Abstract: Coilable, tape-like structures are disclosed, that contain parallel segments of dental floss. Each segment has a bead on each of its ends for handling by an applicator. The beads can be fixed to the ends of a floss segment, either by melting its ends (without allowing the melted bead to contact a solid surface) or by press fitting the floss into slits in molded beads and fixing them with a bonding agent. The coilable structures can be made, either by mounting the floss segments onto a flexible tape or by fastening beads of adjacent floss segments together. In the latter version, the floss is (optionally) made stiff enough to support its weight, laterally. Apparatus for producing the coilable structures includes an elongated, substantially-flat, rotating chassis on which floss from a tensioning dispenser is wound. In one embodiment, a tape is held onto the upper surface of the chassis while the floss is wound into slits in the edges of the tape.

Abstract: A coilable structure having segments of dental floss mounted thereon, in parallel, tandem arrangement, is stored in a housing. A spindle in aft chamber thereof is attached to one end of the structure (in this case, a tape). Rotating the spindle aftwardly advances the tape so that the next floss segment is placed on the top of a partition between the chambers, positioning the segment slightly above and between a fixed and a sliding top member of the housing, where it can be grasped by an applicator having a handle and a pair of resilient prongs with slitted shoulders on their ends for retaining beads on ends of the floss segments. Aftwardly-convergent guides on the sliding top member compress the prongs together, as they are moved aftwardly between them by a user, prior to grasping a floss segment. Aftwardly-divergent guides on the fixed top member allow the prongs to expand without losing the floss they have grasped, as aftward motion of the prongs is continued.

Abstract: A filament of thermoplastic material is formed into a continuous strand of connected beads having a longitudinal slit that penetrates about half way into each bead. This is done by passing the filament between a pair of rotating mold wheels having matching, hemispherical cavities in their outer edges with a central, circumferential flange in the edge of one wheel-the flange forming the slit. An end bead of the filament is loaded into a first clamp that feeds it to second clamp that grasps the bead while a knife severs it from the strand. The second clamp is then moved to force its held bead onto a short span of floss being held by a third clamp, so that the floss is press-fitted into the slit in the bead. The bead and floss are then released by their respective clamps, and a fourth clamp grasps the floss and moves it forward for the required distance between beads so that the next bead can be pressed thereon.

Abstract: A dental floss applicator is especially designed to cooperate with a floss-loading device. It has a pair of resilient, juxtaposed, divergent prongs attached to a handle. Slots in the ends of the prongs enable the applicator to hold floss of the type having rigid nodules fixed to it at spaced-apart intervals. These intervals are somewhat shorter than the relaxed distance between the prongs, so that the prongs bear outwardly against a pair of nodules. A small outwardly-extending shoulder on the end of each prongs serves the purpose of: (1) Trapping a nodule of the floss, so that a span of the floss is firmly retained thereby; (2) Bearing against convergent surfaces of the loading device, by means of which the prongs are compressed toward each other for loading floss thereon; and (3) It is a device whereby the prongs are retained between the convergent surfaces of the loading device (these convergent surfaces have longitudinal, inwardly-extending lips or flanges under which the shoulders of the prongs slide).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a dental floss system is disclosed, using an applicator having two resilient prongs on one end of a handle member and floss having nodules fixed thereto and spaced apart at distances shorter than the relaxed distance between the prongs of the applicator. The prongs have small shoulders on their ends with slots passing through the ends including the shoulders, so that floss can be loaded into the slots and the nodules thereon trapped behind the shoulders to retain the floss on the applicator. The floss is loaded onto the applicator by moving the prongs between two converging surfaces that hold a span of the floss in slots. This compresses the prongs together until the span of floss is intercepted by the slots in the ends of the prongs. The prongs are then removed from the convergent surfaces, whereupon they tend to spring into their relaxed positions, retaining the floss by trapping two of the adjacent nodules thereon behind the shoulders on the prongs.