Patent · US Expired

Dental floss

US5209251A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
22References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 1991
Grant dateMay 11, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61K2800/412
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A dental floss is produced from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene that has been coated with a friction enhancing coating such as a microcrystalline wax to increase the friction coefficient of the floss. The polytetrafluoroethylene is preferably expanded to form a structure having a plurality of nodes interconnected by fibrils. The floss has a tensile strength of at least about 10,000 psi and a weight of about 500 denier to about 1500 denier. The coefficient of friction of the wax coated floss ranges from about 0.08 to 0.25. The floss may be comprised of a single strand or multiple strands. The floss may contain an optional dentifrice or pharmaceutically active material for delivery to the tooth and gum surfaces during use.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.