US4776358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floss employing microporous tapes sandwiching paste dentifrice
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-03-17
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Granted: 1988-10-11
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Expires: 2008-03-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved dental flossing material and method of making the same is disclosed. The flossing material in the form of a tape is formed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) folded longitudinally to form a pair of laminae defining a recess therebetween in which an abrasive or non-abrasive cleaning material is disposed. During the cleaning procedure, material flows from the free edges of the tape to become deposited upon the surfaces of the teeth and adjacent gingiva. Due to changes in light transmitting quality of the tape, a visual and reversible indication of prior use becomes apparent. In the manufacture of the tape, the PTFE, which is microporous, is coated on one surface thereof with a moist dentifrice which may be suitably thinned using a volatile vehicle. After folding, the moisture evaporates through the microporous structure to partially dry the dentifrice to a point where the abrasive particles attain a useful degree of shear, following which the finished article is enclosed in an airtight or hermetically sealed envelope to maintain a useful moisture level. Optionally, for greater longevity the dentifrice may contain a humectant.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Lorch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C15/00; A61C15/04; A61C15/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An improved article for flossing the teeth, comprising: a base element including first and second laminae of thin, flexible microporous polytetrafluoroethylene having a pair of inwardly facing, opposed surfaces defining an interstice; said laminae being thin and strong enough to floss between contacting teeth; a water-suspendable dentifrice containing a particulate abrasive material applied to said opposed surfaces as a moist coating which is partially dried by evaporation through said microporous laminae such that a quantity of the water-suspendable dentifrice remains sandwiched between said laminae; whereby said dentifrice may be resuspended by saliva and other liquids in the oral cavity when said article is applied to the teeth by being released at the free edges of said laminae under compression thereon to contact tooth surfaces during a flossing procedure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An improved article for flossing the teeth, comprising: a base element including first and second laminae of thin, flexible microporous polytetrafluoroethylene having a pair of inwardly facing, opposed surfaces defining an interstice; said laminae being thin and strong enough to floss between contacting teeth; a water-suspendable dentifrice containing a particulate abrasive material applied to said opposed surfaces as a moist coating which is partially dried by evaporation through said microporous laminae such that a quantity of the water-suspendable dentifrice remains sandwiched between said laminae; whereby said dentifrice may be resuspended by saliva and other liquids in the oral cavity when said article is applied to the teeth by being released at the free edges of said laminae under compression thereon to contact tooth surfaces during a flossing procedure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 in which said dentifrice is in paste form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 in which said dentifrice is in gel form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an airtight enclosure surrounding said articles to maintain a useful moisture content in said article prior to use.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An article as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a hermetically sealed enclosure surrounding said article to maintain a useful moisture content in said article prior to use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dentifrice contains microsponges containing flavor oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dentifrice contains a humectant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A process for manufacturing a dental floss product comprising the step (a) providing planar strips of thin flexible microporous material; (b) providing a dentifrice in fluid form having a substantial moisture content and having suspended abrasive particles; (c) coating said strips on a single surface thereof with said dentifrice; (d) abutting pairs of coated surfaces under pressure to substantially enclose said dentifrice therebetween; and (e) partially drying said dentifrice by evaporation of the moisture content thereof through the microvoids of said microporous material to a level wherein said abrasive particles have a useful degree of shear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A process for manufacturing a dental floss product comprising the step (a) providing planar strips of thin flexible microporous material; (b) providing a dentifrice in fluid form having a substantial moisture content and having suspended abrasive particles; (c) coating said strips on a single surface thereof with said dentifrice; (d) abutting pairs of coated surfaces under pressure to substantially enclose said dentifrice therebetween; and (e) partially drying said dentifrice by evaporation of the moisture content thereof through the microvoids of said microporous material to a level wherein said abrasive particles have a useful degree of shear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the process set forth in claim 8, the additional step of placing the abutted strips in a hermetically sealed enclosure to maintain the moisture content of the dentifrice at a useful value prior to use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the process set forth in claim 8, the additional step of thinning the dentifrice with a volatile vehicle prior to it application to the coated surfaces of the lamina.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process set forth in claim 10 in which said vehicle is ethanol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the proess set forth in claim 8, the additional step of placing the abutted strips into an airtight enclosure to maintain the moisture content of the dentifrice at a useful value prior to use.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process set forth in claim 8 in which said dentifrice contains a humectant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A dental floss for flossing teeth, comprising: two elongated strips of a flexible microporous polytetrafluoroethylene material, each strip having a substantially continuous surface which faces and is coextensive with the corresponding surface of the other of said strips, said strips being thin and strong enough to floss between contacting teeth, and a layer of a water-suspendable dentifrice containing moisture and a particulate abrasive material, said layer being positioned between and applied to both of said surfaces of said strips, such that said strips sandwich said dentifrice to form a continuous laminar assembly, and so that moisture in said dentifrice can escape through the micropores of said strips.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A dental floss for flossing teeth, comprising: two elongated strips of a flexible microporous polytetrafluoroethylene material, each strip having a substantially continuous surface which faces and is coextensive with the corresponding surface of the other of said strips, said strips being thin and strong enough to floss between contacting teeth, and a layer of a water-suspendable dentifrice containing moisture and a particulate abrasive material, said layer being positioned between and applied to both of said surfaces of said strips, such that said strips sandwich said dentifrice to form a continuous laminar assembly, and so that moisture in said dentifrice can escape through the micropores of said strips.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dental floss of claim 14 wherein said two strips are integral and are joined by an elongated fold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The dental floss of claim 14 wherein said two strips are separate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dental floss of claim 14 wherein said dentifrice also contains a humectant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |