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US 8,739,794 B2Granted
Oral device
OwnerHarold E. Cutlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oral device is disclosed. The oral device comprises a mouthpiece member, a tube member and an attachment member. The mouthpiece member comprises a resilient material, and is adapted to fit within the contours of the teeth of a wearer. The tube member is affixed, at a first end, to the mouthpiece member, and extends outward from the mouthpiece member towards the soft palate of the mouth of the wearer. The attachment member is attached to the mouthpiece member at at least one location. Finally, the tube member defines an opening, which prevents the collapse of the soft palate of the wearer by allowing for the free transfer of air between the wearer and the environment.
Claims10
An oral device for a wearer comprising:
- a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer;
- a tube member affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer, the tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end;
- and
- a palate member adapted to be adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending from the posterior end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and ending with a downward extending portion, the palate member being adjusted in position to cause the downward extending portion to maintain contact with the soft palate of the wearer;
- and
- whereby the tube member defines an opening which allows for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment.
3 more elements
An oral device for a wearer comprising:
- a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer;
- a tube member, the tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end and being affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer;
- a soft palate member adjustably affixed to the tube member and having a first (anterior) and second (posterior) end, the first end of the soft palate member extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and the second end of the soft palate member ending with a downward extending portion, the soft palate member being adjusted in position to ensure the downward extending portion maintains upward pressure against the soft palate of the wearer;
- and
- a tongue member adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and ending in a portion that is angled downward and extends downward to follow the shape of the back of the tongue, the tongue member being adjusted in position to maintain downward pressure against the tongue of the wearer and reach a rear area of the tongue, the soft palate member and tongue member being adjustable in position independent of each other;
- whereby the tube member defines an opening, the opening allowing for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment.
3 more elements
An oral device for a wearer comprising:
- a mouthpiece member, the mouthpiece member being of a resilient material and compliant to contours of the teeth of the wearer;
- a tube member having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end, the tube member being affixed to the mouthpiece member and extending rearward towards the oral cavity of the wearer;
- a soft palate member adjustably affixed to the tube member and having a first, anterior end and a second, posterior end, the first end of the soft palate member extending rearward from the second end of the tube member and having an upwardly inclined portion and the second end of the soft palate member ending in a downward extending portion, the soft palate member having a slot disposed therein for adjusting a position of the soft palate member in cooperation with a screw to be received by the tube member, the soft palate member being adjusted in position to cause the downward extending portion to maintain upward pressure against the soft palate of the wearer;
- and
- a tongue member adjustably affixed to the tube member and extending rearward from the second end of the tube member a length sufficient to reach a rear area of the tongue and ending in a portion that is angled downward and extends downward to follow the shape of the back of the tongue, the tongue member having a slot disposed therein for adjusting a position of the tongue member in cooperation with a screw to be received by the tube member to cause the tongue member to maintain downward pressure against the tongue of the wearer, the positions of the soft palate member and tongue member being adjustable independent of each other;
- whereby the tube member defines an opening, the opening allowing for free transfer of air between the oral cavity of the wearer and the environment.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.