Thermoplastic mouthguard with integral shock absorbing framework
AssigneeE-Z Gard Industries, Inc.
InventorsJon D. Kittelsen, Paul C. Belvedere
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite mouthguard has a flexible and tough, softenable thermoplastic mouthguard portion with a U-shaped base having upward inner lingual and outer labial walls extending from the base. A shock absorbing and attenuating nonsoftening, resilient, low compression, elastomer framework is embedded in the mouthguard portion to absorb, attenuate and dissipate shock forces exerted on the mouthguard during athletic activity.
Claims23
A composite mouthguard for a user having an upper jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces, and fossae with cartilage forming sockets, and a movable lower jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces and condyles movably fitted within the sockets forming the temporomandibular joints through which the auriculo-temporalis nerves and supra-temporal arteries pass, the mouthguard comprising:
- (a) a flexible and tough mouthguard portion made of a first material of a softenable thermoplastic having an U-shaped base with top and bottom sides with upward inner lingual and outer labial walls and further having posterior and anterior portions;
- and
- (b) a shock absorbing and attenuating framework made of a second material of a nonsoftening, resilient, low compression elastomer which is embedded in the mouthguard posterior portions of the mouthguard base comprised of a posterior cushion pad in each posterior portion wherein the elastomeric framework extends forwardly from the posterior cushion pads to form an anterior impact brace on the anterior portion of the upward outer labial wall and at least partially extends through the labial wall to form anterior cushion pads to touch the anterior teeth of the upper jaw to absorb, attenuate and dissipate shock forces exerted on the mouthguard during athletic activity.
A composite mouthguard for a user having an upper jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces, and fossae with cartilage forming sockets, and a movable lower jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces and condyles movably fitted within the sockets forming the temporomandibular joints through which the auriculo-temporalis nerves and supra-temporal arteries pass, the mouthguard comprising:
- (a) a flexible and tough mouthguard portion made of a first material of a softenable thermoplastic having an U-shaped base with top and bottom sides with upward inner lingual and outer labial walls and further having posterior and anterior portions;
- and
- (b) a shock absorbing and attenuating framework made of a second material of a nonsoftening, resilient, low compression elastomer which is embedded in the mouthguard posterior portions of the mouthguard base comprised of a posterior cushion pad in each posterior portion each with enlarged portions in an area of a molar tooth and abicuspid tooth to absorb, attenuate and dissipate shock forces exerted on the mouthguard during athletic activity.
A composite mouthguard for a user having an upper jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces, and fossae with cartilage forming sockets, and a movable lower jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces and condyles movably fitted within the sockets forming the temporomandibular joints through which the auriculo-temporalis nerves and supra-temporal arteries pass, the mouthguard comprising:
- (a) a flexible and tough, softenable thermoplastic mouthguard portion having an U-shaped base with top and bottom sides with upward inner lingual and outer labial walls and further having posterior and anterior portions;
- and
- (b) a shock absorbing and attenuating nonsoftening, resilient, low compression, elastomeric framework embedded in the mouthguard portion to absorb, attenuate and dissipate shock forces exerted on the mouthguard during athletic activity, wherein the elastomeric framework forms an anterior impact brace on the anterior portion of the upward outer labial wall and extends rearwardly to form posterior cushion pads in the posterior portions of the mouthguard base and wherein the anterior impact brace at least partially extends through the labial wall to form anterior cushion pads to touch the anterior teeth of the upper jaw.
A composite mouthguard for a user having an upper jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces, and fossae with cartilage forming sockets, and a movable lower jaw with anterior teeth, posterior teeth with occlusal surfaces and condyles movably fitted within the sockets forming the temporomandibular joints through which the auriculo-temporalis nerves and supra-temporal arteries pass, the mouthguard comprising:
- (a) a flexible and tough, softenable thermoplastic mouthguard portion having an U-shaped base with top and bottom sides with upward inner lingual and outer labial walls and further having posterior and anterior portions;
- (b) a shock absorbing and attenuating non-softening, resilient, low compression, elastomeric framework embedded in the mouthguard portion to absorb, attenuate and dissipate shock forces exerted on the mouthguard during athletic activity, wherein the elastomeric framework forms an anterior impact brace on the anterior portion of the upward outer labial wall and extends rearwardly to form posterior cushion pads in the posterior portions of the mouthguard base;
- (c) two enlarged portions on each posterior cushion pad in areas of bicuspid and molar teeth;
- and
- (d) anterior cushion pads on the anterior impact brace extending rearwardly through the labial wall to touch the anterior teeth of the upper jaw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.