Apparatus for inhibiting nocturnal drying of the oral cavity
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorHermon K. Herrin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for inhibiting nocturnal drying of the oral cavity from breathing through a person's mouth. More particularly, the invention is directed to an apparatus comprising an air permeable cover, an elastic strap attached to the cover for securing the cover to a person's face, and a cup attached to the lower region of the cover for securing a person's chin.
Claims15
An apparatus for inhibiting nocturnal drying of the oral cavity from breathing through a person's mouth, comprising:
- a. a vapor permeable, liquid impermeable cover having a sufficient surface area to cover a person's mouth, without covering a person's nose, said cover having a first side region, a second side region, an upper region, and a lower region;
- b. an elastic strap having a first end attached to the first side region of said cover and a second end attached to the second side region of said cover, said strap being of sufficient length to extend around a person's head when the cover is placed over the person's mouth;
- and
- c. a cup attached to the lower region of the cover and positioned such that it can engage a person's chin when said cover is placed over the person's mouth and said strap is placed around the person's head.
An apparatus for inhibiting nocturnal drying of the oral cavity from breathing through a person's mouth, comprising:
- a. a cotton cover having a sufficient surface area to cover a person's mouth, without covering a person's nose, said cover having a first side region, a second side region, an upper region comprising an upper edge, and a lower region;
- b. a notch centrally located in said upper region and extending downward from said upper edge;
- c. an elastic strap having a first end attached to the first side region of said cover and a second end attached to the second side region of said cover, said strap being of sufficient length to extend around a person's head when the cover is placed over the person's mouth;
- and
- d. a cup attached to the lower region of the cover and positioned such that it can engage a person's chin when said cover is placed over the person's mouth and said strap is placed around the person's head.
An apparatus for inhibiting nocturnal drying of the oral cavity from breathing through a person's mouth, comprising:
- a. an air permeable cover having a sufficient surface area to cover a person's mouth, without covering a person's nose, said cover having a first side region, a second side region, a lower region, and an upper region opposite from said lower region, said upper region being longer than said lower region and comprising an upper edge;
- b. a notch centrally located in said upper region and extending downward from said upper edge;
- c. an elastic strap having a first end attached to the first side region of said cover and a second end attached to the second side region of said cover, said strap being of sufficient length to extend around a person's head when the cover is placed over the person's mouth;
- and
- d. a cup attached to the lower region of the cover and positioned such that it can engage a person's chin when said cover is placed over the person's mouth and said strap is placed around the person's head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.