# US 8,783,261 B2 · Apparatus for prevention of snoring and improved breathing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,261 B2 - Document ID: US8783261B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/080,103 - Filed: 2011-04-05 - Published: 2012-10-11 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-05 - Assignees: AirWay Technologies, LLC - Applicants: W. Keith Thornton - Inventors: W. Keith Thornton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783261B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a dental device is provided. The dental device includes an arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of a user's dental arch and having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the arch is inserted in the user's mouth. The dental device further includes a dental attachment that includes an anchoring element configured to be outside the user's mouth when the arch is inserted in the user's mouth. The dental device further includes a second arch. The dental device further includes a flexible tension element including a substantially planar surface extending along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tension element, the flexible tension element configured to couple to the second arch proximate to the midline of the second arch and to couple to the anchoring element outside the user's mouth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental device comprising: a first arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of a user's first dental arch and having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a dental attachment configured to engage the first arch along the midline of the first arch, the dental attachment comprising an anchoring element configured to be outside the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a second arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's second dental arch having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth; and a flexible tension element comprising a substantially planar surface extending along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tension element, the flexible tension element configured to couple to the second arch proximate to the midline of the second arch, the flexible tension element configured to couple to the anchoring element outside the user's mouth when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth such that when coupled to the anchoring element, the flexible tension element extends through the anchoring element in a substantially anterior-posterior direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the dental attachment comprises a. post, wherein a second end of the post is configured to engage the first arch, wherein the flexible tension element comprises a coupler and a strap coupled to the coupler, and wherein the coupler is configured to engage the second arch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dental device of claim 2 wherein a length of the strap is configured to engage the anchoring element, and wherein the anchoring element is configured to secure substantially the length of the strap engaging the anchoring element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The dental device of claim 2 wherein decreasing the length of the strap between the anchoring element and the second arch adjusts the anterior-posterior position of the second arch relative to the first arch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the dental attachment comprises a release mechanism that is configured to release the flexible tension element from the anchoring element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dental device of claim 5 wherein the release mechanism. comprises a button. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The dental device of claim 5 wherein the release mechanism comprises a latch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the flexible tension element comprises a strap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dental device of claim 8 wherein the flexible tension element further comprises a coupler, wherein an end of the strap is coupled to the coupler and wherein the coupler is configured to engage the second arch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein adjusting the length of the flexible tension element between the second arch and the anchoring element adjusts the anterior-posterior position of the second arch relative to the first arch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the dental attachment is configured to removably engage the first arch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the flexible tension element is configured to removably, engage the second arch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the first arch comprises: an arched frame configured to he positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user's first dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user's first dental arch when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame defining a plurality of apertures; and a moldable tray coupled to the arched frame and engaging the plurality of apertures, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's first dental arch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the second arch comprises: an arched frame configured to he positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user's second dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user's second dental arch when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame defining a plurality of apertures; and a moldable tray coupled to the arched frame and engaging the plurality of apertures, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's second dental arch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the dental attachment comprises a post, and wherein the anchoring element defines a slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The dental device of claim 1 wherein the user's first dental arch is a maxillary arch and wherein the user's second dental arch is a mandibular arch. ### Claim 17 A kit for constructing a dental device comprising: a first arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of a user's first dental arch and having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a dental attachment configured to engage the first arch along the midline of the first arch, the dental attachment comprising an anchoring element configured to be outside the user's mouth when the first arch is inserted in the user's mouth; a second arch configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's second dental arch having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth; and a flexible tension element comprising a substantially planar surface extending along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tension element, the flexible tension element configured to couple to the second arch proximate to the midline of the second arch, the flexible tension element configured to couple to the anchoring element outside the user's mouth when the second arch is inserted in the user's mouth such that when coupled to the anchoring element, the flexible tension element extends through the anchoring element in a substantially anterior-posterior direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the dental attachment comprises a post, wherein a second end of the post is configured to engage the first arch, wherein the flexible tension element comprises a coupler and a strap coupled to the coupler, and wherein the coupler is configured to engage the second arch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18 Wherein a length of the strap is configured to engage the anchoring element and wherein the anchoring element is configured to secure substantially the length of the strap engaging the anchoring element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The kit of claim 18 wherein decreasing the length of the strap between the anchoring element and the second arch adjusts the anterior-posterior position of the second arch relative to the first arch. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the dental attachment comprises a release mechanism that is configured to release the flexible tension element from the anchoring element. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The kit of claim 21 wherein the release mechanism comprises a button. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The kit of claim 21 wherein the release mechanism comprises a latch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the flexible tension element comprises a strap. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The kit of claim 24 wherein the flexible tension element further comprises a coupler, wherein an end of the strap is coupled to the coupler and wherein the coupler is configured to engage the second arch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 Wherein adjusting the length of the flexible tension element between the second arch and the anchoring element adjusts the anterior-posterior position of the second arch relative to the first arch. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the dental attachment is configured to removably engage the first arch. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the flexible tension element is configured to removably engage the second arch. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the first arch comprises: an arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user's first dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user's first dental arch when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame defining a plurality of apertures; and a moldable tray coupled to the arched frame and engaging the plurality of apertures, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's first dental arch. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the second arch comprises: an arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user's second dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user's second dental arch when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame having a midline that aligns substantially with the anterior midline of the user's mouth when the arched frame is inserted in the user's mouth, the arched frame defining a plurality of apertures; and a moldable tray coupled to the arched frame and engaging the plurality of apertures, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user's second dental arch. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the dental attachment comprises a post, and wherein the anchoring element defines a slot. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The kit of claim 17 wherein the first dental arch is a maxillary arch and wherein the second dental arch is a mandibular arch.