Customized scuba-diving mouthpiece and method of manufacture
OwnerRandall C. Molesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved customized scuba-diving mouthpiece has a base member with a front portion with breathing hole and two preferably apertured mount portions extending rearwardly for positions between the diver's teeth, and upper and lower bite members above and below each mount portion and joined together, preferably through the mount portions. Preferred features include upper and lower bite members form-set (cross-linked) together through the openings, the mount portions dimensioned to extend rearwardly between the molars to the rear of the mouth, and a configuration of mount portion and front portion facilitating buddy-breathing. A method for making such mouthpiece is also disclosed.
Claims23
In a scuba-diving mouthpiece of the type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and rear portions customized for a diver, the improvement comprising:
- a base member including the front portion and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth;
- and
- separate upper and lower bite members respectively above and below each mount portion and joined together, the bite members having the diver's dental impressions therein, said upper and lower bite members and the mount portion therebetween initially being three separate members subsequently joined together to form a major customized tooth engagement member for the teeth on each side of the diver's mouth, said customized tooth engagement member extending along, and providing intimate tooth contact along, substantially the full extent of the diver's molars from the rear of the mouth to terminate near the front molars, such intimate contact being provided while the diver's mouth is in a relaxed, partially-opened position, thereby to eliminate diver fatigue.
In a scuba-diving mouthpiece of the type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and rear portions customized for a diver, the improvement comprising:
- a base member including the front portion and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver'teeth, the mount portions defining engagement means thereon;
- and
- separate upper and lower bite members respectively above and below each mount portion and joined to said engagement means on the mount portions, the bite members having the diver's dental impressions therein, said upper and lower bite members and the mount portion therebetween initially being three separate members subsequently joined together to form a major customized tooth engagement member for the teeth on each side of the diver's mouth, said customized tooth engagement member extending along, and providing intimate tooth contact along, substantially the full extent of the diver'molars from the rear of the mouth to terminate near the front molars, such intimate contact being provide while the diver's mouth is in a relaxed, partially-opened position, thereby to eliminate diver fatigue.
A scuba-diving mouthpiece base member having a front portion forming a breathing hole and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth, the mount portions each having upper and lower surfaces and defining at least one opening therethrough extending between said upper and lower surfaces, said mount portion opening for mounting upper and lower bite members to such mount portion, each of the mount portions being dimensioned to extend rearwardly between the molars of the diver to the rear of the mouth, thereby to support bite members in major extended intimate customized tooth engagement along substantially the full extent of the diver's molars, on each side of the diver's mouth, extending from the rear of the mouth and terminating near the front molars to eliminate diver fatigue, such intimate contact being provided while the diver's mouth is in a relaxed, partially-opened position.
A scuba-diving mouthpiece base member having a front portion forming a breathing hole and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth, the front portion of the base member having a substantially vertical rear wall including a pair of laterally-extending portions which extend to the mount portions, the mount portions each having upper and lower surfaces and defining at least one opening therethrough extending between said upper and lower surfaces, each of the mount portions having a forward edge joining one of the laterally-extending portions at a position spaced from the hole, said mount portion opening comprising a slot extending in a fore-and-aft direction and serving for mounting upper and lower bite members to such mount portion, whereby the customized bite members may readily to bent away from the rear wall of the front portion of the base member to facilitate buddy-breathing.
A method for making a scuba-diving mouthpiece of the type having a front portion with a breathing hole and custom-molded rear portions engageable by a diver's teeth comprising:
- providing a preformed base member which includes the front portion and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver'teeth;
- applying moldable upper and lower bite members above and below each of the mount portions to provide and unmolded assembly;
- placing the unmolded assembly in the mouth of the diver with the mount portions and bite members thereon positioned between the diver's teeth;
- biting on the bite members to mold said biter members and press them together;
- removing the assembly from the diver's mouth;
- and form-setting the molded bite members while on the base member mount portions by application of energy for cross-linking.
In a scuba-diving mouthpiece of the type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and rear portions customized for a diver, the improvement comprising:
- a base member including the front portion and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth;
- an upper bite member and a lower bite member respectively above and below each mount portion and joined together, the bite members having the diver's dental impressions therein;
- and
- each mount portion having at least one opening therethrough, the upper and lower bite members thereon being joined together through said at least one opening.
In a scuba-diving mouthpiece of the type with a front portion forming a breathing hole and rear portions customized for a diver, the improvement comprising:
- a base member including the front portion and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth, each mount portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, a lateral edge therearound, and at least one opening through such mount portion, and being dimensioned to extend rearwardly between the molars of the diver to the rear of the mouth;
- and
- an upper bite member and a lower bite member in contact with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of each mount portion, said upper and lower bite members being joined together and having the diver's dental impressions therein,
- whereby a full and comfortable customized mouth engagement is achieved.
A scuba-diving mouthpiece base member having a front portion forming a breathing hole and a pair of mount portions extending rearwardly therefrom for positions between the diver's teeth, the mount portions each defining a plurality of openings therethrough for mounting thereto of upper and lower bite members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.