Through-Hole Dental Implement Holder for Floss Threader Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental floss threaders are difficult to handle and store efficiently, posing contamination risks and space inefficiencies in dental environments, and conventional holders do not effectively accommodate the narrow portion of floss threaders.

Innovation Solution

A dental implement holder designed to receive the narrow portion of a floss threader, featuring through holes extending from the top to the bottom surface, with a shape resembling a molar tooth, capable of holding multiple threaders and facilitating easy retrieval without contamination, and incorporating indicia to alleviate patient anxiety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If floss threaders are stored in small envelopes, then they can be packaged compactly, but it becomes difficult to remove individual floss threaders without touching other threaders while wearing gloves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging volumeVSAvoidease of removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holder divides the storage space into multiple individual slots, each designed to accommodate a single floss threader. This segmentation allows dental professionals to access one threader at a time by gripping its narrow portion, without needing to touch adjacent threaders, thereby solving the contamination issue while maintaining compact storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder acts as an intermediary storage device between the packaged floss threaders and the dental professional's gloved hand. By providing dedicated slots with appropriate geometry, the holder enables safe handling and retrieval without direct hand contact with multiple threaders simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional holders are used that require grabbing the narrow portion with a gloved hand, then individual threaders can be removed, but this risks contamination of adjacent floss threaders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removalVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder creates physically separated compartments for each floss threader, so that when a dental professional grasps the narrow portion of one threader for removal, the gloved hand cannot simultaneously contact adjacent threaders. This spatial segmentation eliminates the cross-contamination risk while maintaining easy individual access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each slot in the holder is designed with specific local geometry that accommodates only one floss threader, with the opening positioned to allow gripping of the narrow portion. This localized design ensures that the contamination risk is contained to a single slot rather than affecting multiple threaders

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If spaced-aperture holders are used to store floss threaders, then individual access is possible, but they are less space efficient in cramped dental offices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual accessVSAvoidholder footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holder transitions from a two-dimensional flat storage surface to a three-dimensional structure with vertical depth. By stacking multiple slots vertically within a compact footprint, the holder provides individual access to each threader while minimizing the horizontal space occupied on the dental counter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If through holes are made longer than the narrow portion of floss threader, then the narrow end does not contact the surface the holder rests on, but this increases the holder's height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface contact contaminationVSAvoidholder height

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The through holes are designed with a specific length parameter that exceeds the length of the narrow portion of the floss threader. This parameter change ensures that when the threader is inserted, its narrow end remains suspended within the holder and does not contact the surface below, preventing contamination while accepting the necessary increase in holder height

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12433727B1Dental implement holder

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 SHILOH ROOTS LLC

AI summary

A dental implement holder for receiving the narrow ends of floss threaders. The dental implement holder defines a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of through holes extend from the top surface through the bottom surface. Each of the plurality of through holes is configured to receive a narrow end of a floss threader. Each of the plurality of through holes defines a length greater than the length of a narrow portion of a floss threader so that once inserted, the narrow end does not contact the surface the dental implement holder is resting on, preventing contamination. The plurality of through holes facilitates easy cleaning of the dental implement holder by flushing the through holes with water and/or cleaning solution to remove debris and unwanted contaminants.