Dental floss dispenser

Abstract

A dental floss dispenser which, from a size and shape standpoint, looks very much like a credit card housed within a protective case. The dispenser includes a floss holder which can be described as flat, relatively thin, of a generally rectangular shape, and preferably made of a relatively rigid material. The case for the floss holder completely surrounds the holder and is open or openable at one end so that the holder may be easily moved in and out of its case. The case can be made of a flexible plastic material--with a clear plastic being preferred. The holder is provided with a supply of dental floss which is preferably wound from side edge to side edge of the holder and about the middle section thereof. This leaves the upper end of the holder free of floss. Near the upper end of the floss holder which is the end initially withdrawn from the case and on one edge of the holder is a notch which is used to engage and hold the floss after a length has been removed from the holder. A second notch is provided on the opposite edge of the holder and a cutting blade is positioned in this notch to cut the floss. Preferably, the holder is mounted within its protective case in a special manner so that not all of the holder can be removed from the case. That is, stop means are provided in the dispenser which control the distance the holder may be pulled from the case. Such stop means function so that only that end of the holder having the floss engaging notch and the floss cutting means are exposed when the floss holder is pulled from the case. Thus the main portion of the floss, which is wound about the holder, remains covered by the case. This keeps the user's fingers from possibly contaminating the floss and serves to protect the floss from other contamination as well.