US3799177A — Tool for manipulating dental floss

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person''s mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each handle may be grasped by a hand of the person to insert the extremities into the person''s mouth for manipulation therein without having the person''s fingers within the mouth, each such extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said extremities, and said extremities are connected to each other only by said floss, whereby said extremities are freely movable relative to each other in all directions, and means carried solely by said tool for adjusting the length of floss between said extremities.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person''s mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each handle may be grasped by a hand of the person to insert the extremities into the person''s mouth for manipulation therein without having the person''s fingers within the mouth, each such extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said extremities, and said extremities are connected to each other only by said floss, whereby said extremities are freely movable relative to each other in all directions, and means carried solely by said tool for adjusting the length of floss between said extremities.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 115 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person''s mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each handle may be grasped by the person''s hands to insert the extremities into the person''s mouth for manipulation therein without having the person''s fingers within the mouth, each extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss, said extremities being connected to each other by a connecting means that permits each extremity to be moved in all directions independently of the other extremity while said extremities of both fingers are in the person''s mouth and the handle portions are outside the person''s mouth.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 115 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person''s mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each handle may be grasped by the person''s hands to insert the extremities into the person''s mouth for manipulation therein without having the person''s fingers within the mouth, each extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss, said extremities being connected to each other by a connecting means that permits each extremity to be moved in all directions independently of the other extremity while said extremities of both fingers are in the person''s mouth and the handle portions are outside the person''s mouth.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The tool of claim 2 in which said connecting means is said floss.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each finger having retaining means at one of its ends for supporting a strand of floss, said fingers being connected to each other by a connecting means that permits each finger to be moved independently of the other finger without bending of the finger, said connecting means includes a common body member and each finger is movable relative to the body member without bending, and another means movable to selected positions in one of which positions said another means engages said fingers to fix a minimum distance between said ends and in another of which positions said another means permits said distance to be smaller than said minimum.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 116 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each finger having retaining means at one of its ends for supporting a strand of floss, said fingers being connected to each other by a connecting means that permits each finger to be moved independently of the other finger without bending of the finger, said connecting means includes a common body member and each finger is movable relative to the body member without bending, and another means movable to selected positions in one of which positions said another means engages said fingers to fix a minimum distance between said ends and in another of which positions said another means permits said distance to be smaller than said minimum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The tool of claim 4 in which there is a spring engaging the two fingers pressing the said ends toward each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The tool of claim 4 in which both of said fingers are pivotally mounted on said body member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tool of claim 6 in which there is a means associated with each finger engageable by said body to limit the pivoting motion of such finger in a direction away from the other finger.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 90 words

A flossing tool comprising a member having means at one end for supporting a strand of floss, said member having a detachable handle, said handle being hollow to receive a supply of strand floss and having a side opening through which the strand can be fed from the handle to said member, and said hollow being completely closed except for said opening, and non-threaded positive abutment means for locating the handle with the opening in a predetermined rotative position relative to said member in its final position of attachment thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

A flossing tool comprising a member having means at one end for supporting a strand of floss, said member having a detachable handle, said handle being hollow to receive a supply of strand floss and having a side opening through which the strand can be fed from the handle to said member, and said hollow being completely closed except for said opening, and non-threaded positive abutment means for locating the handle with the opening in a predetermined rotative position relative to said member in its final position of attachment thereto.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tool of claim 8 in which said opening has a snug sliding fit with said strand to substantially seal the interior of the handle from its exterior.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 113 words

A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second elongated members extending therefrom, one end of the first member being laterally opposed from one end of the second member, said ends having means for supporting a strand of floss therebetween, first means solely on the body as a part thereof for fixing the floss on the tool at two locations, second means for fixing the spacing between said ends of the elongated members, and third means engaging the floss at two other locations on the body and operable for selectively rendering the strand loose and taut between said opposed ends when said spacing is fixed and said floss is fixed as aforesaid.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 113 words

A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second elongated members extending therefrom, one end of the first member being laterally opposed from one end of the second member, said ends having means for supporting a strand of floss therebetween, first means solely on the body as a part thereof for fixing the floss on the tool at two locations, second means for fixing the spacing between said ends of the elongated members, and third means engaging the floss at two other locations on the body and operable for selectively rendering the strand loose and taut between said opposed ends when said spacing is fixed and said floss is fixed as aforesaid.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 63 words

The tool of claim 10 in which said first means fixes the floss to the tool at a point spaced from at least one of said ends, and said rendering means is engageable with the strand between said one end and said point for moving the strand axially with respect to said one end for rendering the strand loose and taut as aforesaid.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The tool of claim 11 in which said rendering means deflects a portion of the strand laterally to cause said axial movement.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The tool of claim 10 in which said tool has means for fixing the strand to the tool at two points, one on either side of the space between said ends, and said rendering means engages and laterally moves the strand between each end and the respective fixation point.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The tool of claim 12 in which said rendering means comprises a rotatable member having a surface engageable with the strand to effect such lateral deflection upon rotation of the rotatable member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The tool of claim 13 in said rendering means comprises a rotatable member having openings therein that receive and engage the strand for laterally moving the same upon rotation of said rotatable member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The tool of claim 14 in which there is a means for fixing the rotatable member in a selective position of rotation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 49 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated members, one end of one member being spaced from one end of the other member, means on each of said ends for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and means for axially reciprocating said strand between said ends.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 49 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated members, one end of one member being spaced from one end of the other member, means on each of said ends for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and means for axially reciprocating said strand between said ends.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The tool of claim 17 in which said reciprocating means laterally deflects the strand at a location remote from said ends for causing said reciprocation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 111 words

The tool of claim 17 in which said tool has means for fixing the strand to the tool at two points one on either side of the space between said ends, and means for moving the strand laterally in one direction between one of said ends and a respective one of said fixation points in a manner to increase the strand length therebetween while simultaneously moving the strand laterally in said one direction between the other of said ends and the other of said fixation points in a manner to decrease the strand length therebetween, and means to move said strands in the opposite lateral direction to thereby achieve said reciprocation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tool of claim 19 in which the moving means comprises a member having an opening therein receiving said strand, the sides of said opening engaging the strand for moving the strand laterally as aforesaid.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

The tool of claim 20 in which the moving means has a manually engageable portion for moving it in one direction and there is a spring for moving it in the opposite direction.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 71 words

A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second fingers pivotally mounted thereon, one finger having one end opposed to one end of the other finger, said ends having means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and the tool including a manually operated cam means engaging both fingers for controlling the positions of said ends relative to each other for making the floss loose or taut.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 71 words

A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second fingers pivotally mounted thereon, one finger having one end opposed to one end of the other finger, said ends having means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and the tool including a manually operated cam means engaging both fingers for controlling the positions of said ends relative to each other for making the floss loose or taut.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 35 words

The tool of claim 22 in which said body includes a rocker pivotally attached to another portion of said body and on which saId fingers are each pivotally mounted, and means for oscillating said rocker.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The tool of claim 23 in which said oscillating means includes a manual means for moving the rocker in one direction, and a spring for moving the rocker in the opposite direction.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 76 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each finger having means at one of its ends for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, means for tightly clamping the floss to the tool at two locations on opposite sides of said ends, and means on the tool whereby the floss may be rendered loose or taut between said ends without loosening and moving the floss at such locations and without bending said fingers.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 76 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each finger having means at one of its ends for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, means for tightly clamping the floss to the tool at two locations on opposite sides of said ends, and means on the tool whereby the floss may be rendered loose or taut between said ends without loosening and moving the floss at such locations and without bending said fingers.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 37 words

The tool of claim 25 in which there is a means whereby the floss between said two locations may be reciprocated along its lengthwise axis while it is loose between said ends and secured at said locations.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 68 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers each movably mounted on a body with one end of each finger generally laterally opposite a corresponding end of the other finger, said ends each having means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and means for reciprocating at least one finger in a path generally perpendicular to a straight line passing through both said supporting means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 68 words

A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers each movably mounted on a body with one end of each finger generally laterally opposite a corresponding end of the other finger, said ends each having means for supporting a strand of floss extending between said ends, and means for reciprocating at least one finger in a path generally perpendicular to a straight line passing through both said supporting means.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

The tool of claim 27 in which said reciprocating means also reciprocates the other finger in a path generally perpendicular to said line.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The tool of claim 27 in which there is a means for adjusting the lateral spacing of said ends.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 39 words

The tool of claim 27 in which there are means for fixedly attaching said strand on either side of said ends so as to fix the length of floss between said ends independently of the spacing between said ends.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 72 words

The tool of claim 2 in which each said retaining means includes an opening through which the floss passes, the opening being large enough in cross section to receive the strand with substantially no flattening thereof, and each opening having a substantially flat surface engaged by the floss where the floss leaves the respective finger in a direction toward the other finger whereby the floss may be flattened thereby into ribbon form.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-03-25	1977-09-24	1978-03-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-03-25	1981-09-24	1982-03-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-03-25	1985-09-24	1986-03-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tool for manipulating dental floss

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