Whitening tip for dental flossing device

• US 7,198,487 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luettgen, Harold A., Hoppes, John, Horowitz, Carl, Sanduja, Mohan L., Zilberman, Lina, Thottahil, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US10/750,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 433/142, 433/118, 433/119, 433/141, 132/321, 132/322, 132/323
• US Class Current: 433/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks

Abstract

A power flosser tip incorporating a tooth-whitening coating. The coating is typically abrasive, and whitens teeth by scraping or wearing down hardened plaque or other tooth discolorations. The coating may also whiten teeth through a chemical reaction. The coating may be flavored in order to enhance user enjoyment. The coating is chemically bonded to the flosser tip, and dissolves when in contact with saliva or water at room temperature and pressure.

Claims

1. A tip for a power dental flossing device, comprising:

a base portion for supporting the tip when coupled to the dental flossing device;

a central portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section, and having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to said base portion, wherein said central portion has a height and a width;

an end portion coupled to said second end of said central portion, for insertion between a pair of adjacent teeth of a user, wherein said end portion has a height and a width; and

a whitening compound substantially enclosing said end portion and bonded to said end portion by a monomer.

2. The tip of claim 1, wherein the whitening compound contains abrasive particles.

3. The tip of claim 2, wherein the whitening compound reacts with saliva.

4. The tip of claim 3, wherein the whitening compound dissolves upon contact with saliva.

5. The tip of claim 3, wherein the whitening compound foams upon contact with saliva.

6. The tip of claim 1, wherein the whitening compound comprises:

a flavoring agent; and

an abrasive particulate.

7. The tip of claim 1, wherein the whitening compound comprises:

a whitening agent; and

a polymer;

wherein

the whitening agent is chemically bonded to the polymer; and

the polymer is chemically bonded to the tip.

8. The tip of claim 7, wherein the whitening agent is a chemical whitening agent.

9. The tip of claim 7, wherein the whitening agent is an abrasive whitening agent.

10. A whitening flosser tip, comprising:

a flosser tip; and

a whitening compound bonded to the flosser tip by a monomer, the whitening compound comprising;

a drying retardant agent;

an acrylic prepolymer;

a wetting agent; and

an abrasive agent.

11. The whitening flosser tip of claim 10, wherein the whitening compound further comprises:

a flavoring;

calcium carbonate;

a white filler; and

a thickener.

12. The whitening flosser tip of claim 11, wherein the abrasive is sylodent 700.

13. The whitening flosser tip of claim 11, wherein the whitening compound further comprises a chemical whitener.

14. The whitening flosser tip of claim 13, wherein the whitening compound further comprises an anti-microbial solution.