Dental floss holder

Abstract

The invention is a floss holder having an extension for easy holding of the floss within a narrow passage, typically the user's mouth, where both of the user's hands may not easily pass. In order to accomplish this the holder handle defines a chamber for holding a spool loaded with floss. This spool then passes through an opening in the handle and adjacent to a face on an extension which the user may place of finger or thumb of the hand holding the handle to hold the floss in place. At the extremity of the handle is a head around which the floss may be wrapped to further secure it in place. The floss continues off of the head to the desired length and can be held in a similar unit or by wrapping around a user's hand. Since a portion of the extension is preferably thinner than the fingers of the user, it may be more easily placed within the narrow passage to simplify flossing.

1 . I claim a floss holder for holding dental floss comprising: 
 a) a handle having a top and a bottom and a body between the top and bottom, said body further comprising a face;    b) at least one first extension having an extremity farthest from the handle and wherein said first extension further comprises at least one securing means attached to the extremity for providing a frictional hold on the dental floss:    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the handle is suitable for gripping by the user's first hand and wherein the at least one first extension is adjacent to the handle so that at least one finger from the first hand may apply pressure to the floss adjacent to the extension while the remainder of the hand holds the handle.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the at least one securing means further comprises ahead attached to the extremity of having a diameter greater than the diameter of the at least one first extension.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3  wherein the head is divided at one end by defining a notch so that the floss may be wrapped around the head and through the notch.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 4  wherein the notch defines a spacing which is approximately the same as the floss so that the floss may be frictionally held within the notch.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 5  wherein the notch is v shaped so that the floss is held progressively tighter as it is inserted within the notch.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the head is made of flexible material so that the floss may may be held more tightly within the notch as it flexes outward to accept the floss and then returns to it's original shape.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the held having a reduced end extending at an angle from a handle attached to the reduced end and further comprising a tie surface attached to the reduced end opposite the handle.  
     
     
         9 . The floss holder of  claim 1  wherein the floss holder handle defines a chamber and wherein the chamber defines a holding means for releasably dispensing floss.  
     
     
         10 . The floss holder of  claim 9  wherein handle defines an opening from which the floss may issue from the handle.  
     
     
         11 . The floss holder of  claim 10  wherein the handle further comprises a cutting means attached to the handle for cutting the floss.  
     
     
         12 . The floss holder of  claim 10  wherein the holding means comprises a spool of floss within the chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The floss holder of  claim 12  wherein the chamber further defines at least one holding face for maintaining the location of the spool.  
     
     
         14 . The floss holder of  claim 13  wherein the holding face further comprises a spindle for rotationally holding the spool.  
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 1  further comprising a dental tool on the end opposite the reduced end.  
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 15  wherein the tool is a brush.  
     
     
         17 . The holder of  claim 15  wherein the tool is a mirror.  
     
     
         18 . The holder of  claim 15  wherein the tool is a pick.  
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 15  wherein the tool held at an angle to the handle.  
     
     
         20 . The holder of  claim 1  wherein the securing means comprises a rounded surface of soft material for massaging the gums.