Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Head or face protector
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-17
2001-10-02
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3733)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Head or face protector
C128S860000, C128S861000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295988
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to physiological devices worn within the mouth for supporting the tongue and lips in appropriate positions for promoting effective and efficient physiological functions, such as breathing and swallowing. The device cooperates with the upper teeth and provides a platform supporting the tongue. Usage of this device will encourage breathing through the nose, develop normal swallowing posture, and will open breathing passageways, so that athletic performance and alertness are enhanced, snoring is reduced, and bodily activities are generally conducted in a more efficient manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The tongue, lips, and other parts of the mouth exert significant influences on breathing and ancillary functions of the body. Efficiency of breathing and air flow within the mouth and other breathing passages maximizes physiological functions, such as athletic activities, and night time breathing. In particular, unimpeded air flow during sleep is characteristic of those who do not snore when sleeping. Tissues of structure associated with the mouth and breathing passages can deform over time due to age or due to various congenital or induced conditions of infirmity. These tissues may become displaced responsive to these conditions, and may come to interfere with breathing.
Prophylactic devices for reversing adverse effects of displaced tissue have been proposed in the prior art. In particular, benefit of supporting the tongue within the mouth has long been recognized as leading to improvement of various debilitating conditions. Devices which are worn in the mouth and affect position of the tongue have been proposed as leading to eliminating snoring, improving breathing, and other benefits.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,473, issued to Charles F. Samelson on Oct. 2, 1979, describes a device which cooperates with upper and lower teeth for support, and which has a tubular member open at one end for receiving and supporting the tongue. This device constrains the tongue to occupy a central position between the teeth, rather than supporting the tongue above the level at which upper teeth meet lower teeth, as occurs in the present invention.
A device for directing the tongue is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,182, issued to Leon Kussick on Mar. 5, 1991. This device lacks the horizontal tongue supporting member of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,687, issued to Maureen P. Sullivan et al. on Dec. 17, 1996, illustrates a device intended to overcome clenching of the teeth. The subject device has right and left pads which absorb force from the teeth. These pads are connected by an arched member extending from right to left and projecting upwardly against the roof of the mouth. By contrast, the present invention has a single, U-shaped member corresponding to the pads. A horizontal member projects inwardly from the U-shaped member. The present invention thus supports the tongue at a level roughly even with and parallel to the upper teeth. By contrast, the arched member of Sullivan et al. is located above the tongue and avoids contact therewith, rather than influencing position of the tongue as occurs in the present invention.
An oral device seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,951, issued to Vincent Castagnaro et al. on Jan. 14, 1997, provides U-shaped channels for engaging both upper and lower teeth, and an arched member projecting inside of and spanning these channels. By contrast, the member projecting inside the tooth engaging channel of the present invention is flat and horizontal. Also, the tooth engaging member of the present invention engages only the upper teeth, whereas the device of Castagnaro et al. engages both upper and lower teeth.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device for supporting the tongue in a suitable position for maintaining sealing of the lips and tongue during ordinary breathing. This is a position which is naturally achieved under ordinary conditions, but from which the tongue and tissue at the epiglottis may depart due to adverse prevailing conditions of age and infirmity. The novel device enables ordinary air flow to prevail despite conditions contravening ideal conditions.
Benefits accruing from the invention include causing the user to become accustomed to breathing through the nose, thereby enhancing alertness and athletic performance, opening airways generally. Also, nasal congestion is relieved, deep breathing is promoted, stress is reduced, heart beat rate is decreased, and body and mind breathing are coordinated. In the case of persons breathing through the nose, normal swallowing patterns for tongue thrusters are developed, and snoring is reduced. Correction of tongue thrusting will aid in speech therapy, promote better growth and development of jaws, and will improve stability of orthodontic treatment results.
To these ends, the present invention comprises a U-shaped channel cooperating with the upper teeth. A platform projects horizontally from the interior surfaces of the U-shaped channel at a level corresponding to that even with the bottom surfaces of the teeth. Optionally, a drain hole is formed in the platform to relieve buildup of saliva. The tongue rests on the platform, and is held in a position against the roof of the mouth, thereby establishing a mild suction between the tongue and the roof of the mouth. This occurrence assures sealing of the lips, thereby promoting breathing through the nose. The device is formed from a flexible material. A slot formed in the platform opens to the rear, to relieve undue intrusion into the soft tongue. This feature as well as flexibility contribute to comfort.
If the device is fabricated sufficiently strongly, it may be employed as a guard in athletic activities.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a mouthpiece for holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
It is another object of the invention to promote breathing through the nose.
It is a further object of the invention to encourage proper swallowing posture and to reduce snoring in persons breathing through the mouth.
Still another object of the invention is to open airways generally.
An additional object of the invention is to relieve nasal congestion, to promote deep breathing, to reduce stress and heart beat rate, and to improve coordination of body and mind breathing.
An additional object of the invention is to enhance breathing volume, alertness, and athletic performance and endurance.
It is again an object of the invention to provide at least one drain hole formed in the platform supporting the tongue.
Yet another object of the invention is that the oral device be comfortable to wear.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2483157 (1949-09-01), Singer
patent: 3107668 (1963-10-01), Thompson
patent: 4169473 (1979-10-01), Samelson
patent: 4672959 (1987-06-01), May
patent: 4718662 (1988-01-01), North
patent: 4997182 (1991-03-01), Kussick
patent: 5082007 (1992-01-01), Adell
patent: 5117816 (1992-06-01), Shapiro et al.
patent: 5462066 (1995-10-01), Snyder
patent: 5584687 (1996-12-01), Sullivan et al.
patent: 5592951 (1997-01-01), Castagnaro et al.
patent: 5636379 (1997-06-01), Williams
Brown Michael A.
Siemens Patent Services
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