U.S. patent number 3,799,177 [Application Number 05/220,873] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-26 for tool for manipulating dental floss.
Invention is credited to Kenneth R. Bragg.
United States Patent |
3,799,177 |
Bragg |
March 26, 1974 |
TOOL FOR MANIPULATING DENTAL FLOSS
Abstract
A tool for use in cleaning teeth with dental floss. Among other
features, the tool includes means for making the floss either slack
or taut, means for reciprocating the floss axially, means for
flattening the floss to ribbon shape, means to utilize a floss
container as a tool handle, and means to facilitate clamping and
release of the floss with respect to the tool.
Inventors: |
Bragg; Kenneth R. (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22825370 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/220,873 |
Filed: |
January 26, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
15/046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
15/04 (20060101); A61C 15/00 (20060101); A61c
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/91,92,89
;32/40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wolfram; John N.
Claims
I claim:
1. A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers
each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person's
mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each
handle may be grasped by a hand of the person to insert the
extremities into the person's mouth for manipulation therein
without having the person's fingers within the mouth, each such
extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss
extending between said extremities, and said extremities are
connected to each other only by said floss, whereby said
extremities are freely movable relative to each other in all
directions, and means carried solely by said tool for adjusting the
length of floss between said extremities.
2. A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated fingers
each having a slender extremity easily receivable in a person's
mouth and each finger including a handle long enough so that each
handle may be grasped by the person's hands to insert the
extremities into the person's mouth for manipulation therein
without having the person's fingers within the mouth, each
extremity having retaining means for supporting a strand of floss,
said extremities being connected to each other by a connecting
means that permits each extremity to be moved in all directions
independently of the other extremity while said extremities of both
fingers are in the person's mouth and the handle portions are
outside the person's mouth.
3. The tool of claim 2 in which said connecting means is said
floss.
4. A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each finger
having retaining means at one of its ends for supporting a strand
of floss, said fingers being connected to each other by a
connecting means that permits each finger to be moved independently
of the other finger without bending of the finger, said connecting
means includes a common body member and each finger is movable
relative to the body member without bending, and another means
movable to selected positions in one of which positions said
another means engages said fingers to fix a minimum distance
between said ends and in another of which positions said another
means permits said distance to be smaller than said minimum.
5. The tool of claim 4 in which there is a spring engaging the two
fingers pressing the said ends toward each other.
6. The tool of claim 4 in which both of said fingers are pivotally
mounted on said body member.
7. The tool of claim 6 in which there is a means associated with
each finger engageable by said body to limit the pivoting motion of
such finger in a direction away from the other finger.
8. A flossing tool comprising a member having means at one end for
supporting a strand of floss, said member having a detachable
handle, said handle being hollow to receive a supply of strand
floss and having a side opening through which the strand can be fed
from the handle to said member, and said hollow being completely
closed except for said opening, and non-threaded positive abutment
means for locating the handle with the opening in a predetermined
rotative position relative to said member in its final position of
attachment thereto.
9. The tool of claim 8 in which said opening has a snug sliding fit
with said strand to substantially seal the interior of the handle
from its exterior.
10. A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second
elongated members extending therefrom, one end of the first member
being laterally opposed from one end of the second member, said
ends having means for supporting a strand of floss therebetween,
first means solely on the body as a part thereof for fixing the
floss on the tool at two locations, second means for fixing the
spacing between said ends of the elongated members, and third means
engaging the floss at two other locations on the body and operable
for selectively rendering the strand loose and taut between said
opposed ends when said spacing is fixed and said floss is fixed as
aforesaid.
11. The tool of claim 10 in which said first means fixes the floss
to the tool at a point spaced from at least one of said ends, and
said rendering means is engageable with the strand between said one
end and said point for moving the strand axially with respect to
said one end for rendering the strand loose and taut as
aforesaid.
12. The tool of claim 11 in which said rendering means deflects a
portion of the strand laterally to cause said axial movement.
13. The tool of claim 10 in which said tool has means for fixing
the strand to the tool at two points, one on either side of the
space between said ends, and said rendering means engages and
laterally moves the strand between each end and the respective
fixation point.
14. The tool of claim 12 in which said rendering means comprises a
rotatable member having a surface engageable with the strand to
effect such lateral deflection upon rotation of the rotatable
member.
15. The tool of claim 13 in said rendering means comprises a
rotatable member having openings therein that receive and engage
the strand for laterally moving the same upon rotation of said
rotatable member.
16. The tool of claim 14 in which there is a means for fixing the
rotatable member in a selective position of rotation.
17. A flossing tool comprising first and second elongated members,
one end of one member being spaced from one end of the other
member, means on each of said ends for supporting a strand of floss
extending between said ends, and means for axially reciprocating
said strand between said ends.
18. The tool of claim 17 in which said reciprocating means
laterally deflects the strand at a location remote from said ends
for causing said reciprocation.
19. The tool of claim 17 in which said tool has means for fixing
the strand to the tool at two points one on either side of the
space between said ends, and means for moving the strand laterally
in one direction between one of said ends and a respective one of
said fixation points in a manner to increase the strand length
therebetween while simultaneously moving the strand laterally in
said one direction between the other of said ends and the other of
said fixation points in a manner to decrease the strand length
therebetween, and means to move said strands in the opposite
lateral direction to thereby achieve said reciprocation.
20. The tool of claim 19 in which the moving means comprises a
member having an opening therein receiving said strand, the sides
of said opening engaging the strand for moving the strand laterally
as aforesaid.
21. The tool of claim 20 in which the moving means has a manually
engageable portion for moving it in one direction and there is a
spring for moving it in the opposite direction.
22. A flossing tool comprising a body with first and second fingers
pivotally mounted thereon, one finger having one end opposed to one
end of the other finger, said ends having means for supporting a
strand of floss extending between said ends, and the tool including
a manually operated cam means engaging both fingers for controlling
the positions of said ends relative to each other for making the
floss loose or taut.
23. The tool of claim 22 in which said body includes a rocker
pivotally attached to another portion of said body and on which
said fingers are each pivotally mounted, and means for oscillating
said rocker.
24. The tool of claim 23 in which said oscillating means includes a
manual means for moving the rocker in one direction, and a spring
for moving the rocker in the opposite direction.
25. A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers, each
finger having means at one of its ends for supporting a strand of
floss extending between said ends, means for tightly clamping the
floss to the tool at two locations on opposite sides of said ends,
and means on the tool whereby the floss may be rendered loose or
taut between said ends without loosening and moving the floss at
such locations and without bending said fingers.
26. The tool of claim 25 in which there is a means whereby the
floss between said two locations may be reciprocated along its
lengthwise axis while it is loose between said ends and secured at
said locations.
27. A flossing tool comprising first and second fingers each
movably mounted on a body with one end of each finger generally
laterally opposite a corresponding end of the other finger, said
ends each having means for supporting a strand of floss extending
between said ends, and means for reciprocating at least one finger
in a path generally perpendicular to a straight line passing
through both said supporting means.
28. The tool of claim 27 in which said reciprocating means also
reciprocates the other finger in a path generally perpendicular to
said line.
29. The tool of claim 27 in which there is a means for adjusting
the lateral spacing of said ends.
30. The tool of claim 27 in which there are means for fixedly
attaching said strand on either side of said ends so as to fix the
length of floss between said ends independently of the spacing
between said ends.
31. The tool of claim 2 in which each said retaining means includes
an opening through which the floss passes, the opening being large
enough in cross section to receive the strand with substantially no
flattening thereof, and each opening having a substantially flat
surface engaged by the floss where the floss leaves the respective
finger in a direction toward the other finger whereby the floss may
be flattened thereby into ribbon form.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that scrubbing the teeth with dental floss on all
sides, and particularly below the gum line and between the teeth,
is important in the control and prevention of pyorrhea and tooth
decay. The recommended procedure is to slip the floss between two
teeth, hold the floss in a taut loop around about half of the side
of a tooth, and reciprocate the floss in a seesaw manner across the
tooth while at the same time moving the floss from the bottom of
the tooth to the top. This procedure is repeated for the front and
back of each tooth so that scrubbing is accomplished from bottom to
top all the way around the tooth.
