Importance

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Abstract

A device for storing dental floss and paying the floss out is disclosed, which device provides three separately-usable strips of dental floss for use to floss teeth. The three strips form a U-shaped loop, and are tightened, or tensioned, for use by a tensioning means made up of an axle with a slot formed at each end, through which portions of the first and third strips of floss pass, which first and third strips are parallel to each other. The axle is mounted for conjoint rotation with a ratchet wheel which is allowed rotation in only one direction by an associated pawl. A thumb wheel mounted for rotation with the ratchet wheel and axle is rotatable by the user of the device to continually tension the strips of floss for use, which rotation of the thumb wheel is easily done by one hand of the user. The axle is readily removable from the thumb wheel and ratchet wheel, and is rotatable with them by a non-circular part formed in the central portion thereof, which non-circular part mates with the non-circular openings in each of the thumb wheel and ratchet wheel.

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First Claim