Dental floss dispenser

Abstract

A dental floss dispenser. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing surrounding an inner portion and a dispensing portion. The dispensing portion is slidably positioned inside the inner portion of the dispenser housing. The dispensing portion has a storage position and a dispensing position. In the storage position, the dispensing portion is completely arranged in the inner portion. In the dispensing position, the dispensing portion is partially arranged outside the inner portion. The dispensing portion also includes a storage chamber and a wire dispensing cavity, the storage chamber is used to store a wound dental floss rope, and the wire dispensing cavity is used to hold at least a portion of the wound dental floss rope drawn out from the storage chamber.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 900,930, filed on September 16, 2019, owned by May et al., and entitled “Dental Floss Dispenser,” and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] In some implementations, the present subject matter relates generally to dental instruments and, more particularly, to a dental floss retainer and method of use. Background Art

[0004] In order to maintain good oral health, it is recommended that teeth are not only brushed but also flossed. Dental floss typically comes in the form of a rope and is generally dispensed from a wire drum contained in a dispenser housing. A cutting device is used to cut the desired length of the dental floss rope. The user can then use the cut length of wire rope to insert it between the teeth for flossing. Other variations of dental flossing appliances include prefabricated dental floss sticks that have short wire pieces spanning two support portions. These dental floss sticks usually come in packaged packaging and are disposable items. Once used, the entire dental floss stick and the used wire are discarded. It is desirable to provide a more efficient and effective way to store and dispense dental floss. Summary of the invention

[0005] In some implementations, the present subject matter relates to a dental floss dispenser. The dispenser may include a dispenser housing having an interior portion, and a dispensing portion slidably disposed within the interior portion of the dispenser housing. A wound dental floss string may be disposed within the wire housing portion. The wire housing portion may be removably coupled to the dispensing portion. The dispenser may further include a locking mechanism configured to temporarily retain the dispensing portion and the wire housing portion within the interior portion of the dispenser housing. A portion of the wound dental floss string may be configured to extend through one or more openings in the dispensing portion.

[0006] In some implementations, the current subject relates to a method for loading a dental floss dispenser. In order to load the dispenser, the user can push the top of the dispensing portion and remove the interlocking assembly of the dispensing portion and the wire housing from the inner portion of the dispenser housing. In some implementations, the spring (together with an optional damping ring) can be retained inside the dispenser housing. Alternatively, the spring (and / or the damping ring) can be removed. Then, the user can disengage the wire housing from the dispensing portion. If the previous dental floss (or any remaining portion of the wound dental floss) is present in the dental floss housing, the user can remove it (e.g., the dental floss can be retracted from the opening in the dispensing portion by pulling the dental floss). If there is no dental floss, the new winding length of the dental floss can be positioned inside the dental floss housing. Then, the laminated end of the new winding length of the dental floss can protrude through the opening in the dispensing portion, thereby extending from the top of the dispensing portion. Then, the dental floss housing can be interlocked with the dispensing portion, thereby producing an interlocking assembly. The interlock assembly can then be inserted into the interior portion of the dispenser housing (if the spring and / or damping ring were previously removed from the interior portion, the damping ring is first positioned on the base and follows the spring). The user can then push the interlock assembly further into the interior portion of the dispenser housing until the first and second latch portions of the locking mechanism engage.

[0007] To use the dispenser, the user can push on the top portion thereof, thereby disengaging the first and second latch portions and ejecting / partially removing the dispensing assembly from the inner portion. The desired length of floss cord can be pulled into the cavity of the dispensing portion and protrudes through one or more openings in the dispensing portion to allow the floss to be cut using one or more cutting blades. Once the flossing is complete, the user can push on the top portion to secure the dispensing portion in the inner portion.

[0008] In some implementations, the present subject matter relates to a dental floss dispenser. The dental floss dispenser may include a dispenser housing surrounding an interior portion and a dispensing portion slidably positioned within the interior portion of the dispenser housing. The dispensing portion may have a storage position and a dispensing position. In the storage position, the dispensing portion may be completely disposed within the interior portion. In the dispensing position, the dispensing portion may be partially disposed outside the interior portion. The dispensing portion may further include a storage chamber and a dental floss dispensing cavity, the storage chamber being used to store a wound dental floss rope, and the dental floss dispensing cavity being used to hold at least a portion of the wound dental floss rope drawn out of the storage chamber.

[0009] In some implementations, the current subject matter can include one or more of the following optional features. The dental floss dispenser can further include a locking mechanism configured to temporarily hold the dispensing portion in the storage position or the dispensing position. The locking mechanism can include a spring member and a latching member. When the latching member is unlocked, the spring member can be configured to position the dispensing portion in the dispensing position. The latching member can be configured to hold the dispensing portion in the storage position when locked.

[0010] In some implementations, the dispensing portion can be configured to be completely removable from the interior portion of the dispenser housing. The wound floss rope can be configured to be removed from the storage chamber when the dispensing portion is completely removed from the interior portion of the dispenser housing. The wound floss rope can be configured to be wound in a coreless manner. In some implementations, the support structure can be configured to wrap the wound floss rope. The support structure can be configured to viscously wrap the wound floss rope. The wound floss rope can be further configured to be untied from the inside of the wound floss rope. The wound floss rope can be configured to have one or more outer dimensions that are smaller than one or more inner dimensions of the storage chamber. The wound floss rope can include a laminated end. The wound floss rope can be configured to be wound into at least one of the following shapes: a cylinder, a tube, a roll, a torus, a sphere, a cone, a prism, an ellipsoid, a spiral, and any combination thereof.

[0011] In some implementations, the dispensing portion may include: a concave open cavity having a top and a bottom; a first opening disposed in the bottom and configured to protrude a portion of the wound floss string from the storage chamber; and a second opening disposed in the top and configured to retain the protruding portion of the wound floss string. The second opening of the concave open cavity may include a cutting mechanism for cutting the floss.

