Dental flossing instruments

Claim 2

A dental flossing instrument which comprises: a. a body; b. a pair of spaced tines protruding from said body, said tines being spaced a predetermined distance and adapted to hold a span of floss therebetween; c. means for securing a length of floss at two spaced points along said length of floss, said spaced points encompassing said span of floss; and d. means for generating tension in said length of floss between said secured points which comprises a pair of mating members, the path of said length of floss being between the mating portion of said mating members, said portion of said length of floss being engaged by said mating members to cause the path of said portion of said length of floss to deviate from a straight line thereby increasing path length.

Claim 3

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein the mating portions of said mating members are non planar surfaces whereby the path length of said length of floss is increased as said mating surfaces approach one another.

Claim 4

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 2 wherein said non planar surfaces comprise at least one protrusion from the first of said mating surfaces and a corresponding depression in the second of said mating surfaces whereby the path of floss between said mating members will be deflected into said depression by said protrusion as said mating members approach one another.

Claim 5

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 3 wherein said body contains a passageway for said length of floss and one of said mating surfaces is a surface in said passageway.

Claim 6

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 4 where said securing means secures said points on said length of floss within said passageway.

Claim 7

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 5 where said securing means comprises a hinged member hinged to said body, said points on said length of floss being secured by being pinched between said hinged member and said body when said hinged member is moved to a predetermined position.

Claim 8

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 1 and further including a floss supply holder attached to said body and wherein the mating portions of said mating members are non planar surfaces whereby the path length of said length of floss is increased as said mating surfaces approach one another.

Claim 9

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 7 wherein said non planar surfaces comprise at least one protrusion from the first of said mating surfaces and a corresponding depression in the second of said mating surfaces whereby the path of floss between said mating members will be deflected into said depression by said protrusion as said mating members approach one another.

Claim 10

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 8 wherein said body contains a passageway for said length of floss and one of said mating surfaces is a surface in said passageway.

Claim 11

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 9 where said securing means secures said points on said length of floss within said passageway.

Claim 12

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 10 where said securing means comprises a hinged member hinged to said body, said points on said length of floss being secured by being pinched between said hinged member and said body when said hinged member is moved to a predetermined position.

Claim 13

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 11 and further including floss severing means operable by said mating members for severing used floss.

Claim 14

A dental flossing instrument which comprises: a. an elongated body, said body having a channel for the passage of floss running substantially along the length of said body; b. a pair of tines protruding from one end of said body, said tines being spaced a predetermined distance and having grooved ends for holding a span of floss therebetween; c. a floss supply holder at the other end of said body; d. a hinged member hinged to said body adjacent to said floss supply holder; e. a first protrusion on said hinged member, said protrusion approaching a surface of said channel when said hinged member is moved to a predetermined position with respect to said body, whereby a length of floss threaded between said protrusion and said channel, through said channel, across the span between the ends of said tines, back through said channel, and between said protrusion and said channel will be secured at the two points on said length of floss between said hinged member and said channel; f. a second protrusion on said hinged member; and g. a depression in a surface of said channel positioned to mate with said second protrusion whereby when said hinged member is moved to secure said floss, said protrusion will cause the path length of said length of floss to be increased, thereby generating tension in said length of floss.

Claim 15

A dental flossing instrument which comprises: a. an elongated body, said body having a channel for the passage of floss running substantially along the length of said body; b. a pair of tines protruding from one end of said body, said tines being spaced a predetermined distance and having grooved ends for holding a span of floss therebetween; c. a floss supply holder at the other end of said body; d. a hinged member hinged to said body adjacent to said floss supply holder; e. a first protrusion on said hinged member, said protrusion approaching a surface of said channel when said hinged member is moved to a predetermined position with respect to said body, whereby a length of floss threaded between said protrusion and said channel, through said channel, across the span between the ends of said tines, back through said channel, and between said protrusion and said channel will be secured at the two points on said length of floss between said hinged member and said channel; f. a second protrusion on said hinged member; and g. a depression in a surface of said channel positioned to mate with said second protrusion whereby when said hinged member is moved to secure said floss, said protrusion will cause the path length of said length of floss to be increased, thereby generating tension in said length of floss.

Claim 16

A dental flossing instrument as recited in claim 13 and further including a sharpened edge on said body adjacent to said hinged member whereby floss placed between said edge and said hinged member will be severed when said hinged member is moved to said predetermined position.