Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Coated or structually defined flake – particle – cell – strand,...
Reexamination Certificate
1993-05-10
2001-08-07
Dixon, Merrick (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand,...
C428S394000, C428S364000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270890
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a multi-filament dental floss where at least a portion of the floss is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. More particularly this invention relates to a dental floss where polytetrafluoroethylene filaments comprise from about 10 percent to about 90 percent of the filaments of the dental floss.
Dental flosses come in two different forms. These forms are as multi-filaments and as tapes. As a tape the floss will have a denier of about 1200 to 3000 or more. As multi-filaments the individual filaments have a denier of about 100 to 800. The advantage of a multi-filament over a tape is that in use the filaments of a multi-filament floss splay and assist in the removal of food particles, debris and plaque from between the teeth and under the gum line. This enhanced cleaning comes from the splayed filaments each rubbing the surface of a tooth. The use of a plurality of filaments appears to exhibit an increased removal of certain particles and plaque.
In the present instance the objective is to combine the advantages of polytetrafluoroethylene filaments with those of other filaments. Polytetrafluoroethylene has the advantage of a low coefficient of friction of about 0.08 and lower. Since it has a low coefficient of friction it readily passes through the narrow spaces between teeth. In fact, it is too lubricous and is difficult to grip. This problem of polytetrafluoroethylene being too lubricous can be modified by using the polytetrafluoroethylene filaments in combination with other filaments. These other filaments all have coefficients of friction that are greater than polytetrafluoroethylene. Upon the combination of such filaments with polytetrafluoroethylene the coefficient of friction is increased. The floss has a coefficient of friction that permits it to easily pass between adjacent teeth but yet to be readily gripped. The polytetrafluoroethylene filaments provide lubricity and the non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments provide for a gripping of the floss.
The state of the art of present commercial dental flosses is exemplified by (U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,365 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,949 which disclose the use of various non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments as a floss. U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,488 discloses a different floss the use of a single strand of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene that has been coated with a microcrystalline wax as a floss. The microcrystalline wax increases the coefficient of friction so that the strand of polytetrafluoroethylene can be more easily gripped. The problem of a difficulty in gripping was solved by adding a wax coating. However, this now can also be resolved through the use of a mixture of fibers. The various non-polytetrafluoroethylene fibers that have been used consist of a selection of natural and manufactured filaments. A wax coating is used on nylon and related filaments as a lubricating agent. The most used filament material is nylon. The flosses can be wax coated or have no coating. In addition, the flosses can be coated with a flavorant, fluoride or other substance. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene that is used is a particular polytetrafluoroethylene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a dental floss which is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene filaments and non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. The floss can contain from about 10 percent to 90 percent polytetrafluoroethylene filaments and about 90 percent to 10 percent of non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. Preferably this is about 30 percent to 70 percent polytetrafluoroethylene filaments and about 70 percent to 30 percent non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. The filaments range from about 100 denier to about 800 denier. The polytetrafluoroethylene filaments can be expanded polytetrafluoroethylene but this in most instances will not be the case due to the high cost of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. The non-polytetrafluoroethylene can be any of a nylon, rayon, dacron, cellulose, cotton, polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylate, silicone polycarbonate, styrene butadiene, styrene ethylene-propylenes and thermoplastic polyurethanes. A wide range of fibers can be used. The fibers can be wax coated or non-wax coated. Other similar coatings used in the art also can be utilized. In addition, the filaments can be coated with flavorants and medicaments. Medicaments include fluorides, anti-bacterial agents, cooling agents, coagulants, antibiotics, anti-plaque agents, anti-tartar agents and polishing agents.
The floss as it is formed will undergo a twisting to form the filaments into a more cohesive form. There can be from about 1 to 5 twists per inch of filament.
The floss usually will be dispensed from a spool in the conventional manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In related application U.S. Ser. No. 07/729,854, filed Jul. 11, 1991 there is disclosed the use solely of a wax coating to increase the coefficient of friction of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene floss. The content of this application Ser. No. 07/729,854 is incorporated herein by reference. In this present application there is set forth an additional technique for increasing the coefficient of friction of a floss that contains polytetrafluoroethylene filaments.
The present floss is one that is a mixture of polytetrafluoroethylene filaments and non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments. The polytetrafluoroethylene filaments provide lubricity and the non-polytetrafluoroethylene filaments provide the ability to grip the fibers. Further, since the floss is comprised of a plurality of filaments they will splay against tooth surfaces during usage and provide for a good cleaning of the teeth.
The filaments should be of a denier of about 100 denier to 800 denier. The floss will then be comprised of from about 2 to 20 filaments. The filaments will be present in a random mixture and will be twisted with about 1 to 5 twists per inch to provide integrity to the floss, but yet permit the floss to splay when it contacts tooth surfaces. The floss can also have a wax coating. A useful coating is a microcrystalline wax coating. However, essentially any naturally occurring or synthetic wax can be used as long as the melting point of the wax is above at about 45° C. and the wax is not brittle at about 25° C. Other suitable waxes are beeswax, paraffin wax and carnauba wax.
The floss can also be coated with a flavorant and/or medicant. A preferred form of flavorant is a spray dried flavorant. The flavorant can be essentially any flavor but is preferably a peppermint and/or spearmint. This can be applied to the filaments using a non-wax polymeric binder as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,365. If the floss is wax coated the spray dried flavorant can be applied to the still molten wax.
The medicaments that can be applied to the floss include anti-bacterial agents such as triclosan, chlorhexidine, iodine, sulfonamides, bisbiguanides and phenols, coagulants such as K vitamins (1-4), calcium ions in the form of a water soluble calcium salt and blood factors, fluorides such as sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphates and stannous fluoride, a ntibiotics such as tetracyclines, neomycin, or mehonidazole, anti-inflammatory such as aspirin, maproxen, ibuprofen, flurbiprofin, eugenol or hydrocortisone, anticalculus agents such as the soluble pyrophate salts, desentisizing agents such as strontium chloride or sodium fluoride, local anesthetic agents such as lidocaine or benzocaine, peroxides such as urea peroxide, coolants astringents and polishing agents. The medicaments can be applied to the floss filaments as a liquid and dried onto the filaments or they can be applied to the filaments as a solid with the aid of a binder. Flavorants can be applied as spray dried solids. A suitable binder is polyvinyl alcohol, and in particular, in combination with polyethylene glycol.
The polytetrafluoroethylene filaments can be a polytetrafluoroethylene without subsequent processing or an expanded polytetraflu
Curtis John Pierre
McGreal Michael Joseph
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Dixon Merrick
McGreal Michael J.
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