At the present time such flossing is accomplished by holding the
floss with the fingers. This requires considerable dexterity and
time. Moreover, it is necessary to insert one and sometimes at
least two fingers in the mouth in order to accomplish the proper
movement on all the teeth. This is quite difficult to accomplish
and moreover the fingers obstruct vision so that flossing is not
always accomplished in the desired manner.
Tools have been provided in the past for using floss to remove food
particles from between the teeth. Because the above described
technique for flossing the teeth is a recent development, tools
heretofore provided are not suitable for accomplishing all the
desired movements of the floss.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides tools for manipulating dental floss
wherein a pair of elongated slender members adaptable for entering
the mouth support a section of floss between spaced ends of the
members and with means for making the floss taut between such ends
whereby the floss may be slipped between two teeth. The tools may
then be manipulated for loosening the floss between such ends so
that it may be wrapped partially around the tooth, and for
reciprocating the floss across the side of the tooth and for moving
it upwards and downwards on the tooth.
In one form of the invention the two members that support the floss
are separate of each other and each member is held and manipulated
by a separate hand of the user. In another form of the invention
the two members are supported on a common tool body and there are
means provided on the tool for making the floss either taut or
loose and for reciprocating the floss crosswise of the tooth.
In still another form of the invention the two members are
supported on a rocker that is pivotally mounted on a tool body and
there is a means for moving the two members by reciprocating the
rocker and thereby reciprocating the floss crosswise of the
tooth.
All forms provide a tubular container for the floss that is
attachable to the tool body to serve as a handle, means for
flattening the floss to have it assume a ribbon shape, a simple
form of clamping device for securing the floss to the tool, as well
as other features hereinafter described.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing one form of the
tool in which the floss supporting members are separate of each
other.
FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of one end of the members of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a section on lines 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a section corresponding to FIG. 4 of a modified form of
tool.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial section from a modified form of
tool.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a modified form of the tool.
FIG. 8 is a front view, partly in section of the tool of FIG.
7.
FIG. 9 is a section along the lines 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a section along the lines 10--10 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a section along the lines 11--11 of FIG. 12.
FIG. 12 is a section along the lines 12--12 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 13 is a section along the lines 13--13 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a floss supporting finger member
from FIG. 8.
FIG. 15 is a front fragmentary view, partly in section, of still
another modified form.
FIG. 16 is a view on the lines 16--16 of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a side view of part of the tool of FIG. 8.
FIG. 18 is a side view along the lines 18--18 of FIG. 15 showing a
further modification.
The tool as shown in FIG. 1 includes two identical pick-like
members 10, 15 each of which includes a thin elongated member 11
having an enlarged portion 12 as its lower end and having a passage
or opening 13 formed at its upper end. Enlarged portion 12 is
preferably square in cross section, as shown in FIG. 4, with
tapering sides 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, portion 12 may
be frusto-conical with a circular cross section, as shown in FIG.
5. Below portion 12 is a hollow handle 14 having a chamber for
receiving a supply of dental floss 16. Handle 14 includes a lower
or cup shaped portion closed at its upper open end by a cap 17
permanently cemented thereto.
Passage 13 is circular in cross section except where it opens into
a side face 21 of member 11. At this location, opening 13 is flared
outwardly in its width as shown in FIG. 2. The lower side of
opening 13 adjacent face 21 is flat as shown in FIG. 3 which
permits the floss to flatten into ribbon shape when it is made taut
between the two faces 21.
Mounted on portion 12 is a U-shaped wedge member 24 that preferably
has internal surfaces 25 coinciding in taper with sides 18. The
floss may be passed laterally through the open side of U-shaped
member 24 to facilitate insertion of the floss between member 24
and portion 12.
In the FIG. 5 form, member 24 is circular and has a longitudinal
slot 26 through which the floss may be passed laterally.
Handle 14 has a hole 27 connected to its interior and through which
the floss is passed.
A pin 28 passes through cap 17 to project from both sides thereof.
