US2510194A - Dental floss holder - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1950 v c, OMAS 2,510,194

DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed Nov. 12, 1946 Cmssrm L Emma.

A TTORNE y Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,510,194 DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER, Chester L. Thomas, Denver, 0010. Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,120

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a pocket novelty which provides a combined tooth pick and dental floss holder. The principal object of the invention is to provide a small, neat, easily carried and easily used device for containing a supply of dental floss and for holding the floss in a tight, convenient position for use upon the teeth.

Another object of the invention is to combine with an efficient dental floss holder a tooth pick, and to so construct the device that both the floss holder and the tooth pick will be entirely enclosed in a small, easily carried pocket box or housing when not in use.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved pocket novelty, illustrating the dental floss portion thereof projected ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the dental floss holder portion of the pocket novelty;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof, illustrating the tooth pick portion projected for use; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section through the novelty in the completely closed position.

The invention comprises an elongated, rectangular box It formed of ornamental metal, plastic, or other suitable material. The box contains a top, a bottom, and two sides. One end of the box is open. The other end is closed by means of an end plate II. The sides of the box are provided with elongated slots l2 and [3, there being one slot in each side, respectively.

An open topped inner container 14 is slidably mounted in the box l through the open end thereof. The sliding movement is accomplished by means of a finger button l5 which projects on the exterior of the box through the slot l2.

Two prongs l6 project from one extremity of the inner container and are preferably formed by continuation of the side walls of the container, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The prongs [6 are tapered to provide relatively pointed extremities.

One of the prongs contains a receiving notch 11 in its upper edge, the other prong contains a cutting notch 18 in its lower edge. Both prongs contain tying notches [9 at their extremities.

The inner container is designed to hold a spool of dental floss, as indicated in broken line at 20. The end wall of the inner container contains a notch 2| through which the floss is pulled from the spool 20. The extremity of the floss is then passed through the notch I1 and about the tying notches 19 of one prong, thence tightly across to the tying notch of the other prong, thence is passed through the cutting notch l8, which is provided with a sharpened edge for severing the extremity Of the floss.

When desired for use, the button 15 is pushed forwardly to project the inner container, as shown in Fig. 1. This supports the tight, tied piece of floss in convenient position to be worked between the teeth of the user for removing foreign material. When not in use, the button i5 is pulled inwardly to enclose the entire device within the box It, as shown in Fig. 4.

A fiat, elongated, relatively thin tooth pick 22 is slidably mounted in the box l0 alongside of the inner container 14. The pick 22 is also provided with a finger button 23 which operates in the opposite slot l3. A suitable pointed extremity is formed on the pick for convenient use in removing foreign materials from the teeth. When not in use, the pick is withdrawn into the box through a receiving opening 24 in the end wall II by actuation of the finger button 23, as shown in Fig. 4.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A dental floss container comprising: an elongated rectangular box, one extremity of said box being open; a drawer-like rectangular container adapted to contain a spool of dental floss within said box and being slidable through the open extremity of said box, the outer end of said container having an opening for the passage of said floss; prongs extending outwardly from said outer end of said container in alignment with each side of the latter, one extremity of said floss being extended outwardly through said opening and being tied between said prongs; and a finger button projecting from the drawer-like container through an elongated slot in the side of said box, said slot and said box being sufii'ciently long to allow the container and said prongs to be withdrawn completely into said box when said button is moved in one direction, and to allow said prongs and a portion of said container to be projected from said box when said button is moved in the other direction.

CHESTER. L. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,882,204 Zrna Oct. 11, 1932 1,966,463 Rose July 1'7, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 209,566 Holland Nov. 5, 1878 215,691 Great Britain May 15, 1924 705,213 France Mar. 3, 1931

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