[0012] In some implementations, the dispenser housing may include a stop mechanism disposed in an inner portion adjacent to the top of the dispenser housing. The dispensing portion may include one or more projections disposed on an outer surface of the dispensing portion. The stop mechanism may be configured to interact with the one or more projections to temporarily prevent the dispensing portion from moving out of the inner portion of the dispenser housing.

[0013] In some implementations, the storage chamber can be configured to interlock with the floss dispensing cavity in order to retain the wound rope of floss.

[0014] In some implementations, the present subject matter relates to a method of loading a dental floss dispenser as described above. The method can include providing a dental floss dispenser, as described above, removing a dispensing portion from an interior portion of a dispenser housing, inserting a wound string of dental floss into a storage chamber, withdrawing at least a portion of the wound string of dental floss from the storage chamber, and positioning the withdrawn portion of the wound string of dental floss across a dental floss dispensing cavity, and placing the dispensing portion into the interior portion of the dispenser housing.

[0015] In some implementations, the present subject matter relates to a method of using the dental floss dispenser described above. The method may include providing a dental floss dispenser, as described above, removing a dispensing portion from an interior portion of a dispenser housing, withdrawing at least a portion of the dental floss from a storage chamber and securing the withdrawn portion to a dental floss dispensing chamber, performing dental flossing using the dental floss dispenser, and placing the dispensing portion into the interior portion of the dispenser housing.

[0016] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate some aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some principles associated with the disclosed implementations.

[0018] Figure 1a-1b showing a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view, respectively, of a dental floss dispenser according to some implementations of the current subject matter;

[0019] Figure 2a-2b They were shown Figure 1a-1b A top view and a bottom view of the top and bottom portions of the dispenser shown in ;

[0020] Figure 3a-3c Shows some implementations based on the current topic Figure 1a-1b The dental floss dispenser as shown in , wherein the dispensing portion is ejected or partially removed from the inner portion;

[0021] Figure 4 Shown Figure 1a-1b An exploded view of the dental floss dispenser shown in ;

[0022] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1a-1b an exploded view of a dispensing portion of a dental floss dispenser as shown in;

[0023] Figure 6An assembled view (shown on the left side of the figure) and an exploded view (shown on the right side of the figure) of an assembly of a distribution portion and a wire housing according to some implementations of the current subject matter are shown;

[0024] Figure 7 A wound dental floss rope according to some embodiments of the current subject matter is shown;

[0025] Figure 8 A second or female latch portion according to some implementations of the current subject matter is shown;

[0026] Figure 9-14 Various exemplary dental floss dispensers according to some implementations of the current subject matter are shown;

[0027] Figure 15-16 A method for converting a distributor (e.g., Figure 1a-Figure 14 The dispenser shown in ) is loaded with different exemplary methods of dental floss;

[0028] Figure 17a-Figure 17e An exemplary protection / stabilization structure for dental floss according to some implementations of the current subject matter is shown;

[0029] Fig.18 An exemplary method for loading a dental floss dispenser according to some implementations of the current subject matter is presented; and

[0030] Fig.19 Exemplary methods of using a dental floss dispenser according to some implementations of the current subject matter are presented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In some implementations, the current subject matter relates to a dental floss dispensing mechanism and method of use. Figure 1a - Fig. b shows a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view, respectively, of the dental floss dispenser 100. The dental floss dispenser 100 may include a housing 102 having a hollow interior portion 112, a top portion 104, and a bottom portion 106. Figure 2a-2b The top view and the bottom view of the top portion 104 and the bottom portion 106 are shown respectively. The size of the inner portion 112 of the housing 102 can be set to hold the dispensing portion 108, and the dispensing portion 108 can be configured to pop up and / or move out from the inner portion 112. The housing 102 can be configured to have a cylindrical shape. As can be appreciated, the housing 102 can have any other shape, for example, a cube, a parallelogram and / or any other desired shape. The bottom portion 106 can be configured to have a circular shape and can be coupled to the housing 102 by any desired method (for example, adhesion, welding, removably attached, forming an integral structure with the housing 102, etc.).

[0032] In the storage position, the dispensing portion 108 may be disposed completely within the housing 102, such as Figure 1a-1b In this position, the top of the dispensing portion 108 can be flush with the top portion 104. In the ejection / partial removal position, the dispensing portion 108 can be removed from the inner portion 112, such as Figure 3a-3c In some implementations, the dispensing portion 108 can also be completely removed from the inner portion 112 .

[0033] As described above, the dispensing portion 108 can be configured to pop out / remove / partially move out from the top portion 104 of the housing 102. The ... using a spring and / or latch mechanism ( Figure 1a-Figure 2b The dispensing portion 108 may be ejected / removed / partially removed by applying a downward force on the top of the dispensing portion 108 and then releasing the top of the dispensing portion 108, thereby allowing the dispensing portion 108 to "pop out" (e.g., Figure 3a-3c 108 can be ejected / removed / partially removed from the top portion 104 of the housing 102. By applying a downward force on the top of the dispensing portion 108 and pushing the dispensing portion 108 into the interior portion 112 until the locking mechanism ( Figure 1a-Figure 2b ) to lock the dispensing portion 108 inside the inner portion 112 , and the dispensing portion 108 can be reset to the inner portion 112 of the housing 102 .

[0034] The dispensing portion 108 may also include a cutting mechanism 110 that may be used to cut a desired length of the dental floss string extending from the interior of the dispensing portion 108. The cutting mechanism 110 may include one or more cutting blades that may be used by a user of the dental floss dispensing mechanism 100 to cut the dental floss string. The cutting blades may be disposed within an opening 114 disposed in the top portion of the dispensing portion 108.

[0035] In some implementations, the dispensing portion 108 can be configured to have a size (e.g., diameter) that is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner portion 112. This can allow the dispensing portion 108 to be ejected / removed / partially removed from the inner portion 112. In some exemplary implementations, the difference in the diameter of the dispensing portion 108 and the inner diameter of the inner portion 112 can create a small cylindrical space that can allow the dispensing portion 108 to be easily ejected / removed / partially removed from the inner portion 112.

