Dental Floss Dispensing Device

Abstract

A dental floss dispensing device comprises a body and a dental floss dispenser and floss cutter assembly, the body has a cavity therein, the cavity has a longitudinal axis. The assembly is disposed at least partially within the cavity of the body and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The assembly is selectively positionable between at least a storage position where the dispenser is at least partially within the cavity of the body and an accessible position where the dispenser is at least partially outside the cavity of the body. The floss cutter is accessible when the assembly is in the accessible position and is concealed when the assembly is in the storage position. When the assembly is in the storage position the dispenser is concealed and no dental floss extends outside of the device. The assembly is selectively positionable between the accessible position and the storage position by rotating the body relative to the dental floss dispenser.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dental floss dispensing device comprising: 
 a body, the body having an outer surface, an inner surface and a cavity therein, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; and    a dental floss dispenser and floss cutter assembly, the assembly being disposed at least partially within the cavity of the body and being movable along the longitudinal axis of the cavity and being selectively longitudinally positionable between at least a storage position wherein the assembly is at least partially within the cavity of the body and an accessible position where the assembly is at least partially outside the cavity of the body, the dental floss dispenser and the floss cutter being accessible when the assembly is in the accessible position and being concealed when the assembly is in the storage position.    
     
     
         2 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is operatively connected to the body and is positioned, between at least the storage position and the accessible position, by rotation of the body relative to the assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the assembly between at least the storage position and the accessible position, the mechanism including at least one engagement tab, a guide cylinder including at least one longitudinally extending guide slot therein receiving the tab, and at least one helical groove receiving the tab.    
     
     
         4 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one engagement tab protrudes outwardly from the assembly and wherein the at least one helical groove is located on the inner surface of the body.  
     
     
         5 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein 
 the guide cylinder is intermediate the assembly and the body, and    the at least one engagement tab simultaneously 
 is received within and extends through the guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
 is received within the helical groove of the body  
   whereby rotational movement of the body relative to the assembly in a first direction causes the at least one engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the at least one helical groove and longitudinally along the at least one guide slot of the guide cylinder, thereby moving the assembly towards the accessible position, and    whereby rotational movement of the body relative to the assembly in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, causes the at least one engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the at least one helical groove and longitudinally along the at least one guide slot of the guide cylinder, thereby moving the assembly towards the storage position.    
     
     
         6 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein when the assembly is in the storage position, no dental floss extends outside of the dispensing device.  
     
     
         7 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the at least one engagement tab is a first engagement tab and a second engagement tab, each tab protruding outwardly from the assembly;    the at least one longitudinally-extending guide slot is a first longitudinally-extending guide slot and a second longitudinally-extending guide slot;    the at least one helical groove is a first helical grove and a second helical grove, each helical groove being located on the inner surface of the body;    the guide cylinder is intermediate the assembly and the body; and    the first engagement tab simultaneously 
 is received within and extends through the first guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
 is received within the first helical groove of the body  
   the second engagement tab simultaneously 
 is received within and extends through the second guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
 is received within the second helical groove of the body  
 whereby rotational movement of the body relative to the assembly in a first direction causes  
 the first engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the first helical groove and longitudinally along the first guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
 the second engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the second helical groove and longitudinally along the second guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
   thereby moving the assembly towards the accessible position; and 
 whereby rotational movement of the body relative to the assembly in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, causes  
 the first engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the first helical groove and longitudinally along the first guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
 the second engagement tab to move simultaneously helically along the second helical groove and longitudinally along the second guide slot of the guide cylinder, and  
   thereby moving the assembly towards the storage position.    
     
     
         8 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 7 , wherein the assembly is completely removable from the body.  
     
     
         9 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the engagement tabs is movable to selectively: 
 disengage the tab from its helical groove and from its guide slot, allowing the assembly to be disengaged from the body; and    engage the tab into its helical groove through its guide slot, allowing the assembly to be engaged with the body.    
     
     
         10 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a recess constructed and arranged to allow a user to pinch dental floss extending across the recess.  
     
     
         11 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is positioned in front of a hole from which dental floss is dispensed.  
     
     
         12 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the assembly includes an interior cavity containing a dental floss spindle providing dental floss to the hole from which the floss is dispensed.  
     
     
         13 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly includes an interior cavity containing a dental floss spindle and a tunnel extending from the cavity for allowing dental floss to be dispensed.  
     
     
         14 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the assembly includes a recess constructed and arranged to allow a user to pinch dental floss extending from the tunnel across the recess.  
     
     
         15 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly includes a mirror.  
     
     
         16 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 15 , wherein the mirror is located on an opposite side of the assembly from the dental floss dispenser.  
     
     
         17 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 12 , wherein the floss cutter is positioned so as to be substantially longitudinally aligned with the hole.  
     
     
         18 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the floss cutter is positioned so as to be substantially longitudinally aligned with the tunnel.  
     
     
         19 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , further including a clip attached to the body.  
     
     
         20 . The dental floss dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein, the assembly is fully within the cavity of the body when in the storage position.