US2705492A - Teeth protector - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1955 M. H. CHANDLER 2,795,492

TEETH PROTECTOR Filed April 6, 1955 Fig. 3

` Mf/on H.- Chandler /4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O TEETH PROTECTOR Milton H. Chandler, Weslaco, Tex. Application April 6, 1953, Serial No. 346,817

3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-136) This invention relates generally to protective devices and pertains more particularly to a mouthpiece for preventing injury to the user.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of mouthpiece of the protective type which incorporates two types of material in its construction for providing a maximum of safety to the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protective mouthpiece of improved design which includes a resilient and exible base member adapted to be placed in a users mouth in enclosing relation to the users teeth, the base being provided with plastic filler means having the impression of the users teeth therein for spreading the force of a blow on the users mouth throughout substantially the entire portion of the protective mouthpiece.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the base member;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base member provided with the plastic filler means prior to an impression being taken in the filler;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a users mouth showing the novel effective mouthpiece in position;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the mouthpiece;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing details of the mouthpiece construction on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 6 is another sectional view of the users mouth showing the effective mouthpiece on the lower jaw.

Referring now more particularly to Figures l and 2,

it will be seen that this invention contemplates the use of a generally U-shaped base member 10 which is of substantially channel shape in cross section presenting the main base portion or web 12 having the laterally projecting legs 14. The opposite ends of the base member are provided with angularly directed retaining lips 16, for a purpose presently apparent.

The material of which the base member is manufactured is resilient and flexible so as to provide no sharp or hard edges which would injure the inner surface of a users mouth when the mouthpiece is in position. Moreover, the resiliency and flexibility of the base member will tend to spread or enlarge the effective area of the force of a blow which the user might receive in the region of his mouth or jaw when using the protective device.

As shown in Figure 2, the base member is provided with a filler 18 of 4thermo-setting plastic or the like and is presented as an article of manufacture, as shown 1n Figure 2, the filler will be securely fastened in a suitable manner to the base member, such as by gluing or the like and this filler will have no particular shape.

2,705,492 Patented Apr. 5, 1955 ICC When it is desired to form a protective mouthpiece of this article of manufacture, the assembly shown in Figure 2 is heated so that the filler 18 becomes pliable and the assembly is then placed in the prospective users mouth and he is directed to bite down upon the assembly so that the impression of his teeth are formed in the filler, see particularly Figures 3, 4 and 6. The assembly will be maintained in this position until it has cooled sufficiently to solidify to retain the correct and proper impression of the users teeth and the assembly is withdrawn and the prospective user may insert the device into his mouth at will. In this respect, it will be noted that the base member is preferably formed of material which becomes sufficiently flexible upon heating to be easily shaped to the contour of the users jaw.

The device can, of course, be applied to either the upper or the lower jaw of the user, as desired.

The principal operation of this novel mouth protector stems from the fact that it is made of two different materials, one of which is more or less rigid but flexible and the other of which is substantially rigid at normal temperature, the former being the base member. In this manner, the user is less likely to encounter and receive cuts on -the inner surface of the mouth or lip and the force of a blow that he receives on his jaw or mouth will spread throughout the entire device to be absorbed throughout substantially a large area to Ithereby prevent injury to his teeth, jaw or brain.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired -to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A protective mouthpiece comprising a generally U-shaped base member of flexible and resilient material, said base member including a at bottom and side walls extending outwardly therefrom, said side walls sloping inwardly with respect to said bottom, and a filler body of relatively hard material securely fastened in said base member, said filler body being adapted -to receive and retain a dental impression.

2. A protective mouthpiece as defined in claim l, wherein said base member is rubber.

3. A protective mouthpiece comprising a generally U-shaped base member of flexible and resilient material, said base member including a fla-t bottom, a transverse lip extending outwardly from said bottom at each end thereof, and side walls extending outwardly from said bottom, said side walls sloping inwardly with respect to said bottom, the end portions of said side walls being downwardly tapered to are into said transverse lips, and a filler body of relatively hard material securely fastened in said base member, said filler body being adapted to receive and retain a dental impression.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,584 Hopfen n July 13, 1875 1,663,695 Foster, Ir. Mar. 27, 1928 2,053,914 Mann Sept. 8, 1936

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