[0036] Figure 3a-3c The dental floss dispenser 100 is shown with the dispensing portion 108 ejected or partially removed from the interior portion 112 (in Figure 3a-3c). The dispensing portion 108 may include a floss holding section 306 disposed below the top portion 302.

[0037] like Figure 3a-3c As shown, the dental floss section 306 may include a concave section 308 having a top portion 311 and a bottom portion 313. The concave section 308 can be configured to accommodate the placement of a user's fingers so as to pull the string from the interior of the dispensing portion 108. The top portion 311 can be configured to include an entry port 315 for the cutting mechanism 110. The bottom portion 313 can be configured to include an opening 304. The dental floss string 320 can be configured to extend from the interior of the dispensing portion 108 through the opening 304 and enter the entry port 315. In some implementations, one or more wire retention mechanisms can be arranged inside the opening 304 and / or the entry port 315 to ensure that the wire is kept in place before and / or after cutting. The retention mechanism (e.g., a spring-loaded clip, etc.) can allow the user to pull the dental floss string extending from the top portion 302 of the dispensing portion 108, and once a sufficient length of dental floss is pulled out, the mechanism can hold the dental floss in a tensioned state between the top portion 311 and the bottom portion 313.

[0038] Figure 4 An exploded view of the dental floss dispenser 100 is shown. Figure 4 As shown, in addition to the dispensing portion 108, one or more of the following components can be arranged in the interior portion 112 of the housing 102: a wire housing 402 coupled to a first or male latch portion 414; a launch spring 404; an optional damping ring 406; a latch housing 408 having a bottom portion 410 and a second or female latch portion 412. The wire housing 402 can be configured to be removably coupled to the dispensing portion 108, and can be further configured to hold a wound length of dental floss 320 (e.g., such as a spool, roll, coil, etc., (e.g., Figure 7 Lengths of dental floss 320 may be replaceably positioned within the wire housing 402. For example, a new length of dental floss 320 may be positioned within the wire housing 402 when a user of the dental floss dispenser 100 has used up a previous length of dental floss, or simply desires a different floss (e.g., thicker, thinner, different flavor, etc.).

[0039] The wire housing 402 may include a first latch portion 414 that may be configured to interact with the second latch portion 412 to temporarily retain the interlocking assembly of the dispensing portion 108 and the wire housing 402. Retention of the interlocking assembly of the dispensing portion 108 and the wire housing 402 may occur when a user of the dispenser 100 applies a downward force on the top of the dispensing portion 108 to push the dispensing portion 108 into the interior portion 112, whereby the first latch portion 414 may contact and subsequently engage the second latch portion 412 to temporarily retain or lock the interlocking assembly inside the interior portion 112. To unlock the temporary retention of the interlocking assembly, the user may again apply a downward force to the top of the dispensing portion, thereby disengaging the first latch portion 414 from the second latch portion 412. Once disengaged, the spring 404 may apply a force to the bottom of the wire housing 402 and push the dispensing portion 108 away from the interior portion 112 of the housing 102.

[0040] The second latch portion 412 can be positioned inside a latch housing 408 disposed on a latch base 410. The latch base 410 can be configured to be coupled (e.g., adhered, welded, ultrasonically welded, etc.) to an inner wall of the housing 102. In some implementations, the latch base 410 can be further configured to be coupled to the bottom portion 106 (e.g., using glue, welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.). The latch base 410 can have substantially the same size (e.g., diameter) as the bottom portion 106, whereby the bottom portion 106 can have a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the interior portion 112 of the housing 102. The latch housing 408 can be configured to be coupled to the latch base 410 (e.g., using glue, welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.). In some implementations, the latch housing 408 can include a hollow interior portion configured to accommodate the positioning of the second latch portion 412 (in Figure 8 ). The second latch portion 412 can be permanently fixed within the hollow interior portion of the latch housing 408.

[0041] The spring 404 can be configured to have a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the latch housing 408 to allow the spring 404 to be positioned on the latch housing 508. In addition, the diameter of the spring 404 can be less than and / or substantially equal to the outer diameter of the wire housing 402 (which in turn can be substantially similar to the diameter of the dispensing portion 108). In some exemplary implementations, an optional damping ring 406, having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the housing 408, can be positioned on the housing 408 to provide damping for the spring 404. The damping ring 406 can be sufficiently large enough to fit inside the housing 102 and accommodate the positioning of the spring 404 on top of the damping ring.

[0042] In some implementations, the wire housing 402 can be configured to include one or more protrusions 416 disposed adjacent to the first latch portion 414, such as Figure 4 The protrusion 416 can be configured to interact with an inner lip 418 disposed adjacent the top of the housing 102 to prevent accidental removal of the interlocking assembly of the dispensing portion 108 and the wire housing 402. Alternatively, the protrusion 416 can interact with one or more corresponding guides and / or stops disposed within the interior portion 112 of the housing 102 to guide the dispensing portion 108 into and out of the interior portion 112.

[0043] Figure 5 An exploded view of the dispensing portion 108 of the dental floss dispenser 100 is shown. As described above, the dispensing portion 108 may include a cutting mechanism 110. The cutting mechanism 110 may include a cutter 502 having cutting blades 504 (a, b). The cutter 502 may be positioned inside the housing of the dispensing portion 108. It may be adhered, welded, ultrasonically welded, etc. to any portion of the housing of the dispensing portion 108. The blades 504a and 504b may be positioned to ensure that the wire can pass through the openings 114 and 315 and extend between the blades 504a, 504b. The blades 504 may be sharp enough to allow cutting of dental floss of any desired thickness. In some implementations, the blades 504 may be positioned at different angles relative to each other, and / or the plane of the cutter 502. In order to cut a desired length of dental floss rope, the user may pull out the desired length of wire from the opening 114, and then tilt the wire to allow cutting on one of the blades 504.

[0044] Figure 6 An assembled view (shown on the left side of the figure) and an exploded view (shown on the right side of the figure) of the assembly 602 of the dispensing portion 108 and the wire housing 402 are shown. To facilitate interlocking of the dispensing portion 108 and the wire housing 402, the wire housing 402 can include one or more curved protrusions 608 that can be disposed adjacent to the top of the wire housing 402. The protrusions 608 can have a curvature that can be substantially similar to the inner curvature of the bottom portion 610 of the dispensing portion 108. Figure 6 As shown in , the radius of curvature of the protrusion 608 can be smaller than the inner radius of the bottom portion 610 to allow the protrusion 608 to be snap-fitted inside the bottom portion 610 to create the interlocking assembly 602.

[0045] The wound floss string 604 (e.g., a bobbin, a coil, etc.) can have a diameter that can be smaller than the inner diameter of the wire housing 402 to allow the wound floss string 604 to be positioned inside the wire housing 402. The free end of the dental floss 320 can be configured to extend from the top 612 of the wound floss string 604 so as to be inserted through the opening 304 in the dispensing portion 108.

[0046] Figure 7 A wound dental floss cord 604 is shown. As described above, the cord 320 can be configured to extend from the top portion 612. In some implementations, the cord 320 can include a laminated end 702 to allow for easy insertion through the openings 304, 315 ( Figure 7 ). The laminated end 702 can have a harder consistency than the remainder of the dental floss and can be discarded after the dental floss dispenser 100 is ready for its use.

[0047] Figure 8 A second or concave latch portion 412 is shown. The second latch portion 412 can be any known push latch that can be configured to accommodate insertion of the first latch portion 414. It can have a base portion 804 that can be configured to be fixed to a latch housing 408 ( Figure 8 Once the first latch portion 414 engages the fork 802 (e.g., by rotating the fork 802 in a scissor-like manner about the first latch portion 414), the push lock 806 can be configured to engage the base portion 804, thereby preventing the fork 802 from being unlocked from the first latch portion 414. Upon application of sufficient pressure, the push lock 806 can be configured to disengage from the base portion, thereby releasing or unlocking the fork 802 from the first latch portion 414. The pressure applied can be a combination of the user pressure on the top of the dispensing portion 108 and the spring 404 ( Figure 8 ) is not shown.

[0048] In some implementations, to load the dispenser 100, a user may push on the top of the dispensing portion 108 and then remove the interlock assembly 602 (at Figure 6 In some implementations, the spring 404 (along with the optional ring 404 (in Figure 44 and 5. In some embodiments, the user may remove the floss 604 from the housing 402. Alternatively, the spring 404 (and / or the ring 406) may be removed from the housing 402. The user may then remove the floss 604 from the dispensing portion 108. If the previous floss (or the remainder of the wound floss 604) is present in the housing 402, the user may remove it (e.g., the floss may be pulled back from the openings 304, 315). If no floss is present, the wound length of floss 604 may be positioned inside the housing 402. The stack end 702 may then extend through the opening 304 and then through the opening 315, thereby extending from the top of the dispensing portion 108. The housing 402 may then be interlocked with the dispensing portion 108, thereby creating an interlocking assembly 602. The interlock assembly 602 may then be inserted into the interior portion 112 of the housing 102 (if the spring 404 and / or the ring 406 were previously removed from the interior portion 112, the ring 406 is first positioned on the base portion 408, followed by the spring 404 (e.g., Figure 4 )). The user may then push the interlock assembly 602 further into the interior portion 112 of the housing 102 until the first latch portion 414 and the second latch portion 412 engage.

[0049] To use the dispenser 100, the user can push the top portion 104, thereby disengaging the first latch portion 414 and the second latch portion 412 and ejecting / partially removing the dispensing assembly 108 from the interior portion 112. The desired length of the dental floss rope 320 can be pulled into the recessed cavity 308 and extended through the opening 315 of the cutting mechanism 110 to allow the dental floss to be cut using the cutting blade 504. Once the teeth are cleaned, the user can push the top portion 104 to secure the dispensing assembly 108 in the interior portion 112. As can be appreciated, any means of securing the dispensing portion can be used (e.g., hooks, latches, chain mechanisms, etc.). The current subject matter is not limited to use Figure 1a-8 Latch mechanism shown. Furthermore, the current subject matter is not limited to the manner in which dental floss is loaded into the dispenser.

[0050] Fig. 9 An exemplary distributor 900 according to some implementations of the current subject matter is shown. The distributor 900 may be similar to Figure 1a-Figure 8The dispenser shown. In particular, it includes a housing 902 and a dispensing portion 908, which can be configured to pop out / partially move out / completely move out from the interior portion of the housing 902. In order to move out the dispensing portion 908, the housing 902 can include a rotating portion 904, which can be configured to rotate in a direction A around a vertical axis (i.e., an axis parallel to the long side of the housing 902). A rod 907 can be configured to be arranged inside the housing 902, and can be configured to be coupled (permanently, temporarily, etc.) to the dispensing portion 908 and the rotating portion 904. The rod 907 can be configured to have one or more threads arranged thereon along the extension of the rod 907, which can allow the rod 907 to be screwed into and screwed out of the rotating portion 904. The rotation of the portion 904 (e.g., in a clockwise direction A) can be configured to rotate or extend the rod 907 and push the dispensing portion 908 out of the interior portion of the housing 902 (state 903). Rotation of portion 904 in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise) can be configured to screw rod 907 in the corresponding direction and pull dispensing portion 908 into the interior portion of housing 902 (state 901). As can be appreciated, any method of pushing or pulling rotating portion 904 into dispensing portion 908 can be used (e.g., using a screw, piston, button, spring, tension-based mechanism, elastic band, telescopic rotating device, etc.).

[0051] Fig.10 Another exemplary dispenser 1000 according to some implementations of the current subject matter is shown. The dispenser 1000 may be similar to Figure 1a-Figure 9 The dispenser shown in . Specifically, it includes a shell 1002 and a dispensing portion 1008, and the dispensing portion 1008 can be configured to pop out / partially move out / completely move out from the inner portion of the shell 1002. In order to move out the dispensing portion 1008, the shell 1002 may include a rotating portion 1004, and the rotating portion 1004 can be configured to rotate along a direction A around a vertical axis (i.e., an axis parallel to the long side of the shell 1002). The portion 1004 can be configured to be basically arranged at one end of the dispenser 1000 away from the end of the dispensing portion 1008. Similar to Fig. 9, the rotation of portion 1004 (e.g., in a clockwise direction A) can be configured to push the dispensing portion 1008 out of the interior portion of the housing 1002 (state 1003). The rotation of portion 1004 in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise) can be configured to pull the dispensing portion 1008 into the interior portion of the housing 1002 (state 1001). As can be appreciated, any method of rotating portion 1004 to push out or pull in dispensing portion 1008 (e.g., using a screw, piston, button, spring, tension-based mechanism, elastic band, etc.) can be used. In some implementations, the user can be set to use the user's finger to push portion 1004, so that the dispensing portion 1008 pops out / partially moves out / completely moves out from the interior portion of the housing 1002. In order to fix the dispensing portion 1008 inside the housing 1002, the user can apply force to the top of the dispensing portion 1008 until it is completely located inside the housing 1002. Any means of securing the dispensing portion 1008 may be used (eg, a hook, latch, chain mechanism, etc.).

[0052] Fig.11 1 shows another exemplary distributor 1100 according to some implementations of the current subject matter. The distributor 1100 may be similar to Figure 1a-Figure 10 The dispenser shown in . In particular, it includes a shell 1102 and a dispensing portion 1108. The shell may also include a cap 1104. The cap 1104 can be configured to be fully removable (e.g., state 1103), partially removable (e.g., the cap 1104 can be coupled to the shell 1102 using a hinge, a spring-loaded hinge, a latch, etc.), etc. The cap 1104 can be a nut, a twist-on / twist-off cap, a snap-on / disengagement cap, a push / pull cap, a friction fit cap, and / or any other type of cap. The cap 1104 can be configured to hide the dispensing portion 1108 when the dispensing portion is not in use (e.g., state 1101). Alternatively, the cap 1104 can be configured to cover the top of the shell 1102, while the dispensing portion 1108 is housed within an interior portion of the shell 1102 (e.g., as in Figure 1a , Figures 9 and 10 1102). To use the dispenser 1100, the user can remove the cap 1104 (e.g., state 1103), such as by twisting the cap off, by screwing the cap off, by pulling the cap, etc., and then use the dispensing portion 1108. Alternatively, the dispensing portion 1108 can also be ejected or partially removed from the interior portion of the housing 1102. Any means of securing the cap 1104 to the housing 1102 and / or removing the cap 1104 from the housing 1102 can be used.

[0053] Fig.12 1 shows another exemplary distributor 1200 according to some implementations of the current subject matter. The distributor 1200 may be similar to Fig.111200. The dispenser 1200 may include a housing 1202 and a dispensing portion 1208. The housing may also include a flip cover and / or a hinged cover 1204. The cover 1204 may be configured to be hingedly coupled to the housing 1202, and may be configured to be opened (state 1203) and closed (state 1201) using, for example, a hinge 1207. Once the cover 1204 is opened (state 1203), i.e., rotated around the hinge 1207, the dispensing portion 1208 may be exposed (alternatively, the user may need to eject or partially remove the dispensing portion 1208, as discussed above), and the user may use the dispenser 1200 for cleaning teeth as discussed above. Any means of fixing the cover 1204 to the housing 1202 and / or removing the cover 1204 from the housing 1202 may be used.

[0054] Fig.13 Still another exemplary distributor 1300 according to some implementations of the current subject matter is shown. The distributor 1300 may be similar to Fig.11 The dispenser shown in . In particular, it includes a housing 1302 and a dispensing portion 1308. The housing may also include a sliding cover 1304. For the purpose of hiding the dispensing portion 1308 (e.g., state 1301) and exposing the dispensing portion 1308 (e.g., state 1303), the cover 1304 may be configured to slide along the outer surface of the housing 1302. The cover 1304 may slide on a guide rail, a rolling ball, a gear, etc. Alternatively, for the purpose of hiding / exposing the dispensing portion 1308, the sliding cover 1304 may be screwed on / unscrewed. The cover 1304 may be configured to cover the top of the housing 1302 (similar to Fig.11 ), while the dispensing portion 1308 is housed within an interior portion of the housing 1302 (e.g., as Figure 1a , Figures 9 to 11 1302). To use the dispenser 1300, the user can slide the cover 1304 downward (e.g., state 1303) and then use the dispensing portion 1308. Alternatively, the dispensing portion 1308 can also be popped out or partially removed from the interior portion of the housing 1302. Any means of securing the cover 1304 to the housing 1302 and / or removing the cover 1304 from the housing 1302 can be used.

[0055] Fig.14 1400 according to some implementations of the current subject matter. The distributor 1400 may be similar to Figure 1a-Figure 131400. Dispenser 1400 may include housing 1402 and dispensing portion 1408, as discussed above. Housing 1402 may also include button 1404. The button may be used to pop out or partially remove (state 1403) dispensing portion 1408 from the interior portion of housing 1402, and / or hide (state 1401) dispensing portion 1408 into the interior portion. Once button 1404 is pressed, dispensing portion 1408 may slide within housing 1402; when button 1404 is pressed the next time, dispensing portion 1408 may slide out of housing 1402. Button 1404 may be coupled to a mechanism of mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromechanical, and / or any combination thereof that may trigger the motion of dispensing portion 1408.

[0056] Fig.15 A method for loading dental floss 1504 into a dispenser 1500 (similar to Figure 1a-Figure 14 ) of the exemplary method. Fig.15 As shown, dental floss 1504 can be loaded into housing 1502 from the bottom of housing 1502. Specifically, to load dental floss 1504, bottom portion 1507 can be opened (state 1501), and dental floss 1504 can be inserted in an upward direction (i.e., direction A). Once dental floss 1504 has been loaded into housing 1502, bottom portion 1507 can be closed (state 1503). As can be appreciated, bottom portion 1507 can be hingedly coupled to housing 1502, can be completely removed from housing 1502, can be snapped onto / detached from housing 1502, can be clipped onto / detached from housing 1502, and / or otherwise coupled to the housing in any desired manner.

[0057] Fig.16 A method for loading dental floss 1604 into a dispenser 1600 (similar to Figure 1a-Figure 14 The housing 1602 of the dispenser 1600 may include a channel structure 1607. The structure 1607 may be a single-sided door or a double-sided door, a vertical clam-shell structure, a horizontal clam-shell structure, and / or any other structure that may allow the dental floss 1604 to be positioned within the interior portion 1602 of the dispenser 1600. For example, Fig.16As shown, the housing 1602 may include a vertical flip-up structure 1607, which may be configured to allow the housing 1602 to be opened (e.g., rotated in directions B and C) to expose the interior portion of the housing 1602. Once the interior is exposed, the dental floss 1604 can be placed inside the housing 1602 (e.g., as shown in direction A), and the flip-up structure 1607 can be closed (state 1603), thereby hiding the interior portion of the housing 1602. As can be appreciated, the channel structure 1607 may include at least one of the following: one or more hinges, one or more locks, one or more hooks, one or more snaps, and / or any other mechanism.

[0058] In some implementations, a distributor (e.g., Figures 1a to 17e The housing of the dispenser (e.g., the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 ) may include a storage space that allows for storage of various items, such as, but not limited to, toothpaste, toothpicks, floss sticks, medications, toothbrush heads, money, food, etc. The space may be accessed using any of the means discussed above. In some exemplary implementations, the dispensing portion 108, 308 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 , Figure 3a to Figure 3c The dispenser housing 108, 308 may be replaced and / or exchanged with a toothbrush and / or any other device (shown). For example, the dispensing portion 108, 308 may be removed (e.g., by disassembling, screwing off, loosening, unfastening, etc.), and a toothbrush (and / or a toothbrush head, a toothbrush head with a handle, etc.) may be positioned in place of the dispensing portion, such as by attaching, screwing, clamping, snapping, etc. The toothbrush may be moved into and out of the housing of the dispenser in a manner similar to the dispensing portion 108, 308. In some exemplary implementations, the toothbrush may be permanently positioned within the housing of the dispenser. In some exemplary implementations, the dispensing portion 108, 308 may be replaced (temporarily and / or permanently) with any other tool (dental or other tool, e.g., a floss stick (small or large), a toothpick, scissors, a hair comb / brush, a file, nail clippers, a screwdriver, pliers, etc.).

[0059] Figure 17a-Figure 17e An exemplary dental floss support / stabilization structure 1702 is shown according to some implementations of the current subject matter. In some exemplary implementations, the structure 1702 can be used to secure / stabilize a wound dental floss rope 604 (e.g., a spool, a roll, etc.), such as Figure 6 The structure 1702 can be configured to wrap around the wound dental floss string 604, thereby improving the Figure 1a-Figure 16 The dental floss dispenser shown in Figure 1 dispenses dental floss, prevents tangling of the dental floss string, etc.

[0060] like Figure 17a-Figure 17eAs shown, in order to secure the wound dental floss string 604, a cover 1712 (e.g., a rubber disk, a ball, etc.) and a support structure 1702 can be used. The cover 1712 can include a slit 1710, which can be used to pass the dental floss string 320. The cover 1712 can be placed on the top of the wire barrel 604 (e.g., Fig.17e ). The bobbin can be configured to be coreless, e.g., without a core (e.g., paper, plastic, etc.) structure in the center of the bobbin, whereby the floss can be unwound from the center of the bobbin rather than from the outside. It will be appreciated that the wire can be configured to unwrap from any location on the bobbin. In some exemplary non-limiting implementations, the wound floss rope (or refill of floss) can be configured as a cylindrical bobbin 604. As will be appreciated, the bobbin 604 can have a variety of shapes, sizes, lengths of wire wrapped within, thicknesses of wire, etc.

[0061] The support structure 1702 can be configured as a wrap that can include an adhesive backing disposed on one side of the structure 1702. The adhesive is safe for use with dental floss and is therefore safe for use by the user. The support structure can wrap around the wire barrel 604. The support structure can include tabs 1704 and 1706. The tabs 1704, 1706 can be configured to protrude away from the edge of the structure 1702, such as Fig.17a As shown in . Tabs 1704, 1706 can be configured as a bifurcated structure with gaps 1703, 1705, respectively. Gaps 1703, 1705 can be used to position around cover 1712, such as Fig.17b The fork-like structures 1704, 1706 may have different shapes, such as Fig.17a and can be configured to include an adhesive backing.

[0062] like Figure 17c-17e As shown, structure 1702 can be adhesively coupled to bobbin 604, wherein prongs 1704 and 1706 are aligned in the same direction as the cord. The cord can be passed through slit 1710 of cover 1712. Once structure 1702 is coupled to bobbin 604, bobbin 604 can be rotated in direction A (eg, Fig.17d ), to wrap the structure 1702 around the bobbin 604. Alternatively, or in addition, the structure 1702 may wrap around the bobbin 604 without rotating the bobbin 604. When wrapping the structure 1702 around the bobbin 604, the tab 1704 may be lowered onto the top of the cover 312 (the tab 1704 may include an adhesive backing and thus be adhesively coupled to the cover 312). The second tab 1706 may be placed on top of the first tab 1704, as shown in FIG. Fig.17b and Fig.17eIn some exemplary implementations, tab 1706 may be free of any adhesive backing, which may help a user of the dental floss dispenser to easily remove a used dental floss refill by simply pulling tab 1706.

[0063] After being wound around the bobbin, the dispensing end 702 of the dental floss 320 can pass through the slit 1712 in the cover 1710. The cover 1710, together with the slit 1712, can provide frictional resistance on the dental floss 320 as the dental floss is dispensed to prevent the dental floss 320 from being accidentally dispensed, and can further provide tension on the dental floss 320, which can assist during the floss cutting process. After passing through the slit 1710, the bobbin 604 and the cover 1712 can be wrapped together by rolling the adhesive structure 1702 around the bobbin and the cover. This can ensure that the surface of the bobbin 604 adheres to the structure 1702. The tabs 1704, 1706 of the adhesive structure 1702 can be shaped and positioned to allow the cover 1712 to be securely fastened to the bobbin 604 while allowing the dental floss 320 to freely pass through the slit 1710. After the bobbin 604 is assembled with the cap and structure 1702, the dispensing end of the dental floss can be hardened (e.g., using a wax coating 702) to allow a user to easily thread the end into a dispenser device. Further, in some implementations, the structure 1702 can provide a rigid structure for the outer windings of the wire in the bobbin 604, wherein such windings can be configured to adhere to the structure 1702. Without the structure 1702, the bobbin 604 can collapse inwardly and / or can cause tangling and / or knotting of the dental floss. In addition, the structure 1702 can allow the entire length of the bobbin 604 to be dispensed without knotting and / or tangling.

[0064] To remove the spent refill from the dispenser device, the user can remove the cap portion of the dispenser device, grip the tabs 1704 and / or 1706 released from the refill, and pull the empty adhesive wrap out of the dispenser device, thereby simultaneously removing the adhered cover. To refill the device after removing the spent refill, the user can place a new bobbin 604 into the dispenser device with the dispensing end of the wire pointing upward. The user can then pass the hardened portion of the dental floss through the cap of the dispenser device, place the cap back into the dispenser device, and press down firmly until the cap "clicks" into place.

[0065] As can be appreciated, the shape and / or size of any component of the dispenser is not limited to Figure 1a-Figure 17e The dispenser and / or any of its components may have a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, an irregular shape, and / or any other shape.

[0066] In some implementations, the current subject matter relates to a dental floss dispenser (e.g., Figure 1a-Figure 17eThe dental floss dispenser may include a dispenser housing 102 that surrounds an interior portion and a dispensing portion 108 that is slidably positioned within the interior portion of the dispenser housing. The dispensing portion 108 may have a storage location (e.g., Figure 1a-1b ) and the distribution location (e.g., as Figure 3a-3c ). In the storage position, the dispensing portion can be completely arranged in the inner portion. In the dispensing position, the dispensing portion can be partially arranged outside the inner portion. The dispensing portion can also include a storage chamber (e.g., wire housing 402) and a wire dispensing cavity (e.g., wire holding section 306), the storage chamber is used to store the wound dental floss rope (e.g., dental floss 604), and the wire dispensing cavity is used to hold at least a portion of the wound dental floss rope drawn out from the storage chamber.

[0067] In some implementations, the current subject matter can include one or more of the following optional features. The dental floss dispenser can further include a locking mechanism (e.g., Figure 4 and Figure 8 408). The locking mechanism may include a spring member (e.g., spring 404) and a latch member (e.g., latch portions 414, 412, 408). When the latch member is unlocked, the spring member may be configured to position the dispensing portion in the dispensing position. The latch member may be configured to hold the dispensing portion in the storage position when locked.

[0068] In some implementations, the dispensing portion can be configured to be completely removable from the interior portion of the dispenser housing (e.g., Figure 4 and Figure 6 The wound dental floss rope can be configured to be removed from the storage chamber when the dispensing portion is completely removed from the interior portion of the dispenser housing. The wound dental floss rope can be configured to be wound in a coreless manner (e.g., without a core structure). In some implementations, the support structure (e.g., Figure 17a-Figure 17e The wrapper 1702 shown in FIG. 1 may be configured to wrap the wrapped dental floss rope. The support structure may be configured to adhesively wrap the wrapped dental floss rope. The wrapped dental floss rope may be further configured to unwind from the interior of the wrapped dental floss rope. The wrapped dental floss rope may be configured to have one or more outer dimensions that are smaller than one or more inner dimensions of the storage chamber. The wrapped dental floss rope may include a laminated end (e.g., end 702).

[0069] The wound floss rope can be configured to be wound into at least one of the following shapes: a cylinder, a tube, a roll, a torus, a sphere, a cone, a prism, an ellipsoid, a helix, and any combination thereof.

[0070] In some implementations, the dispensing portion may include: a concave open cavity (e.g., cavity 308) having a top 311 and a bottom 313; a first opening 304 disposed in the bottom and configured to allow a portion of the wound floss string to extend from the storage chamber; and a second opening 315 disposed in the top and configured to hold the extended portion of the wound floss string. The second opening of the concave open cavity may include a cutting mechanism (e.g., cutting mechanism 502) for cutting the floss.

[0071] In some implementations, the dispenser housing may include a stop mechanism (e.g., lip 418) disposed in an inner portion adjacent to the top of the dispenser housing. The dispensing portion may include one or more protrusions (e.g., protrusion 416) disposed on an outer surface of the dispensing portion. The stop mechanism may be configured to interact with the one or more protrusions to temporarily prevent the dispensing portion from moving out of the inner portion of the dispenser housing.

[0072] In some implementations, the storage chamber can be configured to interlock with the wire dispensing cavity for holding a wound string of dental floss (e.g., Figure 6 ).

[0073] In some implementations, the current subject matter is directed to a method of loading the dental floss dispenser described above. Fig.18 An exemplary method 1800 for loading dental floss into a dental floss dispenser is shown. At 1802, a dental floss dispenser as described above can be provided. At 1804, a dispensing portion can be removed from an interior portion of a dispenser housing. At 1806, a wound string of dental floss can be inserted into a storage chamber. At 1808, at least a portion of the wound string of dental floss can be withdrawn from the storage chamber, and the withdrawn portion of the wound string of dental floss can be positioned across the wire dispensing cavity (e.g., as Figure 3c At 1810, a dispensing portion can be placed into an interior portion of a dispenser housing.

[0074] In some implementations, the current subject matter is directed to a method of using the dental floss dispenser described above. Fig.19 An exemplary method 1900 of using the dental floss dispenser described above is shown. Method 1900 may include providing a dental floss dispenser at 1902, as described above. At 1904, a dispensing portion may be partially removed from an interior portion of a dispenser housing. At 1906, at least a portion of the dental floss may be withdrawn from the storage chamber, and the withdrawn portion may be secured to the floss dispensing chamber. At 1908, the dental floss dispenser may be used for dental cleaning. At 1910, the dispensing portion may be placed into an interior portion of a dispenser housing.

[0075] All statements describing the principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present invention and specific examples thereof are intended to encompass structural and functional equivalents thereof. In addition, it is intended that such equivalents include currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any developed elements that perform the same function regardless of structure). Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative system components and / or circuits that embody the principles of the present invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow diagrams, flow charts, etc. represent different processes that may be generally represented in a computer-readable storage medium and executed by a computer or processor, regardless of whether such a computer or processor is explicitly displayed.

[0076] It should be understood that, for example, in the case of "A / B", "A and / or B", and "at least one of A and B", the use of any of the following " / ", "and / or", and "at least one of" is intended to cover selection of only the first listed item (A), or only the second listed item (B), or both items (A and B). As another example, in the case of "A, B, and / or C" and "at least one of A, B, and C", such wording is intended to cover selection of only the first listed item (A), or only the second listed item (B), or only the third listed item (C), or only the first listed item and the second listed item (A and B), or only the first listed item and the third listed item (A and C), or only the second listed item and the third listed item (B and C), or all three items (A and B and C). It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that this can be extended for many of the items listed. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.

[0077] Although in some cases, ordinal numbers (such as first, second, etc.) can refer to order; as used in this document, ordinal numbers do not necessarily imply order. For example, ordinal numbers can be used simply to distinguish one item from another item. For example, to distinguish a first event from a second event, but need not imply any time order or fixed reference system (such that the first event in one paragraph of the specification can be different from the first event in another paragraph of the specification).

[0078] The foregoing description is intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

[0079] The implementations set forth in the above description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with various aspects of the subject matter described. Although several variants have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, in addition to those features and / or variants set forth herein, other features and / or variants may also be provided. For example, the embodiments described above may involve different combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and sub-combinations of several other features disclosed above. In addition, the logical flows depicted in the accompanying drawings and / or described herein do not necessarily require the specific order or sequential order shown to achieve the desired results.

Claims

1. A dental floss dispenser, comprising: a distributor housing enclosing the interior portion; a dispensing portion slidably positioned within the interior portion of the dispenser housing, the dispensing portion having a storage position and a dispensing position, wherein in the storage position the dispensing portion is completely disposed within the interior portion and in the dispensing position the dispensing portion is partially disposed outside the interior portion, the dispensing portion comprising a storage chamber for storing a wound dental floss string and a wire dispensing cavity for retaining at least a portion of the wound dental floss string withdrawn from the storage chamber; and A locking mechanism configured to hold the dispensing portion in the storage position or the dispensing position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring component and a latch component, wherein the spring component of the locking mechanism is configured to spring the dispensing portion out of the storage position to the dispensing position when the latch component is unlocked by pressing the dispensing portion toward the inner portion and then releasing the dispensing portion.

2. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: The dispensing portion is configured to be completely removable from the interior portion of the dispenser housing.

3. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 2, wherein: The wound cord of dental floss is configured to be removable from the storage chamber when the dispensing portion is fully removed from the interior portion of the dispenser housing.

4. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 3, wherein: The wound dental floss rope is configured to be wound in a coreless manner.

5. The dental floss dispenser of claim 4, further comprising a support structure configured to encase the wound dental floss rope.

6. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 5, wherein: The support structure is configured to adhesively wrap the wound string of dental floss.

7. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 4, wherein: The wrapped dental floss rope is configured to be unwound from an interior of the wrapped dental floss rope.

8. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 4, wherein: The wound floss rope is configured to have one or more exterior dimensions that are smaller than one or more interior dimensions of the storage chamber.

9. The dental floss dispenser according to claim 4, wherein: The wound floss rope includes a laminated end.

10. The dental floss dispenser of claim 4, wherein: The wound floss rope is configured to be wound into at least one of the following shapes: a cylinder, a tube, a roll, a torus, a sphere, a cone, a prism, an ellipsoid, a helix, and any combination thereof.

11. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein: The allocation part includes: a concave open cavity having a top and a bottom; a first opening disposed in the bottom portion and configured to allow a portion of the wound floss cord to extend from the storage chamber; and A second opening is disposed in the top portion and is configured to hold an extended portion of the wound floss cord.

12. The dental floss dispenser of claim 11, wherein: The second opening of the concave open cavity includes a cutting mechanism for cutting the dental floss.

13. The dental floss dispenser of claim 1, wherein: The storage chamber is configured to interlock with the wire dispensing cavity to retain the wound string of dental floss.

14. The dental floss dispenser of claim 2, wherein: The latching member is configured to retain the dispensing portion in the storage position when locked by pressing the dispensing portion toward the inner portion until the dispensing portion is locked inside the inner portion.

15. A dental floss dispenser comprising: a distributor housing enclosing the interior portion; as well as a dispensing portion slidably positioned within the interior portion of the dispenser housing, the dispensing portion having a storage position and a dispensing position, wherein in the storage position the dispensing portion is completely disposed within the interior portion and in the dispensing position the dispensing portion is partially disposed outside the interior portion, the dispensing portion comprising a storage chamber for storing a wound dental floss string and a wire dispensing chamber for retaining at least a portion of the wound dental floss string withdrawn from the storage chamber, wherein the dispenser housing comprises a stop mechanism disposed in the interior portion adjacent to the top of the dispenser housing, and the dispensing portion comprises one or more protrusions disposed on an outer surface of the dispensing portion, the stop mechanism being configured to interact with the one or more protrusions to temporarily prevent the dispensing portion from being removed from the interior portion of the dispenser housing; and A locking mechanism is configured to spring the dispensing portion out of the storage position to the dispensing position when the dispensing portion is pressed toward the interior portion and then released.

16. The dental floss dispenser of claim 15, wherein: The locking mechanism includes a spring component and a latch component, wherein the spring component of the locking mechanism is configured to spring the dispensing portion out of the storage position.

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