The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 15, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 10, 1996
John Curtis, Bloomsbury, NJ (US);
Karen DePierro, Piscataway, NJ (US);
David Delgado, Levittown, PA (US);
Colgate-Palmolive Co., New York, NY (US);
Coltec Industrial Products, Inc., Newtown, PA (US);
Abstract
The floss is comprised of one or more strands of a tensilized polytetrafluoroethylene. The polytetrafluoroethylene is tensilized by stretching with heating to increase the tensile strength and to decrease elongation. The floss is readily grippable since it has an irregular surface. The polytetrafluoroethylene is made to have an irregular surface by having a solid incorporated into the fiber structure. The solid has a diameter of from about submicron size up to about 125% of the thickness diameter of the fiber. The floss will have a coefficient of friction of more than about 0.08. There is an acceptable grippability without the need for a coating. In addition, the solid that is incorporated into the fiber can be a bioactive material for delivery of the bioactive material to the teeth and gums during flossing.