Such projecting portions cooperate with slots 29 on opposite sides
of the lower ends of members 11 to provide a bayonet type
connection between members 11 and handles 14 and also to orient the
rotative position of handle 14 relative to member 11 whereby
opening 27 is on the side of member 11 opposite to the side on
which face 21 is located so that the floss will be in proper
position for entering the lower end of opening 13 without being
wrapped around member 11.
Preferably, hole 27 is slightly smaller than the normal
unrestrained cross section diameter of the floss strand so that the
strand is compressed in diameter slightly whereby to substantially
seal the interior of the handle to keep the floss in a sanitary
condition.
An alternate method of constructing handle 14 for sealing the
interior is illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus the lower or cup shaped
portion of handle 14 has a slot or opening 27 of substantially
U-shaped cross section intersecting its upper end. A cap 17 is
cemented to the upper end of the cup shaped portion to close the
same and to squeeze the floss strand 16 so as to fill the U-shaped
slot. Both in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 6 the squeeze on the floss in the
slot or opening 27 is enough to substantially seal the opening but
not enough to prevent the floss from being pulled through the
opening.
As shown in FIG. 1 each of the handles 14 may initially carry a
supply of floss 16 with a small portion projecting therefrom as
indicated at 30.
OPERATION OF THE TOOL OF FIG. 1
To use the tool of FIG. 1, a length of floss is pulled from one of
the handles 14, in this instance from the handle 14 on member 10 of
FIG. 1. Wedge ring 24 is moved downward out of engagement with
portion 12 and the floss is then passed laterally through the open
side of member 24 to a position between a side surface 25 of member
24 and an opposed side 18 of member 11.
The free end of the floss strand is then threaded through passage
13 to face 21 of member 10 and through the corresponding passage 13
of the other pick-like member 15. The strand is then slipped
through the open side of the other wedge member 24 between it and
an opposed side 18 of enlargement 12 of member 15. Member 24 on
member 10 is then moved upwardly to tightly clamp the strand of
floss against the corresponding enlargement 12. The free end of the
floss is then pulled down along member 15 until the section of
floss 32 between faces 21 of the two members 10, 15 is of the
desired length. Wedge member 24 on member 15 is then moved upward
to clamp the floss tightly thereon. The tool is now ready for
use.
Member 10 is held in one hand by handle 14 and the other member 15
is similarly held in the other hand. To insert the floss between
two teeth, the two members 10, 15 are held apart to make the floss
taut between faces 21. After the floss is between the teeth, the
faces 21 are brought together somewhat so that floss section 32
between faces 21 is sufficiently loose so that it can be wrapped
partially around the tooth. The members 10 and 15 are then
alternately pulled with the hands to cause floss section 32 to
reciprocate in the direction of its length across the back and
sides of the tooth. At the same time, the two members 10, 15 are
manipulated so that the floss will move up and down on the tooth
between the top and bottom thereof. In this manner the tooth is
scrubbed as the floss moves simultaneously back and forth crosswise
of the tooth and upwardly and downwardly of the tooth.
Obviously, to scrub either the back or front side of the tooth the
floss must be inserted first on one side of the tooth and then on
the other so that there is a loop of floss lying on either the
front or the back side of the tooth. The crosswise and up and down
motions can then be applied. It is also obvious that the
extremities of the fingers 11 having the faces 21 are slender
enough so that either or both are receivable in a person's mouth
during a flossing operation on the teeth.
DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 8 FORM
The tool of FIG. 8 includes a main body member 40 having a lower
end 41 to which a hollow handle 14 corresponding to that of FIG. 1
is attached.
At its upper end body 40 has a cylindrical bore 45 within which is
cemented or otherwise fixedly attached a cylindrical extension 47
on a yoke 48. The upper end of body 40 also has a counterbore 49
that receives a spring 51 that bears upwardly against a ring 53
rotatably mounted on cylindrical portion 47 and which has a
projection 54 to provide locking engagement in any of a series of
circumferentially spaced depressions 56 in a lower annular face of
yoke member 48. Ring 53 has a pair of spiral slots 50, 52 whose
inner ends are on a smaller diameter than their outer ends, the
latter opening into the peripheral surface of ring 53.
Body 40 is preferably square in cross section except for its
lowermost portion, such square cross section portion including a
tapered section 43 corresponding to tapered section 18 of FIG. 1
and upon which is mounted a U-shaped wedge ring 24, also as in FIG.
1.
Body 40 has a generally rectangular slot 65 therein transverse to
the longitudinal axis of body 40 that is open to two adjacent sides
of body 40 and that is closed on two sides by projections 64 and 66
on the other two sides of body 40. Projection 66 has a recess 67
that receives a spring 67. Shallow grooves 69, 70, 71, 72 are
formed in two opposite faces of body 40 both above and below slot
65 and near the side of body 40 opposite projection 64.
Mounted in slot 65 is a slide 74 having a round button portion 75
and a flat tongue 76. One side 77 of tongue 76 has a close slide
fit with a side 78 of slot 65. The other side of tongue 76 has a
pair of laterally extending lips 81, 82 having a slot 83
therebetween, the slot 83 having a restricted mouth 84. An
elongated opening 86 in tongue 76 receives cylindrical portion 47
of yoke 48 with a sliding fit.
Yoke 48 at its upper end has a pair of upwardly extending sides 90,
91 with a pin 92 extending therebetween. Pivotally mounted on pin
92 are a pair of slender elongated fingers 93, 94 that are
identical and each of which has a narrow slot 105 therethrough.
Finger 94 has a slide 95 mounted thereon. Slide 95 is attached by a
flat tongue 96 that projects through slot 105 to a cylindrical pin
97 that projects to either side of tongue 96. Each finger 93, 94
has a pair of side flanges 100, 101 that interfit as shown in FIG.
9 and which have holes 102 therethrough for reception of a pivot
pin 92. Slot 105 traverses a series of steps formed in members 93,
94, such steps comprising ramp portions 106 and flat portions 107.
Flat portions 107 are substantially parallel to the vertical axis
of the tool when the fingers 93, 94 are in the position shown in
FIG. 8. A torsion spring 110 supported on pin 92 bears against ribs
111 in fingers 93, 94 urging the latter toward each other. The
lower end of each finger 93, 94 is rounded as at 113 to permit the
fingers to pivot toward each other and has a flat portion 114
engageable with upper face 115 of yoke 48 to limit pivoting motion
of the fingers away from each other. Also, body 40 can extend at an
angle relative to yoke 48.
OPERATION OF FIG. 8 FORM
After a handle 14 containing floss 16 has been assembled to body 40
in the manner described in connection with FIG. 1, a length of
floss is pulled out of the cartridge through opening 27 and is
inserted through the open side of U-shaped wedge ring 24 while the
latter is in a loose or lower position on body tapered section 43.
The floss is then inserted in groove 70, slot 83, groove 72, slot
52 and slot 130 in yoke 48. From there it is inserted through
openings 98 in members 94 and 93, then into slots 131 and 50,
groove 71, slot 83, groove 69 and through wedge member 24. At this
time slide 95 is a selected position with pin 97 bearing on a
selected flat portion 107 of member 93 for holding members 93, 94
in the spread apart position shown in FIG. 8.
The free end of the floss below wedge member 24 is now pulled to
draw the floss tight through the tool. Wedge member 24 is then
moved upwardly to tightly wedge the floss against opposite sides 43
of body 40.
With the floss taut between openings 98 of members 93, 94, the
upper end of the tool is now placed in the person's mouth and the
floss portion 99 between members 93, 94 is inserted between two
teeth and down to the gum line. Slide 95 is now moved upwardly so
that button 97 rides off of the selected flat 107 to permit spring
110 to move the upper ends of members 93, 94 toward each other so
that floss portion 99 becomes slack whereby it may be partially
wrapped around a tooth by a slight pull upon the tool. In addition,
the amount of slack may be adjusted by turning ring 53. Turning the
ring in one direction causes the floss to move radially inwardly in
slots 50, 52 for taking up slack at 99 and movement in the other
direction increases the slack.
To scrub the tooth, the person moves the tool so that the floss
portion 99 moves up and down between the top and bottom of the
tooth while at the same time he manipulates slide 74. Pushing slide
74 inwardly causes slot 83 to move the floss therebetween to the
right, as viewed in FIG. 8. This pulls the floss portion 99
leftwardly from opening 98 in member 94 toward and into opening 98
of member 93. Upon release of slide 75, spring 68 returns it
leftwardly and slot 83 now moves the floss therebetween to the left
and causing the floss at 99 to move from member 93 toward member
94. Thus an axial reciprocating action of the floss crosswise of
the tooth is achieved by such manipulation of slide 74.
CONSTRUCTION OF FIG. 15 FORM
In the modification of FIG. 15, body 135 has a lower end, not
shown, the same as the lower end of members 11 of FIG. 1 and to
which a handle 14 is attached by a bayonet connection such as at
28, 29 also of FIG. 1. Body 135 also has an intermediate portion
137 square in cross section and with a part thereof tapered as at
138 to cooperate with U-shaped wedge member 24, all in the same
manner and construction similar to FIG. 1.
A yoke 121 has a generally cylindrical portion 121a with a
cylindrical shaft 140 depending therefrom that fits into a bore 141
in body 135 and cemented or otherwise rigidly attached to body 135.
Body 135 also has a counterbore 143 with a spring 144 therein that
bears against a ring 53 that is identical to ring 53 of FIG. 7 and
which has a projection 54 engageable in circumferentially spaced
depressions 56 on the lower side of yoke 121. Projection 54 and
depressions 56 are not shown in FIG. 15 but are located and
function in the same manner as in the tool of FIG. 8.
Yoke 121 has side members 124 with a pin 120 extending therebetween
and also has a recess 148. A rocker 118 is pivotally mounted on pin
120 and has an arm 150 extending into recess 148. Arm 150 has a
notch 151 that receives the inner end of a pin 152 that is slidable
in a side opening in yoke 121 and thereto. Rocker 118 has
sidewardly extending arms respectively pivotally mounted on one of
the two pins 119 carried by the lower ends of elongated slender
members 116, 117. Members 116, 117 are identical and have slots
115, ramps 107 and flats 106, all in the same manner as the like
numbered elements of FIG. 8. Also, member 116 carries a slide 95
attached to a pin 97 and mounted in the same manner as in FIG. 8.
The upper ends of members 116, 117 have openings 98 identical to
the corresponding openings of FIG. 8 and in which floss strand 16
is received. A pair of springs 158, each supported on a respective
pin 119 has a free end that bears on members 116, 117 urging the
same toward each other.
OPERATION OF FIG. 15 FORM
With a floss strand 16 carried by the tool as shown in FIG. 15, and
with the floss portion 99 between the upper ends of members 116,
117 taut while slide 95 is in the position shown, floss portion 99
is inserted between two teeth. Slide 95 may then be moved upward
between a different set of flats 106 to permit spring 158 to pull
members 116, 117 toward each other, if it is desired to have slack
in floss portion 99. The slack may be further adjusted by ring 53
in the same manner as in FIG. 8.
Cross bar 154 may now be manually moved to the right to cause
rocker 150 to pivot counter clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 15. This
causes member 116 to move upward and member 117 to move downward,
thus generating relative motion between the upper ends of such
members. Release of cross bar 154 permits spring 122 to pivot
rocker 118 in the opposite direction and thereby cause members 116
and 117 to reverse their vertical motion. Movement of members 116,
117 in this manner imparts motion to the floss portion 99
therebetween, causing the floss to scrub the tooth. If desired, one
of the members 116, 117 may be held firmly against the tooth during
use of the FIG. 15 tool. The tools of FIGS. 1 and 8 could also be
used in a corresponding manner.
An alternate method of the construction in FIG. 15 is to clamp the
two ends of floss 16 to members 116 and 117 respectively so that
the clamped ends of floss move with members 116 and 117. This is
done by providing heads 159 on pins 119 with nearly flat conical
undersurfaces 160.
Operation of this alternate is by pulling the floss from handle 14
then taking a turn or two around one of the pins 119 under the head
so as to wedge the floss between the head and surface of member
117. The floss is then threaded successively through openings 98 in
members 116 and 117 and then making turns around the other pin 119
under its head to wedge the floss again between the head and rocker
118.
It is preferable to make all forms of the tool of molded plastic.
although other materials could be used.
* * * * *