US3906963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental floss applicator
Assignee: TEN TRU Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a dental floss holder-applicator which has a spring tension on the floss at the point of application. New dental floss may be intermittently fed from a spool rotatably mounted in the handle of said holder. Means are provided for automatically adjusting the amount of dental floss extending between the tips of two prongs such that the dental floss suspended between the prongs may be conveniently and efficiently applied to interdental surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A Jenkins
- 👤 Jennifer J Trueblood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61C15/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including 1. a first prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, 2. a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, 3. width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of several fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances, and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong and for automatically providing a temporary increase of at least 20% in length of floss between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong while force is applied to the floss.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including 1. a first prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, 2. a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, 3. width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of several fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances, and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong and for automatically providing a temporary increase of at least 20% in length of floss between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong while force is applied to the floss.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
floss securing means on said housing for securely connecting floss directly to said housing and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
floss securing means on said housing for securely connecting floss directly to said housing and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
floss securing means on said housing for securely connecting floss directly to said housing and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
floss securing means on said housing for securely connecting floss directly to said housing and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 1 wherein said first prong and said second prong are joined at their respective proximal ends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 1 wherein each of said means for guiding dental floss comprises an eyelet having a slot communicating with the exterior of said eyelet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
means connecting said housing to said prong assembly for permitting displacement of said housing relative to said connecting means of said prong assembly only when force is applied to said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
means connecting said housing to said prong assembly for permitting displacement of said housing relative to said connecting means of said prong assembly only when force is applied to said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
spring means connecting said housing to said prongs for permitting displacement of said housing toward said prongs only when force is applied to said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
spring means connecting said housing to said prongs for permitting displacement of said housing toward said prongs only when force is applied to said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
connecting means connecting said first prong and said second prong b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said floss tension and supply means including:
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
connecting means connecting said first prong and said second prong b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said floss tension and supply means including:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
139 words
width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of several fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances, and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong and for automatically providing a temporary increase of at least 20% in length of floss between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong while force is applied to the floss.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of several fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances, and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong and for automatically providing a temporary increase of at least 20% in length of floss between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong while force is applied to the floss.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
136 words
width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of a several of fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for automatically and continuously applying, essentially independently of adjustment of said width maintaining means, a relatively constant amount of tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, whereby the adjustment of the width maintaining means does not substantially change the amount of floss tension.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
136 words
width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of a several of fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances and b. floss tension and supply means connecting to said prong assembly for automatically and continuously applying, essentially independently of adjustment of said width maintaining means, a relatively constant amount of tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, whereby the adjustment of the width maintaining means does not substantially change the amount of floss tension.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 1 in which said width maintaining means includes a width adjustment screw connecting said first prong to said second prong.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 4 which includes in each of said prongs, a threaded movable pin, and in which said width adjustment screw is received by said threaded movable pins.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 1 wherein said floss tension and supply means includes switches.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 6 wherein said switches are manually operated toggle switches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 7 wherein said floss tension and supply means has a floss pathway.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 7 wherein said manually operated toggle switches have a serrated edge.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 1 which additionally includes dental floss guided from said floss tension and supply means to the distal end of said first prong, and then to the distal end of said second prong, and then back to said floss tension and supply means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 10 which additionally includes a spool of floss and means for rotatably connecting said spool to said floss tension and supply means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 11 which additionally includes a cylindrically shaped spool container connected to said floss tension and supply means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 12 in which said spool container has a spool floss on its siDe.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 13 which additionally includes sponge material within said spool container and a spool cover engaging said spool container.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
10 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
10 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 15 in which said floss securing means includes two clamping devices.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 16 in which said clamping devices are in the form of toggle switches.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 15 which additionally includes dental floss guided from said floss securing means to the distal end of said first prong, and then to the distal end of said second prong, and then back to said floss securing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 18 which additionally includes width adjusting means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for adjusting the distance between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 15 in which the connecting means comprises said first prong and said second prong being joined at their respective proximal ends.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 15 which includes a width adjustment screw connecting said first prong to said second prong.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 21 which includes in each of said prongs, a threaded movable pin, and in which said width adjustment screw is received by said threaded movable pins.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 22 which includes a manually operable toggle switch.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 18 which additionally includes a spool of floss and means for rotatably connecting said spool to said housing.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
10 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a prong assembly including
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 25 which additionally includes dental floss guided from said floss tension and supply means to the distal end of said first prong, and then to the distal end of said second prong, and then back To said floss tension and supply means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 25 wherein said first prong and said second prong are joined at their respective proximal ends.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 27 which said width maintaining means includes a width adjustment screw connecting said first prong to said second prong.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 28 which includes in each of said prongs, a threaded movable pin, and in which said width adjustment screw is received by said threaded movable pins.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dental floss applicator of claim 29 which additionally includes dental floss guided from said floss tension and supply means to the distal end of said first prong, and then to the distal end of said second prong, and then back to said floss tension and supply means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
147 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a first prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, b. a second prong joined to said first prong and including means for guiding dental floss c. width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of a several of fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances and d. floss tension and supply means connecting to said first prong for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said floss tension and supply means including:
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
147 words
A dental floss applicator comprising: a. a first prong having a distal end which includes means for guiding dental floss, b. a second prong joined to said first prong and including means for guiding dental floss c. width maintaining means connecting to said first prong and said second prong for maintaining any one of a several of fixed distances between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said width maintaining means having an adjusting means for permitting the fixed distance maintained by said width maintaining means to be readily changed to another of the several fixed distances and d. floss tension and supply means connecting to said first prong for continuously applying tension to floss guided between the distal end of said first prong and the distal end of said second prong, said floss tension and supply means including:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |