Coated monofilament tape bobbins and methods for winding

Abstract

Bobbin wound coated monofilament tapes where the coating comprises between 20% and 120% by weight of said tape, and the process for bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes comprising combining a coating conditioning means with means for winding at substantially constant tensions to produce controlled tension bobbins that do not unwind, that dispense uniformly free from back lashing, and that are substantially free from coating displacement and winding displacement when exposed to high temperatures and high relative humidity and that have tack values from between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A bobbin of coated monofilament dental tape, wherein said coating is substantially saliva soluble and comprises from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of said tape, wherein: 
 said bobbin is wound under minimum tension to produce bobbins with dimensions acceptable for use in dental floss dispensers when said bobbin is exposed to elevated temperature and/or elevated humidity,    said coating is conditioned during bobbin winding to impart a tack value to the bobbin from between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams, and    said bobbin unwinds substantially free from deformation and coating displacement when said bobbin is exposed to elevated temperature and/or elevated humidity.    
   
   
       8 . A bobbin of coated monofilament tape suitable for use in a dental tape dispenser, wherein said saliva soluble coating comprises from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of said monofilament tape, and said coating is conditioned during bobbin winding and has a bobbin unwinding value from between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams.  
   
   
       9 . A bobbin of coated monofilament tape wherein said coating is saliva soluble and comprises from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of said monofilament, wherein: 
 said tape coating is conditioned prior to bobbin winding such that the wound bobbin has a tack value between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams, and    said coated tape is wound onto said bobbin at minimum tension allowing the bobbin to remain substantially dimensionally stable with minimum coating displacement when said bobbin is exposed to elevated temperature and/or elevated relative humidity.    
   
   
       10 . Bobbins of coated monofilament tape according  claim 9 , wherein said bobbin is provided with a dynamic core means that responds to compression forces created by elevated temperatures by changing its diameter thereby allowing the core to remain substantially dimensionally stable with minimum coating displacement.  
   
   
       11 . Dimensionally stable bobbins of coated monofilament dental tapes, wherein the tape and its coating are protected from exposure to elevated temperatures and elevated relative humidity by being wound under a minimum of tension with a tack value from between about 0.1 and 0.5 grams.