US 2006/0065277 A1 · Dual tray athletic mouthguard

Abstract

A mouthguard for use by athletes, including a dual tray assembly molded together. The first tray is molded from a hard plastic such as an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and has a portion that engage the cusps of the lower jaw molars to prevent the tray from moving backward on impact. A second tray is molded on to the first tray using a soft plastic or gel like material, such as a high percentage vinyl acetate copolymers of ethylene vinyl acetate, that softens at slightly elevated temperatures that a user can easily tolerate. The first time the mouthguard is used, it is heated in warm water, then the user puts it in his or her mouth and bites down to cause the second tray to conform to the upper teeth. When in use, the ridges on the first tray engage the teeth of the lower jaw to prevent movement of the lower jaw on impact.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A mouthguard device for use by athletes in competition and the like, comprising:

a first tray having an upward facing generally U-shape for insertion into a user's mouth such that the middle of the U-shape is aligned with the front teeth and the ends of the U=shape are aligned with the back teeth, said first tray having a lower surface with at least one interface formed on each of said ends and of sufficient size to engage at least one cusp of a lower molar of the user, said first tray being of sufficient rigidity to prevent movement thereof with respect to the user's teeth upon impact;
and
a second tray fixedly attached to said first tray and positioned inside said U-shape for engagement with the user's upper teeth, said second tray being formed from a material having a softening point at a temperature low enough to not cause discomfort to the user, such that heating to said temperature and insertion into the user's mouth allows the user to conform said second tray substantially to said upper teeth.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual tray athletic mouthguard

Life of this patent

Dual tray athletic mouthguard

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14