U.S. patent application number 09/977489 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-01 for dental floss with abrasives.
Invention is credited to Antler, Steven M..
Application Number | 20020100491 09/977489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30449521 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020100491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Antler, Steven M. |
August 1, 2002 |
Dental floss with abrasives
Abstract
A dental floss comprises a plurality of polyamide monofilaments
joined together; and a plurality of abrasive particles integrated
into each monofilament.
Inventors: |
Antler, Steven M.; (Darien,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHLESINGER, ARKWRIGHT & GARVEY LLP
3000 SOUTH EADS STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
30449521 |
Appl. No.: |
09/977489 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60266483 |
Feb 6, 2001 |
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60251569 |
Dec 7, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 3/06 20130101; A61C
3/00 20130101; A61C 15/00 20130101; A61C 15/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/321 |
International
Class: |
A61C 015/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A dental floss, comprising: a) a plurality of polyamide
monofilament joined together to form a strand; and b) a plurality
of abrasive particles integrated into each monofilament.
2. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said abrasive particles
include aluminum oxide.
3. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said abrasive particles
include white aluminum oxide.
4. A dental floss as in claim 3, wherein said abrasive particles
have sizes of about 4-27 microns.
5. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said abrasive particles
have average particle size of about 10 microns.
6. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said abrasive particles
are about 2%-10% by weight.
7. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said monofilament is about
0.002"-0.004" in diameter.
8. A dental floss as in claim 1, wherein said monofilament is Nylon
612.
9. A dental floss, comprising: a) a plurality of nylon
monofilaments joined together to form a strand; b) a plurality of
abrasive particles integrated into each monofilament during
manufacture of said monofilament; c) said abrasive particles
comprise about 2%-10% by weight of each monofilament; and d) said
monofilament is about 0.002"-0.004" in diameter.
10. A dental floss as in claim 9, wherein said monofilament is
nylon 612.
11. A dental floss as in claim 9, wherein particles have an average
size of about 10 microns.
12. A method for making dental floss, comprising: a) mixing a
polyamide resin with abrasive particles wherein the particles
comprise about 2%-10% by weight of the mixture; b) extruding the
mixture to form a monofilament of about 0.002"-0.004" in diameter;
and c) joining a plurality of the monofilaments to form a dental
floss.
13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said abrasive particles are
aluminum oxide.
14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said resin is nylon 612.
15. A method as in claim 12, wherein said abrasive particles have
average size of 10 microns.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a dental floss
containing abrasive particles for removing plaque, tooth stain and
food debris between teeth.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide a dental
floss containing abrasive particles for removing plaque, tooth
stain and food debris between teeth.
[0003] In summary, the present invention is directed to a dental
floss comprising a plurality of polyamide monofilaments joined
together to form a strand; and a plurality of abrasive particles
integrated into each monofilament.
[0004] The present invention also provides a method for making
dental floss, comprising:
[0005] a) mixing a polyamide resin with abrasive particles wherein
the particles comprise about 2%-10% by weight of the mixture;
[0006] b) extruding the mixture to form a filament of about
0.002"-0.004" in diameter; and
[0007] c) joining a plurality of the filaments to form the dental
floss.
[0008] This and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dental floss
made in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic side elevational view of a
monofilament used to make the dental floss of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A dental floss made in accordance with the present invention
for removing tooth stain is disclosed in FIG. 1. The dental floss 2
is made from a plurality of monofilaments 4 joined together by
conventional means to form a strand 5 of much larger
cross-sectional area. The monofilaments 4 are preferably made of
nylon, and includes abrasive particles 6 integrated into the
monofilament, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The abrasive
particles 6 are preferably made of aluminum oxide; however, other
abrasive or polishing particles may be used. White aluminum oxide
is a type of abrasive well known in the abrasive industry. The
abrasive particles are advantageously integrated into the filament
during manufacture of the filament by mixing the resin with the
particles prior to the extrusion process. The dental floss 2 may be
round or flat in cross-section.
[0013] As an example, Nylon 612 resin is mixed with aluminum oxide
particles with average particle size of 10 microns, with a range of
4-27 microns. The abrasive particles preferably make up about
2%-10% by weight of the total mixture. The mixture is then extruded
in a conventional way to form a monofilament, 0.002"-0.004" in
diameter. It should be understood that some of the abrasive
particles will be disposed near the surface of the monofilament
after extrusion and, thereby be exposed, as generally depicted in
FIG. 2. A plurality of the monofilaments, approximately 50-500
fibers, are joined together in a conventional way, such as by
weaving, pleating or twisting, to make a strand of dental floss.
Nylon 612, available from DuPont, is a polyamide with desirable
characteristics for use in making industrial brushes, paint
brushes, etc.
[0014] The dental floss is sized to be inserted between the teeth.
The abrasive particles are preferably sized and added in the
preferred weight ratios to effectively remove plaque and food
particles from the surfaces of teeth while maintaining the high
tensile strength of the filament.
[0015] While this invention has been described as having preferred
design, it is understood that it is capable of further
modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the
principle of the invention and including such departures from the
present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in
the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to
the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the
invention or the limits of the appended claims.
* * * * *