Compact, Recyclable, Multi-Layered Dental Flossing Device and Packaging Therefore

Abstract

A compact, recyclable dental flossing device in the form of a multi-layered elongated filament or strip of a resin which has physical characteristics such that, when elongated or drawn to stop, possesses a substantially increased length and tensile strength and a reduced thickness suitable for flossing teeth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental floss comprising a multi-layered elongated strip of polymer material, the dental floss being arranged to be stretched to a permanent deformation by a user prior to use in order to reduce a cross-sectional area of the floss to a size suitable for flossing teeth. 
     
     
         2 . The dental floss of  claim 1 , wherein the strip comprises a plurality of polymer resin layers, at least a first layer of the plurality of polymer resin layers incorporating a first-layer additive material that is not incorporated into a second layer of the plurality of polymer resin layers. 
     
     
         3 . The dental floss of  claim 2 , wherein the second layer comprises a polymer resin layer substantially free of non-polymer additives. 
     
     
         4 . The dental floss of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer comprises a non-polymer additive incorporated into the first layer during an extrusion process. 
     
     
         5 . The dental floss of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of polymer resin layers further comprises a third layer, the third layer including a third-layer additive material that is not incorporated into the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The dental floss of  claim 5 , wherein the first-layer additive material and the third-layer additive material are the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The dental floss of  claim 5 , wherein the first-layer additive material and the-third layer additive material are different materials. 
     
     
         8 . The dental floss of  claim 4 , wherein the non-polymer additive comprises a flavor. 
     
     
         9 . The dental floss of  claim 2 , where the polymer is a linear low density polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The dental floss of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated strip comprises a polymer resin capable of elongating at least 600%. 
     
     
         11 . The dental floss of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated strip further comprises:
 a length of no less than 1 inch and no greater than 3 inches,   a width of no less than ⅛ inch and no more than ½ inch, and   a thickness of no less than 0.003 inches and no more than 0.01 inches.   
     
     
         12 . A dental floss device comprising an elongated member of stretchable elastomeric polymer material, the member comprising a plurality of extruded layers, at least a first layer of the plurality of extruded layers including a first material incorporated therein that is not incorporated into a second layer of the plurality of extruded layers, the member being irreversibly stretchable between a first relaxed condition and a second maximum extended condition, the member having a pair of opposite surface faces adapted to engage teeth of a user, one of the pair of opposite surface faces being formed by the first layer. 
     
     
         13 . The dental floss device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of extruded layers comprises a third layer, the third layer including a second material incorporated therein that is not incorporated into the second layer, and a second of the pair of opposing surface faces being formed by the third layer. 
     
     
         14 . The dental floss of  claim 13 , wherein the first and third layers are disposed on opposing sides of the second layer. 
     
     
         15 . The dental floss of  claim 13 , wherein the first material and the second material are the same material. 
     
     
         16 . The dental floss of  claim 12 , wherein the first material comprises a flavor. 
     
     
         17 . The dental floss of  claim 13 , wherein the member can be irreversibly stretched by a tension force of no greater than 15 pounds to achieve the second maximum extended condition, and a thickness of the member in the second maximum extended condition is reduced to less than ⅓ of a thickness of the member in the first relaxed condition, and the length of the member in the second maximum extended condition is at least five times the length of the member in the first relaxed condition. 
     
     
         18 . A dental floss package comprising a sheet of multi-layer stretchable elongated polymer strips joined to a common zone and extending from the zone in a parallel relationship, the elongated polymer strips dental floss being arranged to be removed from the common zone and stretched to a permanent deformation by a user prior to use in order to reduce a cross-sectional area of the floss to a size suitable for flossing teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The dental floss package of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one sheet of solid bleached sulfite board scored and folded to form a rectangular main body with a flap at one end and a clamp at an opposing other end, and a plurality of multi-layer stretchable elongated polymer strip sheets sandwiched between the flap and the main body. 
     
     
         20 . The dental floss package of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the common zone of each sheet is sandwiched between the clamp and the main body, there securing the plurality of sheets together.