The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2014
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2011
Russell G. Kalbfeld, Naperville, IL (US);
David L. Barcus, Elmhurst, IL (US);
Chad Misner, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Russell G. Kalbfeld, Naperville, IL (US);
David L. Barcus, Elmhurst, IL (US);
Chad Misner, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Sunstar Americas, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A dental floss dispensing unit includes a housing, a supply spool, and a metering element. The supply spool is coupled to the housing and has a length of floss wound thereabout. The length of floss has a free end extending from the housing and a plurality of alternating and distinct first and second floss segments. The metering element engages the length of floss and provides resistance to removal of the length of floss from the housing. A magnitude of the resistance changes as each floss segment moves into engagement with the metering element, thereby providing a tactilely detectable indication to the user that one of the first or second segments is emerging from the housing. The dispensing unit is configured to allow the supply spool to be manually rotated without manipulation (e.g., disassembly) of the housing for rewinding floss onto the spool.