U.S. patent number 3,853,134 [Application Number 05/297,211] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-10 for toothbrush and dental-floss dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Vistron Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert C. McCord.
United States Patent |
3,853,134 |
McCord |
December 10, 1974 |
TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTAL-FLOSS DISPENSER
Abstract
A toothbrush is provided having a handle constructed for the
storage therein and dispensing therefrom of dental floss.
Inventors: |
McCord; Robert C. (Florence,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Vistron Corporation (Cleveland,
OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23145331 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/297,211 |
Filed: |
October 13, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/309; 401/195;
401/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B
15/0071 (20130101); A61C 15/043 (20130101); A46B
2200/1066 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A46B
15/00 (20060101); A61C 15/04 (20060101); A61C
15/00 (20060101); A61c 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/84R,84AB,90,91,92R,92A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McNeill; G. E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jones; John F. Kemmer; Sherman
J.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a toothbrush comprising a handle equipped at one end with
longitudinally spaced rows of tufts of suitable bristles and at the
hollow opposite end with a dental-floss dispenser comprising a roll
of dental floss mounted inside the handle and a cutter equipped
with an open slot to receive the dental floss before it is cut,
said cutter being located at the very end of the handle, the
improvement comprising a rotatably mounted end cap adapted to
surround the cutter, said end cap being equipped with a hinged
cover which can be opened or closed in a locking position to expose
or conceal and protect the dental-floss cutter.
Description
The present invention relates to a combined toothbrush and
dental-floss dispenser and more particularly pertains to a
toothbrush having a dental-floss dispenser in the handle
thereof.
This invention relates to attachments for toothbrushes and provides
a novel, convenient, simple, efficient and practical device within
the handle of a toothbrush for storing and dispensing dental floss,
said device being so constructed and located as to be conveniently
available but not to interfere with normal use of the toothbrush as
such.
An important object of this invention is to provide a toothbrush
with a handle constructed for the convenient storage therein and
dispensing therefrom of dental-floss material.
Another object is the provision of a toothbrush handle so
constructed as to contain in a convenient manner and location a
novel dental-floss dispenser.
With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as
the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination
and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction
hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes
in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be
made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
The article of this invention can best be described by referring to
the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toothbrush-dental-floss dispenser
partly in section.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the toothbrush-dental-floss dispenser
also partly in section showing the end cap cover open in
phantom.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged end view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view similar to FIG. 5 showing the novel
dispenser in operation.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view with parts in section of the end cap and
floss cutter.
FIG. 9 is an end elevation taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is an end elevation taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 8.
The device embodied in this invention comprises a toothbrush handle
1 equipped at one end thereof with several longitudinally spaced
rows of tufts of suitable toothbrush bristles 2, as is the common
practice in toothbrush manufacture, and at the opposite end thereof
with a threaded, rotatably demountable end cap 3 having a hinged
cover 4. The interior of the toothbrush handle 1 in the vicinity of
the end cap 3 is hollow and adapted to receive a dental-floss
roller 5 when said dental-floss roller containing dental floss 6 is
placed in the toothbrush handle 1, the dental-floss roller 5 being
rotatably restrained within the toothbrush handle 1 when the end
cap is in place. Also mounted at the end of the toothbrush handle 1
which is adapted to receive the dental-floss roller 5 and end cap 3
is mounted a floss cutter 7 which is equipped with an open slot 8
to receive the dental floss before it is cut and mounting legs 9
for attaching the floss cutter 7 to the portion of the end cap 3
inside the end cap cover 4. The floss cutter 7 is mounted in such a
way as to be contained in or exposed by the end cap 3 depending
upon whether the end cap is in an open (FIG. 7) or closed (FIG. 3)
position.
* * * * *