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:
May. 20, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2011
John W. Dolan, Wilmington, DE (US);
Michael F. Altman, Kennett Square, PA (US);
Donald L. Hollenbaugh, Jr., North East, MD (US);
Rachel Radspinner, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Alex R. Hobson, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
John W. Dolan, Wilmington, DE (US);
Michael F. Altman, Kennett Square, PA (US);
Donald L. Hollenbaugh, Jr., North East, MD (US);
Rachel Radspinner, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Alex R. Hobson, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
A dental cleaning article comprising a band of expanded fluoropolymer that is highly distensible at room temperature, such that it can be stretched from a first state to a second state is described. The diameter of the band of expanded fluoropolymer may be increased by stretching by, in some embodiments, two times or more the original first state diameter. Likewise the cross sectional area of the band of expanded fluoropolymer may be reduced upon stretching to less than one quarter the first state cross sectional area. The band of expanded fluoropolymer provides the user with the ability to stretch the band a desired amount, such that they may more effectively clean between their teeth. Furthermore, the band may be regular or irregularly shaped, and in some embodiments may comprise higher density regions.