing and has a length of floss wound thereabout. The length of floss has a free end extending from the housing and a plurality of alternating and distinct first and second floss segments. The metering element engages the length of floss and provides resistance to removal of the length of floss from the housing. A magnitude of the resistance changes as each floss segment moves into engagement with the metering element, thereby providing a tactilely detectable indication to the user that one of the first or second segments is emerging from the housing. The dispensing unit is configured to allow the supply spool to be manually rotated without manipulation (e.g., disassembly) of the housing for rewinding floss onto the spool. | 06-28-2012 |
20120284943 | DENTAL HYGIENE DEVICE - A dental hygiene device such as an interdental brush includes a handle, a brush head having bristles extending therefrom, and a neck portion extending between the brush head and the handle. At least some of the bristles may have a substantially triangular cross section. The neck portion defines a longitudinal axis and has a first bending stiffness when subject to loading in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis, and a second bending stiffness when subjected to loading in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis. The first bending stiffness is less than the second bending stiffness such that the dental hygiene device can be reoriented during use to provide a more gentle or a more robust cleaning to interdental spaces. | 11-15-2012 |