| CPC A61C 15/048 (2013.01) | 14 Claims |
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1. A hand-held dental flossing device, comprising:
a body having a handle, said handle having a split or solid structure at one end and a palm rest at another end, which are configured for providing an ergonomic grip for a user to secure the hand-held dental flossing device through at least one hand during dental flossing operations;
a head with a plurality of arms securely affixed to one end of said handle, wherein at least one arm of said plurality of arms comprises one or more closed loops, which are configured to facilitate the passage of a dental floss, which is used for flossing teeth during the dental flossing operations;
a floating platform having a holding member configured to slidably position within said handle, wherein said floating platform comprises:
a case member defining a chamber;
a first spool with a dental floss rotatably mounted within said chamber, wherein said first spool comprises a primary worm gear profile, which is configured to engage with a first worm, that is rotatably mounted on one side of an axle shaft protruding outward through the handle, and rotated manually by a user for unwinding of the dental floss;
a second spool configured to receive used dental floss and having a secondary worm gear profile, wherein said second spool is rotatably mounted within said chamber and adapted to engage with a second worm for winding the used dental floss back onto the second spool,
wherein the second worm is rotatably mounted on another side of the axle shaft;
a pair of clutches mounted on the axle shaft on both sides while aligning with the first worm and the second worm, wherein each of the pair of clutches comprises:
a primary clutch connected to the first spool via the first worm for enabling the unwinding of new dental floss when engaged;
a secondary clutch connected to the second spool via the second worm for enabling the winding of used dental floss when engaged; and
at least one flexible spring positioned over the axle shaft on both sides, thereby positioning between the primary clutch and a bushing member affixed to one end of the first worm, and between the secondary clutch and another bushing member affixed to one end of the second worm, thereby exerting a restoring force to facilitate controlled engagement of the pair of clutches and enabling controlled slipping under predetermined torque conditions, and enabling the user to independently control the rotation of the first spool and the second spool while rotating the first worm and the second worm, respectively,
wherein said floating platform is adapted to move through said handle towards said head against an elastic member,
wherein the elastic member is flexibly mounted within said handle and is configured such that the user either decreases the tension of the dental floss at said head by rotating said first worm at the first spool in a clockwise direction while holding the second worm stationary at said second spool, or increases the tension and by rotating the second worm at said second spool in the clockwise direction while holding the first worm stationary at said first spool.
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