Patent US3927686A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3927686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental floss holder
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A holding device for a plurality of strands of dental floss comprising a substantially elongated handle having a head mounted on one end so as to be movable and selectively adjustable by virtue of connecting means which may be in the form of a tongue and socket arrangement or alternately a threaded connector. Adjustment of the head relative to the handle is provided by one or more protrusions on the undersurface of the head dimensioned and positioned relative to a plurality of prearranged indentations on the handle cooperatively positioned with the protrusion. The floss holding means includes a plurality of slots on the outer extremities of the legs or alternately a plurality of grooves thereon such that either two independent, separated strands of floss may be held so as to go in between the grooves of the legs or a loop which defines two strands which may be removably attached to the leg of the head wherein these legs are arranged in spaced relation to one another and inherently biased away from one another due to the flexibility of the material from which they are formed. Alternately, an embodiment may include a head detachably secured to a head base which in turn is movably mounted on a handle wherein the head having the floss means attached thereto may be disposable rather than replacing the floss itself.
Inventors
- 👤 James B Zambito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61C15/046; A61C15/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A dental floss holder comprising: a handle, a floss holding head attached to said handle, connecting means attached to said handle, both said head and said connecting means being dimensioned and configured to be detachably connected to one another, said head comprising a plurality of legs disposed in spaced relation to one another, whereby floss means is positionable between said legs; base means comprising indentation means formed thereon and dimensioned and configured to frictionally and removably engage said head, attachment means interconnected between said base and said handle and disposed to movably connect said head to said handle, said attachment means comprising detachment means including a plunger means movably mounted on said handle and positionable into engagement with said head, whereby said head may be dislodged from said indentation means within said base means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A dental floss holder comprising: a handle, a floss holding head attached to said handle, connecting means attached to said handle, both said head and said connecting means being dimensioned and configured to be detachably connected to one another, said head comprising a plurality of legs disposed in spaced relation to one another, whereby floss means is positionable between said legs; base means comprising indentation means formed thereon and dimensioned and configured to frictionally and removably engage said head, attachment means interconnected between said base and said handle and disposed to movably connect said head to said handle, said attachment means comprising detachment means including a plunger means movably mounted on said handle and positionable into engagement with said head, whereby said head may be dislodged from said indentation means within said base means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dental floss holder as in claim 1 wherein said detachment means comprises a sleeve interconnected between said base and said handle means and at least partially housing said plunger means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A dental floss holder as in claim 1 further comprising locking means pivotally attached to said base and disposed to engage a predetermined portion of said head, said removably secured in said indentation means and movable relative thereto upon activation of said lock means, whereby said head may be removed from said base upon activation of said lock means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dental floss holder as in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is fixedly secured to both said handle and said base, whereby said head is detachable from said handle upon activation of said plunger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental floss holder as in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is fixedly secured to said handle and removably secured to said base, whereby said head and said base are detachable from said handle upon activation of said plunger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A dental floss holder comprising: a handle, a floss holding head attached to said handle, connecting means attached to said handle, both said head and said connecting means being dimensioned and configured to be detachably connected to one another, said head comprising a plurality of legs disposed in spaced relation to one another, whereby floss means is positionable between said legs, said connecting means comprising groove means including at least one groove integrally formed in said handle means, at least one of said plurality of legs being correspondingly configured and dimensioned proportionally larger relative to said one groove, said one leg being frictionally engaged within said groove so as to be detachable therefrom, whereby said head is disposable from said handle after use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A dental floss holder comprising: a handle, a floss holding head attached to said handle, connecting means attached to said handle, both said head and said connecting means being dimensioned and configured to be detachably connected to one another, said head comprising a plurality of legs disposed in spaced relation to one another, whereby floss means is positionable between said legs, said connecting means comprising groove means including at least one groove integrally formed in said handle means, at least one of said plurality of legs being correspondingly configured and dimensioned proportionally larger relative to said one groove, said one leg being frictionally engaged within said groove so as to be detachable therefrom, whereby said head is disposable from said handle after use.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dental floss holder as in claim 6 wherein said groove means comprises a plurality of grooves, at least two of said grooves arranged in transverse relation to one another and integrally formed in said handle means, whereby engagement of said head and one of said two grooves defines the orientation of said head relative to said handle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |