Flosser tip holding cartridge

Abstract

A flosser tip holding cartridge including one or two internal storage rails having a base for supporting the rails upright on a support surface. A housing surrounding and protecting the storage rails and a slot in the front portion of the housing for accessing each rail. A tip removal slot on the top side for facilitating the removal of a flossing tip from the flossing device. Each rail includes a longitudinally-oriented recess having side walls that define a shape that closely receives individual flosser tips for storage and access.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A flosser tip holding cartridge for holding flosser tips to be used in conjunction with an interproximal flossing device, comprising: 
 a) at least one storage rail configured to removably secure said flosser tips therein; and    b) an external housing configured to surround said at least one storage rail and including at least one opening configured to allow for the insertion of the end of said flossing device to access said flosser tips.    
     
     
         2 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a second storage rail;    a base for supporting both of said storage rails on a support surface; and wherein 
 said housing defines a second slot, with said slots configured to allow access to one of said storage rails.  
   
     
     
         3 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said housing further includes a slot for facilitating the removal of a flosser tip from the interproximal flosser.  
     
     
         4 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 3   , wherein said slot defines a first end and a second end, and is tapered from being relatively wide at the first end to being relatively narrow at the second end.  
     
     
         5 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 4   , wherein said slot defines a rim having an outside surface and an inside surface; said rim on said inside surface being sloped downwardly from the first end to the second end.  
     
     
         6 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said housing is triangular in shape along its length.  
     
     
         7 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said housing has an at least partially-open bottom end  38 .  
     
     
         8 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said storage rail includes two sidewalls defining a narrow first portion, a wider second portion and a third portion defining a retaining groove having an outer edge for receiving and selectively retaining said flosser tip.  
     
     
         9 . A cartridge as defined in    claim 8   , wherein said outer edge of said retaining groove is resiliently expandable to allow said flosser tip to be removed therefrom.  
     
     
         10 . A method for removing a flosser tip from the rocker arm of an interproximal flossing device, said method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting said tip and said rocker arm into a slot for facilitating the removal of a flosser tip from the interproximal flosser, said slot having a first end and a second end;    moving said tip and said rocker arm from said first end of said slot to said second end; and    withdrawing said rocker arm from said slot.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10   , wherein said slot is tapered from being relatively wide at the first end to being relatively narrow at the second end.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 10   , wherein said slot defines a rim having an outside surface and an inside surface; said rim on said inside surface being sloped downwardly from the first end to the second end.  
     
     
         13 . A method for removing a flosser tip from the end of a shaft, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flosser tip having an open end and removably connected to said end of said shaft; and    expanding said open end to disconnect said tip from said end of said shaft.