Integrated toothbrush and floss dispenser

Abstract

An integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus. An integrated toothbrush and dental floss dispenser can include a toothbrush head positioned at one end of the handle and a floss cutter positioned at an end of the handle opposite the toothbrush head. A dental floss dispenser can be positioned along the length of the handle. The handle can have a floss channel formed longitudinally along the handle. The floss channel can provide a passageway for the dental floss and can guide the dispensing dental floss toward the floss cutter. Additionally, the integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus can include a tension applicator for applying tension to a spool of dental floss.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An integrated toothbrush and dental floss dispenser apparatus comprising: 
 a handle having a floss channel formed longitudinally along the handle;    a toothbrush head positioned at one end of said handle;    a floss cutter positioned at an end of said handle opposite to said toothbrush head;    a dental floss dispenser positioned between said toothbrush head and said floss cutter; and    a disposable spool of dental floss removably mounted to said dental floss dispenser, wherein floss from said spool of dental floss can be dispensed into said floss channel toward said floss cutter.    
     
     
         2 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom casing coupled to said handle over said floss cutter.  
     
     
         3 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a snap structure affixed to said handle for securely coupling said bottom casing to said handle.  
     
     
         4 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator positioned proximately to said floss dispenser, said visual indicator visually indicating when to replace said disposable spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         5 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said floss cutter is detachably affixed to said handle.  
     
     
         6 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tension applicator mounted to said handle and frictionally engaged to said spool, said tension applicator resisting rotation of said spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         7 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation controller mounted to said dispenser and frictionally engaged to said spool, said rotational controller frictionally resisting rotation of said spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         8 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush head is detachably coupled to said handle.  
     
     
         9 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said spool of dental floss has a shape corresponding to one of a circle, square and octagon.  
     
     
         10 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said dental floss dispenser comprises a post extending perpendicularly from said handle and providing an axis of rotation for said spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         11 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said dental floss dispenser includes a dispenser casing covering said spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         12 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator affixed to said handle proximate to said dispenser, said visual indicator indicating when said spool of dental floss is nearing exhaustion.  
     
     
         13 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a restriction formed in said floss channel for preventing dental floss from recoiling up said floss channel.  
     
     
         14 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleat mounted to said handle to which floss can be secured.  
     
     
         15 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a leader attached to an end of said floss in said spool of dental floss.  
     
     
         16 . The integrated toothbrush and dental floss apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said floss channel comprises a mouth having a diameter which exceeds the diameter of said floss channel.