WO2007003884A2

WO2007003884A2 - Dental floss storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2007003884A2
Application number: PCT/GB2006/002345
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gareth Shackleton
Original assignee: Gareth Shackleton
Priority date: 2005-07-05
Filing date: 2006-06-26
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: GB0513728D0; WO2007003884A3

Abstract

A storage device (1) for dental floss (5) comprises at least one support (3) having at least one length of dental floss (5) threaded therethrough.

Description

DENTAL FLOSS STORAGE DEVICE

The present invention relates to an improved dental floss storage device.

Dental floss is normally sold to the consumer as part of a storage unit, which includes a reel on which the dental floss is wound and a container in which the reel of dental floss locates. The dental floss is dispensed by means of pulling a suitable length of dental floss from the reel and through an opening in the container, and then cutting the dental floss on a cutting edge disposed to one side of the opening in the container.

Despite being a widely used storage device, the unit described above suffers from the disadvantage that if a user wishes to use dental floss during the course of a working day for example, they have to carry the container around in their pocket or handbag. This can sometimes be inconvenient, since such known units tend to be bulky.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or at least alleviate the above disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage device for dental floss comprising: - at least one support having at least one length of dental floss threaded therethrough.

This provides the advantage that a user may conveniently store dental floss on the support until such times as they wish to use the dental floss, at which time the user simply pulls on one end of the dental floss to remove the dental floss from the support and thereby release it from the support ready for use. This provides the further advantage that the storage device may be a single-use item, which a user can conveniently carry and then discard after use.

The support may be substantially planar.

The dental floss may be stitched to the support.

The dental floss is preferably threaded through the support by means of a single thread chain stitch.

Alternatively, the dental floss may be threaded through the support by means of a blind hem stitch.

This provides the advantage that the dental floss may be easily pulled away from the support by a user simply by means of pulling on one end of the dental floss, to cause the dental floss to unravel from the support.

The free ends of the dental floss may be free and graspable by a user.

Preferably, the dental floss is threaded through the support to form a pattern.

Alternatively, the dental floss may be threaded through the support to form text such as the user' s name or other information.

Thread may additionally be embroidered onto the support to provide additional information. In this case, the dental floss may be of one colour, whilst the embroidered thread may be of another colour, in order to indicate to a user which is dental floss and which is thread.

The support may further comprise printed text.

This provides the advantage that the device may be given out as a business card, for example.

Preferably, a single length of dental floss is threaded through the support .

This provides the advantage that a user may use the device only once before discarding.

Alternatively, the support may have a plurality of lengths of dental floss separately threaded through the support .

This provides the advantage that a user may use the device several times, for example over the course of a week, before discarding.

Different lengths of dental floss may be threaded through different portions of the support.

Each portion of the support containing a length of dental floss may be separated from the other portions containing a length of dental floss by means of perforations.

This provides the advantage that each portion and associated separate length of dental floss may be freshly removed from the support, when required. Preferably, at least one said length of dental floss is approximately 50cm in length.

This provides the advantage that the user is presented with a suitable length of dental floss for carrying out their requirements when it is removed from the support.

Preferably the support is generally of the same size and shape as a credit card.

This provides the advantage that a user may conveniently store the device in their purse or wallet.

Preferably, the support is made from card.

Alternatively, the support may be made from plastic.

This provides the advantage that the support and therefore the device itself is inexpensive to manufacture, which is particularly desirable in the case where the device is intended to be a single use item.

Preferably, the support is disposed within a sealed outer sheath.

An outer layer may be temporarily adhered around the periphery of each face of the planar support.

This provides the advantage that the device remains sanitary until such times as either the support is removed from the outer sheath, or the outer layers on each face of the planar support are removed. Each end of a length of dental floss may be attached to a respective portion of the support, and the support has perforations between said portions, such that when the two portions of the support are pulled apart along the perforations, most of the dental floss unravels from the support and the ends of the dental floss remain attached to the support.

This provides the advantage that the two ends of the support may be used as "handles" to enable a user to easily and comfortably floss the teeth.

Preferably, each end of a length of dental floss is attached to a respective portion of the support by means of lock-stitching.

Each end of at least one length of dental floss may be attached to a respective portion of the support by means of adhesive.

The device may comprise two supports sewn together by means of dental floss to form a pocket. Alternatively, the device may comprise a single folded support which is sewn together by means of dental floss to form a pocket.

This format provides the advantage that an object, for example a breath freshening mint, may be stored in the pocket formed by either the two supports or the single folded support. In this way, a user may un-ravel the dental floss from the supports ready for use, thereby opening the pocket and exposing the breath freshening mint. The dental floss may be stitched onto the support over a logo wherein the logo is revealed when the dental floss is removed from the support.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limiting sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a storage device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of a storage device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a top plan view of a storage device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the storage device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a storage device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a storage device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a top plan view of a storage device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 8 shows a plan view from below of the storage device of Figure 7.

With reference to Figure 1, a dental floss storage device 1 comprises a planar support 3 made from card or plastic, which is generally sized and shaped like a typical credit card. The support 3 has a single length of dental floss 5 threaded through, with the free ends 7 available for a user to grasp to enable the dental floss 5 to be pulled away from the support 3 in the event that the dental floss is to be removed from the support 3. The dental floss 5 is threaded through the support in an arrangement such as to form the initials of a user, thereby providing a device which can be given out by a user as a business card, for example. Thread 8 is additionally embroidered onto the support to provide additional information.

It is to be appreciated however, that additional information may be printed on the support.

With reference to Figure 2, a dental floss storage device Ia is similar to the dental floss storage device of Figure 1 but for the provision of a weakened or perforated line 9 running down the support 3a, and the feature whereby the free ends 7 of the dental floss 5 are securely stitched to the support 3a. In this way, in the event that a user wishes to use the dental floss 5, they pull on each side of the support 3a, thereby breaking the support along the weakened line 9, and unravelling the dental floss 5. Because the ends 7 of the dental floss 5 are securely attached to the support 3a, the user is presented with a free length of dental floss having "handles" formed by the two portions 10a and 10b of the support 3a at either end of the length of dental floss, to enable the user to conveniently use the dental floss.

With reference to Figures 3 and 5, a dental floss storage device Ib is similar to the dental floss storage device of Figure 2 but for the additional provision of a sealed transparent outer sheath 11. The outer sheath 11 includes a perforated or weakened line 13 substantially in line with the perforated line 9 of the support 3b. In this way, the device may remain sanitary until it is ready for use, whereupon a user may pull apart the outer sheath 11 and the support 3b to expose a length of dental floss 5, with the free ends 7 of the dental floss remaining adhered to each portion 10b and 10c of the support 3b to enable a user to use each half of the support 3b as "handles."

In the dental floss storage device Ib of Figures 3 and 5, the support 3b is not completely encased inside an outer sheath. Instead, one outer layer 19 of the outer sheath 11 is temporarily adhered around the periphery of one face 21 of the support 3b, and another outer layer 23 of the outer sheath 11 is temporarily adhered around the periphery of the opposing face 25 of the support 3b. In this way, the device Ib remains sanitary until such times as a user pulls apart the outer sheath 11 and the support 3b to expose a length of dental floss 5.

With reference to Figure 4, the dental floss storage device Ie is similar to that of Figures 3 and 5, except that the support 3e is completely encased in an outer sheath 11.

With reference to Figure β, a dental floss storage device Ic comprises two overlapping supports 3c and 3d, which are stitched together with dental floss 5 around their periphery, in order to form a pocket, in which an item such as a breath freshening mint (seen in shadow) 15 may be disposed. In this way, in the event that a user wishes to floss their teeth, they simply pull the free ends of the dental floss 5 to unravel the dental floss 5 from the supports 3c and 3d. The two supports 3c and 3d then separate to expose the breath freshening mint 15 which may be used after the user has flossed their teeth.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, a multiple use dental floss storage device If comprises a plurality of weakened or perforated lines 27 running across the support 3f. In this way, the support 3f is divided into several (in this case, six) portions 28, whereby each portion has a single length of dental floss threaded therethrough using chain stitch. In the event that a user wishes to floss their teeth, they tear a portion from the rest of the support 3f, and then unravel the dental floss therefrom, ready for use. The device If may further comprise an outer layer 30 temporarily adhered around the periphery of each portion 28 of the planar support 3f, such that when one length of dental floss is removed, the remaining lengths remain sanitary.

The storage device, several examples of which are described above, may be included in airline complimentary flight bags for example, may be given out as a business card, or may be given out to customers at restaurants. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limiting sense, and that various alternatives and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage device for dental floss comprising: - at least one support having at least one length of dental floss threaded therethrough.

2. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said support is substantially planar.

3. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is stitched to the support.

4. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is threaded through the support by means of a single thread chain stitch.

5. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is threaded through the support by means of a blind hem stitch.

6. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the free ends of the dental floss are free and graspable by a user.

7. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is threaded through the support to form a pattern.

8. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is threaded through the support to form text such as the user's name or other information.

9. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein thread is additionally embroidered onto the support to provide additional information.

10. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support further comprises printed text.

11. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a single length of dental floss is threaded through the support.

12. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a plurality of lengths of dental floss are separately threaded through the support.

13. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in claim 12, wherein different lengths of dental floss are threaded through different portions of the support .

14. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each portion of the support containing a length of dental floss is separable from the other portions containing a length of dental floss by means of perforations.

15. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said length of dental floss is approximately 50cm in length .

16. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support is generally of the same size and shape as a credit card.

17. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support is made from card.

18. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the support is made from plastic.

19. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support is disposed within a sealed outer sheath.

20. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein an outer layer is temporarily adhered around the periphery of each face of the planar support.

21. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each end of a length of dental floss is attached to a respective portion of the support, and the support has perforations between said portions, such that when the two portions of the support are pulled apart along the perforations, most of the dental floss unravels from the support and the ends of the dental floss remain attached to the support.

22. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in claim 21, wherein each end of a length of dental floss is attached to a respective portion of the support by means of lock-stitching.

23. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in claim 21, wherein each end of at least one length of dental floss is attached to a respective portion of the support by means of adhesive.

24. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising two supports sewn together by means of dental floss to form a pocket.

25. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising a single folded support which is sewn together by means of dental floss to form a pocket.

26. A storage device for dental floss as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the dental floss is threaded through the support over a lo.go such that the logo is revealed when the dental floss is removed from the support.

27. A storage device for dental floss substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .