IP Library › Granted Patent US 12690956
Granted Patent B2
US 12690956 · App. 18/313,507 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Dental flosser with floss tensioner

Inventor: Richard P. Bushman (Stillwater, MN)
A61C15/046A61C15/043
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690956
App. No.
18/313,507
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dental flosser includes a handle, a floss support coupled to the handle, a floss dispensing spool coupled to the handle, a floss collecting spool coupled to the handle, a thumbwheel coupled to the handle, and a spool brake coupled to the handle. The spool brake is configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool. The spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser and configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position.

Claims (65)

1 . A dental flosser comprising:

a handle;

a floss support coupled to the handle, the floss support including a first projection having a first tip and a second projection having a second tip, the first tip and the second tip being spaced apart in a fixed relationship;

a floss dispensing spool coupled to the handle;

a floss collecting spool coupled to the handle;

a thumbwheel coupled to the handle, the thumbwheel being configured to rotate the floss collecting spool and cause floss to move from the floss dispensing spool, across the first tip and the second tip, and onto the floss collecting spool; and

a spool brake coupled to the handle, the spool brake being configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool;

wherein the spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser, the release arm being configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position; and

wherein the spool brake includes a brake pad structured and positioned to apply a compression force to resist rotation of the floss dispensing spool.

2 . The dental flosser of claim 1 wherein the thumbwheel is accessible from the exterior of the handle.

3 . The dental flosser of claim 2 wherein the thumbwheel is accessible from opposite sides of the exterior of the handle.

4 . The dental flosser of claim 2 wherein the thumbwheel and the release arm extend through a single opening in the handle.

5 . The dental flosser of claim 1 comprising a dispensing spindle coupled to the handle, wherein the brake pad is configured to apply the compression force to the dispensing spindle when the spool brake is in the first position.

6 . The dental flosser of claim 1 comprising a dispensing gear coupled to the handle coaxially with the floss dispensing spool and a collecting gear coupled to the handle coaxially with the floss collecting spool, wherein the spool brake is configured to engage at least one of the dispensing gear or the collecting gear when the spool brake is in the first position.

7 . The dental flosser of claim 6 wherein the spool brake is configured to engage both the dispensing gear and the collecting gear when the spool brake is in the first position.

8 . The dental flosser of claim 6 wherein the dispensing gear includes gear teeth that are a different size than gear teeth of the collecting gear.

9 . The dental flosser of claim 6 wherein the collecting gear has a larger diameter than the dispensing gear.

10 . The dental flosser of claim 6 wherein the thumbwheel includes the collecting gear.

11 . A dental flosser comprising:

a handle;

a floss support coupled to the handle, the floss support including a first projection having a first tip and a second projection having a second tip, the first tip and the second tip being spaced apart in a fixed relationship;

a floss dispensing spindle rotatably coupled to the handle;

a floss collecting spindle rotatably coupled to the handle;

a thumbwheel coupled to the floss collecting spindle, the thumbwheel being configured to rotate the floss collecting spindle and cause floss to move from the floss dispensing spindle, across the first tip and the second tip, and to the floss collecting spindle; and

a spool brake coupled to the handle, the spool brake being configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spindle and/or the floss collecting spindle and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spindle and/or the floss collecting spindle;

wherein the spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser, the release arm being configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position.

12 . The dental flosser of claim 11 comprising a dispensing gear positioned coaxially with the floss dispensing spindle.

13 . The dental flosser of claim 12 wherein the dispensing gear is an integral part of the floss dispensing spindle.

14 . The dental flosser of claim 11 comprising a collecting gear positioned coaxially with the floss collecting spindle, the thumbwheel being coupled to the collecting gear.

15 . The dental flosser of claim 14 wherein the collecting gear is an integral part of the floss collecting spindle.

16 . The dental flosser of claim 11 wherein the thumbwheel and the release arm extend through a single opening in the handle.

17 . The dental flosser of claim 11 wherein the spool brake includes a brake pad positioned to contact and resist rotation of the floss dispensing spindle.

18 . A dental flosser comprising:

a handle;

a floss support coupled to the handle, the floss support including a first projection having a first tip and a second projection having a second tip, the first tip and the second tip being spaced apart in a fixed relationship;

a floss dispensing spool coupled to the handle;

a floss collecting spool coupled to the handle;

a thumbwheel coupled to the handle, the thumbwheel being configured to rotate the floss collecting spool and cause floss to move from the floss dispensing spool, across the first tip and the second tip, and onto the floss collecting spool; and

a spool brake coupled to the handle, the spool brake being configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool;

wherein the spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser, the release arm being configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position; and

wherein the thumbwheel and the release arm extend through a single opening in the handle.

19 . The dental flosser of claim 18 wherein the thumbwheel is accessible through separate slots positioned on opposite sides of the handle.

20 . A dental flosser comprising:

a handle;

a floss support coupled to the handle, the floss support including a first projection having a first tip and a second projection having a second tip, the first tip and the second tip being spaced apart in a fixed relationship;

a floss dispensing spool coupled to the handle;

a dispensing gear coupled to the handle coaxially with the floss dispensing spool;

a floss collecting spool coupled to the handle;

a collecting gear coupled to the handle coaxially with the floss collecting spool;

a thumbwheel coupled to the handle, the thumbwheel being configured to rotate the floss collecting spool and cause floss to move from the floss dispensing spool, across the first tip and the second tip, and onto the floss collecting spool; and

a spool brake coupled to the handle, the spool brake being configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spool and/or the floss collecting spool;

wherein the spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser, the release arm being configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position; and

wherein the spool brake is a single component configured to engage both the dispensing gear and the collecting gear when the spool brake is in the first position.

21 . The dental flosser of claim 20 wherein the dispensing gear includes gear teeth that are a different size than gear teeth of the collecting gear.

22 . The dental flosser of claim 20 wherein the collecting gear has a larger diameter than the dispensing gear.

23 . A dental flosser comprising:

a handle;

a floss support coupled to the handle, the floss support including a first projection having a first tip and a second projection having a second tip, the first tip and the second tip being spaced apart in a fixed relationship;

a floss dispensing spindle rotatably coupled to the handle;

a floss collecting spindle rotatably coupled to the handle;

a thumbwheel coupled to the floss collecting spindle, the thumbwheel being configured to rotate the floss collecting spindle and cause floss to move from the floss dispensing spindle, across the first tip and the second tip, and to the floss collecting spindle; and

a spool brake coupled to the handle, the spool brake being configured to move between a first position where the spool brake prevents rotation of the floss dispensing spindle and/or the floss collecting spindle and a second position where the spool brake allows rotation of the floss dispensing spindle and/or the floss collecting spindle;

wherein the spool brake includes a release arm accessible from an exterior of the dental flosser, the release arm being configured to move the spool brake between the first position and the second position;

wherein the spool brake includes a brake pad positioned to contact and resist rotation of the floss dispensing spindle; and

wherein the brake pad is configured to apply a compression force to the floss dispensing spindle when the spool brake is in the first position.