Dental floss apparatus with improved mechanism for collecting spent floss and with improved tip structure, and method of use

摘要

The invention is an improved dental floss holder that provides a convenient frame for the flossing of teeth. This dental floss holder allows a user to advance new floss into place ready for use without contact with the floss for improved hygienics and aesthetics. A novel advancing mechanism allows the user to simply advance the floss while holding the handle and moving a knob with a finger. The fresh floss is dispensed from a spool in the handle and the used floss is collected on a separate spool. Both spools are locked during flossing, so the force from flossing does not move the spools. A brake on the dispensing spool ensures that freshly dispensed floss is at the proper tension for use. Alternatively, friction is applied along the path of the floss to supply tension to the floss as it is being dispensed. Broken floss can be easily reattached to the collecting spool. In the preferred embodiment, an empty cartridge containing the dispensing spool can be used to supply an empty collecting spool. An improved tip structure prevents dental floss from inadvertently being removed from the dental floss holder.