Oral devices
AssigneeSue S. Lee
InventorSue S. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Oral devices such as a pacifier, bottle cap, teething tools and toys, and methods for using the same are provided. An oral device includes a bulb portion configured to be disposed inside a mouth of a user and a wider neck portion coupled distally to the bulb portion and configured to be held by user's lips. The neck portion is configured such that, when it is sucked on by the user, the neck portion moves in the lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oral device from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration such that a lateral contact area of the neck portion with the user's lips increases. The oral device can include one or more expansion accommodation features that facilitate expansion and retraction of the neck portion.
Claims25
An oral device comprising:
- a bulb portion configured to be disposed inside a mouth of a user;
- and
- a neck portion coupled distally to the bulb portion and configured to be held by user's lips,
- wherein, when the neck portion is sucked by the user, the neck portion moves in a lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oral device from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration such that a lateral contact area of the neck portion with user's lips increases.
A method of preventing or treating deformation of an arch form and malocclusion of teeth of a user, the method comprising:
- administering an oral device to the user, the oral device comprising a bulb portion and a neck portion coupled distally to the bulb portion, so that the bulb portion is disposed inside a mouth of the user and the neck portion is held by user's lips;
- wherein, when the neck portion is sucked by the user, the neck portion moves in a lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the oral device from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration such that a lateral contact area of the neck portion with the user's lips increases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.