초록 ▼

A personal, oral hygiene instrument is provided that incorporates a replaceable tooth engaging element and a dental filament dispenser into a single, hand held instrument. The instrument includes a hand graspable base member having an internal chamber for storing and dispensing dental filament from

A personal, oral hygiene instrument is provided that incorporates a replaceable tooth engaging element and a dental filament dispenser into a single, hand held instrument. The instrument includes a hand graspable base member having an internal chamber for storing and dispensing dental filament from one end of the base member. A replaceable tooth engaging cleaning element is detachably received at the opposed end of the hand graspable base member.

대표청구항 ▼

A combination toothbrush and dispenser for dental filament wound into a dental filament bobbin, said bobbin defining a bobbin external diameter, comprising: a generally tubular, hand graspable base member having generally opposed ends along a base member axis and defining an internal chamber for rec

A combination toothbrush and dispenser for dental filament wound into a dental filament bobbin, said bobbin defining a bobbin external diameter, comprising: a generally tubular, hand graspable base member having generally opposed ends along a base member axis and defining an internal chamber for receiving said bobbin, said internal chamber presenting an opening at one of said ends and a chamber end wall opposite said opening, said internal chamber defining a chamber axis generally along said base member axis, and having a chamber depth measured along said chamber axis, and a chamber diameter decreasing in size along said chamber axis in a direction from said opening to said end wall from a size larger than said bobbin external diameter to a size smaller than said bobbin diameter whereby said filament bobbin is received within said internal chamber in a force fit; means for retaining said bobbin within said internal chamber, including a generally annular retaining member removably received within said internal chamber in confining engagement with said bobbin, a generally annular cover member spaced apart from said retaining member along said chamber axis, said cover member being snapably, detachably positioned within said internal chamber, and a removable spacer member interposed between said retaining member and said cover member, said spacer member having an axial length such that the position of said retaining member within said internal chamber is determined by said axial length of said spacer member, whereby filament bobbins of different sizes can be retained within said internal chamber by the use of spacer members having different axial length, said retaining member and said spacer member each having structure defining generally centered apertures such that said filament can be dispensed from said internal chamber through said apertures; a tooth engaging cleaning element comprising a brush having an elastomeric bristle base having a bristle receiving surface and an opposed bristle base top surface, and a plurality of bristles operably carried by said bristle base bristle receiving surface; and means operably coupling said tooth engaging element to said base member including a rigid elongated neck portion having a first end operably coupled to said base member and an opposed bristle base receiving end including structure defining a bristle base receiving channel and a receiving end top surface opposed to said receiving channel, said bristle base top surface including first and second opposed upwardly projecting retention ribs, said elongated neck portion including an outer margin and structure defining a rib receiving aperture extending through said bristle base receiving end from said receiving end top surface to said receiving channel, said rib receiving aperture presenting opposed, front and rear aperture walls, and said rib receiving aperture being spaced inwardly from said outer margin, said first retention rib snapably receivable within said rib receiving aperture and said second retention rib abutably engageable with said outer margin whereby said bristle base is detachably retained by said neck portion, said first retention rib including a sloped face engageable with said rib receiving front wall, said rib receiving aperture providing access to said first retention rib for urging said sloped face against said rib receiving front wall to facilitate removal of said bristle base from said neck portion.