Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Head or face protector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-11-27
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Head or face protector
C128S861000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321752
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the area of protective equipment for sports people and the like and more particularly to mouthguards.
OBJECT
It is an object of this invention to provide a mouthguard adapted to display insignia when worn, and/or a method of applying advertising to mouthguards, or at least one that provides the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
In one aspect the invention provides a mouthguard adapted to display insignia when worn, said mouthguard having a front portion which will normally be visible when the mouthguard is worn, the front portion having an outside facing away from the wearer's mouth and an inside facing towards the interior of the wearer's mouth, wherein insignia is provided at least on the front of the mouthguard and is of a contrasting colour to the colour of the mouthguard.
Preferably the insignia is a logo, word, trade mark or the like, although other information may be provided.
Preferably the insignia is provided on or in the inside of the front portion of the mouthguard, or is embedded in the front portion of the mouthguard.
Preferably the insignia is provided on or in the outside of the front of the mouthguard.
Preferably the insignia is located in a recess in the front portion of the mouthguard.
Preferably the mouthguard is formed from a copolyester material.
In another aspect the invention provides a method for applying insignia to mouthguards comprising the steps of:
a) forming a parent piece of thermoplastic of a first colour into a mouthguard;
b) heating said mouthguard;
c) and either before or after forming the mouthguard applying an insignia to an, in situ, observable face of the mouthguard, said insignia being formed of a material of a contrasting colour to the parent piece.
Preferably the insignia is stenciled onto the observable face of the mouthguard.
Preferably the insignia is applied to the observable face by creating an indentation in the parent piece of material and at least partially filling the indentation with a material of a contrasting colour to the parent piece.
Preferably the indentation is formed on or in the inside of the front portion of the mouthguard, or is embedded in the front portion of the mouthguard.
Preferably the indentation is formed on or in the outside of the front of the mouthguard.
Preferably the indentation may be formed in the inside of the front of the mouthguard, or to the outside of the front of the mouthguard. It is preferable to form the indentation in the outside of the front of the mouthguard where a darker background material is used than the material that will fill the indentation.
Preferably, the thermoplastic used to form the mouthguard is a co-polyester.
Preferably, the contrasting material is chosen from the group comprising thermoplastic, gels, and paints that are non toxic if ingested and durable such that they will not wear away or chip off during use.
In another aspect the invention may broadly be said to comprise in a mouthguard adapted to display insignia when worn, said insignia being a contrasting colour to the colour of the mouthguard.
In referring to the colour of the material or other colour of the insignia the term “colour” is intended to encompass any colour or shading including black; white, grey, pastel as well as clear or transparent, translucent or opaque materials.
Preferably, the insignia is applied to the mouthguard by creating an indentation in the material used to form the mouthguard before or after the mouthguard is formed and at least partially filling the indentation with a material of a colour contrasting to the moutguard.
Preferably the indentation may be formed in the inside of the front of the mouthguard, or to the outside of the front of the mouthguard. It is preferable to form the indentation in the outside of the front of the mouthguard where a darker background material is used than the material that will fill the indentation.
Preferably, the mouthguard is formed from a copolyester material.
Preferably the indentation is formed by applying a stencil to the mouthguard while the mouthguard is pliant, for example after heating.
Preferably, the contrasting material is chosen from the group comprising thermoplastic, gels, and paints that are non toxic if ingested and durable such that they will not wear away or chip off during use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4114614 (1978-09-01), Kesling
patent: 4765324 (1988-08-01), Lake, Jr.
patent: 5031638 (1991-07-01), Castaldi
patent: 5234005 (1993-08-01), Kittelsen
patent: 5566684 (1996-10-01), Wagner
patent: 5816255 (1998-10-01), Fishman
patent: 131357 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 0 265 771 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 2 230 016 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2 285 981 (1995-08-01), None
Dialog(R) File 610: Business Wire, Access No. 0645169, BW0104, “Space Maintainers Lab: New all-sports mouthguard called Intact keeps your teeth intact while you enjoy sports”, Nov. 14, 1996, lines 42-43.
Andrew Walker, “Dentist's Mouthful for Scots”, The Mirror, Mirror Group Ltd., Jun. 3, 1998, p. 8, lines 3-4 and 11-12.
Brown Michael A.
Young & Thompson
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