W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

John W Spencer, Jr

John W Dolan

David D McClanahan

Deborah A Grofcsik

David Dean McClanahan

Raymond B Minor

James Todd Walter

Rickey I Hill

Loretta A Whelan

Edward F John

Deborah A Grofcisk

Richard Wilson

The present invention is a floss material defined by a towed filament. The filament may be made from a towed polytetrafluoroethylene material or a towed polymeric material.

Dental floss article and method of making same

Dental floss vial dispenser

A floss dispenser has an essentially cylindrical case, the case including a cylindrical wall with an inner surface and two opposite ends. The case further includes an opening formed in at least one end for receiving a spool having floss wrapped around a hub. A cap is received within the opening in the end of the case. The cap has an annular wall for receiving and centering the hub of the spool when the cap is sealing the opening of the case, and at least one opening formed therein through which floss is threaded out of the end of the case. For securely attaching the cap to the case, a first interlocking engagement member associated with the cap engages a mating second interlocking engagement member associated with the case. The arrangement is such that upon insertion of the cap into the open end of the case and rotating the cap, the first engagement member of the cap engages the second engagement member of the case for preventing the axial movement of the cap relative to the case. Preferably, the first engagement member includes three protrusions which engage three mating protrusions of the second engagement member for securing the cap to the case.

Vial floss dispenser

The present invention is an improved flosser device for holding and manipulating floss during flossing. The flosser employs a forked tine design for retaining the floss, whereby the floss is maintained in an orientation essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle of the flosser, but offsets the tines both onto one side of the handle to make it much easier to view the area being flossed. A slanted base is also provided to allow the flosser to be stored on end, with the tines kept away from contaminated surfaces.

Combined flosser and floss dispenser device

An article is provided for facilitating oral prophylaxis. The article comprises a continuous, elongated fiber of polytetrafluoroethylene having at least one substantially rigid first portion and a substantially flexible second portion comprised of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

Flossing apparatus

Floss holder

Dental floss holder

Floss container

The present invention is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) floss with improved handling properties. Unlike previous expanded PTFE flosses, the floss of the present invention employs a fiber of increased thickness so that the floss is maintained in an unfolded orientation. The improved processing steps of the present invention create a floss that has a number of improved properties, including more uniform dimensions along its length, improved compressibility and handling, and automatic visual indication of those segments of the floss that have been used.

Expanded PTFE floss material and method of making same

Dental floss dispenser

A dental floss dispenser comprising a molded unitary plastic housing composed of three main sections connected by two hinges which permits the dispenser to be easily opened and dental floss contained therein to be replaced by the user. A front section of the molded unitary plastic housing contains an opening and a molded post adjacent to the opening. A window assembly, molded of a transparent plastic, is engaged with the molded unitary plastic housing through placement of a hollow shaft having an axial bore capable of receiving the molded post over the molded post.

Growing community of inventors

Rising Sun, MD, United States of America

John W Spencer, Jr