Device and method for improving breathing
OwnerW. Keith Thorntoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device (10) for improving the breathing of a user includes an upper arch (12) adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth, a lower arch (14) adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth, and an engager (104) that engages the lower arch (14). An adjustor (100) adjusts the engager (104) forwardly relative to the upper arch (12). A slotted plate (114) couples the adjustor (100) to the upper arch (12) and adjustably positions the lower arch (14) vertically relative to the upper arch (12).
Claims19
A device for improving the breathing of a user, comprising:
- an upper arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth;
- a lower arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth;
- an engager operable to engage the lower arch;
- an adjustor operable to adjust the engager forwardly;
- and
- a slotted plate coupling the adjustor to the upper arch and operable to adjust the position of the lower arch vertically from a first fixed position to a second fixed position while the upper and lower arches are inserted in the user's mouth to better fit the device to the user;
- the slotted plate defining at least one slot having a length in a substantially vertical direction and a width that is in a direction transverse to the length and is substantially smaller than the length.
A method for improving the breathing of a user, comprising:
- inserting an upper arch into the user's mouth, the upper arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth;
- inserting a lower arch into the user's mouth, the lower arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth;
- engaging the lower arch using an engager;
- adjusting the engager forwardly relative to the upper arch using an adjustor;
- and
- adjusting a slotted plate coupling the adjustor to the upper arch to adjust the position of the lower arch vertically from a first fixed position to a second fixed position while the upper and lower arches are inserted in the user's mouth to better fit the device to the user.
A method for fitting a device for improving the breathing of a user, comprising:
- inserting an upper arch into the user's mouth, the upper arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth;
- inserting a lower arch into the user's mouth, the lower arch adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth;
- engaging the lower arch using an engager after the upper arch and the lower arch have been inserted into the user's mouth;
- adjusting the engager forwardly relative to the upper arch using an adjustor after the upper arch and the lower arch have been inserted into the user's mouth;
- and
- adjusting a slotted plate coupling the adjustor to the upper arch after the upper arch and the lower arch have been inserted into the user's mouth to adjust the position of the lower arch vertically from a first fixed position to a second fixed position to better fit the device to the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.