Method and apparatus for toothbrush and flossing

Abstract

An apparatus including a cover, a tooth brush device, and a flossing device. The cover may be configured to be attached or detached from the tooth brush device such that when attached, the cover covers the flossing device and prevents the flossing device from being used for flossing, and when detached, the cover allows the flossing device to be used for flossing. The flossing device may include first and/or second detachable flossing sections, which can be detached from or attached to the rest of the flossing device. The cover may have a substantially cylindrical shape, with an inner chamber in which the flossing device resides when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device. The cover may be attached to the toothbrush device, such that the cover and a portion of the apparatus which is not part of the cover, prevent air from entering the inner chamber.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cover;   a tooth brush device;   a flossing device;   wherein the cover is configured to be attached or detached from the tooth brush device such that when attached, the cover covers the flossing device and prevents the flossing device from being used for flossing, and when detached, the cover allows the flossing device to be used for flossing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the tooth brush device has a proximal end and a distal end; 
 wherein the flossing device has a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 wherein the proximal end of the tooth brush device is fixed to the proximal end of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the flossing device includes a first detachable flossing section, which can be detached from or attached to the rest of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first detachable flossing section includes a first flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a first post and the second end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a second post. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 the flossing device includes a second detachable flossing section, spaced apart from the first detachable flossing section, which can be detached from or attached to the rest of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 the first detachable flossing section includes a first flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a first post and the second end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a second post; and 
 the second detachable flossing section includes a second flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the second flossing string is attached to an end of a third post and the second end of the second flossing string is attached to an end of a fourth post. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the cover has a substantially cylindrical shape, with an inner chamber in which the flossing device resides when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein
 the cover is substantially aligned with an elongated body portion of the toothbrush device, when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device, so that the cover can be used as a handle, when attached to the toothbrush device to brush an individual's teeth. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device, the cover and a portion of the apparatus which is not part of the cover, provide an airtight seal, preventing air from entering an inner chamber defined by the cover and the portion, wherein the flossing device resides in the inner chamber. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising the steps of:
 using a tooth brush device of an apparatus to brush an individual's teeth;   using a flossing device of the apparatus to floss the individual's teeth;   wherein the apparatus includes a cover;   wherein the cover is configured to be attached or detached from the tooth brush device such that when attached, the cover covers the flossing device and prevents the flossing device from being used for flossing, and when detached, the cover allows the flossing device to be used for flossing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein
 the tooth brush device has a proximal end and a distal end; 
 wherein the flossing device has a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 wherein the proximal end of the tooth brush device is fixed to the proximal end of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein
 the flossing device includes a first detachable flossing section, which can be detached from or attached to the rest of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein
 the first detachable flossing section includes a first flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a first post and the second end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a second post. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein
 the flossing device includes a second detachable flossing section, spaced apart from the first detachable flossing section, which can be detached from or attached to the rest of the flossing device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein
 the first detachable flossing section includes a first flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a first post and the second end of the first flossing string is attached to an end of a second post; and 
 the second detachable flossing section includes a second flossing string having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the second flossing string is attached to an end of a third post and the second end of the second flossing string is attached to an end of a fourth post. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein
 the cover has a substantially cylindrical shape, with an inner chamber in which the flossing device resides when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein
 the cover is substantially aligned with an elongated body portion of the toothbrush device, when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device, so that the cover can be used as a handle, when attached to the toothbrush device to brush an individual's teeth. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein
 when the cover is attached to the toothbrush device, the cover and a portion of the apparatus which is not part of the cover, provide an airtight seal, preventing air from entering an inner chamber defined by the cover and the portion, wherein the flossing device resides in the inner chamber.