US4162687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental flossing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-06
•
Granted: 1979-07-31
•
Expires: 1998-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A flossing device is provided having a handle with a pair of resilient arms. Fingers extend from the arms and the longitudinal axes of the fingers form an angle of between 30° and 180° with each other. Each finger has a knob at its distal end. A length of flossing material is provided which is connected at each end to a grommet so that the flossing material and grommets can be readily attached and detached from the device. A safety strand is also provided which resists cutting of the user's gums by the flossing material.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard G. Lorch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61C15/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for flossing teeth comprising: a handle with a pair of resilient arms extending therefrom each of said arms having a finger extending therefrom, the longitudinal axes of said fingers forming an angle of between 30° and 180° with each other; grommet retaining means carried by each arm; a length of flossing material; and a pair of grommets connected to the ends of said flossing material, such that said grommets are readily attached to and detached from said grommet retaining means by sliding onto and off said grommet retaining means and being held in position on said grommet retaining means by the diverging angle formed by said fingers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for flossing teeth comprising: a handle with a pair of resilient arms extending therefrom each of said arms having a finger extending therefrom, the longitudinal axes of said fingers forming an angle of between 30° and 180° with each other; grommet retaining means carried by each arm; a length of flossing material; and a pair of grommets connected to the ends of said flossing material, such that said grommets are readily attached to and detached from said grommet retaining means by sliding onto and off said grommet retaining means and being held in position on said grommet retaining means by the diverging angle formed by said fingers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the centers of said grommets are spaced apart a distance less than the distance between centers of said grommet retaining means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a safety strand which is connected to said pair of grommets and which is spaced apart from said flossing material so that the safety strand rides over the occlusal surfaces of the teeth and resists cutting of the user's gums by said flossing material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said grommet retaining means comprises: a knob mounted on each of said fingers, and wherein: each of said fingers has a shank of sufficient length to allow said grommets to articulate thereon without becoming dislodged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said flossing material extends through the inner diameter of one of said grommets, forming a locking mechanism retaining said grommet on said knob.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said safety strand extends through the inner diameter of one of said grommets, forming a locking mechanism retaining said grommet on said finger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US4034770A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-07-30 | 1983-01-29 | 1983-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-07-30 | 1987-01-29 | 1987-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-07-30 | 1991-01-29 | 1991-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |