A floss holder, floss assembly and flossing system

Abstract

A floss holder for use with a floss assembly and a floss system is disclosed. The floss holder (100) comprises a handle (110) having a receiving portion (111), two arms (120) extending from the handle. Each of the arms having a floss loop seat (121) configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop. Wherein the receiving portion is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion of the floss assembly, and wherein the receiving portion is complimentary to the retaining portion. The two arms may be moveable between different positions and may be elastically deformable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a floss system. Particularly, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a floss holder for use with a floss assembly. Aspects of the invention relate to a floss holder, to a floss assembly, and to a floss system. BACKGROUND Flossing tools are used to clean between the teeth of a person or animal. The tool generally comprises a string which is used to remove plaque or dirt which may become trapped between teeth. Flossing tools are typically single use items which after a single flossing session are thrown away, consequently this results in substantial waste which may end up in landfill as flossing tools may be treated as medical waste and therefore it may not be possible to recycle them. An example of a prior art single use floss tool 1 is shown in Figure 1. The single use floss tool 1 comprises a handle 6 with two arms 4 extending from the handle 6. Between the two arms 4 extends a strand of floss 2. As will be apparent the single use floss tool 1 may only be used for a single flossing session as the floss strand 2 is fixed to the arms 4. The whole assembly of the floss tool 1 must be disposed of after a single flossing session. This is because the floss strand 2 may often typically become damaged due to frictional forces between the floss strand 2 and a user’s tooth, or due to the presence of dirt In the floss strand 2 removed during use. Should a person floss at least once a day, as is recommended, using a device such as the single use floss tool 1, a significant waste volume would end up in landfill. This present invention seeks to solve at least some of the problems of prior art flossing tools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a floss holder, a floss assembly, a flossing system, and a kit of parts as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the invention, there is described a floss holder for use with a floss assembly having a retaining portion and a floss loop, the floss holder comprising: a handle having a receiving portion, two arms extending from the handle, each of the arms having a floss loop seat configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop; wherein the receiving portion is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion of the floss assembly, and wherein the receiving portion is complimentary to the retaining portion. The floss holder enables a floss assembly to be removably attached to the holder reducing wastage of the arrangement. Some prior devices which are single use must be thrown away after their first use. Advantageously the floss holder is able to be used many times by utilising new floss assemblies. As a result, there is a reduced volume of waste to be thrown away or recycled after each use by the user. This floss holder produces approximately! / 48th of the waste compared to a current best-selling alternative. Optionally, in use the retaining portion is located at least in part within the receiving portion. Optionally the two arms are moveable between a first position where the floss loop seats are a first lateral spacing apart relative to each other and a second position where the floss loop seats are a second lateral spacing apart relative to each other; and wherein the first lateral spacing is greater than the second lateral spacing. Optionally, the first lateral spacing may be 15 mm to 25 mm apart and at the second lateral spacing may be10 mm to 20 mm apart. Preferably the first lateral spacing is 18 mm and the second lateral spacing is 15 mm. The movable arms may allow the distance between the two floss seats to be reduced to enable easier insertion of the loop of floss at the second position. This may reduce the likelihood of damaging the floss as it is loaded on to the holder as it will not need to be stretched. The first position may be a rest or use position. The second position may be a loading position where the floss loop can be loaded into the seats and the retaining portion can fit into the receiving potion. Optionally, the arms are elastically deformable within a range of elastic deformation, the range of elastic deformation being greater than or equal to the change in lateral spacing between the first and second positions. The ability to manipulate the arms elastically relative to each other between the first and second positions may help to load the floss onto the floss holder. By elastically deforming between the range, the floss holder can be reused many times without plastically deforming the arms. As the arms are elastically deformable it has the added effect of increased shock absorbency compared to ridged devices, this advantageously lessens discomfort of the consumer. The flexing of the arms takes up some of the force of the user undertaking a flossing motion therefore reducing the likelihood of gum damage. Optionally the arms are configured to move from the first position to the second position on application of a force at a distal end of one or both arms, the force acting in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle. The application of a force by the user, for example could be the user pushing one distal end, or pinching both distal ends of the arms to enable loading of the floss loop. Optionally, the arms may have a textured grip portion. The textured portion may be for providing grip to a user’s digit to aid the application of the force. Such a textured portion reduces the likelihood of the user’s digit slipping off the arm in use. Optionally the arms are biased to return to the first position.By being biased to return to the first position, the user can load a floss loop when the arms are in the second position, then once loaded the arms move away from each other to the first position, without requiring further input from the user. Such an arrangement means that the user is not required to manually move the arms back to the first position. The biasing may be by the arm itself which may act similar to a leaf spring.The biasing to the first position means that the floss loop is tensioned such that it is easier to use or once the loop has been removed the arms return to their normal position. Such an arrangement allows the floss string to be retained automatically at a suitable tension for use by the user. Optionally, the holder Is made from an elastically deformable material; preferably wherein the elastically deformable material is a polymer or polymer blend. The elastically deformable material allows the arms to be movable between a first and second position, allowing the floss assembly to be removably connected. The polymer may comprise any one of Nylon (PA66; 32131-17-2), Copolyester (Tritan) and chopped glass fibre. The polymer blend may comprise a mix of: Nylon (PA66; 32131-17-2), Copolyester (Tritan) and chopped glass fibre. The mixture may comprise 37-38% Nylon, 37-38% copolyester and 24-26% chopped glass fibre.The mixture may further comprise impurities such as residual monomers, oligomers, additives (e.g. used in processing), degradation products (e.g. polymer degradation products that takes place during processing or storage), fillers / reinforcements (e.g. if any fibres, nanoparticles etc added), environmental contaminants (e.g. dust, or other airbourne particles), or any residual processing aids. The mixture may comprise or consist of 37-38% Nylon, 37-38% copolyester and 24-26% chopped glass fibre and the usual impurities. Optionally, both floss loop seats comprise a groove, each of the grooves being aligned along a groove axis, the groove axis being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle, wherein in use a portion of the floss loop extends between the arms along the groove axis. The groove may stabilise the floss string located in the groove in use. Optionally, the groove has a groove depth greater than or equal to the radius or diameter of the portion of the floss loop and / or floss string. In such a case, the groove may further stabilise the floss in use. Optionally, each arm comprises a channel extending between a distal end of the arm and the receiving portion, the channel being configured to receive a portion of the floss string. The channels may further stabilise the floss. Optionally, wherein the channel has a depth greater than or equal to the radius or diameter of the portion of the floss loop and / or floss string. Optionally, the floss loop seat further comprises a transition region, the transition region comprising a cutaway portion of the distal end of the arm; and wherein the groove, cutaway and channel form a portion of a floss loop path. The transition region may enable the floss loop to transition from seat to the channel. Preferably wherein the transition region has a curved edge that in use the floss loop abuts. A curved edge reduces the likelihood of abrasion or cutting of the floss string when pressure is applied to the floss string in use. Optionally, the receiving portion may be a recessed portion of the handle. By recessing the receiving portion into the handle, it may mean that the handle body and side walls of the recessed portion help to hold the retaining portion in place. Optionally, the receiving portion may have a window in a side wall. The window enables the floss loop to exit from the receiving portion. The window may be aligned with channels in the arms such that the floss loop does not sit above the body portion of the handle. This as a result reduces the friction between the floss loop and the handle body making the device easier to use in practice for the user. Preferably the window opens towards the arms of the holder. This can enable easier alignment of the floss loop in use. Optionally, the receiving portion may have a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the handle and a second width at a second point of the handle at the window, the first width being greater than the second width. The tapered end may provide a defined orientation to locate the floss assembly in in use. Optionally, the receiving portion extends from a portion of the handle. Optionally, the floss holder is unitary. Forming the floss holder as a single unitary component may make it easier to manufacture the floss holder, for example using an injection moulding process. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is described a floss assembly for removable connection to a floss holder having a receiving portion, the floss assembly comprising: a floss string and a retaining portion; the floss string being connected to the retaining portion to form a floss loop; wherein the retaining portion has a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the retaining portion and a second width at an end of the retaining portion, the first width being greater than the second width; wherein the retaining portion is complimentary to the receiving portion and is configured to removably connect to the receiving portion of the floss holder. The floss assembly being removable from the floss holder reduces wastage of the arrangement as the floss arrangement may be thrown away or recycled but the tool to which it connects can be reused. The wedge provides a defined orientation for loading the floss assembly into the floss holder in use. This reduces the likelihood of user error. Optionally, in use the retaining portion is located at least in part within the receiving portion. Optionally two ends of the floss string are embedded in the retaining portion. By embedding the ends of the floss string into the retaining portion it reduces the likelihood of the floss string from becoming dislodged in use. Optionally, the floss loop is connected to the retaining portion at a face on the tapered end of the retaining portion. Optionally, the retaining portion further comprises a grip portion suitable for gripping between a thumb and finger. The grip portion may enable the user to hold the floss assembly more easily. The grip portion may be textured. Optionally, the retaining portion may have an extension running around at least a portion of the perimeter of the retaining portion. The extension, when pushed into engagement with the receiving portion in use may deform to produce an audible click. The audible click indicates to the user that the floss assembly is retained within the receiving portion. According to another aspect of the invention, there is described a flossing system comprising: a floss holder comprising: a handle having a receiving portion, two arms extending from the handle, each of the arms having a floss loop seat; and a floss assembly configured to be removably connected to the floss holder comprising: a floss string and a retaining portion, the floss string being connected to the retaining portion to form a floss loop, and the retaining portion being complimentary to the receiving portion; and wherein the receiving portion is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion, and the floss loop seats are configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop. The flossing system provides a reusable flossing device that can be used multiple times without the need to throw away the floss holder. This provides significant environmental benefits as compared to prior devices which may be used only once. Optionally, the flossing system may comprise any additional features or optional features of any preceding aspect (e.g. the flossing system may comprise any of the features of the floss holder and / or the floss assembly). Optionally, when the portion of the floss loop is received in the floss loop seats and the retaining portion is connected to the receiving portion the floss loop is in a tensioned state suitable for flossing. The system may automatically hold the floss loop under a suitable tension when the floss assembly is inserted into the floss holder. This makes it easier for the user to work the device as they do not need to manually tension the floss string in use. Optionally, when the floss loop is in the tensioned state suitable for flossing the lateral spacing between the two seats may be a third lateral spacing apart from each other. The third lateral spacing is greater than the second lateral spacing and less than or equal to the first lateral spacing. Optionally, the retaining portion has a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the retaining portion and a second width at an end of the retaining portion, the first width being greater than the second width; and wherein the receiving portion is complementary to the retaining portion. According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is described a kit of parts comprising: a floss holder according to any embodiment of the floss holder aspect and to any embodiment of the floss assembly aspect. According to an even further aspect of the invention, there is described a method of flossing a tooth using a flossing system. The method comprising providing: a flossing system comprising: a floss holder comprising: a handle having a receiving portion, two arms extending from the handle, each of the arms having a floss loop seat; and a floss assembly configured to be removably connected to the floss holder comprising: a floss string and a retaining portion, the floss string being connected to the retaining portion to form a floss loop, and the retaining portion being complimentary to the receiving portion; and wherein the receiving portion is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion, and the floss loop seats are configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop; and the steps of: loading the floss assembly on the floss holder; flossing one or more teeth using the floss string. The method provides a simple and effective means for a user to floss teeth. The method may comprise any additional features as described in any other aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a prior art single use floss holder; Figure 2 is an elevation view of the re-usable dental floss holder according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the re-usable dental floss holder of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an isometric view of the re-usable dental floss holder of Figure 2; Figure 5 is an additional isometric view of the re-usable dental floss holder of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a further isometric view of the re-usable dental floss holder and a tooth; Figure 7 is a close up view of a receiving portion of the handle of the floss holder; Figure 8 shows a floss assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 9a shows an end of view of the floss holder and a portion of a floss assembly located on the floss holder; Figure 9b shows an isometric view of the floss holder and a portion of the floss assembly located on the floss holder; Figure 9c shows an isometric view of the floss holder and a portion of the floss assembly located on the floss holder; Figure 10a is a close up view of an end of one arm of the floss holder of Figure 2 connected to the floss assembly of Figure 8; Figure 10b is an alternative view of Figure 10a; Figure 11a is an end on view of the flossing system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 b is an isometric view of the arms of the flossing system of Figure 11 a; and Figure 11 c is an additional isometric view of the of the arms of the flossing system of Figure 11 a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A floss holder 100, a floss assembly 101, a flossing system 200 and a kit of parts will be described with the aid of Figures 2 to 11c. The flossing tool 100 provides a reusable means to floss a tooth 10 or teeth of a user. The flossing tool 100 may be used multiple times by connecting it to the removable floss assembly 101. The floss assembly 101 may be used during a single flossing session and then disposed of (recycled or thrown away). This offers a significant environmental benefit as compared to traditional flossing tools which may only be used a single time, for example the single use floss holderl shown in Figure 1. The floss holder 100 is for use with the floss assembly 101, the floss holder 100 has a handle 110 with a receiving portion 111 and two arms 120. The floss assembly 101 is shown in Figure 8 and comprises a floss string 104 and a retaining portion 102. The floss string 104 is encapsulated or otherwise retained by the retaining portion 102. The floss assembly 101 is for removable connection to the floss holder 100 as will be described in more detail below. The retaining portion 102 is shaped to be complementary to a receiving portion 111 of the floss holder 100. To that end, the retaining portion 102 may comprise any suitable shape. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 8 the retaining portion 102 is substantially cuboid with a tapered end. The retaining portion 102 may have an optional extension 106 extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the retaining portion 102. The extension 106 is preferably a portion of the retaining portion 102 that extends outward from the periphery. The extension 106 may be a weld line from the injection moulding process from which the retaining portion 102 may be formed. The weld line is deformable and when the retaining portion 102 is pushed into the receiving portion 111, as will be described later, an audible click may be heard to indicate to the user that the retaining portion 102 is seated in the receiving portion 111. The retaining portion 102 has a grip portion 108, the grip portion 108 is sized to be held between a finger and thumb of the user and enables easy loading of the floss assembly 101 in use. Optionally the grip portion 108 may have a textured surface to aid gripping of the floss assembly 101. The textured surface may be produced during the manufacturing process and may be a dimpled or other such textured surface. Preferably the floss assembly 101 is manufactured by an injection moulding process whereby the floss string 104 is loaded and then the receiving portion 111 is co-moulded to encapsulate the floss string 104 to form the floss loop 103. The receiving portion 111 may be manufactured from any one of (or any combination of) polypropylene, nylon, and triton. Preferably the floss string 104 of the floss assembly 101 may be made from a recycled thermoplastic material in the form of a single strand of a plurality of intertwined finer fibres. The floss string 104 may be composed of any synthetic or natural material which has the desired biocompatibility to be used for the intended purpose of cleaning teeth. The floss string 104 may withstand the lateral force applied to it by the arms 120 of the holder 110 and that once it’s loaded into the holder 110 it may have suitable tensile properties. These may be that the string 104 is taunt enough to slide easily between the contact points formed by adjacent teeth 10 but flexible or loose enough to hug the curved lateral contour of the teeth 10. The preferred material that the floss string 104 may be made of may be any one of: an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), nylon or Teflon or any other suitable material that is suitable for use as a floss string. The string 104 may have any desired cross-sectional configuration, such as round, oval, square or rectangular. Preferably the string 104 will comprise a cross-sectional shape having a minimum approximate thickness of 50 to 100 pm, or 75 pm and a minimum approximate width of 0.5 to 3.0 mm, or 2.0 mm. The floss string 104 may optionally comprise a pulverised abrasive. An example of the pulverized abrasive additive is calcium carbonate having a mean average particle size of 0.1 to 2.0 pm. This additive may be added in an amount comprising about 1 to 5 percent by weight, wt% of the string loop, preferably 3 wt%. The floss string 104 may comprise a favouring agent. Examples of the flavouring gent are peppermint oil, Spearmint oil and Wintergreen oil, and it may be added in any desired amount using means and methods known in the art. The floss holder 100 will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended Figures. The handle 110 is elongated to enable a user to grip it with their hand. The handle 110 extends along a longitudinal axis 112 of the floss holder 100. The handle 110 may be sized to fit an adult’s hand or a child’s hand. The handle 110 may have additional ergonomic features, for example the handle may have one or more gripping features on the handle 110 to aid holding of the handle 110 by the user. The gripping feature may be a textured surface to reduce the chance of the handle 110 slipping out of the user’s hand in use due to decreased friction between the handle 110 and the user’s hand due to the presence of water or other liquid or fluid present on the surface of the handle 110 in use. Alternatively, the handle 110 may have an aperture or apertures which are complementary to receive a finger or number of figures or thumb of a user’s hand such that the user may grip the floss holder 100 via the apertures of handle 110. Such an arrangement may aid users who have more limited dexterity and / or reduced manoeuvrability of their digits and / or hand. As shown in Figure 2 in a top-down view of the floss holder 100 the two arms 120 extend from the handle 110 in a Y-shaped or fork-like fashion. As can be seen in the example of Figure 2 the arms 120 extend from a proximal end 130 to a distal end 122. The distal end 122 of the arms 120 are spaced further apart than the proximal end 130. At or near or adjacent the distal end 122 each arm 120 has a floss loop seat 121. The floss loop seat 121 is configured to removably receive a portion of the floss assembly 101 as will be described in more detail later. The floss seats 121 have a groove 123 as shown in Figures 3,5, 6 and 11c. The grooves 123 are aligned along a floss loop axis 124. The floss loop axis 124 is shown in Figure 2 and extends substantially perpendicular to the floss loop axis 112. In use a portion of the floss loop 104 extends between the floss loop seats 121 along the grooves 123 and the floss loop axis 112. The grooves 123 are configured to retain a portion of the floss string 104. The grooves 123 have a depth that is equal to or greater than the radius of the floss string 104. The depth may be equal to a value between the radius and the diameter of the floss string 104. Alternatively, the depth may be equal to or greater than the diameter of the floss string 104. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6, the floss loop seats 121 are at a distance d1 away from each other. This distance d1 is sized to be greater than a tooth 10 of an adult, child or animal (e.g. horse or dog) such that the user may be able to manipulate the floss holder 100 in use to clean between teeth 10 of themselves, a second person or an animal. As will be apparent the size of d1 may be tailored to the person or animal that will have their teeth flossed. For example, for a human adult the distance d1 may be 14 mm to 22 mm, preferably this distance may be 18 mm and for a human child this distance may be 13 mm to 18 mm. For an animal the distance d1 may be a value in either of the previously described ranges or some third value, for example: 10 mm to 200 mm. The arms 120 further comprise channels 125. The channels 125 aid in guiding the floss string 104 towards the floss loop seats 121. The channels 125 help to prevent the floss string 104 from becoming unseated in use. The channels 125 have a channel depth. The channel depth is equal to or greater than the radius of the floss string 104. The channel depth may be equal to a value between the radius and the diameter of the floss string 104. Alternatively, the channel depth may be equal to or greater than the diameter of the floss string 104. In alternative configurations instead of channels 125 the handle arms 120 may have guides which extend from the surface of the arm 120 and the floss string 104 may be retained between the guides. The guides may be a channel 125 extending from the surface of the floss holder 100 or they may be one or more guiding features, such as rods or walls that aid in guiding the floss string 104 to the floss loop seats 121. Each of the arms 120 may additionally have a transition region 126, the transition region 126 has a cutaway portion 127. The transition region 126 is connected to the groove 123 and aids in directing the floss string 104 around the distal end 122 of the arm 120 from the groove 123 to the channel 125. This arrangement is shown in Figures 10a, 10b and 11 a. The handle 110 has a receiving portion 111. The receiving portion 111 is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion 102 of the floss assembly 101. The receiving portion 111 is shown in Figures 2 to 4, 6 and 7. The receiving portion 111 is shown in close up in Figure 7. The receiving portion 111 is complementary to the retaining portion 102 such that the retaining portion 102 may be fitted into the receiving portion 111 in a transition fit enabling the retaining portion 102 to be removed easily from the floss holder 100 by the user. The receiving portion 111 has a recessed portion 115, the recessed portion 115 is recessed into the handle 110. The recessed portion 115 may have a depth substantially the same as the receiving portion 111. The receiving portion 111 further comprises a window 113 in a sidewall of the receiving portion 111. the window 113 is an open aperture that faces towards the distal end 122 of the floss holder 100 and arms 120. The window 113 is shaped to enable a portion of the floss string 104 and floss loop 103 to pass through the window 113. This enables the floss string 104 to pass out of the receiving portion 111 below the surface of the handle 110. This may prevent the floss string 104 from rubbing against the side of the handle 110 in use thus reducing the likelihood of friction and tearing of the floss string 104 in this region. The receiving portion 111 shown in the depicted embodiment in Figure 7 has a tapered end with a first width w1 at a first point of the handle 110 and a second width w2 at a second point of the handle 110 at the window 113. The first width w1 is greater than the second width w2. The taper may be a linear transition from w2 to w1 or there may be a curved transition or a stepped transition with intermediate widths between w2 and w1. The handle 110 may have a ramped surface 116 as shown in Figure 7. The ramped surface 116 aids in guiding the floss string 104 out of the retaining portion of the handle 110 towards the channels 125 located on the arms 120. By utilising a ramped surface 116 the floss string 104 may not pass across any sharp corners that may pressure the floss string 104 in use causing wear. In alternative configurations the receiving portion 111 may extend from the surface of the handle 110, for example as a button. In such an embodiment the retaining portion 102 may be configured to be received on the receiving portion 111, for example where the receiving portion 111 is a button the retaining portion may have an aperture sized to fit onto the button to form a transition fit. The floss holder 100 may be made from a polymer or a polymer blend. The polymer may be any one of polypropylene, a talc filed polypropylene (e.g. 20% talc, 30% talc 40% talc, or 20%-40% talc), unfilled polypropylene, nylon, copolyesters (e.g. Tritan). The polymer may be mixed with chopped glass fibre. The mixture may comprise 37-38% Nylon, 37-38% copolyester and 24-26% chopped glass fibre. The mixture may further comprise impurities such as residual monomers, oligomers, additives (e.g. used in processing), degradation products (e.g. polymer degradation products that takes place during processing or storage), fillers / reinforcements (e.g. if any fibres, nanoparticles etc added), environmental contaminants (e.g. dust, or other airborne particles), or any residual processing aids. The mixture may comprise or consist of 37-38% Nylon, 37-38% copolyester and 24-26% chopped glass fibre and the usual impurities. The usual impurities may be present in 0.01 to 0.1%. The percentages may be by weight percent (wt%) or atomic percent (atm%). The floss holder 100 may be manufactured by an injection moulding process. This may be a single shot injection moulding process. The removable connection of the floss assembly 101 to the floss holder 100 to form a flossing system 200 will now be described in more detail with the aid of Figures 9a to 11c. As shown in Figure 9a, the floss assembly 101 is partially loaded onto the floss holder 100. The floss loop 103 has been seated in the floss loop seats 121 of each of the two arms 120 and the retaining portion 102 has been located along the longitudinal axis 112 of the floss holder 100. In Figure 9a the floss holder arms 120 are in a first position and floss loop seats 121 are a first lateral spacing, d1, apart. Next, as shown in Figure 9b, a force F1 is applied to the distal end 122 of the arms 120. The force F1 is shown as a pinch type of force to move the arms 120 closer together to a second lateral spacing d2. Whilst it is depicted that the force F1 is applied from both sides across the floss holder 100 this may not be required, a force F1 may be applied to one of the arms 120 to provide the lateral movement to reach d2 or both the arms 120. In Figure 9b the floss holder 100 arms 120 are in a second position. As will be apparent d2 is smaller than d1. At the same time, or shortly thereafter a force F2 is applied to the retaining portion 102 to cause it to move along towards the handle 110 and the receiving portion 111. Once the retaining portion 102 is located above the receiving portion 111 the retaining portion 102 can be pushed into place to form the transition fit between the retaining portion 102 and the receiving portion 111. Where the retaining portion 102 has an optional extension 106 it is at this point an audible click may be heard by the user indicating that the retaining portion 102 is seated within the receiving portion 111. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 9c, the force F1 is removed and the arms 120 move back to their un-elastically deformed state with the lateral spacing between the floss loop seats 121 returning to d1, or substantially to d1. In this state the flossing system 200 (comprising the floss holder 100 connected to the floss assembly 101) is able to be used to floss a tooth 10 of a user. In Figure 9c the floss holder 100 arms 120 have moved to a third position which has a lateral spacing d3 that is less than d1 and greater than d2. Alternatively, the third position may be the same as the first position and the lateral spacing d1 may be equal to d3. The movement of the arms 120 and floss loop seats 121 back to the lateral spacing d1 or d3 causes the floss string 104 located along the groove axis 124 to become tensioned. This tensioning enables the user to floss teeth 10 more easily as they do not need to use excess pressure to achieve the same tensioning. Moreover, the arms 120 being elastically deformable between at least the difference between d1 and d2 enables the device to provide a dampening effect to moderate any excess force on the part of the user onto the teeth 10 in use. This can reduce the likelihood of excess pressure on the floss string 104 which may cause the floss string 104 to sheer as instead the force causes the arms 120 to bend elastically. Figures 10a to 11c show the path of the floss string 104 along the grooves 123 and the transition region 126 in more detail in the flossing system 200. As will be apparent from careful review of Figures 10a and 10b the transition region 126 aids in providing a path for the floss string 104 to follow and reduces the effect of any sharp corners which could provide excessive wear on the floss string 104 in use. In order to remove the floss assembly 101 from the floss holder 100 after a flossing session, the user may pinch the arms 120 together to return to lateral spacing d2, then once there is slack in the floss loop 103, they will be able to unseat the floss string 104 from the floss loop seats 121. The user may then pull on the floss string 104 to unseat the retaining portion 102 from the receiving portion 111. On removal of the retaining portion 102 from the receiving portion 111 the user may again hear an audible click should an extension 106 be provided on the retaining portion 102. As will be apparent from careful reading of the explanation of the flossing system 200 and floss holder 100 the ability to move the arm 120 between the lateral spacings d1 and d2 repeatably over many cycles of use enables the floss holder 100 to be utilised many times greater than the single use flossing tool 1 of the prior art. No. Feature d1 Distance d2 Distance d3 Distance 1 Single Use Floss Tool 2 Floss Strand 4 Arm 6 Handle 10 Tooth, Teeth 100 Floss Holder 101 Floss Assembly 102 Retaining Portion 103 104 106 108 5 110 111 112 113 115 10 116 120 121 122 123 15 124 125 126 127 130 20 200 Floss Loop Floss String Extension Grip Portion Handle Receiving Portion Longitudinal Axis Window Recessed Portion Ramped Surface Arm, Arms Floss Loop Seat Distal end Groove, Grooves Groove Axis Channel Transition Region Cutaway Portion Proximal End Flossing System

Claims

1. A floss holder (100) for use with a floss assembly (101) having a retaining portion (102) and a floss string (104) that form a floss loop (103), the floss holder (100) comprising:a handle (110) having a receiving portion (111),two arms (120) extending from the handle (110), each of the arms (120) having a floss loop seat (121) configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop (103);wherein the receiving portion (111) is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion (102) of the floss assembly (101), andwherein the receiving portion (111) is complimentary to the retaining portion (102).

2. The floss holder (100) of claim 1, wherein the two arms (120) are moveable between a first position where the floss loop seats (121) are a first lateral spacing apart relative to each other and a second position where the floss loop seats (121) are a second lateral spacing apart relative to each other; andwherein the first lateral spacing is greater than the second lateral spacing.

3. The floss holder (100) of claim 2, wherein the arms (120) are elastically deformable within a range of elastic deformation, the range of elastic deformation being greater than or equal to the change in lateral spacing between the first and second positions.

4. The floss holder (100) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the arms (120) are configured to move from the first position to the second position on application of a force at a distal end (122) of one or both arms (120), the force acting in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (112) of the handle (110).

5. The floss holder (100) of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the arms (120) are biased to return to the first position.

6. The floss holder (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the holder (100) is made from an elastically deformable material; preferably wherein the elastically deformable material is a polymer or polymer blend.

7. The floss holder (100) of any preceding claim, wherein both floss loop seats (121) comprise a groove (123), each of the grooves (123) being aligned along a groove axis (124), the groove axis (124) being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (112) of the handle (110), wherein in use a portion of the floss loop (103) extends between the arms (120)along the groove axis (124).

8. The floss holder (100) of any preceding claim, wherein each arm (120) comprises a channel (125) extending between a distal end (122) of the arm (120) and the receiving portion (111), the channel (125) being configured to receive a portion of the floss string (104).

9. The floss holder (100) of claim 7 and 8, wherein floss loop seat (121) further comprises a transition region (126), the transition region (126) comprising a cutaway portion (127) of the distal end (122) of the arm (120); and wherein the groove (123), cutaway portion (127) and channel (125) form a portion of a floss loop (103) path.

10. The floss holder (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the receiving portion (111) is a recessed portion (115) of the handle (110).

11. The floss holder (100) of claim 10, wherein the receiving portion (111) has a window (113) in a side wall.

12. The floss holder (100) of claim 11, wherein the receiving portion (111) has a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the handle (110) and a second width at a second point of the handle (110) at the window (113), the first width being greater than the second width.

13. The floss holder (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving portion (111) extends from a portion of the handle (110).

14. The floss holder (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the floss holder (100) is unitary.

15. A floss assembly (101) for removable connection to a floss holder (100) having a receiving portion (111), the floss assembly (101) comprising:a floss string (104) and a retaining portion (102);the floss string (104) being connected to the retaining portion (102) to form a floss loop (103);wherein the retaining portion (102) has a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the retaining portion (102) and a second width at an end of the retaining portion (102), the first width being greater than the second width;wherein the retaining portion (102) is complimentary to the receiving portion (111) and is configured to removably connect to the receiving portion (111) of the floss holder.

16. The floss assembly (101) of claim 15, wherein two ends of the floss string (104) are embedded in the retaining portion (102).

17. The floss assembly (101) of claim 15 or 16, wherein the floss loop (103) is connected to the retaining portion (102) at a face on the tapered end of the retaining portion (102).

18. The floss assembly (101) of any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the retaining portion (102) further comprises a grip portion (108) suitable for gripping between a thumb and finger.

19. The floss assembly (101) of any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the retaining portion (102) has an extension (106) running around at least a portion of the perimeter of the retaining portion (102~).

20. A flossing system (200) comprising:a floss holder (100) comprising:a handle (110) having a receiving portion (111), two arms (120) extending from the handle (110), each of the arms (120) having a floss loop seat (121); anda floss assembly (101) configured to be removably connected to the floss holder (100) comprising:a floss string (104) and a retaining portion (102), the floss string (104) being connected to the retaining portion (102) to form a floss loop (103), and the retaining portion (102) being complimentary to the receiving portion (111); andwherein the receiving portion (111) is configured to removably connect to the retaining portion (102), and the floss loop seats (121) are configured to removably receive a portion of the floss loop (103).

21. The flossing system of claim 20, wherein when the portion of the floss loop (103) is received in the floss loop seats (121) and the retaining portion (102) is connected to the receiving portion (111) the floss loop (103) is in a tensioned state suitable for flossing.

22. The flossing system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the retaining portion (102) has a tapered end, the tapered end having a first width at a first point of the retaining portion (102) and a second width at an end of the retaining portion (102), the first width being greater than the second width; and wherein the receiving portion (111) is complementary to the retaining portion (102).

23. A kit of parts comprising: a floss holder (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a floss assembly (101) according to any one of claims 15 to 19.19

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